Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Wheatley murder defendant found dead in cell

    A WHEATLEY man on trial for murdering his wife by cutting her throat, has been found dead in his cell.

    Russell Yeates, a 49 year-old carpenter, of Bell Lane in Wheatley, denied slitting the throat of 47-year-old Deborah Smith at their home last May.

    His trial at Oxford Crown Court, was due to begin hearing evidence from the defence today, but Yeates was found dead in his cell at Bullingdon prison early this morning.

    A spokesman for the Prison Service is reported to have said: “HMP Bullingdon prisoner Russell Yeates was found in his cell at 5.30am. Mr Yeates was pronounced dead at the scene. As with all deaths in custody, the prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

    During Yeates’s trial, a jury heard a 999 call which recorded the moment a neighbour, Denise Jones, found the bloodsoaked body of a woman whose throat had apparently been cut at the bottom of the stairs.

    She told the court she had gone to look for Mrs Smith after Yeates staggered to her door with blood pouring from a neck wound.

    Yeates was accused of slitting his wife’s throat with a knife following a confrontation, before using the blade on himself.

    He denied murdering his wife on May 26 last year.

    Photo: Bullingdon prison where Russell Yeates was found dead in his cell this morning.

  • Help burn a million calories with the Thunder Crew

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s Go Active campaign is teaming up with Fox FM’s Thunder Crew for a De-tox month throughout January, and will be visiting Thame on Monday (January 12).
    From midday to 3.00pm, Thame Leisure Centre will be outside the Town Hall, with the Fox FM Thundercrew, encouraging local people to get healthy and active for the New Year.
    The crew will be out and about to burn off a million calories – the equivalent of a staggering 715 Christmas puddings.

    Have a go on a rowing machine, get a FREE health MOT, a FREE seven-day leisure centre pass and FREE entry in a draw to win a year’s gym membership.

  • Council questions viability assessment of Moreton pub

    THAME Town Council has questioned the validity of a report that says that the once popular Royal Oak at Moreton, near Thame, could no longer be viable as a pub.

    The report, commissioned by the current owner of the property who has applied for planning permission for the building’s change of use to a residential building, concluded that Moreton is “too isolated a population with no passsing trade” and therefore not viable as a pub.

    The Royal Oak, Moreton, closed 9 years ago, as a failing up-market restaurant, having previously been a profitable and very popular pub and live music venue called Paddy McGinty’s.

    Councillors at last night’s meeting of the town council’s Planning committee, said that they remembered the Royal Oak as “a very vibrant pub” with a full car park most weekends, and a favourtie destination for people walking from Thame.

    Cllr David Dodds said that he saw no reason why the council should not “stick to its guns”, having previously rejected the plan for change of use, on the grounds that “Members were of the opinion that it had not been proved that the premises would not be viable as a public house.”

    “Nothing has changed,” he said. “They need to go through a proper independent marketing excercise, as stipulated by planning rules, and not depend on a paid agent’s view.”

    The committe recommened refusal of the application on those grounds.

  • Redundant Thame phone box ‘Listed’

    A RED phone box in Thame, that the town council wants to get rid of, cannot be removed because it is apparently ‘listed’.
    The rather sad-looking red phone box, that stands in front of the town hall, is one of three in the town that BT has given the town council the option of adopting for the sum of

  • New rail line from London to Oxford by 2013

    A NEW railway route, between Marylebone station and Oxford, is to be built by Chiltern Rail.

    The new route will include stops at High Wycombe and Bicester and is expected to be operational by 2013.

  • Thame woman admits sex with boy in her care

    A THAME woman, who admitted a sexual relationship with a fourteen year-old in her care, changed her plea to guilty at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

    Special Needs Advisor, Catherine Armstrong, befriended the boy when he sought help for learning diffulties over the internet.

    The boy told the court how he often felt “scared” and would go to his carer, who he called Kate, often laying on her bed bedside her for comfort.

    He admitted that he was a willing partner in what became a two-year sexual relationship.

    After pleading guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and admitting one count of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, 33 year-old Armstrong was released on conditional bail and asked to sign the sex offenders’ register.

    She will return to court for sentencing on February 27.

    Photo: Catherine Armstong (courtesy of http://www.metro.co.uk)

  • Thame hold firm against Holyport (Contributed)

    MATCH REPORT: Holyport 0, Thame United 2

    United put in their best all-round team performance of the season in the last game of 2008 against a Holyport, a side who in their previous fixture had easily beaten league leaders Ascot United 4-1.

    It was a measure of the quality of the performance that Thame’s keeper, Paul Searl, was rarely called to action for the whole game.

    The omens, however, did not look good for United when leading scorer Matt Miller was injured during the warm-up. Any concerns from his late withdrawal were quickly dispelled as United spent the opening 15 minutes camped in the Holyport half. The first real opportunity came in the fifth minute when William Wallace, playing on the right of midfield in the absence of suspended Ben Connelly, connected with a volley 12 yards out that the keeper pushed beyond the post for a corner. A short while later lone striker Stuart Barr hit a spectacular overhead kick from 8 yards that forced the home keeper in to an even better save. Thame eventually got their reward in the 16th minute. Adam Rhodes flighted an inch perfect free kick in to the heart of the Holyport box that was met by Sam Cowan who volleyed beyond the keeper with the home defence static.

    Thame continued to control the next 15 minutes without forcing the home keeper in to action. In the final few minutes of the half, Holyport had a sustained period of pressure but with Searl claiming every cross that came in to the box, they failed to create any real goal scoring opportunities.

    In the early stages of the second half United had a great opportunity to extend their lead when another free kick from Rhodes was met by the head of brother Nik whose glanced effort went the wrong side of the far post. Whilst United were increasingly forced on to the back foot as Holyport looked for an equaliser, the defence held firm and Holyport grew increasingly frustrated, which was reflected in a growing number of yellow cards. The game was effectively over in the 69th minute when Luke Ricketts beat the keeper to a ball on the edge of the box that fell kindly to Tom Hoskin whose first effort was cleared off the line, with the rebound placed calmly in to the roof of the net. The goal was just reward for the performance and the final 20 minutes passed without significant incident, with the exception of a red card for Holyport substitute Phil Collins with 5 minutes remaining.

    Weather permitting United have a home game on Saturday 10th January (3:00pm kick off at AFC Wallingford) against second place Wokingham & Emmbrook.

    Thame United: Searl, Newell, Way, Hocking, N.Rhodes, Cowan, A.Rhodes, El Kassir (Hoskin), Wallace (Meredith), Ricketts, Barr

    Thame United Man of the Match: Steve Newell

    Photo – gGalscorers, Sam Cowan and Tom Hoskin

  • New year’s day crash man remains ‘critical’ (Status: press release)

    THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was seriously injured after a traffic collision on Thursday (1/1)new year’s day.

    A black Renault Clio was travelling along Lower Road between Haddenham and Aylesbury around 1.15am when it was involved in a collision.

    A 20-year-old man was found lying in the road and it is believed he was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

    Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact PC Julia Stroud at Aylesbury Roads Policing Department via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

    If you do not want to speak to the police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505 or visit: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/buckinghamshire/bcu-info/stations.htm

  • Wheatley man accused of killing wife with kitchen knife

    THE trial of a Wheatley man, accused of murdering his wife with a kitchen knife after chasing her through the village’s streets, began today.

    Deborah Smith, 47, was discovered at her home in Bell Lane, Wheatley, with wounds to her kneck on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, 2008.

    Read full report
     from the Oxford Mail.

    Photo: Deborah Smith

  • High Street icon closes its doors in Thame

    WOOLWORTHS today closed its door for the last time in Thame.
    The store was one of the last branches to close in the country, after the company went into administration just before Christmas.

    The Manager, visibly saddened, told Thamenews.net that although some of her staff had managed to find other jobs, one or two of them had decided to go back to university, whilst a few were going to have to search for alternative employment.

    A queue formed late this afternoon to buy up the remaining few toys, items of children’s clothig, CDs, and DVDs that remained, whilst a group of independent retailers from High Wycombe bought up much of the shelving, fixtures and fittings that were also on sale.

    The empty store will become one of several empty retail premises in Thame, including Jumpers and Miso in Buttermarket, The Natural cafe and an estate agents in the High Street, and the old Pied Pedaller toy shop in North Street (due to demolished and replaced with a library).

    The Co-op travel shop in the High Street is due to close shortly when the operation moves to the main Co-op store on the opposite side of the High Street.