WHAT meat lover would pass up a lovely juicy fillet steak or even a succulent rib of beef?

But there's more to beef than those hackneyed and familiar joints, no matter how delicious those old favourites may be.

Just ask Neil Risdon, who's been serving the choicest cuts from his butcher's shop in Calcott Farm for the past four years.

We might know about fillet rump and sirloin – supposedly named after King James I knighted the joint that was served to him – but if chuck rib, or feather blade has not made it onto your culinary radar yet, have no fear.

These are the personal favourites of Neil who has been in the butchering trade since he was 14-years-old.

The horsemeat crisis may have put the major supermarkets under uncomfortable scrutiny, but it's far from bad news for Mr Risdon who advertises where all his meat comes from on a blackboard above the counter.

Since the horsemeat scandal broke he has seen a surge in trade of more than 25 per cent.

He said: "We've seen a huge increase in trade since the scandal started.

"People want to know where their meat has come from.

"And they want to know that what they are eating is what they have asked for. It can only be a good thing for us."

Although the big seller since the horse meant scandal has been chicken – he is selling the equivalent of 120 chickens in a week during busy periods – the 30-year-old is still expecting to sell up to two whole cows (about 250kg of beef) six lambs and four pigs a week.

He has even been known to sell wild boar.

But it is not just the quality of the meat customers are looking for, but the knowledge of the three butchers behind the counter who between them have 50 years' experience.

With just a cleaver, a paring knife and a carving blade, a carcass is butchered into a selection of chops, steaks and stewing meat in minutes.

Aside from poultry there is generally only one way of butchering pork and lamb – both of which should be eaten as soon as possible from the time the animal is slaughtered.

But there are several variations on how to butcher a cow, referred to in the trade as "fashions".

There are not just international variations but they can also vary on a regional basis too.

But the most widely practised and the fashion that Neil uses to cut his own beef is the London Method.

The meat is first hung for at least 21 days in a cold, dry chiller before it is ready to be butchered.

A cow is divided into two forequarters and two hindquarters. As a rule the forequarters are a little tougher than the hindquarters so cuts from that part of the animal are good for stewing, braising and slow cooking as these methods help to tenderise the meat.

For example, chuck steak, which comes from near the neck and is a stewing steak, tends to carry more fat so it can take a slow cook and because of that it gives out more flavour.

Neil points out another little known cut:

"Ribs are very nice, but we also do another cut which is when we leave bone on the chuck. That's called back rib.

"It's got a lot more flavour running through it," he says.

"The general rule is closer to the head , the sweeter the meat.

"I love it and it is what I take home for a roast.

"It might need a little longer and slower cooking but you get a far superior flavour.

"We get quite high demand for it."

But for a real treat, try asking for feather blade, which sits on the side of the shoulder blade and when sliced looks like a feather with the nerve like the quill.

He said: "It has a lot of sinew that breaks down to make a great juice, but it is not been very well known. But people have learnt about it now, we have got quit a high demand for it.

"The problem is there is only about a pound and a half in weight of the cut in one animal but it cooks beautifully."

Some of the other cuts that people should be willing to try, Neil said, are leg of mutton cut, which despite its name is actually taken from the shoulder of the cow and is typically sliced for braising steak or cubed for casseroles.

Neil says TV chefs are probably the biggest culinary trend-setters and it is clear when one has used a recipe using a particular cut of meat.

Cookery programmes have led to a surge in popularity in cuts that suffered years in the gastronomic wilderness, but are now enjoying a new resurgence.

He said: "Belly pork is one that's become very popular.

"We know pretty much straight away when something been on telly.

"You get a lot people coming into us over the weekend after it's been shown.

"If only the chefs could let us know a couple of days before what they are doing on telly, we could make a fortune!

Neil S Risdon High Class Butchers is at Calcott Hall Farm Shop, Ongar Road Brentwood. Call 01277 239761 to find out more.

A RECORD number of new companies were formed in Brentwood during 2012, new research has revealed.

However the net growth – the difference in the number of companies that opened to those that closed – fell from 197 in 2011 to 176 in 2012.

According to company formation specialists Duport.co.uk, 546 new companies were created last year – a record for the town and a seven per cent rise on the previous year.

But more sobering were figures that showed there was an 18 per cent rise in company closures during the same year.

Interestingly, the Duport report also shows that the percentage of young director appointments stayed largely the same between 2011 and 2012, while the percentage of female director appointments rose from 27 per cent to 30 per cent.

Peter Valaitis, managing director of Duport.co.uk, said: "Our annual report for Brentwood shows a mixed set of results for the area.

"Whilst an increase in company formations is a positive sign for the local economy, a rise in company closures shows that the town is not immune to the challenges of the current economic climate."

The Duport Business Confidence Report for Brentwood contains up-to-date data and statistics on the local economy.

The number of start-up businesses in Brentwood have grown steadily since the financial crash in 2008.

In 2008 there were 405 new businesses, in 2009 there were 441, in 2010 there were 501 and in 2011 there were 511 new companies.

The borough has long been regarded as an attractive place to start businesses, with its close proximity to London and decent rail and road links

www.duport.co.uk/brentwood

The Essex Business Excellence Awards pages 32-33

A VOLUNTEER roadshow has highlighted the desperate shortage of people willing to donate their time in Maldon.

Good for Essex – an initiative to alert the public to the need for volunteering – arrived at the Blackwater Leisure Centre in an attempt to recruit residents willing to give up a few hours to help struggling community organisations.

Cllr David Finch, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and the transformation programme, said: "Essex residents have the potential to make a significant impact and we're encouraging and enabling people to play a more active part in their local communities.

"Good for Essex supports people and community groups to participate in individual, group and community activities to help themselves and others.

"We're excited to be running these events in partnership with volunteer centres, who alongside other voluntary and community sector organisations, play an important role in supporting stronger and more resilient communities."

The Maldon and District CVS Volunteer Centre received only 350 enquiries from locals looking to volunteer last year. This left hundreds of positions in the district yet to be filled.

Reg Crouch, 83, has been volunteering in Maldon for 23 years and despairs at the lack of help for organisations doing vital work,

"There is a great shortage of volunteers. I can't think of a single voluntary organisation that can't do without more assistance. If volunteers don't do half these jobs, nobody does."

"There are so many lonely people around who are living alone and sometimes they just want to go for a drive so that they have someone to talk to."

The Burnham-on-Crouch resident regularly drives a vehicle for Viking Community Transport, a charity that provides minibus services for residents who have difficulty travelling, whilst his wife runs the local Helen Rollanson charity shop.

The 'Good for Essex' roadshow allowed passers-by to use a photo booth to capture themselves holding up their skill-set, all which can be put to use with different community groups and make everyone 'the perfect volunteer'.

David Eniffer, chairman of Volunteer Centres Essex, said: "We are happy to work in partnership with Essex County Council with the Good for Essex exercise to promote volunteering in the county and look forward to helping even more potential volunteers find opportunities".

BRAINTREE Town manager Alan Devonshire insists he will not relax until his side reach his target of 50 points.

The Iron continued their excellent recent form with a 2-1 win at Gateshead on Saturday, as goals from Dean Wells and Sean Marks made it three wins in a row.

They host another struggling side in Nuneaton Town on Saturday, before a trip to Dartford on Tuesday night as they look to get closer to the target Devonshire has set them for safety.

"We've had a good run," he said. "We've won five of our last seven so we're doing ok.

"But we've got to keep going and I won't relax until we've got 50 points.

"Every game's difficult, if you're off it a little bit you're going to get beaten.

"We've won three in a row now, three difficult games, and we've got another difficult game on Saturday.

"Let's see if we can extend the run – that's the challenge that I'll put to the players."

Devonshire's side were not in action on Tuesday night - their last free midweek of the season.

The Iron have 14 games left to play with six weeks until the final game of the season at Barrow, including three games in five days over the Easter weekend.

Devonshire added: "We can recharge the batteries for Saturday and then it's pretty much constant games for the rest of the season.

"We're playing Saturday, Tuesday and I think one week we're even playing Saturday, Monday, Wednesday."

Nuneaton and Dartford were both promoted last season, and although they have enjoyed differing campaigns, Devonshire is expecting a tough pair of games.

"Nuneaton's away record has picked up," he said. "They drew on Saturday at Hereford and they should have won so it's going to be tough. We'll have to be right on our game.

"Dartford have had a great season, they've just missed out on a Wembley final and to be fair they beat us at our place and they beat us well so it'll be another tough game going there."

A NOTORIOUS thief, who spent nearly two decades evading police, has finally been brought to justice.

'Fast' Eddie Maher, from South Woodham Ferrers, who stole more than £1 million from a Suffolk security van in 1993, has spent the past 19 years on the run in the US.

But this week the disgraced security guard was sentenced to five years behind bars for his crime after being shopped to police by his own daughter-in-law.

Maher, now 57, disappeared with his family from their home in Freemantle Close in January 1993 along with the £1,172,500 he stole from a Securicor van in Felixstowe.

Switching cars twice, he fled to the airport to catch a plane to Boston where his wife, Deborah Brett, and their three-year-old son, waited for him in a hotel.

The family did everything possible to escape capture, adopting aliases and travelling across eight American states before ending up in Missouri.

But it appears fear of being caught did not stop the ex-fireghter from living an audacious lifestyle.

He bought a property in Colarado Springs with $119,000 cash, and later attempted to build his own ranch on 80 acres of land he purchased.

The ability to invest thousands in property was a far cry from Maher's life in Essex, where he had amassed vast debts. After leaving the Army he had worked as a market trader, firefighter and pub landlord. His premises, The Gardeners Arms, in Rochester, Kent, was fire-bombed within months of him taking it on, a further blow to his finances.

Speaking at Southwark Crown Court Mr Justice Nicol said: "You were forced to sell up the pub and debts started to accumulate."

American friends of the couple, who knew them as Stephen King and Barbara Anthony, could have had no clue of his criminal past until police arrested Maher at their home address in Ozark in February last year. The tip-off came from son Lee's estranged wife, Jessica King, who saw the £100,000 reward available for information leading to Maher's arrest.

David Nathan QC, defending Maher, said Miss King had become suspicious after learning the family could not return to the UK.

"She did a little research on Google and realised that Mr Maher could not go back because he was wanted in connection with the offence.

"She heard there was a reward and so went to the federal authorities.

"Just to complete that part of the extraordinary tale, Mr Maher knew they were coming for him because, some days beforehand, his son Lee had been arrested for a motoring matter.

"He had gone to the police station to bail out his son and was told by an officer that there was a rumour he was wanted for an offence back in his own country," the barrister told the court.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, Maher, now grey and balding, pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. His wife was watching from the public gallery.

In jailing him for five years, Mr Justice Nicol said the crime had been a "gross breach of trust" involving a "very substantial amount".

The judge recognised that while Maher's family would be "pained" by the separation, it was to be expected that "those who commit crime cause harm and distress to those who are close to them".

A LORRY carrying part of a 400ft wind turbine tower caused chaos on the roads when it broke down outside Maldon.

The vehicle with its "abnormal load" was on its way to a new wind farm development in Bradwell on Tuesday afternoon when a hydraulic pipe stopped working and the lorry was forced to stop in Fambridge Road, near the Roundbush pub.

Under police escort, the lorry was one of three huge transporters carrying parts of the turbines to Hockley Farm in Bradwell-on-Sea, where a 10-turbine wind farm is under construction.

A police spokesman said: "The lorry was broken down from 2pm to 4pm and it was finally escorted away in a convoy with accompanying vehicles.

"Officers travelling with the lorry were able to organise diversions and control traffic effectively."

The development has not been without controversy.

Plans for the 26 turbines angered residents when they got the go-ahead upon appeal to the government Planning Inspectorate in 2010.

The disruption this week has fuelled fears that further big deliveries, that are planned over the next few weeks, will lead to further problems on the roads.

Twitter user @Dengie100 commented: "First of many serious traffic delays due to wind farm installation at Bradwell – Shame the Govt planning inspectors didn't get stuck."

However, Michael Williams, project manager at the site, has assured residents this will not be the case.

"Our thanks go to the police who quickly and safely diverted traffic but we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the delay caused to road users.

"Future deliveries are expected to run as normal, with a further one taking place on Friday between 10am and 3pm.

"This is an exciting stage for us and marks the culmination of all the hard work carried out so far."

Police have added that they will be working closely with the contractors to ensure traffic disruption is kept to a minimum.

The wind farm is scheduled to become fully operational by this summer and will have a total generating capacity of 20.5 megawatts, enough green electricity to meet the average annual demands of up to 12,000 homes.

Residents can be kept up to date on deliveries by e-mail and text alerts. To sign up, e-mail bradwell@rwe.com

A FAMILY who helped police catch the man who burgled their home are disgusted after he escaped with a police caution this week.

Monique Carson, partner David Cable and their son Douglas were shocked to return from a trip to Great Yarmouth on November 25 last year to find their belongings missing, including an X Box games console and sentimental jewellery, and Christmas presents unwrapped.

Miss Carson is even more frustrated because she claims it was her fiancé David who found a piece of the burglar's latex glove – something she says forensic officers missed.

Police then got a DNA match from the glove and after a wanted person appeal in the Essex Chronicle, Ireneusz Blaszczyk, 23, last known to be living in Galleywood, handed himself in to the police on February 21.

But to his victims' shock he escaped without criminal charge and received a police caution instead.

Recalling the moment she returned home, Monique, a part-time worker at Hylands House, said: "When David reached the door he noticed it was open.

"He turned to me and said 'you forgot to lock the door' but as he opened it there was glass all over the hallway. The TV was pulled out and there were wires everywhere, they even unwrapped my niece and nephews' presents on the kitchen table ready for Christmas.

"We rang the police and they came down straightaway to make sure that nobody was still in the house, and then the forensic team turned up."

But Monique claims police found no major clues and told her it would be unlikely that someone would be caught – until David found a vital clue a day later.

"Following on from the police forensic investigation, it was actually David who found the piece of evidence which could prove crucial to catching the thief – a small part of a latex glove," said Monique.

"From that the police were able to obtain DNA evidence linking the thief to the crime and it transpired that the thief was known to the police and in their database.

"On February 14 the Chronicle ran a brief article about the wanted man, and printed a photo. The next we heard was on Friday, March 1, when the police called to tell us the suspect had turned himself in and confessed to his crime.

"But our relief turned to anger and disbelief when the officer told us that the thief had received only a police caution, and no further action would be taken.

"Burglary is a despicable and cowardly crime, an invasion into people's sanctuary which can ruin their lives. We still do not feel safe in our home and are now looking to move."

The burglary at Monique's family home in Pyms Road, Galleywood, was one of 925 in mid Essex last year, up 13.9 per cent from 2011.

Chelmsford, and particularly Galleywood and Moulsham, was one of the hardest hit areas, with 458 burglaries in 2012, up 26 on the previous year.

County councillor, Dick Madden, who was also a victim of burglary in Moulsham Lodge last year, said: "Having experienced a burglary at my own home last year, my wife and I know the consequences and the impact it has is not particularly pleasant.

"If it was not for the support from the neighbours who assisted my wife in coming to terms with the burglary, she may not have recovered.

"We all have to be in it together looking out for Billy the Burglar, and reporting any suspicious behaviour to the police."

Detective Inspector Paul Maleary, who has been actively involved in Operation Nemesis – the police drive to catch burglars – said: "In my opinion dwelling burglaries have the most impact that we deal with. We deal with murders and abductions, but burglaries are up there because of the devastation they cause, people are heartbroken.

"I have seen the impact on the victims and it does not matter where you go, people are devastated.

"We successfully caught a burglar called Ricky Ingrams from Witham who was jailed for four years and nine months, but unfortunately that is only part of the story.

"Some are given a very small sentence by the courts, and although I can't comment on that, I will say that there needs to be a deterrent to stop these criminals."

A police spokesperson added: "When the police issue a caution people often think they have got off lightly, but in fact they haven't

"You are given a caution and then if you commit a further offence you will then be dealt with for the original offence as well as the new offence.

"And an offender has to accept the caution which means they are admitting to the offence."

AN ESSEX kitchen fitter is standing trial in Tenerife accused of pushing a young holidaymaker to his death over the side of a pleasure boat 17 years ago.

Briton Garry Walton, 21, drowned after falling from a booze cruise off the Spanish island in November 1996 near the resort of Playa De Las Americas.

Nearly two decades on, sole suspect Darren Sapstead, of South Woodham Ferrers, is standing trial accused of killing him – despite Spanish police originally writing the incident off as an accident.

The 38-year-old, whose trial began on Monday, faces up to 12 years in prison if he is convicted of homicide, a Spanish criminal charge in between manslaughter and murder.

Several British holidaymakers have jetted in to the popular tourist destination to give evidence.

Lucy Smethurst, a 14-year-old girl at the time of the cruise, told the court in Santa Cruz she heard Mr Sapstead confess to throwing Mr Walton into the sea.

"I remember very clearly saying to Darren, 'So you pushed him?' and he said 'Yes'."

State prosecutor Deborah Padilla told the jury: "Towards the end of the trip as the boat neared port and the defendant was with a young girl at the stern, Garry stumbled drunkenly towards them.

"The defendant said to the girl, 'Shall I throw him overboard?' and then, without giving the girl time to reply and with the clear intention of ending Garry's life, he bent down, grabbed Garry by his legs at knee-height, stood back up and threw him over the side, fully conscious of his state of drunkenness.

"All this occurred in a matter of seconds, without Garry being able to act."

But the former Plume School student's defence lawyer told the court the incident on November 7, 1996, was an "unfortunate accident".

He said his client was the only person on the boat who threw the drowning man a life ring and tried to jump into the sea to help him.

"In my opinion, Mr Walton's death was a tragic accident, not the work of another person and certainly not the result of Darren Sapstead's actions," he said.

The body of Mr Walton, an apprentice builder from Leeds, was found by another boat two hours later.

Mr Sapstead was extradited to Spain in 2005 but was given permission to return home while a judicial investigation continued.

He agreed to return to Tenerife for Monday's trial and protested his innocence during cross-examination.

"It wasn't me that threw Garry overboard. I was the only person that went to help him," he said.

"I threw a life ring to him and I was taking my shoes and T-shirt off to jump in after him when the guy arranging the party games stopped me."

Last Friday he told the Chronicle he expected to be found innocent at the end of the week-long trial.

He said: "I haven't done anything.

"They can't find me guilty because I'm innocent."

As well as facing 12 years behind bars if found guilty he could be ordered to pay his alleged victim's family £104,000 in compensation.

The trial continues.

A MOTHER has blasted the justice system after the burglar who ransacked her family home was let off with a police caution this week.

Monique Carson, partner David Cable and their son Douglas felt violated when they came home to find their belongings missing and Christmas presents unwrapped early in November last year.

On Monday they were shocked to learn that the culprit, who handed himself in after a Chronicle appeal, had escaped a criminal charge.

Miss Carson, 23, says her fiancé found a piece of the burglar's latex glove which led to his identification – something she claims police missed in their search.

"This is ridiculous, you cannot burgle somebody's house and just get away with it," she said. "Apparently it was the duty inspector who said to lessen the offence – shouldn't it be the judge doing that? What sort of justice system are we living in?

"There are so many burglars that are never ever caught, but we catch one and he just gets away with it."

It follows 76 burglaries in Chelmsford during January alone.

A MUM-OF-TWO will wear a different hat every day this month to support a charity after she survived a brain tumour.

Jenny Cooper-Radley designed some of the colourful hats, including one decorated with daffodils, as part of Brain Tumour Research's Wear A Hat Day.

But instead of just wearing a hat on March 28, Jenny decided to raise as much money as possible by sporting an unusual hat every day in March.

Jenny, 41, from Great Baddow, said: "Just walking down the street I have been getting looks from builders, and passers-by who have been giving me money.

"I was ten minutes late for work because so many people were stopping me to ask what I was wearing. I think I have started on a high though with the daffodils, I don't know if I am going to be able to top it."

Jenny was hit by the news that she had a brain tumour after going for an eye test in October 2011.

"I had eye strain so I went to the opticians but they could not find anything wrong with my eyes," she said.

"They referred me to Broomfield Hospital where I had a CT scan and they found a 4cm tumour on my brain.

"Within four days I was taken to Queens Hospital in Romford to have it removed.

"It was barely a week and I had gone from having a tumour to being healthy again.

"It was like a whirlwind, I can't believe I went from just feeling fine to what happened."

Jenny, who works for Little Spring Wonders Day Nursery, in Great Baddow, was shocked at how suddenly a brain tumour impacted on her life.

She said: "I work full-time and have two small children, so I thought I would just get on with it.

"I had no idea that brain tumours were one of the biggest cancer killers for people under 40 in the UK, but they only get the equivalent of one per cent of the money that Cancer Research raises.

"I still have to go back for MRI scan check ups because the cancer can grow back, so hopefully the staff at the hospital will support me too.

"I have had so much support from work, my partner Wayne Thurnell, 40, and kids, Terry, 10, and Danny, 7, I am very lucky."

Jenny has so far raised £150, but to donate visit her Just Giving page on www.justgiving.com and search for Jenny Cooper-Radley.

ESSEX have pulled off a coup by securing a deal for Australian paceman Shaun Tait for this year's Twenty20 competition.

The 30-year-old – who is credited with the second-fastest ball ever in international cricket against England in 2010 – has taken more than 300 wickets in one-day cricket.

He played three Tests, 35 ODIs and 19 T20Is for Australia before calling time on his international career two years ago to focus on playing the shortest format of the game.

He has previous experience in England from spells with Durham and Glamorgan, and has also represented Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League and Chittagong Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League.

He will play alongside Owais Shah at the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and is also part of the MCC's T20 squad for a tournament against Warwickshire and Sussex later this month.

One Essex man who has already seen Tait in action is Ryan ten Doeschate, who lined up alongside the South Australian in Bangladesh, where the Kings reached the final.

Ten Doeschate, who himself has signed a two-year contract extension at the County Ground this week, said: "It's a great signing.

"He still bowls really quick. He's one of those guys who is just past his best but he's still really quick and I think that's a major asset in Twenty20 cricket.

"He bowls a very good yorker and a very good bouncer which no one likes.

"If we can manage him properly about when we bowl him then he could be an asset."

Tait will be with the Eagles for their whole campaign – which kicks off against holders Hampshire Royals on Friday June 28 – including any potential quarter-final and Finals Day.

Head coach Paul Grayson said: "Shaun is an outstanding Twenty20 bowler who has genuine pace and ability.

"We welcome him to the Club for the Twenty20 campaign and are hopeful of success with him in the team."

A MAN who suffers from severe mental illness has gone missing from his home in Southend.

Adriano Ludovici, 31, was last seen in the Westcliff area at 11am on March 5 wearing a hoody with tracksuit bottoms, and carrying a rucksack.

He hasn't been seen since and family are desperate to locate the Essex man, who suffers from schizophrenia.

If anyone sees anything they are urged to contact Essex police on 101 or his sister Natasha on

07711 433407

Two men are beginning jail terms having been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Dean Edwards, 39, and Michael Cooper, 40, were found guilty following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court which concluded on Wednesday and were both sentenced to prison terms.

Edwards, from Convent Close, Braintree was jailed for 15 years while Cooper, from Russell Road, Clacton was jailed for six.

Damage was caused to the wall of the TP Sports Bar in Queen Street, Colchester, during the early hours of Saturday, September 15, 2012. 

Three shots were fired in the vicinity of a member of security working on the door of the bar.

DI Stephen Jennings of Colchester CID said: "The result of the reckless and extremely dangerous actions of these two men could have been far worse. We could have been dealing with a murder.

"Thankfully these cases are extremely rare and I hope the outcome today demonstrates how seriously Essex Police takes these matters and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

"I am pleased these two dangerous men have been taken off the county's streets."

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for witnesses after a Ford Focus vehicle was stolen from outside Shenfield rail station.

Investigators are urging anyone with information into the incident, which took place on Friday, 15 February, to come forward.

Sergeant Emma Weir, the investigating officer, said: "The victim left his blue Ford Focus RS at the Hunters Avenue car park, locked and secure, around 9.30pm on Thursday, 14 February.

"When he returned the following morning, he discovered his car had been stolen."

Officers have carried out a number of enquiries into the incident and believe the car was removed from the station around 10.10pm on Thursday evening.

Sgt Weir added: "I'd appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw any suspicious behaviour in the surrounding area at the time, to come forward."

Anyone with information is urged to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background reference B4/LNA of 03/05/2013. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

CROWN Street is set to be transformed with a multi-million development of shops and flats.

The plans, led by Paul Mecklenburgh, father of TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh involve the demolition of the existing building at the corner of Hart Street and Crown Street and the subsequent construction of a three-storey building of 14 flats and shop – dubbed TOWIE Towers.

The proposal, first revealed in the Gazette in December 2011, was rejected by Brentwood Borough Council's planning development control and licensing committee in July after members decided it would be too large.

But last night's (Wednesday's) planning meeting voted give the go head to the revised plans  - significantly smaller than those for a development of a four-storey building, comprising a mixed use development of 17 flats and ground floor shops and food outlets

Despite Crown Street's unique atmosphere, for more than three years its entrance has been marred by the former bike shop, previously owned by Paul and Gill Banyard, whose daughter Kim was murdered in 2003.

The shop continued to operate until at least 2006.

Lin Heath, is one Crown Street trader who has welcomed the go-ahead.

The owner of French Quarter said: "Personally I'm very happy that that's been passed it should be vast improvement for this road.

"I think all the traders down here would agree with me.

"We've been living with that dilapidated site for many years.

"Apart from anything else it is a deterrent for people to walk down here. When shoppesr look down Crown Street from the High street all they can often see are lorries parked in the bay and the dilapidated remains of the building on the corner.

"Something has needed to be done there for years."

VICKY Pryce was today found guilty of perverting the course of justice by a jury at Southwark Crown Court. 

The case before the jury proceeded against Ms Pryce following her taking a speeding ticket for her husband in 2003, to prevent him obtaining points on his licence.

Chris Huhne, aged 58, admitted his guilt on what was to be the first day of his trial on 4 February 2013. 

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate were contacted in May 2011 with information regarding an offence of perverting the course of justice. 

This was a thorough and complex investigation conducted by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. Many of the records from 2003, such as cctv which may have confirmed either defendant's location on 12 March, had been unobtainable.

A black BMW activated speed camera at 23.23pm on 12 March 2003 on the London bound carriageway of the M11, at Chigwell, 550m south of the Luxborough Lane Road Bridge. 

The vehicle was travelling at 69mph where the speed limit was 50mph.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution was duly sent which was returned stating that Vicky Pryce was driving the car at the time of the offence.

Ms Pryce disclosed to media that the driver of the BMW at the time of the speeding offence was Mr Huhne but that she had agreed to be named and take the points. This story was printed in newspapers in May 2011.

Huhne and Pryce were charged on 3 February 2012 with perverting the course of justice.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "The conviction of Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce has been achieved through the thorough and steadfast investigation conducted by officers and specialist staff at Essex and Kent Police. Perverting the course of justice is a serious offence. 

"We hope this conviction serves as a timely reminder to motorists who try and avoid driving bans by 'giving' their points to others. This practice is not only unlawful, but has life changing consequences for those who get caught flouting the rules."

DARREN SAPSTEAD was cleared today of pushing an Irish tourist to his death off a Tenerife booze cruise nearly 17 years ago.

A Spanish jury acquitted the Essex kitchen fitter of any involvement in Garry Walton's death on November 7, 1996 after five hours of deliberations.

The decision marked the end of a long fight by Mr Sapstead, from South Woodham Ferrers, to clear his name.

He clapped his hands and shouted 'Yes' as his defence lawyer mouthed 'You're not guilty' in English seconds after the jury spokeswoman announced the unanimous 9-0 verdict in Spanish.

Garry's builder dad Robert, 60, originally from Leeds, west Yorkshire, but now living in Tooraneena, Dungarvan, south east Ireland, buried his head in his hands and wife Catherine, 59, stared silently ahead with tears in her eyes.

The distraught Walton family, who included Robert's sisters Debbie and Rachel, left the court in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz afterwards by a back door without making any comment.

Darren, 38, extradited to Spain in 2005 and remanded in jail in Spain for eight months before being released and allowed to return to Britain on bail ahead of his three-day trial, said: "Justice has been served at the end of the day.The feeling I have is indescribable. It's been a long time but the truth has finally come out in the end.

"My statements on what happened the night Garry died never changed."

Darren, whose wife Joanne, son Nathan, 10, and daughter Nicole, 16, stayed behind in the UK, said: "I'm going to phone my family to give them the good news, go and eat a big T-bone steak to celebrate and then get on the first plane back home.

"I just want now to try to rebuild my shattered life. I lost a £300,000 business because of the time I was in jail in Spain and I've spent thousands of pounds trying to clear my name.

"I also lost a lot of time with my children when they were growing up.

"I feel sorry for Garry's family and I can understand why they're angry. "But they're blaming the wrong person. I don't know who if anyone killed their son but it wasn't me.

"The Spanish justice system is a joke. Nearly 17 years this has gone on for and there was no evidence.

"It should be innocent until proven guilty but I feel as if it's been the other way round."

The jurors were not asked to rule if Garry had died by accident or as a result of a crime.

The jury spokesman said they had reached their decision to clear Mr Sapstead of any involvement because of contradictions in the witness statements of two British sisters who only started incriminated him nearly a year later, expert forensic evidence Garry's body showed no signs of violence, and the fact the defendant had never changed his story.

Mr Sapstead was one of only five of the estimated 45 people on board the booze cruise vessel questioned by police the night Garry, 21, drowned off the popular resort of Playa de Las Americas.

He was allowed to return to Britain two days later and only the two British sisters, Katie and Lucy Smethurst, faced a second court quiz on the island.

The probe into Garry's death, initially classed as an accident by Spanish investigators, was reopened after the women accused Mr Sapstead of killing him in fresh statements they made to Manchester Police in September 1997.

They had said in previous statements Mr Sapstead was not responsible.  He was extradited to Spain in December 2005 and remanded in jail before being allowed to return to the UK on bail while an investigating judge in Tenerife continued to probe Garry's death.

He was charged with intentionally killing Garry earlier this year and ordered to stand trial.

State prosecutors said they wanted Darren jailed for up to 12 years if he was convicted of Garry's homicide at the start of the trial on Monday.

A MAJOR housing project bringing 507 new homes to central Chelmsford has been officially launched.

A ceremony was held on Tuesday to mark the beginning of the £100 million redevelopment of the former Anglia Ruskin University site, now that the groundworks are complete.

The project will provide a mixture of affordable and private homes and is expected to be completed by 2015.

Housing giant Genesis also has permission to build a 13-storey tower, offices and a supermarket on the Victoria Road South site.

The transformation also includes the renovation of three existing historic buildings – Anne Knight, Frederick Chancellor, and the Law Building.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Neil Hadden, CEO at Genesis, which won planning permission last year, said: "This development demonstrates our ongoing commitment to building affordable homes and creating places where people want to live.

"It takes just 30 minutes by train to get to Liverpool Street from Chelmsford, and only 20 minutes to Stratford, so we envisage that these homes will attract a lot of interest from people who are working in the capital but simply can't afford to live there."

He said that Genesis and construction partner Denne would be working with the local authorities and schools to train young people in construction skills.

"This process is well under way with three young people already working on the project from the Chelmsford area," said Mr Hadden.

A BURGLAR from Witham has been jailed for more than four years after admitting to break-ins across the district.

Ricky Ingram, 29, of Rickstones Road, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday.

He had previously admitted responsibility for a burglary in Mary Ruck Way, Black Notley, on September 15 last year, during which a laptop and a handbag were stolen. He also admitted stealing a bag containing around £120 from a Hackney cab in Vicarage Avenue, White Notley, on September 16, and an attempted burglary in the same street that same day.

Ingram also admitted to driving without insurance and without a valid licence.

He was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

In response to his sentencing, Braintree district commander Chief Insp Nick Lee said: "We are pleased Ricky Ingram has been kept off the streets of the district so he is unable to affect the lives of decent people.

"Essex Police is determined to bring those intent on committing offences to justice and we hope Ingram takes time in prison to think about his actions."

There were 367 burglaries in Braintree and Witham district in 2012, up from 298 in 2011.

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