Author: Blake Foster

Joshua Joyce, 33, of Upper Rainham Road, was driving a stolen Mazda when ANPR cameras picked up on the number plate at Stanway in Colchester. When officers tried to stop Joyce, he slalomed through traffic and burst a tyre when he clipped a kerb, Ipswich Crown Court heard on Tuesday (July 29). Harry Hewitt, prosecuting, said Joyce still managed to hit speeds of 70mph and pushed through the middle of two lanes, causing other drivers to swerve out of the way. Court – Joshua Joyce was jailed by a judge sitting at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) He then…

Pub company Stonegate Group has applied for advertising consent for five new illuminated signs, one non-illuminated sign and three plaques at The Crowning Angel, in South Street. Two of the signs are proposed to hang from the side of the building, and be lit from LED strip lights across the top. READ MORE: Plans for ‘scruffy and unkempt’ canopy at Romford grocery store refused Signs inside the pub also got a makeover as part of the refurb (Image: Luke Percival) The others would sit flush against the front and side of the building, with three of these signs also lit from above…

Emergency services flooded the M23 northbound near to J8 of the M25 after a crash today (July 30) at 1.05pm. The National Highways reported that there were reports of a person trapped in a car. Two cars were involved in a crash. A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving. According to the South East Coast Ambulance Service, a woman was also treated at the scene before being taken to East Surrey Hospital. Traffic has since returned to normal. A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the southbound carriageway of the M23 shortly after 1.05pm this…

It is a heavy, but important subject.  With each tragic loss and each report of a knife-related incident, we run the risk of gradually becoming desensitised to the topic.  A bench in Overton Park installed in tribute to Ilyas Habibi, a 17-year-old who was fatally stabbed in Sutton in 2023 (Image: Newsquest) Knife crime demands unwavering attention to prevent these incidents from becoming yet another issue we slowly accept and allow to be absorbed into the fabric of society.  It is for this reason that I have been working over the past weeks on a project that takes a look at the safety…

In mid-August, the railway will enter a new phase with the appointment of Nick Arthurton as general manager. Nick comes from a family with a long tradition of working in the railway industry, which stretches back to his great-grandfather who joined in 1888. Nick started his own railway career with London Underground (LU) in 1994 as a duty station manager, and his most recent position was as the commercial director of the Elizabeth line. Having worked for Network Rail and Chiltern Railways, and having been involved in the setting up of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) operation of the extended Jubilee line (1997–1999),…

Nkiru Chima, 60, died on Sunday (July 27) after a stabbing in Bushy Close, which police believe is linked to the death of a man at Romford station. The Recorder spoke to residents nearby, who said that although they did not know Nkiru personally, the incident has shocked the estate. One Bushy Close resident Patsy Buttery said: “I’m just so upset that it has happened on this estate. “It’s sad, it’s so sad. “It’s a shame that there’s no real sense of community anymore – we used to look after each other. “I feel just so sorry for the woman.” READ MORE: Bushy Close, Romford…

Before the fatal attack, Belle had threatened father-of-two Mr McKay, 33, in a rap video after the victim had refused to fund his career. Following an Old Bailey trial, Belle, 30, of Edmonton, north London, was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife. On Wednesday, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years. Belle’s former girlfriend Tenika Parker, 39, from Leytonstone, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and possession of a knife. Judge Lynn Tayton KC jailed single mother-of-three and primary school teacher Parker for two years and three months. Speaking outside…

Daejaun Campbell cried out “I’m 15, don’t let me die” after he was ambushed in Woolwich on September 22 last year, the Old Bailey heard. On Wednesday, a boy aged 17, was found guilty of his murder after a jury deliberated for more than 19 hours. Co-accused Marko Balaz, 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. A third defendant, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, also from Abbey Wood, was cleared of wrongdoing. It can now be reported that Daejaun was friends with 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed by two 16-year-old boys with…

The 10 High Street Post Office will move to TGJones, a former WHSmith store, which will be renamed Croydon Post Office. The branch will be managed by TGJones, a retail franchise partner. Under this proposal, the Post Office will operate a fully franchised network, a model already adopted by over 99% of the UK’s Post Office network. This change is part of a wider plan to ensure post offices in communities remain sustainable. TGJones, which became independent from WHSmith in June, operates 464 stores across the UK, including 179 post offices. The store, still a newsagent, books, stationery, toys and…

Taylor Wimpey wants to demolish the existing building in London Road and build the homes and a new office space in its place. However, the site—just 250 metres from Brentwood town centre—has been specifically designated for employment use in Brentwood Council’s local plan. If permitted, the site could be developed into a mix of flats and houses, ranging from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses. A proportion of the dwellings are anticipated to be brought forward as ‘affordable’ homes. The plans have been revealed in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) application, which ensures that Brentwood Council, the local planning authority, decides…