Recently by Dan Coombs

A VIOLENT and prolific burglar who assaulted a homeowner with an iron bar has been jailed for 11 and a half years.

Aaron North, 22, of West Road, West Drayton, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday to one of the longest jail sentences doled out to any borough burglar in recent years.

North had denied aggravated burglary in Grange Way, Iver, in November 2010.

Along with his accomplice Reece Owen, 23, of Barra Hall Way, Hayes, he broke into the house but was confronted by one of the occupants.

A FRAUDSTER who lied about her family members being involved in a car accident to trick good samaritans out of cash has been jailed.

Sukhvinder Dhillon, 38, of Bath Road, West Drayton, was sentenced to 12 months behind bars after being found in possession of a coat she also took from one of her victims.

On four separate occasions Dhillon knocked on doors, pretending to be in trouble and asking residents for emergency cash.

A JAILED carjacker has been convicted again - this time for attempting to deal drugs.

Dev Sandhu, 22, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years last summer for his involvement in a gang which robbed a motorist in West Drayton at gunpoint, then burgled a house nearby on the same night back in 2010.

But while on trial last April at Harrow Crown Court for the Lavender Rise and Mulberry Crescent offences, two people - one of them a prison officer - were caught attempting to smuggle heroin to Sandhu.
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A DATE for a proposed Sipson Fete has been pushed back to May 5.

Heathrow Villages community development worker, Kate Birch, has been planning the fete with residents for the past month.

The aim is to inject some cheer and community spirit into an area which suffered the blight of the third runway for more than eight years.

The date was originally pencilled in for March, but because of weather worries and funding concerns it has been moved back to May 5.

Anybody wishing to get involved and help with stalls or entertainment can email kate.birch@groundwork.org.uk.

A PUB which closed last year is the latest to be lined up to become housing, after its new owners lodged a planning application to build 25 flats in its place.

The Swan in Swan Road, West Drayton, called time at about the same time as The Fox and Pheasant in nearby Station Road. It is destined to become a Tesco Express.

But The Swan was promptly bought by Inland Homes, developer of the 775-home Drayton Garden Village site in Porters Way, on the old National Air Traffic Service site.

The pub would be demolished, if Hillingdon Council approves the planning application.

In its planning statement, Inland Homes cites the Heathrow Opportunity Area, which includes West Drayton, as an area where new housing and growth should be supported.

The company adds: "The existing public house was poorly performing in business terms and the loss of this facility is not considered to result in harm to economic activity in the borough.

"The proposal would introduce employment through on-site careers. In the short term the proposal would generate construction jobs in the borough."

The flats would all be 'affordable' and supported living units: properties for people with disabilities or mental health problems.

A SWIMMING club forced to move more than a year ago says it is still struggling to offer its members pool time.

Forward Hillingdon had been based at Yiewsley Pool in Otterfield Road for 30 years.

When the pool closed last year, the club split its session between the pools at the new leisure centres in Uxbridge and in Hayes.

But now it claims its time in the water has shrunk by half.

AN ICE cream man has fallen foul of new council regulations, leaving him with a bill of more than £1,000.

Taha Khomsi, 34, of Oregano Close, Yiewsley - who trades as Mr Whippy - appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 6.

He was charged with failing to comply with street trading regulations, which he admitted, and fined £300, ordered to pay £784 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, bringing his total costs to £1,101.

Hillingdon Council caused controversy last year when it introduced the regulations, which prohibit ice cream van traders from operating in any town centre or close to any school or nursery, saying the reason was to 'encourage healthier eating habits'.

Mr Khomsi was caught
on July 4 trading outside Wood End Park School, in Judge Heath Lane, Hayes.

A CAMPAIGNER has described the demolition of Yiewsley Swimming Pool as a sad day for the area.

Work ran throughout last week, as workers dismantled the building piece by piece.

The pool in Otterfield Road was built in 1934 and closed last year. Hillingdon Council has pointed out that the elderly pool has been superceded by new leisure centres in Uxbridge and Hayes.

It is developing plans to build a health centre in Otterfield Road, and lease it back to the NHS.

Janet Woeginger, of the Yiewsley Save our Swimming Pool group, said: "What a sad day, and all for money.

"We look forward to plans to develop leisure facilities in Yiewsley and West Drayton. You cannot take away local facilities without replacing them.

"Many people no longer swim, and the loss of the clubs swimming at Yiewsley has left a big gap in the community."

A FORMER territorial army recruit has collected and dispatched more than 800 'goody boxes' to soldiers in Afghanistan this year.

Sue Turner, of Drayton Gardens, West Drayton, is the Heathrow co-ordinator for the charity SOS (Save Our Soldiers).

Last Wednesday was the deadline to send gift boxes to soldiers, to ensure they arrive in Afghanistan for Christmas Day.

She said: "We cut off early so we don't clog up the British Forces Post Office system and stop family mail getting down to the troops."

A minicab and private hire firm have won two national awards for their energy efficiency.

Qdell and LHR Express Cars Ltd, based in Station Road, West Drayton, triumphed at the national Energy Saving Trust awards.

They were victorious in the best small fleet category, and the smarter driving category, with their training scheme highly commended.