Chelmsford City Council is leading on the work to make Chelmsford a Dementia Friendly Community.  The Alzheimer's Society's five year strategy demonstrates an ambition to work with people affected by dementia and key partners to define and develop communities across the country.

Working with key organisations, the Council aims to create a city where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported to continue to contribute to community life.  In a Dementia Friendly Community people will be aware of and understand dementia and people will feel included, involved and have choice and control over their day to day lives. 

Leader of the Council, Councillor Whitehead said, "The objective now will be identifying key partners, services, activities and businesses within Chelmsford to increase the knowledge and understanding of dementia. By working with these partners we can remove any barriers that stereotyping can bring to ensure we create a city where people with dementia, their families and carers can be happy to live and work in."

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Ian Grundy said, "With an estimated 2,246 people living in Chelmsford with dementia, we want to make sure they feel part of and enjoy our community. This initiative aims to encourage people with dementia to take part in everyday activities such as shopping and exercise.  By working together we can also increase empathy and support for dementia carers by developing a shared understanding of the emotional and practical challenges they face."
 
 

Hair salons across Essex will be hosting a Domestic Abuse Awareness Evening to raise money for Safer Places, a Chelmsford charity that supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
 
Feathers Hair Salons in Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham and Maldon and will be collaborating with Safer Places and local Community Safety Partnerships to raise funds for the charity and raise awareness of the services available to people affected by domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Awareness Evening will take place on Friday 13 February from 5pm-8pm within Feathers Hair Salons across the four locations.  Money is being raised by offering dry hairstyles from their Dry Style Bar. Tickets for these styles, normally worth £15-£20, will be £5 and will be available to purchase from the Feathers hair salons prior to the event.  Tickets will be redeemed on a first-come-first-served basis, and raffle prizes will also be on offer during this three hour fundraiser.
 
Professionals from both Safer Places and the Community Safety Partnerships will be in attendance at all four sites to offer confidential help and advice to members of the public.
 
A Spokesperson for Safer Places stated "Domestic Abuse is a hidden epidemic in our society, affecting one in four women and one in six men. It is imperative that all agencies and businesses work together to raise awareness and signpost support.  This event is an outstanding example of how we can all work together to make a difference".
 
Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Ian Grundy said, "We are pleased to be supporting this initiative and thank Feathers Hair Salons for raising awareness of domestic abuse and raising money for this worthwhile charity.  There is help available for the victims of domestic abuse, but we can also signpost to support for those who commit domestic abuse so we can tackle this problem together and stop it."

Police have released an efit image of a man suspected of grabbing a young woman inappropriately late at night.

A woman in her 20s from Kent was walking along Rectory Lane, in Chelmsford, between midnight and 1am on Tuesday, February 3, when she was grabbed.

The man is described as aged in his early 20s, as 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins tall, well built, wearing a blue hooded top and black jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pc Kim Webb at Chelmsford police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Broomfield Road has been closed following a serious traffic accident, in which one person was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

One person was trapped in an overturned car following the two-vehicle collision, and firefighters attended the scene, cutting the casualty free at 12.38, about half an hour after the accident happened.

Police also attended the scene, near Broomfield Hospital.

Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes, as the road is expected to be closed until around 5pm today.

More to follow

CHELMSFORD born Ben Coleman secured the Life Time Fitness Atlanta Open trophy on Sunday in the biggest win of his career so far.

The World No.70 saw off the unseeded Zac Alexander 3-1 in the final to claim his fifth PSA Tour trophy to date.

The 23-year-old was delighted with the victory and already has his sights on the next challenge.

"I'm happy with the win and I will be well prepared for the British Nationals in Manchester. I want to thank all the sponsors and I'm looking forward to playing the Life Time Houston Open in April," said Coleman.

Coleman showed no mercy from the outset when he defeated Christopher Binnie without dropping a game.

A tougher task was at hand in the quarter-final when he faced the tournament's No.7 seed Arthur Gaskin but made light work with another win without dropping a single game.

Coleman was ranked fourth the Atlanta Open and in semi-final faced his toughest challenge yet when he faced World No.59 Muhd Asyraf Azan but, like opponents before him, was brushed aside in three straight games.

His imperious form led to a final showdown against the Australian Alexander and made a great start by taking the first game 11-8.

The Brit was stunned though when his opponent took the next game 11-7 to take Coleman beyond three games but that didn't knock the wind out of Coleman's sails as he took the next two games 11-9 and 11-5 respectively to win his first American based tournament.

Hair salons across Essex will be hosting a Domestic Abuse Awareness Evening to raise money for Safer Places, a Chelmsford charity that supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
 
Feathers Hair Salons in Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham and Maldon and will be collaborating with Safer Places and local Community Safety Partnerships to raise funds for the charity and raise awareness of the services available to people affected by domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Awareness Evening will take place on Friday 13 February from 5pm-8pm within Feathers Hair Salons across the four locations.  Money is being raised by offering dry hairstyles from their Dry Style Bar. Tickets for these styles, normally worth £15-£20, will be £5 and will be available to purchase from the Feathers hair salons prior to the event.  Tickets will be redeemed on a first-come-first-served basis, and raffle prizes will also be on offer during this three hour fundraiser.
 
Professionals from both Safer Places and the Community Safety Partnerships will be in attendance at all four sites to offer confidential help and advice to members of the public.
 
A Spokesperson for Safer Places stated "Domestic Abuse is a hidden epidemic in our society, affecting one in four women and one in six men. It is imperative that all agencies and businesses work together to raise awareness and signpost support.  This event is an outstanding example of how we can all work together to make a difference".
 
Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Ian Grundy said, "We are pleased to be supporting this initiative and thank Feathers Hair Salons for raising awareness of domestic abuse and raising money for this worthwhile charity.  There is help available for the victims of domestic abuse, but we can also signpost to support for those who commit domestic abuse so we can tackle this problem together and stop it."
 
 
 
 

A BUSINESSWOMAN is preparing to launch herself from 13,000ft in a tandem skydive in aid of a friend with cancer.

Daredevil Jenny Sjollema decided to sign up for the freefall after her friend Stella Bradbrook was diagnosed with liver and bowel cancer last year.

Jenny will leap from around 13,000ft, falling at speeds of up to 120mph and descending to 5,000ft in around 40 seconds on Friday, February 20 at the UK Parachuting centre in Beccles, Suffolk.

So far Jenny, 41, from Maldon, has raised £280 of her £350 target to be given to Farleigh Hospice.

She said: "I really want to help Farleigh Hospice, which provide great support for Stella. She has been much better owing to their good work."

The pair first met at a networking event five years ago, and have both worked for the Maldon About My Area website.

Stella, 69, from Maldon, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment, said: "Jenny is absolutely lovely, she's full of energy and has been a great help to me. They require thousands of pounds to keep functioning daily, so for Jenny to take the time to raise money for the hospice is really great."

Farleigh Hospice has provided Stella with permanent palliative care since September and is also on hand to support her husband and main carer, Mani Roach, 73.

Stella continued: "I am determined to see in my 70th birthday in August, and I couldn't have asked for any more from Farleigh."

Upon hearing about the Birkett Long £50 business challenge in support of Farleigh, Jenny was keen to get involved.

Mother-of-one Jenny added: "Completing a skydive has been an ambition of mine for a while, and I wasn't too worried when I signed up.

"I have become a little more nervous as people keep reminding me that it involves a plane."

Stella ran a cleaning company in Maldon, and sat on both the Business Association and Think Local committees.

Jenny works as a self-employed virtual assistant, providing online support in sales, marketing and helping to promote small businesses.

She said: "Work is quite hectic, it involves a lot of early starts and late finishes. But I really wanted to fit this in, as it's very important. I am hoping for a clear day so my husband Omi and son Johannes can see me in the sky."

Julie Booker-Sawyer, Farleigh Hospice's corporate coordinator, said: "We're highly delighted that Jenny and Stella are supporting our challenge, and also with the support we've received from all the other businesses taking part.

"We've raised over £17,000 already and are very grateful to our sponsor, Birkett Long, for their continued support."

To donate, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/JennySjollema

Residents have described the "massive bang" of a two-vehicle crash in Chelmsford which hospitalised one elderly male driver with potentially life-threatening injuries.

A silver Vauxhall Corsa and silver Toyota people carrier were involved in a collision in Main Road, Broomfield, close to the Co-op food store at about midday today (Tuesday, February 10).

Firefighters cut a casualty, aged in his 60s, free from the Toyota at about 12.38pm who was then taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The closed section of the road, stretching between the junction with Valley Bridge and Saxon Way, was reopened at about 3.15pm.

A trolley, papers and glass could be seen strewn across the road out of the roof of the Toyota.

Resident Rob Perry, 33, who was watching TV at the time of the crash, said: "I just heard a massive bang and I went upstairs to see what it was.

"I just saw the traffic come to a stop and I went up to look out of my bedroom window.

"It was a hell of a bang. I thought it was coming into my house and you have to stand up because you just think 'what the hell is that?'"

Another female resident who refused to be named said: "I just heard a bang and that car slid along the road but I didn't see anything.

"Everything was shut along the road and there were cars everywhere.

"There was a fire engine and ambulance, the usual thing you get with an accident."

The accident was initially thought to have occurred closer to Broomfield Hospital.

Access travelling north up Broomfield Road and Main Road to the hospital was however blocked.

The East of England Ambulance Service has also confirmed that the crash involved a man in his 60s and that his injuries were not actually thought to be life-threatening.

Anyone who witnessed the collision but has not yet spoken to Essex Police can call the non-emergency number: 101.

Employees at B&Q stores across Essex have been told to prepare for a huge rise in demand for rope, cable ties and tape over the next few weeks.

Staff at the home improvement retailer have also been requested by B&Q bosses to read up on Fifty Shades of Grey material.

A leaked memo reveals that workers at the DIY chain have been asked to prepare themselves for "sensitive" customer questions about such products, which could be used in sexual role play.

The memo, circulated to the DIY store's entire 20,887-strong workforce at 359 stores, is titled: "Staff Briefing – Preparation for Fifty Shades of Grey Customer Queries."

Staff are urged to get to grips with the lustful literature so they can deal with any related queries in a "polite, helpful and respectful manner".

The memo adds: "We stock many of the products featured in a notable hardware store scene which are then used later in the film.

"When the book was released in 2012 DIY and hardware stores in the UK and US reported increased demand of certain products and queries from customers as they tried to recreate their own "Fifty Shades" experiences.

"We need to be prepared for the same effect when the film is released this month."

The manager of B&Q's Cuton Hall Lane store in Chelmsford was unavailable for comment on the issue this morning.

CHELMSFORD Football club have moved to involve their self more in the community as they announce they have joined forces with Chelmsford Walking Football.

Chelmsford Walking Football have been going strong for three years and have played in four regional tournaments.

Walking football has seen huge growth over recent years with qutoes of over 300 participating venues throughout the country and with the association with Chelmsford City they are hoping to take it to another level of professionalism.

Trevor Smith, Chelmsford City FC Chairman was delighted to have a forward thinking activity associated with the club in their drive to succeed as a community-driven football club.

"Chelmsford City Football Club now has its own Walking Football team. This is further evidence that Chelmsford City Football Club strives to become a community-driven club and continues to build the Chelmsford City FC brand," said Smith.

The Walking football team will continue with their current walking football sessions at the Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays where they will continue to allow anyone over 50 to participate with them.

Chelmsford Walking football will play under the Chelmsford City Football club brand name as well as being able to make full use of the all weather pitches at Melbourne Park.

Terry Buck, Chairman of Chelmsford Walking Football, was delighted to have the full support of their local Conference South side.

"We are delighted to have the support of an established Football Conference League Club whose intentions are to provide us with full kit and funding our events and allowing us to use facilities at the Football Club.

"Chelmsford City FC will also help to increase awareness of the benefits of sporting activity in Essex.

"All members of CWF are very excited about this new chapter in our history, where Chelmsford City FC will be helping us in working towards setting up a Walking Football League for the whole of Essex."

Two firms were prosecuted after the brakes failed on a ride-on cleaning machine at Stansted Airport, forcing the driver to steer into a balustrade, breaking his leg.

Carl Marshall, 28, from Little Dunmow, Essex, drove the machine into the central balustrade in the airport to avoid hitting pedestrians on July 2, 2013, suffering a a broken right thigh, sprained right knee and two sprained ankles, requiring four days' treatment in hospital. 

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which today prosecuted Mr Marshall's employer, ISS Facility Services Ltd, of Surrey, and the maintenance contractor Michael Laryea, trading as Lamick Floor Machines, of Isleworth, Middlesex.

And the investigation found that the scrubber drier machine had a worn and ineffective brake that had been poorly maintained, while it was discovered that a second machine had similar defects.

SS Facility Services Limited was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £5,490 in costs, while Michael Laryea, trading as Lamick Floor Machines, of Elmer Gardens, Isleworth, Middlesex was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,490.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Glyn Davies said: "Mr Marshall's painful injuries could have been avoided had the ride-on scrubber drier machines been regularly checked in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and maintained in good repair. ISS and Michael Laryea of Lamick failed to make sure the machine was safe to operate.

"This has been an expensive lesson for both these businesses to learn; but employers should understand that serious breaches of health and safety law that put workers' safety at risk are likely to result in similarly serious outcomes."

After we gave readers a selection of the ugliest buildings in Chelmsford, we've decided to open up the floor to your suggestions.

On social media site Facebook, people generally agreed that Cater House in the city centre and Marrable House in Great Baddow were pretty horrid looking.

But readers also suggested the Melbourne flats, the Kwik-Fit garage in New London Road and the Essex Police headquarters.

Which is the ugliest? Vote in our poll below.

Remind yourself of all 12 buildings in the image gallery above.

WITHAM Town grabbed a point in 1-1 draw with Canvey after late drama in the dying seconds of the match.

George Sykes put Canvey ahead inside ten minutes but Witham were dominant for the entire second half.

It didn't look like the goal was going to come until Ashley Dumas was shown a straight red for putting a hand in Paul King's face and the resulting free-kick fell to substitute Johhny Watson to head home and earn his side a point.

Garry Kimble made seven changes for this match from their 3-2 loss at home to Leatherhead on Saturday with Guest returning in goal and Paul King coming back into the starting line-up.

Canvey have been on good form of late and carried that into the opening stages of the game when they took the lead on ten minutes.

George Sykes picked up the ball on the edge of the area and a drop of the shoulder took him past the defender before shooting goalwards and, despite Guest getting a strong hand to it, the ball bounced over the line.

Witham were creating breaks of their own in what was a very open start to the game but, unlike Canvey, struggled to get the bodies forward to support their lone front man.

The goal had settled the visitors into a comfortable rhythm and the trio of Showunmi, Sykes and Simmons were proving a threat on the break.

The game slowed to a leisurely pace around the half hour mark but Witham finished the half strong as the pressed Canvey into their own half.

Their best chance came five minutes from the interval when Guy crossed into the box and the diminutive Charles managed to get his head to the ball but could only direct near the goalkeeper.

The home side continued the high pressure from the off in the second half and produced a great chance on 52 minutes when Connor Mead's cross was met by Guy in the box but couldn't find the net.

Minutes later and Charles produced a great solo effort down the right skipping past three players before crossed but the ball wouldn't drop for Jay Emmanuel in time before Tim Brown closed him down.

Witham were piling on the pressure and Canvey started to drop all 11 men behind the ball in the hope that they could hold on their lead.

Whilst the home side started to push men forward in search of an equaliser the Canvey looked to counter with the pace of Taylor Tombides a constant threat and on 72 minutes broke into the box but two last minute challenges prevented a strike on goal.

Witham pushed men forward to support Callander up front and the best chance fell to the impressive Charles five minutes from time.

The winger picked up the ball from a loose shot inside eight yards but lacked the composure in front of goal as his shot was lashed over the bar.

All the drama happened in the dying seconds of the match though as Ashley Dumas was shown a straight red for putting a hand in Paul King's face.

Guest went up for the resulting free-kick and almost grabbed the equaliser himself with a header from Charles' free-kick before it was palmed away but Johnny Watson reacted well to head home and secure his side a point.

Witham line-up: Guest, Mead, Durrant (Menga 81), Ekpiteta, King ©, Paxman (Watson 70), Emmanuel, Dark, Guy (Callander 58), Godbold, Charles.

Unused subs: Blackman, Beale.

A WONDER goal from Concord Rangers substitute Taylor Miles sent Chelmsford City to a 2-1 defeat in poor match in the Vanarama Conference South at the Aspect Arena on Tuesday.

With the game drifting in the second half the midfielder volleyed in from fully 40 yards on 69 minutes. It was a goal City had no answer for in an impotent second half display where the home keeper was only tested twice.

Earlier Mark Hughes headed in from a corner to equalise after City had gone behind to a Tom Lovelock own goal.

It was the Clarets third away loss in a row and meant the Canvey Island side recorded the double over City, after winning 1-0 at Melbourne Stadium earlier in the season.

City made two changes from the team that beat St Albans on Saturday. Yado Mambo and Leon Redwood came in for Harry Hickford and Janaai Gordon, who both dropped to the bench, while Rohdell Gordon failed to make the squad.

City went behind with Concord's first attack of the game on six minutes. A corner from the right was only half cleared to edge of the box, where Sam Collins fired back goalwards. The shot pinged around in the area and Steve King managed to poke towards goal where the ball hit the post and then went in off Lovelock.

City skipper Hughes acrobatically volleyed over from close range on 14 minutes after picking up Mambo's knock down from a Redwood corner.

Little happened for ten minutes before City began to build pressure. Jack Bridge drilled an effort from the right channel of the penalty area across the face of goal, before they levelled on 28 minutes.

Ward won a corner on the right and Redwood's whipped delivery was powered in at the near post by Hughes.

A minute later Bridge latched on to long ball forward and beat his man on the left of the box before forcing a good save from Josh Vickers.

City should have gone ahead on 37 minutes when a free-kick from the right caused chaos in the Concord box. The home team scrambled clear but Vickers was out of position and Bridge fired a goalbound effort only to see it blocked on the line by his team-mate Ward.

Lovelock was well behind a Gary Ogilvie free-kick from 25 yards five minutes before the break.

Little happened for the first 15 minutes of the second half until Joe Gardner picked up a flick on in the City area and fired against the post, but the Concord forward was flagged offside.

On 69 minutes and out of nothing the home team took the lead in spectacular fashion when substitute Miles sent a dipping volley from fully 40 yards over Lovelock and into the net.

A minute later Sam Collins fired over from 20 yards as Concord looked to build on their unexpected goal.

With 17 to go manager Mark Hawkes threw on Gordon for Redwood and on 79 minutes Christian Smith replaced Lee Sawyer as City searched for a leveller.

With ten to go Concord substitute Harry Elms was stopped from going clean through when Rob Girdlestone made an excellent tackle before the Clarets finally tested Vickers a minute later.

Cheek got in on the left channel and saw his shot from close range turned behind by the home keeper.

Vickers was tested again on 90 minutes as City pressed at the death, denying Ward with a low save to his left, but it was too little too late.

Chelmsford City line-up: Lovelock, Girdlestone, Toner, Hughes, Haines, Mambo, Sawyer (Smith 79) Ward, Bridge, Cheek, Redwood (Gordon 73). Unused subs: Hickford, Morgan, Gregory.

A MAN with obsessive compulsive disorder so severe it dominated 20 hours of his day will cycle, run and climb through all the counties in England this week to raise awareness of the devastating condition.

Jack Pridmore, who lives in the Old Moulsham area of Chelmsford, is cycling through the counties, running three marathons and "climbing as many mountains as he can" – all in the space of a week, starting on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who previously appeared on the BBC Three show Extreme OCD Camp, wants to challenge the perception that OCD is a minor problem.

Something that makes it harder, he said, is when people describe themselves as "a bit OCD", or think it's the same as being a very tidy person.

He said: "At my worst, my OCD rituals would take up to 20 hours a day, then I would sleep for four hours and start the whole thing again.

"Now I have got it down to about four hours, but a lot of the time people see OCD as a minor inconvenience, and a big part of me doing this challenge is trying to explain to people that it's a horrible condition.

"But I also want people who do have it to know they can make it manageable and live great lives, they can do amazing things."

And Jack, a marketing manager, wants to raise awareness of the disorder during his challenge, which includes three marathons and cycling all the English counties in just one week, to raise money for OCD Action.

"I started the first marathon from OCD Action headquarters in London on Sunday, then I'm doing two in the week as well as cycling for about 14-15 hours per day. I decided to do this challenge when I was on Extreme OCD Camp.

"I finished the show in May 2013, and since then I've been training and waiting for the right time," he said.

"So far I've managed to raise £2,000 and I would love to get to £3,000, but the main aim is to make people realise what it is."

For Extreme OCD Camp, Jack was whisked off to Seattle in America to attend a mountainous treatment camp with five other young sufferers.

OCD affects between one and two per cent of the population, and takes an average of 12 years from its onset to diagnosis – meaning many people suffer with OCD for years without any help.

To donate to OCD Action and support Jack, visit: www.justgiving.com/ocdjack/2 and for more information about OCD, visit: www.ocdaction.org.uk

A HUGE 45-year-old tree has been planted at the entrance of a 3,600 home development in Chelmsford.

Standing at 11 metres high, the Blue Atlas cedar is the largest tree that will be planted at the Beaulieu Park expansion, off White Hart Lane.

Andrew Carrington, managing director, strategic land at Countryside, said: "As we did at Beaulieu Park, we always strive wherever possible to plant a combination of mature and semi-mature trees on our schemes from the outset.

"The planting of this magnificent cedar at the entrance to Beaulieu reflects the heritage of the site and the existing parkland setting of New Hall."

The evergreen tree has a girth of 90cm and its canopy has a spread of six metres.

They can live for hundreds of years.

The tree has been planted at the main entrance to Beaulieu on White Hart Lane and alongside it will be a major piece of public art depicting a group of deer by sculptor Jane Ackroyd, to tie in with the heritage of the site.

Beaulieu was formerly part of the historic estate parkland once owned by King Henry VIII, which surrounded his Tudor palace known as Beaulieu, now home to New Hall School.

The first phase of new homes go on sale in early summer.

While the tree is impressive in stature, North Fambridge man Dave Fountain's achievement in 2001 puts it in the shade.

Together with singer turned gardener Kim Wilde, the former Countryside man secured the Guinness World Record for successfully moving the world's largest tree – a 17.8 metre high London plane tree, the same as the one that stands outside High Chelmer shopping centre in Chelmsford – from Belgium before replanting it in Manchester.

The tree stood for six years until it was toppled by a storm in 2007.

CASES heard by Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates from Friday, January 9 to Sunday, January 15.

Sent to prison

JOSEPH GEORGE THURGOOD, 24, of Mayflower Drive, Maldon, was sent to prison for three months for assaulting another person by beating her at Chelmsford on April 12. It was a serious, sustained attack involving the use of head and foot as a weapon, causing bruising and concussion. He committed the offence while on bail and had shown a lack of remorse. The defendant was also given one month concurrent for damaging an iPhone 5 to the value of approximately £300 belonging to the victim and five months concurrent for assaulting her on November 6. He was given a restraining order not to contact her or go to an address in Billericay, and must pay £150 compensation.

KYLE BRINDLEY HARRINGTON, 27, of Fairfield Road, Braintree, was sent to prison for six weeks for stealing two bottles of perfume to the value of £117 from Debenhams on December 23. He had also verbally abused two police officers while prohibited from doing so by an anti social behaviour order made on May 2, 2013. He must pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Suspended sentences

SILVIU ONILA, 28, of Ilchester Road, Dagenham, was given a four week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for stealing £645 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Chelmsford on December 3, along with two other people, and being in possession of a foil lined bag for use in connection with theft. He must carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay an £80 victim surcharge and £33 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). It was the defendant's third offence of theft, which had been planned jointly and he had travelled from London especially to steal. The bags are to be forfeited and destroyed.

FLORIN-FERNANDO MOISE, 18, of Hams Road, Birmingham, was given a four week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for stealing an iPhone to the value of £700 from another person at Chelmsford on December 4. It was a distraction theft of a valuable iPhone, a day after a caution for an identical offence and he had travelled to the area to steal. The defendant must present himself to Education, Training and Employment at probation for ten days, do 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and pay £700 compensation.

AKMEL AHMED, 31, of Widford Chase, Chelmsford, was given an eight week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was given two weeks for damaging a front door to the value of £100 belonging to another person at Chelmsford on December 24. He was also given six weeks concurrent for breaching a non molestation order made on November 4 by kicking the door, causing damage and shouting insults. The defendant must participate in a programme for 19 days, and attend appointments with a responsible officer. He must pay £100 compensation, an £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS. He was also given a restraining order not to contact the victim or go to Rutland Avenue in Chelmsford.

Criminal damage

STEPHEN JOHN AUSTINE, 31, of King Edwards Road, South Woodham Ferrers, was fined £200 for causing £200 of damage to an internal door belonging to another person at Chelmsford on December 21. He was fined £200 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and pay £85 costs to the CPS.

BILLIE-RAE O'BRIEN , 21, of Falcon Fields, Maldon, was given a community order for damaging a rear door window to the value of £75 at Maldon on December 6. She also pleaded guilty to causing £98 of damage to a van belonging to Essex Police and for using or threatening to use unlawful violence. The defendant must carry out 40 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £90 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £50 costs to the CPS.

Assault

ANTHONY ROY BRANDFORD, 56, of Wessley Close, Tillingham, was given a community order for assaulting another person by beating her at Chelmsford on November 7. He must carry out 140 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

DANNY SELL-MALONE, 31, of Shelley Avenue, Tiptree, was given a community order for assaulting another person by beating her at Colchester on December 20. He was ordered to participate in an accredited programme for 29 days, and attend appointments with a responsible officer. He must pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Breach of order

SCOTT JOHN CASHMAN, 47, of Primrose Walk, Southminster, was ordered to carry out an additional 20 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, in addition to the original requirements of a community order imposed on September 27. He had failed to attend three appointments. He must pay £50 costs.

JOHN TERENCE KILLICK , 47, of West Avenue, Chelmsford, was fined £50 for failing to comply with a community order imposed on August 26 by not attending two appointments in November and two appointments in December. He must also pay £50 costs.

CAROLINE COLLINS, 29, of Tees Road, Chelmsford, was placed under a curfew for four weeks, with electronic monitoring, in addition to the original requirements of a community order imposed on September 24, for failing to attend two appointments in December. The defendant must pay £20 costs.

BARRY WISE, 39, of Abbotsleigh Road, South Woodham Ferrers, was ordered to carry out 20 hours of unpaid, supervised work, in addition to the original requirements of a community order made on May 1, for failing to attend two appointments in December.

Theft – shoplifting

CLAUDIU-FLORIN ANDREI, 26, of Felixstowe Road, Edmonton, N9, was given a community order for stealing cosmetic items to the value of £645, together with two other people, from Boots in Chelmsford on December 3, and being in possession of a foil lined bag. She must carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £33 costs to the CPS. The bags are to be forfeited and destroyed.

RAYNE CRISTIAN PANZARU, 28, of Felixstowe Road, Enfield, London, N9, was given a community order for stealing £645 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Chelmsford on December 3, acting together with two other people, and for being in possession of a foil lined bag. He must carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £33 costs to the CPS. He must forfeit the bags and have them destroyed.

Drugs – possession

JOHN WILLIAM TRING, 32, of Turstan Road, Witham, was given a community order for possessing a quantity of cocaine, a controlled class A drug, and 1.8 grammes of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, at Kelvedon on December 21. He had also assaulted a women at Kelvedon on December 20 and a man on December 21, and had caused £1,000 of damage to property on December 20. The defendant must participate in an accredited programme for 26 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer and carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months. All the drugs are to be forfeited and destroyed and he must pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Harassment

SALLY WALL, 49, of Hereward Way, Wethersfield, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months for harassing another person by delivering unwanted letters at Braintree between December 8 and 11. She was given a restraining order not to contact the victim and must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS. She also pleaded guilty of failing to surrender to custody at Colchester Magistrates' Court on January 5.

ANTHONY SOLOMAN ARCHER, 53, of Ladygrove Caravan Park, Ongar road, Writtle, was given a nine month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to stealing perfume to the value of £174 from Boots at Colchester on November 28. He must pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Careless driving

KATARZYNA CZEKAJLO, 36, of Pitt Avenue, Witham, was given four penalty points for driving along Maldon Road, Witham, on April 8 without due care and attention. The defendant had driven into the rear of a vehicle that was stationary, pushing that vehicle into another vehicle that was also stationary waiting to turn right. The collision resulted in slight injuries to the passengers in the first vehicle. She was fined £100 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and pay £90 costs.

Drink-driving

DANIEL JONATHAN PARKER, 20, of Tern Close, Mayland, was disqualified from driving for 22 months for driving along the A414, Lime Brook Way, Maldon on December 24 after he had been drinking. The proportion of alcohol measured 82 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the limit. He was fined £210 and must pay a victim surcharge of £21 and £85 costs to the CPS.

DAVID JOHN LAYZELL, 70, of Green Lane, South Woodham Ferrers, was banned from driving for 12 months for driving along Green Lane at South Woodham Ferrers on December 23 after he had been drinking. His breath contained 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than the legal limit. He was fined £410 and must pay a £41 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

ADAM JAMES ELLIOTT, 23, of Glendale Road, Burnham on Crouch, was disqualified from driving for 14 months for driving along Lower Burnham Road at Fambridge on December 27 after he had been drinking. The proportion of alcohol measured 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than one and a half times the limit. He was fined £230 and must pay a £23 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

JAMES DUNCAN, 33, of Perry Road, Little Dunmow, was disqualified from driving for 17 months for driving along Great Dunmow High Street on December 23 after he had been drinking. His breath contained 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than one and a half times the limit. He was fined £300 plus a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

KATHLEEN SAUNDERS, 53, of Ruskin Road, Chelmsford, was disqualified from driving for 17 months for driving along Essex Regiment Way at Chelmsford on December 30 after she had been drinking. The amount of alcohol measured 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the limit. She was fined £260 and must pay a £26 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Essex Police has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the handling of 30 investigations into allegations of child abuse that have now left 11 officers on restricted duties and one suspended.

Most of these investigations relate to the work of the child abuse investigation team that covers the north of Essex and all of them have been referred to the IPCC.

Chief Constable of Essex Police, Stephen Kavanagh, made the announcement today, adding: "I was very disappointed to learn of this and I am now determined that we find out exactly what has happened and to rectify things quickly, not least for the victims.

"The force is working hard to put in place new systems to stop this from happening again.

"If individuals have failed in their duties then they will be held to account, but we will also look at all possible aspects of why this has happened.

"We have contacted the families of those involved in these investigations to let them know what is happening and apologise for the undoubted distress this has caused them."

The 30 investigations relate to allegations made between march 2011 and November 2014, with 13 of those cases current and 17 of them historic - dating back as far as the 1960s.

These cases involve 59 victims and some of those investigations involve allegations of a lack of honesty or integrity by officers.

Late last year, an urgent review was ordered by Chief Constable Kavanagh following the identification of concerns in respect of the quality of investigations and the management of cases primarily involving the Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) in the North Local Policing Area (LPA) of Essex.

Nick Alston, Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "That children who may have suffered serious abuse were subsequently let down by Essex Police is of the greatest concern to me, as it is to the Chief Constable who has kept me closely informed of this issue since it came to light.

"It is right and proper that the independent police watchdog is investigating these alleged failings, and I welcome their involvement. 

"However, it is also the case that such investigations can take a significant period of time before reporting their findings. It is essential that any steps that can be taken immediately to safeguard our children are taken now, and I welcome the measures outlined by the Chief Constable."

A retired detective has been drafted in to help with the investigations and a recovery plan has been launched by the force, these include:

- An experienced senior retired detective has been brought in from outside to review the live investigations being conducted in the North of Essex.

- New officers have taken over all those investigations which have caused concern and additional investigators have been drafted in to assist.

- A revised policy is being introduced to ensure that investigations are reviewed on a consistent and regular basis by supervisors at all levels so that enquiries are continually progressed and meet the high standards expected.

- New monitoring systems are being put in place across all of our child abuse investigation teams to closely assess the workloads of officers and ensure none of them are stretched too far.

- Senior officers and detectives are carrying out briefings to reinforce with supervisors the importance of close management of investigations.

- Children's charities, Barnardo's, the Children's Society and the NSPCC, have been invited to form part of a new Child Abuse Advisory Group to ensure the force has the expert advice and independent assessment it needs.

If any victims or families are worried about child abuse investigations by Essex Police I would urge them to call our special helpline number on 01245 282103.

CHELMSFORD CITY – this week tagged the Vanarama Conference South's most entertaining team – have already begun looking to their future with a number of players set to sign new contracts.

It was announced on Friday that Lee Sawyer had inked a new deal until the end of the 2015/16 season and City boss Mark Hawkes revealed that more are to follow.

It comes in a week when stats were flagged up that show Chelmsford's 29 league matches this season have produced 103 goals.

"It's nice that people will come and watch our games, but we can't guarantee goals because I'm sure there will be a 0-0 somewhere along the way," said Hawkes. "We're scoring plenty of goals at the moment though."

On former Chelsea starlet Sawyer's new deal, the Clarets manager said: "It's absolutely fantastic. We've got this season to finish off and we want to finish strongly as high up the table as we can, but we also have to think about next year.

"There are other players we've spoken to and offered contracts to and hopefully over the next two or three weeks we'll be able to maintain five or six of the players and make my pre-season a bit easier.

"We've got big games left this season and I don't want contract talks to disrupt us.

"It is a merry-go-round and players do move from one team to another, but as we've shown over the course of the season we're getting better with each game.

"We've still got a young side and a very decent backbone of a squad. If we don't get what we want and what we're striving for this season, then maybe next season we'll be stronger at the start and begin better than this time."

Sawyer was delighted to pen his new deal, saying: "I've enjoyed it here, probably the most since I've been in the Football League. That was the main thing for me. I get on well with the manager and Steve [Smith – the assistant manager], which is another thing. I think I need that relationship with people to be able to play my best football.

"I still think there's more to come from me. I did a lot of learning last season in this league and I feel like I've shown I can do well in it. I know there's still other levels I can get to and I think with this season under my belt, and depending on what league we're in next year, I think I'll do even better."

Another big plus has been the loan signing of Southend United winger Jack Bridge. He admitted that he has noticed the step-up after shining on a recent loan spell at Ryman League side Soham Town Rangers.

"There's definitely a difference. There's a lot of quality here and higher standards with a higher tempo," he said. "Even when I was playing U21 matches at Southend, you can see the difference when three points are up for grabs.

"You notice the physical side to it. I'm not a massively physical player so I've got to be smarter than those players and beat them."

This Saturday City travel to Maidenhead United, kick off 3pm.