Heart Cambridgeshire News

LOCAL HERO POLICE DOG AND HANDLER SEE NEW PROTECTION LAW COME INTO FORCE
Police dogs and horses will have more protection from attacks when a new law named after a hero police dog comes into force.
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, nicknamed Finn's Law after the loyal Beds, Cambs & Herts police dog who was brutally stabbed while protecting his handler from a knife-wielding suspect, comes into force today (Saturday 8th June).
... The law removes a section of the current law of self-defence often used by those who harm a service animal while committing a crime.
Finn's handler Pc Dave Wardell, said the dog - now retired - saved his life when a robbery suspect they were pursuing turned on them with a knife in 2016.
Finn was stabbed in the chest and head but did not let go until reinforcements arrived, and was initially thought unlikely to survive.
While the suspect was charged with ABH in relation to wounds to Pc Wardell's hand, he faced only criminal damage charges over the injuries to Finn.
Pc Wardell said:
"The last two and a half years have been quite a journey of discovery for Finn and me.
We decided that we just had to bring change to make sure our amazing service animals, including police dogs and horses, had protection in law.
We wanted to bring as much positive from that one negative as we could."
The pair also managed to reach the final of this year's Britain's Got Talent but lost to Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said the new legislation, coupled with the government's plans to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences to five years in prison, will make sure those who harm service animals are punished accordingly.
Mr Gove congratulated campaigners, including Conservative MP Sir Oliver Heald who tabled the Bill, who helped to make Finn's Law a reality.
He added:
"This law is about giving our service animals the protection they deserve as they dedicate their lives to keeping us safe.
I am committed to making the UK the best place in the world for the care and protection of animals."
According to the group which led the campaign for Finn's Law, more than 100 other service animals have been injured since 2012, Defra said.
These includes injuries such as being beaten with an iron bar, kicked or hit by a car, it added.
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WEEKEND WEATHER
Passing showers this morning at 12c; eventually turning mostly sunny into this evening at 15c
... but plenty of sunshine during Sunday; much warmer too at 18c 😎

ROYSTON - SELF PROCLAIMED "GANGSTER" JAILED
A self-proclaimed “gangster” who robbed a shop twice in four months, taking more than £20,000 cash and goods, has been jailed for more than six year.
Troy Aldous (pictured), 22, of Newman Avenue, Royston, committed the first robbery on the One Stop shop and Post Office, in Meldreth, on 9 August, 2018.
... He entered the shop in High Street at about 9.40pm with an accomplice, who pointed a handgun at two members of staff and asked them open the safes.
The pair made off with more than £13,000 worth of stolen items and damaged a CCTV data storage unit to cover their tracks.
Then in January this year (7th), Aldous and an accomplice once again entered the shop and threatened two members of staff with a black handgun. Once again, the pair got away with a number of items, including £5,262 in cash, 1,813 in euros, £930 worth of scratch cards and £69 in coupons.
In March (12th), Aldous assaulted a man in Queens Road, Royston. The court heard how a verbal altercation broke out between the pair and Aldous pushed the man and kicked him in the face twice before waving a knife at him and walking away.
Finally, on the 1st of April, Aldous and a group of friends went to their former school, Bassingbourn Village College, to hang around the grounds. When staff challenged them and asked them to leave, Aldous became aggressive and pushed a teacher in the chest before opening a bag to reveal a handgun. Aldous then walked away and bragged, “I’m a criminal. I did the Post Office.”
Aldous pleaded guilty to both robberies and three firearms offences and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Cambridge crown court today (7th June).
DC Mike Minett, who investigated, said:
“By his own admission whilst in custody, Aldous aspired to be the biggest gangster in Meldreth. He now has to face the consequences of his chosen lifestyle.”
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A11 BARTON MILLS FATAL CRASH
Police have confirmed a man who died following a serious collision on the A11 this morning, was a pedestrian.
Officers were called at around 350am today, Friday 7th June, to reports of a serious collision on the northbound A11 at Barton Mills between a lorry and a pedestrian.
... A man in his 30s died at the scene. Next of kin have been made aware.
The northbound carriageway was closed for several hours to allow an investigation into the collision to take place. The road reopened at approximately 1215pm.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anybody who may have any relevant dash-cam footage are asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101 quoting CAD 24 of today, 7 June.
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A14 HISTON DELAYS EASTBOUND
324pm: A14 has 15-20 minute delays ahead of rush-hour due to a reported obstruction around J32.
Nose to tail in the grimey weather up to and passing Histon eastbound.

PETERBOROUGH BY-ELECTION - LABOUR WIN
Labour has fought off a strong challenge from Nigel Farage's new Brexit Party to win the Peterborough by-election.
Lisa Forbes, a Unite activist, was elected with a majority of 683 over the Brexit Party in a closely-fought contest.
... The result will come as a disappointment to Mr Farage, who had been hoping his party would secure its first MP less than six months after it formed.
It will, however, be a relief for Jeremy Corbyn after Labour's dismal showing in the European elections amid criticism that it had failed to take a clear line on Brexit.
The by-election was called after Peterborough's previous MP Fiona Onasanya was forced out after she was jailed for lying about a speeding offence.
Onasanya was elected as a Labour MP in 2017 with a wafer thin majority of 607 but was suspended from the party after she was sentenced.
Labour won 10,484 votes to the Brexit Party's 9,801.
It was another dismal night for the Tories, who were beaten into third place with 7,243 votes in a seat which is a traditional two-way Conservative-Labour marginal.
The Liberal Democrats were fourth with 4,159, while the Greens came fifth with 1,035 votes.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said the result was a rejection of the Conservatives' "disastrous" handling of Brexit.
"In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins.
This result shows that in spite of the divisions and deadlock over Brexit, when it comes to a vote on the issues that directly affect people's lives, Labour's case for real change has strong support across the country."
In her victory address, Ms Forbes hailed the result as a defeat for the Brexit Party's "politics of division".
"Despite the differing opinions across our city, the fact that the Brexit Party have been rejected here in Peterborough shows that the politics of division will not win," she said.
The seat, which voted 60.9% in favour of Leave in the 2016 referendum, had been regarded as fertile ground for Mr Farage's party.
In the event, however, they were unable to build on the momentum of their triumph in last month's European elections to take them over the line.
With a relatively high turnout for a by-election of 48.4%, the defeated Brexit Party candidate Mike Greene said they had been unable to match Labour's organisation on the ground.
"Two parties have been ruling this country for decades. That is not happening any more. We were ahead of the Tories, only 683 votes behind Labour," he told Sky News.
They have decades of data. We had nothing just four weeks ago. We did not have the vote numbers they had. We didn't have the voting history they have.
"We will be back. Let's see what does happen in the next general election."
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Peterborough byelection results

PETERBOROUGH BY-ELECTION
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice arrives at the count; followed a short time later by orchestrated cheering by Labour supporters as their candidate Lisa Forbes arrives.

PETERBOROUGH BY-ELECTION TURN OUT
Turnout announced in the Peterborough by-election declared as 48%.
That’s down on the 2017 General Election but up on the European elections just a fortnight ago.

PETERBOROUGH BYELECTION
It's not a true British by-election without...

PETERBOROUGH BY-ELECTION
Counting is underway for the 2019 Peterborough by-election.
It was called following the recall petition which removed Labour turned Independent MP Fiona Onasanya.
... The poll was triggered after Ms Onasanya was jailed for lying over a speeding offence.
The candidates are:
* Brexit Party: Mike Greene * Christian Peoples Alliance: Tom Rogers * Common Good: Remain In The EU: Dick Rodgers * Conservatives: Paul Bristow * English Democrats: Stephen Goldspink * Greens: Joseph Wells * Independent: Andrew Moore * Independent: Bobby Smith * Labour: Lisa Forbes * Liberal Democrats: Beki Sellick * Monster Raving Loony: Alan "Howling Laud" Hope * Renew: Peter Ward * SDP: Patrick O'Flynn * UK European Union Party: Pierre Kirk * UKIP: John Whitby
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CAMBRIDGE MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER
A man's appeared in court charged with murder - in connection with an assault in Cambridge - that resulted in the death of the victim - years later.
Bakri Siraj-Eldin, 79, appeared in court today - some 15 years after previously being in court - when he was convicted of wounding a 23 year-old with intent on the Hills road.
... The victim who suffered irreversible brain damage and paralysis in the attack in 2004 and died of his injuries two years ago.
After appearing at Cambridge Crown Court today Mr Siraj-Eldin was released on bail to return to court next month (11th July).
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🚗🚗🚗 5 o'clock Hot Spot
45 minute delays on the westbound #A14 due to a crash blocking 1 lane between J28A-28 (Lolworth to Cambridge Services).
Queues from before Histon.

EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS DISRUPTION
East Midlands trains currently unable to run between Spalding and Sleaford.
Alternative journeys from Peterborough inc via Grantham and Newark Northgate.

MEPAL ARSON
Fire crews say a large stack fire near Mepal this morning - was started deliberately.
Crews have been at the scene since the early hours - and involves around 2.500 tonnes of straw
... An arson investigation's underway.
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A large stack fire, that was started deliberately, has had crews at the scene tackling it since the early hours of the morning, preventing them from being available to attend other emergencies.
The fire, on Blockmoor Drove near Mepal, started at 2.15am on Thursday (6th June) and involves around 2,500 tonnes of straw.
One crew from Chatteris initially attended and found a fire involving two large stacks of bailed straw well alight that was spreading to a third stack. Firefighters worked throughout the night, with crews from Cottenham and Ely taking over duties working with the farmer to contain the fire and stop it from spreading further.
Station Commander Pete Jones, Arson Liaison Officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“Fires started deliberately like this pose significant issues for us. Not only do they present a risk to our crews, like any fire, but the crews committed here are not available to respond to other emergencies. This is very frustrating as fires like this are avoidable and could delay our response to another emergency.
Arson is a serious crime and can have severe consequences for those that start a fire, no matter how big or how small it is. Not only this, but any fire presents significant risks for anyone around the area if it gets out of hand.”
If anyone has any information about this or any other deliberate fire, please contact the police by visiting www.cambs.police.uk to submit an online report or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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WITNESS APPEAL
Detectives are appealing for information following a burglary in Peterborough early yesterday morning.
At about 2am four men in masks broke into Budgens in Sugar Way. They stole a safe and left the area in a black Audi A4.
... Officers, including those trained in forensics, have attended the scene and an investigation is ongoing. No arrests have yet been made.
Detective Inspector Tom Rowe said: “Unusually it is believed the rear number plate of the Audi was on upside down. If you believe you saw this vehicle in the Peterborough area please contact us.”
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🚆🚆🚆5 o'clock Hot Spot
East Midlands Train services suspended between Peterborough and Sleaford due to level crossing problems.

A47 CLOSURE
11pm: Road remains shut
****
... A47 LATEST at 7pm
The westbound carriage remains shut between A15 Paston Parkway J20 to Fulbridge Road due to an earlier overturned lorry and the slow progress in its recovery.
Around 15 minute delays due to detour traffic.
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