A Gedling burglar was caught and jailed after leaving his fingerprints at the scene of a break-in.
Dean Holm, 33, left his mark after removing his gloves to prise open a jewellery box he’d plundered from inside of a locked filing cabinet.
Moments earlier he had smashed his way into the property in Valley Road, West Bridgford.
PICTURED: Nottingham Crown Court
After searching multiple rooms, he made off with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.
Police were informed on Tuesday, January 3 when the victim returned home from a few days away.
A thorough forensic investigation was carried out at the scene, which uncovered Holm’s finger and palm print on the box.
He was identified from the national police database and arrested shortly afterwards.
Further damning evidence was found on his mobile phone, which showed he had researched several stolen watches to gauge their value and placed a call to a local pawn broker.
Holm, of Burton Road, Gedling, who was jailed in 2016 for six house burglaries, later pleaded guilty to burglary.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court today (Tuesday) he was jailed for three years.
Detective Sergeant Ben Skellern, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Unsurprisingly this case caused considerable upset to the victim, who is constantly reminded of the stranger who invaded her family home.
“Many of the treasured items stolen that day have never been recovered and no amount of insurance money can possibly replace them.
“I hope, however, that she can find some comfort in the fact that Holm is now serving a richly deserved prison sentence.
“This was an exemplary investigation by all involved that has helped to prevent other residents falling victim to similar offences.”
Return train tickets are to become a thing of the past as part of a major overhaul of Britain’s rail industry.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper is expected to announce the end of two-way tickets later this week as he unveils plans for significant reforms of the railway.
It is expected that return fares will be phased out and replaced with single-leg pricing which will mean the price of both legs will be the same as the current two-way fares. The move follows a successful trial scheme by LNER in 2020.
At the time, LNER said the method would simplify and clarify ticket purchasing and make it easier for passengers to ensure they were buying the most suitable fare.
Harper is likely to announce plans to adopt new ticketing technology that will see paper tickets phased out in favour of digital QR code tickets and Oyster card-style smartcard systems.
A new public body to oversee the operation of trains and tracks is also expected to be announced. Great British Railways (GBR) will be an arms-length company which will also be responsible for ticketing and timetabling under the changes expected to be revealed on Tuesday.
Plans for the creation of GBR were first announced in 2021 but have stalled under a series of successive Transport Secretaries. However, Harper is expected to confirm that it will be established to take on responsibility for tickets and timetables currently handled by the Department for Transport.
Aaron O’Connor scored twice as Carlton Town picked up a vital win at Tadcaster Albion in the battle of the bottom two sides.
O’Connor’s goals were Carlton’s first in open play since November and this first league win of 2023 saw Carlton climb out of the automatic relegation places. Tadcaster’s defeat leaves them firmly entrenched at the foot of the table with a mammoth task ahead of them to avoid dropping out of the Northern Premier League.
Both sides came into the game in confident mood. Albion had picked up their first win of the season in midweek with a success against Sheffield, while Carlton had played well in beating a strong Mansfield Town side away from home in the semi-final of the Notts Senior Cup. Both sides knew three points were essential in their respective battles to climb the table.
Carlton made one change to the side which had beaten the Stags, with Alex Howes replacing the suspended Nat Watson. That meant starts for O’Connor and Niall Davie, both of whom will be key players in Carlton’s bid to avoid the drop.
On a soft surface the Millers had the first chance when Howes crossed to Davie but Davie didn’t quite connect with his shot and goalkeeper Josh Mazfari was able to save at the second attempt.
The opening period of the game was a fairly cagey affair with both sides keeping the other at bay, but that all changed on 18 minutes when Carlton opened the scoring. A long throw from Lawrence Gorman was flicked on by Dean Freeman to O’Connor in the penalty area. He volleyed spectacularly into the roof of the net in front of the ecstatic travelling supporters, who had attended Tadcaster in very good numbers.
Minutes later a quick Kyle Tomlin half volley drew a decent save from Mazfari, before the Brewers had their first chance when Jack Johnson hit an effort over the bar.
On 35 minutes Tadcaster had a glorious chance to equalise when a move down the right saw the ball ricochet into the path of Theo Hudson clean through on goal but he could only hit a tame effort straight at Mikey Emery.
PICTURED: Carlton Town manager Tommy Brookbanks (PHOTO: Twitter)
Another Freeman flick from a Gorman throw saw Davie volley at goal, only to be denied by Mazfari, as the half drew to a close.
Howes had an effort saved by Mazfari in the opening moments of the second half as Carlton looked to extend their lead. They had a great chance to do so when they were awarded a penalty on 58 minutes after a Lawrence Gorman shot was handled by Luke Sherry, but Mazfari dived to his right and saved Emery’s spot kick.
The Carlton goalkeeper, who had scored his two previous penalties since taking over as the side’s penalty taker, was now stranded 100 yards from goal and Khyle Sargent picked up a yellow card for blocking Mazfari’s attempts to re-start play quickly. Emery’s days as Carlton’s designated penalty taker are now probably over as he becomes the latest in a long line of Millers to miss from 12 yards.
Carlton didn’t let the miss affect them and six minutes later O’Connor grabbed his second when he was quickest to react to a loose ball in the penalty area and steer home after the Brewers failed to clear a Gorman throw.
Holmes and Sargent kept tight control of the midfield with Howes, Tomlin and Davie all covering the required yards to thwart potential attacks and try to get the Millers forward. Dan Brown once again cut out everything that came his way and Tadcaster could simply find no way through a resolute Carlton outfit.
Substitute Brad Wells started a lovely move towards the end which saw a Niall Hylton cross cleared only as far as Tomlin. He fed Tyler Blake who in turn slipped the ball to Kyle Dixon but Dixon’s shot was just wide.
Tomlin then fired over the top from a Gorman cross.
Tadcaster did have an opportunity to score in the final minute of added time but Emery made a superb double-save from substitutes Mariusz Bramokski and Rafael Ferreira to ensure that Carlton kept their first clean sheet since the mid-November success against Pontefract Collieries.
On the final whistle the entire squad came across to the 30 or so travelling fans who had made the trip north, and whose numbers included members of the Munster branch of the supporters club, to thank them for their unstinting support during the game. As always, it was much appreciated.
Carlton Town: M Emery, L Gorman, N Hylton, D Brown, D Freeman, J Holmes, K Tomlin, K Sargent, A Howes (T Blake 71), A O’Connor (B Wells 75), N Davie (K Dixon 78). Unused substitutes: R Stainsby, J White
Goals: Aaron O’Connor 18, 64
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Aaron O’Connor
Yep, you heard us right – you can get a FREE 6-Piece Original Recipe Chicken Bucket on KFC.
The fried chicken chain has launched its latest delivery deal that fast food fans in Gedling borough can access when making a delivery order via the KFC app.
To claim a free bucket of chicken you must spend at least £10 but, as a six-piece Bargain Bucket usually costs around £13.99, it’s still a good deal for fried chicken fans. One bucket of fried chicken can be claimed per customer, per order.
The KFC deal has been announced on their website as follows –
Free 6-piece Original Recipe Chicken Bucket offer subject to minimum spend of £10 (not including Delivery and Service Fees), on KFC Owned Delivery orders only. One discount per guest. Available until 12 March 2023. Subject to availability and geographical restrictions. For full terms and conditions click here.
KFC have one store in the borough at 701 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, NG3 5QG which also operates a drive through service.
A taxi driver who was ‘battered’ by a drunken and violent passenger in Arnold was left requiring urgent medical attention after being pushed from the car as it was moving.
The victim, who worked for a taxi firm, had been on shift on Saturday, September 17, 2022 on Arnot Hill Drive when he was approached by a man and woman asking to be taken home.
The victim noticed the man, now known as Reuben Commons, was in drink but despite this he agreed to take them and asked for them both to get into the back seats.
Police say that before Commons even got into the car he attempted to open the driver’s door and sit on his lap. After being told to move he then reluctantly got into the front passenger’s seat and immediately became hostile and shouted directions at the driver.
Just after 1.20am things began to turn violent after the taxi driver asked for the fare upfront, causing 25-year-old Commons to call him a ‘tramp’ and repeatedly threaten him with violence.
He then threw a plastic bottle full of water over the driver which hit him on the head causing the victim to try and stop the car. Commons then began to kick and punch the victim over and over as he climbed into the drivers jumped over the dashboard and attacked him.
During the struggle, Commons pushed the victim out of the car while it was still moving. He then continued to attack the victim on the road, kicking him to the head causing him to lose consciousness.
Leaving the driver unconscious on the road, he then stole the taxi in an attempt to get away but only managed to drive around 50 yards before getting out and letting it crash into a parked car.
Commons appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (February 3) after pleading guilty to wound or inflict grievous bodily harm and aggravated vehicle taking and property damage.
PICTURED: Nottingham Crown Court
He was jailed for a total of 32 months and also ordered to pay £187 to the victim.
Detective Constable Colin Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an act of sheer drunken violence out of nowhere against someone who was simply doing his job.
“No-one deserves to be treated like this and viciously battered to the point of losing consciousness.
“Commons’ actions on this night, as shown in the dashcam footage, show his complete disrespect for members of the public and the sheer brutality of his actions against a completely innocent man.
“I hope his sentence will not only bring the victim some comfort but also give Commons some time to reflect on his actions that night and hit home to him that behaving in this way will never be tolerated by any police force.”
A council has stepped in to save a borough bus service that was facing the axe.
Nottinghamshire County Council will offer financial support to Nottingham City Transport to keep the 46 and 47 bus services running.
The buses, which serve Woodborough, Lambley and Mapperley, were due to be withdrawn or run less frequently as they were considered no longer financially viable. Following the funding, they will now continue in their current form.
But the council is warning it’s now a case of ‘use them or lose them’ with a review taking place in 12 months’ time.
The financial support for these services as part of its Bus Network Review is being agreed with the commercial operators and for the time being, the council say passengers won’t see any difference in route or timetables, although the services may be subject to redesign and review over the next 12 months.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, cabinet member for transport and environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Nottinghamshire County Council has stepped in to save these eleven bus routes for now, but it’s still a case of ‘use these bus services or risk losing them’.
“We hope residents in these areas will travel on these services more regularly in the future. They are a clean and safe way to travel, and you don’t have to worry about driving or parking. It’s cheaper to leave your car at home and go by bus, and it helps protect the environment too by reducing air pollution.
“The last few years have taken their toll on bus services nationally, including here in Nottinghamshire. Passenger numbers in rural areas are at around 60% of the levels we saw before the Covid-19 pandemic and at around 80% in more urban areas. We are therefore committed to working with local operators to reinvigorate bus services like these, which play a vital role in keeping communities connected.
“In Nottinghamshire, there are over 200 bus routes connecting communities, workplaces, shopping centres, health facilities and leisure venues and by using these services more frequently, residents can not only help protect their bus services but also protect their pocket.
“Now is a particularly good time for residents to jump on board their local bus and show their support because, until 31 March, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2 on most routes across the county thanks to the Government’s Help for Households scheme aimed at tackling the cost of living across the country.
“I really hope that with our support, these bus services will recover to previous levels of patronage and move closer to commercial viability once again.”
The Miners were coming into this game on the back of a spirited comeback against Blackstones but struggled in the early phases of this game.
The first chance came on 21 minutes, the West Bridgford midfield won the ball back before a fierce strike from 20 yards was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Louis Richardson.
Gedling’s first real effort came on 33 minutes, Greg Tempest whipped in a free kick from the right which Ruben Wiggins-Thomas controlled but he could only fire his effort from 10 yards straight at the hosts keeper.
Just before the break the visitors should have taken the lead, Jack Jepson beat the offside trap and he was 1v1 with the hosts keeper, but Jepson fired his effort wide from 4 yards out and that concluded the first half.
Gedling started the 2nd half well and on 53 minutes they went in front, Tempest’s free kick was nodded down by Adrain Hawes and Wiggins-Thomas smashed a right footed effort into the roof of the net for his first goal since late October and a 3rd of the season.
Just 7 minutes later Wiggins-Thomas netted again, Takunda Mushambi won the ball back with a superb slide tackle and Tyrell Shannon-Lewis spun his man inside out before his cross took a slight deflection and Gedling’s number 10 was on hand to slide home from 2 yards out.
Gedling managed the rest of the game well restricting the hosts to long shots and half chances and Gedling claimed all 3 points to make it 7 points out of 9 in 2023.
Gedling player of the match- Josh Stevenson
Gedling Team – Louis Richardson, Liam Corrigan (Jack Jepson 20’) (Fenn Davies 86’) Ross McCaughey, Takunda Mushambi (Danny Dixon 70’), Josh Stevenson, Adrain Hawes (Semilore Kassim 78’), Josh Thornton (C), Greg Tempest, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, Paolo Piliero
Independent councillors at Nottinghamshire County Council say they would scrap the council’s new £15.7m Top Wighay office development in Linby to pay for county roads repairs if they were in charge of finances.
The Independent Alliance opposition group will propose an alternative budget on Thursday (February 9) when the authority meets to approve financial papers for the next three years.
The group has met with finance bosses over the past month to pull together the plans and its documents have been signed off as “legal and balanced”.
PICTURED: AN artist’s impression of the new council building at Top Wighay Fam near LinbyPICTURED: (L-R) Cllr Keith Girling – chairman of Economic Development, Matt Neale – service director Growth and Investment and Steve Keating at the site of the new officesThe Independent Alliance say the cash could be spent on repairing potholes
The plans include scrapping the controversial new £15.7m offices in favour of pumping cash into road repairs.
Responding to the plans, the council’s leading Conservative group dismissed them as “gimmick proposals”.
The Independent Alliance group says about £11.5m would be saved by dropping the new building, due to be built at Top Wighay Farm in Linby, but £4.2m would be lost to “abortive costs”.
The savings would be moved into immediate highway works for the 2023/24 financial year to tackle an issue some councillors have said is the most frequent complaint from members of the public.
This would be coupled with a further £9m for roads already allocated across the following three financial years, which would be brought forward into 2023/24.
The group says the £20.5m total allocation for roads would then be split by each district and borough to deliver £2.928m of repairs in each area next year.
Other proposals include reductions in the communications and marketing team and scrapping all unfilled vacant job postings.
This would save £670,000, which would be moved into the highways team to create staff for extra road maintenance.
And the group is proposing keeping councillors’ divisional funds at £5,000 rather than the Conservative Group’s planned reduction to £3,000.
These funds are allocated per councillor for community projects in their area.
Scrapping the £2,000 reduction would cost £132,000, with this cash found through contingency cash and an increased number of homes paying council tax.
The proposed 4.84 per cent council tax increase put forward by the Conservatives would still be enforced under the Independents’ plans.
Cllr Francis Purdue-Horan (Ind), who will propose the plans, said: “It’s a legal budget and will be paid for by scrapping an office block we don’t need and bringing forward spending.
“It will be fairly allocated and deals with the biggest problem residents get in touch with us about.
“Ask anybody what they think about the state of our roads and pavements and they’ll tell you they’re diabolical.
“This budget amendment shows we’re listening and acting on residents’ concerns.”
Cllr Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who will second the plans, added: “We’ve told Conservatives time and time again we don’t need new offices at Top Wighay.
“Since Covid, working habits have changed forever yet the council thinks it’s a good idea to build new offices.
“For me, a balanced, legal budget which fixes our broken roads and pavements is a no-brainer.”
Commenting on the Independents’ budget plans, Cllr Richard Jackson (Con), cabinet member for finance, said it is full of “impractical gimmick proposals”.
He says the authority’s communications department does an “incredibly important job keeping the council in touch with the people we serve”.
His planned reduction in divisional funds will “provide more support to our most vulnerable residents through other channels”, he added.
He also described highway spending as a “tired old gimmick” which would “jeopardise the funding available” for major infrastructure projects.
And on the Top Wighay proposal, he said the new building will be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, saving taxpayers £1.35m a year.
“Not so long ago, Ashfield Independents were complaining Nottinghamshire County Council was too remote from Ashfield and even walked to County Hall to make their point,” he said.
“Yet now, they oppose our plans to build an important new Nottinghamshire County Council office on their doorstep.”
He added: “[This] alternative budget … is just another small bundle of gestures and soundbites designed to get their picture in the papers.
“The budget proposed by the Conservatives is designed to provide sustainable, good-quality services for the next three years and beyond.”
The Labour Group has confirmed it will not be putting forward alternative budget documents and will likely not support the Independents’ plans.
For anyone who doesn’t know, petanque is a game sometimes referred to as French Boules. The aim of petanque, pronounced ‘Pet-onk’, is to throw metal balls (boules) towards the target ball (the jack). Points are scored by the player or team whose boules are closer than those of their opponent. The first to reach 13 is the winner of the game.
Petanque is growing in popularity locally and nationally and can be very addictive. It is suitable for a wide range of age groups and abilities, it is indeed a sport enjoyed by all ages.
The English national squad has three teams – England Youth, England Espoirs (young players aged 18-23) and England Seniors.
Ravenshead Petanque Club has grown steadily since its formation less than 5 years ago and now is one of the largest clubs in the area with almost 80 members. Playing in their well known ‘purple’ colours the club is affiliated to Petanque England and falls within the Mercia region, one of seventeen regions in England. Its members play in various leagues and competitions locally, regionally and nationally. They are current holders of many trophies including the Sherwood Shield, and the Thursday Pairs League & Cup competitions.
Pictured: Some of the Ravenshead Petanque Members in action (Courtesy of Steve Harrington)
Ravenshead Petanque Club hold social sessions at The Leisure Centre, Longdale Lane, Ravenshead NG15 9AG on Wednesday & Saturday afternoons from 2 – 4pm and Thursdays evenings 7 – 9pm. Visitors and new members are very welcome – no experience required. All equipment can be provided.
