Latest news with #MaxineHarris
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Night Watcher' who tied up terrified woman and stole £1.4m worth of jewellery seen in new CCTV
A huge hunt is underway to snare the attacker who brutally assaulted the woman and forced her to open safes in the shocking robbery in Sevenoaks, Kent on June 21 last year Police have shared new images in a desperate bid to hunt down an elusive"Night Watcher" suspect who stole £1.4million worth of jewellery. The violent robber ambushed a 63-year-old businesswoman alone in her home - pistol-whipping her across the forehead and splitting her head open - before tying her up in a terrifying two-hour ordeal. A huge hunt is underway to snare the attacker who forced the woman to open safes in the shocking robbery in Sevenoaks, Kent on June 21 last year, before escaping with the haul. Valuables stolen included diamond-encrusted earrings, a sapphire pendant and watches. Detectives have released images of the same makes and models of three of the watches stolen in the brazen robbery including a £55,000 Bvlgari watch snatched from the terrified victim's wrist as she was dragged upstairs and forced to open a safe. Officers hope that by releasing the images they will be able to find out where the pieces were sold on to. The watches police have released images of are the same make and model of those stolen. They include: a Bvlgari Lvcea which was worn by the victim when it was snatched worth £55,084, an 18ct white gold Patek Philippe Gondolo Quartz wristwatch worth £68,661, annd a Breguet Reine de Naples ladies watch valued at £40,043. The robbery was featured on Crimewatch Live last month. Detective Inspector Maxine Harris of Kent Police who is leading the investigation, said: "The response to our appeals including the Crimewatch episode has been encouraging and our officers are continuing to actively explore information and names of interest provided from members of the public. "Our investigation also includes finding out where the stolen jewellery and other possessions may have been sold onto. We really want people to look at these latest images which show some of the distinctive watches taken. One of these, a Bvlgari watch was snatched from the victim's wrist'" Kent Police also published several appeals following the burglary, after officers identified CCTV images of a suspect on a bike. He was found to have also used the train network and had accessed stations including Staplehurst, Marden and Hildenborough. The man was wearing a face mask, cream coloured baseball cap and had trainers with distinctive red soles. He sometimes wore a high-visibility top when cycling. An extensive investigation remains ongoing, and the suspect is now also being formally linked to at least five other burglaries in Kent since 2016. These include victims in Tonbridge, Maidstone, Marden and Ide Hill near Westerham. Police added: "We are continuing to make significant and extensive enquiries to track down the man responsible for this cowardly assault and burglary.'It is possible he has strong connections to the Staplehurst area, although we are not discounting that he may live outside of Kent. He should not be approached."
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Detectives hunting 'Night Watcher' burglar release images of three watches stolen in violent £1.4m raid on 63-year-old woman's home
Detectives hunting the 'Night Watcher' have released images of three watches that were snatched in a violent £1.4million raid. The armed robber split open a 63-year-old businesswoman's head by pistol-whipping her when she was alone at home in Sevenoaks, Kent. She was bound with electrical cables during the terrifying two-hour raid and dragged upstairs where she was forced to open safes on June 21 last year. The armed thief confronted the victim in the front garden of her home before grabbing her, and holding her at gunpoint. Her £55,000 Bvlgari watch was ripped from her wrist in the raid as well as diamond-encrusted earrings, a sapphire pendant and watches. Officers hope that by releasing the images they will be able to find out where the pieces were sold on to. The watches police have released images of are the same make and model of those stolen. They include: a Bvlgari Lvcea worth £55,084; an 18ct white gold Patek Philippe Gondolo Quartz wristwatch worth £68,661; and a Breguet Reine de Naples ladies watch valued at £40,043. Detective Inspector Maxine Harris of Kent Police who is leading the investigation, said: 'The response to our appeals including the Crimewatch episode has been encouraging and our officers are continuing to actively explore information and names of interest provided from members of the public. 'Our investigation also includes finding out where the stolen jewellery and other possessions may have been sold onto. 'We really want people to look at these latest images which show some of the distinctive watches taken. 'One of these, a Bvlgari watch was snatched from the victim's wrist.' The robbery was featured on Crimewatch Live last month where the terrified victim spoke about her ordeal. With her face hidden and her voice altered, she said: 'It was a lovely sunny day. All of a sudden there was this armed robber pointing a gun at me. 'I was shocked. He grabbed my collar and told me to open the safes.' She recounted how she went to the garage and opened the safe there before being dragged to the house. Once she had opened the safe upstairs in the bedroom, the raider struck her with the weapon. Some of the stolen jewellery taken in June last year from a property near Sevenoaks in Kent The woman said: 'He split my forehead open with a gun. There was blood everywhere, in my eyes. 'He tied my hands and then my feet and then tied them together. The pain was excruciating. 'He then put a chair on my back and I lay there in sheer panic. I thought "oh my goodness, is he going to kill me?".' An hour later her husband came home and was confronted with the scene which he said was like a 'horror movie'. He raised the alarm and she was taken to hospital. The woman said of the robber: 'He has done this many times, I believe, and was pretty professional. 'I don't see the reason why he had to split my head open. Maybe that's a sadistic streak he's got in him. He's a complete coward.' Speaking about the devastating impact of the attack, she said: 'You can't just forget about it. You think about it every day. You're wary of people. You suspect everybody now.' A £10,000 Crimestoppers reward has been offered for information that leads to the conviction of the suspect.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Burglar hit pensioner on head with gun in Sevenoaks linked to five other raids
A burglar beat a pensioner on the head with a gun in her garden before tying her up and ransacking her home in Sevenoaks. Around 50 items were stolen on June 21, 2024, from the home near Wildernesse Golf Club according to an "extensive investigation". Kent Police linked the suspect to five other burglaries in Kent since 2016, with a renewed appeal being issued on BBC Crimewatch yesterday (March 18). During the burglary at around 3.55pm, the suspect approached the victim in her garden and struck her head with the gun. The woman was then restrained whilst at least 50 items were stolen, including rings, pendants and watches from her home. (Image: Kent Police) Kent Police published several appeals following the burglary after officers identified CCTV images of a suspect on a bike. He was established to have also used the train network and had accessed stations including Staplehurst, Marden and Hildenborough. The man was wearing a face mask, cream coloured baseball cap and had trainers with distinctive red soles. He sometimes wore a high-visibility top when cycling. An extensive investigation remains ongoing, and the suspect is now also being formally linked to burglaries in Tonbridge, Maidstone, Marden and Ide Hill near Westerham since 2016. Detective Inspector Maxine Harris spoke about the investigation on Crimewatch Live to urge viewers to listen to an audio clip which includes demands made by the offender to his victim. The show also aired some of the latest images linked to the case, including that of a bag carried by the suspect - possibly a Timbuk2 brand. (Image: Kent Police) Enhanced photos were also published of the suspect's appearance and clothing, as well as his partially disguised face. Detective Inspector Maxine Harris said: 'We are continuing to make significant and extensive enquiries to track down the man responsible for this cowardly assault and burglary. 'It is possible he has strong connections to the Staplehurst area, although we are not discounting that he may live outside of Kent. He should not be approached.' DI Harris added: 'Our officers have been making further house-to-house enquiries throughout the Staplehurst area and we are now also urging residents to listen to the audio recording of the suspect's voice, which includes demands made to his terrified victim. 'If you think this voice sounds even vaguely familiar to someone you may know it is vital that you contact us.' Anyone with information can provide this through the online Public Portal. You can also call Kent Police on 01622 652006 quoting reference 46/102682/24. If you prefer to be anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or by using the online form.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
New appeal to find burglar who tied up woman
A renewed police appeal has been launched with BBC's Crimewatch to find a violent burglar who tied up and assaulted an elderly woman in her home in Sevenoaks. Kent Police said the victim was beat with what appeared to be a handgun before her property near Wildernesse Golf Club was ransacked just before 16:00 BST on 21 June 2024. At least 50 items worth about £1.4m were taken, including jewellery and watches. A £10,000 reward from Crimestoppers is also being offered for information which leads to the conviction of those responsible. CCTV images show a potential suspect travelling by train between Staplehurst and Sevenoaks on the morning of the attack. After the burglary, he was seen on trains between Hildenborough, Tonbridge and Marden, before cycling in Staplehurst shortly after 18:00 in a high-visibility top. The suspect, who was wearing a face mask, cream-coloured baseball cap and had trainers with red soles, initially approached the victim in her garden and struck her head with the gun. The latest appeal from police includes new footage and an audio recording of the suspect. An extensive investigation remains ongoing and the suspect is now also being formally linked to at least five other burglaries across Kent since 2016. Det Insp Maxine Harris said: "If you think this voice sounds even vaguely familiar to someone you may know it is vital that you contact us." It is possible the suspect has strong connections to the Staplehurst area, although police are not discounting that he may live outside Kent. Police have warned the public to not approach the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police or Crimestoppers. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Reward of £10k offered after violent burglary Kent Police Wildernesse Golf Club Crimestoppers Crimewatch Live
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How to tell in 60 seconds if you're suffering a condition as common as hayfever, but 'few people have ever heard of it'
Health experts are urging people to test themselves for a condition that is 'as common as hayfever, yet few will have ever heard of it'. Around 10 million people in the UK today suffer with Raynaud's – a vascular condition that causes numbness, tingling, skin colour change and pain in fingers and toes due to fluctuating and cold temperatures, or stress. Raynaud's can also be the first sign of rare but more serious, life-limiting auto-immune condition like scleroderma, which sees the hardening of skin and sometimes, internal organs. Health charity Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK) is urging the public to take a 60-second online test to find out if they may have the condition. Raynaud's is caused by the acute narrowing of blood vessels in the body's extremities, notably fingers and toes, due to fluctuating temperatures or stress. READ MORE: The common cholesterol mistake a professor has warned could 'make things worse' READ MORE: Planets align in rare planetary parade that won't be seen again for 15 years This can result in a range of symptoms including numbness, tingling, swelling, skin colour changes or pain. Most will have 'primary Raynaud's' and won't experience any additional underlying complications. For some, however, Raynaud's is a sign of a life-limiting health condition such as scleroderma, lupus and vasculitis. This is known as 'secondary Raynaud's', says the charity. "When I get a Raynaud's attack I cannot do a thing with my hands. I get red lumps on my hands that look like chill blains and they're swollen, sore and look like sausages," explains Maxine Harris, a 61-year-old Raynaud's sufferer from Manchester. Asma Pandor, 44-year-old, primary school teacher, shared her experience: 'From the age of six, I began to experience symptoms of Raynaud's. I moved to the UK from Africa in 1987 with my family on a snowy January day. "My hands would go white and numb on the way to school as a child. For years, I was told the symptoms were due to poor circulation and I wasn't given any further information or a diagnosis. "At 14-years-old, I took matters into my own hands and started to do my own research on the internet and discovered that I may have Raynaud's. I have since been diagnosed with Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (a form of Scleroderma) after experiencing other symptoms such as Calcinosis. "I recently took the online Raynaud's test out of curiosity and to support further research into it. I hope more people will take the test, not only to help identify if they might be affected by the condition but also to support research and treatments for the minority of us that are diagnosed with more severe auto-immune conditions.' There are important distinctions that can be made in the symptoms of those with primary and secondary Raynaud's, but insufficient research into the condition means limited understanding on this. Greater participation in SRUK's online test and medical survey is needed to gain deeper insight into the different manifestations of the Raynaud's phenomenon, the charity says. More than 31,000 people who have already taken part since the campaign's launch in mid-November last year. Some 93% received results that indicated they may have the condition and should seek support, said SRUK. Out of those flagged by the test as potentially having Raynaud's, over 2,000 people completed a further anonymous medical survey. But more data is needed to strengthen the study's robustness, says the charity. The anonymous data gathered will be vital to inform research into Raynaud's and other severe, related auto-immune conditions like scleroderma - and might help in improving diagnosis and treatment. SRUK hopes this will become the largest 'citizen science' project of its kind into Raynaud's. The research project is led by SRUK in partnership with Professor Francesco Del Galdo, Associate Professor of Rheumatology at University of Leeds and Rheumatology Consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust. Professor Francesco Del Galdo said: 'The more people take the online test the better we will understand unknown implications of Raynaud's. The data collected will shed light on the different aspects of Raynaud's attacks as well as the impact on people's health, lifestyle and social factors.' 'Medical research is critical for making new discoveries, to help those affected better manage symptoms and even, find a cure. Citizen science offers an especially unique opportunity to crowdsource data that we otherwise might not have access to through formal channels, in a way that reflects real-world conditions and diverse populations. With your help, we can make great strides for the millions affected by Raynaud's.' Sue Farrington, Chief Executive, SRUK, said: 'We are asking as many people as possible who think they may have Raynaud's to take our simple online test and be part of the answer. The more insights we gain through our citizen science project, the better we can advocate for people living with the condition and provide tailored treatment and care options. This is especially urgent as we are facing a considerable gap in information. 'We have found that a significant proportion of the population are unlikely to see their doctor if they experience cold hands and feet regularly (46%) or if they suffer with chilblains – swollen, blistering patches of skin (52%). 'Since 2016, there have only been ten clinical trials on scleroderma patients completed in the UK and only one active clinical trial on Raynaud's.' To take the online test visit:
