The family of a man who died after being stabbed in Southend have said that no words can describe what they have been going through since his death.

Hassan Mohammed, 24, of Camberwell in London, died in Southend Hospital on Tuesday, July 8, following an incident in York Road which took place at around 7pm on Monday, July 7.

In a tribute released today, his family said: "Hassan was a very friendly, caring person.

"He grew from a boy into a man and was a protector and best friend to his family. He was loved by all but especially by his two nieces who adored their Uncle Hass immensely.

"We pray that justice is served and that he soon will be able to rest in peace."

He received two stab wounds and a post mortem revealed the provisional cause of his death as blood loss.

Detectives investigating Hassan's death have charged student Tajwar Alam, 18, of Seaford Road, North London with his murder.

He will appear before magistrates at Southend on Monday, July 14. He is also charged with possession of a bladed instrument.

The county is set to heat up over the next few weeks as we head into the summer holiday period, and what better way to spend it than in a beer garden.

Beer festivals are due to pop up at pubs and venues in all parts of the county from now until the end of year, and we've rounded up 10 of those taking place in the summer:

Chelmsford Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Admirals Park, Chelmsford, July 15 - July 19

More than 340 Real Ales, over 80 ciders, a wide selection of International Beers, as well as wine, hot & cold food, and soft drinks available at all times, music on every evening (in separate marquee, family Day on Saturday with children's entertainment.

Brentwood Festival, Brentwood Centre,  Friday July 18  – Sunday July 20 

More than 100 real ales alongside the festival, which will be headlined by UB40.

Harwich Town Brewing Co Beer Festival Redoubt Fort, Main Rd, Harwich, Thursday July 24 – Sunday July 27

More than 60 real ales and ciders on offer. Admission £3, with free half pint if you bring your own non-glass tankard.

White Hart Inn 13th Annual Beer Festival, White Hart Inn, Swan Lane, Margaretting Tye, Ingatestone, Thursday July 24 - Sunday, July 27

Live music, champagne, Pimms tent and BBQ and real ales. 

Epping Ongar Railway Beer Festival, EO Railway, Friday August 1 - Sunday August 3

Organisers promise a range of more than 40+ cask beers available all weekend, alongside live music. Trains running into the evening on Saturday

Rodney Inn Beer Festival, North Hill, Little Baddow  Friday August 8 – Sunday August 10

Braintree Rugby Club Beer Festival, Braintree Rugby Club, Saturday August 9, noon till 11pm 

A day promised for all the family, with ale, cider and entertainment lined up for the day, including bands and a barbecue.

The Viper Summer Beer Festival, The Viper, Mill Green, Ingatestone Friday August 22 to Monday August 25

Promised more than 60 real ales, ciders and perries

Wakering Real Ale Festival, Gt Wakering RBL Club, 204 High Street, Gt Wakering Friday, August 22 to Monday August 25

Alcohol alongside entertainment, BBQ and food.

The Wheatsheaf Beer Festival, The Wheatsheaf, Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel Friday, August 22 to Monday August 25 

Sixteen to 20 real ales are promised, with 30p per pint going to the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

CASES heard by Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates from Thursday May 15 to Wednesday May 21.

Sent to prison

LEE MONK, 29, of Maldon Road, Witham, was given a 12 week prison sentence for driving along Victoria Road in Chelmsford on March 23 while disqualified and subject to a suspended sentence for the same offence.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

ADAM DEAN CANNON, 29, of Rothmans Avenue, Chelmsford, was sent to prison for four months for assaulting a woman at Chelmsford on December 26 while subject to a community order.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting her on December 31 and February 20 this year and was given two four month concurrent sentences.

The defendant was also given a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

He must not go to Boyne Drive in Springfield, or Eckersley Road or Lupin Drive in Chelmsford.

KIERON JOSEPH NOONE, 24, of Chelmsford Road, Good Easter, was sent to prison for 14 days concurrent for stealing a man’s top valued at £7.99 from H&M in Chelmsford on November 7.

The offence was serious because of a history of similar previous offending.

JEREMY JOHN CARABOTT, 38, of Speedwell Close, Witham, was sent to prison for ten weeks for harassing a woman between October 1, 2012 and March 23 this year at Witham by having unwanted contact with her whilst dog walking, standing outside her address on numerous occasions and knocking on her door several times.

The defendant was given a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting either the victim or David Clarke; and must not attend Barleyfield in Witham; Brook Close at Great Totham; Maldon Road Park at Witham or go to the work place of either the victim of Mr Clarke.

Suspended sentence

BENJAMIN ALEX HALL, 25, of West Avenue, Chelmsford, was given a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for two counts of trespassing at Danbury on or about February 20.

He stole a till and charity boxes to the value of £200 from Danbury Fine Foods and was given 12 weeks concurrent for stealing a cheque, till and charity boxes valued at £200 from Willows of Danbury dry cleaners.

The defendant was placed under a curfew for one month with electronic tagging and must carry out 80 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months. He must pay compensation of £150 and £170 respectively and an £80 victim surcharge. 

EDWARD STEPHEN PARKER, 28, of Stortford Road, Leaden Roding, was given a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for trespassing at Danbury on or about February 20.

He stole a till and charity boxes to the value of £200 from Danbury Fine Foods and was given 12 weeks concurrent for stealing a cheque, till and charity boxes valued at £200 from Willows of Danbury dry cleaners.

He was placed under a curfew for one month with electronic monitoring and must carry out 80 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay compensation of £150 and £170 respectively and an £80 victim surcharge.

Assault

KEVIN DOUGLAS SMITH, 51, of Littley Green, Howe Street, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months for assaulting a woman by beating her at Chelmsford on May 2. He must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

Breach of order

JAMES MELVILLE, 35, of George Street, Chelmsford, was ordered to carry out an extra 20 hours of unpaid, supervised work, in addition to the original requirements of a community order made on January 31, for failing to attend two appointments in April. He must also pay £50 costs.

CARL ANDREW STEIN , 37, of Widford Park Place, Chelmsford, was ordered to participate in the Bridge Project for ten days for failing to comply with the requirements of a community order imposed on August 29 by showing unacceptable behaviour on three occasions in April.

Criminal damage

DANIEL ROBINSON, 29, of Coverdale, Witham, was given a community order for causing £10,000 worth of damage to kitchen cupboards, walls, work surfaces, doors and skirting boards between November 15, 2013 and February 24 at Braintree.

He was ordered to participate in the Bridge Project for 15 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer, pay £100 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Drugs - possession

JOSEPH ROBERT HILL, 53, of Shaw Road, Witham, was fined £50 for possessing 0.4 grammes of cannabis, a class B drug, at Chelmsford on May 2.

He must also pay a £20 victim surcharge and was ordered to forfeit the drugs and have them destroyed.

He also pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

ALEX BEWLEY, 21, of Ashton Place, Chelmsford, was given a 150 hour unpaid work requirement for producing nine plants of cannabis in Chelmsford on February 26.

He admitted this at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on June 23, along with a charge of using electricity without authority on February 26.

In addition to his unpaid work requirement, which must be completed within the next 12 months, Bewley was made to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

The defendant’s guilty pleas were taken into consideration on both charges.

The drugs were destroyed.

Drunk in charge

NADINE ANNE WOODYARD, 33, of Church Avenue, Broomfield, was given a community order for being drunk while in charge of a child aged under seven at Missoula in Chelmsford on April 13.

She must participate in Medium Alcohol Requirement Intervention (MARI) for 29 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer, and pay a £30 fine and a £60 victim surcharge.

Drunk & disorderly

JACOB CHARLES MULRANEY, 23, of Donald Way, Chelmsford, was fined £300 for being drunk and disorderly in Chelmsford High Street on May 3 and assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty.

He must also pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

MOHAMMED RASHEL, 28, of Chelmsford Road, Danbury, was fined £35 for being drunk and disorderly in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, on May 4.

He must also pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

PHILIP DAVID MOTLEY, 27, of Mascalls Way, Chelmsford, was given a conditional discharge for two years, having been drunk and disorderly outside Liquid Nightclub in Colchester High Street on April 4.

He must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £40 costs to the CPS.

PATRICK GARVEY, 27, of Chestnut Way, Tiptree, was given a community order for assaulting a Police Constable in the execution of his duty at Colchester on May 4.

He must participate in Aggression Replacement Training (ART) for 28 days, and attend appointments with a responsible officer.

He was also fined £25, and ordered to pay £50 compensation, and a £60 victim surcharge.

Social Security offences

BRIAN CLAYTON, 69, of Hamble Way, Burnham on Crouch, was fined £400 for failing to notify Maldon District Council (MDC) of a change in circumstances that would have affected his entitlement to council tax support in April last year.

He also made a false statement to MDC in September 2005 in order to claim housing and council tax benefit when he had capital of over £16,000. He must pay a victim surcharge of £40 and costs of £880.20.

Theft – shoplifting

KYE DANNY WARD, 38, of Christy Avenue, Chelmsford, was fined £75 for stealing two cans of lager valued about £2 from Spar Stores at Rivermead, Chelmsford, on April 30. He must pay £2 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

KAREN LEE, 46, of White Barns, Ford End, was fined £73 for stealing four bottles of vodka valued at £155.80 from the Co-op at Dunmow on September 25.

She must also pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

KAREN MICHELLE POWER, 41, of Warley Close, Braintree, was given a conditional discharge for a year for four counts of theft from Sainsbury’s at Braintree.

She had stolen two bottles of alcohol valued at £12 on December 2; two bottles of alcohol to the value of £16.65 on March 31; two bottles to the value of £17.15 on April 4; and on April 24, two bottles valued at £17.15. She was ordered to pay compensation of £12, £16.65, £17.15 and £17.15 respectively plus a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

GEORGE DEAN CLARK, 45, of Clements Close, Chelmsford, was fined £73 for stealing two bottles of wine to the value of £9.98 from the Co-op in Chelmsford on May 20, together with Carl Stein.

He must also pay a £20 victim surcharge and £45 costs to the CPS.

CARL ANDREW STEIN, 37, of Widford Park Place, Chelmsford, was fined £73 for stealing two bottles of wine valued at £9.98 from the Co-op in Chelmsford on May 20, together with George Clark.

He must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £45 costs to the CPS.

Threatening behaviour

CLINTON JOHN SMITH, 24, of Queen Street, Maldon, was fined £120 for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards Stuart Phillips and PCSO Gladman at Maldon on April 30.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Drink-driving

ASHLEY TAYLOR, 46, of Mill Road, Maldon, was given a community order and a two year driving ban for driving in Tesco car park at Fullbridge, Maldon, on April 30 after he had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 106 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than three times the limit.

The defendant was ordered to participate in the Drink Impaired Drivers Programme (DIDP) for 14 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, and pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

NEIL EDWARD CAVANAGH, 31, of The Chase, Boreham, was given a community order and banned from driving for 22 months for driving along Main Road, Chelmsford, on March 22 after he had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 79 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the limit.

He must comply have treatment for drug dependency for six months, attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 180 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, and pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

He also pleaded guilty to taking the vehicle without the owner’s consent, and driving without insurance or a valid driving licence.

The defendant was also in possession of 0.4 grames of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, and 0.6 grams of cocaine, a controlled class A drug, which are to be forfeited and destroyed.

ANTONY GAVIN GOODWIN, 32, of Mill Lane, Broomfield, was given a 12 month driving ban for driving along Victoria Road in Chelmsford on May 2 after he had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, just under one and a half times the limit.

He was fined £350, a £35 victim surcharge and must pay £85 costs to the CPS. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.

ANDREW JAMES LAY, 30, of Parklands Drive, Chelmsford, was given a community order and a two year driving ban for driving along Springfield Road, Chelmsford, on May 4 after he had been drinking.

The alcohol measured 102 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, just under three times the limit.

The defendant must participate in DIDP for 19 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months and pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

He also pleaded guilty to causing an accident with another vehicle and failed to stop.

JAMIE ANTHONY JOHN PARRY, 35, of Maldon Road, Great Totham, was disqualified from driving for 18 months for driving along the A138, Chelmer Road in Chelmsford on May 3 after he had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 68 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than one and a half times the limit.

He was given a fine of £500 plus a £50 victim surcharge and must pay £85 costs to the CPS.

VICTORIA JANE CRATES, 43, of Cross Road, Maldon, was banned from driving for three years for driving along an unnamed road between Fambridge Road and Roundbush Road at Maldon on May 5 after she had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the limit.

She was fined £110 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

ANDREW JOHN LETCHFIELD, 31, of Forest Drive, Chelmsford, was given a 12 month driving ban for driving along Hunts Drive in Writtle on May 5 after he had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol measured 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, just under one and a half times the limit.

He was fined £400 and must pay a £40 surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Careless driving

LEE CHAMPNESS, 28, of Spa Drive, St Lawrence, was given six penalty points for driving without due care and attention at East Hanningfield on October 19.

While driving along Pan Lane the defendant approached a tight left hand bend, under braked and slid on the road striking another vehicle.

He was fined £400 and must pay a £40 victim surcharge and £90 costs.

Driving while disqualified

WAYNE RICHARD ELLERINGTON, 43, of Canney Road, Steeple, was disqualified from driving for six months for driving along Steeple Road at Mayland while disqualified, and without insurance.

He was fined £300 and must pay a £30 victim surcharge.

CHIEF Inspector Alan Cook is not your typical policeman.

The history graduate this year published a book about truncheons, has juggled almost his entire career with senior roles at St John Ambulance and doesn't even know what his salary is.

Yet the 47-year-old aspires to all the ideals of a public servant, and this spring was made District Commander for Chelmsford and Maldon.

"Policing was something in the back of my mind, even as a teenager," said Mr Cook, who as a chief inspector would earn just over £50,000 per annum.

"It's about that public service role which is just in-built in some people. I like that concept."

In a three-year period where Essex Police has been tasked with finding £27.4 million in savings, he faces an almighty challenge to maintain those ideals.

For starters, the married father-of-one is picking up the pieces after a "wobbly" eight-month interim period in which Chelmsford and Maldon ran without a District Commander.

As of September he will then take charge of some 200 officers, up from about 100, following a reshuffle in the operation of local response teams.

And by next year he must start making savings across his patches, and admits his 12 neighbourhood officers on the beat could be cut back.

"They're not being touched at the moment," he said.

"But yes, there is always a threat of cuts to officer numbers. You have to remember with our current situation in policing over 80 per cent of our money is spent on people.

"If you have to save say, and this is purely hypothetical, £10 million, £8 million is being spent on people.

"The 20 per cent we spent elsewhere has already been trimmed down, so yes of course there is a threat."

Epping-born Mr Cook started life with Essex Police as a 20-year-old officer on the beat in Clacton.

After rising up the ranks through stints in Harlow, Stansted Airport, Grays and South Ockendon, he started his first inspector's role in 2000.

In 2006, he was highly commended for identifying essential DNA evidence which led to a 29-year jail term for 24-year-old Scott Thompson, who raped and murdered 89-year-old Catherine Grosstephan in her Theydon Bois home.

"That is one of the moments I will look back on and never ever forget," he said.

In his last posting Mr Cook worked as a staff officer for the chief constable, serving under and preparing the daily diaries for both Jim Barker-McCardle and the incumbent Stephen Kavanagh.

Yet it appears Mr Cook could cap his entire career as Chelmsford and Maldon's District Commander after pledging to stay in the role for at least two years.

"This is very special for me and I will make it special," he said.

Mr Cook says one of his priorities will be policing the night-time economy in Chelmsford, an operation which he says cost at least £723,000 last year.

"I have the only city in the county with a city centre and night-time economy but then I have huge and vast rural areas," he said.

"My priority for the city centre is to make it a good and safe place for people to come and visit, whether they are working here, or coming for recreational purposes.

"I want Chelmsford to have a vibrant and successful night-time economy but I want the people using that to be safe in what they do.

"At the moment it's good but my ambition is to be the best."

The activity at night surrounding the city centre's clubs and bars is known to spawn a variety of crimes, including sexual offences which have doubled on last year.

"We've seen a huge rise in those offences but they are predominantly related to historic cases as a result of our more focused attention around domestic abuse," said Mr Cook.

"Cases where the offender is not known to the victim, that is actually very, very rare."

While reported house burglaries have decreased in number across the district from 170 to 147 year on year, the number of shed, vehicles and other units targeted has increased from 191 to 297.

"In most cases we know who these people are and we keep going out there and arresting them and putting them back before the courts. We don't give them an easy time," he said.

"We have offender management where we try to get these people engaged and to work with us but there is always a hard core of individuals who don't engage.

"Sometimes their lifestyle is so chaotic it's difficult to bring them out of it."

As the lead officer for the districts, spanning over four stations including Southminster and South Woodham Ferrers, Mr Cook said he will do his utmost to work away from his desk.

"Being a visible leader is very important.

"It's one of the key lessons I learnt from working with Mr Kavanagh, it's so important not to be bound to this office," he said.

"There will be some cases where I intrusively take an interest.

"If I feel someone hasn't received the service they should I will make it my job to listen to them, make sure my staff work with them and we will pay attention to them to make sure they get the further level of service they perhaps should do."

THERE are 20 per cent fewer potholes, cracks and other defects on Essex's roads compared to three months ago, latest figures show. 

According to the quarterly figures released on Friday the number of defects has dropped from 1,280 to 1,073 on Priority 1 roads, and from 3,296 to 2,590 on Priority 2 roads since April this year. 

However the same figures show that defects on local roads has in fact risen from 11,674 to 12,972 in the same period. 

County Councillor Rodney L Bass, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "This is excellent news following a prolonged period of intensive work to bring Essex's priority routes up to the standard our residents expect.

"We wish to build on this success and that is why we have 20 extra four-man crews on the roads aiming to fix all current carriageway defects on the Priority 1, Priority 2 and rural local road networks by 31 March 2015.

"We are also aiming to tackle the worst 700 urban local roads during this period, dealing not only with carriageway work but also with pavements, drains, curbs and other street furniture."

The figures also show that more than 8,300 defects have been repaired across the three networks over the last three months. 

The race was in support of Havens Hospices a non-NHS, charity-funded organization incorporating both Fair Havens and Little Havens Hospice which look after terminally ill patients of every age. With the slogan of 'Making every day count' the charity tries to make their patient's lives as comfortable and fulfilling as possible.

This year, the TTC team didn't disappoint! Managing to win the 'best dressed team' for the second year in a row, dressing up as Wally's and Wenda's, check out our team collecting the prize here. And for more pirctures and updates about TTC visit our Facebook Page.

A group of teenagers was reportedly seen kicking and stamping a duck until it died from its injuries.

The RSPCA has appealed for information from anybody who might

The alleged offence took place last Friday (4 July) at around 10pm near the bridge over the river by Sainsbury's car park on Chapel Street..

There were complaints that several ducks were attacked and kicked by a small crowd of young people and one was stamped on the head.

The allegations were discussed on social media sites and then complaints raised and forwarded to the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Emily Cheeseman said: "We are very disturbed to hear about these attacks and ask anyone with any information to come forward and let us know.

"If the reports are true, there is absolutely no excuse for treating a live animal in such a brutal and callous manner and it is an offence.

"We urge people to treat the wildlife around them with respect they deserve."

Anyone with any information should call the RSPCA, in complete confidence, on 0300 123 8018.

A 70-YEAR-OLD man has denied partaking in sexual activity with a five-year-old girl.

Patrick Satterley, of Copland Close, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court today (July 16) to two counts of inciting a girl into engaging in sexual activity.

He is alleged to have caused or incited the girl to touch and draw on his penis during two occasions between July 2012 and April 2013.

The alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

Satterley must reappear at the same court for a trial on Tuesday, December 16.

He was released on bail on the condition he does not see the alleged victim or sleep anywhere other than his home.

A new website dedicated to breathtaking images in mid-air has showcased video showing parts of Essex as you've never seen them before.

The clips, uploaded to Dronestagram show various parts of the south of the county as captured by a the light, flying object.

The site's founder, Eric Dupin recently told the BBC: "It is so different of images taken by satellite or plane or helicopter, or, on the other end, street view images. It represents an 'intermediary layer'."

Southend

See the beach and the Southend Pier for starters

Hadleigh Castle

You can see this historic castle and the surrounding area south of the town of Hadleigh bathed in the early morning light.

Leigh on Sea

Watch as this drone records some outstanding footage just as the sun sets over the Thames Estuary at Leigh on Sea.

Rayleigh

Starting from the green the drone rises up to show us the vast views over this market town

The new owners of Chelmsford City Racecourse have been granted 12 fixtures for the 2015 season.

The British Horseracing Authority today announced the course, formally named Great Leighs Racecourse, will host these "start-up" fixtures, while adding that a course in Newcastle will host all-weather races once its development is completed.

The Essex racecourse will now be able to apply for further fixtures on top of these 12.

Director of Racing at the BHA Ruth Quinn said: "Consultation will continue on the allocation of BHA controlled fixtures and initiatives to address small field sizes, including a possible reduction in the number of total races run in the overall race programme, as proposed by BHA in the consultation document."

Meanwhile a £6 million, 2,000-plus capacity, grandstand is currently being built at the county course.

The return of horseracing to the county will spell the end of six years of uncertainty surrounding the derelict ground's future.

Police were called to Chelmsford this morning (July 14) after reports of suspicious activity.

The Essex Police helicopter was dispatched above Lady Lane at about 11am to assist officers on the ground 

A suspect was eventually located, an 18-year-old man was caught and arrested in Moulsham Street on suspicion of attempted burglary.

An Essex Police spokesman added he was currently in custody at Chelmsford police station.

Two men arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a 17-year-old boy in Great Baddow have been released without charge.

The 35-year-old man from Chelmsford and 22-year-old man from Thurrock will face no further police investigation following the decision on Friday (July 11).

The pair had been arrested in December 2013, but were bailed, after the teenager and his 25-year-old friend were attacked walking along Dorset Avenue just a month earlier.

The youngster was struck by a car at about 10.15pm on November 21 before he was stabbed as he lay on the ground.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The 25-year-old man however was merely struck by a glancing blow by the car and escaped unharmed.

The incident was believed to surround a suspected feud over drugs.

An Essex Police spokesman said today (July 14): "Both men were released without charge due to insufficient evidence and from advice from the CPS."

A DECISION not to pursue Lord Hanningfield for the £51,000 he allegedly owes Essex County council has been challenged by the leader of the Liberal Democrats. 

Cllr Mike Mackrory has 'called-in' the decision by leader of the county council, David Finch to accept the recommendation of the Council's Audit Committee, which met last week, not to pursue legal action to recover the thousands owed by the former leader.

The committee, acting on advice from independent legal experts and the council external auditors, agreed with counsel's view that the cost of pursuing the case would be significant with uncertain chances of success.

But this stance has not been accepted by Cllr Mackrory who said: "I called in this decision because I believe we owe it to the council taxpayers of Essex to scrutinise this decision. 

"There is an overwhelming public interest here for justice to be seen to be done; the £51,000 originally claimed back is a token amount out of the total £288,000 claimed by him whilst Leader of the Council. 

"Why should he get away with this when people who are in arrears with their council tax or people who have committed fraud against the council are relentlessly pursued through the courts? Why is there one rule for Lord Hanningfield and another for ordinary people?"