Summary

  • Live updates for Friday, 27 January 2017

  • Teenager denies Harlow manslaughter of Polish man

  • Disruption on trains expected to last into Friday evening

  • Commuters angry over lack of rail replacement buses

  • Colchester MP says train situation 'not acceptable'

  1. Businessman had locked himself in a bedroom before being shotpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Simms and Bergin believed drugs were being grown at Timothy Mardon's mansion.

    Sible Hedingham gun shotImage source, Essex Police

    After they gained entry, their victim locked himself in a bedroom but was shot through the door (pictured).

    He had a serious leg injury and an arterial bleed. Police officers were able to use a tourniquet to stem the blood flow. 

  2. Mansion shooting pair jailed for 20 and 14 yearspublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Two men have been jailed for their part in the shooting of a businessman during a failed robbery at his mansion in Sible Hedingham.

    Timothy Mardon, 51, was shot through a door at his home in north Essex last February. He was left for dead, but survived.

    Sible Hedingham mansion

    Charlie Simms, 23, of North Road in Great Yeldham, was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated burglary following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in December.

    Christopher Bergin, 28, of Hawkwood Road in Sible Hedingham, was jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of wounding with intent and aggravated burglary.

    The trial heard the two men had gone to the property in the mistaken belief Mr Mardon had drugs which they could steal.

    Both men will have to serve a period of time on extended licence once they are released from jail.

  3. Pair jailed for shooting man in bodged mansion burglarypublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017
    Breaking

    Two men have been jailed for shooting a businessman during a bodged burglary in Sible Hedingham near Halstead last year.

    More to follow...

  4. Man charged over police officer assaultpublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    A man is charged over the alleged assault of a police officer whose car was taken with a police dog in the back.

    Read More
  5. Former care minister "disgusted" over Dean Saunders casepublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A former care minister says he believes mentally ill prisoners are being "let down" by the authorities.

    Dean SaundersImage source, Saunders family

    Last week, an inquest jury criticised Chelmsford jail after Basildon inmate, Dean Saunders (pictured), took his own life. 

    He was at the Essex prison while on remand, having attacked his father during a 'paranoid episode'. 

    Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb says he's "disgusted really" about the way the system serves people with mental health problems. 

    "There are far too many people who end up in prison essentially because of their ill health. They shouldn't be there. 

    "Dean Saunders should not have been in prison. There was clear evidence he should have been sectioned.

    "These are people under the care of the state and we are failing them miserably in my view."

    A report out this morning from the prisons ombudsman found a "catalogue of failures" by the prison system contributed to his suicide. 

  6. The future sound of live music?published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    BBC Essex

    Have a listen to UNIT, two musicians mixing visuals with electronic sounds and played on a 360 degree stage, which allows audience to immerse themselves in the sound: 

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  7. Southend winding-up petition dismissedpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    A winding-up petition brought against Southend United is dismissed after they pay the debt owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

    Read More
  8. A12 widening options revealedpublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Simon Dedman
    BBC Essex political reporter

    Plans to widen the A12 have been revealed.

    The first option includes adding a lane along the existing road. 

    Option two (pictured - for detailed illustrations of all four options, visit Highways England, external) would see additional lanes being added to create more of a motorway-style road at certain sections.

    A12 widening - option twoImage source, Crown Copyright

    Options 3 and 4 focus on turning the A12 into a three-laned road between junction 19 (Chelmsford) and 25 (A120).

    People are being encouraged to take part in debates about the widening, external at various meetings across the county in February.  

    The A12 is part of strategic road network and connects the Felixstowe and Harwich ports to London.

  9. Witnesses sought after man injured by youthspublished at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A man in his 50s has been injured after trying to break up a fight in Rochford.

    It happened at about 23:30 on Saturday, 14 January on Rectory Road and involved a large group of youngsters. 

    About four of them then turned on the victim, leaving him with injuries to his head and leg.

    Essex Police, external are appealing for witnesses.

  10. Electrocution death inmate 'let down'published at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    "Too little" was done to protect a prison inmate who electrocuted himself, a report finds.

    Read More
  11. Union hits 'brick wall' over continued suspension of senior fire officerpublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Nick Alliker
    BBC Essex

    A senior fire union official says 'they've hit a brick wall" in finding out why the county's chief fire officer continues to remain suspended from his job on full pay. 

    David Johnson has been off work for 21 months because of a number of misconduct allegations. 

    Earlier today, BBC Essex revealed that a leaked internal report for Essex Fire Authority , externalsaid none of the claims against him had been proven. 

    Craig Thomson is a national officer with the Fire Officers' Association, external.

    "We've asked this question on a number of occasions," he said.

    "Why this investigation has taken so long and why this suspension has continued for so long? 

    "It appears that the fire authority doesn't want Mr Johnson to return to work. 

    "We've been given no answers whatsover. We've not even received the courtesy of a response."

  12. Groundsman sacked after postponementpublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Southend United sack their head groundsman after Saturday's game against Bolton was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

    Read More
  13. Man charged after officer assaulted and police car stolen with dog in backpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A man is due to appear in court this morning in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer and theft of his police vehicle, which had a police dog in the back.Tony Turner, 36, of Vincent Road, Dagenham will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

    Tony TurnerImage source, Essex Police

    He will face charges of assault, furnishing false information, driving other than in accordance with a licence, possessing identity documents with intent, aggravated vehicle taking, escape from lawful custody and driving without insurance.

    The charges relate to an incident which took place in Pudding Lane, Chigwell, on 31 October, 2015. 

    The car was found later in Romford with the dog, a Labrador, unharmed.

  14. Seven flights diverted from London to Stanstedpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    The fog has led to seven flights being diverted to London Stansted this morning - all of them from London City airport.

    Foggy LondonImage source, PA

    Stansted is able to deal with a maximum of seven diverts so is at its limit.

    Air passengers are being told to check with their airlines about the status of their flights because of foggy conditions affecting all southern airports including Stansted and Southend. 

     A number of services have been cancelled at Heathrow due to the adverse weather. 

  15. A12: Listen to the options for improvementpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    The A12 carries up to 90,000 vehicles a day between Boreham and Marks Tey. 

    Listen to the improvements being being put out for consultation:

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  16. Dean Saunders: Ombudsman report says 'catalogue of failures'published at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    A report from the Prison and Probation Ombudsman,, external published this morning into the death of Dean Saunders at HMP Chelmsford, has found a catalogue of failures contributed to his suicide.  

    Dean SaundersImage source, Saunders family

    The report said staff ignored "significant underlying risk factors for suicide" when they reduced his level of observations. 

    Mr Saunders, 25, killed himself while on remand in January 2016. 

    It also concluded there was no clinical input into the decision to reduce his observations, from constant watch to every half hour, and due attention wasn't paid to Mr Saunders self-harming.  

    Mr Saunders was "seriously mentally ill" says the report and needed hospital treatment.  

    "Sadly the criminal justice system did too little to protect this very vulnerable man," the report said. 

    An inquest jury on Friday concluded that neglect by prison and healthcare staff contributed to Mr Saunders' death. 

    Figures due to be published later this week are likely to show the number of suicides in prisons in England and Wales in 2016 to be at record levels.  

  17. Plans to 'triple lane' the A12 go on showpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Simon Dedman
    BBC Essex political reporter

    A public consultation to widen a road in Essex that's been dubbed the worst in Britain opens today.

    A12Image source, Google

    Plans to triple-lane the A12 will be on show at Chelmsford's Civic Centre with details also available on the Highways England website, external this morning.

    The first phase of turning the A12 into a three-lane, motorway style road will be between J19 at Chelmsford to Marks Tey at J25.

    I understand there will be several options on the table including building new sections of the A12 in parallel to the current road to minimise disruption.

    Anyone can have their say on the options and it is hoped work on the chosen route will be under way by 2020.

  18. Snooker: Ronnie masters the Masters for record haulpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    BBC Sport

    Chigwell's Ronnie O'Sullivan has won a record seventh Masters after beating Joe Perry 10-7 at Alexandra Palace.  

    Here are a few of the highlights of how O'Sullivan did it. 

  19. Fog may hit flightspublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Stansted Airport, external says check before you travel if you're flying from the north Essex terminal.

    Plane in fogImage source, PA

    It's because of the fog. 

    Flights have already been affected at Heathrow, London City and Luton as a result of the freezing fog covering much of southern England.

  20. Colchester United defender named EFL Young Player of the Monthpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2017

    BBC Sport

    Colchester United's Frankie Kent has been named the Football League's Young Player of the Month for December.

    Colchester United logoImage source, BBC Sport

    The defender's return to the team has coincided with a run of form which has seen them climb into League Two's play-off places. 

    Kent says being part of an improved side has helped him. 

    "The way the team has been playing and the performances we've been putting in I think has really helped. There's been a big, big improvement in the team. I can't thank the boys enough."