Father David Clark, a priest who belongs to the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, has been serving in parishes in the UK for several years while conducting research at Cambridge.

Since 2014, he has been charge at St Aidan’s parish church in Manor Road, Kingsthorpe village.

But immediately before his appointment to Northampton, Father Clark served in the Diocese of Brentwood, which has now become the subject of a probe into alleged financial irregularities.

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued two charges of fraud by false representation against Father Clark and he is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 13..

The bishop of the Diocese of Northampton, Peter Doyle, has suspended him from his current duties.

A spokesman for the diocese, said: "Suspension is a normal procedure and does not imply guilt.

"When Father Clark was notified of the suspension, he was offered accommodation within the Diocese of Northampton as well as clergy support.

"Father Clark had already tendered his resignation as from 30 April when the priests of the cathedral would take responsibility for the pastoral care of the parish.

"In the circumstances, this arrangement will take immediate effect. Please pray for Father Clark at this difficult time."

Fixture: Northampton Town v Sheffield United, Sky Bet League One

Date/time: Saturday, April 8, 3pm kick-off

Venue: Sixfields

Forecast: 17C, sunny

Outs and doubts: Cobblers: John-Joe O’Toole (groin), Alex Revell (calf), Gabriel Zakuani (hamstring), Sam Hoskins (knee). United: Ethan Ebanks-Landell (ankle), Caolan Lavery (knee)

Betting: Northampton 4/1, draw 3/1, United 4/6

Form guide: Cobblers DDLWWW, Blades WWDWWW

Avg. goals scored/conceded per game: Northampton 1.4/1.6, United 1.9/1.1

Likely line-ups: Northampton (4-4-2): Smith; Phillips, Diamond, Nyatanga, Buchanan; McCourt, O’Toole, Taylor, Williams; Smith, Richards. United (3-5-2): Moore; Basham, Wright, O’Connell; Freeman, Coutts, Duffy, Fleck, Lafferty; Hanson, Sharp.

Man in the middle: Mark Heywood

Last time out: Rochdale 1 (Mendez-Laing) Northampton 1 (Anderson); Sheffield United 2 (Clarke, Fleck) Coventry 0

Most recent meeting: Saturday, December 31, 2016 – Sheffield United 1 (Freeman) Northampton Town 0

Record v United: P10 W0 D1 L9

Opposition view: Ahead of his return to Sixfields, Chris Wilder said: “It doesn’t do us any favours that we are playing Northampton, because I know how professional they are, and how professional Justin and his players are. It is going to be a full-house, and it should be a cracking atmosphere, and of course these are the games you want to be involved in.” Read our full interview with Chris Wilder here.

Cobblers connection: Whilst most of the attention will be on Chris Wilder this weekend, the importance of his number two, Alan Knill, should not be underestimated in the success of both Northampton last season nor Sheffield United this. Now an assistant, Knill originally started out as the main man when appointed by Rotherham United in 2006. He also took charge at Bury and then Scunthorpe, where he once turned down the opportunity to sign Jamie Vardy who at the time played for FC Halifax. Knill’s first job as an assistant was under Wilder at Northampton and the duo, about to enjoy their second successive promotion, have proved something of the dream team since.

James Heneghan’s preview: When the Sky Bet League One fixture list was released last summer, there was a certain air of inevitability that Chris Wilder’s much-anticipated return to Sixfields would be more than just a standard homecoming.

That is not how he nor the Cobblers have done things over the past few seasons, so as soon as Sheffield United’s visit to Northampton was confirmed for April, you felt there was a strong chance the game would have plenty riding on it and - for the Blades at least - that is most certainly the case.

Following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Coventry, their 25th victory of the season and 12th successive game unbeaten, the Blades are now just three points away from completing something that has been inevitable for several months: promotion.

And it will be quite something if Wilder achieves promotion on the same weekend at the same ground as he did last year, only this time with different clubs.

Because it was on the corresponding weekend last season when Wilder’s Cobblers drew 2-2 with Bristol Rovers and clinched promotion to League One.

Twelve months later and back at Sixfields, he’s odds-on to repeat the trick.

When a manager returns to his old club he’s rarely afforded a warm welcome. With Wilder, there’s no doubt that will be the case and rightly so, but that’s as far as Northampton’s hospitality should extend to.

Having celebrated at Sixfields this time last year, the Cobblers will be desperate to prevent another team partying in their own backyard this time, not that there would be any ill-feeling towards the Blades who have, by almost any possible measure, been the division’s outstanding side.

For any Northampton fan fortunate enough to witness first-hand the remarkable success of last season, Wilder’s stunning impact on the Blades would have come as no surprise and it’s now a sure-fire thing that the former Cobblers boss will be the man to finally end United’s five-year stay in the third tier of English football.

It has not all been plain sailing, though. Indeed, for a brief few weeks it appeared Wilder’s dream move back to his boyhood club would end in disaster when the Blades sat rock-bottom and winless after four games.

But with just three league defeats since August and none in the past 12 games, United have rocketed up the table and romped clear of the chasing pack, sweeping towards promotion, the title and the Championship by beating all before them.

They are the division’s leading scorers with 76 goals, spearheaded by top marksman Billy Sharp, and they also boast the best goal difference.

Sharp is the most obvious danger man but they have quality all over the pitch, from Simon Moore in goal to John Fleck in midfield, and with the bit between their teeth and the ultimately prize in their sights, they will take quite some stopping this weekend.

The respective records of Wilder’s Sheffield United and Wilder’s Northampton are eerily similar at this stage of the season. After 41 games, Northampton had 88 points, 26 wins, scored 75 goals and conceded 43. In comparison, the Blades currently have 85 points, 25 wins, scored 78 goals and conceded 44. And both look destined to wrap up their promotion at Sixfields.

The Cobblers have endured a more turbulent campaign this time around but they too are heading in the right direction under Justin Edinburgh, if not quite at the same velocity as the razor-sharp Blades, and can use this game as a free hit and an opportunity to test themselves against the division’s finest.

Because while much of the focus from outsiders will centre on Wilder and United’s long awaited and long overdue return to the second tier, it should not be forgotten that this is also an important game for Northampton.

It’s true that no team in the past 12 seasons has been relegated with 51 points – Northampton’s current tally – but given the form of teams below them, you feel they could do with at least one more win to make absolutely sure.

Each of the last three games will present them with an excellent opportunity to do so, however they’d rather not leave it that long and risk things becoming too close for comfort.

So the importance of Saturday’s visit of the Blades and next Friday’s trip to the Den should not be downplayed, even if safety does seem all but certain.

Indeed, for those still concerned about the drop, take comfort in this statistic: only two sides since the turn of the century have been relegated with 51 points; Torquay United in 2004/05 and Bristol Rovers in 2000/2001.

For this weekend, Alex Revell and Luke Williams are both due to return to the Cobblers squad although John-Joe O’Toole’s persistent groin problem makes him a doubt.

Up to six players – Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole and Marc Richards – could feature against the man responsible for bringing them to Northampton and all six will be keen to ensure Wilder has to wait at least another week for his moment in the sun.

From boyhood supporter to ballboy to player and now manager, Wilder’s Sheffield United story is a fairytale in its own right, one certain to have a happy ending whatever unfolds at Sixfields on Saturday.

Few of a Cobblers persuasion will begrudge him such a moment and nor should they, even if does come at Northampton’s expense.

Perhaps, though, the ideal outcome on Saturday would be a Cobblers win and United’s promotion via results elsewhere, specifically at Oldham Athletic where third-placed Fleetwood are the visitors.

To do that, Northampton will have to pull off something they’ve never previously managed: beat Sheffield United. Saturday would be a good place to start. But as Cobblers fans know all too well, Wilder will do everything in his power to ensure that is not the case.

Prediction: Northampton Town 2 Sheffield United 2

David Ribbans will make his Aviva Premiership debut when Saints head to Wasps on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

The 6ft 8in English-qualified lock, who joined the club from South African outfit Western Province in January, takes the place of Christian Day in the Saints second row.

Day is not in the matchday squad and neither is Calum Clark, with the flanker replaced by Jamie Gibson.

Those are the only two changes to the Saints side that lost to Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens last time out.

It will be a big day for Ribbans, who scored a hat-trick in a recent friendly win against Bedford Blues at Goldington Road.

The 21-year-old has only made two Saints appearances so far, with both of those coming in the Anglo-Welsh Cup pool stages.

Meanwhile, Wasps, who have not lost a league game at home since December 2015, have opted to rest England flanker James Haskell.

They have also reshuffled their backline after last Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at Leinster, with Jimmy Gopperth switching from centre to fly-half and Joe Simpson coming in for Dan Robson at scrum-half.

Last weekend’s half-back pairing, Robson and Danny Cipriani, are on the bench.

Former Saints prop Paul Doran-Jones, who has joined on a one-week loan from Gloucester, is also among the replacements for the current league leaders.

Wasps: Le Roux; Wade, Daly, Beale, Bassett; Gopperth, Simpson; Mullan, Taylor, Swainston; Launchbury (c), Myall; Johnson, Young, Thompson. Replacements: Cruse, Bristow, Doran-Jones, Symons, Hughes, Robson, Cipriani, Leuia.

Saints: Tuala; North, Tuitavake, Mallinder, Foden; Myler, Groom; A Waller, Hartley, Brookes; Lawes, Ribbans; Gibson, Wood (c), Picamoles. Replacements: Haywood, E Waller, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Harrison, Dickson, Burrell, K Pisi.

Ninjas, face painters and balloon modellers will be on hand for the grand opening of The Entertainer at the Grosvenor Centre at 9am.

The first 20 families through the door have a chance to win a gift card worth up to £250 of toys, and free gifts are available with purchases.

Lego Ninjago's Kai and Lloyd will make a special appearance along with The Entertainer's mascot, Jack.

Peter Gaynor, general manager of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, said: "I am overjoyed The Entertainer will be coming to our centre this month. It will be such an asset to the Grosvenor as well as Northampton. I have shopped in their stores for many years, they have such exciting products along with fantastic customer service, it is sure to be hugely popular."

The store will continue its grand opening with a trolley dash undertaken by Northampton-based charity KidsAid.

KidsAid work with children and young people who have suffered from traumatic events through play therapy.

Suki Bassi, charity manager of KidsAid, said: “We are delighted to have been offered an opportunity where a family who has benefited from our services will benefit so tremendously from this event."

Gary Grant, managing director and founder of The Entertainer, said: “We are delighted to announce the grand opening of the Northampton store. The large town continues to offer a strong retail position for our store as it attracts large numbers of family shoppers who are demanding more toy shopping choice within shopping centres. We look forward to bringing even more joy and wonder to the children of Northamptonshire.”

A man was assaulted and robbed by two hooded men in Northampton.

He was walking away from Spencer Bridge Road at around 5.55pm yesterday (April 6).

Two men approached him and assaulted him. They took his mobile phone, wallet and money.

Both offenders were men in their 20s, and wore dark coloured hooded tops. One was wearing a scarf over his face with his hood up.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

This is just one case police officer Chloe Hegarty-Boatman, domestic abuse response officer (DART) for Northamptonshire Police, has had to deal with.

"Sometimes the perpetrators are the abusers, but on the other hand, after that has taken place and there are physical injuries, they also become the carer and the victim becomes dependent on the carer to go out because they are afraid or scared.

"One woman said to me ‘I was ashamed to go out'. I said, 'there's no shame, you are a vulnerable victim'. But these perpetrators act like the carer, they’ll go out, they’ll get the plasters and the medication and they’ll come back and care for that person and rebuild that trust and it will start again. It’s very much a cycle of abuse."

Figures from Northamptonshire Police show that between December 2016 and February 2017 there were 1,792 domestic abuse crimes and 21.2 per cent of domestic abuse incidents were alcohol-related.

And incidents reported while children were present reached 26.1 per cent. Chloe says that in her experience, this particular figure is very true and she has found herself checking on children's welfare while safeguarding vulnerable adults; whether the child's home is dirty, or even if there's a lack of food or toys in the house.

Stephanie said that she has seen a rise in cyber stalking in recent years as well as revenge porn, which is revealing sexually explicit images of an ex-partner posted on the internet.

She has also dealt with incidents where a former partner has planted tracking devices on an ex's car and knows of perpetrators who have planted listening devices - disguised like a plug adapter- in their ex-partner's home if they have had a chance to pop in to visit their children.

From her experience, she believes women are more likely to be victims because they naturally "want to be loved. It's a grooming process, some women can stay longer because they give some men another chance. It's the hardest thing for a victim to understand that it's not about love, it's about power and control."

On average victims experience 50 incidents of domestic abuse before getting effective help and most victims, 85 per cent, see on average five professionals in the year before they finally get effective support.

Following a rubber-stamp on new legislation regarding controlling or coercive behaviour, Chloe said it has given police more powers to prosecute.

Referring to the guidelines, Chloe explained what the charge means. She said: “It’s not only who the perpetrators' abuse, but it’s the dangerous pattern of behaviour. It seeks to take their liberty and freedom to strip them away from their sense of self.

"Controlling is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate or dependent on them and coercive is a pattern of acts which is used to harm or frighten the victim, involving humiliation and threats."

Domestic abuse respects few boundaries and age is no exception. The youngest victim Chloe has helped is a 16-year-old girl, the oldest a women in her seventies.

Stephanie Challis, a senior independent domestic violence advisor for the Northamptonshire Sunflower Centre said her cases are surprisingly wide-ranging : "When people get older they become victims of different kinds of domestic abuse. The story which stuck in my mind is the woman who told me, ‘He used to assault me, now he controls my medication’.

"It can alter over time a bit. I worked with a 76-year-old lady, who had been married for over 40 years and she had a child who emigrated. The physical violence had stopped some years ago, but on this particular occasion, he pushed her and she fell over a piece of furniture and broke her wrist, but she’s 76 so she’s frailer than 30 years ago.

"He stepped over her and left her. She went to bed, and managed to get herself in her bedroom and had a prearranged phone call with her child. She said 'I think I’m hurt'. The child rang the police. I picked up the phone that day and spoke to the child.

"I visited her in the hospital and asked 'what are we going to do', she said 'we can’t go back now', just really matter of fact. I got her a visa so she could live with her daughter. She died last year of cancer, but she lived those years happy."

All crimes should be reported to 101 or 999. For help and support contact: The Sunflower Centre – 01604 888211 (high risk only), Voice – 0300 303 1965 (standard and medium risk), Northampton Women’s Aid – 0845 123 2311 or Eve – 01604 230311.

A 15-year-old boy was threatened with a knife by another teenager while walking through a Northampton park.

The incident took place in Eastfield Park, off Booth Lane North, Northampton, between 4pm and 4.30pm on March 23.

A teenage boy approached the victim and shouted abuse while holding a knife.

The 15-year-old victim ran off and was not injured in the incident.

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with this incident and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident. Witnesses or anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

A house in Butland Road, Corby, was burgled between 9pm and 10pm on Wednesday, April 5.

The offenders entered the property through an unlocked patio door and stole keys and a wallet.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Tools and radios were stolen in a burglary in Lynwood Close, Kettering, last week.

The offenders broke in to the property some time between 5.30pm on Thursday, March 30, and 7.30am on Friday, March 31.

Two radios and a number of tools, which were all boxed, were taken.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A man was assaulted and robbed in Montagu Street, Kettering.

The incident happened between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday, April 4, near the junction with Wellington Street, outside Betfred and Papa Johns Pizza.

The victim was punched from behind and dropped his mobile phone.

A man then picked up the phone and two men ran off towards Wellington Street.

The men were both white, about 5ft 10in, aged 25 to 30.

One of the men was wearing a black puffa-style coat and the other was wearing a cream-coloured jacket.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A woman was punched unconscious and had her handbag stolen shortly after getting off a bus in Northampton.

The incident happened in Barrack Road, Northampton, at about 6.40pm yesterday evening (April 6).

The victim got off a bus and was approached by a man. Following a conversation, he punched her in the face, causing her to lose consciousness for a short time.

A member of the public helped her up and another man returned her handbag, saying he had got it back from a man he believed to be the offender.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and would particularly like to speak to the people who helped the woman following the incident.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Zander Diamond believes the Cobblers have regained the ruthless streak that was such a major part of last season’s Sky Bet League Two title success.

On the eve of Chris Wilder, the architect of that memorable season, returning to Sixfields as manager of league one champions-elect Sheffield United, Diamond says the Town players have rediscovered their bite.

The Cobblers’ relentless drive, so clear last season under Wilder, was something that was perhaps lost as the team struggled in the latter months of Rob Page’s short reign in charge, but the Scotsman feels it is back in place under the stewardship of Justin Edinburgh.

“Those that have watched us over the years, you know you will always be judged on what happened beforehand, if you win titles and such things,” said Diamond.

“But there does seem to be a bit of ruthlessness back in us, and we are getting personal in a way, but don’t take that out of context.

“We are dragging it out of each other and you need to do that to stamp your authority on things in this league.

“Hopefully between now and the end of the season we get more victories, more points on the board and have a good end to the season.”

The Cobblers take on the title-chasing Blades at what will be a packed out Sixfields on Saturday.

United are one win away from clinching promotion, which would be Wilder’s second in successive seasons after his Sixfields triumph 12 months ago, and Diamond isn’t surprised at his former’s boss’s impact at Bramall Lane.

Although he says the secret to the success is not just down to the manager.

“Chris is a fantastic manager, but it’s not just him it’s Alan (Knill) and Matt (Prestridge) as well, they came as a package and probably got the best out of me as a player,” said Diamond, who was signed for the Cobblers by Wilder in February, 2014.

“If you ask any of the boys who were involved last season, it was a fantastic occasion for us, and it is no surprise he is going well at Sheffield United.

“It is his boyhood club and there is the pressure that comes with that, but he has done extremely well and they are probably nailed on to be champions and rightly so because they have been the best team in the league.”

A handbag was stolen after a man and woman were attacked from behind in Northampton.

The incident took place in the early hours of this morning (April 7) in Artizan Road, off Wellingborough Road.

A man and woman were walking along the road shortly after midnight, when they were approached from behind by two men.

The man was struck on the head by one of the offenders, while the other stole the woman's handbag following a struggle.

The two attackers ran off in the direction of Shakespeare Road and Colwyn Road.

The offenders were both black men, of medium build and wearing dark hooded tops, dark trousers and face coverings. One was about 5ft 7in and the other 5ft 9in.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The star of a play debuting at Northampton's Royal & Derngate Theatre this Monday has died.

Tim Pigott-Smith, OBE, aged 70, was found dead at a private address in Northampton.

He was billed to star as the lead role in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, debuting at Northampton's Royal & Derngate Theatre on Monday (April 10).

An ambulance was called to an address in Woolmonger Street, off Kingswell Street, Northampton, at around 9.45am today (April 7) after a caller reported that a man had collapsed.

The death has been confirmed by HM coroner Anne Pember.

In an interview with the Chronicle & Echo this week about his upcoming role, Mr Pigott-Smith said: "I have been very lucky with the career that I have had, and the parts I have been asked to play.

“It is just a privilege to be a part of this show. I think it has the most wonderful quality."

He was well known for starring in the 1984 British serial drama The Jewel in the Crown, which The Guardian described as a 'high-water mark of 1980s British TV'.

He appeared in dozens of British television shows over his 50-year career, including Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders and Silent Witness. He also played Sir Philip Tapsell in ITV's Downton Abbey.

He said: "I have to mention Jewel in the Crown as a favourite, as well as a TV series called The Lost Boys which was all about the life of James Barrie and his inspiration for creating Peter Pan.

“I was talking to people who own the DVD of Jewel in the Crown and they say that it still holds up. I haven’t seen it since we did it. It is a great piece and I read so much, I read all the time while I was out there."Mr Pigott-Smith was awarded an OBE for his services to acting in the 2017 New Year's honours list.

He said: “It was absolutely wonderful to get the OBE. It started off with a really informal letter and had to re-read it a couple of times before eventually, I said to Pam [his wife], 'I think they want to offer me an OBE'.

“But it was announced in the New Year’s honours and went down at the beginning of the month to pick it up. Prince William was the person to give me the honour. It is a very personal occasion and the whole atmosphere was so feel good. It was a wonderful day.”

Death of a Salesman was set to run in Northampton from April 10 until April 29 before touring across the country.

It is not known if the play will still debut this Monday.

Rory Kleinveldt knows Northants have put themselves in pole position against Glamorgan after a fantastic first day of the new season.

Kleinveldt was the star of the show, with bat and ball, as David Ripley’s men took control of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two opener.

Glamorgan were all out for just 101 as Kleinveldt (3-35), Ben Sanderson (3-20) and Nathan Buck (3-35), on his Northants debut, did the business with the ball.

The Welsh outfit did fight back early on in the County reply, taking the wickets of Rob Newton (10), Ben Duckett (12) and Max Holden (0).

But Northants bounced back from 27 for three as Adam Rossington racked up 58 from 110 balls and Kleinveldt blasted an unbeaten 71 from 42 balls.

It left Ripley’s side, who had lost the toss, on 268 for six, leading by 167 ahead of day two.

And Kleinveldt said: “I don’t think either captain knew what they wanted to do this morning but I could feel a bit of moisture so I wanted to bowl first and thankfully we did.

“We were relentless with the ball and put them under massive pressure and kept them under the pump.

“The guys worked hard with the bat early on to set up the situation for me and Crooky (Steven Crook, who is unbeaten on 29) coming in.

“I tried to back myself to clear the ropes and use the short boundary.

“I got myself into good positions and managed to get a few away well.

“From here, if we can bowl as well as we have done today in the second innings, we should have no trouble in winning this game.”

Lee Baynton, 34, from Abbey Street, off Weedon Road, Northampton, appeared in Northampton Crown Court yesterday (April 7) charged with wounding with intent.

His Honour Judge Michael Fowler described Baynton's crime as 'an act of considerable violence'.

Baynton was also jailed in 2004 for attacking the presenters of the Northants '96 breakfast show, Woody & Jagger, which saw him and another offender beat both DJs unconcious.

He was convicted of a similar attack in 2003, where he fractured the jaw of a 15-year-old boy for looking at him.

Baynton's psychiatrist gave evidence that she was convinced her client had paranoid schizophrenia and was suitable for treatment in a mental health hospital under medium security.

Baynton was committed to hospital for indefinite treatment under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.

A Northampton supermarket will shut up shop due to an expired lease, however sources in the community have said the shop is closing due to loss in profits following a spate of thefts.

The Co-op in Kingsley Park Terrace on Kettering Road will close on Saturday, June 10, an official spokesman has said.

There is currently 19 full and part-time colleagues at the store, however, it's understood that there are only nine vacancies throughout Northampton and Long Buckby.

A source with a friend at the store said the team got a Whatsapp message that they had to attend a meeting at 10am on Tuesday morning. "They were told they were shutting the shop down. When they asked for more information, the person giving information couldn't give them an answer," he said.

"It would be a profit making shop, but shoplifters take meat, chocolate, alcohol and deodorant, blatantly and not discretely. They take big holdall bags then empty the shelves."

One woman has worked in the shop for over 20-years.

"Staff have had syringes stuck at them, they are losing unbelievable amounts of money through theft. Staff have asked for security in there but it's been refused.

"They have loads of elderly people who use the Co-op because they find other supermarkets intimidating with the self-service check-out. The elderly generation was brought up with the Co-op."

A spokesperson for the Co-op said: “I can confirm that our Kingsley Park Terrace store will close on Saturday, 10 June. The Co-op is moving forward with a clear purpose and momentum and, while this often involves opening new stores, we sometimes have to take difficult decisions.

"With the lease due to expire a decision has been taken, with reluctance, to close this store. It is no way a reflection on the hard work and commitment of colleagues, who have been informed. Every effort is being taken to support colleagues and to help them to find alternative positions and fill the vacancies that exist within the area.”

“It was a long case of mental and physical abuse, we are talking bruises, concussions and incidents that involved medical treatments and they were extremely serious."

This is just one case police officer Chloe Hegarty-Boatman, domestic abuse response officer (DART) for Northamptonshire Police, has had to deal with.

"Sometimes the perpetrators are the abusers, but on the other hand, after that has taken place and there are physical injuries, they also become the carer and the victim becomes dependent on the carer to go out because they are afraid or scared.

"One woman said to me ‘I was ashamed to go out'. I said, 'there's no shame, you are a vulnerable victim'. But these perpetrators act like the carer, they’ll go out, they’ll get the plasters and the medication and they’ll come back and care for that person and rebuild that trust and it will start again. It’s very much a cycle of abuse."

Figures from Northamptonshire Police show that between December 2016 and February 2017 there were 1,792 domestic abuse crimes and 21.2 per cent of domestic abuse incidents were alcohol-related.

And incidents reported while children were present reached 26.1 per cent. Chloe says that in her experience, this particular figure is very true and she has found herself checking on children's welfare while safeguarding vulnerable adults; whether the child's home is dirty, or even if there's a lack of food or toys in the house.

Stephanie said that she has seen a rise in cyber stalking in recent years as well as revenge porn, which is revealing sexually explicit images of an ex-partner posted on the internet.

She has also dealt with incidents where a former partner has planted tracking devices on an ex's car and knows of perpetrators who have planted listening devices - disguised like a plug adapter- in their ex-partner's home if they have had a chance to pop in to visit their children.

From her experience, she believes women are more likely to be victims because they naturally "want to be loved. It's a grooming process, some women can stay longer because they give some men another chance. It's the hardest thing for a victim to understand that it's not about love, it's about power and control."

On average victims experience 50 incidents of domestic abuse before getting effective help and most victims, 85 per cent, see on average five professionals in the year before they finally get effective support.

Following a rubber-stamp on new legislation regarding controlling or coercive behaviour, Chloe said it has given police more powers to prosecute.

Referring to the guidelines, Chloe explained what the charge means. She said: “It’s not only who the perpetrators' abuse, but it’s the dangerous pattern of behaviour. It seeks to take their liberty and freedom to strip them away from their sense of self.

"Controlling is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate or dependent on them and coercive is a pattern of acts which is used to harm or frighten the victim, involving humiliation and threats."

Domestic abuse respects few boundaries and age is no exception. The youngest victim Chloe has helped is a 16-year-old girl, the oldest a women in her seventies.

Stephanie Challis, a senior independent domestic violence advisor for the Northamptonshire Sunflower Centre said her cases are surprisingly wide-ranging : "When people get older they become victims of different kinds of domestic abuse. The story which stuck in my mind is the woman who told me, ‘He used to assault me, now he controls my medication’.

"It can alter over time a bit. I worked with a 76-year-old lady, who had been married for over 40 years and she had a child who emigrated. The physical violence had stopped some years ago, but on this particular occasion, he pushed her and she fell over a piece of furniture and broke her wrist, but she’s 76 so she’s frailer than 30 years ago.

"He stepped over her and left her. She went to bed, and managed to get herself in her bedroom and had a prearranged phone call with her child. She said 'I think I’m hurt'. The child rang the police. I picked up the phone that day and spoke to the child.

"I visited her in the hospital and asked 'what are we going to do', she said 'we can’t go back now', just really matter of fact. I got her a visa so she could live with her daughter. She died last year of cancer, but she lived those years happy."

All crimes should be reported to 101 or 999. For help and support contact: The Sunflower Centre – 01604 888211 (high risk only), Voice – 0300 303 1965 (standard and medium risk), Northampton Women’s Aid – 0845 123 2311 or Eve – 01604 230311.

University bosses WILL build indoor sports facilites at the new Waterside campus after Northampton clubs slammed their previous proposals for outdoor pitches and changing rooms only. sports "dome" set to be built next to Northampotn;s new university campus

Subject to planning permission, the university will has announced it intends to build a multi-use "dome" for a variety of sports, including football, badminton and netball.

There will also be two sports performance labs and a pair of teaching rooms, with all facilities available for teaching and recreational use.

The announcement - and artists' impressions released this week - come after a number of sports clubs in Northampton expressed their dismay at the previous plans

In November it emerged plans had been scaled back to include only three outdoor "multi-use" areas and a floodlit full-size pitch at Waterside, meaning the clubs who currently meet in the university's indoor sports hall would have had nowhere to go.

Vice Chancellor Nick Petford, said: "We listened to our students and societies and were only too happy to change our plans and provide an even better sports offering for them, and also our staff.”

Mr Petford said the university's current offer of free sports and societies to its students will be continuing after the move to Waterside in September, 2018.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford, said: “We have thought long and hard about how we can bring the best possible indoor and outdoor sports facilities to the Waterside Campus, and this incredible new sports dome design will deliver just that.

“It’s going to be a space that can be adapted for a variety of sports throughout the year, and the additional teaching labs and learning space will be a terrific resource for our sports students.

University of Northampton Students’ Union President Liam Bligh added: “We’re delighted to see the inclusion of a multi-use sports dome incorporated into the University’s plans for Waterside.

“Alongside our community partners, these facilities will provide students with flexible spaces to facilitate a wide range of sporting activities and exercise classes that support the Students’ Union in delivering the best possible University experience to our students.”

A police officer who allegedly used unnecessary force arresting an elderly man before showing the video of it his colleagues, could be struck off for gross misconduct.

Special Sergeant Alec Bedford will face a public misconduct hearing at Wootton Hall on April 18.

Charges against him allege that he "failed to act with courtesy or respect to a member of the public" and used force against a member of the public when it was neither reasonable nor proportionate to do so.

He is accused of arresting a man, "who was infirm by reason of his age and physical capability", on suspicion of assault when it was "unnecessary and unreasonable to do so" and also failed to take proper care of the man when escorting him .

On or around July 11 and July 14, 2015, Special Sergeant Bedford is then accused of showing video footage of the arrest to colleagues "with no policing purpose", lawful authority, or reasonable excuse.

A total of 12 seats will be available for members of the public who want to attend the hearing, which will take place at 10am on April 18 and conclude the following day.