Author: Blake Foster

Nathan Damson, owner of independent restaurant Andy’s Burgers, fears the same thing is happening in Walthamstow. In August 2024, Nathan and his lifelong friend Asad Yaqub opened Andy’s Burgers. The name ‘Andy’ was chosen as an amalgamation of Nathan and Asad’s initials. MORE NEWS: Update on pub reopening as new owners confirm ‘familiar faces’ will return But Nathan says business “could be going a lot better”. Nathan, who was born and bred in Walthamstow, attributes a lot of this to the presence of global business chains in Waltham Forest. He said: “On one hand Waltham Forest Council promotes local artisan industry from the village but then…

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been tackling the fire in Ley Street since around 4.10pm today (December 10). The roof and first floor of the two-storey property are alight.  Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are tackling a fire at a house on Ley Street in Ilford, house is next to Seven Kings School.@LondonFire and @Ldn_Ambulance and @metpoliceuk at the scene#fire #londonfire pic.twitter.com/jn4vdtpISk — Farid Ahmed (Qureshi) (@FaridQureshi_UK) December 10, 2024 Footage from the scene shows a major emergency services presence as the incident is being dealt with. Firefighters from Ilford, Dagenham, Barking and surrounding fire…

Carl Smith, of Chesney Crescent, New Addington, was caught littering in Market Square, Bromley, in July. He was issued a £100 fixed penalty notice, but this was not paid. He was then prosecuted and pleaded guilty to littering at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on December 3. He was ordered to pay a fine of £293, a surcharge of £117, and £423 in costs, totalling £833. A council spokesperson said: “On behalf of residents, the council has street cleaning teams working seven days a week across the borough, keeping our streets neat. “Littering undoes this work and is illegal, with our enforcement…

The former Lions striker returned to The Den as manager in February, over four years after resigning from the role, and impressively led the Championship side away from relegation danger. Millwall currently sit 11th with 25 points after 18 matches – just six points outside play-offs. The club said a “mutual decision” had been taken for Harris to leave after taking charge of Wednesday’s match against Sheffield United and the game at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Departing Harris said in a letter published on the club website: “Today I am announcing that I will be leaving Millwall Football Club after Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough.…

Loui Shajirat, 16, said he randomly woke up by chance to discover the blaze at the six-storey block of flats on Compton Street in Clerkenwell on Monday (December 9). Three adults and two children were led to safety and taken to hospital from one of the flats, and five other adults from other flats made their escape. While no injuries were reported, Mr Shajirat has been applauded by many in the area who have branded him a “hero” after he quickly reacted when he woke up just before 12.30am. He said: “I woke up randomly because I had an ear pain, I…

Craig Dorney, 35, raped a stranger as she tried to help him get home after she found him passed out in a taxi.  Dorney, originally from Cork, denied any wrongdoing but on Friday (December 6) a jury found him guilty of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration.  Prosecutor Tim Naik told the jury the woman was on her way home in Lewisham in the early hours of June 29 when a taxi driver called her over to ask for help.  The taxi driver explained there was a drunk man asleep in the back of his car and he couldn’t…

Police are still on the hunt for the person behind the attack at the Avery Hill campus of the university just before 12.15am today (December 10). A crime scene remains in place and there have been no arrests after officers found a man with head injuries in Avery Hill Road. He was taken to hospital, but while police were investigating, three other people were found also sprayed with the substance. None of the victims suffered any life-changing or life-threatening injuries. Tests were carried out and it was found that the substance was non-toxic. The university said on X: “Following a…

The properties formed part of a £12 million settlement made with the National Crime Agency from what it suspects to be the proceeds of crime.  Two blocks of student housing in Coventry and funds in several bank accounts were also forfeited by Mr Wenjun Tian and Ms Jiangbo Hao in response to the separate civil recovery and frozen funds investigations.  According to the NCA, they suspect the assets were obtained from large-scale financial frauds in China, and the laundering of the proceeds from the frauds in overseas jurisdictions including the UK and Jersey.  Mr Tian and Ms Hao were unable…

Hassan Sentamu, 18, had lashed out the 15-year-old with a kitchen knife after refusing to hand back belongings of Elianne’s friend, who he had split up with 10 days before. When Elianne grabbed a bag of his clothes in solidarity with her friend, Sentamu chased after her, produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed her, the Old Bailey has heard. As she collapsed outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon Sentamu fled – dumping the knife in nearby Cedar Road, jurors were told. He was arrested within 90 minutes after a police officer stopped a number 64 bus near his home in New Addington. Hassan Sentamu, 18,…

Hassan Sentamu, 18, lashed out with a kitchen knife after refusing to hand back belongings of Elianne’s friend, who he had split up with 10 days earlier. He repeatedly stabbed Elianne outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon then fled the scene on the morning of last September 27. Sentamu dumped the blade with Elianne’s DNA on it in nearby Cedar Road and took the number 64 bus towards his home in New Addington, the Old Bailey heard. Elianne recorded a Snapchat video moments before her death (Image: Met Police) Pc Peter Nolan said he was at the police station when he heard…