Plucky customer injured
in betting shop robbery
by David Skentelbery
A PLUCKY pensioner who tried to stop three thugs from robbing a Warrington betting shop was clubbed over the head and knocked to the floor.
Dave Rhodes, aged 66, suffered a cut to the head which required hospital treatment.
A quantity of cash was stolen in the raid on Causeway Racing, in Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington and the three raiders escaped.
But they were captured on CCTV cameras – including a shot of the moment one of them clubbed the have-a-go hero (above).
Now police are seeking witnesses of the raid, which occurred shortly before 8pm and would also like to hear from anyone who recognises the offender caught on camera.
The three men entered the betting shop, two armed with baseball bats and the third with an unknown weapon.
They smashed a glass partition to gain access to the rear of the premises, where they grabbed a quantity of cash.
As they left, Mr Rhodes confronted them and tried to pull a hood off one man’s face. But he was clubbed to the ground and the offenders ran off in the direction of Fletcher Street.
A police spokesman said: “We are anxious to speak to anyone who witnessed this incident, or who recognises anyone from the CCTV images.”
Anyone who can help should call either DC Stuart Eales or DC David Long at Warrington Police on 01244 613833.
Swindler jailed for
?24,000 benefit fraud
by court reporter
A MAN who swindled Warrington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) out of ?24, 497.28 in benefits, has been jail for 12 months and ordered to pay back the money.
Anthony Camillire, 57, of Percy Street, Warrington, pleaded guilty to eight counts of benefit fraud when he appeared before Warrington Crown Court.
The court heard that between August 1999 and October last year Camillire defrauded the council of ?2,683.83 Council Tax Benefit and the DWP of ?16,800.40 Income Support and ?5,013.05 Carers Allowance.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Benefit cheats are getting the message that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.
“We have introduced new methods of data matching – and the obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”
Fraud operations manager for the DWP Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help. Tough action against benefit crooks is paying off, but we can’t do it alone.”
He urged Warrington people to report alleged fraudsters, free and in confidence, on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline 0800 854 440.
The council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Department was also involved in the investigations.
Coun John Morris, the borough council’s executive member for resources, said: “The case of Mr Camillire is an excellent example of joint working between council departments and emphasises the benefits of working together with external agencies to achieve our aims.
“It is significant that a prison sentenced was given and reflects that the council and its partners are working together to combat fraud and the message is clear – benefit cheats will be caught.”
?3 million revamp
for top hotel
by Lesley Wilkinson
A THREE million pound investment in the Park Royal Hotel, Warrington, will refurbish and modernise the facilities according to new owners Quintessential Hotels.
All areas of the well-known hotel at Stretton, recently acquired by the company, will be improved during the programme that should be completed by early next year.
It coincides with a re-brand of owners Quintessential Hotels, as QHotels. The company is currently investing ?40 million in its five hotels throughout the country.
David Taylor, sales director of QHotels said: “The Park Royal is a great hotel with fabulous leisure facilities. A key part of our strategy is to handpick hotels such as the Park Royal and bring them back to their full potential, through investment whilst retaining their unique qualities.”
Originally built as the vicarage for the nearby Stretton Parish Church, the Park Royal was at first, appropriately, named the Old Vicarage Hotel.
In 1993 it was vastly enlarged with an ?8 million expansion and changed its name to Park Royal International. Later it became the Hanover International Hotel.
Last year there was a rumour it was to be sold and demolished to make way for housing. But it was then taken over by Quintessential who changed its name back to Park Royal Hotel.
Wolves see red to
help heart campaign
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Wolves did the unthinkable – they swapped their trademark primrose and blue for red! But it was all for a good cause. The team donned the “offending articles” to show their support for the British Heart Foundation’s Help a Heart Week which focuses on women and heart disease.
Help a Heart Week is the BHF’s biggest annual fundraising campaign and this year reminds that heart disease does not discriminate between men and women. The reality is this:
Heart and circulatory disease will kill more than 2400 women during Help a Heart Week.
One in three women are killed by heart and circulatory disease.
Nearly 1.2 million women in the UK are living with the daily burden of heart disease Yet despite these statistics, women of all ages remain largely unaware of the risks heart disease poses to their health, leaving too many hearts and families in crisis.
Warrington Wolves captain Lee Briers said: “We am really pleased to be supporting the BHF’s Help a Heart Week and hope that the people of Warrington will do the same by getting involved and helping in any way they can, to raise money for such a worthy cause”.
Help a Heart week aims to beat last year’s campaign, which raised over ?900,000.
Young chef wins
national acclaim
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CHEF from Bents Garden Centre, Glazebury, near Warrington reached the final eight in the national Academy of Culinary Arts annual Awards of Excellence.
Heats for the competition started in November, and Jane Milner, demi chef de partie at Bents’ Fresh Approach restaurant, beat off competition from Claridge’s, the Ritz and Raymond Blanc’s restaurant – Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, to reach the finals.
Jane, 22, a pastry chef has been at the restaurant for three and a half years. She was beaten at the final post, but judges said she had done well to reach the finals in her first attempt.
Yolande Stanley, chairman of the Academy’s Pastry Committee, said: “Her pastry work is of the highest standard and I have no doubt that the customers at the Fresh Approach would agree.”
For the final, held at Thames Valley University, Jane was required to make a Croquembouche, a conical tower of profiteroles and sugarwork centrepiece, during a five-hour session.
Centre owner Ron Bent said: “We are extremely proud of Jane and her fantastic achievement in reaching the final. She was up against extremely strong competition all the way, including participants from some of London’s top hotels, which would suggest that our customers enjoy pastries that are amongst the best in the UK.”
Residents anger over
“anti-social crime”
by John Hendon
RESIDENTS of the Howley area of Warrington have voiced their concern over police responses to anti-social crime in the area.
Police representatives who attended a meeting of the Fairfield and Howley Ward Forum came under intense questioning about their response to what was described as “low level anti-social crime” in the area.
The Forum, which represents all seven residents
associations in the ward, agreed that better communications between the police and public would be of benefit – particularly a direct mobile phone number for the local Community Action Team Fears were also expressed at the current level of “unbridled” development in the ward.
The meeting resolved to call on planners for a planning brief for the whole area and for planners to consult with local residents associations on specific planning applications.
Forum chairman Mike Hughes said community action was required by local residents.
He advised local people to attend residents’ association meetings, have their say and hold their representatives to account.
Arsonists torch
Range Rover
by staff reporter
A STOLEN Range Rover was dumped at the side of the Mersey at Warrington and set alight.
The V-registered vehicle was completely destroyed before firefighters could reach the scene, alongside the river near the headquarters of Warrington Rowing Club, off Kingsway.
Police are investigating.
Fire crews are also appealing to parents to warn children about the dangers of starting fires, following a big upsurge in the number of grass fires during the school holidays.
A spokesman said: “These fires are usually only of nuisance value, but they could result in us being diverted away from other, more serious, fires.”
