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Banbury – Armed robbers threatened shop worker and empty till

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Henry Williams, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, March 26.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, committed on New Year’s Eve last year at the Quick Stop, in Warwick Road, Banbury.

The court heard that Williams, and an unidentified man, entered the shop just before 8am on the day in question.

Williams was wearing a camouflaged jacket and holding a crowbar. His accomplice was holding a kitchen knife.

Alexandra Bushell, prosecuting, told the court the pair forced shop worker Gurpreet Singh behind the till while they emptied it of cash.

READ MORE: Man found dead near Oxford city centre church named for the first time

Henry Williams (Image: TVP)

They also made him fill bags with tobacco and cigarettes.

The court heard they were in and out of the shop in around three minutes. The total value of the items taken was £5,861.91.

A victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the shop’s owner, whose name was not read out in court.

The statement said: “I would like to highlight that this is the third time my shop has been robbed by armed men.

“This loss has had a huge impact on me. These robbers affect the reputation of my shop. Members of the public think it’s dangerous.

“These robbers have caused me a huge amount of stress. I’m worried someone will rob me and I feel vulnerable and unsafe.

“This robbery has been the most violent.”

The court was shown CCTV footage from inside the shop at the time of the robbery. It showed the two men forcing Mr Singh behind the till and emptying cash into bags.

Williams could be seen hitting his crowbar against a table and the other man could be seen with a large knife.

The court heard that Williams had seven previous convictions for 10 offences.

Peter Due Feu, mitigating, said: “It seems as though he has spent the last six years out of trouble. He left the Banbury area.

“To mask himself up and commit the robbery, why on earth would he do that?

“Crack cocaine creates a madness to feed the habit. His intention is to stay clean of drugs.”

The Judge, Mrs Recorder Eleanor Sanderson, said: “This was a robbery of a local convenience store.

“The show owner has said he feels vulnerable and unsafe. It has caused him great worry about his finances.

“This was an appalling act. A vulnerable person was subject to a terrifying robbery.”

Williams was jailed for a total of 42 months.





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Oxford News

Didcot students watch ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches

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14 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot, Oxfordshire, travelled to Southampton’s Utilita Bowl to watch two ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches.

They saw New Zealand take on Sri Lanka and England face Ireland.

Rob Hayden, head of PE at Aureus School, said: “The first match was really close, with Sri Lanka hitting a four to win the match in the final over.

“There was a rain delay which delayed the England match by one hour and 30 minutes, but this allowed the group to watch the cricket match under the floodlights, which was a really good experience.

“Having England play well and win, created a special atmosphere at the ground.”

The trip is part of a yearly tradition at Aureus School, which has strong ties to the women’s game through a visiting coach, Queentor Abel of the Kenya Women’s Team.

Mr Hayden said: “We have currently got a coach who comes into school who is a current cricket player for the Kenya Women’s Team, Queentor Abel.

“This showed the students they have a great coach to help them improve.

“We took the group as a trip to inspire the students to play cricket outside of school.”

Aureus School is part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust.





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ITV axes series with I’m a Celeb’s GK Barry and Rev Coles

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GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles appeared on the 24th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2024.

GK and Rev Coles “struck up the best of friendships” while on the ITV reality show, one they have continued outside the jungle.



ITV axes GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles series

The pair had begun work on a new ITV series themed around life and death.

Speaking to Attitude Magazine, GK said: “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.

“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.”

A pilot episode for the series was filmed last year.

However, the new series has now been axed by ITV, according to The Sun.

An insider said: “There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers.

“They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.

“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series — much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”

GK had previously said it had been a “dream” working with Rev Coles on the series.

On Instagram, she said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.

“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.”

ITV has been contacted for comment.

Freeview channel axed 2 years after relaunch

Meanwhile, News UK’s live streaming opinion channel, Talk, has been axed as part of the latest Freeview update.

Talk originally broadcast as TalkTV on channel 237 from April 2022, with 24-hour news and opinion programming.

Its most high-profile programme was Piers Morgan Uncensored, which later moved to YouTube, though Channel 5 continues to broadcast highlight segments.

TalkTV was eventually relaunched as Talk, a visual radio stream, on Freeview channel 280 in April 2024.

The change came after the channel struggled to attract viewers and ran up losses for News UK, according to RXTV.

News UK still operates similar visual streams for TalkSport and Times Radio.

Were you looking forward to GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles’ new ITV series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.





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Katy Perry forced to cancel gig ahead of Blenheim Festival

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The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.

The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s pub staff ‘walk out after many problems’

Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.

“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.

“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”

The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.

READ MORE: Sara Cox in new venture as UK charity collapses with £430k owed

Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”

It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.

The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.





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