Dennis Campbell, 52, from Cornwood Gardens, Reading was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 3rd, following a joint investigation by Reading Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. The investigation was further to information that had been received about an allegation of undisclosed capital.

Mr Campbell had been claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit from Reading Borough Council and also Job Seekers’ Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions, dating back to 1998.

The Reading Council and DWP obtained information from bank statements that showed Mr Campbell had held balances in excess of between £26,000 and £49,000 for the duration of his claims for all benefits.

Mr Campbell was formally interviewed by DWP officers and the Council’s housing benefit investigators. Despite being in contact with Reading Council with regard to issues on his housing benefit claim, Mr Campbell had consistently failed to disclose the fact he held capital above the limit to claim benefits.

Following further enquires, he was formally charged with offences under The Fraud Act 2006 and Section 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Mr Campbell pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud involving two charges of false representations made to the DWP and a further three charges of failures to promptly report changes in his circumstances to both Reading Borough Council and the DWP.

The offences covered the period, July 2005 through to October 2011 and involved an overpayment of benefits totalling £50,800.89. All of the money Mr Campbell fraudulently received will be retrieved by the Council.

Residents who suspect someone of benefit fraud can freephone 0500 500 777.

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police has released an e-fit of a man it would like to speak to in relation to an incident of fraud and criminal damage in Reading.

At about 12.30pm on 24 April, two men knocked on the door of a 72-year-old man’s property in Downshire Square, Reading to ask if they could park their vehicle across his drive as they were working at another address in the road.

One of the men then told the victim that if he permitted them to park at his property they would fix a broken tile on his roof, free of charge. At this point the second man climbed onto the roof of the victim’s home and removed a number of tiles.

After surveying the loft, the men discovered a hole where a tile had been removed and quoted the victim £12,000 to repair the damage, or £8,000 if he paid them in cash.

The men said they would return for payment at 3pm, but the occupant felt intimidated so called the police.

The offenders were seen driving away in a white van.

Police want to speak to the man pictured in the e-fit, as he may have valuable information which could assist officers in their investigation.

If you have any information about the Reading incident please contact PC 6850 Julie Farragher via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

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The small plot of land surrounds the Reading New Directions Centre in Northumberland Avenue and was derelict before the team of volunteers got to work.

The Reading site will now be further developed to grow plants, vegetables and herbs. The centre also features a teaching kitchen which will be used by various organisations to cook with some of the local produce being grown.

The Prince’s Trust volunteers study for the Certificate in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills and the transformation of the garden became the community element of their qualification. Sir John Madejski and Mr Charles Brims (High Sheriff of Berkshire) presented their certificates at a ceremony at Madejski Conference Centre last month.

New Directions is Reading Borough Council’s Learning and Employment Service and is part of the steering group working towards transforming the garden.

In addition to New Directions, the steering group includes Let’s Get Going and Eat 4 Health (both linked to the NHS and promote healthy eating) to adults and families), Food 4 Families (have a network of food growing gardens across Reading where parents and children will learn how to grow their own food together), Thames Valley Housing, and the Reading Borough Council’s Planning Team. Thrive, a local charity that enable those touched by a disability to transform their lives using gardening, has shown an interest and would like a group to use the garden.

Lead Councillor for Education, John Ennis, said “I’m delighted that New Directions continues to find innovative ways to work with a broad range of partners providing opportunities for all the community”.

Community groups interested in making use of the garden should contact New Directions on 0345 842 0012.

Reading Borough Council

A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in jail for stabbing a man in Reading, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Marlon Rowe, of Mey Close, Calcot, Reading pleaded guilty to GBH wounding with intent at Reading Crown Court on 22 April. He was sentenced to nine years in jail on Friday (10/5).

The case relates to an incident on 11 December, 2012. At round 12.20am Rowe met the victim, who was known to him, in an alleyway between Ian Mikardo Way and Managua Close, Reading. They got into an argument and Rowe stabbed the victim several times.The 33-year-old victim, from Reading, sustained deep slash wounds to his arms, face and stomach which required immediate surgery.

Investigating officer Det Con Jim Howden said: “This was a vicious attack which left the victim in a very serious condition. I am pleased that justice has been done and Rowe has been given a lengthy sentence reflecting the severity of the attack.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Former rough grassland at Fobney Island has now been transformed thanks to a joint conservation project between Reading Borough Council, Thames Water and Thames Rivers’ Restoration Trust.

The new Fobney Island Nature Reserve will be formally opened at 11am on Friday, May 17th. Children from local schools will be some of the first to look around the reserve and will be joined by people who have helped with the project.

The opening event will include guided walks around the reserve, an educational display, face painting and other activities.

In 2011, Reading Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Thames Water and Thames Rivers’ Restoration Trust, worked in partnership to improve Fobney Island for wildlife and nature based recreation. Berkshire Ornithological Club and Reading and District Angling Association provided specialist advice throughout the project.

The area is now a mosaic of wetland, wildflower meadow, hay meadow and reed bed habitats, with new ponds and river features.

Marian Livingston, Reading’s lead councillor for culture and sport; said: “Fobney Island is a beautiful site. The new wetland nature reserve will provide an excellent resource for learning about local nature, as well as providing a tranquil leisure facility for the people of Reading.”

Reading Borough Council

At 6.45pm the victim was walking along Oxford Road towards Brock Barracks, Reading texting on her phone when she was approached by two boys on mountain bikes.

As they rode past one tried to grab her phone but missed and grabbed her hand instead.

The victim’s hand was aching after the incident but did not require hospital treatment.

Both boys were black and about 17 years of age.

The Reading boy who tried to grab the phone is slim and about 6ft 4ins. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, black jacket, black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

The second boy is slim and about 6ft. He was wearing a white hooded top with the hood up, black jacket, black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the offence or anyone who saw the Reading offenders in the area at the time.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Shamsher Dhothar of Loddon Valley police station via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Roy Edward Watt from Bob green Court had been falsely claiming £16,261 of housing benefit and council tax benefit from Reading Borough Council between December 2010 and April 2012. On January 12, 2011, he also made a false claim for pension credits in a call to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Following a joint investigation by the DWP and Reading Borough Council, information obtained from Mr Watt’s bank statements showed he had a balance in excess of £122,000 at the time of making the claims. He had stated in benefits application forms that he only had £200 in the bank.

Mr Watt pleaded guilty to three charges involving false representations made to the Council and DWP and was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 21st March 2013. Not only did he receive a suspended custodial sentence, but was also told by magistrates to do 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay compensation (Reading Borough Council) of £5,000.

The court also ordered he pay legal costs of £969.62.

Jo Lovelock, leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “The Council takes all incidents of benefit fraud extremely seriously and has a good working relationship with other agencies such as DWP to ensure those guilty of fraud are caught and brought to justice. If anyone suspects anyone of receiving benefits they are not entitled, they should contact the Council.”

People caught cheating the benefits system can be fined up to £5,000 and be given a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment or both (in magistrates’ court).

If the case if referred to Crown Court, the penalties are more severe, where the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine or up to seven years imprisonment or both.

In addition to the fines and sentences imposed by the court, all of these residents will be required to repay the benefits falsely received.

Arrangements will be made between residents and the Council to recover the overpayment of benefit.

If you suspect anyone of fraudulently claiming benefits, call the confidential hotline on (0500) 500 777 or go to www.reading.gov.uk/adviceandbenefits/housingandcounciltaxbenefits

Reading Borough Council

A 23-year-old man has been jailed for three years after carrying out a series of robberies in Reading.

James Andrews, of Southcote Road, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday 30 April, after admitting carrying out three robberies in Prospect Park on 7 March, 20 March and 26 March.

He was jailed for two years for each of the robberies on 7 and 26 March, and three years for the robbery on 20 March. The sentences will run concurrently.

In the first incident, which happened at 3.50pm on Thursday 7 March, a 13-year-old boy was walking in the park with a friend when they were approached by Andrews, who was on his bike. Andrews asked the victim for the time and when he took out his phone he grabbed it off him, threatening him with violence if they told anyone about the incident.

At about 3.10pm on Wednesday 20 March, a 17-year-old boy was walking through the park when Andrews approached him and asked for the time. When the victim took his phone out of his pocket, Andrews pulled out a knife and threatened him with it, before cycling off with his phone.

In the third incident, at about 3.45pm on Tuesday 26 March, a 13-year-old boy was approached by Andrews who threatened him, before taking the phone off him by force.

Det Con Rebecca Humphrey, of Local CID in Reading, said: “I welcome the custodial sentence given to James Andrews, who chose younger victims to target in order to steal their mobile phones.

“In all three incidents he used force and threatened the victims with violence, which is wholly unacceptable. Incidents like this are dealt with extremely seriously by both the police and the courts.

”We would also like to thank the public for their help and for the assistance of the victims and witnesses who also helped ensure this successful outcome.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

More than 80 local businesses and 2,000 people will take part in the challenge over a three week period from 6th to 26th May. The challenge, which is being organised by Reading Borough Council, is aimed at encouraging people to hop on a bike to experience the benefits of riding first hand.

People can cycle anywhere they like, anytime they like over the three-week period. The Reading organisations that get the most staff riding for just 10 minutes or more will win prizes. These include a new Trek 29er Mountain Bike from AW Cycles, 500 cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers, spa vouchers and more.

Foster Wheeler and BG Group are among 67 businesses who are already signed up to the Challenge and there will be a live league table on the Easy Cycle Challenge website showing which organisations are currently in the lead.

This year’s event follows the successful Reading Cycle Challenge which took part last year. Three months after that event, 40% of the non-cyclists who took part were cycling regularly each week.

Registrations for this year’s Challenge are still open and it’s free to take part. For more information, go to www.easycyclechallenge.org.uk.

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, said: “We hope this year’s challenge is bigger and better than last year’s event with more people at more businesses taking part. The challenge is just one initiative we are running as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme to encourage more people to choose cycling. We hope that by encouraging businesses to take part in this event, employees will realise the benefits of cycling. “

Reading Borough Council