Oxford News
Banbury – Armed robbers threatened shop worker and empty till
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.
Oxford News
Aureus School girls were inspired by Navy’s women’s day
Three Year 10 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot travelled to London for the Royal Navy International Women’s Day event, held on HMS President during Careers Week and designed to showcase opportunities within the Royal Navy and beyond.
Students Antonia Pop, Ellie Swan and Tilly Mulvey are all taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Ellie Swan said: “It was fantastic to see the possible career paths within the Navy.”
Rob Hayden, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award manager at Aureus School, accompanied the students to the event.
He said: “During the day, students had talks from individuals within the Navy and from guest speakers, including Hannah Botterman, who last year won both the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations with England.”
He said: “Students also had the chance to network with the speakers and other attendees.
“The event showed the students a wide range of inspirational females within the Navy and other careers.”
Aureus School, part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust, says its vision is focused on ‘cultivating ambition’ and ‘high standards for all’.
Headteacher Kirsty Rogers says the Didcot-based co-educational comprehensive has undergone a ‘transformative journey’, creating a community where students feel a strong sense of belonging. She emphasises inclusivity, high expectations, and a broad curriculum that encourages ambition, resilience and respect, supported by dedicated staff and diverse extra-curricular opportunities.
Oxford News
Ryanair launches two new routes in significant move
The flights mark a major boost to the airport’s connectivity ahead of the budget airline’s record Summer 2026 schedule.
The new routes form part of Ryanair’s expanded Glasgow programme for Summer 2026, which will see the airline operate over 100 weekly flights across eight routes.
The new double-daily London Stansted service further strengthens Glasgow’s access to the English capital, while the launch of the Warsaw service enhances Glasgow’s international offering.
Jonathan Ford, portfolio manager at AGS Airports, said: “It’s fantastic to see Ryanair’s new services to London Stansted and Warsaw take off today.
“The double-daily Stansted route offers even more flexibility for business and leisure travellers heading to and from England’s innovation corridor, while Warsaw provides a valuable new link that expands the international connectivity available to our passengers.
“These launches mark the start of what will be a record summer for Ryanair at Glasgow, and we look forward to welcoming even more travellers through our doors.”
Last month, Ryanair launched its 2026 plan for Glasgow with 10 routes, including holiday hotspots like Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife, as well as city break destinations like Barcelona and Pisa.
The budget airline will also operate extra frequencies on its Alicante, Faro, Pisa, Malaga and Murcia routes.
The new schedule is underpinned by Ryanair’s two Glasgow Prestwick-based aircraft.
Oxford News
Drug driving arrest carried out in Oxfordshire market town
Thames Valley Police said it stopped a vehicle yesterday evening (Saturday March 28) after noting it had defective lights in Woodstock.
The car “smelt of cannabis” and following a “positive drugs test” the police arrested the motorist.
READ MORE: Investigation launched as unidentified Toyota ‘hits’ pedestrian near Uni Parks
A positive drugs test (Image: TVP)
A spokesperson for the the roads policing unit said they “stopped a vehicle this evening with defective lights in Woodstock”.
They added: “The vehicle smelt of cannabis. The driver provided a positive drug wipe and was arrested.”
Driving under the influence of drugs (drug driving) is a criminal offence and if found guilty, the driver could face an automatic driving ban, a hefty fine, and potential prison time.
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