Northamptonshire Police chiefs have hailed a 30 per cent fall in the number of complaints made against officers.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) this morning published figures showing the number of complaints made against police officers up and down the country.

As reported in the Chronicle & Echo in May, Northamptonshire Police recorded 376 complaints against officers, compared with 535 the previous year. The figures represent a 30 per cent fall. Just 14 forces had fewer complaints in the last 12 months.

Wootton Hall bosses have hailed the reduction as “more than three times the national average across England and Wales”.

The fall comes after a 42 per cent increase was recorded in Northamptonshire just two years earlier.

At the time, officers claimed the alarming spike was because of confrontational police tactics and an easier system to make and register complaints.

Speaking about this year’s reduction, Chief Inspector Mark Taylor, from the Professional Standards Department, said: “We have worked hard to refine our processes around complaints to firstly, make it easier to access the complaints system, and secondly, to respond and deal with complaints more effectively.

“We now offer a simple and streamlined option of quick service recovery for all members of the public dissatisfied by our service, this focuses on providing the complainant the outcome they want and how they want to receive it – this is reflected in the improved complaint statistics.

“Not only have we seen a reduction in the number of complaints and allegations received, but the average number of working days taken to finalise complaints was 72 days compared with the national average of 93 working days.

“Moreover we have found that against the national target of recording complaints within 10 working days, Northamptonshire Police ensured 97 per cent were within this time limit compared with the national average of 86 per cent, a year on year increase over the last three years for the force.

“Since August 2011 we have further improved our service by adapting our processes to record complaints in just 24 hours, not the national average of 10 days, as we feel this better meets the needs of our public – this is a significant step for us and our communities.

“While we are pleased with the improved position the force is in, we are aware that further improvements are required, like the number of appeals upheld by the IPCC.

“We recognise that we still have more to do in achieving our aim of delivering an excellent service to the communities of Northamptonshire.”

The latest figures, which were published by Northamptonshire Police Authority in May, show a reduction in the number of allegations from 619 to 492 this year, representing a 21 per cent reduction.

The national average was an eight per cent reduction.

I am a bit of a secret Angry Birds addict. I’ve had the original on my windows phone for some time so when the console version arrived I was eager to feed my secret addiction and I wasn’t dissapointed.

Angry Birds trilogy is everything you would expect, because now it’s on the big screen, and looking bigger and brighter.

It has been labelled as ‘plays better with Kinect’ but unfortunately that isn’t the case.

It’s just a frustrating nightmare using this option, yet the game does redeem itself with the use of

the controller and is probably the best way of all of the previous versions.

Ovio Entertainment and Housemarque have transferred the first three Angry Birds games to console

in this release by Activision and it works beautifully (providing you don`t use Kinect)

You get Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio which amounts to 700 different levels so there’s plenty to keep you going

The graphics are bright and colourful as you now get them on the big screen and it brings a nice

freshness to the world dominating franchise.

If you’ve been playing this on your handheld for a while you won`t find anything new.

In this version, it’s simply a console version of the original.

Gameplay is what you would expect from an Angry Birds game.

For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise, it’s a simple side scrolling game where you fire a variety of different types of birds with a catapult and try and destroy the green pigs (or monkeys) who are surrounded by various pieces of scenery.

The collision dynamics make for satisfying collapsing sequences, with plenty of

challenging and addictive game play.

The problem with Angry Birds is who it’s actually aimed at,

If you’ve already played it to death on your mobile device, you’re not going to splash out more cash for a game that you already have.

Because of of the lack of new content, new players aren’t going to go for a console game

that they can download from an app store for 69p.

Summary

Angry Birds trilogy is of course a great game yet bringing it to consoles without any new content

is a bit of a shame.

There’s plenty of potential to create something fresh and interesting, instead of just creating the exact same game for a console that is on a mobile device.

As a Kinect interactive game this is a serious failure, yet play it with your controller and it is as addictive as ever.

Angry Birds Trilogy

Developers: Rovio/Housemarque

Publishers: Activision

Xbox 360

Playstation 3

Nintendo 3DS

Genre: Puzzle

Release Date: September 28 2012

Even though I have no truck with ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night, I can’t resist telling you a famous Northamptonshire ghost story that so frightened the locals that the Bishop came to perform an exorcism!

It concerns the village of Clopton that lies off the main road between Thrapston and Oundle. You enter the parish by a long straight road that crosses the River Nene over, according to a sign, an unsafe bridge. A good start you might think! The parish spreads as far as the boundary with old Huntingdonshire.

In AD 960 it was known as Cloptun but by 1227 it had become Clapton and remained so right up to the 19th century when it suddenly became Clopton!

The Dudley family had lived there since 1100, becoming Lords of the Manor and rising to such prominence that on August 1, 1660, William Dudley was created Sir William Dudley, Baronet, by Charles II.

The ghostly tale concerns a man whom history and legend have dubbed Skulking Dudley, SD for short. In truth no one really knows who he was, but he does have Skulking Dudley Coppice named after him on the edge of the village! His story is well-known among the locals and is referred to in many accounts, but no one has come up with a proper name for him.

Anyway, SD was a member of the Dudley family who lived in the original Manor House. The house has virtually disappeared under extensions and so on, but the original gatehouse is still standing. He was a cantankerous sort of chap and he seemed to pick fights for no reason at all.

In October, 1349, that SD squabbled with Richard de Hazelbere of Barnwell. One version of the story says that he decapitated him straight off and celebrated his victory.

The second version says that SD had a row with one of his harvesters who cut of his master’s head with his scythe.

The third version I was told last week by Peter Scott, who was making the churchyard hedge look magnificent, is that Dudley was a coward and he feigned sickness, so his daughter put on his armour and prepared to fight.

Just before Hazelbere could deliver a fatal slash, he saw through a chink in her armour and realised she was a she and not a he! He took pity on her and they married and lived almost happily ever after, except that Hazelbere finished the job and decapitated SD. I like the romance of this version!

SD came regularly to haunt the village, skulking back and forth from the moated house to the coppice.

It all ended in 1905 when the villagers could put up with it no longer and they petitioned the Hon Edward Carr-Glyn, Lord Bishop of Peterborough who, with 21 local clergymen all carrying lighted candles, rid the parish of the headless ghost.

Labour councillors have called for a public debate to discuss the findings of a report which highlighted significant failures by the company responsible for Northampton’s bin collections.

Last week Northampton Borough Council made public the findings of an independent report reviewing the performance of Enterprise Management Services (EMS), which took over management of environmental services in Northampton and Daventry in June 2011.

“Significant failures” identified include the number of missed bin collections, a lack of training of staff and a failure to maintain grass verges and open spaces to an acceptable standard.

A statement released by the borough council’s Labour group has called for the report to be taken to the next ordinary full council meeting in December to be discussed by all elected representatives in an “open and transparent way”.

The Labour statement reads: “Since the Enterprise contract has been running many ward councillors have received numerous complaints about missed bins and uncut grass. “Councillors have been on the front line with some of the problems with the contract between NBC and EMS.

“The Labour Group believes each councillor should be allowed to bring his or her experiences as a community representative to a full council debate about the report. “If each councillor was allowed to do this we believe the report and its recommendations would be significantly enhanced in quality.”

The Labour statement also highlights concerns that the report does not go into enough depth and doesn’t provide an examination of how the contract has performed in Daventry.

The statement reads: “The review should have looked at each environment service area separately, namely allotments, parks, gateways into the town, bin collections, fly-tipping, graffiti removal, bulky waste collection and so on. `

“For instance, an allotment holder will not find much in the report that directly addresses their particular concerns and needs.

“Similarly, the report has very little to say about the maintenance of our premier and pocket parks. Each park is different as ‘friends of park groups’ will tell you. “No mention in the report of how Enterprise has worked (or should have worked) with other possible agencies, such as the Highways Agency, to improve key gateways into the town.

“It is still not known from this report whether EMS has regular contact with NBC Park Rangers and/or Neighbourhood Wardens who could potentially report ongoing problems. In short, the report does not address the lack of ‘joined-up’ working.”

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said he accepted there had been some “failings” in the way the council had managed the contract.

He said: “We have acted immediately to put better controls in place and now I am expecting Enterprise to do what needs to be done to provide the quality of service that we expect for people in Northampton.

“We will be monitoring the contract very closely in future and I will be expecting Enterprise to tackle the issues identified and their causes immediately.”

Councillor Mackintosh revealed Enterprise was fined £44,000 for their “poor performance” in the first quarter of the year.

If performance does not continue to improve, Enterprise could face a deduction of more than £175,000.

However, the Labour group have described the Conservative administration’s response as “wholly inadequate.”

The statement reads: “The answer has been “we accept the report in full and will implement the recommendations.” While this short statement is welcome from the outset it doesn’t however give any detail about what will happen going forward with the contract and who will be held ultimately accountable for poor performance.”

The Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to Countrywide Care Homes Limited saying they must make improvements to standards of care at Argyle House, in Dallington, or face further action.

The warning, which could be followed by closure if improvements are not made, follows an unannounced visit by inspectors to the care home, which is in The Avenue, on October 1 as part of a planned review of compliance.

They found the owners of Argyle House needed to make improvements in relation to the care and welfare of service users.

Several failings caused concern, including that incontinence pads were not changed often enough, posing a risk of infection and some nurses were not trained in basic skills such as giving injections, taking blood and replacing catheters.

Other bad practice included a resident who was laid on their back for five days without being repositioned, which is against medical guidelines for preventing dangerous pressure ulcers.

In a separate case a pressure risk assessment for one resident had not been updated since February. The CQC report said the resident: “had to keep using call bells to ask staff to reposition them in bed as they were not being regularly checked by staff.”

And paperwork revealed another resident was denied a fortified drink that was had been prescribed to them by their GP for medical reasons on 18 separate occasions.

Andrea Gordon, a regional deputy director of operations at the CQC, said: “The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

“This warning sends a clear message that Argyle House needs to address this issue or face further consequences.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future and if we find that the required progress is not made we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who use this service.”

Argyle House provides accommodation for up to 87 people who require nursing and personal care.

The deadline for improvement is October 29. If improvements are not made, the CQC has a range of enforcement powers which include restricting the services that a provider can offer, or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service.

The CQC can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards.

Details of the inspectors’ findings will be published on CQC’s website.

A town centre pub has been shut down by police for “persistently” selling alcohol to children.

The Bear, in Sheep Street, which is owned by Enterprise Inns, has been closed for two weeks along with Booze & Stuff, in St Leonard’s Road, Far Cotton. Both premises will be closed for a fortnight between noon on Friday and November 9.

Licensing and Nightsafe sergeant Mark Worthington said: “I am pleased that the majority of licensed premises that we checked either refused sales outright or asked the test purchasers for ID, this is all we ask them to do.

“Young people now expect to be challenged when buying alcohol and other age-restricted goods.

“The police, together with our partners in Trading Standards, have been educating both sectors of the trade (on and off licences) regarding the necessity to get their staff to ask for ID.

“Those that fail to do this must expect us to use all the powers available to us and for those that fail repeatedly the most severe punishment will be sought.

“It is recognised that selling alcohol to those under age is a serious matter and has knock-on consequences, not only for the health and well being of young people but also in relation to fuelling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“To close a pub and an off licence for two weeks at a busy time of the year will result in a significant financial penalty for these businesses and I do hope that they learn their lesson.

“We will continue with these tactics in the run up to Christmas so we would remind the trade to operate Challenge 21/25 so they don’t all foul of any operations we conduct.”

Four men, including a man from Northampton, have been arrested after a drug squad seized 17.6lb (8kg) of heroin worth £560,000.

Officers from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) made the arrests in Glasgow’s Balmore Road and recovered 11lb (5kg) of the drug.

A subsequent raid on an address in Maryhill found another 6.6lb (3kg) of the class A drug and 13.2lb (6kg) of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £30,000.

Four men, aged 25, 30, 50 and 52, were arrested and charged with drug offences.

One is from Glasgow and the others are from Burton- on-Trent in Staffordshire, Northampton and London.

Detective Chief Superintendent Athol Aitken, head of SCDEA investigations, said: “Thanks to our action, we have prevented these dangerous substances from reaching the streets of Scotland.

“Our operation yesterday would have been seen by members of the community who would not have been aware of what was actually happening before them. I would like to thank them for their support and understanding.

“Drug dealers have no regard for the harm they inflict on communities and are only interested in furthering their power and profit at the expense of vulnerable people.

“We are determined to seek out those responsible for this evil trade and ensure they are brought to justice regardless of where they reside.”

A pioneering technique to take fingerprints from used shotgun cartridges has been sold to a mystery buyer, earning Northamptonshire Police “several thousands of pounds”.

The revolutionary “fingerprint visualising” technique was developed by Dr John Bond, a former scientific support manager at Wootton Hall, while he was employed by the force four years ago.

The technique reveals previously undiscovered fingerprints on metal, including gun shell casings, by applying a large voltage to the metal and then adding ceramic beads coated with a fine powder to the surface.

It reacts with the corrosion on the metal left over from fingerprints, even after they have been wiped off, revealing the original fingerprint pattern.

The innovation was patented by Northamptonshire Police Authority and the first machine has recently been sold, earning a royalty of “several thousand pounds”. The buyer has not yet been revealed.

Dr Bond, who still retains close links with the force although now employed by the University of Leicester, revealed that other subsequent inventions are in the process of being commercialised.

He said: “I am delighted to hear that the first machine has been sold and that this is bringing some benefit to policing in Northamptonshire.

“I still retain strong links with the force in respect of overseeing university student projects around the area of scientific support.

“In April, I gave evidence in court about CERA in Marin County, California, which was a milestone and next month I am visiting California again to discuss CERA with the alcohol, tobacco and firearms agency that has a CERA machine on test.

“It reflects the fact that CERA is now established as a new way of finding fingerprints, the innovation is not a flash in the pan.

“It has proved a gateway to further development to taking fingerprints from surfaces exposed to extreme heat (shell casing), waterlogging (say a weapon which has been down a drain) and everyday items such as thermal paper, till receipts and cashpoint ATM surrounds.

“And CERA has enabled investigators to look at historic events like the Lockerbie bombing from a different perspective, opening up new opportunities from items that may have been handled by the bomber.”

About the best possible thing you can say about Tuesday night’s defeat to Bradford City is that the Cobblers did not pick up any further injuries during it.

It was poor stuff from the home side, only marginally better than the loss at Barnet and only really because at no stage where the team as comprehensively overrun in midfield as they were at Underhill.

Speaking of the midfield, it was only involved in brief moments against Bradford, with Emyr Huws probably wondering what he has signed up for as the ball sailed repeatedly over his head.

On a dark and damp autumn night, the team picked up no league points but also added no new names to the club’s injured list.

That is a very minor crumb of comfort but the amount of players missing at present is hugely debilitating, and although he refuses to do so, manager Aidy Boothroyd could quite rightly cite this factor as a major reason for his side’s recent form.

As the cliche goes, all teams get injuries. But how many are without two of their first-choice defenders and three of their first-choice midfielders, with those players taken by squad players, utility men and completely untested rookies on loan from elsewhere?

Of course, the injuries are only part of the problem. Bradford performed like a team who had their opposition ‘worked out’ on Tuesday night and they will give Boothroyd plenty of food for thought.

The Cobblers at the moment are like a boxer, on the ropes and covering up as his opponent rains the punches down.

If they can get through the injury crisis and not be too far away from the division’s chasing pack, they might just be able to do something this season.

When the bell rang at the end of the Bradford game, they were battered and bloodied but still on their feet.

Many more injuries, though, and they will be too far behind on the judges’ scorecards when some players do finally return to fitness.

LEE NICHOLLS

Slightly hesitant on the goal and made the wrong decision on a couple of occasions... 5

DANNY EAST

Good to have him back in the side but made a bad mistake for the match-winning goal... 4

KELVIN LANGMEAD

Without him, it might have been a much bigger defeat. Threw his body at everything and comfortably Town’s best player... 6

ANTHONY CHARLES

Had his hands full with Wells who was lively throughout and provided the decisive piece of play of the game... 4

JOE WIDDOWSON

Played with typical enthusiasm and strength but got caught in possession on one or two occasions... 5

KEMAR ROOFE

Looked to get on the ball in the opening exchanges but faded as the game went on and had no real influence... 4

BEN TOZER

Struggled to win any second balls and even the trusty long throw-in failed to generate any goalscoring chances... 4

EMYR HUWS

Tried his best to get involved but the game seemed to pass him by at times... 4

ALEX NICHOLLS

Did not look comfortable or happy on the wing on this occasion and spent most of the game too far from the opposition goal... 4

ADEBAYO AKINFENWA

Was routinely punished for fouls, often unfairly, and should have won a penalty when he was hauled down in the box... 5

CLIVE PLATT

Rarely received the ball with any kind of quality but also found himself effectively marked out of the game... 4

Substitutes:

LOUIS MOULT (for Platt, 69mins)

Unlucky with header that was tipped over the bar... 4

Not used: Higgs, Demontagnac, Mukendi, Wilson, Hornby, Dias.

Brixworth-based punter Trevor Bilson was toasting his success at winning the £1,000 first prize after being crowned this summer’s Semilong Racing/Chron Summer Naps Table champion on Saturday.

Bilson drew a blank with his final selection Verinco but carried off the spoils by a margin of £18.50 from Mario Solazzo (Maori Racing) who himself cashes in to the tune of £500.

Back in third place was Mike Roberts (Brinley’s Banker), who wins £250, while the other prize money cheques went to defending champion Alan Wright (Postman Pat) who picks up a tidy £125, the King Kenny’s Kaleidoscope team who win £75 for fifth place while On The Edge (Terry Scrase) collects £50.

The Sammy Parker Trophy and a free £50 bet went to Roade Walkers (Ron and Ian White) while The Nap Hand Partnership (John Frampton) wins the Snowy Wootton Poachers Pot, along with a free £50 bet.

FINAL NAPS TABLE

*Denotes non-runner switched to race favourite.

Clever Trevor Verinco +61.50

Maori Racing MAAREK (5/1) +43.00

Brinley’s Banker EXCELEBRATION (10/11) +42.44

Postman Pat Dancing Rain +39.08

King Kenny’s Kaleidoscope Shirroco Star +38.05

On The Edge Arctic Feeling +37.20

Holdenby Heroes Askar Tau +32.58

The Nap Hand Partnership Johnny Castle +29.00

Alcon Elusivity +23.13

TP Racing Sovereign Debt +22.40

Steeleye Ann Royal Rock +21.50

The 3 Js Lady Del Sol +21.00

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid Jimmy Styles +19.75

Exiled Geordies Well Painted +18.50

Royal Oak Walgrave Van Ellis +18.38

Cobblers Youth Daniel Thomas +18.23

S&D Racing Was +16.83

Go Getters My Freedom +15.50

Long Buckby Skittles Citrus Star +13.50

We Like Guinness Most Improved +10.75

Sticky Wicket Sovereign Debt +9.20

Greens Norton Racers Kaldoun Kingdom +8.00

Max Andereigo +8.00

The Yarmouth Vagabonds Atlantic Sport +7.50

Sywell Flyers SAPPHIRE (5/2) +7.00

Loco Saints Hawkeyethenoo +6.72

St Mary’s FC King Of Eden +6.33

Zulu Warriors Focail Eile +6.33

Nene Valley Racing Atlantic Sport +6.22

Trinity Old Boys Shotley Mac +5.85

Gusto’s Boys Sovereign Debt +5.35

Barnstaple Nomads Vale Of Clara +5.00

Health Matters Jimmy Styles +4.50

Pennies From Brisbane Semayyel +4.50

T&J Club MUTUAL REGARD (11/4) +4.25

Manor Mayhem Compton +4.00

Dalepak Social King Of Eden +3.75

Lonesome Dove JACK DEXTER (11/2) +3.75

Happy Dave Boogie Shoes +3.50

Spinaclean Smarty Socks +3.13

Role On Move In Time +3.08

Transco OB Johnny Castle +3.08

3 Ms STEER BY THE STARS (7/4) +2.23

Second Glance Cirrus Des Aigles +2.13

Sons of Black Sam The Cheka +2.13

Weekley Saints MUSICALLY (7/1) +2.13

Rosey Poets Semayyel +2.00

Chelsea Pensioners Cross The Boss +1.75

PWB Racing Jimmy Styles +1.23

Roade FC +1.13

B C Magpie Jimmy Styles +1.00

Shonkies Lad Royal Rock +0.73

Evertonians Andereigo +0.50

Growly Bears Highland Colori +0.50

Brixworth Wanderers Elusive Kate +0.19

Gayton Bill Elusivity 0.00

Roade Walkers Flying Applause -0.17

OXO Master Of Hounds -0.50

Jaycee Club Loving Spirit -1.00

Old Sun Heyford Imperial Guest -1.50

West Haddon Bowls Van Ellis -1.75

Heathens RFC Medicean Man -2.00

Lady G Shoshoni Wind -2.00

Red Van Man Society Rock -2.00

Marmalaid Racing Master Of Hounds -2.50

Northants Anglers Testosterone -2.50

Trafford Bridge Fan Club Highland Colori* -2.50

Yeoman Boys Aiken -2.84

M & N Racing Sovereign Debt -3.00

Rifle Drum Atlantic Sport -3.00

Earls Barton WMC Highland Colori* -3.50

Goody Goody MAAREK (5/1) -3.57

Whistle Blowers Aiken -3.60

Rothwell Cobbler Sovereign Debt -4.00

Snowy’s Daughter Bullet Train -4.20

Betony Belle Capone -4.25

Sydney Street Elusivity -4.25

Rosebery Ramblers Anderiego -4.79

Admiral Rodney King Of Eden -5.00

KAB Semayyel -5.00

Monday Ballroom Rodrigo de Torres -5.00

Kingsley FC Van Ellis -5.50

Mr Grumpy Master Of Hounds -5.75

Big Al MAAREK (5/1) -7.00

Queen’s Park Snooker Dancing Rain -7.00

Phoenix Golf King Of Eden -7.00

Sons Of The Desert Sirius Prospect -7.00

Rule 4 Serene Oasis -7.25

The Boys Bertiewhittle -7.25

Ashington Flyer Bertiewhittle -7.50

CJ’s Pickles Well Painted -7.55

Bling It On Pastorius -8.00

Mayfield Park Van Ellis -8.50

Racegoers Landaho -8.50

Towcester S&SC Jimmy Styles -8.50

Simple Minds Landaho -8.75

Cassandra Sovereign Debt -9.00

Duston Con Club Jimmy Styles -9.12

Towcester Racecourse Pastorius -9.67

Nurses Know Better Johnny Castle -9.25

Nag Nappers Hawkeyethenoo -10.00

Abington LTC Master Of Hounds -10.10

Dave’s Doublers Johnny Castle -10.17

Bajan Racing Citrus Star -10.50

Cripps Social Club Chookie Royale -10.50

Ajay Club Master Of Hounds -11.00

Charlie’s Angels Society Rock -11.25

Golfing Gourmets Master Of Hounds -11.50

Crown And Anchor Rodrigo de Torres -11.67

Nags To Riches Burning Thread -12.07

Nu Vu Windows Anderiego -12.25

Wooldale FC Nordic Light -12.38

Abfran Racing Zacynthus -12.56

Dawn’s Boys Rodrigo de Torres -12.77

Culworth Red Lion Axiom -12.87

Cobblers Le Magnifique Slade Power -13.17

NIBS Axiom -13.33

The Likely Lads Highland Colori* -13.50

K9 Walkers Sovereign Debt -13.67

Harborough Hamtunes Citrus Star -14.00

Tailor’s Dummies Testosterone -14.38

White Hart Hackleton MAAREK (5/1) -14.42

Lady Racers Semayyel -14.95

The Curragh Racers Side Glance -15.17

Cock At Roade Semayyel -15.21

M & B Racing Master Of Hounds -15.37

Delboy’s Trotters Applaude -15.37

Diamond Girl Bullet Train -15.50

Old Hamish Sunnyside Tom -15.50

Kingsley Park Airgun Loving Spirit -16.00

Black Symphony Nathaniel -16.75

Blisworth Garden Services My Freedom -16.78

Got Potential Medicean Man -16.50

Kingfisher AC Slade Power -16.50

Barley Hill Punters Smarty Socks -16.65

West Haddon FC Verinco -16.83

Ex Equestrian King Of Eden -17.00

Not Too Sad Master Of Hounds -17.00

Queen’s Park WMC Great Heavens -17.00

Manor Inn Brackley Slade Power -17.27

White Horse Silverstone Van Ellis -17.50

Margil Social SAPPHIRE (5/2) -17.52

Miracle Workers Ile de Re -18.00

Moulton Mules Side Glance -18.00

Mug Punters Semayyel -18.00

Riches’ Floretunes Fantastic Indian -18.00

Trueform Aurora White Frost -18.02

Juddies Giants Master Of Hounds -18.09

Midland Band Pool SAPPHIRE (5/2) -18.17

Nick Brown Racing Loving Spirit -18.50

Forza Milan Rodrigo de Torres -19.00

The Bruvs & Tracey Sir Reginald -19.00

SPA King Of Eden -19.50

NCT Racing MAAREK (5/1) -20.00

The Viking Kingscroft -20.00

Magster FRANKEL (2/11) -20.32

Aardvark Racing Aiken -20.70

SPX Nappers Wizz Kid -22.00

Kislingbury Temperance Opinion Poll -22.50

St Paul’s Six Furlongers Ile de Re -23.17

Against All Odds Libranno -26.00

Anfield Highland Colori -26.00

Barnstormers Most Improved -26.00

Bingo.com -26.00

Carefree Block XI Citrus Star -26.00

Free Sandwiches Landaho -26.00

Headlands Golf Johnny Castle -26.00

Mincerman Highland Colori* -26.00

The Crofters Sea Cliff -26.00

The Pickled Pigs Opinion Poll -26.00

Niall O’Brien has joined Leicestershire on a three-year deal.

The 31-year-old has left Northamptonshire with a year remaining on his contract, a development that has been on the cards for a while, after being told during the season that he was free to seek alternative employment.

With David Murphy becoming the club’s first choice wicketkeeper and highly-rated schoolboy Ben Duckett joining the club after his A-Levels finish, O’Brien’s position had become marginalised and with no guarantee of first team cricket he opted to accept the Foxes’ offer.

Having removed of the highest wage earners from the payroll, the club have re-invested the finance freed up by O’Brien’s departure in the signing of three young players, namely Christian Davis, Rob Keogh and James Kettleborough.

In addition to Duckett’s arrival, revealed by this publication last week, the three other signings show a change in tack for the club’s recruitment policy which, an overseas player aside, has now been concluded for the winter.

Speaking about the changes in personnel, head coach David Ripley said: He (O’Brien) has found himself out of the side at times this season through form, fitness and international commitments, meaning the club couldn’t offer him the role he wants.

“He’s now found some personal security in Leicestershire’s offer of a three-year deal and we wish him well for his future.”

“James Kettleborough is a player that has shown he can score big hundreds in the 2nd XI.

“He’s always been a prolific run scorer and we’re looking forward to him becoming an important member of the team and push for first team opportunities.”

“Rob Keogh has shown good improvement over the last 12 months in his all-round game and in his overall attitude to cricket.

“We feel Rob will be able to contribute in all formats of the game, and we’re particularly excited about him pushing on with his batting and fighting for a place in the top three positions in the four day cricket.”

“Christian Davis has been with us for a very long time, and showed all his real ability versus Kent last season, which is very exciting.

“We will look at building that level of consistency in his cricket to catapult him in and around the first team.”

Danny East wants the Cobblers to learn from the example set by Barnet at their expense last week, that position counts for nothing in npower League Two.

Barnet made light of their bottom-of-the-league status to record a 4-0 win over Town at Underhill on Friday night in a game Northampton were widely expected to win.

On Saturday, the roles are reversed as second-placed Port Vale come to Sixfields looking to extend the Cobblers’ losing streak to a third game.

The Valiants have only lost once since mid-August and go into the match as hot favourites, but East, with the recent Barnet-based evidence fresh in his mind, is confident he and his team-mates can turn the form book upside down.

“Barnet proved last Friday night just how unpredictable this league is,” said East, who is on loan at the Cobblers from Hull City until the first week of January.

“Every team is strong and every team can turn each other over so no matter who the opponents are, we’ve got to come out and be at our best.

“We have got to keep giving 100 per cent, we will always do that for the fans and we’ll try to give them that win that they all deserve.

“Confidence is still good. We all know we’re in it together, that’s the staff and the players, and we all know there is talent in the squad, we’ve just got to get back to winning ways.”

The victim of a violent attack may never recover from a blood infection which caused psychosis, leading him to believe he was the President of the United States.

Tatenda Kamasho, 19, was stabbed in the arm and then bitten on a cheek by 18-year-old Jordace Sinclair, of Northampton, during a 6am attack while waiting for food at McDonalds in The Drapery, Northampton, on June 17.

Northampton Crown Court heard he was treated at Northampton General Hospital for the stab wound, but the bite to his cheek became septic within days, causing the bacterial infection, facial cellulitis, which left him hallucinating with psychosis.

Mary Loram, prosecuting, said Mr Kamasho’s condition deteriorated to such an extent, that he believed he was Barrack Obama and could hear “six million people talking, with God-like delusions”. He required sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Mr Kamasho is still being treated at a psychiatric hospital and has yet to make a full recovery four months later.

Miss Loram said Sinclair, of no fixed address, took exception to Mr Kamasho talking, told him to be quiet and made threats to strangle him.

She said: “There was an exchange of punches. It then looked as if it was going to die down.”

However, Sinclair pulled a knife from the back of his trousers and stabbed him with such force the knife snapped in two.

Miss Loram said: “The two then fell over and the defendant then bit him to the cheek area and had to be pulled off by the staff.”

Despite being treated and released from hospital, Mr Kamasho had to be re-admitted the next day when his airways closed and he was put in a five-day induced coma. By June 26, he started hallucinating, developed psychosis and had to be sectioned.

Sinclair, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a knife and theft, was jailed for five years.

Judge Richard Bray said: “The bite to the cheek was a particularly unpleasant act. The injuries had disastrous consequences for him.

“He developed a serious infection, was in a coma for five days and the doctors describe them as life-threatening.

“The prognosis is uncertain. I appreciate you did not intend to cause injuries that serious. However, you have to take the consequences of what followed.”

A family subjected to a terrifying knife attack have been left with nowhere to live as their four children are too scared to return home.

The Chron revealed last week that a family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were targeted by balaclava-clad knifemen who forced their way into the property in Northampton, demanding drugs and cash.

The raid has hit the family hard, with their daughter – 
who was involved in a traumatic incident a year ago and 
spent three months in hospital recovering – now so terrified health bosses have advised her not to set foot in the property again.

Her mother, speaking exclusively to the Chron, said: “We were absolutely terrified. I was confronted by three men, two in balaclavas and one with a scarf wrapped round his face, all carrying knives.

“They were shouting at us, demanding money and drugs. One of them started to go upstairs and all I could think about was the children, I was petrified.”

The family have four children, three of whom are vulnerable youngsters.

The mother said: “They were waving knives at us, one had a normal kitchen knife and one had a huge 12-inch knife, it looked like something you would use in the military.

“My youngest girl was scared stiff. We have only recently moved up here and it’s really affected her. It went on for about 20 minutes but it felt like forever.”

The family raised the alarm when they managed to get to get in one of the children’s rooms and rang police from a mobile phone. The raiders then ran off with a laptop and another mobile phone.

Despite an extensive investigation, police confirmed yesterday that nobody has been caught in connection with the attack.

It is understood the family were the victims of mistaken identity and the attackers had targeted the wrong house, wrongly believing there was 
a large supply of cannabis inside.

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “We sympathise greatly with the family and our housing team have been working closely 
with them to help them resolve their current situation. 


“We have offered the 
family a bond payment to help them move to another private sector property which is currently being repaired,” he added.

Since the ordeal the family have been staying with a relative but she is a full-time foster carer. As a result her foster child has been sent to respite care for the past fortnight. With the foster child now due home, the family have been forced to leave, but have nowhere to go as their new property is currently being renovated and won’t be ready for another fortnight.

The mother said: “Nobody wants to go back and I can’t expect the children to set foot in there again if the experts agree it’s not in their best interests.

“We are in a bit of a pickle. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

A farmer who confronted three intruders and helped bring a career criminal to justice has been awarded £500 from public funds for his bravery.

David Pentelow was working on his land, adjacent to the Fernbrook bio plant in Braybrooke, near Market Harborough, when he spotted a van and intruders in the site on August 29 last year.

Northampton Crown Court heard how he used his tractor to block the white van, with its registration plates covered with newspaper, from leaving, forcing it to crash through a fence.

Claire Howell, prosecuting, said: “He saw what was happening as he drove his tractor along the side of the site and a white van and significantly noticed its number plates covered.

“He positioned his tractor, rather bravely, in such a way as to prevent them from leaving and he is to be commended for that because a lot of people would not have done anything.

“The three men decided to get away by whatever means necessary, driving out at speed, removing the fence, owned by Mr Pentelow, in order to get away, causing £500 damage.

“Rather unfortunately for Mr Pentelow, having done the right thing, he suffered some extra loss to himself by his actions.”

Miss Howell said the three burglars, including 39-year-old William Wallace, of Justin Park, Market Harborough, had stolen metal mixing nozzles, worth £10,000, from the site.

He was later identified from CCTV footage taken from the Rothwell Road site.

The court heard Wallace was jailed for four years at Leicester Crown Court last week after the rogue roofer was convicted of fleecing vulnerable pensioners by £50,000 for sub-standard work.

He repeatedly targeted pensioners, aged between 70 to 88 years, in three counties.

Recorder Roger Evans sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment, but ordered it be served concurrently to his four-year sentence, after Wallace pleaded guilty to theft.

However, the judge said he would recommend Mr Pentelow for a bravery award from the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire and awarded him £500, under legislation passed in 1826.

He said: “Three men in a van, at unattended commercial premises, that’s a brave thing to have done to prevent them from escaping.

“The point is Mr Pentelow was acting towards the apprehension of these offenders and further than that, by blocking their exit when confronted by three men, he acted in not just a public spirited fashion but bravely and the consequences were the van had to ram its way through the fence which actually belonged to Mr Pentelow and cost him to repair.

“For his public spirited fashion and the loss to himself, it is entirely appropriate I award him £500 from public funds and thank him on behalf of this county.”

Jagvir Sangherra, mitigating, said the father-of-five’s offences were committed to fund his heavy dependency to class A drugs, for which he is now seeking treatment for while in prison.

New figures released today have revealed there are a total of 492 registered sex offenders living in Northamptonshire.

The statistic is contained in the annual report from Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and shows that the vast majority of offenders, 484, fall into the lowest Level 1 bracket. Seven fall under Level Two and one is in the most serious Level Three section.

There are a further 463 in the ‘violent offenders’ category.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire MAPPA said: “The protection of the public remains our highest priority; core agencies are committed to this goal and partnership working across the agencies is crucial in achieving this objective.

“We recognise that sexual and violent crimes have a devastating effect on victims, families and the wider community. Within MAPPA, we are aware that the public has every right to demand the very best provision we can offer. Securing and promoting local confidence is our core objective, embraced by each of the partners.”

The figures are contained in an annual report which outlines the work of MAPPA in Northamptonshire in protecting local communities from sexual and violent offenders who pose the highest risk of harm and offending to local people.

Denise Meylan, director of offender management and public protection at Northamptonshire Probation Trust said: “The report highlights how MAPPA has maintained consistently high standards to ensure that resources are focused on the most dangerous offenders in a timely and efficient manner.”

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Lingley, from Northamptonshire Police, said: “This report and the partnership work undertaken under MAPPA continue to demonstrate real value, protecting our vulnerable communities and supporting the effective management of offenders back into the community.”

Rail users in Northampton have long believed they have been treated like poor cousins when it comes to services.

Who can forget the seemingly endless programme of engineering works a few years back or complaints that early morning commuter services were always chock-a-block standing room only?

Now London Midland - the main operator out of Northampton - is predicting cancelled services for several weeks because it has a shortage of qualified drivers. It’s surprising there is a shortage of people coming through considering they are paid a healthy £42k a year.

It’s also another slightly leftfield personnel problem not unlike the one it faced when guards refused to work on Sundays last year. London Midland will not be winning many friends for this. That said, its own communications throughout this latest crisis have been excellent. It’s only a shame the rail firm’s PR skills are not matched by its ones in recruitment.

We strongly welcome the announcement by St Andrew’s Healthcare that it plans to open a new hospital in 2014 with the creation of 200 jobs.

It is a beacon of excellence when it comes to mental healthcare and the transformation of the Cliftonville school site is long overdue.

Five Saints players have been named in England’s elite squad for the autumn internationals against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Scrum-half Lee Dickson is the only Northampton back in the group, with the remaining four all forwards - hooker Dylan Hartley, lock Courtney Lawes and back rows Tom Wood and Phil Dowson.

Coach Stuart Lancaster has also named uncapped forwards Mako Vunipola and Tom Young, making four injury-enforced changes to the squad he originally named in July for the Tests.

Saracens prop Vunipola, whose father played at two World Cups for Tonga, and Leicester hooker Young are covering for Alex Corbisiero and Rob Webber.

Harlequins wing Ugo Monye has also been promoted to fill the back three berth left vacant when Ben Foden damaged ankle ligaments.

James Haskell, who returned to the England team for the drawn third Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on the summer tour, has been promoted from the Saxons to replace Tom Croft.

Lancaster had already made one change to the original squad, replacing retired prop Matt Stevens with Bath’s David Wilson.

Vunipola was drafted into the Saxons as Wilson’s replacement but the 21-year-old has now been fast-tracked into the senior squad after an impressive start to the season with Saracens.

The 20-stone loosehead prop was born in New Zealand. His father, Fe’ao Vunipola, won 32 caps for Tonga and played at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups.

Although he qualifies for Wales after the family relocated when Fe’ao signed for Pontypool in 1998, Vunipola has played for England Under-18s and the Under-20s.

Youngs, the elder brother of scrum-half Ben Youngs, has only established his place in the Leicester team this season after being converted from a hard-running centre.

The 25-year-old toured South Africa with England in the summer and he will be Dylan Hartley’s understudy for the autumn Tests, following Lee Mears’ international retirement.

Monye, who won his last England cap against Scotland in 2010, has returned to form with a bang this season, scoring four tries in five Premiership games for Harlequins.

Lancaster said: “As a coaching team we can’t wait to go into camp and get the guys focused on what will be a massive challenge in the QBE Internationals - Fiji and then the three major southern hemisphere teams in successive weeks.

“We have been impressed with some of the rugby we have seen in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup and are looking forward to the players bringing that form to Twickenham.

“It’s great to be able to give Mako a chance in the squad. He has come through our age grade sides and made a real impact at Saracens.

“Likewise Tom Youngs, who was with us on tour in South Africa, and we know what James Haskell and Ugo Monye are capable of if they get their opportunity.”

Squad: Backs: A Allen (Leicester), C Ashton (Saracens), B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), C Sharples (Gloucester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester).

Forwards: M Botha (Saracens), D Cole (Leicester), P Dowson (Northampton), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), T Johnson (Exeter), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), B Morgan (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester).

Our farmers weren’t quite marching with pitchforks into Hunsbury Hill the other night, but they certainly planned some difficult questions to skewer the five surviving men hoping to police Northamptonshire’s countryside from next month.

But it was lucky anything happened at all after a tricky stand-off between the NFU and the county’s branch of Neighbourhood Watch, who had also booked a hustings at the same time on Monday. “What to do, what to do?” fretted the Famous Five. Will it be Wellingborough, will it be Hunsbury? As it turned out, our heroes trooped in to face the NFU crowd and take questions on “fly-grazing” where, er, strangers allow horses to graze. But on someone else’s land.

The Wellingborough hustings, meanwhile, had been something of an addendum to the group’s AGM, the plan being for the candidates to make speeches and then depart into the night.

So when the NFU gig wrapped up, two of the candidates – independent John Norrie and Lib Dem Paul Varnsverry – rushed off to wow the Neighbourhood Watch (and tweet gleefully later that they had done a double hustings while the remainder, including Tory Adam Simmonds and UKIP’s Jim MacARTHUR, hob-nobbed with the farmers). Still we applaud them all for handing over £5,000 apiece and getting the 100 signatures needed to mount a challenge. Which is further than either the English Democrat (whose double-barrelled name escapes us, mostly due to lack of engagement with the media) or the entrepreneur Matt Stockdale, managed. Regards Mr Stockdale, we wish him very well with his campaign on space weather, which apparently “poses the biggest threat to mankind”.

PS: The frosty relationship between Adam and Jim shows no sign of thawing. Especially after the young (35) whipper-snapper Tory suggested to the NFU gathering that his UKIP rival might be a 70-year-old, an outrageous slur that Jim was on to with the speed of the former SAS warrior and aikido champ he once was. Jim is, after all, a mere 69 years young.

Click, brrr. Yes, The Mack this week joins the list of Tories (like Peter Lilley and Nigel Lawson before him), who’ve had a thorough going over on radio.

Rather than Today’s late great Brian Redhead, the inquisitor this time was BBC Northampton’s Joe Pignatello who, last week, pressed the borough leader to the point that he, well, flipped and unilaterally ended a difficult interview over how many staff would lose their jobs when the Guildhall farms out its back-room services.

It’s an excruciating listen. Joe asks: “How many people’s jobs are at risk, how many people are being consulted?” The Mack comes back with a mumbled line about all posts being “in scope” to which he’s rightly challenged by an exasperated JP: “What does that mean? In scope?” It’s then we have the toe-curling silence before we’re told that, despite attempts to retrieve him, The Mack wasn’t coming back. The answer was 200, but the walk-out spoke a thousand words.