Crime & Safety
Cotswolds – three badgers found dead as police investigate
Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary’s rural crime team are appealing for information after several badgers were shot and killed near Tewkesbury.
Police were contacted on Saturday, March 21 with a report that three dead badgers had been found on the public footpath at Buckland Wood in Broadway.
The exact location where the badgers were found is the footpath that runs along the north side of Buckland Wood and it is believed they had been shot just days earlier.
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The Badger Trust and Gloucestershire Badger Group also contacted police to report that a fourth badger was found dead nearby and officers believe the animal was also shot.
PC Parker from the rural crime team said: “Badgers are protected by law and it is a criminal offence to intentionally capture, kill or injure a badger.
“This incident has understandably caused upset for the wildlife community and we want to do all we can to identify those responsible.”
Craig Fellowes, wildlife crime manager and trainer for the Badger Trust added: “Badgers in the UK continue to face illegal persecution, despite clear laws prohibiting their shooting unless licensed.
“Badgers are regarded by some as vermin, they are not. They are protected by law; unlawful shooting may result in six months’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine under the Protection of Badgers Act.
“The recent incident in Gloucestershire shows the ongoing challenges for badgers. Anyone with information should contact the police, Badger Trust, or local groups, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers.”
Crime & Safety
The best pictures of Easter activities over the years
As the youngsters come down off their sugar highs and the hot cross bun supply begins to dry up, families may be looking for fun and interesting things to do this Easter weekend.
We’ve rounded up a selection of pictures of Easter activities in years gone by, for inspiration.
An Easter Chick Hunt at the Bicester Rainbow Playgroup saw Georgia Bull, three, colle (Image: Oxford Mail archive)
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This gallery includes Easter trails at activity centres like Cogges Manor Farm, the crafting of displays and of elaborate Easter bonnets, and school events around the season.
There are some pictures of organised town races, like the Plastic Duck Race of Blewbury or Chadlington’s downhill Easter egg race at The Tite Inn.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive picture gallery to find Easter pictures in years gone by.
Crime & Safety
Road closed due to fallen tree in Long Toll Oxfordshire
Long Toll near Woodcote in South Oxfordshire is currently impassable due to the tree which is across the width of the road.
The tree is believed to have come down in the strong winds from Saturday and into Sunday, April 5.
Meanwhile, Abingdon’s Easter event in the town centre was also cancelled on Saturday afternoon, April 4 due to the strong winds.
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Parts of England have been issued with either a yellow or amber weather warning due to Storm Dave, although Oxfordshire has no warnings in place.
The strongest gust overnight was 93mph at Capel Curig in North Wales, while gusts of 75mph were recorded in West Yorkshire and in Cumbria, and one of 73mph was recorded at in Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said.
Marco Petagna, a Met Office spokesman, said: “The winds eased down a bit more quickly than forecast across Scotland, northern England and Wales.
“Storm Dave is pulling away and the warnings are easing more quickly than forecast so the yellow warnings were no longer warranted.”
Long Toll near Woodcote closed due to a fallen tree (Image: Julie Edgington)
Before the severe amber weather warning was lifted, the Met Office had forecast “severe gales” across central and northern areas of the country overnight into Sunday.
The Energy Networks Association, which represents electricity network operators, said on Saturday: “The storm has the potential to affect local power infrastructure, increasing the risk of a power cut and fallen power lines.
“Network operators are increasing staffing for operational teams, and moving spare equipment to where the weather is expected to be most disruptive, so it’s ready to use if needed.”
Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire woman caught drink-driving on Christmas Day
Charlotte Sullivan, of Ayres Drive, Bloxham, near Banbury, was caught on December 25 last year at Barford Road, Bloxham.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving in a Vauxhall Safira when she appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court recently.
She was breathalysed, with the result being 120 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. This is more than three times over the limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
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Sullivan was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
She was also ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol for 90 days and must comply with the orders of the responsible officer to attend appointments for a maximum of six days.
Sullivan was also banned from the road for 30 months, but this can be reduced by 30 weeks is a course is completed by November 5 next year.
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