Crime & Safety
Man avoids driving ban after speeding 88mph on M40
Aftab Ahmad has avoided a driving ban after being caught speeding on the M40.
Aftab Ahmad, 51, of Hagley Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham, admitted driving at 88mph on the southbound M40 between junctions 9 and 10, near the B4030 overbridge, on September 6, 2025.
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He appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 7, where he was given three penalty points and fined £666.
Ahmad was also ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge and £120 in costs by May 19.
The court’s decision not to disqualify him from driving was based on exceptional hardship grounds.
Magistrates ruled that a ban would severely impact his patients, who rely on his care.
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Court records said: “The Bench found Exceptional Hardship.
“If disqualified, the Defendant’s patients (for whom they provide Palliative Care) would suffer Exceptional Hardship.
“The Bench exercised its discretion not to disqualify in view of the circumstances of the Defendant’s patients.”
Penalty points were endorsed on Ahmad’s licence.
The offence was contrary to regulation 3 of the Motorways Traffic (Speed Limit) Regulations 1974, section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
Crime & Safety
Boy saved brother from house fire in archive picture
It’s one of 12 archive pictures we’ve found of brothers and sisters looking after each other over the years, from heroic acts to touching moments.
This gallery includes siblings dressing up together, on days out and enjoying local playgroups.
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Poppy and Agamemnon Crumpton, aged two and three respectively, with one of the Snakeshead Fritillaries in Ducklington, 2000 (Image: Oxford Mail archive)
One adorable image shows a brother and sister duo examining a beautiful snakeshead fritillary flower.
Another shows a four-year-old boy offering a taste of his candy floss to his kid sister at St Giles Fair.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive picture gallery to find pictures of brother-sister duos in Oxfordshire over the years.
Crime & Safety
The Oxford Trust hires two experienced women as trustees
The new appointees are Lily Elsner and Emily Howman, who both bring significant expertise in entrepreneurship, healthcare, and science communication.
David Llewellyn, who served as an adviser to the board over the past year, has stepped down to relocate to Australia.
Steve Burgess, chief executive officer of The Oxford Trust, said: “We are pleased to welcome Lily and Emily to the board.
“Their expertise and vision will play a crucial role in furthering our mission to ‘encourage the pursuit of science’ within the region.
“They strengthen our already exceptional board, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all trustees for their continued commitment.
“We thank David for his insight and experience in running start ups which has helped the Board over the last year and wish him every success in Australia.”
Ms Elsner leads Jack Fertility, a start-up based at the Wood Centre for Innovation.
She brings first-hand knowledge of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and is committed to supporting women in business.
Ms Howman is an independent healthcare strategy consultant at Aoraki Consulting and offers more than 20 years of experience in healthcare education and strategy.
She has worked on improving patient outcomes through therapeutic education targeted at healthcare professionals, patients, the public, policymakers, and investors.
Ms Howman also has a background in designing educational programmes to upskill sectors within the pharmaceutical industry and is particularly committed to science education for young people, especially encouraging girls to pursue STEM subjects.
Ms Elsner said: “It is a privilege to join the board of The Oxford Trust, an organisation that is so central to Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem.
“As a founder, I’ve experienced first-hand the value of supportive environments such as The Oxford Trust’s Wood Centre for Innovation.
“I look forward to contributing to the Trust’s mission and helping to champion entrepreneurship and diversity in science and technology.”
Ms Howman also expressed enthusiasm for her new role at a pivotal time for the Trust.
She said: “I’m delighted to be joining The Oxford Trust at such an exciting time with the opening of the new Aspen Building.
“The Trust plays a vital role in inspiring engagement with science and supporting innovation across the region.
“I’m particularly passionate about widening access to science education and encouraging more young people – especially girls – to see the opportunities available to them in STEM.”
The current board members now include John Boyle (chair), Megan Morys-Carter (vice chair), Lynne Pebworth (chair of education committee), David Carr (chair of finance committee), Jude Bennett, Prof Alistair Fitt, Jonathan Flint CBE, Tatiana Grudskaya, Imam Monawar Hussain MBE DL, Nicola McConville, and Prof Alison Noble.
Crime & Safety
Firefighters battling inferno at Gloucestershire air base
The major blaze has broken out of RAF Fairford with emergency services called early this morning (Sunday, April 26) to tackle it.
At least ten fire engines are in attendance, alongside ambulance crews and a National Inter-agency Liaison Officer.
Sources on social media say the roof appears to have collapsed as a result of the fire. The cause is not yet known.
The RAF base is currently being used by the US militaries according to sources on social media, but authorities are yet to confirm.
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It’s not known what the building, formerly the commissary, is currently being used for.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are responding to a fire in a commercial building in the Fairford area.
“Residents are advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to smoke from the fire.”
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