Sun shines on New Addington People's Carnival

June 21, 2014, 11:59 am

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PYTHONS, motorbikes, medieval re-enactment fighting and death-defying stunts were among the fun at the first day of the New Addington People's Carnival today. The sun shone over Milne Park and the many shows, stalls, contests, fun-fair rides and ice-creams, with the procession due to take place from midday tomorrow. Beautifully dressed Connor Lockhart, 7, and Della Mead were crowned carnival king and queen, while winning prince and princess were Aaliyah Ollivierre, 3, and Zack Gardner, three months. Among those enjoying the day were Marie Smith, 32, and her two-year-old twins Lexi and Karlel. She said: "I come every year - it is a fun day. "I have been around the fun-fair and we went on one of the rides all together; [Lexi] was a bit scared." Fifteen acts competed in New Addington's Got Talent, including singers, a flautist and a gymnast. Nicola Catley, 6, won the contest with her performance of Naughty from the musical of Matilda by Roald Dahl, and will perform in tomorrow's procession. Second place went to young crooner Ethan Harper while gymnast Amy Wilson and singer Rosie Vant tied in third. Also winning a contest was tiny chihuahua Ted, who came first in musical chairs for dogs. His owner, Sam Broye, said: "The weekend is a lot of fun. "I live in Shrublands (Shirley) but was brought up here and always come to the carnival. "I will be coming back tomorrow for the procession." The procession is due to leave Vulcan Way between noon at 12.15pm and arrive in Milne Park at 1pm. Also up tomorrow (Sunday June 22) in Milne Park will be performances by Countrywide Falconry, Stannage International Stunt Show, Fair Isles Medieval Society, Bromley Gems Cheerleaders and Future Born Music. The procession will be led by the Royal British Legion Farnborough Branch Corps of Drums, and is scheduled to be judged at 1.45pm. An all-faiths church service is due to be held at 10.15am, with all times approximate and subject to change. (More photos to follow)

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Sanderstead garage blast prompts safety warning from councillor

June 22, 2014, 12:00 am

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A WARD councillor says the authority should "monitor carefully" safety practices at a garage where a major fire last week injured a customer. Fire authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze at Ken's Autos in Limpsfield Road last Wednesday, which followed a smaller fire at the same branch in January. Sanderstead councillor Tim Pollard said council officers had also been called in after complaints last November that garage workers were unsafely disposing of waste, including car parts, in a residential area behind the garage. He said: "There have been three incidents there in three months. The appropriate way forward is for the council's community safety team to be monitoring the site carefully." The council had not responded by the time the paper went to press as to what action, if any, it was taking following the blaze. A spokesman for the workplace safety watchdog the Health and Safety Executive said on Tuesday the incident had not been flagged up to them for investigation. No-one at Ken's Autos was available to discuss the matter, as the Advertiser went to press. The 28-year-old injured in last Wednesday's fire was taken to hospital from the scene with roughly 25 per cent burns to his face, arms and legs, a London Fire Brigade spokesman said. Some 80 to 100 people were evacuated from the area shortly after 11am due to fears gas cylinders were involved in the fire, which broke out, although firefighters quickly ruled this out. The fire caused serious damage to about 60 per cent of the ground floor, 30 per cent of the roof, two cars and a van. Lyn Cattini had been visiting a friend in houses behind the garage at the time and told the Advertiser: "All of a sudden we heard a bang and I looked out of her window and there was black smoke everywhere, so I said to her, 'We had better get out'." Shaun Jones, 56, described seeing workers try to make sure others were safe, adding: "Everyone ran out to the front, they were moving cars away, clearing everyone out, away from the building. "They ran back a few times to get a few other cars out but could not get the keys to all the cars in the forecourt."

Driver helped out by firefighters after car flips at Fiveways Corner

June 22, 2014, 1:03 am

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A DRIVER had to be helped out of his car by firefighters after it landed on its side following a crash. Emergency services were called to Fiveways Corner junction, Waddon, at about 5am this morning following the collision between two cars. A spokesman for Croydon fire station's red watch said crews helped the driver, thought to be in his forties, out of his flipped Ford Focus. He said: "Because it was on its side it was very difficult for him to get out and also very unstable so we used some shoring-up equipment to make it stable and gained access through the boot to help him out." The man was taken to hospital by ambulance; it is not thought he was badly injured. The driver and passenger in the second car, a Vauxhall Omega, were unhurt. The firefighter added it was not clear what had caused the crash. Road closures were in place for about one hour.

Council leader pledges more lollipop patrols for Croydon schools

June 22, 2014, 4:00 am

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LOLLIPOP patrols will be increased in Croydon schools in time for the next school year, the new leader of Croydon Council has promised. In the run-up to the election Cllr Tony Newman pledged to bring back lollipop patrols to the more dangerous roads outside primary schools in the borough. And although he told the Advertiser the council would have to look at each individual case, he added he was sure the service would be reinstated in time for September. Last year, lollipop patrols were axed outside ten schools as part of cost-cutting measures by the council. One of the axed lollipop ladies at Woodside Junior School, Sharon Probert, wants Cllr Newman to make sure he sticks to his election promise. Mrs Probert, 43, of Addiscombe, said: "We want to put pressure on them to stick to their word. We voted Labour and I personally voted for them because they said they would reinstate us. "It's not just about me, a lot of the parents at the school are worried about the roads." Woodside Junior School, just on the fringes of Cllr Newman's Woodside ward, had lollipop ladies on busy Blackhorse Lane and Morland Road. Woodside parent Esther Simpson carried out her own a study last June which found during the half-hour periods at the beginning and end of the school day there were considerably more cars driving along Blackhorse Lane and Morland Road both roads than pupils using the zebra crossings. During the week-long study, in Morland Road, over the course of a week, there was an average of 198.9 pupils crossed in a half hour slot, compared to 269.5 cars. In Blackhorse Lane, there were more than three times as many cars (314.9 compared to 96 pupils). But Cllr Newman said road safety was a priority for his administration and although he initially wouldn't "comment on individual cases", he added: "I don't think I am giving too much away if I say that [Woodside Junior School] is one of the schools with the most urgent need for lollipop patrols to be reinstated and will be high on the list of priorities." The new council leader also said some of the axed schools had since made other arrangements and would probably not need lollipop patrols reinstated. "We haven't got the first cabinet meeting out of the way yet but what I can say is there will be more lollipop patrols outside schools in September than there were this year."

Nearly 3,000 take part in Crystal Palace Race for Life

June 22, 2014, 8:21 am

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NEARLY three thousand women and children, mostly dressed in pink, ran and walked around Crystal Palace Park this morning to help beat cancer. Taking part for loved-ones lost or living, for strangers or for themselves, the Race for Life competitors raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK. Marcelin Marciniak, 12, of Norbury (who plays for the Arsenal football club under-12s) won the 5km race in 21 minutes and 18 seconds. He said: "I wanted to do it to help people with cancer. "So they have a more certain amount of time to live and have fun with their lives." His mother Sabina Marciniak, 31, finished behind him, and added: "I wanted to support people who have survived cancer and to help others. "You never know what is going to happen in your life." Many competitors had written on the backs of their shirts the names of those for whom they were taking part. Olivia Henry, 25, of Lower Sydenham, and family were running in memory of her son, Levi Anderson-Noble, who died last year from a brain tumour, three weeks after he turned 4. She said: "We wanted to contribute to the cause and we don't want anybody else to have the loss that we have had. "It is nice, really comforting to see there are so many people here - not only those that have lost people, but those who are just supporting. "It is nice to have that because when you are in a situation like that you really need it and it means everything. "And it is good to see different shapes, ages and sizes as well." Angela Best, 45, of Streatham, was running with her friend Sharon Robinson, 49, of Thornton Heath. Ms Best has been in remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma for three years and also lost three very close relatives to cancer. "I think [the race] is fantastic; it's something that really unites people as well, because it's a great atmosphere and everyone is doing it for the same reason." Ms Robinson added of her friend: "She gets better and stronger [at the race] each year. "It's nice that people can unite like this, just a pity that the whole world cannot." Melissa Victoria, 36, of Beckenham, Gill Garland, 43, of Crystal Palace, and Jenny Thomson, 29, of Beckenham, ran together after meeting as new mums. Ms Garland said: "It has been 22 years since my dad died of cancer, when he was 62. "It really brings it home when you see everybody's backs with the messages on them. "I saw one that said they were running for a six-year-old girl." Cancer Research UK said 2,016 people entered today's 5km race and 728 entered the 10km. The total amount raised in today's event has yet to be announced. The Race for Life in LLoyd Park is due to take place on Sunday July 14.

Gang jailed for Carphone Warehouse robberies

June 22, 2014, 9:30 am

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A GANG has been jailed for a series of terrifying robberies on Carphone Warehouse branches, including one in Trafalgar Way, Waddon. The six men stole thousands of pounds worth of goods in raids on five branches in which they threatened and sometimes physically attacked staff. They have been jailed for between nine-and-a-half years to three-and-a-half years after admitting the robberies following an investigation by the Met's Flying Squad. Patrick McDermott, 30, and his brother Dean McDermott, 26, both of Corrance Road, Brixton, along with three unknown men, barged into the Trafalgar Way branch just before closing on October 19, 2012. Covering their faces with hoods and scarves, the men threatened a member of staff and kicked another repeatedly in the chest, stealing £27,364 worth of goods. Four days earlier, on October 15 2012, Patrick McDermott threatened staff at the Streatham High Road branch with a red-handled machete, stealing £8,144 worth of goods before leaving in a black hatchback. On October 9, he robbed the store in Streatham Place, Streatham, barging in and intimating that he had a gun. He grabbed money from the cashier and filled two black bin bags with phones and laptops before walking out with £4,022 worth of goods. In December 2012, Michael Marlon Smith, 34, of Penge House, Battersea, and an unidentified man robbed the store in Balham High Road. Smith's unknown accomplice held a silver handgun to a security guard's chest and the pair stole goods worth £19,848 before being driven away by Dean McDermott. On January 28, 2013, Tommy Ferris, 24, of Coldharbour Lane, Brixton; Tristain Morgan, 21, of Edgeley Road, Lambeth; and Paul Barnett, 24, of Clay Avenue, Mitcham, robbed the store in London Road, Kingston. They threatened staff with a chair and stole property worth £2,391 before leaving in a stolen BMW driven by Dean McDermott. As well as jail terms of nine-and-a-half years and seven years respectively for Dean McDermott and Patrick McDermott, the brothers were also given serious crime prevention orders.

Woman cut free from car following crash in Brighton Road

June 22, 2014, 10:16 am

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A WOMAN was cut free from her car by firefighters following a three-car crash. Emergency services were called to Brighton Road near Hollymeoak Road, Coulsdon, at around 4pm this afternoon (Sunday). Thought to be in her twenties, the driver was taken to hospital with spine, back and neck injuries, according to a firefighter at the scene. It is thought no-one else was injured. Fire crews from Croydon, Mitcham and Wallington attended the scene. Road closures were in place for about one hour.

Musicians defiant on future of Croydon's resident orchestra

June 22, 2014, 11:00 am

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MUSICIANS who have taken over the running of the London Mozart Players (LMP) are determined to see it remain as Croydon's resident orchestra. The players stepped in earlier this year following persistent financial crises which had pushed the orchestra close to bankruptcy. They are now running the management and administration of the orchestra, without pay for that side of the work, and their efforts – together with some generous donations – mean the organisation is once again solvent. As a result the players are confident enough about the future to push ahead with a major concert at Fairfield Halls in November to mark the anniversary of the start of the First World War. Ironically the concert is being part-funded by the Arts Council and Croydon Council, whose withdrawal of financial support helped land the LMP in its precarious financial position. The orchestra was dealt a body blow by the Arts Council a few years back when its £150,000 grant was withdrawn, a funding gap it never managed to fill. The position was made worse when the council announced earlier this year it could not fund a full Fairfield season for 2014-15. The LMP was costing £250,000 a run. Viv Davies, managing director of the new LMP company, said the orchestra was looking to organise more concerts in central London, and still hoping to arrange a full season of music in Fairfield Halls next year. Mr Davies said: "We want to re-establish our relationship with the Arts Council and Croydon Council in the hope this will successfully generate some grants from both of them later this year. "We are optimistic we can do that." Mr Davies said there had been a tremendous response from orchestra members to the challenge of keeping the organisation afloat. Achievement He said: "Managing the orchestra themselves without taking a salary is an extraordinary achievement and has helped get them through a traumatic period. "We believe the orchestra is the only one in the country which is managed by its players." Mr Davies added: "We want to remain associated with Croydon for as long as possible, we have a strong group of supporters here. "We are looking forward to the future and are keen to see the orchestra remain successful and the resident orchestra of Croydon."

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Shed blaze damages house

June 23, 2014, 1:05 am

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A FIRE in a shed damaged a bedrroom window in the adjoining house. Fire crews were called to blaze in Osward, Courtwood Lane, Forestdale, at around 2am today. Guttering on an upstairs bedroom window was damaged along with the shed, said a firefighter at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crystal Palace coach on Madrid scouting mission

June 23, 2014, 1:16 am

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CRYSTAL Palace first team coach Ben Garner flew to Spain last month to watch Atletico Madrid train and also scout a particular player in the match between Real Madrid and Espanyol. The former Academy coach, who stepped up with the first team initially with ex-boss Ian Holloway, is certainly keeping himself busy following the end of last season. If he isn't researching coaching manuals or player analysis systems, he's out watching players who may interest manager Tony Pulis. The same applies to Keith Millen, who went to France to watch a number of possible targets a few weeks ago. Following the last game of the season at Fulham, Garner went to the Madrid for a week and was given an insight to how the eventual La Liga champions do things. And with the World Cup in full flow, Palace will also keep an eye on any talent who catch their eye. "I had three days with Atletico, where I watched their Academy teams train, and then I also watched the first team for two days," he told the Advertiser. "That was really good because it was two days before they played Barcelona, where they won the title. "Their season went a week longer than the Premier League, so I just wanted to go out and watch one of the top teams around, see how they work and see if there was anything I could pick up. "I liked Athletico. They play similarly to us at Palace, a bit defensively, so it was good to see what sort of things they do to achieve that. "Sometimes you're in your own cocoon during the season because it's so intense and there is no sort of time to see anything, so whenever I can I try and get abroad to watch different players and get different ideas. "I also watched three games over a weekend. I had a player to watch in particular and then another two matches to see if there were any other players for Palace. "I watched Real Madrid versus Espanyol, then on the Sunday I watched Getafe versus Rayo Vallecano, and then Castilla versus Las Palmas. "Castilla is Real Madrid's B team and they played in next level down from La Liga. "There was one player I was scouting in the Real Madrid-Espanyol game, then the other two was a general look. "Scouting is so difficult to do during the season so when we get the opportunity, we do go out, and that includes back home during midweek to scout opposition or players we like. "Now, with the World Cup on, we'll keep a close eye on that and study it. But if there are any games over the summer I need to get out to watch anywhere, I will try to." Garner has been with Palace for nearly ten years and spent eight of those with the Academy. But having gained a lot of experience with the first team and in the top flight of English football, he is ready to push his career on further. That includes the possibility of becoming a manager himself in the future. "It's just about continuing to learn for me," he said. "Each summer I normally try and do a course, but there nothing I can really do this year. "I am waiting to do the UEFA Pro Licence, which starts next January. The applications have just opened up so I've applied for that hopefully I get a place. "That's an 18-month course too, so I really hope to start that at the start of next year. "I do have aspirations. I would love to manage one day, it's what I've always wanted to do."This interview features in the current edition of the Croydon Advertiser.

CRYSTAL PALACE FAN VIEW: Why Marouane Chamakh is an expensive luxury we don't need

June 23, 2014, 3:10 am

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STRIKER Marouane Chamakh impressed many Crystal Palace fans last season, but our columnist Alisdair Kemp isn't convinced the former Arsenal man is a long-term prospect for the Eagles going forward...

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MAROUANE Chamakh, as well as being undoubtedly one of the more technically gifted players at the club last season, demonstrated a work ethic few could have foreseen following his nightmarishly nondescript spell at Arsenal. For these reasons his Player of the Year consideration was thoroughly deserved. Yet for all the fanfare surrounding the amiable Moroccan, some of his performances led me to question just how genuinely influential he has been. With this in mind and with rumours circulating of his imminent signing on an undoubtedly lucrative contract now seems the time to ponder whether we would be better advised to move on from the enigmatic frontman. An attribute frequently heralded by fans of the former Bordeaux man is his composure with the ball at his feet. Given our perennially paltry share of possession, a player upon whom the management can rely to keep the ball is unequivocally an asset. However, upon examining the statistics (taken from www.whoscored.com), it transpires that Chamakh's passing accuracy (71.2%) is in fact lower than that of Mile Jedinak (71.9%) and distinctly less impressive than that of the much-maligned Kagisho Dikgacoi. KG was deemed surplus to requirements by Tony Pulis, so given Chamakh's relatively disappointing passing statistics, one must assume that his influence in the eyes of the management is to be found elsewhere. Well it would be almost puerile to even consider goalscoring as Chamakh's five goals all season do not exactly inspire faith in his prowess in front of goal. Nor do his defensive contributions deserve any real consideration. Whilst it would be churlish to doubt his desire and effort, these typically manifested themselves in mindless ball chasing and poor positional sense. His defending of corners was invaluable at times but this is not a skill in short supply. For the money Chamakh would most likely command in wages (albeit as a free transfer) I believe we should be looking at a more dynamic playmaker. One with a little more pace to aid our counter-attacks. One with the instinct to play the ball quickly into the wide areas left empty by marauding opposition full backs trying to aid their attackers in breaking down our stubborn rearguard. It would be unjust not to mention the Moroccan's entertainment value as I do not intend on this article being a character assassination. As a supreme technician, some of his work with the ball was breathtaking at times last season. He did demonstrate an eye for a pass on a few notable occasions and it is clear that in terms of his raw talent, he was a big fish in a small pond with us. However, to my mind he would be better suited in a team that enjoys a healthy portion of possession; one in which his eccentricities and ambitious style can be better indulged. The grand irony being that he was part of such a team before joining us, and to no avail. For any Palace player losing the ball is criminal, so substance over style has to be the order of the day.

Tickets still available for Crystal Palace FC comedy night starring Eddie Izzard

June 23, 2014, 3:18 am

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TICKETS are still on sale for Crystal Palace's annual comedy event at Fairfield Halls on July 17. Headliner Eddie Izzard will be joined by fellow Palace fan Mark Steel, Holly Walsh and other comedians for Stand Up For The Palace. Izzard, who became an associate director at Palace in 2012, has regularly talked about his childhood obsession with the club and all money raised on the night will be invested into the CPFC academy. The evening will be hosted by stand-up comic and Palace fan Kevin Day and actor Jim Piddock. Ticket prices range from £30-£35 and can be booked via the box office on 020 8688 9291 or at www.fairfield.co.uk

Released Crystal Palace stopper joins Hearts

June 23, 2014, 3:26 am

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GOALKEEPER Neil Alexander has signed for Scottish outfit Hearts following his release from Crystal Palace. The 36-year-old spent just one season at Selhurst Park as back-up to Julian Speroni and played a number of reserve matches. After leaving the Eagles, Alexander has returned home to Scotland and his new contract as a player-coach will begin next Tuesday. Alexander told the Hearts official website website: "As a boyhood fan, I am delighted to get the chance to join a club I have supported for many years. "With the coaching side of it as well, this is a fantastic opportunity for me. "I'll be signing on July 1. I'm excited at the challenge ahead, am raring to go and delighted to be back in Scotland. "At 36, I need to start looking to the future and want to get involved in coaching. "The club has given me a great chance to get a foot on the ladder and it's an opportunity I just couldn't turn down. "We have a young squad and if I can help bring on these kids, hopefully it will work well for us all."

Ashburton Library faces uncertain future after new council pulls out of sale deal

June 23, 2014, 3:30 am

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THE future of former Ashburton Library is once again in disarray after the new Labour council pulled out of a deal to sell it.

Thornton Heath-based church His Grace Community Outreach thought it had secured the purchase of the building in Ashburton Park and has even started work on bringing it back into use.

But Croydon Council's new administration has decided to pull out of the deal, which Pastor Bola Thomas, of His Grace, believes had already gone through.

Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said it was not in the best interests of the area for the building to be sold.

The council now wants to keep the building as part of Ashburton Park and Cllr Godfrey said the Conservative council had sold it for a cut-price sum as part of an election strategy.

He also said the money it would take to bring the building back into use would not be as much as the previous administration estimated.

"It is a core public building in the middle of a public park and the Conservatives were selling it for a very low price," he explained.

"For a 125-year lease we didn't feel the deal was good enough. There is a lot of work on the building which hasn't been assessed, the figures quoted to bring the building back into use was a highest level figure.

"No detail has been taken on a lot of the refurbishments, the last administration was basically guessing."

But Pastor Thomas has accused Labour of using the building as a "political ball" and "using any excuse" to stop the council honouring its deal.

She said: "We paid a fair price for a building which has been abandoned for eight years. The building has suffered enough already. It will cost £700,000 to bring it back into use rather than the £1million the Tories estimated.

"We have not just guesstimated those figures, we have had surveys carried out. This is very upsetting."

Councillor Tim Pollard, the shadow cabinet member with the remit for libraries, said it was a "great shame" Labour had "not honoured" the deal.

"I don't know where they think they are going to find this money, but this is an example of Labour's election promise coming home to roost," Cllr Pollard added.

Pastor Thomas also claims she has signed a legally binding contract and Labour had every chance to go back on the deal before it was signed.

She added: "It went through corporate services committee, which includes both parties, and no one said anything so how can they say about the Conservatives taking a cut-price?

"I have tried to speak to Cllr Godfrey but he has not replied to any of our emails or phone calls. No one can get hold of him. He is trying to avoid us and they are not being transparent at all.

"But I am talking to my barrister and we will fight this all the way."

His Grace wants to turn the building into a community centre, church and nursery while Cllr Godfrey said he wanted to talk to the local community to find out what they want done with the building.

Six jailed for stealing £700,000 from Sutton company ICMD Ltd

June 23, 2014, 4:54 am

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A FORMER credit controller has been jailed for her key part in stealing more than £700,000 from her employer. Lorna Martin, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood, has been jailed alongside the five people into whose bank accounts the money was paid. The 32-year-old used her job at marketing company IMCD Ltd in Sutton to create fake invoices to pay the money from the company into her and others' bank accounts. From September 2011 to August 2012, £30,548 was paid into two Santander bank accounts in Martin's name, and £94,449 to her partner at the time, Leon Binns, 31, of Southbridge Place, Croydon. A further £230,411 was paid to record store Blacker Dread, based in Brixton and run by Steve Burnett-Martin, 55, of Gipsy Hill. And £193,000 was paid into three accounts in the names of Michael Bakare, 31, of Choumert Street, Peckham; his sister Oluwaseun Bakare, 26, of the same road; and Shevon Scott (pictured). IMCD Ltd, of Throwley Way, only realised something was wrong months after Martin had left, and called police. At Croydon Crown Court after a month-long trial ending on May 26, all six were convicted of money-laundering charges, while Martin was also convicted of thieving from her employer. Martin was jailed for three years; Burnett for two-and-a-half; Binns for 18 months; Michael Bakare for two years; Oluwaseun Bakare for 18 months, and the Shevon Scott for 21 months.

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WATCH: Winston McKenzie goes all MC Hammer in YouTube mash-up

June 23, 2014, 5:34 am

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EVER wondered what you get if you cross gaffe-prone Ukip mouthpiece Winston McKenzie with baggy-trousered godfather of rap MC Hammer? Probably not but, regardless, here's the result - a video posted on YouTube of McKenzie's election night interview with David Dimbleby, cut to the sample of the Hammer's 1990 classic U Can't Touch This. McKenzie hit the headlines during the election campaign, when he labelled his own town a "dump". We'll let you decide what you think of this musical offering. Enjoy...

Two men jailed for failed South Norwood heroin and crack cocaine deal

June 23, 2014, 5:40 am

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TWO men have been jailed for trying to make a crack cocaine and heroin deal in South Norwood last year. Patrick Mclean, 27, and O'Shane Anthony Gayle, 21, were sentenced on Wednesday (June 18) at Croydon Crown Court to three years and nine months imprisonment each for their part in the failed drugs deal in Portland Road last May. Mclean, of Rupert Gardens, Brixton, and Gayle, of Preston Road, Upper Norwood, were spotted by police officers on May 16 at the junction of Portland Road and Harrington Road. When they saw the police vehicle, the pair walked away before officers stopped and approached them. As they approached the men, they saw Mclean drop a bag on the floor and run off. Officers chased and detained both men a short distance away. The bag Mclean dropped contained 25 rocks of crack cocaine and heroin inside, as well as a small amount of cannabis. Both men were arrested and when they were searched in police custody, a further six rocks of crack cocaine were found on Gayle. Both men were eventually charged in September 2013 with possession with intent to supply class A drugs as well as possession of cannabis. They were convicted last Tuesday (June 17) and sentenced the following day. Gayle, who is a foreign national, is due to be deported back to Jamaica once he has served his sentence. Detective Constable Kieran Given, of Croydon Metropolitan Police Service's Crime Squad, said: "Drug dealers cause great harm to local communities and we will target any individuals who are involved in the supply of drugs in Croydon. "We'll continue to work with local communities and where we receive any intelligence about drugs in a particular area, then we will target our efforts to identify and arrest those involved."

Crystal Palace announce more pre-season friendlies

June 23, 2014, 6:37 am

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CRYSTAL Palace's development side will play Havant and Waterlooville and Dulwich Hamlet as part of their pre-season plans. The young Eagles will also play Beckenham Town and Forest Green Rovers this summer. Gary Issott's youngsters will play Beckenham first on Friday, July 18 in 7.30pm kick-off before travelling to the south coast on Friday, July 25 to play Conference South side Havant and Waterlooville, who are managed by former Palace striker Lee Bradbury. On Tuesday, July 29, there is another local match following the clash at Beckenham when a young Palace side play Dulwich Hamlet. The Eagles ran out 4-1 winners last season thanks to two goals from Elliot Grandin plus Jerome Williams and Yannick Bolasie. After that, a trip to Conference Premier side Forest Green Rovers has been arranged for Saturday, August 2 – the same day the first team are set to play at Championship new boys Brentford.

Royal Mail rejected offer to secure empty properties in months before illegal East Croydon rave

June 23, 2014, 6:47 am

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ROYAL Mail rejected the chance to secure its empty properties free-of-charge in the months before the illegal rave where police were attacked and a schoolboy collapsed and later died. Thousands of people attended a rave at the former delivery office in East Croydon last weekend, organised after the building was taken over by squatters. Fire extinguishers, furniture and masonry were thrown at police when they tried to stop the event where 15-year-old Rio Andrew later fell ill after drinking from a bottle of beer suspected to have contained the party drug ketamine. Royal Mail has said it did all it could to secure the building, but its claims have been questioned by property managers Global Guardians, which places live-in 'guardians' in vacant premises across London to protect them squatting, vandalism and theft. Security director said the company offered its services to Royal Mail on multiple occasions, most recently in February. "We got passed around different departments and when we did get a response they said they had heard of the service but weren't interested because they didn't have problems with their empty buildings," said Mr Woolgar. The deal would have meant the delivery office, in Cherry Orchard Road, would have been occupied by a number of guardians when it closed to make way for flats three months ago. Instead it was taken over by squatters in the week leading to the rave on June 14. "Had Royal Mail signed up with us then I'm 100 per cent sure the rave would not have happened," said Mr Woolgar. "With a building of that size we would have placed a sizeable number of guardians in there as a security presence, as well as being very proactive in how often we visited to make sure there were no problems. "While guardians are living in a property, people cannot enter without authority." Global Guardians builds temporary accommodation within vacant properties - including kitchens and showers. The guardians have a communal living space and pay a licence fee to the company. The fee is significantly cheaper than paying rent, but guardians can be asked to move to another building with four weeks' notice. Global Guardians manages around 140 buildings in London, including six in Croydon, and works with local authorities, the NHS and housing associations. Royal Mail informed the police when squatters took over the delivery office despite the site being patrolled by a security guard. When staff tried to enter they were met with physical threats and a security guard was injured. The company applied for a court order but it was not granted in time for squatters to evicted before the rave. They have since been removed. Mr Woolgar says it should never have reached that stage. "I found it strange Royal Mail didn't want to use our services given how many empty buildings they have," he said. "If nothing else it would have saved them a significant amount of money while also making sure their properties were secure." A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: "We don't discuss details of the security systems on any of our sites and cannot comment on hypothetical situations." The Metropolitan Police has also faced questions over its handling of the rave after it emerged an intelligence officer knew it would happen but decided not to act on the information.

Man charged with dangerous driving after pedestrian knocked down in Bisenden Road, East Croydon

June 23, 2014, 7:08 am

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A MAN has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a pedestrian was knocked over in East Croydon last week. A male pedestrian, 25, was knocked down in Bisenden Road last Wednesday (June 18) at approximately 6.15pm. He was taken to a south London hospital for injuries initially believed to be life-threatening but is now in a stable condition. Jerone Lindo, 20, of Leafy Way, East Croydon, will appear at Croydon Magistrates Court in the next few days.