A man who carried out 
“appalling” sexual offences against a young girl has been jailed for 12 years.

Janis Raciks forced the girl to repeatedly perform sex acts on him, and threatened to drug her or hang himself if she did not comply.

He also falsely told the girl that he had drugged and sexually abused her .

The attacks only came to light some years later, when the victim confided in a family member last November.

Raciks, aged 40, of Poplar Court, Boothville, Northampton, admitted two charges of rape, and other charges of sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and sexual assault of a young girl.

Matthew Lowe, prosecuting, told the court the defendant moved to the UK from Latvia four years ago.

He said when the victim was first approached by Raciks, who smelt of alcohol, he told her that if she did not let him touch her, he would hang himself.

Mr Lowe said: “The matter progressed to the point where he got her to perform sex acts on him.

“At one point, he told her resistance would have been futile, as he had a drug which would have made her comply.

“He said if she did not allow him to do what he wanted, he would have used prostitutes,” Mr Lowe told the court.

Derek Johashen, mitigating, said: “He takes full responsibility for what he has done. It has already 
impacted heavily on his family.

“He expresses deep remorse. He understands he has a problem which needs to be addressed,” Mr Johashen added.

Sentencing Raciks, Recorder Nirmal Shant said: “This was the most appalling case.

“You carried out a sustained campaign of sexual abuse.

“It is plain you cajoled her into doing things by telling her you had done sexual things to her while she was drugged, and she may as well do it while she was 
conscious. You have probably done untold damage to her.”

Raciks will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

A cyclist has died following a crash in Moulton this morning, police have confirmed.

The collision happened at 6.25am today in Moulton Way, Northampton. The victim was a 52-year-old man, from Moulton.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “A people carrier was in collision with a male cyclist on Moulton Way, close to the fire station.

“The driver of the people carrier, a 39-year-old man from Northampton, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and is in custody at the Criminal Justice Centre in Northampton.”

The cyclist was originally taken to Northampton General Hospital with serious injuries, but has since died.

They later said: “The man, aged 52 and from Moulton, was taken to Northampton General Hospital but later died. Formal identification has not yet taken place.”

Moulton Way and Boughton Lane are both closed pending a scene investigation by police.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

Whitehall failures over the West Coast rail contract will cost taxpayers “at least £50 million”, a report by MPs said today.

There was a lack of leadership at the Department for Transport (DfT) and a failure to “get basic processes right” over the West Coast fiasco, the report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said.

MPs said they were concerned that these basic mistakes could be repeated in future projects such as the London to Birmingham high-speed HS2 scheme, which will run through part of Northamptonshire.

The report said the department failed to learn from mistakes made in previous projects and senior managers failed to apply common sense during the West Coast bidding process.

They also said senior managers had “missed clear warning signs, including from the (rail) industry, that there were serious problems with the (bidding) competition”.

The committee said: “We are astonished that there was no senior civil servant in the team despite the critical importance of this multibillion-pound franchise”.

After DfT errors in the process had been identified, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin scrapped the bidding which had seen Virgin Trains lose out to rival transport company FirstGroup in the battle for a new, 13-year West Coast franchise.

Saints wing Noah Cato has agreed to join Championship high-flyers Newcastle Falcons until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old wing has played just one game for Northampton this season: The 39-17 humbling at London Irish.

He has made a total of 10 appearances since joining from Saracens in 2011, finding regular rugby hard to come by.

But Cato could get that with the Falcons, who currently top the Championship by 20 points and look certain to be promoted back to the Premiership.

And he said: “I am delighted to join Newcastle Falcons, and this is a good opportunity to get back to playing regular rugby.

“To be a part of a club with the ambition of returning back to the Premiership presents an exciting time ahead for me.

“To assist in realising that goal will be a fulfilling experience.”

“The club is very fortunate to have such great facilities, and what was immediately apparent to me was the warm welcome that I received.”

Cato is available for selection for Newcastle’s game at Rotherham on Saturday.

An open evening for teenagers who want to become a police cadet will be held at Wootton Hall next month.

The evening will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 7pm at Police Headquarters.

Yvonne Mason, the cadet leader, said: “There are many benefits of becoming a cadet, from making new friends and building confidence to developing valuable skills and making a real difference in the community.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds said: “The cadet scheme is an excellent way in which young people can get involved in helping to make Northamptonshire a safer place.

“I have met many cadets over the past few months and been very impressed with them and with the cadet scheme.

“Currently I am working on plans which will see the cadet scheme substantially expanded to add greater involvement and presence right across the county.”

The Police Cadet scheme is for young people aged between 16 and 19. Those joining must be 16 at the start of the academic year and must achieve a GCSE Grade C or above in English.

To register email cadets@northants.pnn.police.uk.

Australian import Cameron White believes Northants are facing a bright future thanks to the crop of young stars breaking into the first team at Wantage Road.

White has signed up for a second summer of Twenty20 cricket at the County Ground, and he admits one of the reasons he has agreed to return is the potential he sees in David Ripley’s crop of young players.

And although fast bowler Jack Brooks has departed for Yorkshire, White says he is looking forward to working under Alex Wakely who is the Steelbacks’ one-day captain for 2013.

“David Willey is quality player and so is Alex Wakely, who I thought captained us really well in the T20s last year,” said White, currently skippering Victorian Bushrangers Down Under. 
“Olly Stone is another, he has earned his place in the England U-19s squad so there is no doubt that Northamptonshire have got talented players coming through who are only going to improve in the future.”

White was easily the Steelbacks’ best performer in an otherwise unforgettable T20 campaign in 2012, with the County managing to win just one of their 10 group games in a miserable season.

And the 29-year-old is hoping to repeat his form with the bat this year, and also that the team enjoys better fortunes on the field this time around.

“I’m definitely going back to Northamptonshire for the Twenty20 matches this season and hopefully I can help the team out by playing well so we win as many matches as possible,” said White.
“I played county cricket for Somerset in 2007 and 2008 so I sort of knew what I was in for at Northamptonshire last year.

“The conditions were not unfamiliar to me so it was fantastic being a part of the group.”

White will join up with Northants for the Twenty20, with fellow Aussie Trent Copeland turning out in the LV= Championship and CB40 in the first half of the season.

As it stands, Northants have yet to sign an overseas player for the second half of the domestic campaign.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested following a fire at a house in Wootton last week, police have said today.

The man, who has been bailed without charge until April, was arrested following the blaze in Fieldgate Close, which happened in the early hours of last Thursday morning.

Three cars were severely damaged by fire and the flames spread to both floors of the house.

The six people who lived at the address were safely evacuated.

Eyewitness Ian Street said: “There was a lot of noise and banging which we assumed was the car being moved. Then we heard a lot of shouting as people were coming out of the house. The flames were huge.

“There was a large group of people in the street. My wife was with them.

“It took them a long time to put the fire out. They were putting lots of water on and another bit would catch fire.”

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd has admitted David Artell has been loaned out to Wrexham as he is too far down the pecking order at Sixfields to be guaranteed regular football.

Artell has today joined Blue Square Premier leaders Wrexham on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.

The former Crewe Alexandra skipper hasn’t played for the Cobblers since October, having undergone surgery for an Achilles injury.

He is now fit again, but finds finds several players in front of him in the central defensive positions, with Kelvin Langmead, Clarke Carlisle, Lee Collins and Ben Tozer all having played there in recent matches.

“David has found his opportunities limited,” admitted boss Aidy Boothroyd.

“He is fit again now and he needs to be playing regular football.

“We have a lot of competition for places in defence and it won’t do David any good to be sat on the bench.

“He hasn’t played for almost five months and he needs games between now and the end of the season.

“This move frees up another position in the squad should we need it moving towards the loan deadline in the next few weeks.

“Wrexham are local to where David lives so it is a logical move for all parties.”

Although the deal sees Artell at the Racecourse Ground until the end of the campaign, he can be recalled to Sixfields if the club is hit by injuries later in the season.

A club statement confirmed: “The club has a recall option on Artell after the first 28 days as per registration rules.”

Artell joined the Cobblers in the summer after being released by Crewe, who he skippered to promotion play-off glory at Wembley last May.

He has to date made 14 appearances for the club, scoring four times.

His most recent game for Town was back on October 9 in the 2-1 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Colchester United at Sixfields.

He is joining a Wrexham team that is currently two points clear in the top tier of non-League football, and is managed by Andy Morrell.

In a recent interview, Luke Guttridge remarked how the stabilising qualities of parenthood have changed his on-field character.

The theory goes that, after fathering a daughter two years ago, Guttridge is a more calm person when he crosses the white line.

Although the midfielder has had his name taken by five referees so far this season, he admits he is more likely to bite his lip than dispense some harsh words for his opponent.

But just recently he has found himself frozen out of the first team - quite literally, given the recent temperatures.

For the entire duration of the 1-1 draw at Wimbledon and the 1-0 victory over Plymouth, Guttridge was forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench, deprived of even a brief cameo in what were two admittedly tight games.

One school of thought - and it is not worth second-guessing any football manager, least of all Aidy Boothroyd - is that Guttridge has been intentionally kept away from the first 11, for tactical reasons and because of the reaction such a policy would elicit.

It is worth pointing out, though, that Boothroyd has commented that Guttridge has not been selected because he is yet to reach the levels he was at prior to the foot injury he sustained in October.

Playing the midfielder against Bristol Rovers at Sixfields tonight (ko 7.45pm), would represent the unleashing of a player for whom the fire is likely to be blazing after an inactive couple of matches.

It could prove to be a masterstroke because Guttridge was an integral part of the club’s successful fight against relegation and there is no reason to suggest he would not be a key man in their battle to exit the division at the correct end.

Players such as Guttridge were ones signed with specific criteria in mind - the psychological experience of being involved with a promotion but also the ability to contribute physically both in the short and medium-term.

In other words, not quick-fix players who would be over the hill once the initial stage of the job was completed.

There are others - Chris Hackett to name one - who were brought in for similar reasons.

Now, in the ‘business end’ of the season - 12 games to go; six at home, six away - it is time for such players to exhibit the (largely psychological) qualities that have won promotions at other clubs.

For Guttridge, this might just include a return to the spiteful old days.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Northamptonshire County Council has said he believes the people of Northamptonshire want to see a coalition of politicians running the county, similar to that in Westminster.

The political group launched its campaign for this May’s county council elections on Tuesday.

The leader of the group, Councillor Brendan Glynane (Lib Dem, Delapre) said he thought people wanted to see a hung-council following the election, with parties working together to run the county.

He said: “What we should be looking for is a council with no overall control.

“That may be what the county wants, because they certainly want that with the coalition Government.”

The politician said he believed the Liberal Democrats could hold the balance of power following the May election and did not rule out working with either the Conservatives or Labour to lead the council, which is responsible for services such as social care, libraries, schools and roads.

Their campaign for the election however will focus on criticising the Conservative decision to switch off some street lights across the county.

Councillor Glynane said: “Our campaign is all about making people feel safer on their streets.

“Since lights have been switched off the fear of crime has risen. People are not going out jogging for instance.

“And they’re not going out because of who they might meet in the dark streets.”

The councillor said he was confident that where the Liberal Democrats had people “working hard in their area”, they would win seats.

He also dismissed a threat from UKIP, arguing they did not have enough people working on the ground to win seats.

Work is under way to dismantle the offices above Greyfrairs Bus Station in Northampton.

Workers moved inside the building this week to begin work ahead of the building’s demolition which could begin next year.

The bus station was built in 1976. The offices have been vacant since Barclaycard left in 1996.

Click the ‘Play’ button at the top of the page to see our video footage of inside the building and listen to an interview with the leader of Northampton Borough Council David Mackintosh who is pushing forward the building’s demolition.

A Northampton man says he is still in shock after seeing the footage of the fatal Egyptian balloon crash - exactly two weeks after he experienced a forced landing on a similar flight in Luxor.

A fortnight ago today, Tom Steel took a hot air balloon flight in Luxor while on a holiday with Thomas Cook, and experienced a forced landing in a field due to a sudden gust of wind.

He escaped unhurt, and says he is still in a state of shock after hearing today’s news about the 19 fatalities.

Mr Steel, aged 61, of Kettering Road, Northampton, was on holiday in nearby Hurghada with wife Milena, aged 55, and son Peter, aged 15, and Milena booked him onto a balloon flight as a gift.

Describing his experience, he said: “I’m in shock - that could have been me. I did exactly the same thing as those poor devils today.

“It was pretty cramped and the pilot was a character. It was beautiful and serene, but we came down pretty quickly into a sugar cane field, because of a gust of wind.

“It was quite scary, and I just wanted to get out. The pilot and the farmer were having an argument.”

Today’s tragedy was on one of the many dawn balloon flights popular with tourists for giving spectacular views of Luxor’s attractions.

The balloon had climbed to 1,000ft when it exploded, caught fire and fell into agricultural fields.

Operating company Sky Cruise said a gas cylinder had exploded on board.

Speaking about his reaction when he heard today’s news, Mr Steel said: “My wife said there had been a balloon crash, and I just couldn’t take it in.

“That’s life - you don’t know what you’re stepping into every morning. I feel like I’ve lost one of my cat lives.”

A man who got drunk, took the keys to his stepfather’s £21,000 van and rolled it while speeding has been jailed for eight months at Northampton Crown Court.

Witnesses described how James Higham was driving at “excessive speed” when he smashed into a lamppost and roadsign on the A45 at Flore Hill, breaking his collarbone.

Higham and accomplice Louis Barr had been drinking together on the afternoon of September 16 last year, when they decided to take the Ford Transit for a drive.

Northampton Crown Court heard on Monday that the van was seen to career across onto the wrong side of the carriageway before ending up on its roof.

Higham, aged 20, of Hillside Road, Nether Heyford, and Barr, aged 18, of Butts Hill Crescent, Bugbrooke, were both taken to Northampton General Hospital.

The crash caused £10,000 of damage to the van, £2,000 to the lamppost and £4,000 to the roadsign.

The two men, who were both were given seven-month suspended sentences for affray in January, were jailed on Monday.

Higham admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving with no licence and insurance, and breaching a suspended sentence. He was sentenced to eight months.

Barr admitted being carried in a vehicle which had been taken without the owner’s consent, and was sentenced to four months, consecutive to the suspended sentence he is already serving.

Caroline Bray, prosecuting, said: “Higham lost control on a bend and both the defendants were injured as a result. Witnesses saw him veering across onto the other side of the carriageway.”

Rachel Law, for Barr, said: “He is just 18 and has always said it was an incredibly stupid thing to do.”

James McLernon, for Higham, said: “He understands they could have lost their lives and he was putting members of the public at risk.

“It was a terrifying experience and a salutary lesson. It is a mistake he won’t repeat. He is terrified of the prospect of being sent to custody.”

Sentencing the men, Judge Rupert Mayo said the events were a “remarkably stupid enterprise” and “a remarkably idiotic thing to do”.

Both men were also disqualified from driving for a year.

Four Saints players have been released by England in time to play against London Irish on Saturday.

Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Ben Foden and Lee Dickson are among 10 players sent back to their clubs by the Red Rose for this weekend’s Premiership action.

Tom Wood is the only Northampton player to be retained by Stuart Lancaster.

Hartley, Lawes and Wood all started for England in the 23-13 Six Nations win against France last weekend and will hope to get key roles again when Italy come calling on March 10.

Foden and Dickson have yet to play a part in the Six Nations and were both in the Saints line-up for the 25-23 win against Bath at the Gardens last Saturday.

The Cobblers needed a late Ben Harding goal to sink Bristol Rovers in a low-entertainment game at Sixfields.

Town produced almost nothing of attacking intent during a poor match that looked to be heading for a draw until Harding lashed in Clarke Carlisle’s flick-on from a Ben Tozer throw.

The goal was initially credited to skipper Kelvin Langmead, but it was confirmed post-match that the final touch was Harding’s.

The win was a costly one - leading goalscorer Adebayo Akinfenwa went off injured at half-time - and Northampton were fortunate to pick up what is their 13th victory of the season.

With Chris Hackett ‘rested’, the Cobblers selection was an interesting one, with Jake Robinson and Roy O’Donovan - both effective centre-forwards - on the wings and the powerful duo of Akinfenwa and Clive Platt up front.

Still, it was Rovers who had the game’s first good chance, Joe Anyinsah firing straight at Lee Nicholls after Robinson had been caught in possession while trying to dribble his way out of defence.

Akinfenwa stayed down for longer than is comfortable after a collision with the visiting centre-backs midway through the first half and was substituted at half-time, Ishmel Demontagnac taking his place and moving to left wing with O’Donovan put up front.

Rovers were the better side for large proportions of the game and forced Nicholls into a good save with Elliot Richards’ shot from distance after 10 minutes of the second half.

The visitors were a constant force right to the end, and substitute Ellis Harrison was only denied a fine goal on the run by the sprawling block of Clarke Carlisle.

Saturday’s game against Plymouth was a low-entertainment affair but at least the Cobblers won it and this match was almost a mirror of it.

The decisive goal came later in the piece and was not as ugly.

But they both might prove vital when the dust has settled on the season.

Cobblers: Nicholls, Tozer, Langmead, Carlisle, Collins, Robinson, Hornby, Harding, O’Donovan, Platt, Akinfenwa

Subs: Demontagnac (for Akinfenwa 46), Guttridge (for Robinson 72), Johnson (for Platt 90+2mins)

Not used: Snedker, Oyeleke, Dias

Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall, Smith, McChrystal, Parkes, Brown, Richards, Woodards, O’Toole, Norburn, Hitchcock, Anyinsah

Subs: Harrison (for Hitchcock 76)

Not used: Paterson, Harding, Virgo, Gough, Goddard, Lockyer

Attendance: 4077

Rovers fans: 329

Referee: Gavin Ward

Aidy Boothroyd says the Cobblers’ set-piece proficiency was the reason they beat Bristol Rovers in a close encounter at Sixfields.

Town and the Gas looked to be heading for a 0-0 stalemate as both sides threatened to cancel each other out in a game of few chances.

But Ben Harding volleyed in an 88th-minute winner - his first goal of the season - at a Ben Tozer long throw to seal home win number 13 for Northampton and keep them fourth in npower League Two.

“I thought it was scrappy at times, a lot like the Plymouth game, and it was a case of two evenly-matched teams going at each other,” said Boothroyd, whose side won 1-0 in their previous game too, with the decisive goal coming from a corner.

“Bristol Rovers are fighting for their lives and we’re trying to get promoted so it was always going to be a tight one.

“We managed to win it on a set play and when games are tight that’s what wins games.

“We were dogged and persistent and it doesn’t matter if you win the game in the first minute or the 90th minute.

“We edged it really and the reason we did that was because we are good at set plays.”

Boothroyd took the decision to leave influential winger Chris Hackett completely out of the matchday squad, and explained it was done to give the player extra rest for Saturday’s trip to Exeter City.

“I was concerned about Chris because in the past couple of games he’s been playing with two or three little knocks and he’s a marked man now,” said Boothroyd, who also confirmed Adebayo Akinfenwa, who left the contest at half-time with a hip injury, will be clear to play at the weekend..

“People want to kick him and stop him and he’s got a lot of bumps and bruises so I thought this would be a good game to rest him because I wanted him right for Saturday.

“I knew if I put him on the bench I’d be looking around at him after an hour and I’d bring him on, so I left him out and he’ll be refreshed for Saturday.”

Rents for council houses in Northampton are due to increase by an average of 4.4 per cent from April 1.

The rise means council tenants will pay between £2 and £7 more per week.

Councillor Mary Markham (Con, Obelisk), the council’s cabinet member for housing said: “Rent increases have been kept as low as possible but we have to restructure how much we charge our tenants in line with Government policy.

“We do everything we can to ensure our tenants receive value for money for their rent and the best quality services we can provide.”

The lowest rent currently paid by council tenants in Northampton is £55 a week for a bedsit. The highest figure is £107 a week for a five bedroom house.

Tenants who are worried about rising costs or debt can speak to a member of the council’s rent income team by calling 0300 330 7000 or emailing rentincome@northampton.gov.uk.

An emergency lane closure is leading to long rush hour delays into Northampton.

Anglian Water is carrying out lead replacement work in Spencer Bridge Road, but a HGV broke the plates they use to cover the excavation work.

The roadworks are at the junction of Spencer Bridge Road and Gladstone Road, heading into town, and the emergency closure blocked the right hand lane at the traffic lights.

The lane was due to reopen on Tuesday afternoon, but this didn’t happen. And at rush hour on Wednesday, no contractors were working on the site.

This caused extensive delays on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with traffic slowed to a crawl around the traffic lights in Spencer Bridge Road and Weedon Road, and from the Harlestone Road/Bants Lane/Mill Lane roundabout.

The roadworks are scheduled to finish on March 4.

A cyclist had his bike stolen after he was recovering following a collision with a car in Northampton.

The incident happened between 4.45pm and 5.15pm yesterday in Cowper Street, The Mounts.

As the cyclist was being helped by a member of the public, his pedal cycle was taken by an offender who rode off with it. It was a white racing bike with the word ‘Viking’ written in grey on the side.

Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tributes have been paid to Tony Pickering, the cyclist who was killed in an accident in Northampton yesterday morning.

Mr Pickering, aged 52, of Gayhurst Close, Moulton, was killed after colliding with a people carrier. He was taken to Northampton General Hospital with serious injuries but later died.

A work colleague has described Mr Pickering as a “great character” who will be “sorely missed”.

Mr Pickering had worked on and off for Scot Bennett Engineering Ltd, in Horsley Road, Kingsthorpe for about 25 years.

He joined the company from school in 1977 and worked there until 1988, and returned to work for them in 1999, remaining there ever since.

Rob Bennett, director at Scot Bennett Engineering Ltd, said: “It was shocking yesterday. To lose some so suddenly affected everyone here.

“He will be sorely missed. He was a great character and we are all shocked and saddened by his tragic death.

“He was a very good engineer. But we considered him a friend as well as a colleague.

“We would like to pass on our deepest condolences and sympathies to his family.”

A 39-year-old Northampton man, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about the crash can call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.