Oxford News
Oxford Crown Court – round-up of 10 criminals jailed in March
Neil Stafford
A conman was jailed for stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Neil Stafford, 60, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, March 2.
In November last year a jury found him guilty of seven counts of fraud by false representation by unanimous verdicts after a two-month trial.
The total amount paid to Stafford by the seven people was £882,000.
The total repaid was just £141,800, which meant a loss of around £740,000.
Stafford was jailed for a total of nine years and banned from being a company director for 15 years.
Berajd Mazari
An Albanian man has been jailed for behaviour against a woman which included controlling the clothes she wore, the friends she saw and forcing her to take drugs.
Berajd Mazari, of Lark Rise, Brackley, in Northamptonshire, was accused of the offences in Banbury in 2024.
On Friday, January 23, a jury in Oxford found him guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour, and being in possession of an imitation firearm.
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to being in possession of cannabis and cocaine and being in possession of a fake Italian driving licence.
He was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on March 6.
Mazari was jailed for 30 months and given a restraining order against the victim and her mother for seven years.
Francis Nala-Hartley
A violent thug kicked the door of his ex-partner and punched her mother in the face after taking drugs, a court heard.
Francis Nala-Hartley, of Edgecombe Road, Headington, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, March 10.
The 30-year-old pleaded guilty two counts of failing to surrender to police bail.
He was tried and convicted in his absence for one count of assault, causing actual bodily harm, last year.
Nala-Hartley was jailed for a total of 22 months.
Daniel Carruthers
A drug dealer who hid heroin and crack cocaine in deodorant cans was jailed.
Daniel Carruthers, of Blue Mountains, Wallingford, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, March 26.
The 34-year-old was found guilty at a trial last year of possession with intent to supply two class A drugs, namely heroin and crack cocaine.
It related to an incident when police found drugs at an address in Northfield Road, Headington, on May 29 last year.
Carruthers was jailed for a total of eight years and orders were made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and phone found.
Charlotte McCollin
An Oxford woman, with more than 200 previous offences, was jailed for violence and intimidation.
Charlotte McCollin, of Botley Road, Oxford, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, March 25.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, one count of intimidating a witness, one count of theft and one count of criminal damage.
McCollin was jailed for two years and given a five-year restraining order to not contact the victim.
Laurence Whittaker
An Oxfordshire man has been jailed for an attack on his ex and his ex’s mum which left both with multiple injuries.
Laurence Whittaker, of Cowley Road, Oxford, was sentenced to a combined eight years at Oxford Crown Court.
He received two prison sentences to run consecutively for his actions on January 10, 2025, with six years given for the section 18 wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm against Lindsay Webber, his former partner’s mother.
For the assault occasioning actual bodily harm against former partner, Jessica Clements, he received two years.
The court issued restraining orders for 10 years on him for both women.
James Alder and Brendon Shamu
Two drug dealers were jailed for their roles in operating a county line in Oxfordshire.
James Alder and Brendon Shamu were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, March 27.
Alder, 21, of Limborough Road, Wantage, and Shamu, 27, of Field Gardens, Steventon, near Abingdon, were both charged with drug dealing offences in Abingdon between October 1 last year and January 23 this year.
Both men pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.
Shamu also pleaded guilty to being in possession of criminal property, namely £8,795 in cash.
Shamu was jailed for a total of 49 months and Alder for three years.
Orders were made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, paraphernalia, phones and cash.
Henry Williams
Two robbers, armed with a knife and a crowbar, threatened a shop worker and emptied the till of money in a ‘terrifying’ incident.
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 jailed for a total of 42 months.
Ryan Corbett
A man who lied about his BMW crash was jailed.
Ryan Corbett, of Derwent Avenue, Headington, was given a two-year prison sentence.
On February 4, a jury had found him guilty of both crimes by unanimous verdict after around 20 minutes of deliberation.
The 43-year-old had denied fraud by false representation and perverting the course of justice in Oxford on September 4, 2022.
South Moreton Primary School was described by inspectors as a place where ‘pupils enjoy learning and their time together’.
The school was awarded a ‘strong standard’ judgment in each of the seven areas that Ofsted review.
Cheryl Sánchez, headteacher at South Moreton Primary School, said: “This report is a moment of huge pride for our whole school community. We are absolutely thrilled.
“Our school is built on a strong ethos of community and inclusion, and it’s wonderful to see the inspectors also see the warmth and positivity that runs through everything we do.”
The Ofsted report commended pupils as ‘confident, articulate and curious,’ noting that they benefit from ‘rich opportunities to experience the world’.
Early years provision was described as a ‘joyful and harmonious space,’ where children develop strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics and communication.
Inspectors also highlighted the inclusive nature of the school’s curriculum and routines, as well as the professional curiosity and focus demonstrated by school leaders.
The school is part of the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust.
Sharon Mullins, CEO of the trust, said: “Achieving a strong standard is something that any school should take huge pride in – but to do it in every judgement area is quite a rare achievement under this new framework so far.
“We don’t do what we do for our children because of Ofsted, but it is lovely that the relentless effort of the team at South Moreton have been recognised by them.”
The Oasis singer was rumoured to have bought a mansion near Cirencester in December last year, having previously rented it for £19,000 a month ahead of the band’s comeback tour.
During the summer, it was reported that Mr Gallagher and his fiancée, Debbie Gwyther, had been phoning around high-end estate agents to buy a new mansion in the Cotswolds.
Mr Gallagher himself confirmed earlier this year that he’s purchased Dockem House in the village of Coates over the Oxfordshire border.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson to make member of public millionaire this month
Now, The Sun has reported that the musician’s new pad is next door to a Roman temple and that he’s a fan of history, making it a perfect match.
The five-acre estate is near Hailey Wood Camp, which dates back to 100AD, and has been buried since the 1980s.
Historic England said that the complex is rare and that only “a number of temple complexes [in the UK] have similar double-ditch enclosed areas”.
The Sun added: “Seven lead ‘curse tablets’, which Romans used to ask the Gods to jinx an enemy, were reportedly found there.
READ MORE: Cosy Cotswolds pub named among UK’s best and up for national award
“Previous owner, World War I hero Major William Daubney, was the first to identify Hailey Wood Camp, an underground temple complex dating between 100AD and 400AD.
“The complex is centred on a square enclosure with other smaller buildings scattered around it and has been buried since the 1980s after the site was plundered for ‘coins and other metal objects’.”
A fan of history, Mr Gallagher was recently asked by a fan on the social media site X what the first thing he does on holiday.
The singer responded: “I unpack and hang up all my clothes in alphabetical order, then I go find out some local history, then I get on the p**s.”
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, recently had an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail.
READ MORE: Wildlife TV legend reveals Celebrity Traitors and Strictly ambitions
Another beloved dance show, which, like Springwatch, is a BBC icon, is Strictly Come Dancing, with the competition programme running since 2004.
Strictly is now without a presenter after both hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, departed last year.
With speculation rife over who will host the programme later this year, this newspaper asked Ms Strachan who she would like to see take on the job.
After being suggested with hosting it herself and long-time contributor Chris Packham, the 60-year-old laughed and said: “Can you imagine Chris Packham presenting Strictly!
READ MORE: Michaela Strachan praises Jeremy Clarkson over Clarkson’s Farm
“Oh my god, that would be worth watching.
“I think La Voix would be brilliant, that’s who I would back. I don’t know whether they would get it, but I think that would be really good fun if La Voix did it.
“I really enjoyed watching La Voix on Strictly last year, so that would be the obvious choice.
“There are some choices that have been talked about that are very obvious, and you think no, come on, let’s push the boat out. Let’s get to somebody different.
“I’d like to see them go out of the box, and it would be highly entertaining.”
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