Category: More News

TWO men, captured on video inflicting suffering on a captive fox, have been found guilty of breaching The Animal Welfare Act.

Kimblewick Hunt President at the time, Mark Vincent and another employee, Ian Parkinson, were on trial at Oxford Crown Court for an incident that took place on January 1, 2019.   The two will be sentenced on November 26, and have been advised by the Judge to expect a custodial sentence.

The prosecution came about after footage was passed to the Hunt Saboteurs Association by its Covert Film Unit showing the hunt terrier men using draining rods to force the fox, that they’ve been holding captive, out of a drainage pipe, clearly being heard communicating with the huntsman, agreeing when the best time is to release the fox which, the HSA maintain, is given a brief head start so that the hunt riders experience a chase rather than a quick kill. A pack of hounds involved in the New Year’s Day hunt arrived in the woodland in Moreton near Thame, moments later.

According to a report by the BBC, both defendants denied the charge but neither gave evidence. But Stephen Lomax, a witness for the defence, suggested the fox had been pulled out by its hind legs and tail and would have been ‘adequately supported’. Veterinary surgeon, David Martin, goes on the report, said that pulling a fox buy its tail could have ‘serious effects’ on the animal would ’cause injury to it that way’, but added that he didn’t believe it was possible to cause suffering to a fox by pushing the drainage rods down the tunnel.

The Judge, Kamlesh Rana, said the fox was ‘trapped in the earth and was faced with drainage rods at one end and humans at the other’. She described the defendants’ actions as ‘deliberate and pre-mediated’ and was clear that the offence crossed the custody threshold.

Prosecutor Peter Rymon said that the men, had ‘clearly placed the fox’ in the path of a hunt at the time the hunt was arriving, and that ‘the rodding caused it unnecessary suffering and pulling it out by the tail enhanced that’.

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “We’re pleased that justice has been done and look forward to Vincent and Parkinson receiving the prison sentence their actions deserve.

“What we also want to see is further prosecutions against the huntsman, Hunt masters and the Kimblewick Hunt itself. This was clearly a criminal conspiracy between the two defendants and the rest of the hunt to release a captive fox to be illegally hunted and all those involved should be punished. We also expect the Countryside Alliance to condemn this hunt and for the Masters of Foxhounds Association to kick them out of the association. Anything less will be tacit approval of animal cruelty and illegal hunting.”

Parkinson, of Lower Road, Haddenham, and Vincent, of Kimblewick, Aylesbury, were found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

ED. The Kimblewick Hunt has been denied permission by Thame Town Council to meet as usual, in the town centre on New Year’s Day 2020, following the guilty verdict.

SOURCES: THE Hunt Sabateurs Association & BBC News website

TWO men have been convicted of murder following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, and a Thame accomplice guilty of Manslaugher.

Safeen Karimi, aged 28 of Hode Garth, Thame, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of one count of manslaughter by unanimous verdict. However, Welid Solomon, aged 26 of Field Avenue, Oxford was found guilty by unanimous verdict of one count of murder and one count of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Michael Yemane, aged 20 of South Bridge Road, Oxford was found guilty by majority verdict of one count of murder.

Sasan Khalid, aged 20, of no fixed abode, was found not guilty by unanimous verdict of murder and acquitted.

The convictions relate to three incidents on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, which culminated in a fatal attack on Luciano Dos Santos Almeida, who was 22-years-old.

The first incident happened at 11.18pm when there was an altercation between Mr Almeida and Solomon and Yemane.

Following this fight, Solomon and Yemane sought the help of Karimi, and they set out in two cars in an attempt to find Mr Almeida.

After spotting him, they waited for Mr Almeida in Cowley Road at the junction of Southfield Road.

Just before 11.30pm, Mr Almeida was crossing Cowley Road towards Southfield Road and was deliberately struck by a Kia Picanto, which was being driven by Solomon.

Mr Almeida got up from this and ran off up Southfield Road, but was pursued and was subsequently stabbed multiple times in the head, back and buttocks, sustaining severe injuries.

Mr Almeida was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but tragically, despite attempts over the following days to save his life, he passed away in hospital on the evening of 6 March and a murder investigation was subsequently launched.

Solomon, Yemane and Karimi are due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on 8 November.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Blaik, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “This was a sustained, premeditated and vicious attack on Luciano Dos Santos Almeida.

“Not only was Mr Almeida struck deliberately by the vehicle driven by Solomon, but then, while attempting to make an escape, was set upon.

“He sustained severe stab wounds as a result of this vicious assault, which proved fatal, despite the efforts of medical professionals at the John Radcliffe to save his life.

“It was a horrific and meaningless attack, and from the outset, it was clear that there was a desire from the offenders to cause their victim serious harm.

“Mr Almeida had a young daughter and loving family. He did not deserve to die in such violent circumstances at the hands of Solomon, Yemane and Karimi.

“I would like to pay tribute to the courage, patience and support of Mr Almeida’s family.

“They have had to endure many months of anguish while this murder was investigated.

“They have conducted themselves with the utmost dignity throughout this ordeal, and while no sentence will bring Mr Almeida back, I hope that the conclusion of this case will, in time, bring them some closure.

“I would also like to thank my investigation team, the family liaison officers, the first response officers and the medical professionals who fought in vain to save Mr Almeida’s life.

“The dedicated work of my team has brought these violent men to justice, and they will now be off the streets and unable to cause harm and distress to anybody else.”

PROPOSALS made by South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet earlier today (25 October) could pave the way for the council to deliver more high-quality, environmentally sustainable and genuinely affordable housing across the whole of southern Oxfordshire.

The Cabinet agreed:

• The preparation of a report to recommend suitable options for the council to bring a wider range of housing to South Oxfordshire.
• As part of this report, to consider what options exist to prioritise Berinsfield as a pilot location for any new approach to housing delivery in the district
• To identify whether the housing market across both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts means a joint solution and approach would be beneficial to both

This came following a motion agreed at full council earlier this year proposed by the cabinet member for development and regeneration and ward member for Berinsfield, Cllr Robin Bennett.

At that time Cllr Bennett asked for a report on ways to use council powers and resources to deliver more high-quality, environmentally sustainable and genuinely affordable housing at social rent or similar cost.

Thame’s District Councillor, Pieter-Paul Barker, cabinet member for Partnership and Insight, said: “There is a clear housing affordability crisis in the district and it is also clear that councils cannot rely on the private sector alone to meet the shortfall in housing at genuinely affordable prices.

“Investigating options for creating a new model of housing delivery in South Oxfordshire would enable the council to help communities thrive and provide a wider variety of residences to meet a wide variety of needs.

“In addition, a more proactive and direct approach, such as these proposals, could help to sustain additional income for the council in the longer term.”

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Horton Road, Thame.

The incident took place around between 8 pm – 8.30pm on October 22, after an offender gained access to the property via an upstairs window possibly by climbing on top of a bin. Once inside the offender stole a games console, two tablet PCs and a Segway style hover board.

CCTV in the area picked up a man wearing jeans, a puffa jacket and black trainers and the police suspect that he could be linked to this burglary.

Have you got CCTV that you could review? Did you see any suspicious people or vehicles in the area?

Anyone with information about this incident can report it via the Thames Valley Police website, or call 101, quoting reference 43190329665.

A PLANNING Inspector has dismissed an appeal against refusal of a planning application for the erection of a ‘Housing with Care’ development on land at The Elms, Thame.

The application, submitted by Rectory Homes, included a communal residents centre; the creation of new public open space; the provision of new pedestrian/cycle links from Upper High Street to Elms Road and Elms Park; repairs and alterations to the boundary walls and entrance of Elms House; and associated infrastructure works and landscaping.

The application had been rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council back in February, 2019, and objected to by Thame Town Council, largely because it did not comply with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

The Inspector’s main reasons stated for dismissing the appeal were:

“Taken as a whole the proposal would be contrary to the development plan in that it would materially exceed the maximum number of dwellings set out in the site specific policy in the TNP (Thame Neighbourhood Plan). It would cause harm to the setting of The Elms ……designated heritage assets, contrary to the relevant policies in the SOLP (South Oxfordshire Local Plan), the SOCS (South Oxfordshire Core Strategy) and TNP; special attention and great weight should be given to these harms. It would also fail to provide affordable housing, in particular on-site, to deliver a mixed community, in line with the policies of the SOCS, the TNP and the Framework. While there would be compliance with other policies, I consider that these are the most important policies for the determination of this appeal.”

You can read the Inspector’s full report HERE

Money lost for Elms Park improvements

Though many local residents and town councillors may welcome the Inspector’s decision, on the negative side, several thousand pounds agreed with Thame Town Council and the developer, for improvements to the public Elms Park, next door to the site, dependent on the plan being approved, will now be lost.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following an attempted burglary in Cheshire Road, Thame.

The incident took place around in the early hours, 00.50am o,n Saturday,  October 12. The occupant heard a noise at the front door and went to the window. They saw a person walking away with an object in their hand. The next morning it was noticed that the lock was damaged.

The witness described the offender as a man, 6ft tall wearing dark trousers and a dark jacket with the hood up.

If you have any information about this incident please report it on the Thames Valley Police website, or call 101, quoting reference 43190316717.

Find out how you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary by downloading your FREE Home Security Guide from the Thames Valley Police website HERE

FOLLOWING a letter from Communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, ordering SODC ‘not to take any step in connection with the adoption of the Plan, while I consider the matter further,’ the Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Sue Cooper, has issued a statement. It reads:

“A direction from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government means we are currently unable to take any steps in connection with the adoption of the (Local) Plan, which meant it was necessary to withdraw the agenda item to discuss the plan from the October 10, Council meeting. I would like to reiterate our apology to all members of the public who had travelled to the meeting and didn’t get a chance to take part in a local democratic process.

“This last-minute move from the government is an unacceptable intervention of national government into local democracy. The Secretary of State removed the democratic right of South Oxfordshire councillors and residents who turned out in great numbers to exercise those rights through listening, debating and voting in public on a matter of great importance to our district, and who have now been unfairly silenced.

“This is all a great disappointment to district councillors in South Oxfordshire who remain committed to doing the right thing for the needs of residents and communities within our district. Throughout this process, we have taken a reasonable and responsible approach and will continue to do so.

“We welcome the Secretary of State’s invitation for our officers to discuss our next steps with his officials. I have asked officers to continue to work constructively with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and all our local partners to work towards ensuring positive outcomes for all our residents and communities, and the removal of the Secretary of State’s direction.”)

Last week SODC’s cabinet was ready to discuss an vote on a recommendation of the Council to scrap the existing draft plan altogether and start again. (See previous story for background HERE)