A Northampton-based logistics firm has landed a number of major contracts from Jaguar Land Rover.

Acumen Automotive Logistics Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Acumen Logistics Group, believe the contracts will see its turnover, from its automotive division, double in the next 18 months and triple within the next three years given Jaguar Land Rover’s current levels of growth.

Acumen Automotive logistics is delivering both Jaguar and Land Rover finished vehicles for export markets and to dealerships throughout the South of England and Wales. To facilitate the new contracts, Acumen Automobile Logistics has refurbished its current specialist fleet of 24 car-carrying trailers. It has also replaced its existing tractor units and purchased 20 new tractors and trailers.

Peter Raybould, director of Acumen Automotive Logistics, said: “The award is based on our history of good service. We have set out to be Jaguar Land Rover’s carrier of choice. We have supported the company’s growth strategy over the past three years and like to think that the awarded contracts are our reward for good service.”

Acumen Automotive Logistics is based in Swann Valley, Northampton.

Police officers have been searching woods in Northampton today as part of their investigation into the disappearance of a man who has been missing since September 2013.

Adeyemis Olugbuyi, aged 33, was last seen in North Holme Court, Thorplands, Northampton, on September 14 2013.

As part of the search for Mr Olugbuyi, police were searching an area of woodland near Heather Lane in Lumbertubs.

Adeyemi, also known as ‘Baz’ or ‘Big Man’, is described as having a muscular build.

Olugbuyi, who is Nigerian, is known to have links in the London area.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Northampton CID on 03000 111 222. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

A Northampton man has been jailed for 16 months for a sexual assault on a young girl after drinking 16 cans of lager and smoking 10 cannabis spliffs.

Colin Faulkner, aged 28, has been locked up for 16 months after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Northampton Crown Court.

Emily Culverhouse, in mitigation, said Faulkner was “absolutely horrified” he had committed this type of offence.

Mrs Culverhouse said: “My client acted mistakenly under the influence of drugs and drink.”

Judge Lynn Tayton, sentencing, said she thought Faulkner posed a “high risk” to children.

Faulkner was given a 10-year sexual offences order and must notify police of any change of address.

A Northamptonshire auction house will be selling eight paintings by notorious prisoner, Charles Bronson, to help him raise money to send his mother on holiday.

JP Humbert Auctioneers, based in Towcester, will be selling the paintings after Bronson upset his mother by making another violent scene whilst in Full Sutton prison.

He covered himself in butter, to avoid being caught, and started a fight with fellow inmates because his football team, Hull City, were beaten by Arsenal during the FA Cup final.

To apologise to his mortified mother, Eira, for the incident, Bronson will be selling some of his art work alongside an auction of memorabilia belonging to the late gangster, Ronnie Kray, to raise money to send her on holiday.

The sale was organised by Kray’s ex-wife, Kate, who previously owned the Kray items.

The paintings will be sold at JP Humbert’s Towcester saleroom on June 17 at 5pm, along with 150 lots of memorabilia belonging to the infamous gangster, including letters, jewellery, prison belongings and a string vest.

Jonathan Humbert, of J.P. Humbert, said: “Bronson has developed a cult following and his paintings in the past have sold for up to £1000.

“They are very interesting because they are so dainty to come from one of the most notoriously violent criminals in the UK. They give an insight into the more human side of a very troubled mind which is also, clearly, very talented.

“This is also the largest collection of Kray memorabilia to be sold at once, including some items belonging to Ronnie’s brother, Reggie. Some have said that the sale glorifies gang crime and violence but, while the Krays were notorious gangsters, we have items such as crucifixes and respectful letters to the Kray’s mother. They are all, undoubtedly, important pieces of British social history.

“Criminal memorabilia always gets a lot of attention and we are expecting international interest; this will be anything but a dull sale.”

“The residual contents of the estate of the late Ronnie Kray; Also, original works of art by ‘Charles Bronson’” will begin at the J.P. Humbert saleroom at Silverstone Business Park in Towcester on Tuesday, June 17 at 5pm. It will be a traditional auction with lots available to view beforehand. A full catalogue of items for sale can be viewed at the-saleroom.com/jphumbert or for more information contact: admin@jphumbert.com

A heritage exhibition is set to open in the centre of Silverstone circuit for the first time since 2003 – as organisers mark the 50th anniversary of the British Grand Prix in Northamptonshire.

During race weekend, between July 4 and 6, the public will be allowed access to the north section of the centre of the circuit, at an additional cost, where they will be able to view the inside of Copse corner - the fastest on the track.

The additional ticket fare will also grant access to the ‘Silverstone50’ Heritage Paddock, which will have a number of previous race winning cars on display.

Already confirmed are Nigel Mansell’s 1987 Williams-Honda FW11b and Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren-Mercedes MP4-23, which Lewis drove during his wold championship winning year in 2008, as well as David Coulthard’s McLaren from the year 2000.

Centre North Access tickets are on sale now priced at £30 for Friday, July 4, £35 for Saturday 05 July, and £40 for Sunday 06 July, and are limited in availability.

Tickets can be purchased through the Silverstone call centre on 0844 3728 300.

Those wishing to purchase a Centre North Access ticket must already have a ticket to the Formula One Santander British Grand Prix for the relevant day, or be purchasing both at the same time.

Tickets for the Grand Prix are available from £65 per person and are on sale 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit www.silverstone.co.uk for more information.

A gun-wielding robber stole cash from a Northamptonshire village pub after he locked staff behind the bar.

The man entered the the Boat House Pub in Braunston, near Daventry, just after midnight on Sunday, and demanded money.

No one was injured in the robbery and the man left the pub as soon as he had stolen the cash from the till.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen a man acting suspiciously at around 11.45pm on Friday, on the canal towpath near the pub or at the bus stop on the main road next to the pub before the robbery.

The man was of heavy build, out of breath and wearing dark coloured clothing.

Detective Sergeant Gavin Suttie from Northampton CID, said: “This is a rare incident to take place in Braunston and we are appealing for the public’s help as part of our investigation.

“We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or any suspicious activity near the pub or in Braunston late on Friday night and early on Saturday morning.

“Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

A man was removed from a shop in Kettering after shouting and pushing a shopper in the chest.

A man and two women were in the Newlands Centre when another man started shouting at them. As they left the shopping centre, the man followed them into Newland Street and a nearby shop, where he pushed the other man in the chest.

The incident happened between 4.50pm and 5.05pm on Saturday and officers would like to speak to anyone who may have seen what happened, in particular the man who intervened and removed the offender from the shop.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dozens of pupils from around Northamptonshire will take part in the 2014 County Schools’ Challenge semi-final at Wootton Hall on Thursday.

Fifteen teams from schools across the county have won a place to present their ideas on how to tackle drink related crime to a Dragons’ Den style judging panel in a bid to secure a place in the final.

Eight teams will be chosen for the best innovative ideas and business solutions for a prized place at the final at the Castle Theatre in Wellingborough on Wednesday July 2.

All students taking part will receive a certificate and goody bag to acknowledge their participation and as a memento of the day.

As part of the day, the participating teams will also have the opportunity to visit stands and displays illustrating aspects of policing while they are there.

Special constables will be on hand to take the students on a tour of the force control room and meet a police dog handler with his dogs, followed by a visit to speak with police cadets at their stand publicising the current recruitment drive to join Northamptonshire Police.

Tours of the garage will offer an insight to the range of different kind of police vehicles used including an armed response vehicle. Motor vehicle technicians will also be available to answer questions.

A visit to the mobile police station will be on site offering leaflets and advice on a number of different aspects of police work and representatives of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service will invite the students to look round a fire appliance and the mobile command unit.

Almost 4,000 pupils are researching and designing ways to reduce the misuse and abuse of alcohol and raise awareness to this year’s challenge of alcohol related issues and the impact it has on individuals and society.

More and more schools are signing up to take part of the County Schools’ Challenge which is an annual event aimed at seeking to address a social problem using a business solution.

Visit the County Schools’ Challenge Facebook page to read how the schools are progressing and what other people think about this year’s project.

www.facebook.com/countyschoolschallenge

Police in Northampton are appealing to the owners of two cars to come forwards after they were damaged in the town last week.

The cars, a VW Golf and an Vauxhall Astra, were parked in St Leonards Road, between 5.45pm and 6.15pm on Wednesday May 28, when a convertable silver BMW was seen to side-swipe them before turning into London Road and on to Bridge Street.

The driver of the BMW was an Asian man, about 25-years-old, with short, black spiky hair, was clean shaven and wearing a blue t-shirt.

Witnesses, or the owners of the damaged cars, are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A woman was assaulted in Northampton as she was walking near the allotments in Mereway yesterday afternoon (Sunday).

A woman was walking from Tesco, in the direction of Abbey Primary School, when a man ran up to her and grabbed her top. She shouted at him and he ran off in the direction of Towcester Road.

The offender is described as white, about 5ft 8in with a stocky build. He was wearing blue jeans, a purple shirt, white trainers and dark, round sunglasses.

The assault happened between 1pm and 2pm on Sunday.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A hole was cut in the roof of a car by thieves who tried to steal the vcehicle in Northampton.

The 4x4 soft top was parked in Wilfred Avenue, Northampton between 11.30pm on Friday and 2.30am on Saturday, when offenders cut a hole in its roof.

They are believed to have fled the scene after the car’s alarm went off.

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

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Plans have been submitted to build a Mexican and an American restaurant on the site of the former Red Hot World Buffet Restaurant in Northampton.

Northampton Borough Council has received an application from The Restaurant Group PLC to build a Chiquito and a Coast 2 Coast restaurant.

If approved, the plans could create 60 new jobs and would bring back to use the site that has remained derelict since fire destroyed the Red Hot building on December 18.

Chiquito is the UK’s largest Tex-Mex restaurant chain, with more than 70 sites and 100,000 customers each week. Coast 2 Coast is an American-themed restaurant and bar with its name based on the Lincoln Highway that spans the United States.

The restaurants would be open between 9am and 11pm and would include an outdoor terrace area.

The conclusion of the report states the occupation of the site by new restaurant operators would be “acceptable” as it would bring the site back into use.

A decision on the plans will be made in July.

People wanting to know more about becoming a special can have a chat with recruitment officers who are out and about this week across Northamptonshire.

Specials come from all walks of life and there are many benefits of joining up such as learning new skills, making a real difference to people’s lives, meeting new people, increasing confidence and even standing out from others in the job market.

Those interested in finding out more can pop along and have a chat with the recruitment officers at the venues and dates listed below.

Today (Tuesday), 11am to 3pm - Daventry Library, North Street, Daventry NN11 4GH

Thursday 5 June, 11am to 3pm - Towcester Library, Richmond Road, Towcester NN12 6EX

Friday 6 June, 11am to 3pm - Kettering Library, Sheep St, Kettering NN16 0AY

Saturday 7 June, 10am to 4pm - All Saints Pleasure Park, Rockingham Road Pleasure Park, Kettering, NN16 9RG

Sunday 8 June, 11.30am to 4pm - Brackley Soapbox Derby in Brackley’s High Street, NN13 7DW ‎

Anyone that can’t make either of these dates can find out more at http://www.northants.police.uk/#!/SpecialConstabulary or email any questions to the team at SpecialsRecruitment@northants.police.uk

A night of heartfelt pleas from members of the public could not stop Northampton Borough Council voting in favour of selling an ancient Egyptian statue to help pay for a £14m new museum and art gallery.

The Sekhemka was given to the people of Northampton by the 4th Marquess of Northampton in 1880 and had been on display at the town’s museum until 2010.

But plans to sell the 4,500-year-old artefact at Christie’s Auction House in London on July 10 have caused outrage among town historians and Egyptologists who think it should be put back ion display.

At last night’s (Monday) full Northampton Borough Council meeting a last ditch motion to prevent the sale by Councillor Danielle Stone (Lab, Castle) fell through the weight of a Conservative backed recorded vote.

Before the vote leader of the authority Councillor David Mackintosh told the chamber: “We have long debated this issue, it has gone through the scrutiny process, there’s been a public consultation.

“Most people are very excited about the proposals for the new museum.”

And he concluded: “We are looking forward to selling the statue and looking at how best to invest the money in the cultural future of this town.”

Earlier in the evening members of the public raised a number of issues about the ‘ethical’ and ‘legal’ questions arising from the sale of the statue - of which it has been agreed a large amount of the proceeds would be given to the current Marquis of Northampton - the item’s historical owner.

The Arts Council said the move by risked compromising Northampton Museum and Art Gallery’s current accreditation, meaning it could lose funding in the future.

A total of £10,000 has already been spent in legal negotiations with the Marquis of Northampton.

Chairman of the Ancient Egyptian Society Ruth Thomas, said: “The sale of Sekhemka will yield only a portion of the cost of the proposed museum.

“The Arts Council has made it clear that Northampton could lose its accreditation.

“The sale is a bad move for Northampton, it makes the museum a pariah.”

Speaking to the tabled motion, Councillor Stone said losing the artefact would have an impact on young children’s education in the town.

She said: “There are 264 primary schools across Northampton, they would have all benefited from seeing Sekhemka.

“How great it would have been for the children to have access to a masterpiece of ancient culture without the need for a coach trip.”

Councillor Mackintosh responded that the council has taken legal advice on the sale and is ‘satisfied of the legal case going forward’.

Sekhemka, a 30 inch limestone figure of a court official clutching beer, bread and cake - items for the afterlife - was gifted to the town by the fourth Marquis of Northampton in 1880.

Bricks were used to smash the windows of an estate agents in Northampton town centre.

The windows of Connells Estate Agents in Wood Hill, Northampton, were smashed between 8pm on Wednesday March 19 and 6.30am on Thursday March 20.

Bricks taken from a nearby building site were used to smash the windows and police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Three cars had their catalytic converters stolen in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday0 and police are reminding people to make sure they do all they can to protect their vehicle from thieves.

Catalytic converters are valuable and cost up to £1,000 to be replaced and it is believed criminal gangs travel across the country in order to steal them.

In the early hours of this morning two cars in Earls Barton and one in Great Doddington had their catalytic converters stolen, two were Toyotas the other a Mitsubishi.

Detective Inspector Phil Mills from the Volume Crime Team, said: “The implications for the victim of a catalytic convertor theft are huge. They will be left with a vehicle that cannot be used until a replacement is fitted at a cost of between £500 and £1,000. This is expensive and inconvenient, and may also bring lost earnings and increased insurance premiums.

“The value of the parts to the thief is very low compared to the costs to the victim.”

The catalytic converter thieves target the devices because of the precious metals they contain.

The most targeted vehicles in Northamptonshire are vans, pick-up trucks, people carriers, off-road vehicles and hatchback cars.

Motorists are encouraged to follow the crime prevention advice below;

Where possible, park your vehicle in a locked garage or in a parking spot overlooked by residents.

Consider using a catalytic converter protection device or marking system.

If you see someone acting suspiciously under a vehicle, report it to police by calling 101. Please obtain as much information as possible, including any vehicle registrations.

For more information call 101 and ask for your local Crime Prevention Officer, email CrimePrevention@northants.police.uk or visit our website northants.police.uk.

The 40th anniversary of the establishment of a stately home’s preservation trust has been celebrated.

Lamport Hall was in a state of disrepair when Sir Gyles Isham started restoration work on his ancestral home.

And Sir Gyles, an actor who starred in films including Anna Karenina alongside Greta Garbo, set up the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust in 1974.

The trust took over the running of the hall after Sir Gyles’s death two years later.

The guest of honour at the event on Tuesday, June 3, was broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth, who was named after Isham.

Brandreth said: “Since I was born I have been conscious of this man Gyles Isham, who was famous in the 1920s. He was a famous Oxford figure then became a West End star then he went to Hollywood to make movies.

“After the war he came back here and decided to give up acting and take up politics.”

Brandreth’s father was in Oxford in the 1920s, when Isham was a star because of his role as president of the Oxford Union and of the Oxford University Dramatic Society, as well as editor of the university magazine.

“I have been aware of his story all my life,” Brandreth said. “About 30 years ago I became friends with his successor, Sir Ian Isham, by which time the trust had been established.

“The reason I am here is that I owe my name and the trajectory of my career to Sir Gyles Isham. I am also here to salute the achivements of the trust, who have basically transformed this place which was, when I first came here, a bit down at heel. It’s been wonderfully restored.

“It’s stupendous. I am blown away. I am channeling Sir Gyles and he approves. It’s a great achievement. The trustees have raised all the money. It’s a model of how these things can be done.”

Brandreth, a former Conservative MP who has since starred on TV and radio programmes such as Just A Minute, Have I Got News For You and Countdown, says he has always been fascinated by garden gnomes – and the world’s oldest, Lampy, lives at Lamport Hall.

He said people were “quite snobbish about garden gnomes, but said he was pleased to have seen the Lampy.

Brandreth added: “It was brought here in the mid-1800s by Sir Charles Isham from Germany.”

George Drye, the trust’s executive director, said: “To have finally seen the place – not just the house but the content – restored, all put back into first-class order, has been amazing, almost surreal.

“I have been here 30 years. After that period of time you forget what it was like at the beginning. We have to remind ourselves where we have come from.

“When the trustees took this over from Sir Gyles in the 1970s its future was still in jeopardy. Now it should be restored forever for the benefit of the people locally.”

Mr Drye also said visitors to the hall for the 40th anniversary celebration had been “enchanted” by Brandreth’s humorous and informative address.

A drug dealer from Northampton who was caught after he sold cocaine and heroin to two undercover police officers has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

Brendan Kennedy, aged 30, of Carlton Gardens, Kingsley, appeared at Northampton Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to a number of charges of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

The court heard Kennedy was arrested by officers as part of Operation Rhino, a crackdown on drugs suppliers in the town.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said Kennedy sold cocaine and heroin to police officers during an undercover operation on the tennis courts in The Racecourse on March 7, 2013.

Kennedy’s address was subsequently raided by officers and they found 17 ‘rocks’ of crack cocaine, a small amount of heroin and £400 cash. A diary containing quantities of drugs and profit margins was also recovered.

Kennedy also pleaded guilty to two fraud charges that related to him stealing more than £10,000 from two of his partner’s mothers bank accounts after he signed her up for internet banking without her knowledge.

Judge Lynn Tayton sentenced Kennedy to two-and-a-half years in prison for the drugs offences and a further four months, to be served consecutively, for the fraud charges.

Judge Tayton said: “The theft of the money caused the victim a considerable amount of anxiety.”

Colin Charvill, defending, said his client was ashamed by what he had done.

With only a few days left before the big day, women across Northampton are gearing up for Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life.

The race day, at Abington Park on Sunday, June 8 will include two courses: a 10k race at 10am and a 5k at 2pm.

Spectators are welcome to come and watch but there will be some minor traffic diversions around the park during the day.

There is still time to enter for and gather some last-minute sponsors for either course by visiting the Race For Life {http://www. http://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/|website} and typing in ‘Northampton’

The Chron will be sending its own reporter, Fran Gosling, to put her best foot forward for the cause at the 5k course.

If you would like to donate, and help support the crucial work of Cancer Research UK, visit her sponsor page {http://www.justgiving.com/frangosling|here}.

How the job of policing is done, how it is structured and organised, relationships across agencies, the vital relationship with the public and how policing is led are all up for debate in today’s rapidly changing world, says Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds in a speech this week.

Addressing the Police Strategy Forum, a national body for future police leaders, Mr Simmonds said that being leaders at this time brings undoubted pressure. But it also brings incredibly rich opportunity.

“Future police leaders have the opportunity to move policing ahead of the game, reducing crime by new, preventative ways of working. We need to think differently about what the future of policing looks like.

“Local communities expect problems and solutions to be framed on how they see and experience them, not just the way the police see the world.

“We know that very often people won’t feel safer, by the police telling them they are. We must challenge the perception of why they feel unsafe in the first instance and address those concerns with urgency.

“The role of neighbourhood and community policing has always changed and adapted with the times. Now there needs to be a much stronger focus on prevention too. The fire and rescue service has shown how to manage down demand, through effective prevention advice. The clear and welcome fall in fire deaths is much more about building design, fire alarms, fire-resistant materials and the like, than about refinements in blue light response or increase in front-line fire personnel.

“This clearly demonstrates that prevention is better than cure or response. The same is true for crime and anti-social behaviour.

“So we need to fully recognise the fundamental importance of ‘service’.

Policing is in the business of delivering excellent service. It is not a special case and can still learn from the finest service organisations in the world.

“Part of that is to see through the eyes of real customers. All of us have chosen to be a part of the criminal justice system and policing; even an offender makes that choice when committing an offence; victims and witnesses have never chosen to actively participate in that process. The system should work for them and give them a much stronger say.

“So how do we make all this happen. Police and crime commissioners have a vital role in setting the lead. So do police leaders.

“Leadership has never been more important in policing. Never have the requirements on police leaders shifted so fast. It is no longer possible to understand what a chief constable of the future needs to look like simply by looking in the rear view mirror at those who have been chiefs in the past.

“The police leader of the future needs to think much bigger than the role of the police. They need to be able to influence far beyond the immediate span of their policing command and control.

“The question should be ‘what is good for the people in this area’, and the answers to that question need to be heard from those local communities.

Police leaders need to see local people as their point of reference, not just the organisations they lead.

“Some of the rules that currently bind organisations need to change.

The managerial structures across blue light services, and across criminal justice agencies, should be more fluid and flexible, to allow for local innovation, for one leader to lead more than one organisation.

“Police leaders need to be open to change too. The comfort and security that is found in stability and familiarity is a false security. Leaders need to ‘dare to be different’.

“The police leaders of the future need to bring a depth and breadth of experience. But not necessarily or exclusively years of operational experience as a police officer. They will need experience of working in, and of leading, excellent, innovative, entrepreneurial, customer-focused organisations. I can’t envisage many police leaders at the very top of police organisations in the future who haven’t had some exposure and leadership experience beyond policing.

“Finally, there is a very strong case to abolish the current, cumbersome, old fashioned and expensive multiple inspections of policing. Instead there should be a single Inspectorate focused on outcomes of safety and justice for our victims and local communities.

“This should be about seeing the world through the eyes of those who rely upon the police and criminal justice system. The current inspections are too reliant on police professionals seconded to HMIC, who come out and interview police professionals and check them against the policies and protocols drawn up by police professionals.

“Finally, those who challenge the police, including politicians, need to do so in a way which doesn’t feel like it is kicking those in policing who do an amazing job. We need to conduct our debates carefully so as not to undermine public confidence in the police. It should be possible to strike the tone about the need for change whilst celebrating and appreciating the excellent work, huge commitment, profound sense of vocation, and raw bravery which are such routine elements of the everyday life and work of our police that they can sometimes be taken for granted.”

Editor’s Note: For legal reasons, we have had to take down commenting while we review some of them.