AIDY BOOTHROYD paid tribute to the Cobblers’ powers of persistence as they overcame AFC Wimbledon at Sixfields with Alex Nicholls’ fifth of the season and a Chris Hackett wonder goal.

Town ran out 2-0 winners to complete back-to-back victories and back-to-back clean sheets and go eighth in the npower League Two table.

Boothroyd felt the result was a just reward for his team’s dominance in the first half and was pleased to see learn from the errors they made in losing at Plymouth Argyle seven days again when in a similarly commanding position.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game even with the goals they had conceded in their previous away games because I’d seen the tape of their game at Southend and they were good in that game,” he said.

“If you’re going to be successful you’ve got to be persistent and we certainly were that.

“The clean sheet is the most important thing for me because we’re always going to score goals with the team we have and what we can bring into a game from the bench.

“It was important they didn’t score and that we made our pressure count.

“We dominated in the first half and the good thing is we are creating chances and scoring goals. This team will score lots of goals, I’m sure of that.

“At the moment we’re still learning and still making mistakes, but as long as we make different mistakes, then that’s fine.”

Wimbledon manager Terry Brown felt his team were undermined by the loss to injury of influential central defender Dale Bennett but also felt his team were not strong enough under the ‘aerial assault’ he predicted.

“Losing Dale Bennett at half-time was a big blow,” he said. “He’s a big, strong player and very important to us winning the ball. But it was still disappointing that too many players’ heads went down after the first goal. 
“In other areas of the park we did okay but you have to be able to cope with ball into the box and we didn’t do that today.

“We’ve got squad here which won’t change for next Saturday so we need to defend much better than that.”

SKIPPER Dylan Hartley led from the front as Saints escaped from a sticky situation to beat Exeter 24-21 and pick up a bonus point at Franklin’s Gardens.

Hartley scored his side’s crucial fourth try to seal a maximum five points, but that outcome had looked a long way off when the Chiefs led 13-12 and were a man up at the break.

Gerrit-Jan van Velze saw yellow a minute before the interval for a spear tackle on Will Chudley and Ignacio Mieres booted Exeter in front.

The fly-half put them four points up early in the second half but tries from home debutant Luther Burrell and man of the match Hartley secured the win for Saints, despite a late Exeter rally which saw Matt Jess bring them back to within three points at the end.

Jim Mallinder’s men had led 12-0 at one stage during the first half thanks to tries from Christian Day and Phil Dowson.

But Ryan Lamb was failing to add much to the score with the boot and Exeter recovered well to go in ahead at half-time thanks to a try from Phil Dollman and eight points from Mieres.

Saints weren’t to be beaten, though, and after Burrell went over, Hartley registered what proved to be the match-winning score.

It was the second win in as many Premiership games this season after the gritty 24-19 win at Gloucester eight days previous.

Mallinder named an unchanged starting 15 from the win at Kingsholm, meaning there were home debuts from the start for Ken Pisi, Dom Waldouck and van Velze.

Saints started in slick fashion in their first game, but Exeter were a different proposition, having opened with an impressive victory of their own, beating Sale Sharks 43-6 at Sandy Park.

And the Chiefs’ belief was illustrated as they pushed into Saints territory early on, giving as good as they got at scrum time.

But the home side, just as they were at Kingsholm, were strong in the lineout drive and they earned a penalty on eight minutes.

Ryan Lamb shanked the kick, though, scuffing it wide of the upright as Exeter breathed a sigh of relief.

The away side then had a penalty shot of their own, after good work from Jess, but Mieres, just like his opposite number, sent the ball left of the posts.

The next few minutes were almost exclusively played in the Chiefs half as Saints started to squeeze their opposition.

The pressure told on 17 minutes as Ben Foden made a brilliant break from full-back and handed the ball to Vasily Artemyev, who gave Day the simple task of touching down.

Lamb missed the conversion, though, his second failed kick in as many attempts early on.

Exeter were still looking strong in the scrum and they forced Saints into conceding another penalty. But again Mieres missed the chance to put his side on the board.

Saints made him pay moments later as they scored a superbly worked try. Dowson was on the end of a slick move, which encompassed great play from Lamb and Hartley.

This time Lamb did get the kick spot on, but Exeter were straight back on the attack.

And the Chiefs finally got on the scoreboard as Josh Tatupu evaded Artemyev on the wing and sent Dollman over, despite the best efforts of the chasing Tom Wood.

Mieres cut the gap to five points and it was down to just two not long after as the kicker again found the target, this time with a penalty in front of the posts.

It was all starting to go wrong for Saints and they were reduced to 14 men a minute before the break as van Velze saw yellow for the tackle on Chudley.

It was the South African’s second sin-binning in as many games in the green, black and gold since joining from Blue Bulls in the summer.

And it was to cost Saints dear as Mieres put the Chiefs a point in front before the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half began with rising frustration among the home crowd, who were becoming increasingly unhappy with the display of whistler JP Doyle.

The feelings towards the referee reached fever pitch on 51 minutes as he awarded another contentious Exeter penalty at the ruck, and it was again kicked by Mieres.

Saints had a four-point deficit to make up and they did so quickly as they released Burrell and the centre powered through the Exeter line to dive over.

But Stephen Myler, on for Lamb, who won’t remember the game too fondly, added to the list of missed kicks from the home side as he fired the conversion wide.

However, he made amends on 63 minutes, adding the extras to a try from captain Hartley, who made it two tries in two Premiership games after some quick thinking at a lineout.

That secured the bonus point for Saints and, crucially, put them eight points clear of Exeter.

Myler still had time to complete a miserable day for the home fly-halves, sending a penalty wide of the upright.

Rhys Oakley was sin-binned three minutes before the end and Exeter may have punished Saints as Jess dived over but Gareth Steenson missed the conversion and the home side held out for victory.

Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi (Burrell 35), Waldouck, Artemyev; Lamb (Myler 50), Dickson (Roberts 74); Tonga’uiha (Waller 66), Hartley (Haywood 74), Mujati (Mercey 63), Manoa, Day (Sorenson 66), Dowson, Wood, van Velze (Oakley 61)

Exeter: Arscott; Tatupu (Naqelevuki 49), Whitten, Dollman, Jess; Mieres (Steenson 77), Chudley (Barrett 61); Sturgess (Moon 63), Whitehead (Alcott 66), Mitchell (Budgen 77), Hayes, Muldowney (Hanks 30), Johnson, Scaysbrook, Baxter (Phillips 59)

Referee: JP Doyle

Attendance: 12,230

NORTHAMPTON boxer Nathan Reeve stopped Terry Broadbent to claim the British Masters super-flyweight title at the Park Inn Hotel on Saturday night.

Reeve showed his resilience as he recovered from a barrage of Broadbent punches to land the telling blows in the eighth round, leaving referee Rob Chalmers with no choice but to call a halt to the fight.

It was a sensational showing from the 22-year-old home town hot-shot, who had suffered nasty cuts behind his left ear and under his left eye.

Leeds-based boxer Broadbent brought vocal support and some real power-punching, but he couldn’t get the better of resolute Reeve.

The travelling fighter was greeted with a wall of noise as he entered the packed room, with a number of fans having made the journey from Yorkshire.

But Reeve enjoyed a similarly warm welcome as the Northampton boxing faithful got set to cheer their hero to victory.

It didn’t look too good for the former Far Cotton ABC amateur early on, though, as Broadbent, after aiming a cheeky wink in the direction of his supporters, started strongly.

He was able to dominate the early stages of the 10-round scrap as he hunted Reeve down and pinned him to the ropes.

But Reeve was counter-punching well and he tussled to get into the ascendancy.

He managed to corner his opponent and flashed in a succession of punches which ignited the atmosphere and gave the home fans hope.

Broadbent had enjoyed a strong second round, but Reeve had soaked everything up and snuck in with a rattling right hook just before the bell, which had the Yorkshireman wobbling.

But still Broadbent came. And he was doing damage. Reeve was bleeding from two separate wounds and his corner had work to do to stem the flow after the fifth and sixth rounds.

By the time the eighth round had arrived the bout was in the balance, with the visiting fighter seemingly having the edge.

But Broadbent, who appeared in confident mood every time he returned to his corner, hadn’t bargained for the assault that was to come.

Reeve’s tough training paid off as he enjoyed a burst of energy and found a way through his opponent’s guard, landing several punches in quick succession.

Broadbent was on the ropes, Reeve had him rattled. And before the Northampton ace could do any more damage, the referee stepped in to stop the contest.

The relief from Reeve and his adoring faithful was there for all to see, with the fighter climbing the ropes and letting his emotions pour out.

He was soon to be presented with the belt and the man they call Thunder, who has won seven of his eight fights to date, is now starting to make a big bang in the world of British boxing.

Reeve’s victory completed a hat-trick of wins for Northampton fighters on the night as his sparring partner Ashley Lane and Jamie Spence also claimed victory in their bouts.

Lane was first up as he fought Harvey Helmsley (Bristol) at featherweight in a bout consisting of four three-minute rounds.

The 21-year-old home hitter looked in control from the start, letting his opponent get on the front foot before hitting him on the counter.

Lane had the edge in each round and deservedly recorded a 40-36 victory to kick-start the home success story.

And after Dan Blackwell had beaten Jamie Boness in the only bout not involving a Northampton boxer, Spence sealed victory against Matt Seawright (Tamworth) at light-middleweight.

He kept his powder dry in the first few rounds of the six-round scrap before launching an attack to clinch a 60-56 win.

SAINTS boss Jim Mallinder says injured lock Courtney Lawes could be back in action ‘in the next week or two’.

Lawes missed the club’s pre-season games and the first two Premiership fixtures after suffering an elbow injury in training in the build up to the new campaign.

He was forced to have surgery to rectify the problem in July, but has been progressing well in recent weeks.

And Mallinder is now hopeful the England star could play a part in one or more of Saints’ remaining three games this month.

“He’s doing really well, he’s pushing and I’d like to think he’ll be playing again in the next week or two,” said the director of rugby.

Mallinder has also moved to quell fears that last season’s player of the year George Pisi could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

The centre, who scored two tries in the Premiership opening-day win at Gloucester, was forced off the pitch in the 35th minute against Exeter on Sunday, being replaced by Luther Burrell.

Burrell emerged as the super-sub as he scored a crucial try to turn the tide in Saints’ favour and help them beat the Chiefs 24-21.

Despite the replacement’s heroics, anxieties remained about Pisi’s withdrawal, but Mallinder has played down the problem the Samoan star picked up.

“He’s just got a little bit of a strain,” said Mallinder. “But we’ve got a big lad in Luther there desperate to come on, and I was pleased he made such a big impact.”

Families who’ll be celebrating a child’s fourth birthday between now and the end of next summer have been urged to apply on time for a primary school place for September 2013.

And with the current pressure on capacity in the county’s urban schools Northamptonshire County Council has reminded parents of the importance of identifying the three schools they would prefer to send their children to.

Cabinet member for children, learning and skills, Councillor Andrew Grant said: “The admissions system gives families the chance to tell us which schools they’d prefer to send their children to.

“While most people are successful at getting a place at their preferred school, there are steps that parents can take to maximise their chances. Submitting an application form in time is the most crucial followed closely by nominating a second and third choice school.

“The bottom line is that there are no guarantees of getting into a preferred school but the chances of a successful application will be higher if parents tell us before the deadline which three schools they’d prefer.”

Applications are being accepted online from this week until Tuesday, January 15 for primary school places for children who will be four years old between September 1 and August 31.

Applications received online before Wednesday, October 31 will be entered into a draw for an iPad.

Applications received after the deadline can result in parents being unable to secure a place in any of their preferred schools.

This year, 931 primary school applications were received outside the application period. The majority of those applications were for reception and years 1 and 2.

Chris Hackett has described the goal he scored for the Cobblers in their 2-0 win over Wimbledon on Saturday as ‘right up there’ with the best in his personal collection.

Hackett put the seal on the win with a run that began on the right-wing touchline 50 yards from goal, took him past two players and ended with a clinical finish under visiting Dons keeper Mikhael Jamie-Ruiz.

It was the second goal of a Northampton career that has started very well for the 29-year-old, with a left-footed strike against Rotherham United last month containing similar quality.

But, as good as his solo effort at the weekend was, Hackett does not feel it surpasses his gold standard – the one he scored on his debut for Oxford against the Cobblers.

“I was getting a bit of cramp just before that and when I picked up the ball I had virtually the entire half to run into,” said the winger, a prize summer capture from Millwall.

“It just kept opening up and opening up, so I just drove into the space and managed to get a good connection with my left foot at the end of it.

“The best goal I’ve ever scored was against Northampton on my debut for Oxford but this one is right up there with that.

“I had space to run into and drive into and it was a nice goal.”

Town’s win over Wimbledon elevated Town to eighth in the fledgling npower League Two table and means they have two of their first five fixtures, with two ending as draws and just the single defeat so far – at Plymouth Argyle.

Hackett is pleased with the steady progress the team is making and has been particularly impressed with the meticulous nature and professionalism of manager Aidy Boothroyd.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “I’m really impressed with the manager, the set-up here and how professional everything is; behind the scenes they’re really trying to achieve a lot here.

“The manager and the coaching staff really try to do things right and it’s really impressive how they do things.

“We’ve got a small squad of good players and we’re still trying to work out what works best but it’s progressing nicely.

“It’s a long season but we’re happy with how things are progressing here.”

Former Cobblers defender Sean Dyche has joined the England under-21 squad this week as a temporary member of the back-room set-up.

Dyche, who was a key part of the 2006 promotion-winning side at Sixfields, was sacked by Watford in the summer after the club was taken over by an Italian consortium, despite guiding the club to their highest league position in four years.

The 41-year-old was at Northampton on Tuesday night to watch his former club beat Milton Keynes Dons in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Dyche has been with the under-21 squad this week, ahead of the crunch Euro 2013 decider with Norway tonight (Monday).

The juniors are managed by Dyche’s former Nottingham Forest team-mate Stuart Pearce and England sometimes used Watford’s London Colney training ground ahead of games.

“I knew Stuart when I was a young player at Forest,” Dyche told the FA’s website. “I stayed living in Nottingham even when I moved to Chesterfield, so through my friends Ian Woan and Steve Stone, who were apprentices with me, I got to know him even more.

“When I came out of playing I asked if I could go along and watch some sessions at Man City when he was there. And Stuart kindly invited me up to St. George’s Park with the team this week to see what’s what and it’s fantastic.”

The various England age groups now use the recently-opened St. George’s Park and tonight will be playing at the ground of another of Dyche’s former clubs, Chesterfield.

“I’ve been to watch Under-21s sessions a number of times over the last few years, but this is the first time I’ve been in behind the scenes,” he said. “It’s been really good for me, I’ve sat in the meetings, joined in with training and just got a feeling of what the actual preparation is like in the build-up to an important game.

“When you are in a job, sometimes you can get so into it that you forget what’s going on in the wider world. It’s nice to have a little window to go and reflect and look at others, share stories and practices and get a visual on it.

“When I went in to work and Watford and you’re in the coaching circles you speak to a lot of other coaches to help in your own development.

“It’s all part of the learning curve. I’m still a young coach-manager, so by no means do I think I’m the finished article with all the answers. I’m not sure anyone is.”

A robbery victim was punched in the eye and beaten to the floor in a violent attack in Bradlaugh Fields.

The 23-year-old man was walking across the field with some other men at around 2.15pm on Sunday, September 9 when he removed a small amount of money from his wallet.

A police spokesman said: “One of the men snatched the money from the victim and punched him in the eye. The victim fell to the floor and the offender demanded more money. The victim handed over the remaining money from his wallet and the offender left the scene.”

The offender was a white man in his late teens.

Witnesses can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have launched a manhunt after a woman was the victim of an attempted rape having been dragged into bushes by the side of a Northamptonshire road in a terrifying early morning attack.

The 33-year-old woman was attacked in Sywell Road, Wellingborough, during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The woman was approached and assaulted by a man at around 5.10am, as she walked along Sywell Road. The man tried to drag her into bushes at the side of the road but she fought him off and ran into Medway Drive where she raised the alarm.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “We are particularly keen to talk to the driver of a white car or van that was travelling along Sywell Road at around this time of the morning, as he or she may hold vital information about this incident.

“The offender is described as a white man with tanned skin, about 5ft 10in and of slim build with short straight dark brown hair. He was aged around 25-30, clean shaven and had black lines under his eyes.”

Extra Safer Community Team patrols will be covering the Sywell Road area of Wellingborough in the wake of the attack.

Witnesses can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A 92-year-old man had his head cracked against the floor “several times” during a vicious burglary that left him with severe bruising.

Frank Davis opened the door to a man at around 6pm on Friday in the area of George Nutt Close, Northampton. The man barged passed him before attacking and then demanded money.

The man stole cash before making a dark reference about the pensioner “being lucky” he had money before he left.

Speaking about the incident, Frank Davis, said: “He grabbed my face with his hands and dug his fingers in. It really hurt. He hit my head against the floor several times.

“He asked for money, I was so afraid, I thought I better tell him otherwise he would kill me. I had no choice. I was scared and afraid for my life.

“I don’t know how someone can do this. He came into my house, and attacked a vulnerable man like me.

“These people have no conscience. I really thought I would be killed if I didn’t tell him where the money was.”

The horrific attack comes as police are probing two separate distraction burglaries, which saw a pensioner slapped and another threatened with a knife.

An artist’s impression has been released following a distraction burglary, at around 3pm on Saturday in the area of London Road.

During the incident, the offender (pictured here wearing a cap) knocked on the door of a 90-year-old man, claiming to be from the water board and needing to check the water supply.

Once in the property, he pulled a knife on the victim and demanded money. He then made off with a quantity of cash.

A third incident was also reported to the police last Thursday, in Delapre Crescent Road. At around 3pm when a man knocked on the door of an 84-year-old woman and again claimed to be from the water board.

He pushed his way into the house and instructed the victim to test the taps. When she became suspicious and asked him to leave he slapped her and demanded money. He then left the property having stolen a quantity of cash.

This latest series comes after seven distraction incidents were reported to police since early June.

While in some of the cases entry was not made by the offender, in others cash was stolen or the victim was assaulted.

The earliest report of a distraction incident was received on June 7, in Treetops, Northampton.

Police have released this second artists’ impression of a man wanted in connection with this incident.

A second report of an incident was reported on July 12 in Bedford Road East, and a third incident was reported on July 13 in Pennycress Place.

Another incident was reported on August 19, in the same road.

Three separate incidents were reported on the evening of August 26, one in Pennycress Place, one in Pleydell Road and one in Sheraton Close, Northampton.

Detective Inspector Lorraine Gordon, who is investigating the incidents, said: “These are very serious incidents. Typically distraction burglaries, although unpleasant do not involve violence. What we have seen in the most recent incidents is an unusual level of violence on vulnerable victims.

“In particular, the attack on Mr Davis was callous and unnecessary, and we need to identify the offender responsible.

“We are doing everything we can to investigate theses crimes, and desperately need anyone with information to come forward. We also need family and friends who know of elderly residents to warn them and ensure they do not open the door to unknown visitors.

“If necessary, they can speak to them through the letterbox and ask them to return when there is an appropriate relative in the house who can check the visitors ID.

“We have issued two separate artist’s impressions of people we want to trace in connection with these crimes.

“Although there have been a number of distraction type incidents in Northampton recently, they are rare and at this stage there is nothing to suggest they are connected.

“We are carrying out regular patrols in the neighbourhoods and have investigators working to identify the offenders responsible. We would ask members of the public to contact us immediately if they have any information that can help the investigation and quote Operation Inferno when they call.”

Brackley Town and Daventry Town could scrap it out in the FA Cup second qualifying round after the sides were paired in Monday’s draw.

But Daventry must first get past King’s Lynn Town in Tuesday night’s replay after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Communications Park on Saturday.

Darran Foster’s side had led that game thanks to a strike from the former Cobblers forward Scott Cross, but they were denied immediate progression to the next round by an injury-time penalty from Jason Turner.

Should Daventry win the replay at the Walks Stadium they will travel to St James’ Park on Saturday, September 22 to face the Blue Square Bet North table-topping Saints.

Also in the FA Cup, Corby Town have been drawn at home to either Leamington or Stourbridge, while Kettering Town will travel to Boston United if they can beat Wisbech in their replay.

Head gardener, at Althorp House, in Northamptonshire, David Williams, takes on the challenge of answering your gardening problems and questions this month...

Question 1: “I am about to construct an ‘n’ shaped vegetable patch out of reclaimed railway sleepers. Ideally I would like to split the patch into three separate zones to plant different families of veg in different zones. What do you recommend to put in each area, and when should I plant them?”

David: “Firstly it is best not to use old railway sleepers due to the tar and creosote that is in the sleepers this will over time seep out of the sleepers into the soil and will be taken up by the vegetables, which in turn you will eat. If it is possible I would not use them for vegetable production.

“I would recommend a product called Link-A-Bord, which is one of the best raised bed kits on the market at the moment. But if you have to use them I would recommend putting a barrier of polythene between the soil and the sleeper to prevent seepage into the immediate soil in the bed.

“What to grow is more a case of what you like eating, there is no point growing crops that you don’t eat or like. But basically if you want to use a three year crop rotation this is the best method as it stops the build up of diseases in the soil. Split the area up in to three.

Year 1

Area 1 is for your root crops, carrots, beetroot and parsnips etc, also do not manure this bed as you will get forked roots. Area 2 is for brassicas, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower etc. This soil should be well manured in autumn and you should add lime to the soil. Area 3 is for all other crops beans, celery, marrows and sweetcorn etc, again you need to well manure the soil in the autumn.

Year 2

Area 1: Other vegetables.

Area 2: Root vegetables.

Area 3: Brassicas.

Year 3

Area 1: Brassicas.

Area 2: Other vegetables.

Area 3: Root vegetables.

Year 4: As year one and just keep on repeating the cycle.

Question 2: “I have small round bite marks in my chilli pepper plants and the leaves are starting to yellow. How can I save them?

“It’s difficult to say what has caused the holes without seeing a picture of the leaves as so many insects can cause holes in leaves, vine weevil, slugs etc.

“But with regard to your leaves going yellow it is unlikely to be related to the holes; the most probable cause is lack of nutrients in the soil.

“This can be simply rectified by a high potash feed such as tomato food applied weekly or as the manufacturer recommends.

“The more healthier and vigorous the plant is the less likely the plant is to be attacked by pests.”

DO you have a problem you would like David to try and solve? Please email Nicole Le Marie at nicole.lemarie@northantsnews.co.uk or write to her at Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Upper Mounts, Northampton NN1 3HR. *David is better placed to answer your questions if you accompany them with pictures, these must be sent in digital form.

The Tory candidate for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner has vowed to cut violent crime and back innovation in the force if he is elected.

Adam Simmonds, the former County Hall spin doctor, has launched his manifesto with a pledge to put victims of crime first, along with a “seven point pledge”.

He said: “I want to cut violent crime by 40 per cent. At the moment Northamptonshire has violent crime levels similar to Greater Manchester and Merseyside, high domestic violence and no-go town centres. We have to deal with this more effectively and I want to see more visible policing and swifter justice spearheading the stamping out of violence. The same goes for anti-social behaviour, where I want to see zero tolerance enforced.

Addressing his seven point pledge. he said, “Firstly, I will be a progressive, considered and modern thinking commissioner. I will not intrude on police operational responsibilities. I do not want issues to become party political and will work closely and co-operatively with the new Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel.

“I will listen to the experiences and concerns of ordinary people, especially where crime impacts most. I will ensure public concerns are reflected in policing priorities, while remaining vigilant champions of the civil liberties of local minorities. And I will listen to concerns and ideas from rank and file police officers. When public demands cannot be met I will be open and honest about what can and cannot be done.

“I will protect local neighbourhood policing so locally responsive policing happens on the ground. I will protect numbers in neighbourhood police teams and want to see office staff re-deployed to increase numbers of officers out and visible on the beat.

“I will improve police response and will want clear minimum response times that people should expect when they call 999 or non emergency numbers. I want officers trained to focus on the needs of local people, to change high dissatisfaction among victims and witnesses.

“I want to see wider approaches to crime reduction, working closely with the courts and probation to shift funds from custody into community based alternatives and reduce re-offending. And better systems so people with mental health problems or addictions have services to prevent them being continually cycled through the criminal justice system without the causes of their offending behaviour being addressed. It also means paying close attention to the impact of early years education, family support and employment on levels of crime.

“Much is known about what policing strategies can reduce crime and what things are a waste of public money. I will ensure that evidence forms part of local debate about policing. I will not be afraid to pilot innovative approaches to crime reduction and learn from mistakes.

“As commissioner my prime focus will be on crime and policing in Northamptonshire. But crime does not respect county boundaries. I will pay close attention to the wider national picture for example on cross-border crime and terrorism. I will work with and learn from police and crime commissioners in other areas to maximise the benefits to be gained from a devolved policing system.”

Six men from Poland have appeared in court accused of stealing or handling £220,000 of electrical goods from the John Lewis warehouse in Northampton.

Marcin Baowski, 29, Lusasz Srodecki, 28, Kryzsztof Bogszewski, 32, and Piotr Kozlowski, 31, are charged with conspiracy to steal from the warehouse in Brackmills.

It is alleged they plotted to steal £220,000 of electrical goods, including Apple Macbook Pros, cameras and camcorders, from the John Lewis Partnership between October 1 and 30 last year.

Baowski is also accused five theft and money laundering charges.

Przemslaw Chyla, 25, is accused of possessing criminal property while Vitalijis Razadowovski, 25, is charged with handling some of the stolen goods between October 29 and November 4.

They appeared at Northampton Crown Court before Recorder Benjamin Nicholls, but were not asked to enter pleas to the charges as not all the evidence in the case has been served.

It is alleged detectives found tape had been 
placed over security sensors outside the John Lewis warehouse, 
while the burglars cut through a door to avoid triggering alarms.

A makeshift “warren” had also been constructed from unused shelving inside the warehouse to allow burglars to crawl through the building and escape without triggering internal alarms.

Raiders managed to flee with around £140,000 worth of goods, but left behind devices worth £82,000 in a number of laundry trolleys close to the entrance of the warehouse.

Police later found the goods were sold via a shop in Coventry and on the online website, Gumtree.

The case was adjourned for a month to allow for all the prosecution evidence to be disclosed and Baowski, of North Holme Court, Thorplands, was further remanded in custody.

Bogszewski, of Wellington Street, Northampton town centre, said to have been working at the depot on the night of the break-in; Kozlowski, of Park Corner, in St James, Northampton; 
Srodecki, of Larkin Gardens, Higham Ferrers; Chyla, of Pleydell Gardens, Far Cotton, Northampton; and Razadowovski, of Windsor Crescent, St James, Northampton, were all granted bail.

A child rapist arrested at Northampton station when his victim’s relative spotted him on a train, has been jailed for 11 years, eight years after the attack.

Kifueni Kadiabioko, 33, boarded a carriage at London’s Euston station on February 12 after evading capture since October 2004 when he raped a 12-year-old in Willenhall, Coventry.

The victim’s relative dialled 999 while Kadiabioko sat talking with friends on the train and the police arrested the 41-year-old while still on the train when it pulled into Northampton Station, Coventry Crown Court was told.

Kadiabioko, of Clarendon Road, London, pleaded guilty last month to three charges of false imprisonment, raping the girl and assaulting her.

He was jailed for 11 years and three months for each offence, to run concurrently. He will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Det Con Deb McCord said Kadiabioko, who had been known to the girl’s family, had dragged his victim into his car as she walked home from school and then took her to a flat where he attacked her.

She said police believed he then fled to Essex and London after fearing the girl would tell her family about what had happened.

“It was a fantastic spot by the victim’s relative; her swift actions in notifying us meant we were able to liaise with British Transport Police and Northants Police to arrest him as the train pulled into Northampton.

“She should also be praised for her restraint in not challenging Kadiabioko and making her 999 call discreetly so as not to alert him.

“At the time, Kadiabioko was a 33-year-old man who befriended the victim’s family through church and he abused their trust and took advantage of her.

“He was only known to church members by a nickname and disappeared in October 2004, fearing the girl had confided in her family.

“Initially, he denied any sexual activity took place but forensics evidence was kept on file from the time of the offence and compared against Kadiabioko’s DNA which returned a match.”

Kadiabioko admitted to raping the girl after he was transferred to West Midlands Police station for questioning where he was presented with DNA evidence from the victim’s clothing.

Dc McCord added: “This young girl was vulnerable and terrified by the actions of Kadiabioko.

“She showed extreme bravery in reporting it to police and remaining supportive of our investigation throughout.

“Her resilience has been admirable and this outcome could not have been achieved without that support.”

Saints No.8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been cited for an alleged tip tackle during the 24-21 win against Exeter Chiefs at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

Van Velze was sin-binned in the 38th minute of the game after the TMO was brought into action and told referee JP Doyle to issue a yellow card for the challenge on Chiefs No.9 Will Chudley.

It was van Velze’s second sin-binning in as many starts for Saints since joining from Blue Bulls in the summer, after he was shown a yellow in the Premiership opening-day win at Gloucester.

The South African will find out the RFU’s verdict on the Exeter incident at a hearing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bath centre Matt Banahan looks to set to miss the clash with Saints on Friday night after picking up a knee injury in the 30-23 win against Wasps at the weekend.

The England ace left The Rec in a brace after limping off during the closing stages of Saturday’s Premiership battle.

And he now looks unlikely to figure against Saints this week as two sides with 100 per cent records go head to head.

“Matt has damaged his knee and we will know more about it in the next 48 hours,” said Bath skills coach Brad Davis. “He will go to have a scan and we will wait and see what the results are, but he has been put in a brace.”

And head coach Toby Booth added: “All injuries are a worry. The people who are near the top of the table at the end of the season are the sides whose players stay fit and healthy, giving them more firepower at their disposal.

“We have a few dents in the squad already but we will have Sam Vesty, Stephen Donald and Tom Heathcote to come back soon.”

A prison officer from Northampton was arrested today by detectives investigating alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

The 31-year-old was held at his home in Northampton this morning on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and misconduct in a public office.

He is the 44th person to be arrested as part of the inquiry, called Operation Elveden, which is being run alongside investigations into phone hacking and other alleged privacy breaches.

The arrest is a result of information passed to police by News Corporation’s management standards committee, Scotland Yard said.

Operation Elveden is being run alongside Operation Weeting, the inquiry into phone hacking that has seen 25 people arrested and eight people charged so far, and Operation Tuleta, the investigation into computer hacking and other privacy breaches that has seen 12 arrests.

David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks are among the eight charged under Operation Weeting.

They are due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 26, along with five other former News of the World journalists - ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire will also appear.

Brooks, her husband Charlie and four other people have also been charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice over allegations that they removed boxes of material from the News International archive and tried to conceal documents, computers and other material from police.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said she could not comment on individual cases.

She said: “The Prison Service is committed to dealing robustly with all forms of corruption, including the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information for financial gain. Such activity is a fundamental breach of the Civil Service Code and may constitute the criminal offence of misconduct in public office.

“We are fully supportive of Operation Elveden currently investigating the potential misconduct of public officials involved in selling information to the press. If any prison staff are identified, we will work with the police to facilitate investigations and prosecutions.

“The vast majority of staff are honest and law-abiding but we are determined to deal with those who are not.”

The body of a 62-year-old alcoholic may have laid undiscovered in his Kettering home for two weeks after he was tied up, gagged and killed with a blunt object, a jury heard.

Phillip Haslam, 36, is accused of murdering John Kiernan, a vulnerable alcoholic who lived alone, after breaking into his home in Havelock Street, Kettering, in September last year.

Mr Kiernan’s body was found by police when they forced their way into his flat on October 1, almost two weeks after he is thought to have been trussed up, gagged and killed.

A jury at Northampton Crown Court heard his hands and feet were “hog-tied” with electrical wire, he was gagged with a pair of socks and then killed with a brick.

Professor Peter Vanezis, who conducted the post mortem at Leicester Royal Infirmary on October 2, said the cause of death had been severe head injuries, contributed to by asphyxia.

He said Mr Kiernan’s body was thought to have been at the scene for up to two weeks before it was discovered.

He said petechial haemorrhaging in the eyes were caused by Mr Kiernan being gagged.

He said: “It would indicate that quite clearly the fact he had a gag around his mouth and a sock inside his mouth had caused some obstruction to his airways and with the way he was tied, it would have resulted with some difficulty in breathing.

David Herbert, prosecuting, asked how many blows had been delivered to Mr Kiernan’s head. Professor Vanezis said: “There were three separate wounds. I would say it was severe or substantial force with a heavy blunt implement.

“It definitely was not a punch.”

Haslam, of Gloucester Close, Kettering, denies murder but has admitted twice burgling Mr Kiernan in the weeks leading up to his death, to fund his addiction to heroin.

He is on trial with Christine Windle, 37, who denies burglary of the Havelock Street flat.

The couple had been staying with Louise Wall, 32, and husband Levoy Berry, 31, in Gloucester Close, Kettering, where police found a pair of trainers and gloves with traces of Mr Kiernan’s blood.

Ms Wall, her husband and his brother, Shane Berry, 29, have told the jury Haslam allegedly came back on September 21 with blood on the sleeve of his jacket and confessed to the killing.

She said: “He said he had tied someone up and gagged him and then hit him several times with a brick. He said it was the alcoholic. It was sort of a joke. Phil told me the man was tied up, gagged and with head injuries. He’d been trying to get some money from him.”

Nicholas Syfret QC, for Haslam, said it was Levoy Berry who was responsible for the murder and accused Louise Wall of lying in order to protect him.

He said: “Is this an invention by you because the coat is Phillip Haslam’s and links him to the death of John Kiernan? What you are doing is protecting the true killer, who is your husband.

“Your entire purpose of your evidence to this jury and to the police in interview is to protect Levoy Berry from the charge of murder.”

She said: “For one, I did not know the man was dead, I just knew a man was hurt somewhere, and two, I would not cover for my husband, and three, I really like Phil and I’m gutted I have to be here to give evidence but he’s done wrong.”

Levoy Berry, 31, told the jury how Haslam confessed to him and his brother Shane Berry, 29.

David Herbert, prosecuting, said: “How did he seem to you when he got home?”

He said: “Not the same, just different. It was just the way he was acting. It was strange.

“He told me he had just been round to someone’s house in Havelock Street and tied someone up and hit him with a brick. There was blood on his white jacket, the sleeve and lower part of it.

“I did not believe it to begin with, that he had done what he said he’d done.

“He seemed like he was laughing, to begin with. That he was not bothered about what he’d done.”

Mr Syfret added: “What I’m going to say to you is that it was you who was wearing the gloves at the time they were soaked in John Kiernan’s blood and it was you who is, in effect, the murderer.”

Levoy Berry, who said he has has been a heroin addict for 13 years, denied taking part in the fatal burglary or responsibility for Mr Kiernan’s death.

Mr Syfret added: “We suggest this is not the first lie you have told the jury because because you have been an active burglar for a long time.

“You have told the jury a massive lie and that there is only one purpose for you to lie and that is to hide the fact you are the man who killed John Kiernan.”

Mr Berry said: “No.”

Haslam denies murder and Windle, formerly of Duke Street, Kettering, denies burglary.

The trial continues.

A drunk man who groped a police officer after he threatened to burn down his home will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Andrzej Dziadosz, 45, who is Polish, threatened to set fire to his home in Spencer, Northampton, but when officers arrived, they were confronted with him lying on his bed, heavily intoxicated, Northampton Crown Court heard.

He became aggressive to one of the two female officers, then touched her bottom and ran his hand down her leg.

A Northampton-based female officer, who cannot be named, told a jury last month how he sexually assaulted her on October 10 last year.

She said she went into Dziadosz’s room where he was making gestures with his fists.

She returned later when he had calmed down, at which point he sexually assaulted her by groping her backside.

Dziadosz, of Camrose Close, Spencer, Northampton, denied sexual assault but was unanimously convicted after a two-day trial last month.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Hilary Watson handed him a two-year community order, with supervision, 120 hours’ unpaid work and £500 costs.

Mary Loram said: “What this defendant did is probably not what you would think of as the most serious. But that is not the point. She found the defendant lying on the bed. He was not very cooperative, was quite aggressive and very obviously drunk.

“He beckoned her to where he was sat and he put his hand on her bottom, and rubbed her leg up and down. In interview, he said it didn’t happen and he had not touched her in any way at all.”

Giving evidence, the officer said: “He was shouting and raising his fists at me and being aggressive.

“He didn’t say anything to me other than the word ‘No’.

“I could not communicate with him. I told him not to touch me there. He put his hands to his face and started crying.

“It was horrible. As a police officer you get called all sorts of names, but nothing like that has ever happened to me. It made me feel sick.”

Luther Burrell has urged Saints to start playing to their potential for the full 80 minutes as they prepare to face Bath on Friday night.

Summer signing Burrell scored a try on his Premiership home debut in the green, black and gold as Northampton came back from 16-12 down to beat Exeter 24-21 on Sunday.

It was the second tough work-out of the season following the gritty 24-19 opening-day win at Gloucester, where Saints clung on with just 14 men in the final minutes.

In both games, Jim Mallinder’s men had spells where they switched off, allowing the opposition to make up points deficits and threaten to steal the win.

And Burrell, who has been a super-sub in both games so far, helping in the huge defensive effort at Kingsholm and showing his attacking instincts against the Chiefs, has warned Saints they can’t afford to slack against in-form Bath this week.

“It’s just a matter of focusing on ourselves,” said the powerhouse centre, who joined from Sale during the close season.

“Obviously we’ve got to get back to the drawing board and see what Bath are going to bring but we’ve got to focus on getting ourselves right for 80 minutes, not just for 50 minutes.

“Bath is going to be another tough challenge. It’s not going to be easy for us to go down there and pick up a victory but I strongly believe we’ve got the squad to do that.”

Burrell has quickly acquired the tag of super-sub since switching to Saints, showing his skills off the bench during pre-season and in the Premiership so far.

And he became an instant hit with the Franklin’s Gardens faithful, scoring a try on his competitive home debut which provided the catalyst for the victory against the determined Chiefs.

“It was an absolutely brilliant way to start,” said Burrell, who replaced the injured George Pisi 35 minutes into the game. “It was brilliant to score and a brilliant win.

“The boys dug in in the second half and that’s what the Saints are about. It’s not always going to be pretty but we got five points and that’s what matters.

“Exeter are one of those sides, they’re never going to give up and what we’ve got to do now is build on that performance and start playing for 80 minutes, not 50 or 60.

“We need to shove sides out and play for that full 80 minutes.”