SPEEDING MOTORIST JAILED

A motorist who reached speeds of up to 140mph while trying to shake of police has been jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for four years and six months. Cocaine-taking Alistair Smith, of Braddon Avenue, Stapleford, blew a kiss to the public gallery as he was taken from the court in Derby.

The court heard that the uninsured and unlicensed Smith, during an 11-minute chase, jumped multiple red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road in his BMW. He hit speed humps in Derby Road, Stapleford, at 50mph before reaching 84mph in the built-up 30mph limit. Throughout the chase Smith’s mother was sat in the front passenger seat. The incident occurred at 11.30pm on November 10th.

FLY TIPPING RESULTS IN HEFTY FINE

A successful prosecution by Erewash Borough Council saw a Long Eaton man fined more than £1,000 after his waste was found fly-tipped in the town. Anthony Liam Kidsley, 35, of Tamworth Road, pleaded guilty to ‘failing in his Duty of Care’ regarding the illegal deposit of waste, an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He had failed to check that the person he paid to dispose of his waste was a registered waste carrier and it was illegally dumped at Pastures Lane.

The fly-tip was reported to the Council’s Neighbourhood Wardens who carried out an investigation.　 Kidsley admitted to council officers that some of the waste was his and he had paid someone to dispose of it for him.　In his mitigation, Kidsley’s solicitor stated that he had been foolish in his actions and he accepted that he should have carried out checks to see if the person had a waste carriers licence.　 He said he is aware of the effects fly-tipping has on the environment.

The case was heard on 10th April at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court. District Judge Meachin was satisfied that this was an act of negligence and Kidsley should have carried out the proper checks to ensure that the waste was transferred to an authorised person.　 He was ordered to pay a fine of £500, the Council’s full costs (including clean-up costs of £110.04) of £586.17 and a victim surcharge of £50.　 A total of £1,136.17.

Director of Community Services at Erewash Borough Council, Lorraine Poyser, says:

“We are pleased with the outcome of this case. Anyone fly-tipping waste in the borough is committing a serious offence and could be fined a substantial amount should the case go to court. We remain committed to the prosecution of offenders who carry out environmental crimes such as this and would urge the public to report all matters of fly-tipping. They can do this by calling our 24-hour confidential Pride Line on 0115 850 8383 or through their online My Erewash account.

DERBYSHIRE POLICE DELIGHTED WITH KNIFE SURRENDER INITIATIVE

Officers fighting knife crime in Derbyshire are ‘delighted’ with the results of their latest knife surrender initiative. Earlier this month, between Monday, March 11th and Sunday, March 17th, police offered people the chance to ‘Drop the Knife’ next as part of a national anti-knife crime initiative Operation Sceptre. This was an opportunity, to safely discard bladed weapons that could have otherwise come in to the hands of those that would cause harm to others. 520 knives were placed in to bins situated in police stations across the county.

Inspector Richard Keene of Derbyshire police who leads on Project Zao, an initiative to reduce knife crime in the county, explained:

“The surrender scheme was held as part of our ongoing Project Zao and to support the national initiative, Operation Sceptre. I am delighted that it has resulted in so many knives being taken out of harm’s way.
We are not naive enough to think that we have had hardened criminals coming in and handing in their weapons but every one of the knives surrendered is a potential lethal weapon that will now be disposed of. This is an excellent example of how we can work together with the public to make Derbyshire safer. Project Zao will continue with its mixture of education, engagement and enforcement.

CLARIFICATION ON VOTING

Erewash residents are being reminded that they do not need any photo I.D in order to vote in next month’s borough elections.

As long as people are registered to vote they can do so as they normally would. The clarification comes as two pilot schemes running in Derby and Broxtowe will see voters required to show photo I.D in order to vote in their local elections.

The 2nd May elections will see voters elect 47 borough councillors in total and those elected will represent a total of 19 wards across the borough. Parish council elections will also take place.

Election results will be published on the council’s website www.erewash.gov.uk as soon as they are announced.

DOCKHOLM MAN NAMED

A man who was found dead near to the Erewash Canal on Monday April 8th has been named as 37-year-old Robert Chatwin from Long Eaton. Mr Chatwin was found by officers shortly after 2am, in a wooded area just off, what is known locally as, Dockholm canal path. The path runs between the River Erewash and the Erewash canal in Long Eaton. He was pronounced dead at the scene and officers are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

He was last seen at around 2pm on Friday, April 5th in Walton Street, Long Eaton. He was wearing blue jeans, a grey fleecy jumper and black Nike trainers. If you were in the area at the time and believe you saw Mr Chatwin, or have any other information which may help detectives with their enquiries, please get in touch.
We are also keen to speak to anyone who was driving in the area at the time and may have dashcam footage that shows someone matching the description of Mr Chatwin. If you believe you have video that may help the investigation then it should be downloaded to an external device and secured for officers to view.

 

BODY FOUND IN EREWASH CANAL

Police have recovered a body from the Erewash Canal in Long Eaton. Officers from Derbyshire police were called out to Derby Road at 7am on Saturday 16th March.

Police set up a cordon at the canal bridge on Derby Road Long Eaton shortly after 7am following reports that a body had been seen in Erewash Canal. Local residents say they saw police divers on a raft under Derby Road bridge near Topps Tiles at 9am. Police later confirmed that a man's body was recovered from the water.

Thirty-seven-year-old Mr Thomas Boyle, of Russell Court, Long Eaton, was pronounced dead at the scene – and officers are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr Boyle family have paid tribute to their “sensitive, talented” son. A family member said: “Thomas was a sensitive, talented young man who was liked by all who met him. We all love him and miss him so much.”

 

Mr Boyle was last seen at 10.35pm on Friday evening walking along Derby Road, Long Eaton, heading towards the town centre. He was wearing a black puffer jacket, jeans and distinctive brown Converse trainers with white soles and red laces.

Anyone who may have been in the area at the time and may have seen Mr Boyle are asked to contact detectives with any information that may assist with enquiries.

Officers are also keen to speak to anyone who may have been driving in the area at the time and may have dashcam footage that shows someone matching the description of Mr Boyle given above. If you believe you have video that may help the investigation then it should be downloaded to an external device and secured for officers to view.

If you have any information which may assist with our enquiries, please get in touch using one of the following non-emergency contact methods.

Please quote the reference number 19*134199 in any correspondence: Phone – call us on 101. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.

LITTER CULPRITS FINED

Three local residents have paid the price for dropping litter on the street – with each finding themselves nearly £400 out of pocket after being prosecuted by Erewash Borough Council. The litter bugs were all spotted by the council’s Neighbourhood Wardens and issued with Fixed Penalty Notices, but ended up with hefty fines when they failed to pay and the cases were taken to Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court recently.

 

Jack Greenhough (20), of Wirksworth Road, Ilkeston, was found guilty of throwing down a cigarette packet and leaving it on the pavement on Bath Street in the town.

 

Susan Osbourne (68), of Beresford Drive, Cotmanhay, threw down a cigarette end and left it on the pavement on Bath Street, Ilkeston.

 

Tracey Riley (44), of Collingwood Road, Long Eaton, threw a cigarette end to the ground and left it on the pavement at the Cross Street Retail Park in the town.

 

All three were each fined £220 after being found guilty of a littering offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. They must also pay a victim surcharge of £30 and the council’s full costs of £127.50 – leaving each of them with a total bill of £377.50. Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says:

“These three prosecutions are the latest of nearly 20 such cases that we have taken to court over the last few months and should serve as another clear warning that we will take action against anyone seen dropping litter. Litterbugs should also take note that ignoring a Fixed Penalty Notice will end up costing you much more. It would be far better if you disposed of your litter properly and join the vast majority of us in taking pride in our surroundings and wanting a clean and welcoming environment.”

The council appeals to the public to help the crackdown on environmental crime by reporting offenders and supplying information through the council’s confidential PRIDE-line number 0115 850 8383 or email prideline@erewash.gov.uk

 

MUSEUM TO HONOUR ILKESTON VETERAN

An Ilkeston war veteran who was awarded France’s highest decoration for his bravery during the D-Day landings is having his medals displayed at Erewash Museum. Sgt Ernest Turner, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92, was awarded the rank of Chevalier de la Ordre National de la Region d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) in 2016 during a presentation in the Mayor’s Parlour at Ilkeston Town Hall.

His daughter, Lesley Bamford, has now kindly loaned his medals for a long-term display in the museum’s War Gallery and presented them on Friday 7th December, when she was joined by members of the local Royal British Legion branches. Ernest was a long-time friend to the museum, loaning objects about his heroic career and family history, and was also a long-standing member and supporter of the Royal British Legion charity.

Mr Turner’s war service included taking part in the Normandy D-Day landings, which saw him run up Juno Beach where 2,000 men had been killed by German guns just 24 hours earlier. He fought in many Second World War battles through France and was stationed all over the world, later serving in Palestine in 1947-48. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

 

“This is a wonderful way to honour the memory of a truly remarkable gentleman. Ernest was always very humble and it is with great pride that we can display his medals, all of which tell a story of incredible bravery. It is much more than a salute to his memory, these medals are part of history and it will be particularly special for our many young visitors to see them. We would like to thank his family for kindly loaning his medals to Erewash Museum.”

NEW ERA FOR LEISURE SERVICES

The company that will take over the running of Erewash Borough Council’s leisure services has been confirmed as Parkwood Leisure Ltd. Parkwood will manage the council’s leisure services as part of a ten-year contract, resulting in substantial savings for the authority. Parkwood will take over leisure services at Victoria Park Leisure Centre, Rutland Sports Park and Pewitt Golf Course in Ilkeston, as well as West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton and Friesland Sports Centre in Sandiacre.

Parkwood will take the leisure services forward from early 2019, with a number of improvements set to be made including the expansion and improvement of gym facilities; new gym, spin and weight lifting equipment; improvements to customer retail and vending facilities, and the introduction of a number of new activities.

Outsourcing the provision of the leisure service will save the council approximately £6 million over ten years. Approximately £1.3 million is expected to be invested to improve facilities for residents with Parkwood Leisure investing £800,000 with a further £500,000 earmarked for upgrading the leisure centres through a loan from the council to be paid back over the term of the contract.

The council has built into the contract protection for a number of local clubs and groups and an agreement that prices will be frozen for a minimum of six months. Councillor Mike Wallis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure at Erewash Borough Council, says: “Our residents and leisure customers have been at the heart of this process throughout. There has been a commitment to achieve two key aims: to ensure the leisure facilities on offer are invested in and improved and that we, as a council, achieve the important savings we need in these financially challenging times. We believe those aims will be more than achieved and customers will see enhanced facilities and a new programme of activities at our leisure centres. This marks a new era for leisure services in Erewash and we look forward to seeing Parkwood’s plans put into action.”

Peter Fitzboydon, Managing Director of Parkwood Leisure, says:  “Parkwood Leisure has more than 20 years’ experience in running leisure centres. Recently we have invested in our staff and improved our customer experience to help achieve our overall company objective: helping the local community to be happier and healthier. We look forward to working with the council.