Matthew Smith, accused of the murder of pregnant mum-of-two Becky...

July 20, 2015, 3:49 am

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The man accused of the murder of a pregnant mother-of-two in Burnham-on-Crouch made his first appearance before the courts this morning (July 20).Matthew Smith, aged 23, from Wood Corner Caravan Park in Maldon, has been remanded in custody since his initial arrest on Friday and appeared in the dock at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court wearing a red custody jumper.The factory worker was charged with murder on Sunday after 23-year-old Becky Parker was found dead in a property in Booth Place, off Essex...

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Family pay tribute to murdered pregnant mother Becky Parker,...

July 22, 2015, 12:10 am

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The devastated family of Isobel Parker, who was murdered in Burnham on Friday, July 17 has described her as an absolute angel.Isobel was known by her friends and family as Becky. In a statement issued today her mother said: "Becky was such a bubbly girl and a fantastic mother who adored spending time with her two precious children. Her whole life revolved around her children."Becky's parents added: "We have been denied of our beautiful daughter and unborn granddaughter. Becky will...

Best friend of Burnham murder victim Becky Parker pays tribute to...

July 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

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One of the best friends of pregnant mum-of-two Becky Parker, who was strangled to death in her home, has paid tribute to a "great friend".Police were called to Booth Place in Essex Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, on Friday, where they found six month pregnant Isobel Rebecca Parker, known as Becky, dead in her bathroom.Becky's ex-boyfriend and father to her two children, Matthew Smith, 23, from Wood Corner Caravan Park in Maldon, was arrested on Friday afternoon, before being charged with the...

Neighbour disgusted by stock-piled rubbish bags and fear of rat...

July 26, 2015, 9:00 pm

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A YOUNG mother has condemned a neighbour for stockpiling rubbish bags so high she is forced to ban her children from playing outside.The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she has endured a torrid time from neighbour Andrea Pearce in Philip Road, Witham.The woman, who has lived in the street for more than 20 years, told the Chronicle: "At its worst, it was just horrendous."There were so many black bags in her back garden and they were piled as high as our three foot fence; it...

Roadside vigil of family and friends for biker killed last year

July 28, 2015, 7:00 am

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BIKING friends and the family of a 22-year-old mechanic killed on the road came together to celebrate his life on the anniversary of his death.Josh Marlow, who worked at John Simmons garage in Lower Southend Road, Wickford, died on July 25 last year when he was involved in a collision with a VW Golf in South Woodham Ferrers.A keen mountain biker, countryside shooting enthusiast and apprentice mechanic, Josh hoped to one day run his own business and was just one exam away from being fully...

Roadside vigil of family and friends for biker killed last year

July 28, 2015, 7:00 am

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BIKING friends and the family of a 22-year-old mechanic killed on the road came together to celebrate his life on the anniversary of his death.Josh Marlow, who worked at John Simmons garage in Lower Southend Road, Wickford, died on July 25 last year when he was involved in a collision with a VW Golf in South Woodham Ferrers.A keen mountain biker, countryside shooting enthusiast and apprentice mechanic, Josh hoped to one day run his own business and was just one exam away from being fully...

Braintree man denies rape and slavery charges after investigation...

July 28, 2015, 9:05 am

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A man denied charges of rape, assault by penetration and slavery offences, when he appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court.Kujtin Rexha, 43, of Jeffreys Road, Braintree, appeared via video link before Judge Anthony Goldstaub on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to seven charges, which allegedly took place at a car wash in Colchester Road, Little Bentley.Among the charges are two counts of rape, two of assault by penetration and three relating to slavery, with all the victims thought to be from...

WATCH: Essex Police release video after man found guilty of death...

July 30, 2015, 1:08 am

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A man has been convicted of causing death by careless driving following a road collision in Jaywick that resulted in the death of a 55-year-old man. Alan Baker, 73, of Brooklands in Jaywick, had previously pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to one count of causing death by careless driving, but was found guilty by a jury yesterday. Sentencing has been adjourned until Tuesday, August 25. The collision happened when Baker, who was driving a Ford Focus, was travelling along...

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Braintree burglar jailed after DNA found on a fizzy drink bottle...

July 31, 2015, 8:07 am

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A burglar has been jailed for three years after being caught with the help of a car tracker and a fizzy drink bottle.Dominic Francis, 23, had denied one charge of burglary and one of taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.But he was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, July 29.Francis, of High Street North, Newham, was sentenced to three years in jail for burglary and 12 weeks for taking the vehicle, to run concurrently.The owner of an Audi...

Witham DJ Fabrice Williams sentenced to 15 months in prison for...

July 31, 2015, 8:42 am

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A DJ who boasted he was a "free man" in 2013 after walking free from court despite admitting running a domestic cannabis farm has now been jailed for cultivating the drug.Fabrice Williams, 26, of Turstan Road in Witham, was sentenced to 15 months behind bars after pleading guilty to producing 6.21 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of £62,000 between July 1 and November 21 last year.Sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court this afternoon (July 31), Williams was given an eight...

Future of Chelmsford's iconic Shire Hall uncertain with 60...

July 31, 2015, 9:00 pm

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THE FUTURE of Chelmsford's most recognisable and historic building is still in limbo, despite a £6 million refurbishment being completed eight months ago.Renovations at Shire Hall were finished in November last year, but despite 60 proposals for the former magistrates' court, its future is still uncertain.Malcolm Noble, chairman of the Chelmsford Civic Society, said: "We are pleased a significant amount of money has been spent on cleaning, repairs and improvements. But it's extremely...

Daughter of murdered Maria Stubbings fights to keep Human Rights...

July 31, 2015, 9:30 pm

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THE daughter of a woman brutally murdered by her convicted killer ex-boyfriend will be the face of a new campaign to keep the Human Rights Act as part of British law.Celia Peachey, daughter of Maria Stubbings who was strangled to death with a pink dog lead and left in a downstairs toilet by her former partner in 2008, will be one of a group of people spearheading the movement.After a hard-fought six-year battle for justice, including two IPCC investigations and an inquest, Celia and her family...

Chelmsford music teacher Kieran Hope appears in court over new...

August 5, 2015, 3:52 am

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A suspended music teacher who denied a string of sex offences against pupils at the school where he worked appeared in court today facing an additional six charges dating back to 2011.Kieran Hope, 33, of Keith Avenue, Wickford, had previously appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court in June, where he pleaded not guilty to four counts against two teenage girls at a Chelmsford high school.Coming before magistrates this morning (August 5), Hope, who spoke only to confirm his name and address, faced an...

Heybridge company director jailed for two years over £250,0...

August 6, 2015, 7:04 am

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The director of three payroll and book-keeping companies who stole over £250,000 to keep his business afloat by pocketing his employees' tax and National Insurance Contributions and failing to pay VAT bills has been jailed for two years.For nearly seven years, Andrew Bettis, 43, Saltcote Maltings, Heybridge ,used the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system to deduct Income Tax and NICs from his employees' wages, but kept the money rather than pay it to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).Further...

Onesie-wearing Essex dad is jailed after being caught with...

August 7, 2015, 2:07 am

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A FATHER who was wearing a onesie when police caught him with more than £80,000 worth of cocaine has been sentenced to four years in prison.Nicholas Hills, 42, of Fremantle Close in South Woodham Ferrers, appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday morning, where the court heard that Hills had been working for a drug dealer to pay off an outstanding debt. Acting as an intermediary, Hills was tasked with cutting and processing the drugs, which amounted to just over a kilogram, and some...

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PICTURES: Candlelit vigil in Burnham for mum and alleged murder...

August 8, 2015, 4:40 am

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NEARLY 100 people lay roses and released balloons into the sky at a candlelit vigil in memory of pregnant mum-of-two Becky Parker.Family, friends and the members of the local community visited Booth Place in Burnham-on-Crouch, where the 23-year-old was found strangled to death at home last month, for the hour-long remembrance service.A playlist of Becky's favourite songs echoed out into the streets, while the release of pink balloons paid tribute to Becky and partner Shane Anderson's unborn...

Sunny Sailor pub ownerJohn Wilsdon slams Maldon council after...

August 9, 2015, 6:29 pm

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A BUSINESSMAN has slammed the council after being fined more than £5,000 for carrying out illegal building work on his grade two listed pub.John Wilsdon, 65, initially denied breaching building regulations by carrying out work on a chimney stack at the 300-year-old Sunny Sailor pub, days before it caught fire in December last year.He changed his plea to guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday, however, and was fined £5,250, while all charges against his wife Susan were...

Burnham-on-Crouch twinning with French town at an end through...

August 15, 2015, 8:00 pm

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A COMMUNITY group which forged links between Burnham-on-Crouch and its twin town in France has been forced to disband due to a lack of interest.In the year of its 35th anniversary, the Burnham Twinning Association shut down after a special meeting on Wednesday last week.Mark Bayliss, former deputy chairman of the association, said: "There are various factors but the key one is that we weren't able to recruit a chairman to lead the association."That is the principal reason for the...

£5,000 bill for former Heybridge Residents Association...

August 27, 2015, 10:00 pm

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THE former chairman of a vocal community group has had to pay almost £5,000 after the leader of Maldon District Council threatened to take him to court over derogatory comments.Councillor Miriam Lewis instructed her solicitors to take action against Don Benson, an integral figure in the Heybridge Residents' Association (HRA), following a long-running dispute.In addition to signing a document stating he won't make any unsubstantiated written or oral comments about Cllr Lewis, Mr Benson was...

'Idyllic' Rettendon is divided by deep-seated feuds and factions

August 30, 2015, 9:57 pm

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TWO years ago the Chronicle exposed the deep-seated conflicts in Rettendon.Beneath its genteel rural veneer, we revealed the truth of High Court writs, allegations of council misconduct, police investigations and the first contested parish by-election in a generation.Ill-will between factions even ran so deep that a rival publication was set up to the parish council newsletter to tackle what they believed were decisions taken behind closed doors.Speaking to the Chronicle at the time, resident...