This terrifying knife was handed in to Oundle Police station yesterday (Thursday, March 14).
The national week-long amnesty dubbed Operation Spectre is encouraging people to hand in blades that are no longer needed or that could be used as weapons.
People can visit their local police counter to hand in blades without questioning.
One Northants Police inspector tweeted that there had been 44 stop and searches in three days and ‘numerous arrests’. There had also been a machete found.
A shoplifting thug who caused people to flee in panic after spraying a substance in a Kettering retail park has lost a bid to reduce his sentence.
Ashley Maparura, from Northampton, was jailed for a year after the terrifying incident at Currys PC World in Northfield Avenue on February 15.
Emergency services rushed to the Belgrave Retail Park in Northfield Avenue at about 3.30pm and it was initially declared a major incident before being downgraded.
Several members of the public could be seen with blankets around their shoulders outside the store at 5pm, and large bottles of a clear substance had been poured on the ground outside the store.
One person who witnessed the emergency response said: “There was a cordon across the whole car park. I’ve never seen so many hi-vis vests in one place.”
A number of people suffered irritation and two people were taken to Kettering General Hospital as a precaution.
Maparura, 29, admitted stealing two Dyson vacuums, assault with intent to resist arrest and possession of an offensive weapon - incapacitant spray - at Northampton Magistrates’ Court last month.
Magistrates jailed him for 26 weeks for assault, 26 weeks for the weapon to run consecutively and 14 weeks for theft to run concurrently (a total of 52 weeks), saying: “[The] fear the defendant created by spraying something when they had no idea what was coming out of the can is unforgiveable.”
The criminal appealed against his sentence and had two of the three sentences cut yesterday (Thursday). His 26-week sentence for the weapon was unchanged because of his previous offending.
His 26-week jail term for assault was cut to 18 weeks and his 14-week sentence for theft was cut to eight weeks.
But canny judge Marcus Tregilvas-Davey made the sentences of 26 weeks, 18 weeks and eight weeks all consecutive - keeping Maparura’s spell behind bars at one year.
Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) had applied to demolish the block of 20 garages at Keswick Drive, in Boothville, to build two new homes.
Councillors decided to defer the application when it previously came before the Northampton Borough Council planning committee in December after hearing from residents that the garages were well used.
The council’s head of planning Peter Baguley told the committee that he would be happy to take the plans back to NPH to see what alterations could be made, including the potential retention of some of the garages towards the north of Keswick Drive.
However, the application has now surfaced again, and the only change is an extra two parking spaces being created.
It has left resident Ann Brooks, who lives next to the garages and leases one of them, frustrated that it has come back. She has also criticised the lack of consultation.
Ann, who is the spokeswoman for the Save Our Garages campaign, said: “We were told that we would be kept in the loop if any changes came forward, and that hasn’t happened. I can say hand on heart that I’ve not been sent anything. Some neighbours got letters, others got emails.
“I am so frustrated. This is a quiet community and we are happy and content. There’s no aggro, graffiti or drugs. But this community could be destroyed for just two houses, which is a drop in the ocean of what is needed.”
Neighbour John Connolly is also opposed to the plans, but is in the unique position of being one of more than 30 directors on the board of NPH.
He has urged his colleagues to think twice about the application, saying: “It’s not about not wanting homes, it’s about losing garages. They should have looked at this and seen that the community strongly want these garages. But they just haven’t listened at all.”
The residents are being backed up by Labour ward councillor Paul Joyce, who also criticised the lack of information being passed on to both himself and the residents.
He said: “I’ve looked at it and I can only see an additional two parking spaces. They were tasked with looking at retaining some of the garages, but to me it looks like virtually the same plan.
“Since that meeting I’ve heard nothing really. And I would like to think that some residents have not been a target, but I’m concerned with what has happened in the consultation. I will be raising these concerns at the meeting on Tuesday. The local community feel like they are not being listened to throughout this.”
Planning officers at the borough council say that discussions have taken place with NPH regarding whether it is feasible to retain any of the existing garages.
The planning papers, which will be read by councillors when they meet to discuss the application again on Tuesday (March 19) say: “It has been confirmed that some of the garages do have structural issues that are likely to create further issues in the future. Furthermore, there are some vacancies within the garage court and some of the garages are likely to be more challenging to access.
“Whilst it has not been possible to amend the scheme to retain some of the existing garages, as a satisfactory layout would not be achieved, the layout of the development has been amended in order to increase the number of parking spaces from seven to 11.
“Given that the development is for the provision of two one-bedroom dwellings, it therefore follows that there is a likelihood the majority of the replacement parking spaces would be available for the occupiers of existing dwellings. In addition, the applicant has confirmed that the occupiers of garages would be offered a replacement facility and has provided the council with a list of alternative sites within the localised vicinity where alternatives garages are available.”
But residents have argued that the alternative garage provision is too far away, and questioned the report’s findings on the structure of the garages.
Ann Brooks said: “There’s nothing wrong structurally with the garages. One of them has had the cement come away, but structurally they are sound.”
Northampton Partnership Homes is an organisation that manages Northampton Borough Council's housing services.
With regards to consultation, planning officers say it has been the subject of public consultation ‘in line with the requirements of the council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement in respect of planning applications’.
One Northampton company is on a mission today to 'cycle to Shanghai' as part of its 5,000 mile effort for Red Nose Day.
All 80 staff at Dynamic Office Solutions, in Weedon Road Industrial Estate, have taken it in turns to hop on an exercise bike and rack up the miles to raise £1,000 for this year's Comic Relief efforts.
Personal assistant at Dynamic, Laura Burton, said: "All 80 of our staff have access to the bikes. We have them placed around our building including our canteen so everyone has an option to jump on and do whatever they can."
The idea to cycle from England to China stemmed from managing director, Carl Verlander who said it was the first time the company had supported Comic Relief.
Other workers, including Laura Verlander and Rachel Barton, also volunteer for the local homelessness charity 100 Ladles and Animals in Need, and back the cause.
Laura added: "This morning we officially got to the Chinese border.
"Today we need to pedal just under 590 miles to get to Shanghai. Our motto is ‘make it happen’ so we are confident that we can achieve this.
"We are being helped along from all the sugar from our cake bake sale - with all profits going to Comic Relief."
The team of 80 started cycling at the beginning of February and by the end of today, they hope they will have done enough biking to get them to Shanghai.
"We had over 5,000 miles to pedal so gave ourselves enough time to achieve it.
"By the time the office shuts [today] we are confident we will be there.
"We have a JustGiving page and hope to raise as much as possible. We have raised just under £400 but would like to achieve £1,000 so if anyone would like to support us we would appreciate it."
At least 49 people have been shot dead and 48 injured in attacked at two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch earlier today (March 15). It is the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's history.
Superintendent Dennis Murray of Northamptonshire Police has now issued a statement saying he has stepped up 'reassurance patrols' around the county's mosques, but says there is no 'increased threat' in Northamptonshire.
He said: “We are shaken by the tragic events in New Zealand and offer our deepest condolences to all those who are affected by this terrorist act.
“Our local communities will naturally have concerns however, I would like to reiterate that there is no increased threat to Northamptonshire.
“We have sent out local messages to our communities through our engagement officers who maintain close thinks with the community.
“We have increased reassurance patrols around mosques and will be engaging with communities of all faiths. If anyone is affected by the attack, they can contact their local officers for support.
“While we will continue to monitor our local position, our advice to the communities is to be aware of the national Run, Hide, Hide tell advice and for anyone with concerns about suspicious activity to call the Anti-Terror Hotline on 0800 789 321, or in an emergency dial 999.
“We are supporting the New Zealand Police request not to share the distressing images from the terrorist attack and appeal to the public and press to support us in this.
“We will work closely with our communities against those who seek to cause fear and divide.”
A man in his late 20s has been arrested and charged with murder over the killings. Two other armed suspects are being held in custody.
Chair of the Northamptonshire Muslim Police Association Sophia Perveen, said: “This is a sad day for Muslims, who remain horrified by the barbaric actions of a select number of terrorists.
“I would like to offer my reassurance to the local communities that our officers are there to support anyone who has concerns and would reiterate the advice of the force around protection for places of worship.”
PC Nathaniel Foster has been facing a misconduct hearing relating to two occasions when he is accused of using abusive language and excessive force.
The constable, who now works in the control room at police HQ in Wootton Hall, intervened on two separate occasions in 2017, once in a Kettering custody suite and a second time in a street in Corby.
During the Corby incident just after midnight on November 19, 2017, he was helping detain a suspect - 'AJ' - who had knocked out his girlfriend and who had just thrown a bin at PC Foster's fellow officers.
What happened next, chair of the panel Jane Jones described as an "act of gratuitous violence" by PC Foster.
AJ had been sprayed with police pepper spray when PC Foster arrived, and between them the officers managed to handcuff the suspect behind his back and lie him facedown in the road at the junction of Dunnock Road and Jay Road.
The misconduct panel heard PC Foster on body-worn camera footage being abusive to the man during the restraint - swearing at him, calling him a 'prick' and saying words to the effect of "it's a shame you can't breathe".
PC Foster then warned AJ he would drag him, saying: "You won't do that again, boy. I'll drag you round the floor."
Footage from another officer's camera then records AJ screaming in pain as PC Foster grabs the handcuffs and pulls him along the road for about two seconds. AJ later presented with grazing to his face, which the panel found was probably caused by the dragging.
Presenting solicitor Elizabeth Briggs said PC Foster's actions, which he forgot to include in his statement the following day, were born of frustration.
She said: "It was just a form of punishment for the behaviour of this individual.
"There was no need for it. He was incapacitated by spray, handcuffed to the rear and he had three officers around him.
"At what stage could your actions ever have been justifiable?"
Responding to Miss Briggs' cross-examination, he admitted the incident looked "disgraceful" but defended the dragging, saying he believed AJ was dangerous as he had just knocked someone out and had also reportedly punched through a car window. The other two officers were also feeling the effects of the windblown pepper spray.
He said: "My colleagues just step off him and leave me holding this violent, crazed individual.
"They are going to be effectively useless to me.
"This guy is a nutter and I'm going to possibly have to deal with him on my own."
Further body-worn camera footage from just over a month earlier, showed PC Foster intervene when six officers are helping to take an abusive prisoner, 'CS', to a cell at Weekley Wood Justice Centre in Kettering.
The footage records PC Foster swearing at CS as he pulls him towards the cell in a headlock, saying words to the effect of 'I hope you choke' and calling him the C-word.
Walking backwards down a corridor, PC Foster slips to the floor with the CS still in the headlock.
One of the other officers later said that PC Foster's sudden intervention caused him to lose control of the situation, and a police restraints expert called as a live witness told the panel the manoeuvre had risked injury to CS's head and neck.
Once in the cell PC Foster, with the help of two other officers, lifts the man to turn him round and the man's head dangles just above the floor before depositing him firmly and facedown on a soft mat.
PC Foster pushes his shoulders and chest to the floor by raising CS's handcuffed arms high behind his back.
Again, the suspect complains he cannot breathe but is told to shut up by PC Foster. When, wheezing heavily, CS repeats himself, PC Foster lowers his arms and abruptly leaves the cell.
PC Foster, who has been a police officer for 15 years with an unblemished record, maintained his actions were appropriate to secure compliance against resisting suspects. He said he did not initially hear CS saying he couldn't breathe because of the loud talking of other officers in the small cell. And PC Foster said he believed AJ was lying during the second incident when the suspect said the same thing, because he was shouting at the time.
The swearing he described as 'tactical communications', using harsh language to get through to suspects, particularly those who were high or drunk.
He did, however, admit that he could see now how members of the public would look at the footage and apologised for it, saying he had gained insight into the use of appropriate language during his time in the force control room.
He said: "I accept it sounds absolutely horrendous.
"[The footage] is making me quite ill to be honest and I shouldn't have done it.
"If I was a member of the public seeing that, I wouldn't want that to be happening either."
Mrs Jones said that, although PC Foster's intentions in intervening were initially good, the use of force and inappropriate language meant the officer was guilty of gross misconduct.
She said: "Both incidents showed frustration, loss of patience and desire just to get the job done.
"The comments you made not only showed scant regard for CS's welfare but they were inappropriate and degrading."
Turning to the dragging incident, Mrs Jones said it was an "unusual and deliberate" act, which ended up with AJ pulled in an arc and back towards the officers.
She said: "This cannot be viewed as anything other than gratuitous violence that was degrading to the subject."
However Mrs Jones said the panel would give the officer one last chance.
To a tearful PC Foster, and to the sounds of sobs from family members, Mrs Jones said that the "headlines of this case could sound outrageous" but that the public would understand their decision if they heard the full facts.
She said: "There is a balance to be struck between a loss of control over a few minutes and a 14-year unblemished career.
"We have taken the exceptional step that we have decided to issue a final written warning."
Mrs Jones said PC Foster should in future keep his body-worn camera on at all times while on duty.
Right to Buy was introduced by the Margaret Thatcher government in 1980, offering council tenants who had lived in their home for up to three years the chance to buy it for a third off the market value.
Today, homeowners receive a 35 per cent discount at least if they have been a public sector tenant for between three and five years.
But a study by the BBC Shared Data Unit has found 523 council homes bought under Right to Buy here in Northampton since 2000 have since been sold on - with one seller profitting £148,000.
Tenants who bought their houses netted an average fo £50,000 by selling them on in the open market, having purchased them at the discounted price.
The data also shows that, in 2003, one buyer owned the property for just 27 days before selling it on at a £27,500 profit.
Supporters say Right to Buy has given millions of people the chance to get on the housing ladder and secure their families’ financial future.
But opponents blame the policy for distorting the housing market and for a huge reduction in the amount of social housing stock.
Among them is Paul Dossett, head of local government at financial services firm Grant Thornton UK LLP.
“The Right to Buy scheme has resulted in a huge shortage of social housing, with a staggering number of homes being sold off but not replaced," he said.
"Analysis from the Local Government Association shows that just one new home is built for every five sold."
Tenants who exercise their Right to Buy must repay a portion of their discount to their council if they sell the property within the first five years.
The discount repayment is based on the resale price and ranges from 100 per cent in the first year to 20 per cent in the fifth year. In addition, tenants who wish to sell their property within 10 years of purchase must offer their local authority first refusal to buy it back.
However, housing market commentator Henry Pryor said that far too many people had 'simply profited from a scheme that had much bigger social ambitions' through Right to Buy.
Here in Northampton, latest figures show that 85 new council properties are due to be built by the end of 220.
But Right to Buy sales are depleting the stock at a rate of around 145 a year. Currently, around 3,250 people are on the housing waiting list, most of whom are looking for one-bed apartments.
Northampton social housing campaigner Norman Adams, a longstanding Right to Buy opponent, agrees that the 1980-implemented policy needs an overhaul.
"What I have been saying for years is now becoming the mainstream view," he said. "Right to Buy is wrong.
"It's helping the few but affecting the many."
In 2016, Northampton Partnership Homes announced plans to build 1,000 new social homes over the next 10 years in the borough.
But the Chartered Institute of Housing says the only way stocks can remain at a good level is if Right to Buy is suspended.
A spokesman for the Institute, said: “We think the time is right to suspend it in England to stem the loss of homes for social rent – which are often the only genuinely affordable option for people on lower incomes.
"Not only are we failing to build enough homes for social rent – Right to Buy means we are losing them at a time when millions of people need genuinely affordable housing more than ever.
“Our analysis shows that we have lost more than 165,000 homes for social rent in just six years and that figure will reach 199,000 if we don’t take action now."
Counillor Stephen Hibbert, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for housing, said: “Right to Buy was introduced in 1980 and has since allowed many families who would otherwise have struggled to get on the housing ladder an opportunity to own their homes.
“One of the consequences is indeed a reduction in the amount of social housing we have available, which is why we – with Northampton Partnership Homes – have introduced an ambitious programme of house building which we are confident will see around 1,000 new homes delivered within ten years.”
Richard Mawby, who lives in Gayton and own a nature reserve near the trainline, was speaking at an open floor hearing yesterday as part of the Planning Inspectorate's (PINS) review of Roxhill's Northampton Gateway project.
The plans, if approved by transport secretary Chris Grayling, would see huge warehouses built on land between Collingtree and Roade, while a separate application by Ashfield Land called Rail Central would result in the countryside between Milton Malsor and Blisworth being occupied by further warehouses.
Both developments are being inspected by PINS because the "strategic rail freight interchanges" are considered of "national significance" so will not go through the usual process of local authority planning committees.
Mr Mawby, 28, who runs Forage Frolics and teaches people how to live off wild foods, raised his concerns over the impact the Northampton Gateway and Rail Central projects would have on the local environment and further afield.
"My objections steer towards an environmental nature, a human concern and the bigger picture on a cumulative impact that both Northampton Gateway and Rail Central will produce," he told the Planning Inspectorate panel.
"We look at the world through a superficial lens and whilst the proposed applications address the visual impact on the landscape, there is something much deeper to consider.
"Simply transplanting a habitat is not straightforward and although visually pleasing, the moment you dig deep into the soil and start cutting down trees you are destroying decades, if not centuries, of developed ecosystems.
"Span this across the multiple developments across the UK and the true scale of loss of habitat is substantial and alarming.
"A simple drive across the county, or country, will reveal the reality of mass industrialisation and the resulting loss of farmland and natural landscapes.
"There is only so much our ecosystems can handle before they encounter a catastrophic collapse, which you could argue is already happening."
Mr Mawby was not the only speaker to raise environmental concerns with the panel.
Others mentioned the poor air quality and its further deterioration should the plans go ahead as a result of thousands more HGVs emitting fumes in Northamptonshire.
Also speaking at the meeting was Northamptonshire County Councillor Adam Brown (Con, Bugbrooke) who told the panellists of the local authority's intention to write to Mr Grayling and PINS expressing its opposition to both projects.
"It is inevitable that the proposed developments will increase the already poor air quality," Mr Mawby continued.
"This is a violation to us as humans and research shows a decrease in health and mental clarity or cognitive intelligence as a result of increased pollutants in the air.
"There should be measures to reduce this, not to increase it.
"Estimations and predictions also suggest that due to an increase in temperature, many areas of the world will become uninhabitable within the next century and if we do not act fast and act now to mitigate and fix the damage to our planet, we are fast-tracking our way into the next mass extinction.
He added: "Short-term fixes and quick profiting is not the way forwards – and HS2 or other industrial developments are most certainly digging us deeper into an early grave.
"And so I repeat, is this the future that we want to give to our future generations? – I think not."
In January the council won a civil court case against former Northampton Town FC owners David and Anthony Cardoza.
Judge Simon Baker QC ordered Anthony to pay back £2.1million, while David was told to pay back sums used to fund the development of his Cheriton house in Church Brampton. He said the duo had ‘breached their fiduciary duties’ as directors of the football club.
Since then, the borough council has been putting together its strategy on how to recoup the sums. But the discussions are taking place in private, with an item on Wednesday’s cabinet meeting (March 13) being exempt from the public and press.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service challenged the exemption and argued that the public interest now outweighed the interest in maintaining the exemption.
But after considering the request, the cabinet agreed to keep the agenda item private as the council didn’t want to let ‘the other side’ know their strategy.
Borough solicitor Francis Fernandes, referring to the challenge, said: “They are challenging the exemption and it refers to Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act, which is the correct act. The argument is that it’s in the public interest to have this item held in public.
“They are right on a general matter of principle because of the publicity surrounding this and the interest from members of the public.
“We very rarely go into private session so our approach is very much to have issues considered in public where possible. However, the reason for this being exempt is a very good reason.
“The issue is that I will be giving cabinet an update, however, I am giving this update as a lawyer when we have live litigation issues, and that plays a part.
“We would not want our strategy to go into the public domain and we wouldn’t want to let the other side know what our plans were.
“My conclusion is that, while I do understand why the challenge has been made, I maintain that this should be held in private because of legal issues.
“I haven’t been asked by any member to hold this meeting in private, this is an officer decision based on risk and legalities.”
Council leader Jonathan Nunn added: “This is so important and everyone on the streets is really interested in this. But having heard what’s been said on recovering this money for the taxpayer, I think we should consider this in private.”
The borough council’s own chief finance officer has already stated that the authority is unlikely to recover all the money.
A criminal investigation into the ‘misappropriation’ of the loan money, given to the Cobblers to redevelop Sixfields, is ongoing as Northamptonshire Police says its investigation is 'nearing completion'.
And a recent investigation by the Insolvency Service found that the sole director of the developer that received the bulk of the loan money, Howard Grossman of 1st Land, had ‘blatantly disregarded’ his duties as a director.
The Insolvency Service found that it had ‘not been possible to determine the exact nature of more than £5.6million worth of payments made to various parties from 1st Land’s accounts’.
Mr Grossman, 57, of Bushey, has been banned from running companies for 10 years.
Staff at a Wellingborough Costa Coffee were shocked to open an unattended bag in their store in January to find the three-inch knife and two 'golf-ball sized' lumps of powder.
Police were called, who also found a passport inside belonging to Daniel Gregory, 39, from Scotland.
Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (March 15) how officers initially thought what they had found was two rocks amounting to 42 grams of cocaine - which surely would have made the owner a drug dealer.
But on testing, police labs found the two 'golf balls' were a concoction of sports supplement creatine, the stimulant medication ephedrine and low-quality cocaine.
In an interview, Gregory told police he used the mixture to 'help him in the gym' and slowly wean himself off cocaine.
Because of that, he the 39-year-old was only charged with possession instead of much more serious charges of intent to supply.
But this did not explain the three-inch kitchen knife he also stashed in the bag.
Gregory claimed he had bought the knife in Morrison's. Enquiries proved Morrison's supermarkets do not sell the knife in question.
The 39-year-old also committed the offence while on bail for dangerous driving after speeding away from an unmarked police car in February 2018. He was disqualified from driving at the time.
Gregory - who has 106 previous offences from 27 convictions - later pleaded guilty in court to possession of cocaine and possession of a blade in public.
In sentencing, His Honour Judge Tregilgas-Davey said: "The police tested the drugs and I'm told they agree it was a very low purity of cocaine.
"But you lied about the knife. They do not sell that knife in Morrison's. It seems clear to me that you had it for your own protection.
"For that reason, I find it would be unjust not to impose an immediate custodial sentence."
Gregory was jailed for 18 months for possession of a knife and dangerous driving. He was also disqualified for 27 months.
A Northampton neighbourhood supermarket is celebrating its grand relaunch tomorrow with wine tasting and cake samples.
Whitehills Supermarket will celebrate the end of a complete refit of the store in White Hills Crescent tomorrow (March 16) with an afternoon of free samples.
Between 12-5pm at the shop off Harborough Road there will be free tasting on local wines, gins and beers from Brynne’s Vineyard in Brixworth, and Phipps Brewery in Northampton.
There will also be free tasting on some of the new cakes and food made in-store, as well as facepainting for children.
Alex Kapadia took over the store in September after buying it from the previous owner, who had worked there more than 30 years.
He told the Chronicle and Echo: "When I took over I realised we needed so much more space for everything we wanted, so a full re-fit was in order.
"We managed to keep the store open through the work and the response from the community has been amazing.
"Thank you to everyone for their support so far. We want this to be your local shop and to have everything your local needs. Let us know how we can help."
The store has been refitted to offer Co-Op fresh food with an in-store bakery and hoot food selection.
The team has also installed a Costa Coffee machine and have local wines, beers and gins on offer from Brynne's Vineyard in Brixworth and Phipps Brewery from Northampton town centre.
It comes after Alex joined his store with with NISA, a wholesale company owned by Co-Op.
At around 8.30pm on Tuesday (March 12) three men went to the Costcutter shop on St Leonard’s Road, in Far Cotton, leaving one person waiting outside, Northamptonshire Police today confirmed.
Two men then went inside, one threatened staff with a curved machete while the other smashed a Bitcoin machine off the shop wall with a sledgehammer.
The offenders then left the shop with the machine, walking away along Haines Road and Euston Road.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "All the men wore face coverings and gloves. The one with the machete is described as wearing a black balaclava, black puffer parka jacket, blue jogging bottoms and light coloured trainers.
"The man with the sledgehammer wore a black balaclava, grey/green puffer style parka jacket, black jogging bottoms and black trainers.
"The third man wore a grey puffer style parka jacket and had a grey face covering."
Anyone who witnessed the robbery, saw the men in the area at the time, or who has information about the incident is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Professional organiser and declutter expert Karen Taylor – founder of Declutter Angel – is home-by-home helping people get their clothes, shoes, paperwork and everything else in order.
Karen, who swapped a stressful corporate job for her new venture, believes there's a strong link between having a tidy home and tidy mind.
"When people are struggling with a lot of emotional stuff going on it's difficult to juggle all the plates," said the 43-year-old.
"Once they declutter they have more headspace to manage things better."
"If you reduce down all those items you can start to feel energised; it clears the mind," she added.
Since the KonMari method hit UK TV screens thanks to Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, charity shops have seen an increase in donations. And with decluttering a big trend in America it's starting to catch on in the UK.
Karen said: "Like our friends across the pond, here in the UK, we are accumulating more stuff and in turn, the space around us is shrinking with the clutter preoccupying our minds and starting to take over our lives.
"The need to declutter our possessions is growing and it's time to take back control of our lives and get organised, after all, if we were stuck on a desert island how many chipped old ceramic mugs would we actually need?"
The good news, says Karen, is you don't need to tackle the challenge of getting started on your own.
Based in Wellingborough, Karen works with clients in Kettering and Northampton.
"The most powerful question I find can be do you love it? Because if you don’t, the chances are you are not going to wear it or use it and someone else then could make good use of it.
"I always work with my clients at their pace and would never make them discard anything they didn’t want to.”
To help you get organised Karen recommends the following advice - here are Declutter Angels's top ten tips to tidy:
1) Break down areas so it's a more manageable task, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was all that clutter collected in a day - so why expect yourself to get through it all so fast? Breaking down the task into smaller goals allows us to see the progress we are making.
2) Always start with an area which is bothering you the most. Perfect to get a positive feeling of accomplishment by braving the most irritating area first and seeing the progress.
3) Once you get started, start moving items into logical piles of recycle, rubbish, wrong place but I need it (i.e. should be in the bathroom/kitchen etc), charity and to sell (but only if you are going to commit to selling it soon).
4) Try and only keep what you use or will need in the short to medium term and avoid storage where possible
5) If you are struggling and have a 'not sure' pile really question, when did you last use it? Do you love it? This should help guide you to a decision...
6) Also think, would you buy it now? If you wouldn't, you probably don't need/want it! (this is a great one with trying on clothes you haven't worn in a while!)
7) If you can't manage a whole task at once, then try just 10 mins a day, chipping away makes a huge difference, imagine if you did 10 mins a day in 2018? What would it look like now in 2019?
8) Like the hare and the tortoise slow and steady wins the race, try tackling just a drawer or cupboard
9) Play music to keep you motivated, it might just make the whole experience more enjoyable
10) The Golden Rule: Think more about your purchases next time, every time think 1) do I love it? and 2) do I need it - buy it only if you answer yes to both and you will prevent more clutter entering your life...
For more help getting started you can contact Karen Taylor, Declutter Angel at: www.declutterangel.com or on mobile: 07948 529587 for a free no obligation chat.
An appeal has been launched after a 20-year-old man has gone missing in the Northampton area.
Remus-Nicolae Gruia, known as Nico, was last seen in Duston yesterday (March 14) at around 4.50pm.
Nico is described as 5ft 7in, with a slim build, olive skin and short black hair which is now in small braids.
When he was last seen, Nico was wearing a black baseball hat, black puffer jacket, a full black tracksuit which may be Nike branded, and grey trainers. He was carrying a small dark man bag.
Officers are becoming concerned for his welfare and ask anyone who has seen Nico or has information about his whereabouts to call Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Thomas Greenaway, of Omega House, was spotted on CCTV in on St Giles Street in November swapping parcels and money with a passerby.
When police caught up to the 45-year-old, they found four wraps of heroin, seven wraps of crack cocaine and £470 in cash on him.
Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (March 15) how the money suggested Greenaway had made between 25 to 50 deals that evening alone.
But when officers went to his address, they found an enormous stash of 150 wraps of cocaine and heroin worth thousands of pounds on the street.
He was arrested and charged for drug dealing. But he returned to the streets to sell more drugs and was caught at it again in February this year, while on bail.
This time, Greenaway was spotted by on St James Road at 10.15am.
When officers tried to stop and search him, the 45-year-old threw several wraps on the grounds and stamped on them to try and destroy them.
But the force was able to find 111 wraps on him and a small amount of cash, suggesting he was set for a long day of dealing.
The court heard Greenaway fell into dealing to pay off his own drug debts.
But His Honour Judge Tregilgas-Davey told him only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate for the amount he dealt.
The judge said: "Selling Class-A drugs to people ruins lives, and normally people who are of a young age. It rips families apart and it is a dreadful scourge on our society and you were a supplier of that.
"This is so serious only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate."
Greenaway was jailed for four and a half years. All of the drug-dealing profits seized from him by police will be recuperated and the drugs will be destroyed.
The figures, released by the Ministry of Justice, mark the county out as having the second highest rise in the country.
In 2013 Northamptonshire saw 186 people convicted for carrying a knife.
But in 2018 that number leapt to 323. Only neighbouring Leicestershire Constabulary has seen a greater proportional rise of 96 per cent.
Here in Northamptonshire, major steps are being taken to curb such offences - though, last week, chief constable of the county force Nick Adderley told the Chronicle and Echo the country's knife crime 'epidemic' would not be solved overnight.
The force is currently running a scheme to dissuade young men and boys from joining gangs known as the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV).
However, chief Inspector Neil Dorothy, head of prevention and intervention at Northamptonshire Police, said the statistical rise could be down to the fact police are getting more effective at prosecuting knife offenders.
He said: “Knife crime is a national issue that Northamptonshire Police takes very seriously and is tackling head-on.
“The force has been bringing more people to justice over knife-related offending and will continue to do so. Our officers are dedicated to fighting crime and protecting people, both in terms of proactive policing and preventative engagement and diversion work."
As part of the CIRV programme, would-be gang members hear testimonies from parents whose children have been killed by knives.
And chief inspector Dorothy said it was already having a positive effect.
He added: "CIRV also provides a clear message that the force will not hesitate to take action against those who seek to commit crime in our communities. The programme is seeing good levels of referrals, and is also bringing in intelligence and opportunities to challenge knife crime head-on."
Over the past week the force has also been taking part in Operation Sceptre, a nationwide initiative dedicated to tackling knife crime.
The results of the operation will be shared following its conclusion on Sunday, March 17.
Chief inspector Dorothy said: “We’re not standing still on knife crime and will continue to work with our partners and communities to tackle this issue together.”
Northamptonshire Fire tweeted they were called to the fire in a flat in Kingsley Park Terrace at about 10.30pm on Friday.
And this morning, the AA reported this morning that the road remained closed in the area.
A spokesman said: "Road closed due to building fire at a house on A5123 Kingsley Park Terrace both ways between A5095 Kingsley Road and Milton Street. The road was closed off at late last night just before midnight following a house fire. The closure has been reduced, but police say the road is expected to remain shut well into the day (Saturday)."
There is no further information at this stage from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue and Northamptonshire Police.
JANUARY 3
Daniel Cline, age 35, of Blisworth Close, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; costs £60.
Michael Coulson, aged 34, of Military Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a supervision order; fined £100, costs £60.
Neil Hazell, aged 33, of North Street, Rothersthorpe, failed to comply with a community; fined £150, costs £60.
Reece Cooke, aged 25, of Hervey Street, Northampton, possession of a class B drug; conditional discharge for 18 months, surcharge £20, costs £85.
Mark Davies, aged 57, of Waypost Court, Northampton, stole alcohol and groceries from Tesco; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Anna De Winter, aged 19, of The Green, Flore, drink-driving; fined £200, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 21 months.
Victoria Fitzmartin, aged 35, of Ecton Park Road, Northampton, drink-driving; community order to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85, banned from driving for 18 months.
Ashleigh Hayes, aged 29, c/o Balfour Close, Northampton, threatening behaviour; fined £40, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Adewole Paseda, aged 35, of Harefield Road, Northampton, breach of a court order; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Danny Smith, aged 45, of Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton, damaged a car; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £350. Destroyed the roof of a building; community order made.
JANUARY 4
Sami Chouchen, aged 30, of St Pauls Road, Northampton, breach of a court order; community order made, compensation £200.
Kevin Davis, aged 37, of Kentstone Close, Northampton, resisted arrest; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £20, costs £300.
Dr Daxon Masiyano, aged 43, of The Green, Deanshanger, assault; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months, compensation £100, surcharge £115, costs £585.
Nuno Pavanito, aged 42, of Chartwell Close, Daventry, drink-driving; fined £120, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 16 months.
Steven Hunter, aged 49, of Tresham Green, Northampton, had an offensive weapon; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.
JANUARY 8
Marek Chlebus, aged 38, of Campbell Street, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £50, costs £60.
Vaughan Coe, aged 28, of Alliston Gardens, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; costs £60.
Tejay Cook, aged 22, c/o Great Meadow, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £106, costs £60.
Oliver de Sousa, aged 18, of Muscotts Lane, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £40, costs £60.
Claudia Stubbins, aged 40, c/o Warwick Street, Daventry, failed to comply with a community order; costs £60.
Mubashar Zafar, of Wellingborough Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a community protection notice; fined £2,000, surcharge £170, costs £1,475.
Deepak Patel, aged 45, of Shakespeare Road, Northampton, drink-driving; community order made to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85, banned from driving for 40 months.
Piotr Suchocki, aged 42, of Cowper Street, Northampton, stole toiletries worth £50 belonging to Poundland; jailed for four weeks.
Gemma Waugh, aged 31, of Bouverie Road, Northampton, stole three coats from River Island; fined £40, surcharge £30, costs £85.
JANUARY 9
Chokri Mahmoudi, aged 39, of Oxford Street, Daventry, assault; fined £166, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Billy Osborne, aged 24, of Hardwick Hall Way, Daventry, damaged a door; conditional discharge for 12 months, compensation £100, surcharge £20, costs £85.
Joe Gilbert has spent three years fighting back to fitness after a horrific accident on the Swirral Edge ridge in March 2016. Now, after undergoing 11 operations, he is joining a group of friends on a cycle ride to Paris in support of the volunteer rescuers who went to his aid.
Mr Gilbert, who grew up in Oundle and whose family owns the Beans Coffee Stop in the town, was walking on Helvellyn, in the Lake District, when he fell 200m.
He said: “I broke my neck, kneecap, ankle, foot, shoulder, hand and most of my ribs. I also dislocated an ankle and shoulder and collapsed a lung.
“Over the next eight hours, the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team somehow managed to keep me alive on the side of the freezing cold mountain.
“It took two helicopters, 19 Patterdale members and countless hours of medical and practical experience to save my life. Without them I simply wouldn’t be here.”
During the next two years, Mr Gilbert had “countless hours of physio” and eventually went back to visit the team at Patterdale to say thank you.
“It was a very humbling day,” he said. “The team is driven, dedicated, knowledgeable and seriously hardworking. The amount of their free time they give to help others is incredible.”
Mr Gilbert, who now lives in London, will be joined on his ride by former Prince William School friends Ben Norwell and Simon Felton, from Oundle, Olly Cogan from Northampton, and George Cliff from London, plus Matt Randell, from Crewe.
They will set off on Saturday, May 11 and aim to complete the ride within four days, raising as much funds as they can to buy equipment for the mountain rescue team which is run by volunteers and relies on donations.
Anyone wishing to donate to his cause can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-gilbert3
A tribunal panel heard that Dr Abdelkarim Mohamed was acting as a locum registrar at NGH in June 2016 when the incident happened.
On June 22, during a consultation with patient B, the panel heard that Mohamed performed an intimate examination of her with excessive force and in a rough manner.
The tribunal judgement says: "Dr Mohamed demonstrated a disregard for basic hand hygiene, performed Patient B’s vaginal examination with excessive force and in a rough manner, clearly hurting Patient B to the extent that she had to move up the bed in an attempt to get away from him."
Patient B’s reaction was so marked that the midwife instinctively put her hand on Dr Mohamed’s wrist to stop him.
But Dr Mohamed failed to stop despite requests from both Patient B and the midwife.
The judgement adds: "Further, Dr Mohamed failed to apologise to Patient B for hurting her, when it was plainly apparent that he had."
The incident was one of three that made up the General Medical Council's case against Mohamed.
On the same day, Mohamed is also accused of carrying out another vaginal examination without introducing himself appropriately or wearing an ID badge, and did not answer 'Patient A's' questions.
And the incident comprising the third allegation happened on February 2016 at Altnagelvin Hospital in Northern Ireland when Mohamed amended 'Patient C's' consent form after she had signed it, adding the words 'trial of forceps delivery' - showing he had not listened to her concerns.
A panel back in 2018 had already ruled that Mohamed was guilty of misconduct.
But a fresh hearing that took place this week decided that the doctor had still not gained insight into his conduct.
Adding to his existing suspension of nine months, Dr Mohamed was banned by the panel for a further year.
The chair of the panel said: "Given that Dr Mohamed has already been suspended for a period of nine months and has demonstrated persistent lack of insight and provided limited evidence of remediation, the tribunal also considered that a 12-month suspension would allow Dr Mohamed sufficient time to further reflect on his misconduct, demonstrate full insight and remediate that misconduct."