"...I would urge residents to refrain from speculating."

But it was speculation online that first alerted the authorities, wasn't it, Councillor Aiden? When it grew too large an issue to ignore?

Inspector Steve Parry, of the Basildon neighbourhood policing team, added: 'As a result of a number of reports relating to dogs which were made through the Action Fraud system, officers from our neighbourhood team have worked alongside colleagues in the RSPCA and Basildon Council to piece together actionable information. That work resulted in yesterday’s joint visit.

'At this stage, we believe we have found the remains of 37 dogs and about 20 live dogs which are now being cared for. The priority for all our partners is to locate their last-known owners.

'This is likely to be a complex and potentially far-reaching investigation and we don’t plan on giving a running commentary on it – but we will endeavour to keep the public informed on this investigation when it is appropriate to do so.'

What sort of place was this? 

Save A Paw takes in dogs from people who can no longer look after them or mistreated pets and offers to find them new owners in loving homes.

Surprisingly, given the area and subject matter, this didn't appear to be one to immediately pin on the Caravan Utilising Nomadic Tribes.... 

The rescue centre owner is Oaveed Rahman aka Obi Khan, who is in his 20s. An online biography states he has 'operated his one-man rescue... since late 2024. In the months since, he claims to have rehabilitated and rehomed dozens of reactive large-breed dogs'.

I think his idea of 'rehabilitation' (though certainly effective) might differ from that understood by the pitnutters... 

Responsible Dog Ownership? Don't Make Me Laugh!

Samantha Leigh (Ed: Ugh...), said as she passed her judgement: 'We agree that the activation of the suspended sentence was not just. We will replace that with a three months extension to your suspended sentence. It would not be appropriate to change other sentence that was imposed.'

She added: 'Mr Fincham you need to be very careful now. It is never the fault of the dog, it is always the owners fault.'

No surprise that Leigh is dumb enough to have swallowed the bloodsport dog Kool Aid to the point where she cheerfully repeats their nonsense soundbites...but surely even she knows a recidivist waste of oxygen when she sees one? 

In March, Jack was spared jail after speeding his £50,000 car during a cocaine binge. He was behind the wheel of his BMW 520D driving down the hard shoulder of the A2 in Kent when he was stopped by police.

Jack later admitted drug driving and driving without due care and attention.

And when his vicious mutt bit two people and he was found guilty, obviously that sentence should have been activated. But in swoops Samantha, who never met a jailbird family she couldn't sympathise with: 

Jack's estranged father Mark Gard has also previously spent time behind bars after he was convicted for distributing cocaine around the country.

What a great family. Their choice of 'pet' makes more sense now. 

Despite past controversies, Jack has continued to defend his pet. He previously faced a backlash for importing Elvis from Russia in 2021, as the dog had cropped ears - a practice illegal in the UK.

A practise that makes them look more menacing - and what sort of person wants that? Exactly! 

The Next Mutt To Be Added To The Dangerous Dogs List?

Fincham appeared at Southend-on-Sea Magistrates' Court facing two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog on Wednesday. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges, which included a separate incident involving a woman occurring in Grays, Essex, in June 2024, although no injury was reported on that occasion. The former TOWIE regular was sentenced to six-weeks behind bars after the judge determined handing Fincham a further suspended sentence was not appropriate.

But of course, as a 'celebrity', despite pleading guilty, he still doesn't want to accept the consequences: 

But the former pen salesman has since appealed his prison sentence and has been granted bail pending its outcome.

And it's not an XL Bully for a change: 

As Fincham walks free on bail after the dog attack trial, neighbours living on the same road as his family home have described the large Cane Corso as 'scary', whilst revealing they had not seen the disgraced dog owner for some time.

Hopefully, if he loses the appeal, they won't see him again for a while... 

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I'm a bit nervous of dogs anyway, but it is a scary looking dog.' 

'He's quite an intimidating looking dog.'

'I was always quite glad I was at the other end of the road because it's quite a boisterous dog,' the neighbour continued, quipping how it was a dog breed that you would be nervous to have 'around children'.

'It's a fair sized dog I would say and it was the appearance was not very nice,' they added. Another neighbour, who is also a dog owner, said: 'He looks like a fighting dog, a bully faced dog - Elvis I think.'

It's the next breed we'll start hearing about, as all the pitnutters and morons move on from the XL Bully... 

They Must Love You On eBay, Cherry!

A statue of Noddy has been saved from being thrown away after a council bought it for £500.

Did they have a whipround in the council chambers, I wonder, or did they just dive into the Bank of Taxparer again? 

For more than 20 years the Enid Blyton character has sat in his car outside the toy shop Piccola in Epping, Essex. After the shop's owners decided to retire and close up, Epping Town Council acquired the figure so it could remain part of the town.

Why? I mean, I would have paid £500 to have it dumped!  

Cherry McCredie, the town's mayor and Epping Town councillor, said: "All High Streets are changing and independent shops are departing. To lose the much loved Piccola as the owners of Noddy were retiring was bad enough, but to lose dear Noddy was even worse."

Get a fucking grip woman! You don't even know where you're going to put the thing? 

Piccola had been on Epping High Street for the past 58 years. McCredie added: "At the town council meeting, [on] 14 January, we will be discussing plans for his new site, maybe even a great unveiling!"

Noddy's new location in the town is yet to be revealed by the authority.

Maybe they should make it Mayor?  

H/T: IanJ via email

The Tools Necessary To Do The Council’s Job, You Mean…

Rejoice, Basildon!

New bin bags will be delivered to residents early next year as a controversial waste system is set to be scrapped.

Basildon Council approved returning to weekly collections and introducing new recycling bags earlier this month after a “huge majority” of residents “demanded” the change during a consultation. The current blue and white reusable recycling sacks will be replaced with single use disposable bags in early 2025, the council has revealed.

As the upcoming changes have sparked a flurry of questions from residents, Aidan McGurran, councillor for environment and leisure, has answered their top queries.

Take it away, Aiden!  

Quizzed on how the new recycling bags will work, the Basildon councillor, dubbed “king of the bins”, said: “The disposable blue and white bags will function similarly to the present system, facilitating the separation of waste.

“Clear bags are designated for plastic and cans and blue bags are for paper and cardboard.

”However, Mr McGurran explained: “You will not be able to use pink sacks for recycling, residents are asked to please use the new bags that will be provided.”

Clear as mud. One thing IS clear though - the council expects you to sort the rubbish for them.  

The borough is returning to weekly residual waste collections, with the change set to take place in spring 2025.

What have they had up to now? 

The proposal was approved at cabinet on Monday, December 9, following feedback from residents in the recent waste consultation. The meeting was told at the time that residents could be hit with “enforcement” for not disposing of waste correctly, as the council is now “going to equip people with the actual tools necessary to do the job”.

And how have the grateful residents taken the news? 

Sounds about right.

Doesn’t Appear The Laundry Detergent Was for Personal Use…

Kyle Sherwin, 38, was arrested in April 2024 after officers in the Stanford-le-Hope town centre team mounted a plain clothes operation to stop him. Investigating officer PC Matthew O’Shea says Operation Charge was set up to target shoplifters and other prolific offenders in the town. He said: “We identified patterns in Sherwin’s behaviour and then it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. He was arrested within 15 minutes of us starting the operation.”

Well done, Matthew. Not exactly on a par with snaring the Brinks-Mat gang, though... 

Sherwin, of Dowland Close, Stanford-le-Hope, had admitted at an earlier hearing to stealing a total of £636.70 of meat, cheese and laundry detergent from the Co-op in Stanford le Hope High Street on seven occasions between April 15 and 28 this year.

Assuming the meat and cheese was to sell (who'd buy it? even from someone who looks familar with soap and water?) but laundry detergent? That's a new one on me! 

While in custody, the court heard, Sherwin also failed to comply with a requirement under Essex Police's drug test on arrest scheme to be tested for cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine.

Should probably have been tested for scabies too.... 

Were They White Stilettoes?

British Transport Police are appealing for information on two people after two men were hit in the head with shoes and attacked.

In Essex? Oo-er! Those things can be deadly!  

At around 11.50pm on Saturday July 27, two men boarded a train from Leigh heading towards Stanford-Le-Hope railway station where they left the service. After arriving at the platform, at around 12.05am, the two men were approached by a man who attacked them. Then, a woman who had also been on the train took off her heeled shoes and began hitting the two men in the head.

Any description? Well, even better - crystal clear CCTV! 

The old 'Echo' commentariat is still on form:

 

Of course! 

Does The Name Refer To The Fact You Might Need One?

A man has been left with “life-changing” injuries after a plate was thrown at his head in a pub.

Yikes! 

Det Con Emma Taylor said: “We believe that prior to the assault, the victim had been involved in a disagreement with the suspect around her feeding pizza to a dog belonging to another member of the public.

“The dog was a cane corso and we are keen to speak with the owner of this dog, who we believe can assist with our investigation.

“The victim sustained serious cuts to his head which required gluing at hospital and was also verbally abused, with the suspect reportedly shouting homophobic abuse.”

Sounds like a lovely place, with thugs with big dogs drinking there... 

The suspect is described by police as a white woman in her late 20s with brown hair.

Oh! 

Perhaps Whatever It Is Should Now Be?

Two dogs have been seized from the address, and one of these dogs is believed to have been involved in the incident.

While police have been unable to confirm the exact breed, the dogs seized are not a banned breed.

If it can maul a woman in Southend to death, then add it to the list! 

And amazingly, yet another incident where the police can't say what it is, but are immediately convinced of what it isn't....

H/T: Baz via Twitter

Update: it’s now being reported she had two dogs, a bull mastiff and a Pomeranian, but Essex Police are claiming they don’t know which animal is responsible. Which would sound ludicrous, until you realise it’s Essex Police! 

Back To The Future!

Story published on BBV News on 28th June:

Event organisers were "devastated" after two music festivals were cancelled at short notice. The Summer Solstice Festival was due to take place in Left Field, Weeley in Essex last weekend, but was called off by Tendring District Council days before it was meant to go ahead. A folk music festival at the same location was also cancelled.

Oh, dear! When were they told?  

The council’s licencing sub committee decided to refuse the applications after they heard from residents on 17 July.

Errr, what? Did they mean July 2023, perhaps?

H/T: IanJ via email

Makes A Change From Them Doing It Metaphorically, I suppose...

By which I mean, 'shooting themselves in the foot'! 

The officer, who is attached to the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Firearms Command, was taking part in a training exercise at Fingringhoe Ranges, near Colchester, Essex.

Few details have been released about the incident although the Met said 'no other officers were directly involved'.

It's no surprise, is it, really?  

The Owners Are Worse Than Their Feral 'Pets'...

A grandmother who was mauled to death by two 'unregistered XL Bullys' in front of her screaming grandson was trying to break up fighting puppies with a broom when she was attacked, it has been claimed.

Even as young animals, this breed loves to do what it was bred for, it seem... 

Esther Martin was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was attacked yesterday by the massive animals, reportedly named Beauty and Bear. It is understood the terrified 68-year-old had issued a warning to her tattooed 'son-in-law' Ashley Warren, 39, about the dogs, but the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant: 'No one tells me what to do with my f*****g dogs.'

They certainly don't need to now: 

Six Essex Police officers arrived 'within minutes' and shot dead both dogs inside the home.

Good riddance. The puppies should have been shot as well. Never mind what the neighbours think.

Julie Coleman, 62, and Mike Coleman, 74, said: 'It's horrible. I heard them shoot the dogs. It's so upsetting. I was in tears.'

Mrs Coleman said: “I’m an animal lover and it’s just so upsetting, even with what they have done.

Living next to these things? I'd have been opening some champagne for the cops.  

Little Tip...

...don't do what the voices tell you. Even if they come from your police radio:

Footage shows Pc Jonathan Marsh and a female colleague speaking to Rasike Attanayake, who reported that a drunken man had smashed a notice board outside his audiology practice in Romford, Essex. The officers begin to walk in the direction that Mr Attanayake had given them, only for their colleague to then tell them over the radio that he was the suspect.

Ooops! 

They handcuff Mr Attanayake who pleads that he was the one who called them, as PC Marsh tells him to 'get on the f***ing floor now' and throws him to the ground.

The clip, released by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) shows Mr Attanayake saying 'please can you not do that' before PC Marsh then punches him in the head and restrains him further.

And when did it become clear they had the wrong man? When the voices came again: 

Within just ten minutes, the officers were informed that Mr Attanayake was not the suspect. Less than an hour later, he called police to make a formal complaint against the officers.

I'm only surprised that took so long! 

Giving evidence PC Marsh, a former prison officer at HMP Chelmsford, told the court the force he used was proportionate and necessary.

Well, yes, but unfortunately, it wasn't the right man, was it? 

The trial ran out of time and will resume on January 29.

One to watch. 

H/T:SadButMadLad via Twitter 

Not The Demographic I'd Expected...

A man accused of a series of violent carjackings on the A127 has claimed he is “possessed” and can’t be held accountable for any crimes, a court has heard.

Ah, another enrichment case, I suspect. Who else believes in possession and drive like maniacs? 

Levi Whalley, 33, ...

Oh! 

...is standing trial at Basildon Crown Court and allegedly threatened to stab a victim after stealing a car and attempting to steal others. The incidents took place on the A127 on September 26 last year and Whalley was eventually detained by members of the public on the busy road before being arrested.

I think we may be dealing with someone from a very unexpected demographic here... 

Following the cross examination, Whalley asked Judge Ian Graham if he could put forward his defence. Whalley added: “My life has turned out to be different from everyone on this planet, all the human beings. “I’m a little bit different and basically when I was a little nipper I was gifted but I didn’t realise it.“I’ve got a mind that is possessed, and because it is possessed I can imagine there are certain people that consider me dangerous but I am not. “I have never hurt anyone in my life, if I do stab or hurt someone it is not because I am dangerous, it is because I am possessed which is not my fault sir.”

Yup, another Caravan Utilising Nomadic Traveller, I think.  

Is That The Best You Can Do..?

In mitigation for Khan, it was said that it was a single stab wound and he lacked maturity.

For Lutchmunsing, it was said that he has mental health difficulties and was not in possession of a knife.

For Weston, it was said that she had a 'difficult upbringing' and was 'effectively homeless' at the time.

Even notorious Soft Touch Samantha couldn't stomach that...

The Accent Is On The 'Mentalist' Bit...

They are relentless, aren't they?

Jon Fuller, a member of South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said the group “vigorously supports” clean air schemes across town and city centres. The zones are areas where a fee is charged for driving the most polluting vehicles.

Mr Fuller said a congestion charge style scheme would help tackle climate change and air pollution.

*sighs* Really? Well, no. As he himself admits! 

“Our preference is for a ULEZ in town and city centres in south Essex because we don’t want to divert traffic from arterial roads, such as the A13 and A127, to minor roads.

“If a congestion charge was implemented, it won’t make a difference because people will move to less major roads to avoid the cost.”

Make up your mind, man! 

“However, becoming a ULEZ will encourage people to get rid of their old cars, such as diesel motors, for a more environmentally-friendly model.

“In turn, this will help improve the air quality in south Essex.”

I know something else that would do that. Can you guess what it is? 

'Raising Awareness', Eh..?

Southend Rape Crisis (SOSRC) is working with four secondary schools to raise awareness among young people around consent, being an active bystander, and the harms of pornography.

As part of the PSHE, curriculum, students in years 9 to 13 are encouraged to join the discussion about behaviours they may have witnessed or been a part of.

Is 'raising awareness' what they are really doing..? 

Shana Thomas, independent sexual violence accredited adviser, said: “One of the scenarios we discuss is a girl going home drunk from a nightclub with a boy. She has a boyfriend, and the next day says she has been raped. Often, the view of young people is that she has cheated and therefore regretted it and that is why she is saying she was raped. We talk about what she was wearing, and the rape myths associated with that.

“We have a discussion around the fact drunk people can be raped, people with partners can be raped and people in marriages can be raped. We don’t want young people to have this idea that because someone has a partner, they must be feeling regretful and are therefore calling it rape out of guilt.”

Even if it might actually be the case, Shana..? 

“Sometimes, we are shocked at what they say and are shocked that young people think like that. But even saying those things is part of the education.”

Or even 're-education', which might more adequately describe what you're attempting here... 

But Don't They Already, Ben-Julian?

Admittedly it's usually down to sloth and indifference, but I don't think the crime victims care what the reason is...

Ben-Julian Harrington, who heads Essex Police, fears scores of officers are leaving the profession because they can't afford to pay their rent and household bills.

He said many officers are taking on second jobs to make ends meet or leaving forces to become scaffolders, taxi or train drivers because it pays better.

'We won't keep cutting crime if PCs can't afford to be cops,' he warned yesterday.

I don't think you are cutting crime, are you? 

Well, That Won't Help Them Fit In To Essex...

It's like that old joke about being stopped at the door of a nightclub by a bouncer who asks menacingly 'Have you got any weapons?' and when you say 'No!' he produces a flick-knife and says 'Here! Better take this then...'

A two-day hearing at the High Court in London began on Wednesday - just as the first 47 migrants were taken to Wethersfield.

All single men, they arrived in Britain by small boat from northern France last weekend.

Wethersfield offers an on-site GP surgery, a dining hall with meals three times a day, a multi-faith centre and recreation facilities including an indoor basketball court and a gym. Migrants will be offered a programme of activities - likely to include running clubs and art lessons - in a bid to keep them occupied on the site.

But they are free to come and go from the base.

The Tories are doomed. Aren't they? 

Grinding Really, Really Slowly Again...

A man who armed himself with a knife has been jailed for his role in an incident which led to an 18-year-old being fatally stabbed in Old Leigh.

No, no, not a recent one at all.

Flynn Symonds, 33, has been standing trial at Basildon Crown Court over his involvement in the incident on February 26, 2021, which ended with the death of Luke Bellfield.

This week Symonds has been convicted by a jury of violent disorder, having a bladed article, and having an offensive weapon. He was jailed for two years following his conviction.

If that seems a low sentence, well...

“CCTV shows Luke Bellfield leading the chase with a machete-style knife. He is stabbed and the other two men keep chasing Alfie Pollard.”

Lovely family. Innit?