Thames Valley Police opened an investigation into people raising flags on street furniture on the city centre road after an incident last Tuesday (March 24), which caused significant backlash.

A 44-year-old man from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, has today (Wednesday, April 1) been arrested on suspicion of causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

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Police said this was following an investigation into multiple reports of public order offences along Abingdon Road.

A group from Raise the Colours were hanging flags on Abingdon Road on Tuesday (Image: Elsie from the block)

The man, who was not been named, has been released on police bail.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We continue ask anyone with information or relevant video footage not to share it on social media, but report it to us, quoting 43260144830.”

The force earlier said that “where criminal offences are identified, we will take appropriate and proportionate action in respect of the offenders”.

Norbert Maiksner, who is Polish, was convicted following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court of the murder of 45-year-old Frances Obiefuleh at their home in Havant, Hampshire, as well as a charge of child neglect.

Paul Cavin KC, prosecuting, told the trial that the defendant was found by a Highways Officer walking along the hard shoulder of the M40 motorway across the county border near High Wycombe, on the morning of April 17, 2025.

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Maiksner told the officer that they should call the police because he had killed his girlfriend.

Mr Cavin said that a post-mortem examination revealed that Ms Obiefuleh died of smothering with injuries caused by compression of the neck and chest.

Mr Cavin said that the defendant also had scratches to his chest and back, and added: “The likely and frankly terrible conclusion is that they were inflicted by Frances with her fingers and fingernails during the attack by the defendant in her last moments as she struggled to stay alive.”

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said that Maiksner had not attended the trial and it had gone ahead in his absence.

The force spokesman said: “During his trial the court heard that Maiksner had told officers that he had killed Frances and stated that it was all a dream and that he wanted to wake up.”

Frances Obiefuleh (Image: Family Handout/PA Wire)

Detective Sergeant Heather Kenwright said: “I am glad to see Maiksner face a life behind bars for committing the most heinous and evil of acts, it is what he deserves for taking the life of an innocent woman.

“He has caused such unthinkable suffering to both Frances in the last moments of her life, and to her family, who have had their loved one taken from them so brutally and must now try to rebuild their lives without her.

“My thoughts remain with Frances’s family, and whilst no sentence can ever truly bring them justice for the tragic loss of Frances’s life, I hope it brings them some semblance of closure to know that Maiksner is now facing the consequences of his abhorrent actions.”

Paying tribute to Ms Obiefuleh, her family said in a statement released through police: “Frances was kind, intelligent, and resourceful – a caring and deeply loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend to many.

“She was a devoted mother and beautiful in every sense of the word.

“Someone we love has been cruelly taken from us, and it has changed our lives forever.

“We have lost a truly beautiful soul.

“Her bright light has been cruelly dimmed, and we are left shaken, heartbroken, and still trying to process the grief and shock of losing Frances.”

The wildlife TV star has hosted the BBC’s Springwatch nature show for 14 years, having previously worked on The Really Wild Show and Wide Awake Club.

She recently finished as runner-up on ITV reality show Dancing on Ice, competing last year with professional partner Mark Hanretty.

Michaela, who supports Oxford United through her son, who works at the club, had an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail last week.

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Michaela Strachan with a cheetah. (Image: Michaela Strachan / Not Just A Wild Life UK Tour)

The 59-year-old reflected on her time on Dancing on Ice and said: “It’s so funny that everyone else was more upset than me and Mark [about not winning].

“I mean, I was just so happy to get to the final, as I didn’t for one minute think when I started that I would get there- I thought I’d be lucky to get to round five.

“That’s what I was aiming for, so the fact that I got that far and to the last two couples ended with the Bolero, that was the win for me.

“It didn’t matter that I didn’t hold up the trophy at the end, hand on heart; it didn’t bother me. I was so proud of myself to have got that far.”

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Claudia Winkleman hosts The Traitors. (Image: Ian West / PA)

When asked if she would consider doing Strictly Come Dancing, Michaela said: “I don’t think there’s any secret that I’ve always wanted to do Strictly and I’ve never been asked.

“Dancing on Ice is a lot more challenging, as not only are you on ice, but you’re only allowed to be on it for two hours a day.

“So even during the live weeks when you’re trying to learn a new routine, you’re only rehearsing it two hours a day that week.

“You could do a lot of off-ice stuff obviously, but it also makes it much more challenging than Strictly because I think they rehearse eight hours a day sometimes.”

READ MORE: Michaela Strachan talks Springwatch and Chris Packham relationship

Michaela Strachan (Image: Michaela Strachan)

Speaking on potentially appearing on The Celebrity Traitors in the future, Michaela revealed: “I’d love to do Traitors.

“Honestly, that program is genius, and it’s such an entertaining watch, but I’m the worst liar in the world.”

Michaela laughed: “I’m so not good at lying, I’m way too honest and open.”

The 59-year-old was speaking ahead of her ‘Not Just a Wild Life’ live tour, which begins next month and features a date in nearby Newbury on Wednesday, April 29.

You can find more coverage from the Oxford Mail’s exclusive interview with Ms Strachan on our website in the coming days.