Reading

Monday morning motorists will be welcoming the reopening of Cow Lane, Reading after the first phase of widening work.

The Reading thoroughfare has been closed since mid December, when Network Rail started work to remove and replace the southern bridge and lay a new road under the structure. The demolition of the old narrow barrel arch at Christmas has paved the way for a two lane highway, with a cycle lane and pedestrian footpath.

Work to the Reading northern Cow Lane bridge will finish in 2015, as it cannot be completed until the tracks above it are moved on to the new viaduct. At this point, motorists will feel the full benefit of the project, including a further reduction of congestion and double-decker buses allowed on the route.

The railway above Cow Lane was closed to trains on Christmas Eve. On Boxing Day a huge, 66-axle transporter lifted the 1,600 tonne bridge into place. Work finished on schedule with freight trains able to run again on 27th December.

Bill Henry, Network Rail’s programme director for the improvements at Reading said: “Since Christmas our team has been working hard, along with our partners Reading Borough Council, to re-model the drainage system under the bridge, complete the embankment works, clad the structure with bricks to enhance its appearance and provide a new road surface.

“We’re very thankful to the patience of local residents and commuters who bore with us while we finished off this very important phase of our works. Of course this is only the first step in widening Cow Lane and just one part of a huge project which will see an improved train service in Reading, as well as a fully upgraded station.”

Reading Motorists will also be able to see the extensive work that has also been done to the north bridge during the last month. A new deck has been installed which will allow work to continue in the area without any need to close the road again.

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The huge amount of works on-going in and around the station will be obvious to everyone. However for Reading’s residents the widening of the bridge at Cow Lane is an important landmark, particularly residents who live in the area or pass through it. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists will all benefit and I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the works took place.”

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after an attempted robbery in Reading last night (23/1).

At just after 8pm, a 21-year-old man was walking home from Coronation Square along an alleyway to Ashampstead Road and Hatford Road, Reading when a white man ran past him, with two black men chasing him.

As the man reached his own front garden in Brunel Road, someone grabbed him around the neck from behind. The Reading victim managed to shake him off and banged on his front door. The offender was then joined by four other black men in the victim’s front garden, who all began punching the victim, before one of them pulled a black firearm from his pocket and demanded the victim’s belongings. The victim stated he didn’t have anything with him, and the victim’s mother then came to the front door. All the men left the garden and walked off.

Nothing was stolen in the Reading incident. The victim sustained bruising to his ear.

Det Sgt Andy Beeney, investigating the Reading incident, said: “Fortunately the victim was not badly injured in this incident, however he was left very shaken.

“We do not know whether this was an imitation firearm or not at this stage and are keen to track down the people responsible. We are especially keen to speak to the white youth the victim saw being chased just before he was attacked.

“Anyone who saw the group or has any information about the incident, please contact us via the non-emergency number, 101.”

If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Inconsiderate Reading dog walkers who fail to clean up their pets mess will be targeted this week as part of a council blitz.

A footpath that runs between two schools – Geoffrey Field School and Christ the King Schools in Whitley – will be the focus of the Reading enforcement blitz after complaints by walkers and the two local schools.

Dog mess regularly left along the footpath is a growing problem, with children regularly walking dog mess into the school buildings as a result.

Each year thousands of complaints are received by local authorities nationally about dog mess. While the majority of owners are responsible and pick up after their dog, a careless few are still giving dog owners a bad name. And locally Reading Borough Council’s recent ‘We Need To Talk’ consultation showed one of the major areas Reading residents wanted strong action on were anti-social dog walkers who failed to clean up after their pets.

Next Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th of January, Reading Council enforcement officers will be positioned along the footpath in Whitley, both before the school day begins and after school, to target inconsiderate dog walkers. Any dog mess left behind will be sprayed pink to highlight the problem and fines of £75 will be issued if necessary.

The Council’s Streetcare Team is contacting the schools to ask if children can design posters which can then be placed along the footpath fence to help educate dog walkers.

Paul Gittings, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, said: “It is not a surprise that the recent ‘We Need to Talk’ consultation showed dog mess up as one of people’s major bugbears. We as councillors regularly receive complaints about it. I hope this small initiative in Whitley can be replicated elsewhere in the borough and will help to educate some inconsiderate dog walkers about how important it is to clean up after their pets.”

Reading Borough Council

Joint Reading CPS and TVP press release

A young woman and two men found guilty of sex offences against a 16-year-old Reading girl have been sentenced today (19/1).

Amber Roderick, aged 19, of no fixed abode, Joseph Lawrence, aged 29, from Oxford Road, Reading, and Patrick Maughan, aged 26, from Sun Street, Reading, appeared at Reading Crown Court today and were sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence (due to being deemed a dangerous offender), seven-years imprisonment, and six-years imprisonment respectively. All three were also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

At Reading Crown Court on 6 October 2011, Roderick pleaded not guilty to assault by penetration and causing a person to engage in sexual activity, Lawrence pleaded not guilty to rape, and Maughan pleaded not guilty to attempted rape and rape. They were all found guilty of their respective offences, by a jury on 9 December 2011 after a two-week trial at Reading Crown Court.

The court heard that on 3 April 2011, the 16-year-old victim (now 17) was taken, with her consent, to an address in Reading by Maughan in his van. She had arranged to meet Roderick at the address, but found there were a number of other men present, including Lawrence. The trio gave the victim alcohol and subjected her to an ordeal of sexual abuse, during which she was threatened by Lawrence with a knife and raped by him. Maughan attempted to rape her, and when he was unable to do so, with the aid and encouragement of Roderick, he raped her orally. Roderick also sexually assaulted the victim.

The court was told that on a couple of occasions the Reading victim tried to ring for help and tried to seek refuge in the bathroom before eventually escaping.

Victoria Griffiths, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “These were horrendous offences committed and encouraged by a supposed friend. The use of force upon the 16-year-old girl and the fact there were a number of people involved, increases the severity and seriousness of these offences.

“Roderick was an 18-year-old girl at the time of the offence and was on licence for very serious sexual offences committed when she was just 15, in Cardiff.

“In this case, Roderick appeared to be the ringleader. She befriended the 16-year-old girl in Reading and lured her to the address she was staying at and where Lawrence and other men were present.

“The CPS takes all allegations of rape seriously and has specialist rape prosecutors who have expertise in dealing with sexual offences cases. We work with the police and the courts to ensure that victims are given the best possible support.

“Cases of rape and other serious sexual offences can be extremely difficult to prosecute. Such cases need to be dealt with very sensitively.

“The sentences given today recognise the severity of the offences and the vulnerability of the victim. We will continue to vigorously prosecute offenders who target young and vulnerable victims.

“I hope that today’s sentences provide the victim with some measure of justice that will help her put this terrible episode behind her and move forward in her life.”

Detective Constable Russell Prentice, of Thames Valley Police, said: “I am really pleased with the result of the trial and the sentence. I hope the outcome will help the young victim begin to put some closure to what happened. My colleagues and I have completed a lot of detailed work when investigating this sensitive and complicated case and worked closely with the CPS and their specialist rape prosecutors.

“Thames Valley Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously. We have specially trained officers available 24 hours a day to manage the needs of people reporting crimes of this nature and now have two Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCS) called Solace Centres to provide specialist facilities including medical care, counseling, sexual health services and provisions to gather evidence.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading