Latest news with #NorthamptonshirePolice
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Officer sacked for messages to vulnerable woman
A police officer has been dismissed and handed a suspended prison sentence after attempting to initiate a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman involved in a case he was investigating. PC Jody Lathwell, formerly of Northamptonshire Police, was leading an investigation into serious offences when he tried to contact the woman via LinkedIn in November 2023, a misconduct panel heard. The woman had made it clear she was vulnerable following an alleged abusive relationship. The hearing report stated: "The suspect believed that the former officer's motive in carrying out the investigation was the inappropriate interest in the complainant." The 44-year-old, from Bletchley in Milton Keynes, was suspended from duty while the force's Counter Corruption Unit carried out an investigation. He was later charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office and pleaded guilty to one of the charges at Northampton Crown Court on 17 April. The other charge was ordered to remain on the file. On 28 May, he was sentenced at the same court to 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. During the investigation, Lathwell said he was "in a bad place" at the time. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the court was told in mitigation that Lathwell had been a police officer for just over a year. However, the misconduct panel concluded that this offered "little insight into the mindset of seeking out sexual interactions with a person who had reported a serious sexual offence to him". The hearing found that, although Lathwell did not contact the woman directly, he exchanged sexually explicit messages with a LinkedIn account he believed belonged to her. That account was later found to be controlled by the suspect in the same investigation. He did not attend the gross misconduct hearing at Northamptonshire Police force headquarters but admitted the allegations through a representative. Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet ruled that dismissal without notice was the "only appropriate outcome that would provide reassurance to the public". Deputy Chief Constable Ash Tuckley added that the officer's actions "fell well below the high standards" expected. Lathwell has also been added to the police barred list. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Northamptonshire Police Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
21 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
'Fall from window' case in Northampton dropped by police
A criminal investigation launched after a seriously-injured woman was thought to have fallen through a window has been Police say they are no longer treating the incident in Towerfield Square in Northampton as woman had been found in the early hours of Saturday morning.A man arrested in connection with the incident has been released without charge. Officers had been called to Towerfield Square at 01:00 BST on 24 May where they found the 37-year-old woman with serious was taken to hospital where she was said to be in a critical the time, police believed her injuries might have been "consistent with a fall from a window".A 40-year-old man was arrested and released on bail pending further force has now announced that "a thorough investigation and review of the evidence has concluded that the police investigation can be closed".The man detained on Saturday has been released with no further action. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Man who led police on two car chases in Northampton jailed
An 18-year-old driver who led police on two car chases within three weeks has been sentenced to one year and six months in a young offender Bilalaj raced through Northampton town centre and hit a traffic island after escaping from a routine car stop on 7 Police said he then drove a different vehicle at speeds of up to 100mph, damaging two police cars before he was investigating officer said the roads would be "a safer place without him" while he was in custody. Northampton Crown Court was told police officers tried to carry out a routine stop on a silver Vauxhall Astra being driven by Bilalaj, from Lutterworth Road in Northampton, in Abington drove off, speeding through the town centre, ignoring traffic lights and driving on the wrong side of the said he had several near-collisions with other vehicles before hitting a traffic island. Instead of stopping the damaged car, he joined the main A45 before heading to Standens Barn Road where he lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier. He escaped from the car but was caught after a short chase on 8 March, he appeared before Northampton Magistrates' Court charged with dangerous driving, possession of cannabis and driving without a full licence or insurance. While released on conditional bail, he was caught behind the wheel of a Range Rover just before 01:00 GMT on 25 time, he reached speeds of 100mph and damaged two police cars while trying to escape arrest. He was charged with another count of dangerous driving and driving without insurance or full admitted all the offences and was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on 23 April. He received one year and six months' imprisonment in a young offender institution for dangerous driving and drug was also banned from driving for one year and six months and will have to take an extended retest. The other driving offences were ordered to stay on the investigation officer, PC Tom Cottle, said: "Rebian Bilalaj showed a complete disregard for the courts, innocent road users and police by leading us on two dangerous pursuits in the space of three weeks."I'm pleased to see Bilalaj has been handed an 18-month prison sentence – our roads are a safer place without him on them." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
British authorities investigate arson attack at Princess Diana's home. Photos
Amir Hagag Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, has stated that a building at Princess Diana's former home was targeted in a suspected arson attack, according to the British newspaper The Independent. Firefighters rushed overnight to the scene of a blaze at a farm in the Althorp area, which includes the World Heritage-listed estate where the late Princess of Wales grew up. The Earl shared photos of the massive blaze on social media, saying: "I was shocked to learn that the farm was apparently burned down by arsonists last night." The late princess's younger brother noted that the building was empty at the time, saying: "It's very sad that anyone would think this is funny." Northamptonshire Police announced Wednesday afternoon that they had begun investigating the fire at the abandoned farmhouse, considering it to be arson. In a statement, the police said: "The fire, which was reported in the early hours of this morning, is believed to be deliberate, but the exact cause is yet to be determined. Given the isolated location of the building, officers would like to hear from anyone who may have noticed any activity near the farmhouse before the fire was discovered." According to the report, police arrived to find the 18th-century, two-story property "fully engulfed in flames." At the height of the fire, four fire crews used water hoses to contain it and prevent its spread. British authorities investigate arson attack at Princess Diana's home. Photos British authorities investigate arson attack at Princess Diana's home. Photos British authorities investigate arson attack at Princess Diana's home. Photos read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's childhood home and resting place 'targeted by arsonists' as farmhouse burned down
Arsonists targeted a farmhouse at the childhood home and final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales in the early hours of Wednesday. The late royal's younger brother Earl Spencer took to social media on Wednesday to reveal that the structure at Althorp House, Northamptonshire had been burned by vandals at around 1.30am. He posted on X, formerly knwon as Twitter: "Stunned to learn that one of @AlthorpHouse's farmhouses — fortunately, unoccupied at the time — was apparently burnt down by vandals last night. "With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best. So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do." More details about the destruction of the farmhouse on the Dallington Grange were provided by the estate's gamekeeper Adey Greeno. He said: 'The farmhouse that we lost to a deliberate act of vandalism last night has now had to be razed to the ground for safety reasons. So sad. The world we live in.' Northamptonshire Police said the incident had "not been recorded as a crime at present, but this could change if there is evidence to indicate it was started deliberately'. Meanwhile, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said the two-storey building was "fully' alight when crews arrived. The brigade told the BBC firefighters with breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. One firefighter will reportedly remain on the scene with a water bowser to continue dampening down any remaining hotspots. David Fawkes, chief executive of the Althorp Estate, said: "The house and farm buildings have been unoccupied for several years and the site is scheduled for redevelopment as part of the Dallington Grange development. "The farmhouse was built in the late 18th Century, and it has been completely destroyed by the fire, but the surrounding outbuildings are undamaged. Our priority is to secure the site and make sure it is safe. "We are very grateful to Northampton Fire and Rescue Service and the estate team for dealing with the fire so effectively. We don't know how the fire started." Diana — the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry — lived in the Grade I-listed stately home from the time her parents John Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd divorced in 1969 to her marriage to King Charles, then Prince of Wales, in 1981. The princess tragically died aged 36, alongside her companion Dodi Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul, 41, following a car crash in Paris in 1997. She was burried on a small island in an ornamental lake — known as The Oval — within the grounds of the 13,000-acre country estate, which has belonged to the Spencer family since the 16th century. Opened in July 1998, the memorial is visited by approximately 150,000 people a year. In his 1998 book Althorp: The Story of an English House, Earl Spencer revealed the family's decision to bury his sibling on The Oval, saying: 'We all agreed that, with its beauty and tranquility, this was the place for Diana to be.'
