Author: Blake Foster

Jerdine Angela Jones, 68, was discovered in Stocksfield Road, close to Wood Street station. An inquest was opened into her death at East London Coroner’s Court on Friday morning (July 18). “The Metropolitan Police Services referred the death to the court as Mrs Jones was found deceased at her home address with no clear cause of death,” said senior coroner Graeme Irvine. She was “identified through the Metropolitan Police Service, though a variety of sources of corroborating identification evidence,” he said. No information was given during the brief hearing as to who had called the police to Mrs Jones’s home or…

The eastbound lift at Pontoon Dock is being replaced, with work not expected to be finished until the end of October. It comes less than a month after TfL returned the westbound lift to service after a ten-month closure to replace it. One passenger and local resident, Nusrath Hussain, said that the back-to-back closures felt like “a slap in the face”. Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari has warned that the new closure means that the station “effectively remains inaccessible” for many people, especially wheelchair users and elderly passengers. “Pontoon Dock has become a symbol of how badly we are…

The junction of Shooters Hill and Academy Road was closed eastbound on Wednesday (July 16) after the crash. Police officers became aware of a suspicious car while patrolling the area. After a pursuit, it was stopped and the people inside were detained.Four mobile phones and a large quantity of cash were recovered from the scene. Further searches at a property in Rochester in Kent led to multiple deal bags of suspected cocaine being seized. Wraps, cash and a rock-like substance were also seized from an address in Woolwich. Paul Gerald, of Wilson Avenue in Rochester and Michael Laidlow of Albatross Street in…

Police were called to the station today (July 18) at 12.20am to reports of a casualty on the tracks. The person was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are not treating this as suspicious, and a file is being prepared for the coroner. The Victoria line was suspended as emergency services were at the scene. A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at around 12.20am today (18 July) to reports of a casualty on the tracks at Finsbury Park Underground station.  “Officers responded with paramedics, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. “The incident is…

The life-saving work of the critical care unit is set to be recognised in the documentary series ‘Critical: Between Life and Death’ which will be available to stream from July 23. The series will follow clinicians at the service and major trauma centres across the capital, as they provide urgent care to London’s most critically injured patients. In a dramatic first episode, viewers will watch as paramedics respond to a fairground ride crash in Brockwell Park. The incident left several, including children, in need of emergency assistance. Advanced Paramedic Rory Saggers, who coordinated the emergency response from the tactical operations…

Heathfield Court Care Home in Erith marked the occasion for residents Reginald and Barbara Sanderson, who reached the milestone on June 4. The pair celebrated with their bride and groom teddies. (Image: Springup PR) Reginald, known as Sandy, and his wife Barbara have lived at the home since March. Lisa Avery, lifestyle lead at Heathfield Court, said: “We are so happy to have helped Sandy and Barbara to celebrate their special day. “We found two little bride and groom teddies to decorate their table, and we made two anniversary keepsakes for them to treasure, one of which included a poem…

Zafar Hussain, of Bramble Close, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, with an additional year to be served on licence, today (July 18) after appearing at Harrow Crown Court. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and has been made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order. The now 43-year-old first approached the victim, who was 11 at the time, and asked her for her social media account to message her privately. The court heard that he bombarded her with sexual images and videos. Although she initially blocked him, he soon persuaded her to…

Asafo Takeaway in Thornton Heath was visited several times by food hygiene inspectors before it reopened to the public on June 3. Inspectors visited the takeaway on Whitehorse Road on May 13, following concerns that it was practising unsafe food prep and hygiene onsite.   Evidence of a ‘significant cockroach infestation’ was found across the takeaway, from the food preparation and cooking zones to the serving counters and front of house. Inspectors highlighted high-level areas around electrical casings as being particularly badly affected by the infestation.  Furthermore, they found evidence of a growing rat problem, with inspectors noting large amounts of…

Police were called to North Woolwich Road today (July 18) at 1am to reports of an assault involving a group of men with knives. At the scene, a man in his 20s was treated for his multiple stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing. No arrests have been made at this stage. A cordon was in place from Boxley Street to Dock Road, near Silvertown Tunnel Roundabout. The Metropolitan Police says that videos are circulating online of the incident and witnesses are asked to contact police. Footage shows people fleeing a…

Police were called to Southmere Park today (July 18) at 4.09pm after the reports that “a number of people” had weapons on them. At the scene, more than 50 people were found and made to leave. A section 35 dispersal order is in place around a large section of Thamesmead as a result. Section 35 gives a police constable and a police community support officer in uniform the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours with a police inspector’s authority. The order covers the area between the Abbey Wood railway line…