Chippenham man jailed for stealing Jaguar during test drive
Foster was arrested at Leigh Delamere services on the M4 the following day, Wiltshire Police said.He was jailed at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting robbery and driving a vehicle without a licence or insurance.Investigating officer Det Sgt Toni Nugent said: "Through trusting a stranger, the victim was taken advantage of."Many police units and departments worked together to ensure this case came to court, where Foster pleaded guilty to all offences. "I hope this sentence brings some reassurance to the victim."As well as his jail term, Foster was ordered to pay a surcharge of £228.
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BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wellington cafe owners distraught after two break-ins in a week
A cafe owner has said her family is distraught after the premises were broken into twice in one Akhtar runs the Early Bird Cafe in Wellington Railway Station, which was targeted on Tuesday and again on Thursday, causing more than £1,000 in well as smashed windows, stock was stolen along with a drill, plus loose change and the staff's tips Akhtar said: "The business is like our second home, we spend so much time here and we spend so much effort trying to build it up from scratch. It feels as if someone's attacked my home. It's just too personal." While the family tried to "get on with it" after the first incident, Mrs Akhtar said the second break-in was "a really big blow"."Because it just feels personal now, like someone's got it in for us and keeps coming back," she cafe owner added that her children were very upset by the break-ins and that the family were scared the intruder would return."They think that they're going to attack my home as well," she said."So my daughter didn't sleep all night because she was really really upset." As a result of the damage, the cafe has had to close for two days to get the windows boarded up, turning customers the business had insurance, their premium would cost more than paying for the repairs, and paying out of the profits would hit their ability to cover stock, wages and mortgage payments."I know it's not a large sum of money - but it's money that will help us to pay our rent, pay our mortgages, food costs, and it's just impacted us a lot," Mrs Akhtar said. "We can't take orders from customers so our regular customers have been turned away. We can't afford to keep closing the business."With the family struggling, they received a lifeline in the form of support from a local firm, CS Solicitors, which provided them with new windows. Mrs Akhtar said: "People like CS Solicitors, when they step forward and say to us 'look, you're part of this community and we're willing to help you', it means a lot to us."Without their support we wouldn't have been able to repair the windows as quickly as we hoped." Mohammed Khan from CS Solicitors told the BBC: "These thefts are not simple, petty thefts. These shake livelihoods, they take away the trust we've built within our community and that's something we want to restore as quickly as possible."People need to be aware and come forward if they know something."British Transport Police said it received a report at 07:40 BST on 14 August of a burglary at the cafe."Officers attended and inquiries into the incident are ongoing," a spokesperson said."An investigation has also been launched into an incident of criminal damage at the same location on Tuesday August 12."Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 109 of 14/08/25." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment driver in stolen car crashes into armed police van during 100mph police chase
Shocking footage shows a 100mph police chase on country roads that ended in a three-vehicle crash and jail for the driver. Marlon Henriques, 30, of Tidworth, Wiltshire, drove at speeds of over 85mph on 30mph roads while dangerously weaving in and out his lane while overtaking. After several near-misses, Henriques finally crashed into a white Citroen van - sending it flying into a hedge - before hitting the back of a police firearms vehicle. The 30-year-old had failed to stop after being caught driving at nearly double the speed limit, instead leading police on a hair-raising pursuit. Henriques, who police called one of the 'worst drivers' they'd ever seen, eventually had the tyres of his vehicle - which didn't even belong to him - punctured by a stinger device. He has now been jailed for nearly two years for his dangerous driving, which put 'numerous lives in danger'. Salisbury Crown Court heard that on June 10, Henriques, driving a black Volkswagen Arteon taken from his housemate, failed to stop for police in Bulford. He was seen overtaking two vehicles on solid white lines, and a pursuit was authorised. During the chase, officers had to reach speeds of more than 100mph to catch up with the driver. After failing to stop for officers with their blue lights and sirens on, Henriques instead overtook a vehicle on the brow of a hill - narrowly avoiding a collision with an oncoming army truck. He was also seen driving the wrong way round a roundabout to evade pursuing police vehicles. Henriques performed several further dangerous overtakes, driving at around 85mph in a 30mph zone and skipping a red light towards the A338. The pursuit continued in the direction of Marlborough and then onto Ludgershall Road, where Henriques veered onto a dirt road on Salisbury Plain. Footage shows the driver mounting a kerb to overtake a vehicle at a junction before speeding away from police cars with their sirens blaring. But as he made his way back towards Tidworth, a stinger device was successfully deployed, puncturing the two nearside tyres of Henriques' vehicle. His car is seen smashing into the back of a white Citroen van, sending it into a tree, before colliding into the rear of an unmarked armed response car that was ahead of the pursuit. After hitting the unmarked vehicle, armed officers run up to Henriques, shouting, 'Get out the car now! Show me your hands now', before detaining him in the road. He later admitted aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance and was jailed for 22 months. Henriques was also disqualified from driving for four years and 11 months. Following his sentence, Wiltshire Police Roads Policing officer PC Webster said: 'Henriques' driving is some of the worst I have seen. 'He put numerous lives in danger through his speeding and reckless overtaking, regularly driving through red lights and the wrong way around roundabouts. 'Stopping him involved excellent collaborative work between the Roads Policing Unit, neighbourhood and response officers, and I'm pleased he has now been sentenced. 'This incident took place during the middle of the day, and I want to thank all members of the public for their assistance and patience when dealing with this matter.'
The Guardian
32 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK rights watchdog warns against ‘heavy-handed' policing of Gaza protests
The UK's official human rights watchdog has written to ministers and police expressing concern at a potentially 'heavy-handed' approach to protests about Gaza and urging clearer guidance for officers in enforcing the law. In the letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the perception that peaceful protest could attract disproportionate police attention 'undermines confidence in our human rights protections'. Kishwer Falkner, the EHRC chair, wrote that it was vital that any policing of protests was both proportionate and based on clear legal tests. The letter raised concerns about 'reports of police engagement with individuals participating in forms of protest that are not linked to any proscribed organisation'. It cited as an example the case of Laura Murton, first revealed by the Guardian. Keny police threatened her with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide'. Murton filmed police telling her that even such general statements 'all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government'. During the exchange, one officer said the phrase 'Free Gaza' was 'supportive of Palestine Action', that it was illegal 'to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation', and that she had committed that offence with her signs. Falkner wrote: 'Whilst we acknowledge police expertise in assessing security risks, we want to emphasise that any interference with protest rights must be lawful and assessed case by case. 'Heavy-handed policing or blanket approaches risk creating a chilling effect, deterring citizens from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly through fear of possible consequences. 'This concern extends beyond those directly affected by police engagement to the broader health of our democracy, because the perception that peaceful protest may attract disproportionate police attention undermines confidence in our human rights protections.' Falkner urged ministers and police to make sure all officers were given 'clear and consistent guidance on their human rights obligations in relation to protest', which should 'ensure that the appropriate balance is maintained between public safety and the protection of essential human rights'. Murton told the Guardian last week that her solicitors had issued a letter of claim on her behalf to the chief constable of Kent police, in what was also said to be a move to remind other police forces of their responsibilities towards peaceful protests. Falkner said in a statement: 'The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy and must be protected even when dealing with complex and sensitive issues. 'We recognise the genuine challenges the police face in maintaining public safety, but we are concerned that some recent responses may not strike the right balance between security and fundamental rights. 'Our role as the national human rights institution is to uphold the laws that safeguard everyone's right to fairness, dignity and respect. When we see reports of people being questioned or prevented from peaceful protests that don't support proscribed organisations, we have a duty to speak out.' The Liberal Democrats called on Cooper to act swiftly. Lisa Smart, the party's home affairs spokesperson, said: 'The lack of clarity that has been given to police officers has led to confusion, increasing tensions and risks creating a chilling effect on freedom of speech. 'The home secretary needs to step in and give officers, often dealing with incredibly complex and sensitive situations, clear direction as to what is expected of them at protests. 'Without that officers will be left exposed and those exercising their democratic rights worried about the consequences.' The warning comes in the context of wider police operations targeting protesters who, unlike Murton, appear to directly express support for Palestine Action, which is illegal given the group's banned status. Membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act. The group was proscribed last month after incidents including one in which four people were arrested over damaged caused to two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. In the latest of a series of mass protests against the decision, more than 500 people were arrested in London last Saturday, almost all for displaying placards or signs allegedly supportive of Palestine Action. Half of those arrested were aged 60 or above, according to police figures. On Friday night the Metropolitan poice said a further 60 people would be prosecuted for 'showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action'. Amnesty International UK said that while it welcomed the EHRC letter, the watchdog had 'failed to acknowledge the hundreds of people unfairly arrested for peacefully exercising their right to free expression'. Sacha Deshmukh, the organisation's chief executive, said: 'This isn't just about the chilling effect on freedom of speech for people 'not linked to any proscribed organisation', as the EHRC states, it's also about the excessive policing of citizens' right to protest against a decision made by their elected government. 'Under international human rights law, protest speech should only be criminalised if it incites violence, hatred or discrimination. Holding a placard and peacefully stating opposition to a government decision to proscribe an organisation cannot realistically be treated as an example of incitement.' Downing Street has justified the ban on Palestine Action by saying it is 'a violent organisation that has committed violence, significant injury, extensive criminal damage', a description one of its co-founders has said is false and defamatory. The Home Office said the issues the EHRC had raised were an operational matter for the police. The Met referred the query to the Home Office.
