Oxford News
Oxford runners raise £50K for charity after London Marathon
The team took on the 26.2-mile challenge through the streets of the capital on Sunday to raise funds for hospital services across Oxfordshire.
Their efforts will support cancer care, the Oxford Heart Centre, the Silver Star Maternity Fund, and Oxfordshire I.M.P.S.
Each runner had a personal reason for taking part in the event.
Nick Ellis said: “I found the run really tough, it was warm, and there were more up hills than I remember.
“The incredible crowd kept me going, though.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Oxford Hospitals Charity and I.M.P.S for giving me the opportunity to run and fundraise for such an amazing cause.”
Runner Ava McGinn said: “The atmosphere was something I’ll never quite be able to put into words.
“My knees definitely had other opinions by the end, but crossing that finish line knowing I’d done it for the Children’s Hospital made every step worth it.”
The team’s fastest finisher was Cris Ciotti, completing the marathon in three hours and 24 minutes.
Mark Swadling was the top fundraiser, having raised £10,700.
James Hannelly said: “I was running in memory of my sister Leann and to support the amazing work of the charity, and that made me dig deep and get the race done!”
Claire Hughes, events officer at Oxford Hospitals Charity, thanked all 14 runners for their dedication and support.
Oxford News
Thames Valley Police operation sees 85 criminals arrested
Working with multiple other forces, Thames Valley Police took part in Operation Pandilla last week to disrupt criminals exploiting the transport network for offences including County Drugs Lines.
The operation focused on offences such as robbery, burglary, grievous bodily harm, supply of class A drugs, theft of motor vehicles and possession of offensive weapons.
Detective Supt Nicole Murphy said: “This operation exemplifies the strength of our joint efforts across multiple forces.
“By sharing intelligence across police forces, we continue to tackle criminal activity taking place across our policing borders.
“I hope that our communities feel reassured that such criminal behaviours are met with swift and robust action.
“We are committed to disrupting crime and safeguarding our communities.”
Officers used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and broader intelligence sharing to identify and disrupt offenders.
The operation resulted in 85 arrests, 85 vehicle seizures, 11 weapon seizures, 41 drug-related seizures, and more than £10,000 in confiscated cash.
Detective Supt Murphy said: “We actively respond to your concerns as the public, and the information from our communities is crucial in identifying and intercepting criminality.
“If you notice anything suspicious, please report it online or by calling 101.”
Since Operation Pandilla has been operating more than 2,700 arrests have been made.
Oxford News
Oxfordshire’s five best fish and chip shops revealed
We have rounded up the five best fish and chip shops across the county.
JK’s Fish and Chips
JK’s Fish and Chips can be found at 54 Kings Road in Henley.
The takeaway is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week, and only dinner on Sundays.
The chippy has a 4.8 rating on TripAdvisor
Recent visitors said: “Raj and his chippy is an absolute banger of a place. Clean, fresh and doesn’t hold any greasiness in the shop, the food nor cans.
“Super service, great food, good value and the owners just such a nice man. I recommend it to anyone in the area.”
Banbury Fish Bar
Another top-rated chippy is Banbury Fish Bar, which can be found on 7 Broad Street in the town.
This eatery has outdoor seating as well as being highlighted as vegan friendly.
The restaurant, that is open all day, has a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
One recent diner said: “We had a lovely meal here. They were busy, but service was still quick and friendly.
“Prices are great, you can eat in, takeaway. We got takeaway and sat outside in the sun.”
A & C Fish Bar
Banbury also has another highly rated chippy in A&C Fish Bar located at 1 Cromwell Road.
The restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner all week except Sunday, has a 4.8 rating on Trip Advisor
A first-time visitor said: “Outstanding my first time of going to A&C Fish Bar.
“The staff were first class. They were friendly helpful and all very happy I only had a piece of Fish and I don’t think you would get any better from a fish shop. Next time I am passing I will have to call in.”
The Harbour
The Harbour can be found at Northfield Farm Lae, Madley Park, Witney.
Open Monday to Thursday 4.30 – 10.00 and Friday and Saturday 11.30-2.00 and 4.30-10.00, the eatery has a 4.7 rating on TripAdvisor.
One regular said: “Amazing fish and chips. Tasty. Crisp. Perfectly cooked fish. Friendly staff and great value for money. Best in the Witney area by a long way.”
Harrison’s Fish and Chop Co.
Located at 6 Elms Parade in Oxford, this restaurant is open all week except Sunday.
With a 4.4 rating on TripAdvisor the chip shop was named on the top 20 takeaways by the National Fish and Chip awards.
A recent customer said: “Simply the best fish and chips I’ve ever had.
“Beautifully light battered fish and superb chips. I am 81 and have had many awful fish and chips experiences in Oxford and had almost given up. Harrison’s are the very best.”
Oxford News
Superdry co-founder denies raping woman in Cotswolds
James Holder, 54, said the woman kissed him first, and it was “evident what she wanted to happen”.
Gloucester Crown Court heard the multimillionaire businessman was “old school and chivalrous” towards women and “adored sex”.
Holder had been out on the evening of May 6, 2022, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and was due to get a taxi back to his mansion in the Cotswolds with a male friend.
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Instead, the pair got into the complainant’s taxi and went to her flat, where she alleges she was raped by the fashion boss.
Holder told the jury he had got out of the first taxi because he “just didn’t want the party to stop”.
He said at the woman’s home, she offered him a drink, which he declined, and put on music, before he went to the toilet and then fell asleep on her bed.
The defendant said he awoke and went to the living room, where his friend was asleep on the sofa, and the complainant was awake, sitting in a chair.
“I asked her if everything was OK, and she said absolutely fine, she was awake,” Holder told the court.
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“As she walked over to me – at that exact moment – we began kissing. I would say it was a maximum of five minutes.
“We walked to the bedroom, which was about a minute away, and walked into the bedroom and began kissing again.”
Holder said he was wearing very tight trousers, which required both his hands to remove, so he could not have been restraining the complainant at the same time.
He told the court the complainant performed oral sex on him before they progressed to consensual sexual intercourse, but stopped when she said it was becoming painful.
Michelle Heeley KC, defending, asked Holder whether the woman was crying at any stage.
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“I did not see or hear her crying at any point,” he said.
Asked why he left the flat a short time later, Holder replied: “I had been out for much longer than I anticipated, and I needed to go home.
“I let myself out. She was asleep on the bed.”
Miss Heeley asked him about his belief in her consent, and he replied: “Completely full consent.”
The court heard Holder learnt of the rape allegation in November 2022 when he was interviewed by detectives.
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Describing that interview, Holder said: “I was in extreme physical and mental shock. I personally felt that the allegation was so foreign and in direct contradiction to what happened.
“I went into complete meltdown, a nosebleed, and bawling like a baby – complete shock.”
In that interview, Holder told police he was “old school and chivalrous” in relation to women, and also “adored sex”.
James Haskell, prosecuting, asked the defendant in cross-examination: “Did you behave in a chivalrous manner towards her that night?”
He replied: “I did, yes. I looked after her throughout the whole evening.”
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The prosecutor asked: “You said that your instinct was to protect women. Did you protect her that night?”
Holder replied: “At the only indication of any level of discomfort, I stopped immediately. I would say that could be a protective instinct.”
Mr Haskell asked why he had got into the complainant’s taxi and gone to her home without first discussing it with her.
He said: “Are you somebody who is used to doing precisely what they want to?”
“No, I am not, actually,” Holder replied.
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Mr Haskell asked: “Is the real reason you wanted to go back to the flat is because you saw an opportunity to have sex with her?”
Holder replied: “No.”
Asked how the encounter began, Holder replied: “She inserted her tongue in my mouth, and it was very evident what she wanted to happen.”
Mr Haskell asked: “You saw something you wanted and you took it because the truth is that when you got to the doorway of the living room, you said something like, ‘What’s happening, is everything all right?’ as you wanted to entice her to the bedroom, and that’s why you said, ‘Can you show me?’
“It ended because she managed to escape off the bed.”
Holder replied: “That’s not correct. She fell straight to sleep. She was fast asleep, so I popped my clothes on and left.”
The defendant was asked: “Is the truth that it suddenly dawned on you of the reality of what you had just done, and you wanted to get out of the flat as soon as possible?”
Holder replied: “No, not true.”
The defendant, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, denies charges of rape and assault by penetration.
The trial continues.
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