Oxford News
Oxford university ‘actively monitoring’ meningitis outbreak
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases of meningitis have been confirmed and a further 12 are under investigation.
This takes the total to 27 cases of either confirmed or suspected meningitis, up from 20 on Wednesday. Two students have died in the outbreak.
So far, there are no recorded cases of meningitis in Oxfordshire.
Both Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University have been distributing advice to its respective students around meningitis.
A spokesman from Oxford Brookes said: “The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority.
“We shared health advice with students and staff earlier this week, including information on the signs and symptoms of meningitis and the importance of seeking urgent medical attention if they, or someone they know, feels unwell.
“We are actively monitoring the situation and are working in line with guidance from Public Health England and the UK Health Security Agency.”
Oxford University students went home for the end of term on March 14, prior to the outbreak in Kent, and are expected to come back to the city in April.
Staff have been sharing information and advice with students in the meantime.
On a visit to the University of Kent on Thursday, health secretary Wes Streeting said the menB jab will be offered to more people.
According to Mr Streeting, more than 600 vaccinations were administered on the first afternoon. Thousands of students will be offered it in the coming days.
The White Horse Medical Centre in Faringdon said: “We know this has caused concern, and many patients have contacted us already.
“Good news for Oxfordshire. There are currently no cases or concerns in Oxfordshire.
“All confirmed cases remain centred in Kent, with no evidence of spread to other regions.”
Oxford University Hospitals Trust said: “Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.
“The NHS website has all the information you need, including what to look out for and when to get medical help.
“Visit nhs.uk and search ‘Meningitis’ or visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/.”
The Health Secretary told reporters on the Canterbury campus that the outbreak of meningitis “isn’t like Covid”, and that the risk to the general public is “extremely low”.
MenB spreads through prolonged close contact or intimate contact such as kissing.
Symptoms of meningitis and sepsis can include a high temperature, cold hands and feet, vomiting, confusion, muscle and joint pain, pale, mottled or blotchy skin, spots or a rash, a headache, a stiff neck, aversion to bright lights, being very sleepy and seizures.
The UKHSA has urged those who think they may have symptoms to seek medical help by contacting their GP or calling NHS 111.
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.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which provides physical, mental health and social care across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, has said it expects services to remain largely unaffected thanks to established continuity plans.
During the strike, care will continue to be delivered through strong multi-disciplinary team (MDT) working, including consultants, specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and wider clinical teams.
Dr Karl Marlowe, chief medical officer at Oxford Health, said: “We want to reassure patients and the public that services will continue during this period of industrial action.
“Patients should attend appointments as planned unless contacted directly by the Trust.
“Patient safety remains our top priority, and our multidisciplinary teams with medical input will continue to work together to provide high-quality care.
“We are grateful to all our colleagues at Oxford Health who will be supporting patients during this time.”
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced industrial action will take place from 7am on Tuesday, April 7, until 6.59am on Monday, April 13.
Nationally, the NHS is asking the public to support services during the strike by checking on vulnerable relatives and neighbours, ensuring they have enough prescription medication, and carrying a basic first aid kit when travelling.
For urgent medical advice, people are encouraged to contact NHS 111.
In a life-threatening emergency, they should dial 999.
The relaunch comes just in time for the Easter holidays and coincides with the park’s 56th anniversary.
After being fully modernised, the playground now offers an immersive experience across three levels of interconnected treehouses.
The project was delivered in partnership with playground specialists CAP.CO and the park’s own grounds team.
Paul Edwards, head of grounds at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, said: “As you may know, the original Skymaze was built 12 years ago.
“After a decade of immense popularity and heavy use, the structure had begun to deteriorate.
“The decision was made to completely rebuild it from the ground up, designing a future-proof version of the much-loved adventure playground.
“Over the next few months, with invaluable consultation with RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), we collaborated closely with CAP.CO – the company that constructed our original Skymaze – and plans started to emerge.”
Skymaze features wooden walkways, rope bridges, crawl tunnels, slides, climbing walls, and a ‘wonky walkway’.
The revamped playground is the biggest investment the park has made in its play facilities.
Mr Edwards said: “With the designs finalised, we scheduled the demolition of the old Skymaze and reconstruction of the new one to take place during winter, ensuring the project would be completed in time for the Easter holidays – a huge undertaking.
“Disposing of the old Skymaze was a mammoth task on its own.
“Our grounds team, alongside CAP.CO, worked tirelessly to complete the work in time.”
The new Skymaze is constructed using more than 600 pieces of timber and 120 Robinia structural poles, each set one metre deep in concrete.
Mr Edwards said: “After months of intense building, the new Skymaze is now complete.
“We are sure the updated version will be enjoyed for many years to come.
“We hope you enjoy the new upgrade.”
The playground, on the same site since the park opened in 1970, first featured a slide bought from Burford Primary School.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, a handmade Trojan Horse was the main attraction, while the original swings remain in place, though only the chains and seats have been replaced.
The highest point of the new Skymaze is a viewing platform more than 20ft high.
For younger visitors, the nearby Mini-Manor offers slides, a mini zip wire, and interconnected treehouses.
Cotswold Wildlife Park is open daily from 10am, with last admission at 4pm.
During winter, last entry is at 3pm.
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