Friday, 29 November 2013

Bedford Drug Dealers Jailed

Police mounted a secret surveillance operation on a man they suspected of being a major drug supplier and discovered he had "two families."
 
Every morning Errol Brown would leave the home he shared with his wife Margaret their and two children and then take a stroll to the home nearby of his lover and the mother of his two other children.
 
A court heard Jamaican born Brown was providing for both women and the children with the proceeds of his drugs business - peddling cocaine and heroin on the streets of Bedford.
 
Luton crown court was told the other woman in Brown's life, Janice Saunders was one of a number of people he used to transfer his ill gotten gains out to relatives in Jamaica. Between April 2010 and January of this year more than £100,000 was sent in money transfers to Jamaica, where Brown was having a house built. Those 'employed' by Brown were often drug addicts themselves and were paid in Class A drugs.
 
Brown recruited people to go into local shops in Bedford to make the money transfers so as not to draw attention to himself. But today 43 year old Brown's dreams of enjoying a life in the sun lay in tatters as he began an 11 year jail sentence. He was jailed after pleading guilty to two charges of conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin and money laundering.
 
Judge Stuart Bridge told Brown of Milburn Road in Bedford that the profits from his evil trade had allowed him to "fund two families." The judge said "You were the principal mover and beneficiary." With him in the dock were eight other members of his gang.
 
Andrew Copeland prosecuting told how in July of 2012 Bedfordshire Police mounted a secret surveillance operation on Brown, who was suspected on being a major drug supplier in his home town of Bedford. He had already served a prison sentence for drug dealing and detectives suspected he had returned to his "previous occupation."
 
For two months officers were able to monitor his activities, watching his movements, who he met, the alleyway where he met associates, who was coming to his home and where he went every morning. That was to Delamere Walk in Bedford and the home of Saunders. Detectives discovered the 36 year old, who had divorced her first husband, had in fact given birth to two children by Brown and he was maintaining two families. They also discovered street dealers working for him were selling wraps of crack cocaine and heroin in Warwick Avenue in Bedford and would be supplied or "reloaded" by others who were higher up in the chain of command.
 
Brown even had a member of his gang acting as a 'chauffeur' to drive him wherever he wanted. In September of last year Bedfordshire Police arrested Brown and other members of his gang. Brown was bailed and, even then, continued to run his business.
 
Police discovered he was employing people including Saunders to send money to his relatives in Jamaica to finance the building of a house. She is thought to have personally sent out around £25,000 in money transfers to Jamaica.
 
In January of this year Brown was re-arrested along with other gang members who had been recruited by him following the arrests of others in his gang back in September. After Brown was led off to begin his 11 year sentence, Judge Bridge sentenced other members of the gang.
 
Ross Kirton, 39, of Devizes Avenue, Bedford, who pleaded guilty to the two charges of conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin and money laundering and who had been Brown's  "trusted" lieutenant, was jailed for four years.
 
Simon Campbell, 46, a cousin of Brown from Stafford Court, Riverside Close, Bedford who was convicted by a jury of the conspiracy to supply charges and money laundering, was jailed for four years. Just weeks before his arrest he had bought a Rolex watch paying £5,250 in cash.
 
Simon Willars, 40, of Bruthwaite Green, Bedford, a street dealer who was found guilty of the two charges of conspiracy to supply lass A drugs, was jailed for three years.
 
Richard Henderson, 35, another street dealer convicted by a jury of two offences of conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, was jailed for three years.
 
Karl White, 34, a street dealer who pleaded guilty to the two conspiracy to supply charges from De Parys Avenue in Bedford, received an 18 month jail sentence which was suspended for two years.  He was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work.
 
Samantha Brydon, 47, and her partner Jeremiah Wilson, 34, both of Kempster Close in Bedford, who were each found guilty of money laundering, were each given a 12 month community order with supervision and made the subjects of a drug rehabilitation requirement.
 
Willson had sent more than £6,800 to Jamaica for Brown and Brydon had transferred more than £4,000. Janice Saunders of Delamere Walk in Bedford will be sentenced next month
 
Please note - All of the court copies are provided by South Beds News Agency, who retain the copyright© for all articles published.

Biggleswade Jubilee Wood


Thursday, 28 November 2013

Plant a tree, help us to create a community woodland for Biggleswade


Central Bedfordshire Council is planting over 8,000 trees to create a Jubilee Wood on land to the east of Biggleswade, thanks to an English Woodland Grant Scheme award.
 
 
The council, in partnership with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and many local groups and schools, will be planting a mixture of native species including Hornbeam, English oak and Wild Service trees. 
 
The tree planting was kicked off by Cllr Caroline Maudlin, Chairman of the council and Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Deputy Executive member for Sustainable Communities Services who planted a Wych Elm tree along the edge of the public footpath. The Ivel Valley Conservation Volunteers continued with the planting; just one of the many voluntary organisations who will be helping over the coming week. 
 
Cllr Ian Dalgarno said: “The new Jubilee woodland will create a fantastic legacy for future generations and I look forward to seeing it grow and mature over the coming years”. 
 
Cllr Mauldin added: “With over 8,000 trees being planted, we’ve got our work cut out! But it was really fantastic to plant this first one and we hope that lots of people come along this weekend to join in planting the rest.” 
 
On Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December, residents can join in the planting event between 9am and 4pm. Please wear suitable clothing, sturdy footwear and if you have a spade you are happy to use, please bring this along too. If you can, please walk to the site. Limited parking will be available on site for those that need it, but you can walk there using the public footpath from Saxon Drive, through the allotments. 
 
The land, which is owned by the council, is being planted following archaeological investigations on the site and to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.  
 
The Jubilee Wood will cover approximately 20 acres of land and will provide a fabulous new woodland for Biggleswade residents to enjoy.  
 
The Jubilee Wood will form an important part of the Biggleswade 'Green Wheel', a project with the vision for a green ‘circular’ corridor around Biggleswade, which encourages walking and cycling and increases biodiversity. 
 
The woodland will contain a number of paths named after key tree varieties which will give permissive access for the public to enjoy the woodland. 
 
To get to Jubilee Wood, follow the Public Footpath through the Biggleswade allotment site, and alongside the adjacent field.  For a map and other details please visit:  http://bedsrcc.org.uk/latestnews/plant-a-tree-flyer-nov2013.pdf

Thursday, 21 November 2013

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Events


Get in the mood for 50th Anniversary episode, The Day of the Doctor with events in our libraries.
 
Dr Who activities at Biggleswade Library from Wednesday 20, November to Saturday 23, November
Come and have ago at a Dr Who treasure hunt and other activities. Watch out for the Dalek too - but don't worry we've got a sofa you can hide behind!

No need to book, just turn up. For further details contact Biggleswade Library on 0300 300 8055

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Christmas and New Year bin collections

 
 
 
Bin collections change slightly over Christmas and the New Year. Please put your usual wheeled bin / bags out as normal by 7am on the revised collection days. You can check your normal bin collection day in the section below.
 
 
Scheduled bin collection dayRevised bin collection day
Monday, 23 DecemberSaturday, 21 December
Tuesday, 24 DecemberMonday, 23 December
Wednesday, 25 DecemberTuesday, 24 December
Thursday, 26 DecemberFriday, 27 December
Friday, 27 DecemberSaturday, 28 December
Monday, 30 DecemberNo change
Tuesday, 31 DecemberNo change
Wednesday, 1 JanuaryThursday, 2 January
Thursday, 2 JanuaryFriday, 3 January
Friday, 3 JanuarySaturday, 4 January
 
The last garden waste and bulky waste collection will be on Friday, 20 December.
 
All wheeled bin collections including garden and bulky waste will resume as normal from week commencing Monday, 6 January, 2014.
 
 

Prepare for bad winter weather and win a free Home Emergency Kit


Go to:

https://www.bllrf.org.uk/content/?id=246

Monday, 18 November 2013

Bedfordshire Police Officer Recruitment



Recruitment for Police Officers will be open between the 18th November and 1st December 2013

For full details of the criteria and selection process please visit the Bedfordshire Police site

We have a number of events throughout the County where you can come along and find out more about becoming a Police Officer

See Events Calendar

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Police Save Family From Fire

10 November 2013

 

Police Save Family From Fire


Two Bedfordshire Police officers saved a family from a house fire in Arlesey last night by putting out the blaze and rescuing a woman from an upstairs bedroom.
 
The incident happened in Cluny Way, Arlesey at around 12.30am this morning (Sunday) after receiving a 999 call from a mother of three saying she and her family were trapped in an upstairs bedroom due to a fire downstairs.
 
The Fire Service was on route but still a few minutes away, and while the three children had been lowered to safety from an upstairs window to a member of the public who bravely came to their aid, the mother was still trapped. When officers, who were close by, arrived they forced entry to the house before extinguishing the fire in the kitchen, enabling the woman to escape unharmed.
 
Both officers suffered the effects of smoke inhalation, but did not require treatment. The woman and her family were not harmed. An investigation into what caused the fire is now under way.
 
Inspector Jim Goldsmith who deployed the officers to the fire last night said: “This was a selfless act by the officers and the member of the public who also came to this family’s rescue. The Fire Service were just minutes away but the officers thought nothing of breaking in and putting out the blaze with no thought to their own safety. It doesn’t bear thinking about what might have happened had they not acted so bravely.”
 
 


 

Saturday, 2 November 2013

Crime in Biggleswade reported to the Police



Committed Committed Offence Street
Date Times
       
28th August 00.01 to 12.00 Theft from vehicle London Road
4th September 00.00 to 12.00 Other theft or unauthorised taking London Road
4th September 16.00 to 17.00 Other theft or unauthorised taking Market Square
5th September 17.30 to 18.00 Assault with injury Osprey Road
6th September 09.30 to 13.30 theft of pedal cycle Devon Drive
7th September 13.00 to 17.00 Other theft or unauthorised taking Exmoor Avenue
7th September 14.00 to 15.00 Other theft or unauthorised taking Potton Road
7th September 14.00 Shoplifting Market Square
9th September 13.30 to 15.50 Burglary in a dwelling Stratton Way
9th September 11.00 to 12.30 Criminal Damage - other Market Square
11th September 11.00 to 13.27 Trafficking in controlled drugs Lincoln Crescent
11th September 09.00 to 11.50 Other theft or unauthorised taking Drove Road
12th September 12.30 to 13.40 Shoplifting Market Square
12th September 12.40 to 12.55 Shoplifting Market Square
13th September 20.00 to 21.35 Burglary in a dwelling London Road
15th September 11.30 to 12.30 Theft from vehicle Bunyan Road
15th September 12.22 to 12.25 Shoplifting Potton Road
16th September 17.30 Criminal Damage - to Dwellings The Baulk
16th September 15.50 to 10.55 Criminal Damage - to vehicles Winston Crescent
17th September 02.30 Burglary in a building other than a dwelling Market Square
17th September 09.30 to 10.00 Other theft or unauthorised taking Church Street
17th September 18.00 to 18.48 Shoplifting Church Street
18th September 15.40 to 16.08 Burglary in a building other than a dwelling London Road
18th September 16.45 Shoplifting London Road
18th September 19.00 to 08.00 Theft from vehicle Spring Close
18th September 06.00 to 18.00 Theft from vehicle Shortmead Street
18th September 23.00 to 06.15 Theft from vehicle London Road
19th September 19.00 to 17.00 Theft from vehicle Auckland Road
20th September 21.30 to 21.45 Other theft or unauthorised taking London Road
20th September 20.00 to 14.30 Other theft or unauthorised taking Northfields
21st September 19.15 Assault with injury London Road
21st September 18.10 to 18.14 Assault without injury Sun Street
21st September 13.17 Other theft or unauthorised taking Church Street
21st September 14.05 Shoplifting Church Street
21st September 16.00 to 09.00 Criminal Damage - to other buildings Chestnut Avenue
21st September 19.00 to 08.15 Criminal Damage - to vehicles Shortmead Street
21st September 16.00 Shoplifting Church Street
22nd September 02.00 to 02.57 Theft Making off without payment Rowan Crescent
23rd September 18.00 to 12.30 Other theft or unauthorised taking Reynolds Close
24th September 14.15 Criminal Damage - to Dwellings Mead End
24th September 23.00 to 07.00 Theft from vehicle Mead End
27th September 16.25 to 16.35 Criminal Damage - to vehicles Church Street
27th September 17.00 to 17.15 Shoplifting London Road
28th September 02.32 Criminal Damage - to other buildings Reynolds Close
28th September 09.05 Shoplifting High Street


Domestic Burglaries

There have been 2 reported Domestic Burglaries.

9th September, between 13.30 - 15.50. Offenders entered property by reaching through vented window to unlock larger window. One suspect charged with this offence, while one suspect has been bailed. On-going investigation.
 
13th September, between 20.00 - 21.35. Offenders entered premises by smashing glass in door at front of property to allow entry. On-going investigation.
 
Motor Vehicle Crimes
 
There have been a total of 7 reported Vehicle Crimes in this period, all of which are Theft from Motor Vehicles Offences.
 
28th / 30th August.  Catalytic Convertor stolen from a Ford Pickup in garage forecourt in London Road.
 
15th September 11.30 to 12.30. Wing mirror stolen from Ford Focus whilst parked on owners drive in Bunyan Road.
 
18th September 06.00 - 18.00. Entry gained to a parked and secured vehicle in Shortmead Street Car Park by means unknown.
 
18th / 19th September. Catalytic Convertor stolen from Mercedes Sprinter van in London Road.
 
18th / 19th September. Catalytic Convertor stolen from Mercedes Sprinter van in Spring Close.
 
19th / 20th September. Catalytic Convertor stolen from Mercedes Sprinter van in Auckland Road.
 
24th / 25th September. Power tools stolen from an insecure vehicle parked on a driveway in Mead End.
 
Assaults
 
5th September 17.30 - 18.00. Altercation involving young children, one of whom received reddening to her back in Osprey Road.
 
21st September. Male charged with Common Assault following incident in Sun Street.
 
21st September 1915 Red Lion Public House. Altercation between two female friends resulting in one female receiving minor injury to face. Matter resolved at the time through Restorative Justice Process. The matter falls within our Night Time (NTE) time.
 
Drugs
 
11th September. Hertfordshire Police Officers whilst carrying out wanted person enquiries at an address in Lincoln Crescent discovered a cannabis factory inside the house. 
 
Other Thefts (this covers the Theft of items which are not included in Burglary offences or Shoplifting)
 
There have been plant pots stolen from gardens in the following streets: Potton Road, Exmoor Avenue, Reynolds Close and Northfields.
 
There has been a report of the Theft of a caravan from a garden in Drove Road, a generator from a business premises in London Road and two reported Theft of Phones, one Market Square and one London Road. There was a report of cash being stolen from an ATM at ASDA when the victim forgot to take and walked off without collecting their money.