News in Thurrock

THE officer in charge of running Thurrock's town centre policing teams has been honoured for his work.

Sgt Ben Forbes says he is 'shocked and humbled' after being nominated for the British Citizen Award for Services to the Community, which is described as being for someone that is a pillar of their local community and someone that local residents relate to, rely upon, or seek advice from.

THURROCK Council's chief executive Lyn Carpenter has delivered a festive message and spoken of the challenge of the coming year and new decade in the borough.

She says: "As we head towards the end of 2019, it has been quite a year for the public sector in many ways.

AN exclusion order has been placed on a Corringham man, banning him from entering a number of streets in the town.

The ban follows Dean Eric Randall's plea of not guilty to a stalking charge, in which he is said to have harassed a Corringham woman (who we have chosen not to name) by attending her Corringham home, following her to and from work and loitering around her work place.

A LOCAL charity co-ordinator has paid tribute to and thanked one of her volunteers who opened up her home to lonely people at Christmas.

Loraine Coleman is the regional co-ordinator for the ReEngage charity (formerly Contact the Elderly) which helps older people who are lonely be arranging tea parties and events.

A NOTORIOUS drunk who once captured national media headlines after urinating on a war memorial in Grays Town Centre has once more been hauled before the courts because of her behaviour.

Kelly Martin, 45, said to be of Oak Road, Grays, was released on unconditional bail after her latest appearance before magistrates just before Christmas.

THE Friends of Hardie Park and local supporters played host to older folk from the local community on Christmas Day and provided them with a Christmas meal.

It proved a memorable and enjoyable occasion.

A MAN who breached a court order to enter Grays High Street in order to steal was hailed for 18 weeks by Basildon magistrates.

However, just five days later he entered the town's Poundstretcher store and stole multiple packs of shower gel and bodyspray.

Pub boss says State cinema project is still a goer and it will happen to support Grays' regeneration.

A CZECH man living in Thurrock changed his plea to guilty and will now face sentence after admitting stalking and harassing a woman in Grays.

Included in his litany of offences was sending her handwritten notes - one which had his fingerprint in blood inside a heart on it.

TONY Burgess, 37, of Southey Walk, Tilbury, will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, 20 January 2020 after admitting carrying out a theft while serving a suspended sentence for previous offences.

Jeffrey, of Mellow Purgess Close, Basildon, was jailed for six weeks by Basildon magistrates who heard he has committed the offence shortly after being released from prison and while subject to licence conditions. He has a record of previous similar offences.