Oxford News
Man jailed for ‘sickening’ sexual assault of three girls in Cotswolds
Walter Klen, of Farmoor, Oxford, was sentenced to 19 years in jail at a sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, July 13.
The 60-year-old was found unanimously guilty of 13 counts, by a jury which police said had to listen to ‘the most vile and harrowing descriptions’ of the child sexual offences.
READ MORE: Thames Water announces hosepipe ban starting this week
These were four counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.
Walker Klen, of Farmoor, was jailed for 19 years for the ‘sickening’ abuse of three girls (Image: Thames Valley Police)
The court heard that between 2003 and 2010, Klen sexually abused three children over a seven-year period at addresses in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire and Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
All three victims were girls who were under the age of 13 at the time of the offences.
Klen was arrested on July 11, 2023, and charged on May 9, 2025.
He was subsequently convicted following a nine-day trial at Oxford Crown Court, which began on June 11.
READ MORE: Major delays on Oxford ring road due to traffic incident
Oxford Crown Court (Image: NQ)
Thames Valley Police’s Investigating officer Detective Constable Bryn Smith, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Klen’s offending was sickening, devious and manipulative and he will rightfully spend many years in prison.
“I commend the bravery of the three victims and their families and friends who had to endure hours of giving evidence in court over these nine days.
“The fact that Klen was found unanimously guilty of all 13 charges is testament to the resolve of those involved and the support they gave each other.
“I would also like to thank the jury. Twelve people from all walks of society who had to listen to the most vile and harrowing descriptions of child sexual abuse over many days.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual abuse to come forward and report it to police.
READ MORE: Thames Valley: 12 arrests and 73 incidents reported in World Cup 2026
“You will be listened to and supported by experienced officers and staff.”
Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can report offences to Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or making a report online. In an emergency, always call 999.
The force said: “We understand that coming forward can feel difficult, and support is available whether or not you choose to make a report to the police. Please see our website for more information.”
Oxford News
Man, 35, banned from Westgate in Oxford after incident
Daniel Walsh was found guilty of a public order offence at a hearing at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on July 10.
The 35-year-old used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to harass, alarm or distress a man at the centre, court documents say.
READ MORE: Oxford teenager caught with knife at popular UK theme park
Walsh denied the offence, which happened on July 1 last year when entering a not guilty plea on August 12, but the conviction was proved in his absence.
Magistrates issued a community order ending October 9, 2026, with specific supervision requirements.
Walsh, if Dunchurch, Rugby in Warwickshire, is also excluded from entering the Westgate shopping centre for three months, also ending October 9, 2026.
The exclusion was ordered as part of the sentence to protect others from further distress.
Walsh’s conviction was recorded under the Public Order Act 1986.
Oxford News
Jobs lost as high street giant in administration with £16m debts
Game, the once‑dominant high street video‑games chain which had over 300 UK stores, continues to disappear from city and town centres across the UK.
An administration report shows the business owed roughly £3.5m to its secured creditor and about £12m to unsecured creditors, many of whom are not expected to recover what they are owed.
READ MORE: Postcodes affected by Thames Water’s hosepipe ban this week
The retailer, now owned by Frasers Group, has been through insolvency once before in 2012 but had rebuilt around a mix of smaller shop units and in‑store concessions inside Sports Direct and House of Fraser.
Those concessions now represent Game’s main physical footprint in Oxfordshire with a branch housed in Cowley’s Sports Direct at Oxford Retail Park on Ambassador Avenue.
That means customers in and around Oxford can still buy products over the counter in Cowley, even as the chain’s standalone stores close elsewhere.
READ MORE: Ann Widdecombe murder suspect in court today as cause of death unknown
Witney, however, has already lost its dedicated Game branch after the store held a closing‑down sale in December 2023, before shutting in January 2024.
National coverage has since confirmed that Game’s remaining high street outlets in other parts of the country will shut during 2026.
This ends more than three decades as a standalone presence and leaves the brand trading online and through concessions only.
This pattern is already evident in Oxfordshire, where the Witney shop has gone, and the Cowley counter inside Sports Direct survives.
Oxford News
Thames Water announces hosepipe ban starting this week
Following the driest spring in years, three official heatwaves, record temperatures and sustained high demand,
Thames Water is introducing a Temporary Use Ban (TUB), also known as a hosepipe ban, for all customers it supplies with drinking water.
The restrictions will come into effect at 12.01am on Thursday (July 23) and mean customers in the affected areas must not use hosepipes for non-essential activities.
READ MORE: UK motorbike retailer on ‘brink of administration’ despite £83m turnover
This includes watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or topping up hot tubs.
Thames Water is asking customers to follow the usage restrictions now, ahead of the official start date.
Water use has remained exceptionally high during recent periods of record hot weather.
Demand is currently around 10 per cent above normal levels across the Thames Valley and Home Counties and 7 per cent above normal in London.
On average, customers are using an additional 100 million litres of water every day across London and the Thames Valley, the equivalent of adding all the homes in Manchester to the company’s network.
READ MORE: UK homeowners warned Japanese knotweed can knock £13.5k off house value
During peak periods, water has been used faster than it can be treated and moved through parts of the network, placing additional pressure on local supplies.
The company is now implementing the next stage of its drought plan to help protect customer supplies and the environment.
Nevil Muncaster, Director of Strategic Water Resources at Thames Water, said: “We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment.
“Recent heatwaves and a very dry spring and summer have led to sustained high demand.
“While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing.
READ MORE: Flying taxis could be built in UK as part of £48m government deal
“Many customers have already reduced their water use, and that support has made a difference.
“Thank you to everyone who has already changed their daily habits.
“Our teams are working 24/7 to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers.
“We will keep the situation under close review and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.”
This spring, the Thames Water region received only 40 per cent of average rainfall and has experienced three periods of exceptionally hot weather.
READ MORE: BBC issues major update on the future of Doctor Who
The hot weather is forecast to continue, while the UK has already recorded nine days where temperatures reached 34°C or above, more than in the previous record years of 1976 and 2020.
While Thames Water plans for periods of dry weather and increased summer demand, the scale and duration of recent demand is having a significant impact on water resources.
There has been no rainfall so far in July in the Thames catchment, combined with exceptionally high water use, which is stretching water resources across the region.
Under the Temporary Use Ban, customers in the affected area must not use hosepipes.
It includes not using them for watering gardens, lawns or allotments or cleaning private cars, patios, paths, driveways or windows.
READ MORE: Renovated Cotswolds pub in 17th century bakery is a hidden gem
It also includes not using hoses for filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs or using sprinklers or similar equipment connected to the mains water supply.
Customers should continue to use water for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, washing and hygiene.
Buckets and watering cans can still be used, and there are exemptions, including where water use is necessary for health and safety reasons or for customers with severe mobility problems.
Further details on the Temporary Use Ban, including restrictions and exemptions, will be available in Thames Water’s legal notice and dedicated information webpage on its website.
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJune heatwave would be ‘virtually impossible’ in 1976
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: ‘I think we need much more laughter in the world’ says John Cleese
-
Business & Technology5 days agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology6 days agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoWhat’s on in Oxford & Oxfordshire this July
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: Lord of the Dance celebrating 30 years with spectacular return to Oxford
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoOxford’s traffic filters questions answered
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoNew romantasy bookshop attracts queues of customers
