Local radio for East and West Sussex
Police have charged eight men in connection with a long-running investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales. The defendants, aged 54 to 73, face multiple rape and associated offences dating from 1985 to 1996. They are due before Newport Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
The High Court has dismissed the legal challenge against North Northamptonshire Council’s approval of Thrapston Business Park, a warehouse development north of Halden’s Parkway in Thrapston. IM Properties will deliver the project, promising 700+ jobs and over £100m in investment. Campaigners vow to appeal on two grounds, citing ecological concerns and cumulative impacts.
A makeup artist Ava Gillies (26) died after a two-vehicle crash near Wrelton, North Yorkshire, while Amber Street (from West Sussex) died in a three-vehicle crash near Arundel. North Yorkshire and Sussex police are investigating, with witnesses urged to come forward; several others were injured in the incidents.
A 16-year-old has been convicted of murder in Seaford, East Sussex, after fatally stabbing Joshua Ingram during a confrontation linked to a cannabis debt. The court found two other youths not guilty of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, while the 15-year-old and 17-year-old faced different verdicts involving assisting an offender. Sentencing is scheduled for October.
A Nice criminal court has found two men guilty of violence and incitement to hatred in relation to a livestreamed abuse of Raphael Graven (Jean Pormanove). Sentences are suspended, fines issued, and social-media bans imposed; the case follows scrutiny of Kick over regulation and moderation.
A London family visiting Shoreham Fort in West Sussex has died after entering the sea on Tuesday. A second daughter remains in hospital in critical condition. Sussex Police say the deaths are being treated as a tragic accident with no third‑party involvement; investigations continue.
A major blaze at Caldyne Business Park near Crawley has damaged hundreds of vehicles, cut power to thousands of homes and businesses, and prompted an arson investigation. Authorities say eight fire engines and water carriers tackled the scene; a 67-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of arson and has been bailed.
A wave of measures has expanded support for families as the new term begins: free school meals for all Universal Credit households, more free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniforms through branded-item limits, and thousands of extra childcare places. The changes aim to ease the financial squeeze and ensure children start classes ready to learn.
A fire at a third-party car parking site near Crawley has damaged about 140 vehicles and led to the arrest of a 67-year-old man on suspicion of arson. The incident disrupted operations for passengers using Sapphire Parking and affected power to local businesses.
Arnolda has turned a painful upbringing into a remarkable training career in Newmarket. After sleeping rough as a teen, he has become the first trainer of Black or Asian heritage in Flat racing’s HQ and now has multiple winners, underscoring resilience and opportunity in sport.
A drought-stressed tree in a Guardian-writer’s garden reveals a bustling, unseen ecosystem. Birds, bats and insects thrive in the dead wood as a treecreeper visits each autumn; the writer hopes for renewal as weather patterns shift.
Winnie-the-Pooh marks 100 years since the first Milne tale, celebrated with stamps, exhibitions, and a New York Public Library show. UK and US outlets highlight Pooh’s enduring popularity and the cross‑Atlantic tug‑of‑war over the bear’s home.