November 2009 Archives

A THIEF who pleaded guilty of stealing three Fudge cake packs has been ordered to wear an electronic tag.

Gary Burch, 29, of Thornton Close, West Drayton, was given the punishment after appearing at Uxbridge Magistrate's Court last week.

He was accused of stealing three packs of Fudge cake bars from BP Long Lane, in Hillingdon on 20 April.

Magistrate's ordered him to wear an electronic tag until January 12, and he is under curfew to remain at his home address from 9pm until 7am between Thursdays and Sundays.

As part of the punishment he has also been ordered to pay £18 compensation to the petrol station.

RELIEF is to be offered to Hillingdon residents- in the form of new public toilets.

The new toilets are to be opened in West Drayton this weekend as part of plans to boost facilities in the borough.

A FATHER whose determination to ditch the pub culture and get fit is preparing to spend the Winter training for a half marathon.

Mervyn Dunkley, 31, of Colham Avenue, West Drayton, is going to take on the Reading half marathon in March to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Always a fan of long distance cross country running in his school days, Mr Dunkley admitted he had fallen out of love with it, until he was inspired when his wife completed a Race for Life challenge in July.

A PAEDOPHILE who abused at least four girls and escaped with it for decades has been sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Richard Jeary, 60, of Whitethorn Avenue, West Drayton, was jailed at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, after being found guilty in August.

Jeary's campaign of terror spanned two decades, in the 70s and 80s and a jury found him to be guilty of 13 charges.

His crimes included eight counts of rape, two counts of gross indecency, and three counts of sexual assault, all involving children under 16.

GET ready to don your skates and do your best impressions of Torvill and Dean as Hillingdon's very own ice rink opens to the public for a second year.

The rink, outside the civic centre in High Street, Uxbridge, will open from next Friday (27) until January 3, 2010.

Last year, more than 13,000 people of all ages visited the rink during the festive period.

Councillor Henry Higgins, cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said: "The ice was a great success last year and proved popular with residents and visitors alike.

"People came from across the borough and beyond to enjoy the ice rink and we look forward to hopefully welcoming even more people this year to enjoy it again."

Bookings for the ice rink can be made from today (16) through the Beck Theatre box office on 020 8561 8371. On the day sales will be available at the ice rink from November 27.

For further information, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk.

A PUB landlady has been hailed as the driving force behind a scheme to send hundreds of pounds worth of gifts to soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.

Debbie Power, 31, who runs The King William IV, in Sipson Road, Sipson, came up with the idea after one of her regulars, Luke Wilson, was posted to Helmand province with the Royal Engineers in September.

NEIGHBOURS were disturbed from their evening meals on Monday evening when their road was turned into a rubbish dump by a fly tipper.

The incident happened on Monday in Hawthorne Crescent, West Drayton at 7.40pm, with a resident describing the sound of the rubbish being dumped like 'very loud fireworks'.

A POPULAR development has launched a new range of apartments aimed at suiting flexible living.

Park West, in Porter's Way, West Drayton, is the development where Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt stayed at during his recent visit to the UK.

A BENEFIT cheat who told 'barefaced lies' to fraudulently claim £117,000 of benefits has been sent to jail.

Janice Wilson, of Winnock Road, West Drayton, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday to eight months imprisonment after being found guilty of 16 counts of fraud.

Shujaul Azam: I am the multi-media content manager for the Uxbridge Gazette, Harrow Observer, the Bucks Examiner and Buckinghamshire Advertiser newspapers and websites. I've been a journalist most of my working life and have covered areas as diverse as the rural idylls of Shropshire, to the gritty hard news areas of south London. My aim is to provide a comprehensive news service and ensure our news is relevant to the communities we serve. So, if you wish to discuss anything concerning the above titles please contact me on 01895 451000 or Email me

Charlene Mitchell: I cover Ruislip and Eastcote and have lived in the area my whole life so I know my patch very well. I studied journalism at the London College of Communication and this is my first reporting job. I have been at the Gazette since January 2008. If you have a story - little or large - call me on 07795 811367/01895 451 047 or email

Dan Coombs: My patch covers the Heathrow Villages, West Drayton, Yiewsley, Cowley, Uxbridge, Hillingdon and Ickenham, and since April 2008 I have been the reporter for Harefield too. I am a sports fan and write a football blog for the Gazette website and take pictures too, so feel free to contact me with any news, big or small, serious or light-hearted. Email me

Siba Matti: I am a senior reporter dedicated to covering the recently launched Northwood and Rickmansworth Gazette. I joined the company almost three years ago but was working in the central features unit in Surrey until about a month ago. I am getting to grips with my new patch but I can't be everywhere at once so if you have a story in the area, I look forward to hearing from you. Call me on 07788 567259 or
Email me

Jack Griffith: I am the reporter for the Hayes and Harlington area. I graduated from Sussex University in 2006, and have worked in media planning and PR before pursuing a career in journalism. I am new to Hayes but I look forward to hearing from you all about the things that matter in you area. Please feel free to email me or call 01895 451 000.

Other Useful contacts:

Steve Bax, websites contact
Paul Bishop, Sports Editor
Chris Berry, Photographic