NOMINATE YOUR COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Erewash Borough Council is calling on its residents to nominate someone they admire for their valuable voluntary work in the borough and who deserves a pat on the back for their tireless work for the community. The council has launched its popular Mayor’s Awards to honour the special people of Erewash and is looking for nominations in recognition of those people who willingly volunteer to help others and go that extra mile without expecting anything in return. The closing date is Friday 11th January when a panel will then consider the nominations, looking for evidence of special qualities and service beyond being a ‘good neighbour’. The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Chris Corbett, says:

“I know only too well just how many unsung heroes we have in this wonderful borough – indeed, I have been truly humbled when meeting many of them and have seen first-hand the selfless work carried out to help others. This is our way of celebrating and recognising fellow residents. I ask people to please take a moment right now to nominate someone you admire. It will be a great honour for me to present my Mayor’s Awards to people who make a real difference to the lives of others in this borough.”

Nominations will be in confidence and publicity only given to people who receive a Mayor’s Award. Please note that awards cannot be made to serving councillors of the county, borough or parish councils or their employees. Forms are available at Ilkeston and Long Eaton Town Hall receptions and online at www.erewash.gov.uk or send full details in a letter to Susan Dunkley, Democratic and Civic Officer, Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5RP. For more details email sue.dunkley@erewash.gov.uk or call 0115 907 1115.

IMAGES RELEASED AFTER BREASTON GARAGE ROBBERY

Detectives investigating a robbery at a Jet garage in Breaston have released images of men they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. A man carrying a multi-tool went into the Jet garage in Wilsthorpe Road at about 10pm on Wednesday, October 10th and demanded cash. He forced the till and took a small amount of money, as well as a number of packets of cigarettes from behind the counter. The offender then fled on foot in the direction of Long Eaton. He was described as white, and was wearing black trousers and a black puffer-style jacket.

Officers have also released images of a second man wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts. They would like to speak to him about a separate incident on the same evening, where a car was broken into, in Woodlands Avenue at about 9.45pm. It is believed that this incident may be linked to the robbery. Anyone who recognises these men, or with any information that may assist with our enquiries is ask to get in contact with us. Please quote the reference number 18000487765 when you get in touch.

Facebook – send us a private message to /Derbyshire Constabulary

Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact

Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us. 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.

ROBBER JAILED

MAN JAILED AFTER ROBBING 102 YEAR OLD LONG EATON WOMAN

A 34-year-old man who robbed an elderly relative has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Ghulam Qudir, of Almond Street, Derby was found guilty of robbery during a trial at Nottingham Crown Court. He was sentenced on Monday, October 15th.

On May 12th this year Qudir visited the Long Eaton home of the 102-year-old victim under the guise of paying his respects after a family death. He later returned once the victim was alone and forced his way into her house. He restrained her and stole gold bangles from her wrists, injuring her in the process. He also took the earrings from her ears and removed her glasses and hearing aid, throwing them on the floor before leaving.

Detective Constable, Claire Croll said: “This was a callous and pre-meditated robbery of a vulnerable person who Qudir knew would not be able to fight back or raise the alarm.This sentence reflects the severity of the crime and I am pleased that this may give the victim and her family some comfort that justice has been done.”

POLICE ON FACEBOOK

All Safer Neighbourhood teams in Erewash are now on Facebook to keep residents informed of policing issues in the borough. The teams covering Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Borrowash, Ockbrook, Risley, Draycott and Breaston will be posting appeals and updates from across the area, helping to keep residents safe and informed. Followers will also be able to message their own team. PC Matt Boyer, from the Long Eaton Team, said: “This is a really useful new addition for us. Most of the teams have twitter accounts and this is yet another way we can communicate with the community we are serving.

We can update the Facebook or Twitter accounts remotely through our mobile devices and it can only take a couple of minutes, allowing us to give out timely messages and respond to queries and questions while on duty. The accounts will be monitored while an officer is on duty, and not 24/7, so it is important people continue to report crime through the non-emergency and emergency numbers, and there will be a note on the pages reminding users of this important information.”

Give the teams a like, you can find them through the following links:

Ilkeston Police SNT, Long Eaton and Sandiacre Police SNT, Borrowash, Ockbrook, Risley, Draycott and Breaston Police SNT

To report a crime, suspicious incident or non-emergency contact us using one of the following non-emergency contact methods.

Facebook – send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary

Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact

Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us. Phone – call us on 101.

Use 999 for emergency situations where a crime is ongoing or life is at risk

ATTEMPTED CASHPOINT ROBBERY

Can you help find man wanted in connection with attempted robbery?

Police received a report of an attempted robbery from a cash point on High Street, Long Eaton, at around 10.15 on October 24th. Soon after, a silver VW Bora, believed to be involved in the incident, failed to stop for police. A short while later, the VW crashed into another vehicle on the junction of Broad Street and Tamworth Road. Two men ran off, and after a search, one man was arrested. The second man is still wanted and is described as eastern European, with black hair and black facial hair. He is approximately 20-years-old and was wearing a red top, cream scarf and a dark jacket.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or message us on Twitter or Facebook with reference 378-241018.

SANDIACRE ROBBERS HAVE SENTENCES REDUCED

Two men involved in an armed robbery in Sandiacre had their sentences cut when they appeared at London's Appeal Court. Lawyers for both men claimed they had been "coerced" into crime by a third man who had threatened them and that their jail terms were far too tough and should be reduced. Judge Brown agreed allowing both men's appeals saying, "Insufficient allowance was made for the element of coercion." John Ross Litchfield and Christopher Eyre had originally been sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court last November. Three men entered the Spa Diamond massage parlour on Derby Road, Sandiacre, in January 2017. Litchfield and Eyre had knives while a third man had a handgun. Threats were made and £1,500, scratch cards and cigarettes were stolen. Litchfield's sentence was reduced to eight years and Eyre's to five years.

LONG EATON ARMED ROBBERY

Police need your help to identify two men they want to speak to in connection with an armed robbery in Long Eaton. Two men walked into the Wellington Street convenience store on Wednesday, June 6th, and pointed a gun at the shopkeeper. The pair demanded money but left empty handed. Police are keen to speak to the two men pictured – do you know who they are? If you have any information which may assist with their enquiries, please get in touch using one of the following non-emergency contact methods. Please quote the reference number 18*254797 and the name of the officer in the case, DC Novak, in any correspondence.

Facebook – send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary

Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact

Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.

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

 

IMAGE RELEASED AFTER ALLEGED BURGLARY

Police investigating the alleged burglary of a business in Long Eaton wish to speak to this man. Sometime between 1.15am and 6.30am on Sunday, June 24th, entry was forced to the Mohan Business Centre on Tamworth Road. Damage was caused to the building and quantity of equipment was reported missing. If you recognise this man, or have any information, please get in touch with police by using one of the following non-emergency contact methods. Please quote the reference number 18000293312 and the name of the officer in the case, PC Alice King, in any correspondence.

Facebook – send  a private message to  /DerbyshireConstabulary

Twitter – direct message the contact centre on @DerPolContact

Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.

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.

FIVE YOUTHS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEYWAY ASSAULT

Four teenagers and a 12 year old have been arrested on suspicion of assault after a video was posted online showing a boy being punched and kicked in an alleyway. The incident took place in an alleyway near the Tappers Harker pub in Long Eaton, at about 3.40pm on July 1st. A 14-year-old boy was punched in the face and kicked several times by a group of youths. The attack was filmed on a mobile phone and uploaded to social media, where it has since been widely shared.

Today, five males aged between 12 to 17 years old were arrested in connection with the incident and are currently in police custody. Inspector Jim Thompson, who is in charge of policing in Long Eaton, said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would like to reassure people that we are dealing with it robustly. Since the video was shared, there has been an air of tension in the community and I would ask that members of the public leave it to us to investigate the matter. Out of respect to the privacy of the victim, I would also ask that people stop sharing the video online and remove any posts they’ve already made on social media.”

If you have any information which may assist with police enquiries, please get in touch using one of the following non-emergency contact methods. Please quote the reference number 18000309007 and the name of the officer in the case PC Catherine Nightingale in any correspondence. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.

Facebook – send police a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary

Twitter – direct message the police contact centre on @DerPolContact

Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.

Phone – call 101.

REMEMBERING CHILWELL EXPLOSION

Women workers with 6inch howitzer shells at Chilwell, July 1917

Research into a shell filling factory in Chilwell which saw a huge explosion in 1918, killing 134 workers, has been carried out by a volunteer at Erewash Museum who grew up in the village. Volunteer Marian Dean, 70, has written ‘Remembering the Chilwell Explosion of 1918 and the Canary Girls’ after she developed a fascination with the First World War factory, which she says haunted her as a child. Marian lived in Chilwell from the late 1940s to the late 1960s, before moving back to the village 50 years later. After stumbling across a book called Canary Girls of Chilwell, her fascination with the factory began. The women gained the name ‘Canary Girls’ because the chemicals they were working with led to discolouration of the skin and their hair turned green. During the First World War thousands of women, including many from Erewash, worked at National Shell Filling Factory No.6 Chilwell. The site later became Chilwell Ordnance Depot and is now partly occupied by Chetwynd Barracks. Marian, said:

 

Mass grave at St Marys
Attenborough

“I look out over Hobgoblin Wood from our kitchen window every day and often reflect on the chaos, horror and tragic events of that terrible, unforgotten day. Certain road names nearby are named after some of those who lost their lives that day, July 1, 1918, which I personally think is a wonderfully fitting tribute to the workers and story of the National Shell Filling Factory No.6 Chilwell.”

The Chilwell explosion on 1st July was one of Britain's worst wartime disasters involving an explosion and saw the biggest loss of life (134 killed) incurred during a single explosion during the entire First World War. One victim was Charlotte Herrdidge, 53, who lived at Severn's Yard, High Street, Ilkeston. Councillor Mike Wallis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“This is a fascinating part of local history and we are grateful to Marian for taking her time to carry out this research. I’m sure many people will find it incredibly interesting.”

A video of Marian speaking about her research is available on our Facebook page. Her work is available to read at the museum.