A man who subjected vulnerable girls to a number of counts of sexual abuse in Wellingborough has been jailed.

Colin Darlington, 51, of Melick Road, of Beanhill, Milton Keynes, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Darlington was found guilty at an earlier court hearing of two counts of rape of a female child under the age of 16, and of 10 counts of indecent assault.

He was found not guilty of one count of indecent assault.

The offences relate to incidents which occurred in Wellingborough during the 1990s and in Milton Keynes in the 2000s.

Darlington targeted vulnerable girls, aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the offences, and subjected them to either rape or sexual assaults.

He was charged on 30 December, 2014, and convicted on October 4.

At the sentencing, His Honour Judge Cole paid tribute to the victims and referred to Darlington as a “ruthless, determined paedophile”.

Investigating officer Det Con Graeme Williams, of the Thames Valley Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “This has been a long and difficult process for the victims and we would like to thank them for both their courage in coming forward, and their resilience through such a demanding trial.

“These offences have had a great and lasting impact on their lives and I hope that the sentence handed out by the court will go some way to helping them move forward.”

Jewellery and cash were stolen when thieves targeted a house in Northampton.

Gold jewellery including bangles, earrings and rings, as well as £100 and a quantity of US dollars was stolen when a property in Rushmere Road, Northampton was broken into.

The offenders smashed their way in through the double glazed patio window, sometime between 5.35pm and 7.30pm yesterday (Monday).

Anyone with information can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Download our app by clicking here to download from Google Play or clicking here to download from Apple’s App Store

Motorists are being warned of severe delays in Northampton after a stretch of a main road was closed off following an accident.

The A45 eastbound between junction 15 of the M1 and the A508 turn is currently closed following the collision.

Police were called to the junction 15 roundabout by the M1 slip road at 2.15pm.

Eyewitnesses have reported the air ambulance landing at the scene in the last few minutes and police say one woman is injured.

The collision appears to be one of a number of incidents causing travel disruption around the wider Northampton area.

A broken down lorry on the M1 northbound near junction 16 for Northampton West is causing tailbacks,

Also along the A45 eastbound, one lane is blocked between Riverside and Great Billing Interchange because of a broken down vehicle.

Updates to follow.

Download our app by clicking here to download from Google Play or clicking here to download from Apple’s App Store.

Police closed the M45 near Rugby this afternoon (Tuesday).

The stretch of motorway was closed eastbound between the A45 in Dunchurch and the M1 near Watford Gap due to a serious collision.

Warwickshire Police were in attendance.

UPDATE: Man dies following collision with a tree on M45 near Rugby

One person was taken to hospital this morning following a crash in Northampton.

Northamptonshire Police received a call to reports of a two-vehicle crash on London Road near the Mereway roundabout just before 8am this morning (Tuesday).

The air ambulance, two fire engines and three ambulances were also called to the scene.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “One male was taken to hospital.”

The road was closed for several hours during the incident.

Download our app by clicking here to download from Google Play or clicking here to download from Apple’s App Store

A motorist was killed during a crash on the M45 near Dunchurch this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident between the A45 and junction one of the M45, eastbound, shortly before 1.30pm today (Tuesday).

An ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended the scene, as well as Warwickshire Police.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival at the scene, crews discovered a car that had suffered serious damage in collision with a tree.

“The driver, a man, was found to be in cardiac arrest and police had already commenced CPR.

“Ambulance staff took over and administered advanced life support but unfortunately it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

The road was closed for several hours following the incident.

Two men who kidnapped a woman they saw laying on a bench on the town centre, and later raped her, have been given jail terms.

Dumitru Chirac, aged 31 of Turners Court, Wootton, was convicted of kidnap and two counts of rape and sentenced to 13 years in prison with an extended sentence of five years on licence.

Vasile-Cristinel Calin, aged 44 of Obelisk Rise, Northampton was convicted of kidnap and two counts of rape, and sentenced to 13 years in prison with an extended sentence of five years on licence.

The victim had been on a night out in Northampton town centre with friends and family, earlier this year. While three of them went into McDonald's on The Drapery in the town centre, the victim was asleep outside on a bench.

It was here that she was approached by one of the defendants, Chirac, who took her to a Vauxhall Vectra parked on Mercer’s Row.

Eye witnesses who saw Chirac take the victim away, and who later called the police, gave an account that the victim did not look steady on her feet, that she was stumbling and that it was unclear whether she was resisting the male leading her away or trying to steady herself.

Both offenders pleaded not guilty but in October, following a trial at Northampton Crown Court, they were found guilty.

Detective Sergeant Gavin Suttie, who led the investigation, said: “These two men saw a vulnerable young woman and took advantage of her in the worst possible way. They refused to take responsibility for their actions and made the victim further endure a trial.

“Hopefully now, the victim can put this terrible ordeal behind her and move on with her life.

“I would like to thank those witnesses who called the police and made a note of the registration plate, for their quick thinking and support in the case.

“We want people who go out to enjoy themselves and keep safe. The sad reality is that drinking too much could make you vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime or even a perpetrator of crime. We would always advise people to drink safely and stay with friends when you go out. Plan your return home and don’t deviate from it.”

The family of the man who died after the gas leak at the Carlsberg factory in Northampton have paid tribute to him tonight.

David Chandler, 45, from Bridgnorth in Shropshire, was working as a contractor at the factory when he was overcome by the ammonia gas leak a week last Wednesday.

Tonight, through Northamptonshire Police, the family have paid tribute to Mr Chandler and described him as a "really lovely, happy family man, with a beautiful family".

"David was a happy person, he always had a smile on his face, was always happy to help others and you would never hear anyone say a bad thing about him," the statement said.

"Married for six years, David leaves behind his beautiful wife Laura and two beautiful daughters Ava, five, and Isabella, nearly two.

"Not only do Laura, Ava and Isabella have to learn to cope with this, but also David’s two sisters and father who are left devastated and heartbroken. He was an amazing uncle to two little nieces, so the knock on effect is huge.

"This is such a massive thing, this will take a long time to move on from. David was very well known. He was a really lovely, happy family man, with a beautiful family. He was always happy, funny and bright. We need to get on as best we can," the statement added.

The family has asked that the media do not contact them directly and the Chronicle & Echo will be respecting those wishes.

A wind surfing starter watch was stolen from a blue Ford Transit van parked in Tann Road, Finedon.

Thieves broke into the van and took the watch some time between 9.30pm on Wednesday, November 16, and 7.30am on Thursday, November 17.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the theft or anyone who has any information about it.

Witnesses or anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111555.

Wellingborough’s countdown to Christmas will begin this weekend with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights.

Children visiting the event on Saturday, November 26, will be given the chance of joining the town’s mayor for the special honour of flicking the switch to light up the town for the official start of the festive period.

John Cable, manager of the Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID), who organise the event, said: “We’re looking forward to an action packed afternoon of Christmas entertainment and are looking forward to kick-starting the festive period in the town.

“We hope everyone will come down and join us at this exciting time of year.”

Special guest Santa Claus will be joined by his reindeers to help spread the magic of Christmas and start the festivities from 1pm in Sheep Street.

Visitors will have the chance to be pictured in a giant snow globe as part of a range of activities before the stage show begins at 4pm when dance groups and singers from the area will perform before a one-hour Magic of Christmas show ahead of the big switch-on at 6pm.

Wellingborough’s carnival court will also be in attendance.

The festivities are being organised by Wellingborough BID, which is paid for by businesses, through its Discover Wellingborough campaign, which stages events and activities aimed at encouraging people to visit the town centre.

An application to alter plans for 27 new homes in a Northamptonshire village has been refused.

South Northamptonshire Council’s (SNC) planning committee unanimously voted against the developer’s request to change various conditions attached to the 2013 application to build homes off Chapel Lane in Blisworth.

Planning permission for the 27 homes was first given to Orbit Homes Ltd by SNC in 2009 and the plans have been renewed several times since.

The new application requested a variation on conditions due to concerns from the developer that the site was no longer financially viable. These included a change of materials, reduction in the number of affordable homes, and a change so that construction access would be along Little Lane and Chapel Lane.

Cllr Roger Clarke, SNC’s portfolio holder for planning and environment, said: “While the applicant put forward a compelling viability assessment, there were a number of local concerns from residents that could not be overlooked.

“Most notably, that the proposed construction access road would result in an increased level of traffic along a very narrow lane, giving rise to congestion, pedestrian safety issues, as well as increased noise and harm to the character of the conservation area.

“In this case the council’s planning committee agreed with residents that the new development proposals were not appropriate for Blisworth.”

The application was also refused on the grounds that the materials were not in keeping with the rural characteristics of the conservation area, no submission of a legal agreement, and that the development would result in the reduction of affordable housing below the level normally accepted.

The 2013 approval for the homes is still valid, and the council recorded that work began on the site in 2014.

A wealthy businessman and son of the multi-millionaire owner of budget chain Poundstretcher was killed when his Mercedes smashed into a tree on the M45 last week.

Sabir Tayub, 48, was killed when his car careered off the eastbound carriageway of the M45 and hit a tree near Rugby on Tuesday November 15.

The businessman, managing director of Nottingham-based storage giant Sert UK, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Uday Dholakia, a former chairman of Leicestershire Asian Business Association, said: “It’s deeply saddening for the family.

“I met Sabir in passing but I know his father Rashid, who encouraged his family to be successful but also very modest.”

Mr Tayub’s father Rashid, 66, founded Crown Crest food distribution, which owns Poundstretcher.

Rashid runs the business with his brother and Mr Tayub’s uncle, Aziz Tayub.

An inquest into the death was opened on Friday November 18, but was adjourned for Warwickshire Police to carry out further investigations.

Officers investigating the incident on the M45 would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the car before the collision occurred.

Anyone with information is asked to call Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident 187 of November 15.

Councillors have approved plans for 38 new houses in Wellingborough.

Barford + Co, the St Neots-based firm of chartered surveyors and planning consultants, has secured planning permission for 38 houses at Grange Farm in Wellingborough.

The development will be part of the Wellingborough East urban extension, known as Stanton Cross and will be the biggest growth seen in the town since the 1960s.

The site at Grange Farm will feature a mixture of housing types, some of which will be earmarked for affordable housing.

Simon Tindle, senior planning consultant at Barford + Co, said: “These additional houses at Grange Farm are in addition to the significant number of new homes planned for the larger Stanton Cross development, and together will provide much-needed new housing, some of it affordable, for those living in the East Midlands.

“Now that planning permission has been secured from the local authority, we will shortly be in a position to market the site to developers, and we expect significant interest in the site due to the close proximity to the Stanton Cross development.”

Significant development is taking place in Wellingborough as part of the Stanton Cross project, which is a major mixed use development set to deliver 3,650 new homes, 3,000 new jobs, as well as new community facilities and improved infrastructure.

Anyone interested in receiving early details on the development opportunities at Grange Farm can contact Mike Duncan on 01480 213811 or email mduncan@barfords.co.uk.

A large police presence surrounds a Northampton alleyway, which has been taped off since last night.

An alleyway leading to a park in Greendale Square, Ecton Brook, has been cordoned off by police from 8pm on Sunday, residents told the Chronicle & Echo.

On visiting the incident this morning, four policemen were guarding the scene, while two sat in a nearby car and two further officers wearing jackets marked ‘taser’ arrived later.

One resident, who wants to remain anonymous, told the Chron: “I took the dog for a walk at 8pm last night. Armed officers were stood at both sides of the alley.

“There was a big police mobile unit there. It brought something on the back of the lorry last night and left at 8am this morning.

“There were spotlights up both ends of the alley. It sounded like a generator in the alley.

“I went to the toilet at 3am this morning and there was still police presence and when I woke up this morning they were still there. There is obviously something serious going on.”

Northamptonshire Police have been approached for information.

Morrisons has announced that from Monday, supermarket customers will pay below £1-a-litre for petrol for the first time in six months.

The Bradford-based supermarket is reducing the price of unleaded to a maximum of 109.9 pence at its 333 forecourts from this morning.

Then from tomorrow, customers who shop in Morrisons supermarkets and spend £50, will be entitled to fill up for 99.9p, a further cut of 10p-a-litre.

Morrisons said it is making the cuts to help motorists with the cost of getting around during the pre-Christmas shopping spree.

Roger Fogg, services director at Morrisons, said: “With Christmas around the corner, our customers tell us they very much welcome our help in reducing the cost of their fuel. That’s why we are turning the clock back to the start of this year when petrol prices were typically below £1-a-litre.”

Average petrol and diesel prices have hovered above the £1.10 mark since June this year, according to petrolprices.com. The current average for unleaded is listed as just above £1.15-a-litre.

The supermarket is also cutting the price of diesel. Drivers of diesel cars, who buy their groceries in Morrisons, will also receive 10p-a-litre cuts taking prices to just above the £1-a-litre mark.

Morrisons says the offer will run from November 21 to December 3. Customers who spend £50 or more in participating stores will receive a voucher that will allow them to pay the lower price.

All of the big four supermarkets - Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons - have been cutting prices in a bid to better compete with German discounters Aldi and Lidl, wh​ich​ have eroded their market share.​

An elderly man injured in a collision on a main road in Daventry has sadly died police say.

Kenneth Southgate, 92, of West View, Daventry, died on Wednesday November 16.

He was taken to University Hospital Coventry with serious injuries following the collision on Western Avenue which took place Sunday November 13.

Mr Southgate was on foot when the collision with a grey Vauxhall Corsa happened at around 5.30pm.

Police in Northampton investigating the theft of a Poppy Appeal charity box from a petrol station have released a picture of a man they would like to speak to.

A man is alleged to have used pliers to cut the chain of the appeal box while a cashier was distracted by another customer at the BP garage, Westbridge, Northampton, at around 2.20am on Tuesday, 8 November.

Witnesses or anyone who recognises the man in the attached picture can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at Dychurch Lifestyle in St Giles Street, Northampton town centre.

Sometime between 5.45pm on Saturday and 9.45am on Sunday (19/20 November), the burglars broke in through the front of the shop and stole several Barbour jackets and various hats and shoes.

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the stolen property, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Download our app by clicking here to download from Google Play or clicking here to download from Apple’s App Store

Two men have been taken to hospital for treatment following a collision on a Northampton dual carriageway.

Motorists on the A45 were sat in traffic on Saturday, November 19 after three lanes were closed following a collision involving four vehicles.

It is believed that the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance was in attendance.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire police said: “Police were called at 1.45pm to a collision involving four vehicles on the eastbound carriageway near the A43 turn off to Riverside.

“It is believed that two men were taken to hospital for treatment but they are not believed to be seriously injured.

“The incident was cleared and all roads were opened from 4.55pm.”

Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a house in Northampton, on Saturday morning (19 November).

Two men broke in to the property Dunster Street property - in The Mounts - at about 7am and threatened the two occupants with large hunting knives.

They assaulted the occupants, causing minor injuries, and stole cash, keys and a mobile phone.

The men were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Incident Number: 16000376901

Download our app by clicking here to download from Google Play or clicking here to download from Apple’s App Store