A Northampton man was due in court today following an attempted robbery on a woman at knifepoint at a Northampton cash machine.
Police say the incident happened at about 12.10pm on Friday, January 17, by the cash machine at Asda supermarket in Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe.
Rakesh Raja Meher, 41, of Drayton Walk, is charged with attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
Northamptonshire County Council is moving closer to balancing its books at the end of this financial year but questions are being asked about what role staff vacancies are playing in the authority’s improved financial position.
The latest finance report that went to the cabinet last week (Jan 14) showed the council is now predicting a £549,000 overspend on its budget, a £1.4m improvement on the previous month.
The healthier financial situation was welcomed by the chair of the scrutiny committee Cllr Mick Scrimshaw but he said at the end of this month his committee will be looking at whether staff vacancies are contributing to the savings.
The authority came up with a savings masterplan last February to shave just over £41m from across its departments. Coming towards the end of the financial year the council is reporting some of those savings cannot be made, but instead have been made from other areas, with large savings made through vacancies in customer services, libraries, democratic services, environment services
Cllr Scrimshaw said: “Scrutiny at the end of this month will be looking in depth at the in-year financial position.
“One thing that we will be looking at, this report is littered with lists of savings proposals from the original budget that are not going to be met in full. Also again and again throughout the report across various departments of the council, one of the ways that finances are being mitigated against those savings proposals not coming through, is the financial benefit we are getting from not filling staff vacancies.
“One of the things we want to get an understanding of is, are those two related? Is it the extra pressure and lack of capacity in our workforce that has meant those (original) savings proposals are not going to be delivered?”
Cabinet member for finance Cllr Malcolm Longley said he was pleased the overspending children’s department had stabilised.
He said: “The significant points are for the third month running we have a stable children’s position. However on the risk side of things we do now have a traumatic impact down at the hospital side of things and that could prove to be quite negative.
“It is looking good for the year end but it still too early to be optimistic.”
The county’s two acute hospitals have reported high patient numbers this year, which could in turn impact on the adult social services budget, as the two budgets are closely linked.
Curle has always been clear in his wish to strengthen during the January transfer window but, with next Friday's deadline quickly approaching, the Cobblers are yet to make any signings.
It's a case of quality over quantity, however, and Curle is willing to be patient to secure his main targets, although with the competition heated, he does have back-up options should those moves not come off.
"We've still got our targets in mind and it's gone to he next level as in the CEOs are talking and now it's about the finances," said the Town boss.
"The couple of players we're looking at, they have got options elsewhere from clubs in higher divisions.
"But we're able to compete in terms of what we're trying to offer the players financially, which is pleasing.
"The phone hasn't gone down when we put our first offer in and we're in the latter stages of being able to negotiate.
"If we're able to bring in those players, then excellent. But if not, we do have other targets in mind that are good enough to come into the changing room and into the team.
"That's important as we don't need fillers just to come in because we feel we've got a decent squad. What we're looking for is quality."
A driver has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he drove past the scene of a recent car crash.
On Sunday night (January 19) at about 11pm, two cars collided outside Tesco Express in Kettering Road, near St Matthew’s Parade.
The vehicles were a black Vauxhall Astra and a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police today (Monday) said the driver of the Corsa ran off afterwards and enquiries are ongoing to track him down.
She confirmed there were no major injuries.
But while officers were dealing with this aftermath of the crash another driver decided to drive past the scene, despite the road closure put in place by officers.
Vitalu Kezun, aged 32, of St Paul’s Road, Semilong, Northampton, has since been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the latter incident.
Reece Marshall is ready to make his return to action when the Wanderers host Sale Jets tonight (kick-off 7.30pm).
The hooker has not played since last May after suffering a hamstring injury during a defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
He was due to face Worcester Warriors for the Wanderers in December but had to withdraw at late notice.
However, Marshall is now fit enough to start against Sale.
Harry Mallinder will captain the Wanderers in the Premiership Rugby Shield encounter at Franklin's Gardens.
Skipper Mallinder spearheads a young back three from full-back, with Academy aces Tommy Freeman and Josh Gillespie looking to inject some pace on the wings.
Toby Trinder and Karl Garside are the props, while Ampthill’s Rob Langley and Devante Onojaife pack down in the engine room.
Meanwhile, Fiji international Sam Matavesi is selected at flanker for the first time in his Northampton career, with Ollie Newman and No.8 Tui Uru rounding off the back row.
Tickets for tonight’s match are available on the gate for just £5 adults and £2 juniors, with entry free for 2019/20 season ticket holders.
If you're unable to make it to the Gardens, tonight's game will be streamed live on Saints' YouTube channel thanks to Alpha Live.
Wanderers: Mallinder (c); Freeman, Olowofela, Strachan, Gillespie; Mathews, Tupai; Trinder, Marshall, Garside; Langley (Ampthill), Onojaife; Matavesi, Newman, Uru.
Replacements: Hughes, Iyogun, Prowse (Coventry), van Vuuren, Robinson (Ealing), Betteridge (Coventry), J Mitchell, Dayes (Coventry).
Sale Jets: Magee (Yorkshire Academy); Botha (Fylde), Doherty, Roebuck, Wilson (Doncaster Knights); Wilkinson, Quirke; Carlile, Ashman, Jones; Birch, Sproston (Doncaster Knights); Jackson (Yorkshire Academy), Smith (Yorkshire Academy), Dugdale.
Replacements: Holling (Doncaster Knights), Pope, Ford, Wolfenden (Manchester Metropolitan University), Cullen (Doncaster Knights)
The Cobblers are back on their travels on Tuesday night when they head to east London to take on Leyton Orient in a Sky Bet League Two fixture.
Town will move to within five points of leaders Swindon Town if they can claim a win at Brisbane Road, and if Crewe and Bradford fail to win their matches at Macclesfield and Colchester respectively, then Keith Curle's men could go third.
After 1,000-plus followings for the matches at Burton Albion and Salford City, another strong turnout is expected on Tuesday.
Here is a quick guide to the Os, on getting to the game, and what all of those travelling can expect to find once they get to Brisbane Road.
Fixture: Leyton Orient v Northampton Town
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Weather forecast for Tuesday: Cloudy, 4C
Leyton Orient nickname: The Os
Club formed: 1881
League club since: 2019 - Orient were promoted back to the Football League last April under the management of Justin Edinburgh. They had previously been a League club between the years of 1905 and 2017, but they were relegated at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Manager: Ross Embleton. Embleton was one of Justin Edinburgh's assistants last season, and following Edinburgh's tragic death in June at the age of just 49, took caretaker charge of the team. He was in charge for the Os' 1-0 win at the PTS Academy Stadium at the beginning of October. Carl Fletcher was given the manager's job later that month, but was sacked after just five games in charge. Embleton again stepped up as caretaker, but was given the job on a permanent basis at the turn of the year.
Stadium: Brisbane Road. The ground has been Leyton Orient's home since 1937.
Address: Brisbane Road, Leyton, London, E10
Ground capacity: 9,271
Record attendance: 34,345, versus West Ham United, FA Cup fourth round, January 25, 1964
Average attendance this season: 5,621
Highest attendance this season: 7,042, versus Swindon Town, Sky Bet League Two, September 7, 2019
Lowest attendance this season (not including EFL Trophy): 3,425, versus Maldon & Tiptree, FA Cup first round, November 10, 2019
Distance from the PTS Academy Stadium (by road): 84 miles
Cobblers' overall record at Brisbane Road: P 38 W 9 D 11 L 18 - It took the Cobblers a long time to get their first win at the home of Leyton Orient (failing to do so on their first 12 visits), but in recent times their record there has been very good. Their most recent trip to Brisbane Road saw Chris Wilder's title winners romp to a 4-0 success, and Town have won on four of their past five visits there in league games, the other match being a draw. The last time the Cobblers lost a league match at Brisbane Road was on April 2, 2005.
Away fan stands: Away supporters are housed in the east stand, at one side of the pitch, towards the south end
Are stands for away fans covered?: Yes
Admission prices: Matchday prices are £22 for adults, £20 for senior citizens aged 65 and over, while it's £7 for under-18s
Directions by road (from footballgroundguide.com): Leave the M25 at Junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end of the motorway keep in the right-hand lane and follow the signs for the North Circular A406 (W). At the bottom of the flyover where the roads merge, move into the left-hand lane for the A104. At the roundabout turn left onto the A104 towards Leytonstone. After about 1 mile at the next roundabout take the second exit continuing on the A104 towards Walthamstow & Leyton. Half a mile further on, turn left at the traffic lights into Leyton Green Road (signposted to Leyton Leisure Lagoon & Lea Valley Sports). Continue along this road and as you reach a large elevated block of flats on your right turn left into a short slip road that runs past the bus garage and then left into Leyton High Road. Continue along Leyton High Road passing the Leyton Midland Road overground station. As the High Road bears around to the left then the ground is beyond the High Road to the right. So take the most suitable right-hand turn (as some have vehicle restrictions) and they will take you down towards the stadium. The postcode for a satnav E10 5NF
Parking: There is street parking, although beware of a Residents Only Zone in the streets very close to the stadium. Make sure you check the signposts for any restriction information.
Nearest train station: The nearest tube station is Leyton (about a 1/4 of a mile away) which is on the Central Line.
Cobblers travel clubs: Sixfields Travel Club - Departing from the PTS Academy Stadium at 3.45pm and going straight to the ground. Fares £15 for adults, £10 for juniors. For all bookings, please call Jenny on 01604 706401.
Cobblers Trust Travel - To book please ring Jim on 07840 355864 between 9am and 9pm (texts accepted 24/7).
Cobblers Independent Supporters Club - Call 07830 150081 or 07939 518228. Text only before 5pm
Nearest pub for away fans (details from footballgroundguide.com): The nearest pub for away fans is the Leyton Technical on the High Road towards Leyton Tube Station. It is housed in the old Leyton Town Hall, and is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. A 10-minute walk away on the Grove Green Road is the Northcote Arms, while there is also the Birkbeck Tavern which is on Langthorne Road, behind the Leyton tube station.
Next Cobblers away trip: Macclesfield Town, Saturday, February 1, 2020
PD Kez and officers located a 28-year-old man in Northampton yesterday (Sunday, January 20) following an incident where he allegedly exposed himself.
The suspected indecent exposure occurred on a grass footpath that runs parallel to Bedford Road.
The incident happened between 3.30pm and 4pm on Saturday (January 19).
'Northants Police Dog Section' took to Twitter yesterday to congratulate PD Kez.
The tweet said: “PD Kez had a good result yesterday when she tracked and located a male who is suspected of indecently exposing himself in the Northampton area. Good work Kez!”
Northamptonshire Police confirmed that a man was arrested and remains in police custody.
A spokeswoman for the force today (Monday) said: "This arrest is in relation to an incident of indecent exposure on January 19, between 3.30pm and 4pm, on a grass footpath that runs parallel to Bedford Road.
"A 28-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody at this time."
Northamptonshire Police have released a CCTV image of a woman they would like to speak to in connection with the shooting that happened in July last year in Northampton’s Eastern District.
Detectives investigating the incident believe the woman pictured may have crucial information about what happened when a 28-year-old man was shot and attacked with a knife on a playing field off Pennycross Place and Great Billing Way.
The incident happened at about 11.40am on July 21, 2019, after an altercation broke out on the field.
The air ambulance attended and the injured male was taken to University Hospital Coventry.
He sustained serious injuries but has since made a full recovery.
Five people arrested in connection with the incident remain on police bail while inquiries continue.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: “Detectives believe the woman in the images may hold vital information about the incident and are encouraging her or anyone who knows her to contact us.”
If you have any information about the woman pictured, call Northamptonshire Police on 101 and quote the incident number: 19000381601.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
A woman was prosecuted after she failed to check if a contractor she hired was licensed to dispose of rubbish - they later dumped it in a Northampton neighbourhood.
Northampton Borough Council says residents who don't confirm who is disposing of their waste will still be held responsible for their rubbish if it is flytipped.
The warning comes after a recent prosecution where a Northampton woman hired a contractor to take away her rubbish without vetting the business.
The sacks of waste were found by Northampton Borough Council's neighbourhood wardens in Foskitt Court, Bellinge, in July last year - but inside the bags was evidence that it came from a nearby street.
When challenged, the householder – Christina Dovkants of Hanemill Court, Bellinge – said she had hired someone to take away the waste but had not confirmed their details.
Councillor Mike Hallam, Northampton Borough Council Cabinet member for environment, said: “This is a common mistake which leaves people open to prosecution.
“As Keep Britain Tidy’s #CrimeNotToCare campaign highlights, your waste is your responsibility, so unless it is disposed of responsibly it could come back to haunt you.”
Traders are required by law to hold a waste carrier’s licence, and anyone employing a contractor should ask to see this as well as obtaining their vehicle details.
As a consequence of not doing so, Ms Dovkants was fined nearly £500 plus costs at Northampton Magistrates Court in December for "failure to secure domestic waste".
Anyone who wants to employ a contractor to dispose of waste should ask for a transfer note or receipt from the contractor, checking where the waste is going, and making a note of any other details they feel might be useful.
Cobblers boss Keith Curle says he and his players didn't let the margin of their victory over Morecambe on Saturday disguise the fact that they performed some way short of their best.
The Cobblers led 2-0 at the break after goals from Paul Anderson and Ryan Watson, but the struggling visitors missed three good chances with goalkeeper David Cornell denying both Cole Stockton and George Tanner.
Morecambe continued to cause their hosts problems in the second-half but only had Adam Phillips' late goal to show for their efforts as Nicky Adams and Chris Lines maintained Town's ruthless streak in front of goal.
However, while the three points were most welcome, Curle accepted it wasn't a vintage performance from his side.
"I think it's pretty generic in football whereby you don't always perform how you want to perform but the result is the most important thing in our mindset," he said.
"I said that to the players in the changing room afterwards. We take the result and we earned the result by being prepared to get forward and through our clinical finishing on the day.
"But there were elements within the game that we know we can do better and that's the mindset that the players left with.
"It's the honest we have in the group because they knew without me having to speak to them that it wasn't a performance where we hit the levels we wanted to.
"But the pleasing thing is, from a coaching point of view, is that when you don't get everything right - barring the result - you accept it."
Anderson, who played under Morecambe boss Derek Adams at Plymouth last season, also felt the Shrimps, now bottom of League Two, are a better outfit than the standings suggests.
"They're not a bad team," he said. "I worked with Derek at Plymouth and he'll get them organised and get them working for each other.
"My first goal is one of those where it's gone all the way in but up until that point it was relatively even.
"That knocked the wind out of them but I think they'll be OK because they've got some good players."
A Rolex watch worth thousands was stolen when burglars forced their way into a Wellingborough property.
Police have launched an appeal after the watch, similar to the one pictured, was stolen between 5pm and 9.30pm on January 12.
Burglars broke in through the door of a property in College Street.
Once inside they stole jewellery including a lady’s stainless steel Rolex watch with a serial number of P926151 and a model number of 79174.
A police spokesman said: "Witnesses or anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police in 101."
Keith Curle has not ruled out the possibility of making changes to his team when the Cobblers head to Leyton Orient for Tuesday's Sky Bet League Two fixture.
Tomorrow's clash at Brisbane Road is Town's second of five games in the space of two weeks and comes just three days before they host Derby County in the FA Cup.
Curle has named the same starting line-up for the wins over Burton Albion, Salford City and Morecambe, but his side's trip to the capital might be an opportunity to freshen things up.
"There's always room for rotation and that's because we have a very competitive squad," he said.
"We don't have the biggest squad in the division, arguably I'd say it's one of the smaller squads, but we've got quality in the areas that we need it.
"Shape, formations and personnel are all an option to change because of the quality we've got in the changing room and there's also the emergence of some of the young players coming through.
"They've caught the eye so the changing room is in a good place."
One man who could finally be back in the squad on Tuesday is midfielder Alan McCormack, whose return to action is edging ever nearer.
Curle added: "Alan's getting closer! It's about monitoring him daily and making sure he's right.
"It's not a case of making sure he's doing enough, it's making sure he doesn't do too much!
"There's a process that we've implemented and it's very structured and it's slightly frustrating for Alan because he wants to do more.
"But we want to get longevity out of Alan and that means there's a steady build-up process. At the minute he's hitting the marks but he wants to do more.
"We've got a plan as a coaching staff and we've got to hold him back and make sure it's the right time, not only for ourselves but for Alan as well because we need to make sure he's available week in, week out for the last 18, 19 games.
"It is slightly changing his mindset and changing his format of what he normally does because he's so full-on. Sometimes you have to pull him out of training sessions and tell him 'you've done enough today, you've hit the mark and you've hit the distances'.
"You can see it frustrates him but that's the type of character that's got him the promotions he's had and the career he's had and it's very difficult for him to change that and solely focus on game-time.
"It happened to me at the end of my career when I had to sit out some training sessions because I wanted to play games."
William and Brenda Skears died in an accident on the A508 in Roade while being given a lift back from Northampton General Hospital (NGH) in November 2018.
Gary Marshall admitted to being distracted by his sat-nav before going around a 'sharp bend', causing his Land Rover Discovery to hit the Skoda Fabia the Skears were travelling in.
At Northampton Crown Court, Judge Adrienne Lucking QC sentenced Marshall to six months in prison for the two counts of causing death by careless driving, to be served concurrently.
William's brother Philip Skears and his wife Bridget told the Chronicle & Echo the couple were 'part of' Paulerspury where they lived for most of their lives and were hard-working.
"You can't explain the pain of it. For the rest of us, things keep catching my eye and I think I've seen them but they're not there," Bridget said.
"You might see a car that's like theirs or in the supermarket where we would sometimes see them.
"It gets harder the longer the time goes on. When you get that phone call that they have both gone you deal with it."
William, 89, and Brenda, 85, were travelling home with a volunteer transport service at about 6pm on November 16, 2018 - a month to the day from William's 90th birthday.
As they approached the bend on the A508 near the junction for Northampton Road, Marshall’s Land Rover came in the opposite direction, crossed into their lane and hit the Skoda side on.
By chance an ambulance was nearby and was on the scene within minutes. Paramedics tried to revive Mr and Mrs Skears but they died at the scene despite their best efforts.
Summarising a statement from the couple’s only son Robert Skears, prosecutor Neil Bannister said: “When he was informed of their deaths it felt like his whole world had fallen from beneath him.
“He was very close to them as their only child and lived with them his whole life. They both did a lot around the house while he did the shopping at weekends.
“The distraction of doing more chores helped in the early days after losing both his parents but he did find himself going out more as he wanted to be with people.
“The first few months were surreal as he kept expecting them to come home saying they had lost their memories and had been in a strange hospital but they were back now. But he knows it’s not true.
"He’s got a lot of adjusting to do and misses them terribly.”
The couple's driver was briefly knocked unconscious but otherwise both drivers were unhurt - Marshall also stopped at the scene and assisted police.
Marshall, a 61-year-old air conditioning business owner of Paddock Close, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was on his way back home from a client meeting.
Just before the bend where the crash happened, Marshall told police he accepted an alert from his sat-nav to take an alternative route before there was an ‘almighty bang’.
The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing in November last year.
His defence lawyer Tim Pole said: “It is the last thing he thinks about when he goes to bed and the first thing he thinks about when he gets up.
“It was a year before he was charged and he’s going to be living with the consequences forevermore and I can say he is the sort of man that’s not going to simply be able to push this to the back of his mind.
“The reason is fundamentally he is a decent, hard-working family man and is able to think about the impact that his actions had upon others - one must never forget that and he doesn’t and is truly sorry.”
Marshall told the court his business would not be able to function if he was jailed but Judge Lucking decided he did not show enough evidence to support this.
Sentencing him, she said: “You should’ve been more aware and not allowed yourself to be distracted."
As well as the custodial sentence, he was also disqualified from driving for two years and three months, leaving his family in tears as he left the dock.
Fiji forward Sam Matavesi showed he can be a strong back row option as he delivered a dominant display to help the Wanderers smash Sale Jets 54-12 on Monday night.
Matavesi, who moved to Saints from Cornish Pirates in early December, started life at Franklin's Gardens in the hooker position.
But with Mike Haywood, James Fish and Reece Marshall all now fit, Matavesi was given a chance at No.6 for the Wanderers against Sale Jets.
And it proved to be an inspired selection as Matavesi, who played for Fiji at the recent World Cup in Japan, excelled from the off.
He won three breakdown penalties in the opening 15 minutes alone, continuing to steal Sale ball all night while also etching his name on the scoresheet.
The other highlight from a Northampton perspective was the return of Marshall, who was making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in Saints' defeat at Exeter last May.
He looked strong and hungry, coming through unscathed, and so did the likes of Ryan Olowofela and skipper Harry Mallinder, who oozed class as he got a full 80 minutes under his belt.
But it was Matavesi who really caught the eye from the start, immediately earning two breakdown penalties to win the ball back for the Wanderers in defence.
When the hosts eventually got up the other end of the field, some slick passing put Sale under real pressure.
Tommy Freeman almost got the ball down but he was stopped just short before Matavesi won yet another penalty in defence, allowing the Wanderers to get more possession, which they were to use to great effect.
Olowofela, starting at outside centre, was the man on the mark as he made a scything run before showing good strength to resist the attentions of the Sale defence for a superb try.
Tommy Mathews converted to make it 7-0 on 15 minutes and the Wanderers kept coming, eventually powering over through prop Karl Garside.
Mathews added the extras and Matavesi was soon at it again in defence, making a big hit to prize the ball from Sale's clutches.
It was turning out to be an all-action showing from the Saints No.6, who soon popped up with a try, proving far too strong for the Sale defence.
Mathews made it 21-0 with the conversion and the Wanderers were soon at the door again as big contributions from Olowofela and Marshall gained ground before Mathews found Freeman out wide with a fantastic lofted pass.
It was all too easy for the hosts, who were 28-0 up after Mathews converted again.
And the try of the game so far came four minutes before the break as Josh Gillespie started and finished a move that also included full-back Mallinder, who provided the final pass with some good awareness from the floor.
Mathews converted and Sale looked all at sea, but they did finally manage to build up some pressure before the break, winning a succession of penalties close to the home line.
And eventually the Wanderers wall cracked as scrum-half Raffi Quirke dived over, allowing Kieran Wilkinson to convert, leaving Sale 35-7 down at the break.
Mallinder did some good work to stop Sale scoring just after the restart, covering well and bundling wing Curtis Wilson out of play.
But it wasn't long before the Jets did grab their second of the night as a lineout was stolen and Joe Sproston powered over.
Wilkinson missed the conversion and the Wanderers almost responded as Gillespie sent Freeman through a gap, but the wing was held up after some lovely footwork took him over the line.
But Sale couldn't resist for long as some patient play was rounded off by centre Fraser Strachan.
Mallinder took over kicking duties to convert and the Wanderers then pieced together a fantastic flowing move, started by replacement Morgan Dayes and finished out wide by another guest player, Ampthill forward Rob Langley.
Mallinder missed the tricky touchline conversion but the Wanderers were cruising again at 47-12 up and Dayes soon made another big contribution as he scored in the corner.
It took the Wanderers to their half-century, and Mallinder added more gloss to the scoreline with the touchline conversion.
Promising wing Gillespie showed he was still switched on as he raced back to stop lively Sale scrum-half Quirke scoring his second.
Gillespie almost scored late on, just being pushed into touch at the last, but it mattered not as the hosts ran out convincing winners.
Wanderers: Mallinder (c); Freeman, Olowofela (Dayes), Strachan, Gillespie; Mathews, Tupai (J Mitchell 40); Trinder (Iyogun), Marshall (Hughes 70), Garside (Prowse); Langley (van Vuuren), Onojaife; Matavesi (Betteridge 68), Newman (Robinson 68), Uru.
Sale Jets: Magee (Yorkshire Academy); Botha (Fylde), Doherty, Roebuck, Wilson (Doncaster Knights); Wilkinson, Quirke; Carlile, Ashman, Jones; Birch, Sproston (Doncaster Knights); Jackson (Yorkshire Academy), Smith (Yorkshire Academy), Dugdale.
Replacements: Holling (Doncaster Knights), Pope, Ford, Wolfenden (Manchester Metropolitan University), Cullen (Doncaster Knights)
Hibiscus, formerly of the Royal & Derngate, has found a new home at Delapré Abbey where it will re-open on Wednesday, February 5.
The restaurant will open in the Billiard Room, which is currently used by The Orangery Café, and will have room to accommodate 44 diners in one sitting.
The Orangery Café will still run, as usual, serving afternoon teas during lunchtime before the room will be transformed in the evening to become Hibiscus.
In May last year, Hibiscus and its executive chef, Sam Squires, was awarded an AA Rosette by a panel of judges for its 'accomplished cooking' after only being open for 18 months.
Sam said: “Restaurant Hibiscus will offer beautiful scenery and stunning food using the best local ingredients, of which some will be grown onsite for us.
"With help from Delapré Abbey, we aim to transform Restaurant Hibiscus from a hidden gem into one of the best restaurant’s in the county."
Sam took the plunge and moved to the Ritz in London where he became a commis chef at 17 years old.
After five years building his way up the ranks he left as a chef de partie before a two-year stint working on a Disney cruise ship in three-star Michelin-starred restaurant Remy, and luxury yachts with Silversea cruises.
Tom Hewer, of T.H.E Hospitality, said: “We are delighted with the announcement that we are moving Restaurant Hibiscus from it’s home at the Royal & Derngate to its new home at Delapré Abbey.
“After gaining its first rosette we have struggled with space in busy evenings.
"The extra dining space that Delapré Abbey allows us will give us the chance to expand Hibiscus and provide an all-round better dining experience."
Hibiscus, which first opened on September 2, 2017, will still feature its contemporary à la carte menu, in addition to the chef’s personal tasting menu.
Bookings can be made from Wednesday to Saturday, between 7pm and 11pm.
Figures compiled by the JPI Media Data Unit revealed 65 per cent of official assessments of the county's Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) found unsatisfactory conditions, putting Northamptonshire in the bottom 10 in England.
They include unfavourable findings at Geddington Chase, Pipewell Woods and Twywell Gullet - although there are fears the condition of many may be worse as some assessments are years overdue.
Paul de Zylva, from Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s shocking that our top wildlife sites are in such poor condition. The failure to protect and restore these vital nature havens has been going on for far too long. The number of SSSIs recorded as being in decent condition has been hovering around the 50 per cent mark (nationally) for a decade or more.
“If we can’t even protect the jewels in the crown, it’s little wonder that UK nature is in such poor shape. The new government must make the protection and restoration of our natural environment a top priority.”
SSSIs are protected areas for nature conservation. Most are in private ownership, as part of estates, forests or farms, and are chosen because they are home to rare plant or animal species or important geographical features.
Findings in Northamptonshire include an 'unfavourable' grading for grassland at Bozeat Meadow, although the assessment found it was recovering.
At Geddington Chase some woodland was also found to be unfavourable but recovering with some significant improvements, but the inspection found the designated site failed on its regeneration targets. The protected site has not been inspected since 2011, despite guidelines saying they should be assessed every six years.
And at the Twywell Gullet - part of Twywell Hills and Dales - conditions were found to be declining because of a lack of grazing. The Natural England designation says past issues with dog attacks are to blame.
A spokesman for Kettering Green Party said: “Kettering Green Party say more environmental protection and investment in nature to protect and enhance Northamptonshire's SSSIs is essential to safeguard biodiversity at sites with rare and vulnerable species.”
Favourable conditions were found when inspectors visited popular sites including Pitsford Reservoir and Salcey Forest.
Nikki Williams, The Wildlife Trust’s director of campaigns and policy, said: “Natural England does not have sufficient resources to monitor and assess Sites of Special Scientific Interest – we know of some places that haven’t been looked at in 15 years.
"This is a major issue and means that wildlife – even at our most important wild places – is under threat."
A total of 26,100 SSSI units or features across the UK have had their condition assessed. Of these, 13,073 (50.1 per cent) were in a ‘favourable’ condition, 12,915 (49.5 per cent) were ‘unfavourable’ with the remaining 112 classed as 'destroyed'.
National findings include:
- A colony of puffins on the Shetland Islands’ Sumburgh Head in an unsatisfactory and declining state, with the situation blamed on climate change
- Concern over the status of breeding peregrine falcons at Fair Head and Murlough Bay in Northern Ireland
- All protected sections of Cornwall's famous Bodmin Moor assessed as being in an unfavourable condition
The worst-performing UK county was Greater Manchester, where 91 per cent of features assessed were in an unfavourable condition.
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest protect our most rare and threatened wildlife and represent the best in nature this country has to offer.
"While 94 per cent of these are currently in a favourable or recovering condition, we know more needs to be done to improve these vital sites.
"That’s why we are focusing on restoring those sites that are still in a recovering condition so we can enhance these important areas.”
Andrew Anderson's collection included pictures of infants, Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (Monday, January 20).
The 65-year-old, of Castle Avenue, Duston, was given a 24-month community order, put on the sex offenders' register for five years and given a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
Prosecutor Stephen Kemp told the court the defendant's home was raided by police on March 15, 2017, after receiving intelligence that indecent images of children were being downloaded there.
In total, 39 indecent images of children and 174 prohibited images were found on the three seized desktop computers, dating back to May 2012.
There were also peer-to-peer programmes found on the computers, which allow users to share content over the internet, but it was unclear if these had been used or not, the court heard.
Anderson's web history showed he had been searching for terms relating to indecent images of children and a program to wipe a hard drive's memory was also found.
The defendant denied owning any such pictures during the police interview, as well as having any sexual fantasies about children nor being attracted to minors.
However, Anderson pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images of children at a hearing in December last year.
He was originally charged with possessing extreme pornographic images but that charge was dropped and he pleaded not guilty.
In his defence, Richard Purchase said he was full of shame and remorse and there has been no further offending since the raid almost three years ago.
Fifteen new homes will be built in a small village near Daventry after being given planning approval by councillors.
The new homes will be built on the outskirts of Staverton on land off Braunston Lane, although much of the details such as layout, access and design will come at a later stage, as the scheme has only won outline planning permission which establishes the principle of building on the site.
Staverton Parish Council had objected to the application on the grounds that it was outside the confines of the village and was an ‘overdevelopment’ of the site. And letters of objection from residents said the village ‘‘does not need four or five-bedroom size houses’ and that ‘we would like to hope that affordable housing would be included’.
But the scheme did win support from ward Councillor Jo Gilford. Speaking at the planning meeting, on Wednesday (January 15), she said: “I speak in support of the officer advice [to approve]. There has only been three letters of objections, indicating the majority of the village seem to be in support. It will enable villagers to downsize and release space for bigger homes for families to come in, and for those who maybe left Staverton to come back.”
The scheme was approved by the committee by eight votes to one, with Councillor David James saying: “It seems like a sensible and sustainable development in a good location.”
Daventry District Council should declare a climate emergency to publicly recognise the ‘acute dangers’ of climate change.
That is the verdict of a panel of district councillors who were tasked with looking at whether the authority should follow the lead of more than 200 councils who have already declared such an emergency. Northamptonshire County Council and Northampton Borough Council are among those to already do so.
Following months of research, the panel has recommended that the district council (DDC) follows suit and also aims to reach a position of net-zero emissions by 2030 on emissions that the council controls.
The report has been compiled by councillors Rupert Frost (Conservative), Jonathan Harris (Liberal Democrat) and Ken Ritchie (Labour). It states: “DDC should declare a climate emergency and adopt a climate change strategy which should inform all DDC policies and decisions.
“Many emissions arise from people’s lifestyle choices. DDC must therefore engage with residents on climate emergency issues, making them aware of the threat and encouraging them to act in a way that reduces it. Changes to reduce emissions, however, must be presented not just as an imposition but as a way of improving the environment, saving costs, bringing health benefits and offering new economic opportunities.”
Other recommendations in the report, which was carried out as part of the scrutiny process, include encouraging local businesses to make their premises more energy efficient and end, or substantially reduce, their use of energy from fossil fuels.
It also says the council should facilitate and promote a transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to ones which use cleaner fuels.
And it appears to suggest that the financial outlay for doing so will not be too much of a burden for the district council. The report states: “While the national response to the climate emergency will require massive investments, the demands on local authorities may not be as burdensome as they might first appear.
"Many, and indeed most, of the recommendations made in this report require only little council funding beyond what is likely to be available through Government programmes. Much can be achieved through appropriate policies, for example on building regulations and planning, and many of the measures proposed have the potential to bring about financial benefits as well as improvements in health and well-being.”
The report will be presented in full at a scrutiny meeting this evening (Tuesday January 21) but will require the approval of the full council if it is to be adopted.
Three Swastikas have been painted on to the Holy Sepulchre church, which dates back to circa 1100.
Northamptonshire Police are aware of the incident and are treating it as a hate crime.
It is not clear when the graffiti first appeared on the Sheep Street church.
A sentence, which is illegible, has also been painted on to the wall next to the church door.
A police spokeswoman said: “We were made aware of this incident of criminal damage on Sunday (January 19).
“A Swastika has been painted on to the door with two further Swastikas near the door.
“We are investigating the incident and our hate crime officer is also involved.
“Anyone with information should contact us on 101.”
The church has been contacted for comment, but no-one was available.
We will update you when we know more about this incident.
Chief Constable Nick Adderley revealed following urgent meetings with staff at RAF Croughton on Monday night, that all workers at the military site will be taught Highway Code awareness and UK road laws.
Mr Adderley revealed on Sunday there had been two more incidents of American staff from the base driving on the wrong side of the road since the 19-year-old's death last year.
Mr Adderley tweeted his new initiative late on Monday night, saying: "Following a positive discussion with senior officials at RAF Croughton today, I am pleased to announce that Northants Police roads experts will be providing training to all staff at the base and to all new arrivals at the site for the foreseeable future.
"This is only the beginning and I have agreed to provide that training for free to ensure every member of staff at RAF Croughton receives the input and understands the requirements here in the UK. This will include Highway Code awareness, UK road laws and protocols."
He later added: "The loss of Harry Dunn will not be in vain and a lot of changes will happen as a consequence of his passing."
Harry's parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn launched a campaign to get justice for their son,
Their lawyer Radd Seiger responded to the Chief Constable's tweet, saying: "Team Harry fully support this bold move to offer free training to personnel at Croughton.
"It’s urgently needed. It is but one step. We will work with him, the base and others on a comprehensive review of safety and implement actions arising for the good of us all."
Harry, of Charlton near Brackley, died in hospital following a collision with a car while riding his motorcycle on the B4031 between RAF Croughton and the village of Croughton on August 27.
The wife on a US intelligence officer working at the Air Force base Anne Sacoolas, 42, admitted driving her car on the wrong side of the road and being involved in the fatal crash.
She initially co-operated with police but then flew to the US citing diplomatic immunity.
The British government has submitted an extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas, who has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Yet the US has called the request "highly inappropriate".
Video emerged on Saturday of an incident on a road between Mixbury and Fulwell House where a BMW, driving on the wrong side of the road, was involved in a near-miss with another vehicle.
And police revealed one of their own cars was struck by a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road in October.
Keith Curle is not limiting his ambitions to a top three berth in Sky Bet League Two this season because he feels the Cobblers can still chase down leaders Swindon Town.
The Robins are eight points clear of sixth-placed Northampton but have played one game more, although second-placed Exeter City are on the same number of points and have played the same number of games.
Town are just two behind Crewe in third but, though a play-off place would be deemed a qualified success this season, Curle is setting his sights higher.
"The focus is still on top spot," he said. "We've still got to play teams above us and that could be a shift of three points.
"If another team draws and we win, that's another chip into the deficit. We're still chipping away and our focus is on top of the table."
Cobblers could move up to third if they get past Leyton Orient this evening and Curle is keen for revenge with October's 1-0 home defeat to the O's still fresh in his memory.
He added: "I can remember every game and every performance! They're a competitive team with good ability and a new manager who's just been given the job on a full-time basis.
"They're a team that we know we can compete with. Every game we go into, we know they've got strengths and weaknesses and it's about us getting on the front foot and implementing our gameplan.
"They've got some good technicians in there and they've got a goal threat through (Lee) Angol.
"They attack in wide areas and they create goalscoring opportunities. Defensively they get back into shape well but, like with most teams in this division, if you continue to put the ball in the box, there are gaps."
Fixture: Leyton Orient v Northampton Town, Sky Bet League Two
Date/time: Tuesday, January 21, 7.45pm kick-off
Venue: Brisbane Road
Forecast: 4C, cloudy
Outs and doubts: Orient: Jamie Turley, Jobi McAnuff, Dean Brill. Cobblers: Alan McCormack, Harry Smith, Shaun McWilliams
Betting: Orient 17/10, draw 23/10, Northampton 31/20
Form guide: Orient LDLDLW, Cobblers WWWWDL
Current league positions: 20th v 6th
Possible line-ups: Orient (4-2-3-1): Sargeant; Judd, Coulson, Happe, Brophy; Kyprianou, Wright; Maguire-Drew, Marsh, Wilkinson; Angol. Northampton (3-5-2): Cornell; Goode, Wharton, Turnbull; Lines, Watson, Anderson, Adams, Harriman; Hoskins, Oliver.
Man in the middle: Alan Young
Last time out: Port Vale 1 Leyton Orient 0; Northampton 4 (Anderson, Watson, Adams, Lines) Morecambe 1
Most recent meeting: Saturday, October 5, 2019 - Northampton 0 Leyton Orient 1 (Brophy)
Record v Orient: P79 W30 D21 L28
James Heneghan's preview: In some ways this rearranged Sky Bet League Two fixture is a bit of a nuisance for the Cobblers but the importance of it, in the same week they host Derby County in the FA Cup, should not be understated.
Attentions are already starting to turn towards Friday's tantalising cup tie under the PTS lights and live on the BT Sport cameras but for Keith Curle and his players, three valuable points are at stake in the capital this evening.
Northampton have started 2020 with four successive wins and another against out-of-form Leyton Orient tonight could take them into the top three for the first time this season, although that would require Crewe Alexandra to slip up at free-falling Macclesfield Town.
But Cobblers can only control the controllables and a win this evening should be well within their grasp. While they've gone marching up the table in recent weeks and months, Orient have been drifting in the other direction, winning just one of16 games across all competitions, a run that stretches way back to October 19.
Carl Fletcher, appointed soon after Orient's 1-0 win at Sixfields in October, lasted just 29 days as manager and back into the hotseat came former interim boss Ross Embleton, who now has the job full-time.
But he's struggling to turn around the club's fortunes as their first season back in the EFL threatens to turn sour. If they're not careful, they could find themselves dragged into a relegation scrap.
However, while nearly every stat going points towards a Cobblers victory tonight, it's worth remembering similar things were said when they headed to equally out-of-form Crawley Town on Boxing Day. We all know how that one went.
Curle has decisions to make when it comes to picking his team at Brisbane Road. He's hinted at changes to keep things fresh but he also wants to reel in leaders Swindon Town and to do that his side need to be winning games like this one.
For now, though, Derby County and the FA Cup must take a back seat. There are three crucial points on the line.
Prediction: Leyton Orient 1 Northampton Town 2
A new town council will be formed for Northampton to run alongside the upcoming unitary councils – after elected members green-lighted the proposals last night (January 21).
A new community council for Far Cotton & Delapre will also be formed, as will – more controversially – a new parish council for Kingsthorpe. Plans to extend the boundaries of Duston Parish Council were rejected however.
The new town council for Northampton, which will offer a lower tier of government below the much larger West Northamptonshire unitary council when it launches in April 2021, is set to be the largest community-level council in England according to the Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils (CALC).
Danny Moody, chief executive of Northants CALC, which represents all the parish and town councils in Northamptonshire, said: “This is a great day for the people of Northampton. The new town council will give them a voice when the existing borough council is dissolved to make way for the unitary council. West Northamptonshire Council (the unitary council) will be able to concentrate on strategic matters such as adult social care and highways, and the town council can concentrate on what matters most to the local community of Northampton.”
The historic decision to form the new authorities was taken by councillors at The Guildhall last night, and follows a lengthy consultation with residents.
But the decision was not without controversy, as a lot of Kingsthorpe residents spoke out against the consultation for the new parish council there, saying they had not received letters.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Sally Beardsworth said: “I don’t understand the need to bulldoze this through. We agree on the town council and Far Cotton & Delapre, but take Kingsthorpe back to the community and then let them decide.”
A motion from Labour councillor Gareth Eales to defer a decision on Kingsthorpe, but approve the other councils, was then voted down.
Independent councillor Julie Davenport (Delapre & Briar Hill) said she would support the proposals for a community council in Far Cotton & Delapre, saying: “We want local people and local accountability.”
According to Northants CALC, which is assuming responsibility for setting up the new councils, the first election of councillors to the new Northampton town council will take place on May 7 later this year, with its inaugural meeting taking place shortly after.
‘999: What’s Your Emergency?’ returned last night and followed officers in Northamptonshire as they dealt with the night-time economy.
As people across the county, and the rest of the country, tuned in to watch the programme, a lot took to social media to praise the force’s work.
One viewer said: “Only turned on half way in. That was enough to realise how hard everyone works and how much pressure they are under.”
Another commented: “I honestly cannot fault our hard working police force who have been there when I’ve needed their help.
“Twice in the last six months I’ve required assistance and on both occasions the assisting officers were brilliant and professional.
“Well done to all those who protect us daily.”
Another tweeted: “Watched it. You all do an amazing job and have such hard working, professional staff. Well done to you all.”
One said: “Very positive impression - I especially liked the recognition of the effectiveness of roads policing to combat crime and disrupt criminals.”
The documentary that aired last night (Monday January 20), featured road policing and included a driver who was caught on FaceTime.
This shocked a lot of social media users and one tweeted: “I'm in utter disbelief that one of your residents was caught face-timing while driving.....”
Chief Constable for the force, Nick Adderley, tweeted throughout the programme and gave an insight into how the force appearing on the show came about.
He said: “When I agreed to the programme being filmed, I made it clear that I wanted the public to see how hard the officers and staff work. I think they have done this. Worth noting just how hard our call handlers and dispatchers work too. It’s relentless for them abuse they get is awful.”
The programme also brought about the issue of traffic police officers and traffic PCSOs, which is a topic Ch Cons Adderley has a clear view on.
One viewer tweeted Ch Cons Adderley to say: “I agree totally and fantastic to see your commitment to Roads Policing which always had professionally trained officers in that field years ago and sadly in some forces replaced by Traffic PCSOs … Hopefully not on your watch Sir?”
Ch Cons Adderley replied: “Absolutely not on my watch, Our PCSO’s do an incredible job in our towns and villages but I will not be extending their remit to Roads Policing. Thank you for your kind comments.”
The next episode of ‘999: What’s Your Emergency?’ will air on Channel 4 next Monday (January 27) at 9pm.
Keith Curle insists the Cobblers have all eyes on tonight's game at Leyton Orient and not the hotly-anticipated visit of Derby County in the FA Cup on Friday.
Friday's fourth-round tie will be broadcast live on BT Sport and is likely to attract a capacity crowd to the PTS as Cobblers bid to reach round five of the competition for the first time in 50 years.
But, before then, their league campaign takes centre stage as they head to Leyton Orient this evening bidding to strengthen their promotion pursuit.
"Tuesday is our focus because that's another opportunity to represent the football club and get another three points," said Curle.
"The players know that the focus from the coaching staff will be all about Tuesday's game and then, after that, we'll go to the next fixture.
"That is at the front of all our thoughts. Some people might say you can rest a couple of players because we've got the Derby game but that's not me.
"We'll going to Leyton Orient to win and to gain points and maintain our momentum."
The prospect of a big game on the horizon can sometimes lead to players playing within themselves, but Curle is confident that won't be the case.
"We don't shy away from success," he added. "The players know that Wayne Rooney and Derby County are coming to Sixfields on Friday - fantastic!
"That shows progression of the football club and that's what we want but there's a game on Tuesday and the mindset in the changing room is that we need a performance.
"Credit to the changing room because their focus is on Leyton Orient. Preparations started on Sunday from the coaching staff.
"We'll have information for the players on video and out on the training ground - in possession, out of possession, strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and the targets we want to hit, individually and collectively.
"These are all fundamentals that we go through in our preparation and it doesn't matter if we're playing top of the table, bottom of the table, a league above, two leagues above or even Premier League.
"The format of our preparation doesn't change and the players are tuned into that. They look forward to it and look forward to the information that we've gathered on the opposition.
"They also identify the weaknesses that we as a coaching team spot and being able to exploit those weaknesses, we do it in training the day before the game and try to replicate it on gameday."
The total of 84 motorists were charged with driving while under the influence of drink or drugs during the festive campaign – up by around 25 per cent on last year.
The number includes two drivers who were arrested on Christmas Day and eight on New Year's Day.
But official figures released today also show the county's officers conducted a whopping 2,590 tests. That is an increase of 42 per cent on the 1,818 from 12 months earlier.
Chair of the Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, Chief Superintendent Mick Stamper, said: “The increase number of breath tests and drug wipes carried out throughout this campaign, is testament to the hard-work of all our officers, who are committed to improving road safety across the county.
“Every year we warn people of the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs, yet there are still some who selfishly and recklessly choose to ignore us - not only putting their own lives at risk, but those of innocent road users.
“I’d like to thank the vast majority of people who did the right thing and only drove when sober and would urge everyone to continue to do so as just because the festive season is over, it doesn’t mean we will stop reinforcing this message.”
Of the 84 motorists caught this year, 67 were arrested for drink-driving and 17 more for failing a roadside drug test, pending the results of blood tests. In 2018, the figures were 54 drink-drivers and 13 arrested over drug-driving related offences.
As part of the campaign, all those charged have been publicly named by Northamptonshire Police.
One driver has already been jailed for 20 weeks and given a five-year ban by Northampton Magistrates.
PC Dave Lee, of Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team, said: “Those people caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over the festive period are starting 2020 facing driving bans, hefty fines and in some cases, prison sentences.
“As a police officer on the roads, I have seen the devastating effects drink and drug driving can have. It only takes one second to have a collision which can not only change your life but the life of an innocent bystander and their family.
“Just because the festive season is over, we will continue to focus on the fatal four offences – which are speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone at the wheel – throughout the year.”
To report suspected drink or drug driving in confidence, call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615 or dial 101. In an emergency, call 999.
The 39-year-old driver of a blue Jaguar X-Type died at the scene of the collision with a white Volvo LGV between Daventry and Weedon at around 2.15am on November 1 last year.
Officers investigating the fatal collision, which happened near to the junction with Poets Way, charged the driver of the Volvo with causing death by dangerous driving.
Piotr Wierzbicki, 39, of Sanok, Poland, has been bailed to appear before Northampton Magistrates on February 20.
Saints have moved to strengthen their front row options for next season with the signing of Harlequins loosehead prop Nick Auterac.
The 27-year-old will make the move to Northampton at the end of the current campaign.
Auterac also counts Bath among his former clubs, having emerged from Saracens' Academy setup.
He boasts international honours after representing England Under-20s during the 2012 Six Nations Championship.
And the 120kg forward is relishing the prospect of linking up with a talented group of looseheads at Saints.
“I’m really excited to be joining a massive club in Northampton Saints, who are proving themselves to be genuine contenders for silverware this season,” said Auterac.
“Saints play an exciting brand of rugby in front of a partisan crowd – having experienced the Franklin’s Gardens atmosphere first-hand, I can’t wait to run out there every week.
“The club’s ambition and upward trajectory over the past couple of years has been clear to see.
"Their scrum in particular has come on leaps and bounds, so I’m really excited to get to work with a talented group of coaches and to challenge for that No.1 jersey in Northampton.”
Auterac played a major role in helping Bath reach the 2015 Premiership final following his move from Saracens.
And to date, he has made 20 appearances for Quins since his arrival in the summer of 2018.
He will compete with the likes of Alex Waller and Francois van Wyk for a starting spot at Saints next season.
And Saints boss Chris Boyd said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce our first new signing for next season, and we’re confident Nick will be a quality addition to our front row.
“He is highly respected and experienced within the Premiership, and has shown throughout his career so far that he is not only a strong scrummager but very capable around the park too – which of course fits the mould for how we play at Saints.
“But Nick’s also a player with plenty of potential to improve; he’s just entering what will be his peak years as a front-row forward, so I think he can take his performances to another level under Matt Ferguson, Phil Dowson and the rest of the coaches at Franklin’s Gardens.”
The statistics that relate to the 12 months between August 31, 2018 to August 31, 2019 show an increase in the amount of ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ secondary schools in the county.
Sixty-seven per cent of secondary schools were given one of the two highest grades, which is a four per cent increase from the year before.
For primary schools, there was a decrease of two per cent.
There are now 80 per cent of primary schools ranked ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, but during the previous year there was 82 per cent.
Ofsted were also able to reveal that across Northamptonshire 60 per cent of key stage two pupils were reaching the expected standards for maths and reading combined.
Katrina Gueli, Ofsted director for the east midlands said: “There is much we can celebrate in the East midlands, with many good and outstanding schools, colleges, nurseries and childminders, providing a quality education in a safe and inclusive environment.”
Although there was also cause for concern in Northamptonshire due to the rating the council’s children’s services received.
Ms Gueli added: “I am concerned about Northamptonshire Council Children’s Services, which received an inadequate rating in July last year. We will continue to monitor their progress closely.”
Three per cent of schools in Northamptonshire are also considered to be ‘stuck’, which means those schools have been unable to secure a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ for a number of years.
Ms Gueli added: “An area of concern for Ofsted, and of mine, is the number of schools that have been unable to secure a good or outstanding rating over a number of years and inspections, sometimes referred to as ‘stuck schools’.
“We recently published research on this issue and I am hopeful the findings from this research will prove helpful to schools in breaking the cycle and achieve a good or outstanding rating.
“The past year has seen some excellent achievements across the region but there is more work to be done to make sure all learners in the East Midlands are being given the best opportunity to achieve their potential.”
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu has warned his players not to underestimate the Cobblers when the two teams lock horns in Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at the PTS Stadium.
The former Dutch international, who won over 100 caps for his country, has had a mixed start to his reign at Pride Park after replacing current Chelsea boss Frank Lampard in the summer.
But the Rams have won four of their last five matches in all competitions and sit 15th in the Championship, 37 places above the Cobblers on the football league ladder.
Cocu is still in his first season as a manager in England but he's already familiar with the drama the FA Cup can create after Derby shocked Premier League Crystal Palace in the last round.
“It is always a difficult match to play when you have an away game against a team from a lower division in the FA Cup," Cocu told Derby's official website.
“We also have the ambition and desire to win the game, so we need to produce the football we played against Crystal Palace with the same attitude and desire.
“If we can do that then we have the qualities to do what we need to do on the pitch, but it definitely won’t be easy for us.
“There is great history with the FA Cup, and I think everybody knows, not only in the UK but even abroad, that it is a really special tournament.
“There are always big surprises in every round so that is why we cannot be comfortable by playing a lower league team because the surprise could be your club.
“We will have to make sure we are not it this time. It will be a great experience to be in the FA Cup again and we like to continue to the next round.”
Rams defender Matt Clarke, who's on loan from Brighton, echoed his manager's sentiments.
“I've played enough games against opponents like Northampton,” he said. “I've played at Northampton and it’s not an easy place to go.
“There is no such thing as an easy tie away from home against a lower league opposition and it’s something we are all aware of.
“We have to be bang at it and if we aren’t then we will fall short.”
A man who illegally stored tonnes of waste tyres has been handed a suspended prison term at Northampton Crown Court.
Andrew Eyre, of Poppy Field Road, Wootton, was found to have more than 1,000 tonnes of tyres when his company was legally only allowed to keep 84 tonnes.
The 50-year-old was a joint director of IN4 Ltd until his fellow director, John Mullen of Frankston Avenue, Milton Keynes, retired in February 2017.
Eyre was then left as sole director of the company based in Brackmills Industrial Estate.
When Environment Agency inspectors visited the site in March 2017 they found 1,300 tonnes of tyres, which is more than 15 times the amount the company were legally allowed to store.
During sentencing at Northampton Crown Court on Friday (January 17), Judge Rupert Mayo heard how the pair’s actions could have seriously polluted the environment and risked people’s homes, health and lives and could have caused a potentially life-threatening fire.
By April 2017 the Brackmills site had been entirely filled with tyres and abandoned.
Eyre had set up a second company, Synergy Tyres, in Broad March Industrial Estate in Daventry, where he continued to stockpile tyres.
He operated without a permit for four months until Environment Agency officers discovered more than 120 tonnes of tyres in April 2017.
The court heard that in May 2017, Eyre applied for exemptions to process up to 40 tonnes of tyres a week without an environmental permit, as long as the site adhered to certain conditions and safety measures.
But within a month he had already stockpiled more than twice that limit and he continued to ignore advice to bring the company in line with the law.
The company’s exemptions were voided in March 2018, effectively revoking its permission to operate.
When questioned, Eyre claimed he didn’t understand the permitting rules but the court heard he’d been formally cautioned in connection with two other sites in the past.
Mullen admitted he knew about the concerns over how his company was operating, but did nothing to resolve them because he hoped it would “sort itself out”.
Sentencing Synergy Tyres (Midland) Ltd and its director Eyre, Judge Mayo said there had been, “a deliberate and flagrant breach in the face of warnings given”.
He ordered the company to pay a fine of £11,250 and sentenced Eyre to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on condition that he stays out of trouble and performs 150 hours of unpaid work.
Mullen was made subject to a six month community order with a requirement that he complete 15 days of Rehabilitation Activities.
Rebecca Staff, an environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: “It’s very clear that the mismanagement of these sites was no innocent mistake – rather, laws were broken and legitimate businesses undercut simply for the sake of profit.
“These businesses deliberately ignored rules meant to make sure that waste sites are run safely.
“Most worrying of all, people and the environment were put at serious risk.
Lives could have been lost if a fire had broken out at either site, as one was mere metres away from homes and the other was connected to industrial units.
“We hope this case sends a message loud and clear – we won’t hesitate to take action against those who put profit above their environmental responsibilities.”
A 'dirty burger' restaurant is gearing up to open soon in St Giles Street with toppings including truffled garlic shrooms and miso peanut butter.
It will be the ninth restaurant belonging to owners, 7Bone, who have other venues in Bournemouth, Hove and Reading.
The Northampton location is the furthest north the brand has ventured so far and a recruitment drive for the kitchen and front of house staff has started.
The burger menu fillings include 'smashed 3oz dry-aged beef', 'free-range chicken sandwiches', 'juicy dogs' and 'meat-free vegetarian burgers'.
A new vegan menu has also been launched that includes vegan patties and vegan fried chicken.
The 7bone brand is not afraid of trying unusual toppings, though. The 'Donnie J Trump' burger is wotsit-topped while the 'PBBJ' patty has miso peanut butter and chilli jam.
Fries can be loaded with flavour, too, from sriracha mayo, curry sauce, chipotle to bacon lardon toppings.
A spokeswoman for the company said the restaurant it looking to open 'relatively soon' and will see it take over the former Mu Mu unit, which closed in August last year.
Stewart Page, 55, was put behind bars at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (Monday) after he was convicted of three counts of rape against his victim.
Judge Rebecca Crane jailed Page, of Carter Avenue in the village, for a total of nine years.
He will also be subject to an extended licence period of five years when he is released from custody.
Page was found not guilty of other charges of indecent assault.
They have issued a photo of the 37-year-old who was last seen in Holdenby Road, Spratton, on Monday January 20.
A police spokesman said: "Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Brendan.
"He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, black Nike air top, black bottoms and black shoes. He was also wearing blue and black headphones.
"Anyone who has seen him or knows where he is should call Northamptonshire Police on 101."
Deliverers are needed to distribute the Northampton Chronicle and Echo in certain areas of the town.
We currently have vacancies for deliverers in Boughton, Boughton Green, Kingsley Park and Phillipsville.
Delivery is once a week on a Thursday and will be approximately 20 - 30 papers.
All applicants must be 13 and over.
For further details and to apply, please email natalie.rodgers@jpimedia.co.uk
Masked gang members wielding a knife, metal poles and baseball bats robbed four men on a Northampton footpath..
Detectives revealed the quartet were attacked by six men in an alleyway off Kendal Close, near Booth Lane North, between 8pm and 8.10pm on Saturday, January 18.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "Four friends were approached by a group of six males, who had their faces covered and had various weapons.
"The offenders threatened the four men and demanded they hand over their property before assaulting them with the weapons and running off in the direction of Repton Close.
"The offenders are described as black males, about 5ft 11in, with black and white face coverings and wearing black clothing with the hoods up. The weapons included a knife, metal poles and wooden bats.
"Anyone with information or who may have seen this incident or have any information can call 101 quoting reference number 20000034094."
'It only takes a second to have a crash that changes lives forever' - that was the warning from police after a distracted driver was jailed over a fatal accident in Northamptonshire.
Gary Marshall was imprisoned for six months after admitting to causing the deaths of William and Brenda Skears in a crash on the A508 in Roade in 2018 at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (Monday, January 20).
Lead investigator Detective Constable Ady Tredwell said: “William and Brenda Skears were a lovely couple and to have lost their lives in this way after such a long time together is such a tragedy.
“I am pleased to see Garry Marshall receive a custodial sentence and I hope that the end of this case provides William and Brenda’s family with some element of closure.
“As you can see from the photo we have released of the aftermath of this collision, this was a hugely devastating crash and I hope it demonstrates just how important it is to be alert 100 per cent of the time when driving.
“As we can see here, it only takes a second to have a crash that changes lives forever.”
READ MORE: Family pays tribute to elderly couple killed in Northamptonshire car crash as distracted driver is jailed
Marshall, 61, of Paddock Close, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was distracted by his sat-nav in the moments before the crash on November 16, 2018, the court heard.
The lapse caused his Land Rover Discovery to veer into the other side of the road as he went around a bend and a Skoda Fabia.
The front and back seat passengers of the Skoda - William, 89, and Brenda, 85, both from Paulerspury - died at the scene shortly after the collision.
The pair had been married for 63 years and had lived in Paulerspury all of their married lives.
On the day of the crash, William, also known as Bill, was one month away from his 90th birthday and Brenda was three weeks away from her 86th birthday.
Marshall took the stand during the hearing to explain how his air conditioning business would collapse if he was jailed.
But Her Honour Judge Adrienne Lucking imprisoned him for six months for each count of causing death by dangerous driving to be served concurrently, and disqualified him from driving for two years and three months.
Ensuring his players are given the correct amount of rest between games will be vital for manager Keith Curle as he looks to keep his squad fit and fresh during this hectic period of the season.
Town, having just finished the busy Christmas spell, play five times in 15 days, including against Derby County in the fifth-round of the FA Cup on Friday.
Curle doesn't have a particularly deep squad to pick from so rotation will come into play, however he also believes the way his players rest up between games will also be crucial.
"What we've done very well is monitor the rest we give the players," said Curle. "The work ethic inside the building is very good and we pay a lot of attention on the rest time the players get and the quality of that rest.
"We even monitor their sleep because it's vitally important. We work, we rest, we play.
"We know the levels that we want to hit in training and we know the levels that we hit in games and it's making sure we monitor their rest and they can mentally switch off as well.
"That means sometimes, rather than having a rest day, stay at home. But then knowing that mentally when you come into work, it's exactly that - work. You don't have off days when you come into work."
Curle is confident his players are in good physical condition as they get ready to tackle Leyton Orient on Tuesday and then Derby on Friday, something that was illustrated during the recent win over Morecambe.
"We're a fit bunch and we work extremely well," he added. "We rest well and that's vitally important and our preparation is good.
"I think it showed at the end of the game on Saturday because they've gone brave by leaving one player upfield but we've got our setup and we leave one back.
"They got first contact and cleared and by the time their lad had his second touch just over the halfway line, we had seven bodies back in our own half with a minute to go on the clock.
"In terms of attitude, mental approach and physicality, we're in a good place. When things are going well, the knocks, the bumps and the bruises, players train through them."
Police have launched a fresh appeal for help following a late-night brawl outside a Towcester town centre pub.
The punch-up happened outside the Brave Old Oak in Watling Street between 11.30pm on Saturday, October 19 and 1am on Sunday, October 20.
But detectives today circulated a new appeal for witnesses to the incident.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "A woman was outside the pub talking to a group of people when she was approached by another woman.
"After a few minutes, a man who was with the second woman shouted at the victim and attempted to hit her. two men stepped in to protect her which sparked a mass brawl.
"Anyone with information or who may have seen this incident can call us on 101 quoting reference number 20000021711."
A £3.2 million 'adventure centre' filled with loads to do plus food and drink is due to open in the 30,000sqft, former Gala Casino site at Sol Central on Marefair next month.
The vast majority of people who commented on Chronicle & Echo's social media posts about Gravity Activity Entertainment's plans were in favour of the scheme.
Steve Kearns wrote: "It's about time this beautiful town had something, this is great news. Hopefully this is the start of a better future for Northampton."
Steff Suter added: "Good to see another attraction in the town," while Lauren Frost commented: "This looks really cool and is in a good location too!"
The new centre will be split over two floors: the first will feature 'Northamptonshire's bounciest trampolines and biggest ball pit', a Total Wipeout-style swinging arm and a Wafflemeister cafe.
Downstairs will be a New York City-themed mini-golf, darts and bowling area called Caddy Shack, with American food and drinks and a stage for open mic nights.
On Facebook, Lee Ives wrote: "Great news at last for the town. Let’s get Sol Central buzzing again"
Dawn Sansom commented: "This is great news for Northampton. Wishing them every success," and Louise Hartje put: "What a great idea can’t wait to see it in action!"
Many people on Facebook tagged their friends to suggest going to the centre together once it opens, expected to be in mid-February.
While Rachael Taylor said it would be great to have a trampoline park close to her family as they do not drive.
"Can't wait to take my children here maybe even book a birthday party as well," she added.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by choice and need some inspiration, Nameberry has revealed the top baby names that have worldwide appeal. The baby naming website collated data from countries across the globe, including New Zealand, Turkey, Monaco and the Netherlands, to reveal the most favoured international names. Listed are the 20 most popular choices for baby boys and girls’ in the world. Did your favourite make the cut?
A new retirement home with 43 apartments in Towcester town centre has been granted planning permission after previously being refused.
Back in March 2019, councillors on South Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee had rejected a similar 45-apartment scheme from Churchill Retirement Living at Water Lane, opposite Waitrose.
It was unanimously rejected by members as it ‘failed to reflect the local style’. But the design of the building’s exterior has been amended, with two fewer apartments, and this was enough to satisfy the concerns of the councillors when they met at The Forum on January 9.
The approval means that the existing bungalow and outbuildings on the site will be demolished and replaced by a three-storey building with 27 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments. It is also features 21 parking spaces – including two disabled spaces – and a new access onto Water Lane.
The apartments will act as a home for people aged 60 and above with a partner aged 55 and above. Facilities include a lounge, a guest suite, a lodge manager and a 24-hour emergency call alarm service.
This time recommending the scheme for approval, planning officers stated: “The proposed elevations have been simplified and all balconies removed. The complex hipped roof design of the previous scheme has been replaced by traditional style gable roofs. The building is to be finished predominantly in brick.
“The previous scheme was criticised for its substantial mass, roof design, material and haphazard elevational treatment and detailing. The result was a building that lacked a strong, legible and clearly articulated architectural style and failed to reinforce local distinctiveness. The new proposal better reflects the Design Guide for Towcester.”
Towcester Town Council had continued to object to the scheme, citing ‘over-intensification of the site’, a ‘lack of amenity space for residents’ and ‘inadequate parking’. But their concerns were unable to sway councillors on the SNC planning committee.
The decision to grant planning permission was welcomed by Stuart Goodwill, managing director of Churchill Retirement Living’s in-house planning consultancy, who said: “There is a compelling overall housing need in Towcester and the surrounding area, especially for older people, and our site is in a highly sustainable and accessible location for a new development of this kind, so we believe this decision is good news for the town.
“The new apartments will positively regenerate an underused brownfield site and make a positive contribution to the adjacent Conservation Area. Allowing older people to downsize will also help free up more homes for families and younger people in the local area.”
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Cobblers missed out on a chance to move into the top three in Sky Bet League Two after Josh Wright scored a late penalty in Tuesday's bad-tempered 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient.
Town were just five minutes from a fifth straight victory after Ryan Watson's fizzing first-half finish but Scott Wharton was deemed to have handled in the box, controversially, and Wright made no mistake to deny the visitors all three points.
Wharton then lost his cool and clashed with several opposition players as they celebrated the goal, leading to both him and Orient's James Dayton seeing red as the game ended in chaos.
Unlike on Saturday against Morecambe, Northampton were by some distance the stronger side before half-time and they deserved the lead handed to them by Watson's powerful srike.
But the hosts were better in the second period and came away with a point thanks to Wright's late spot-kick as the game ended in dramatic and farcical fashion,
Cobblers remain sixth but the loss of Wharton for three games, including Friday's FA Cup tie against Championship side Derby County, will be a major blow to manager Keith Curle.
Curle made two changes to his side as Michael Harriman replaced Sam Hoskins at wing-back and Matty Warburton came in for Andy Williams up front.
Cobblers edged the early play and after Sam Sargeant made routine saves from Paul Anderson and Watson, Warburton missed a golden chance to put Town in front with nine minutes played.
Orient made a mess of playing out from the back and Warburton only had the goalkeeper to beat but clattered the woodwork and neither Vadaine Oliver nor Nicky Adams were able to scramble in the rebound.
Wharton headed narrowly over and Watson was a whisker away from reaching Oliver's knockdown inside the box as Town continued to make more of the first-half running, although Orient gradually got a foothold.
It took the home side until the 38th minute to have a shot of any kind and it was a decent chance for Connor Wilkinson inside the six-yard box, but he found the firm palms of David Cornell.
Cobblers were comfortably the better side in the first-half though, and they eventually made their superiority count just moments before half-time. Oliver's flick from a long ball fell to Watson and he delayed the shot before rifling emphatically into the roof of the net.
Orient were marginally improved in the second-half but they were struggling to build up a head of steam in attack as Town defended their lead with relative ease.
Eventually, though, Orient began to turn the screw and were twice close to levelling with Charlie Goode throwing his body on the line to block inside the six-yard box and Cornell reacting well to keep out James Dayton's deflected shot.
Wharton was next to produce a crucial block but the Cobblers couldn't hold out for much longer and Orient were level with just six minutes to play in contentious fashion.
Referee Alan Young penalised Wharton for handball in the box - despite the defender clearly being pushed in the back - and Wright tucked away from the spot.
It all kicked off afterwards as Wharton and James Dayton clashed before nearly all 22 players got involved in a messy brawl. After lengthy consultation with his linesman, the ref sent off both Wharton and Dayton.
Orient then could have won it in stoppage-time, denied only by two fine saves by Cornell as Town were grateful for the point in the end.
Match facts
Orient: Sargeant, Ekpiteta, Coulson (c) (Maguire-Drew 58), Clay, Happe, Brophy, Harrold (Sotiriou 57), Marsh, Cisse (Dayton 63), Wright, Wilkinson
Subs not used: Vigouroux, Judd, Kyprianou, Sweeney
Cobblers: Cornell, Goode (c), Turnbull, Wharton, Harriman, Lines, Watson, Anderson (Martin 70), Adams (Hoskins 56), Warburton, Oliver
Subs not used: Arnold, Hall-Johnson, Johnston, Roberts, Williams
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 3,774
Cobblers fans: fg
Cobblers boss Keith Curle refused to be drawn on the controversial end to his side's 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient on Tuesday night as key defender Scott Wharton saw red moments after giving away a contentious penalty.
Wharton appeared to be shoved in the back as a cross struck his arm inside the penalty box with just six minutes to play, but referee Alan Young ignored Town's furious protests and pointed to the spot.
Josh Wright converted to cancel out Ryan Watson's first-half goal and just to make matters worse, Wharton was sent off for his part in a mass brawl as Orient's players celebrated the goal.
James Dayton also saw red for the home side.
Naturally, Curle was asked about the two incidents during his post-match interview but he would not be drawn on either.
"I don't mean to be evasive but I don't really want to talk about the penalty, the sending off or the officials because that can detract from some of the good things we've done tonight," he said.
"We'll let the dust settle and we'll review it, but the one thing I've learned from the amount of games I've had as a manager and a coach, no matter what I say after the game, I can't change the result.
"The important thing for us is to focus on the performance, individually and collectively, because there are areas we can improve on but we're still on an upward curve.
"I don't want tonight's point gained to be about referees or decisions or anything like that.
"We put in a good performance away from home and we've gained a point."
Northampton Crown Court heard Sonny Stewart was in a car-full of wannabe gang members, one of whom randomly stabbed a man outside a pub in Great Billing in October, 2018.
The other men in the car have all been jailed over the attack, including two members of the group involved in the murder of Reece Ottaway last year - Adison Smith and Jordan Crowley (also known as Jordan Kimpton).
Although Stewart, 29, did not carry out the assault himself, he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and was jailed for 11 years.
His Honour Judge Michael Fowler also increased the time Stewart would be on licence by four years as he was considered a danger to the public.
"You do represent a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public and put simply, the determined sentence is not sufficient to protect the public," the judge told him.
The court heard on the evening of October 3, 2018, Stewart was in a Peugeot with Smith, 20, Crowley, 21, Gavin Munro and James Tyler Metcalfe, who had set up a new gang.
They were driving around the Lings, Billing and Blackthorn areas with weapons, listening to sexually graphic rap music and posting videos on social media to taunt a rival gang.
Judge Fowler told Stewart he aligned himself with others 'who were clearly acting as part of a gang', adding: "It was a wholly aggressive and dangerous atmosphere from start to finish."
Eventually, the group came across two men smoking outside The Elwes Arms pub on High Street and recognised one of their first names to be the same as a known member of the rival gang.
So the group, wearing masks and carrying weapons, got out of the car - Smith approached with a machete but was told they were not part of any gang.
They turned to run away but Smith hacked one of them in the back three times, the court heard.
"Fortunately the victim survived the stabbing. He was in the hospital for three days and suffered an experience that still affects him psychologically and socially," the judge remarked.
Stewart was apparently stood next to the other man throughout but after the attack, they jumped back in the car and drove off, taking a picture by a street sign on their way home.
Geoff Knowles, defending, said the defendant accepts he was in the car and was aware that others had weapons but he did not have any nor did he use them.
"When you speak to him, he comes over as someone who recognises the stupidity of his actions on this night," the lawyer said.
"He's not a gang member, why the hell he got involved with this lot on that night is something he is remorseful for and ashamed of.
"He knows he was better than that but by his actions and involvement, he faces a further lengthy period in custody."
Stewart was described by the judge as having a 'significant record of offending', including a conviction in 2011 for causing GBH with intent after stabbing someone who informed on his friend.
Before the attack, he had taken himself away from Northampton and moved to Bishop Auckland in County Durham, where he was working and in a 'loving' relationship, including looking after an autistic child.
But as Mr Knowles said: "It's clear he either finds trouble or trouble finds him."
Smith and Crowley were jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years and 30 years respectively in November last year over Reece's murder, with the attack taken into account, which they pleaded guilty to.
Munro, 31, and Metcalfe, 20, were jailed for 12 years and nine years respectively for their parts in the attack.
Jack turner, of Whiston Road, seemingly chose his victim in the summer of last year because he appeared vulnerable and was someone he could exploit.
The victim did not know Turner when the ordeal began - but that did not stop the 27-year-old approaching the innocent man's car at the end of a Kingsthorpe street and telling him he had just "run over his drugs".
Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (January 21) how Turner made out that the driver had just run over a package with "£1,000 worth" of drugs inside - and now he needed to pay for it.
Turner further threatened that "his boss won't be happy" if he didn't pay up.
The victim was coerced into withdrawing £100 from a cashpoint - but the next day, Turner turned up at the man's house and told him to pay another £100.
When the man said another £100 would push him into his overdraft, the court heard that Turner "got angry, gritted his teeth and said his boss wouldn't be happy." He then upped the demand to £150.
The ordeal escalated when Turner began turning up at the victim's house repeatedly. Incidents included leaving threatening notes at the house demanding cash, showing the victim a machete in a bag, and telling him his house would be "ransacked" if he didn't pay.
Only when he had handed over some £500 to the conman did the victim and his wife put their foot down by finding Turner on Facebook to confirm his identity before calling the police.
Turner later pleaded guilty to blackmail on what was meant to be the first day of his trial.
A victim impact statement read out in court heard how the victim in the case had suffered repeat panic attacks because of the scheme and feared Turner or his "boss" would turn up at his home again or threaten to harm his family.
His Honour Judge Michael Fowler said Turner's crimes stopped just short of out-and-out robbery.
He said in sentencing: "You selected someone who had no reason to be a target, other than he must have displayed some indication that he would be vulnerable to your schemes.
"Your schemes involved repeated contact with him and it has left him distressed and clearly has had a serious impact on his life."
Turner was jailed for three years. Additionally, he was handed a restraining order preventing him from living within a quarter-mile of the man's house or even visiting his street for another five years.
The game had been light on controversy up until the 84th minute when Orient, trailing 1-0 at the time, were awarded a penalty for handball against Wharton.
There was no doubt the ball struck Wharton's arm but he looked to have been blatantly pushed by Jordan Maguire-Drew as the cross came into the box, which left Town's players incredulous when Young pointed to the spot.
Josh Wright converted from 12 yards but the drama didn't stop there as all hell broke loose with Wharton dragging Orient substitute James Dayton to the floor in an attempt to get the ball before nearly all 22 players got involved.
Both Wharton and Dayton were shown straight red cards and then the home side almost won it during the eight minutes of added-time as Cobblers just about clung on.
"I don't think James expected to be red carded," said Embleton. "There was some mind-blowing things that happened during those moments.
"First thing's first, the ball's gone in the box and we've won a penalty for handball and it should be a yellow card because the guy's punched it away from Jordan Maguire-Drew's head.
"The fourth official told me it's not a yellow card because he's in the air but I don't know how that has anything to do with it.
"That was ridiculous and then the ref spoke to me at full-time and his reason was that there was 'too much going on' but that's a cop-out because it all happened after the penalty was taken.
"He should be given a yellow card and my mind's blown. Then James Dayton gets sent off and yet (Vadaine) Oliver, who had been taken off by Northampton, ran half the length of the pitch to get involved but no-one saw it.
"But they saw James Dayton do something that I didn't manage to see so there's a lot there that doesn't make a great seal of sense."
Orient were comfortably outplayed before half-time as Ryan Watson lashed the Cobblers into a 43rd minute lead, but theywere much-improved after the break.
"It was mind-blowing the difference between the first-half and second-half," Embleton added. "It was astonishing.
"We looked edgy and we looked nervous, which is to be expected, and I felt our performance really reflected that for everybody because we're all a bit nervous at the moment.
"I do wonder to a degree whether their goal settled us down at half-time because our boys came out with a nothing-to-lose attitude and had a right go.
"It's happened on a few occasions this season where we've had a poor start and a grandstand finish. There's never a dull moment here but the way we applied ourselves in the second-half was to be applauded."
But it's another point on the road for Keith Curle's men - so who starred and who struggled? Find out with our player ratings...
