A Northampton man was one of a gang of nine jailed for a total of 43 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.

Mi-hat Cerri, 33, of Spencer Bridge Road, Northampton, received five years at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday for his part in a major drug conspiracy which was smashed in an undercover police operation in the county.

The other eight defendants who all came from Kent received sentences ranging from two years to six years nine months - seven for their roles in the conspiracy and the other for money laundering.

Prosecutor Edward Fowler said the conspiracy between February and June last year involved about £250,000 worth of cocaine.

He said the undercover officers saw “kilo size” packages of cocaine worth £50,000 being handed over. The high purity drug would be bulked up with other cutting agents to produce four times as much when sold on the street.

As he passed sentence Judge Charles Macdonald QC said personal mitigation carried little weight and deterrent sentences for the wholesale distribution of high purity cocaine were called for.

A teenager was hurt during an assault in Northampton.

Police in Northampton are appealing for witnesses after a 17-year-old girl was assaulted in South Paddock Court on Sunday May 18.

The teenager was not seriously injured in the assault but officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

They would also like to speak to anyone who may have seen an unfamiliar red car parked in the South Paddock Court area between 8pm and 8.30pm.

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

There will be two overnight closures of the M1 at junction 19 near Catthorpe next week.

The closures on Monday June 9 and Tuesday June 10 are part of the Highways Agency’s ongoing improvement scheme.

The northbound carriageway will be closed between the exit and entry slip roads on Monday while the southbound carriageway will be closed between the same points the following night.

The closures take place between 9pm and 6am each night, traffic flows permitting, and will enable contractors to install lighting columns.

During the closures traffic will be diverted along the M6 north to junction 1 where it can turn around and rejoin the M1.

Further information about the project is available on the scheme’s website at www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m1-junction-19-improvement-scheme.

A man who has gone missing was last seen in Northampton, police have confirmed.

David Copson, 26, left his home in The Close, Chipping Warden, near Banbury, on Saturday before a night out in Northampton.

The last confirmed sighting of Mr Copson was in the Cliftonville area of Northampton on Sunday morning (June 1).

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information relating to the whereabouts of Mr Copson.

Mr Copson is 5ft 8ins tall, of small build, with brown hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a white polo shirt with black stripes, blue jeans, and grey trainers with a white sole and yellow laces. He was carrying a green carrier bag.

Investigating officer, Sgt David Atherton said: “David’s family are extremely concerned for his welfare and desperately want him to come home.

“If David is reading this, please get in touch with your family or police so we know you are safe and well.

“If anyone has any information regarding David’s whereabouts please contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

“If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”

Northamptonshire Police is launching a publicity campaign focusing on domestic violence during the World Cup football tournament.

Leaflets containing useful links and advice for victims of domestic abuse have been handed out to hospitals, doctor surgeries, colleges, pubs and clubs.

Facebook and Twitter will be used to raise awareness, along with useful links for those seeking help and advice. A campaign will also air on Heart radio for the duration of the football tournament.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Lingley, head of the force’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, said: “Nationally there is evidence that the threat of domestic violence increases with major football tournaments. Football doesn’t cause domestic abuse, but linked to increased alcohol consumption and the emotion sporting events bring it can impact upon some relationships.

“This campaign serves as a warning to potential abusers that we will take positive action to protect victims, we will arrest offenders where a criminal offence has taken place and will seek to prosecute building the best possible case .

“Our message to victims is that they do not have to put up with domestic abuse. Have the confidence to call as. Support is available from specially-trained officers and partners. There is no need for anyone to suffer in silence.”

Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds said he was backing the campaign and wanted to cut violent crime by at least 40 per cent.

He said: “It is essential that we address domestic abuse effectively and we need people to feel confident in reporting it in order to do that.”

Police officers investigating a fire at a disused building in Northampton on Tuesday night have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to come forward.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “We are investigating an incident of arson at the former United Trades Club in Balmoral Road, Kingsthorpe on Tuesday.

“We are aware the building has been derelict for a while and people may have gained access to it unlawfully over a period of time.

“We would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the building between noon and 8.30pm yesterday to contact us.”

Anyone who has any information about the fire can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Thieves tried to break into a Northampton primary school, but ran away empty handed.

Sometime between 4.15pm on Wednesday May 28 and 4.15pm on Saturday May 31 the offenders climbed onto the roof of Millway Primary School in Duston.

They tried to get into the building but were unable to and left empty handed.

Witnesses, or anyone who has any information about this incident, can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) battled the wet weather to help a man badly injured whilst working in Silverstone.

They received the emergency call yesterday (Wednesday) at 3.35pm when a 50-year-old man was struck by a large piece of concrete, giving him chest and pelvic injuries.

WNAA landed at the scene within 15 minutes and worked alongside East Midlands Ambulance Service, an on-site medical team and the patient’s work colleagues to treat the patient before airlifting him to University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire.

His current condition is unknown.

WNAA believes its patients should be able to reach specialist treatment no matter where their incident happens. The sooner they reach the most relevant hospital for their injuries the greater their chance of survival and recovery.

WNAA receive no government funding and rely solely on public donations to keep its helicopter flying. To make a donation, please visit www.wnaa.org.uk/donate or call 08454 130999.

A woman was touched inappropriately by a man as she walked along a Northampton street.

The woman was walking along Kettering Road, between Cowper Street and Hood Street, between 8.10pm and 8.30pm on Sunday, June 1.

As she passed three men who were drinking beer, one of them followed her and touched her. She pushed him away and walked off.

He was white, about 6ft and stocky. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a bright coloured top and trainers and had short blond or light brown hair.

The two men he was with looked similar to him and were wearing similar clothes.

Witnesses, or anyone who has any information about this incident, can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two men walked into a charity shop in Kingsthorpe and stole the money from the till.

The robbery took place at the Mind charity shop in Alexandra Terrace, Kingsthorpe where two men entered the store and grabbed money from the till .

The offenders may have been Eastern European. One was around 5ft 3in with a stocky build and dark-brown receding hair. The other was about 6ft with a slim build and dark-brown hair.

The incident happened on Tuesday June 3 between 4.30pm and 4.50pm.

Anybody who was in the area at the time who thinks they may have seen these men, perhaps in one of the neighbouring shops, is asked to get in contact.

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

A woman was assaulted as she walked along a Northampton road.

The woman was walking along Blackthorn Road at about 11.30am on Wednesday May 28 when she passed another woman, who started an argument with her.

The victim was then assaulted and left with a possible fractured elbow.

The incident happened as the woman walked towards the bus stop opposite the Pig and Whistle pub.

The woman who carried out the assault was mixed race, about 5ft 3in, with ginger and black hair. She was wearing a red hooded sweater.

She was with two other men at the time. One of them was a white man with a scar on the right side of his face. He was wearing a red jacket.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The University of Northampton took to the stage at Graduate Fashion Week with an array of colour and textiles created by ambitious student designers.

The show, which included designs from students at 40 universities across the country, took place on Monday June 2.

Third year students took part in the catwalk show held at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, which showcased 19 final year collections and accessories. Amber Taylor’s collection filled the runway with contrasting tartan fabrics, hand crafted into three-piece-suits, with a unique twist of three-quarter-length trousers. She also chose to accessorise the models with umbrellas, suitcases and was given Jeffery West shoes by Guy West himself, setting off a sophisticated 1950s style.

A static entourage of ethereal fashions created by Crystal Fung, flowed down the runway as fabrics filled with small Styrofoam balls bounced and flowed over the contours of each model. She teamed the unusual outfits with medical masks of the same design and platform ballerina shoes.

Laura Prioletti brought an elegant classicism to the stage through flowing layers using blue fox and in other garments purple Mongolian lamb. Her designs were accessorised with the intricately crafted luxury bags by Sianne Smart. The manipulation and use of leather and fur materials is exquisite with a flawless sheen that gives a perfectly groomed finish. As the bags varied in size, the entwined braided handles stayed around the same length, making them easy to drape over the arm.

The winner of the inaugural Cordwainer’s Footwear Student of the Year award, Helen Kirkum, also won third place in the Graduate Fashion Week Accessory Award with her men’s footwear and superbly crafted bags and backpacks. The collection consisted of a deconstructed backpack covered in hand painted leather using brightly coloured paint streaks throughout the design.

Overall the University of Northampton, BA (Hons) Fashion and the pathways from the School of The Arts students, created collections which were worthy of their time on the catwalk, and proves that high level fashion doesn’t just come out of London! The variety of colours and silhouettes illustrated the determination and dedication each individual student had for their final year collection, displayed through both the traditional and never-before-seen ways of working with the materials chosen.

Jane Mills, senior lecturer in fashion at the University of Northampton, said: “Our Fashion students have become widely recognised for their talents and skills in craftsmanship, design and manufacture - and most importantly for being ahead of the design curve. The University of Northampton has long established links with industry, which develops our student’s industry ready employability skills.”

A Northampton mum is saddling up to lead her friends on the adventure of a lifetime.

Rachel Heap is heading off with Catherine Felce and Ann Exton for the London Nightrider – a 100km bike ride through the city at night on Sunday.

Calling themselves the Biking Birds, they are raising money for Bowel & Cancer Research in memory of Rachel’s brother Duncan Symonds who died of the disease, aged just 35.

Six months ago, Rachel, now in her forties, hadn’t ridden a bicycle for more than 20 years.

“My daughters were both starting to go out on their bikes so I dug my dusty old Raleigh out of the garage and thought ‘this is quite good fun’,” said Rachel, from Barry Road, Northampton whose daughters are aged seven and 10.

“Then I saw the advert for Nightrider and thought I’d give it a go.”

Two friends were quick to join her: Catherine Felce from Milton Street who has five children, and Ann Exton from Chapel Lane, Hackleton who has a 10-year-old son.

Juggling training around their respective families has been a challenge. “We’ve been trying to go out for a training ride very early on Sundays before the rest of the family are up – at least that’s the theory,” said Rachel.

“We don’t have a target time. We just want to stick together and get round in one piece without too many punctures and no injuries.”

Her brother Duncan was working for Macmillan Cancer Support in London when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009, aged 34. He died four months later in January 2010.

“He’d been to the doctor a few times and it hadn’t been picked up, partly because he was so young. So I’m keen to help get the message across that early diagnosis is essential, and that bowel cancer does strike the young.

“If Duncan knew that I’d be cycling through the middle of London in Lycra, he’d think it hilarious. He’d also be very proud. We like think he would be cheering us on.”

Chief Executive of Bowel & Cancer Research thanked Rachel, Catherine and Ann for their support. “More than 41,000 people in the UK are affected by bowel cancer every year. Our aim is to try and ensure that people like Duncan Symonds survive in future.”

Anyone who wants to support their fundraising can do so at www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Heap or text DPHS75 to 70070 and donate your chosen amount.

www.bowelcancerresearch.org

A vets practice in Northampton have moved to a new building in Duston.

VetSavers took over the running of the PDSA Vets on Monks Pond Street in 2002, having now out grown these premises they are opening a purposely refurbished building in Duston on Saturday June 7. The building was the former Duston Medical Centre in Southfield Road.

A spokesman said: “The newly refurbished premises have been modified to best suit the needs of both their patients and clients.

“The new waiting room has separate cat and dog areas, with cat box storage units to give them a dominant view above floor level and reduce stress. It also has six consulting rooms, three operating theatres, three kennel wards, x-ray, ultrasound and a laboratory.

“On top of this VetSavers clients will benefit from a larger private car park to the front of the Vets, as well as disabled access.”

Head vet Edmondo Prati added: “The staff and I can’t wait to welcome clients into our wonderful new building.

“We are all very excited about the move to our new home and the excellent facilities it houses, enabling me and my team to offer an even higher standard and range of care, for the pet we treat.”

Youth employment across Northamptonshire has reduced by 1,775 since scheme to create youth jobs began.

Challenge 2016, aimed at finding jobs for 2,016 18-24 year olds by 2016, has already dropped the county’s youth unemployment figure by 39 percent.

Since its launch in 2012, the number of young people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowances has fallen from 4,580 to 2,805.

The progress has been made by a partnership between Northamptonshire councils and employment organisations as well as with local businesses to recruit young people into apprenticeships and work experience programmes.

Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) is also holding careers events, including a visit from the National Skills Show in July which will offer Year 10 students ‘have-a-go’ activities across a range of vocations.

NEP chair, John Markham, said: “Young people are essential to the future of Northamptonshire’s growing economy.

“Challenge 2016 is demonstrating impressive results thanks to our partners and businesses who have worked together to develop a targeted programme for young people that is really working.”

Northampton South MP and NEP deputy chair, Brian Binley, said: “It is testament to Northamptonshire’s focussed and collaborative approach to making the local economy work for its young people – the figures speak for themselves.”

The fiancée of a 34-year-old Daventry man who died in a car crash has heard at his inquest this week that the road at the accident site was ‘sub-standard’.

Tracey Wilding was due to marry Jamie Collins, formerly of Apollo Close, Daventry, just a few months before he suffered a fatal head injury in a crash on the A361 close to the Newnham/Staverton crossroads.

An inquest at Northampton General Hospital heard yesterday, Wednesday, that on January 18 Mr Collins was driving his 16-year-old daughter Skye to her part-time job at a pub in Badby when he lost control of his vehicle before a bend in the road.

Giving evidence, Thomas Stilgoe, the driver of the Volkswagen Transporter van that was involved in the collision with Mr Collin’s Volkswagen Golf, said there was nothing he could have done to avoid colliding with the car.

Mr Stilgoe said as he approached the corner the car appeared to have “lost the back end” and was sideways on when it hit his vehicle.

Mr Collins’ daughter suffered a number of serious injuries as a result of the crash, including a fractured leg, pelvis, broken ribs, punctured lung and a fractured skull that has left her suffering double vision.

In a statement read to the inquest, Skye, who was in hospital for five weeks, said she had no memory of the crash or of any events in the week leading up to it.

Mr Stilgoe’s girlfriend, a passenger in his van, suffered two fractures to her spine and was in hospital for 11 days.

Giving evidence, Karl Piper, of Northampton Highways department, said the A361 had been identified as “sub-standard” in December 2013.

Mr Piper said the road was identified as a priority and, last month, the road was resurfaced to reduce the “skid risk” for vehicles.

He said the highways team had also cut back vegetation near the scene of the crash and cleared a ditch.

PC Brian Johnson, a collision investigator, said: “In my opinion it’s possible Mr Collins took emergency evasive action because of something like an animal or a bird and this caused him to lose control.”

Mr Johnson said Mr Collins may also have been distracted by something in his vehicle or may have suffered a medical episode. He said he did not believe the road surface was a cause of the crash.

But Mr Collins’ fiancée, who he was due to marry in July, said she didn’t think the road condition had helped prevent the crash. She said: “Why is it “advised” to be 40mph round the bend when it is 50mph. Why not just make the speed limit 40mph?”

County coroner Anne Pember recorded a verdict of accidental death.

A 39-year-old man died after he suffocated when he got stuck in a 12-inch hole in the wall of a disused building in Northampton.

The body of Jaynal Khan, formerly of Warren Road, Spencer, Northampton, was found at the former Soundhaus building in Great Russell Street, in The Mounts, on June 22 last year.

An inquest at Northampton General Hospital heard Mr Khan died because his head, shoulders and one of his arms had became wedged in the hole in the building and suspended him four feet in the air leaving him unable to breathe.

Giving evidence, Mr Khan’s widow, Safya, who he married in 2003 and who was mother of his child, said he was a “loving and affectionate husband and father”.

Mrs Khan said she became concerned when her husband failed to pick up their child from school on June 21.

Evidence was also given to the inquest from Mr Khan’s friend, Donna Lynam, who said the pair had eaten a curry together the night before he died. Ms Lynam said she last saw Mr Khan at 3am on the day he died.

The inquest heard that Mr Khan had taken some drugs shortly before he died, but county coroner Anne Pember said this did not contribute to his death.

Mrs Pember recorded a verdict of accidental death.

A mum has won a national award for starting her own business, as well as having a full-time job and a toddler.

Tess O’Hare, from Kingsthorpe in Northampton, has been named New Achiever Of The Year by beauty and cosmetics company, Avon, after growing her business as an independent representative.

Mrs O’Hare, aged 34, joined the company in October 2012 as a sales leader after coming across it on Facebook and, after making £50 on her first ever sales campaign, was soon recognised by the company as a top seller.

She now serves more than 100 customers and mentors members of her team of reps interested in starting their own businesses.

Mrs O’Hare said: “I’ve always been looking for extra ways to make money for my family, but nothing turned out to be fruitful.

“It’s partly because we had our three-year-old daughter, Eibhlin, through IVF and want to make the most of opportunities to do things together as much as possible without having to worry about affording things.

“But starting my own business has also given me a huge sense of achievement.”

The entrepreneurial mum said: “I have a management role at an IT company which gave me important skills to guide and encourage my team and help them do their best.

“Avon were also very supportive and easy to work with.”

By starting her own Avon business, Mrs O’Hare has been able to renovate her family home with a two-storey extension, but juggling two jobs and a young family was not always easy.

Mrs O’Hare said: “The hardest part was definitely the time management and I am lucky to have a supportive husband who helped share the work at home so that I could build a balanced routine of work and family.”

A spokesperson for the global company referred to Mrs O’Hare as a ‘supermum’ and said: “In just over a year, Tess has successfully grown her business to great heights.

“Her sales of Avon products in 2013 were so outstanding that she earned membership to the prestigious President’s Club; an exclusive club for the highest achieving seven percent of UK representatives.

“Based on the growth of her independent Avon business, Tess has been named one of the top 200 sales leaders in the country, and was recently recognised for being the number one seller for her area within Northampton.”

The two men accused of murdering Jamie McMahon kicked and stamped on his head while he was on the floor and then “left him for dead”, the prosecution claimed during the opening of their trial.

Mark Lewis, aged 19, of Clickers Drive, Upton, Northampton, and Michael Francis, aged 33, of St James Road, Northampton, are both on trial charged with murdering the 26-year-old in St Giles Churchyard, St Giles Street, in the early hours of October 2 last year.

Opening the prosection’s case today, Yvonne Coen said the two defendants had walked more than two miles into town “with the intention of robbing someone”.

Ms Coen said the pair went to St Giles Churchyard as they knew people were “easy pickings” as there were no CCTV cameras in the area and people were often “worse for wear”.

The prosecutor said the pair “set upon” Mr McMahon and kicked him while he was on the floor.

Ms Coen said: “Jamie was left for dead, face down in the churchyard. The spoils they stole from him were £30. This was £20 in cash and the £10 they received for selling his iPhone. Jamie McMahon was killed for that.”

The court heard that CCTV cameras tracked the pair on their walk home and they stopped at a BP garage and used £12.39 of the stolen cash to buy tobacco, soft drink, jam sandwiches, crisps, milk and sugar.

Mr McMahon suffered a number of injuries to his face as a result of the attack including cuts, deep bruising and a fractured eye socket.

A pathologist concluded that the head injuries would have left Mr McMahon unconscious and he would have died within an hour of the attack.

A contributory cause of Mr McMahon’s death was the fact his stomach contents blocked his airway and he was unable to breathe.

However, Ms Coen said the pathologist concluded, even without the blocked airway, the traumatic head injury would have been likely to be fatal.

Ms Coen also told the jury that Lewis had pleaded guilty at the “11th hour” just before the trial started to a charge of manslaughter. She said Lewis had also pleaded guilty to robbery at a previous hearing.

The pair both deny a charge of murder. Francis also denies a charge of robbery.

The trial is expected to last nine days.

Burglars forced their way into a Northampton home and stole various items from inside the house.

The burglary happened on Thursday between 2am and 5.30am in Monarch Road, Kingsthorpe Hollow, Northampton.

The offenders broke in through the front door and stole various property, including two laptops, a handbag and a diabetes kit.

They also took a white messenger bag, which was big enough to carry two laptops and had a long shoulder strap that was white on one side and red on the other.

Monarch Road is a cul-de-sac and it is believed the offenders left on foot and would have headed back onto Barrack Road.

Witnesses to the incident, or anyone with information, is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.