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BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Hazell changes his plea to GUILTY

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STUART Hazell has admitted the murder of Tia Sharp, having changed his plea at the Old Bailey this morning. Hazell, 37, had denied killing 12-year-old Tia, whose body was found in the loft of her grandmother's house in The Lindens, New Addington, on August 10 last year. But, on the fifth day of his trial this morning (Monday) Hazell changed his plea to guilty. He is due to be sentenced at noon today. The trial had previously heard evidence that Hazell was "sexually attracted" to Tia and had taken a photo of her dead body for his own gratification. CCTV images played to the jury showed the schoolgirl and her killer just hours before she was murdered, on a bus and shopping at the Co-Op, in Forestdale. On Friday, the court had heard Tia's blood was found on a belt belonging to Hazell, with DNA expert Daniel Beaumont saying there was "a one in a billion" chance that the DNA belonged to somebody else. Hazell claimed Tia's death was caused by his Somalian neighbours, while he also told a prison officer at Belmarsh: "I'm not like Ian Huntley" and that what happened to the schoolgirl was an accident and "nothing sexual". Hazell showd little obvious emotion as he changed his plea, dressed in a black t-shirt. There were gasps from the public gallery, while Tia's blood father Steven Carter put his head in his hands and sobbed as the plea change was revealed.

BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Hazell changes his plea to GUILTY


TIA SHARP: Stuart Hazell will be sentenced on Tuesday for Tia Sharp murder

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STUART Hazell will be sentenced tomorrow after admitting the murder of Tia Sharp. In dramatic scenes at The Old Bailey this morning(Monday) Hazell, 37, changed his plea to guilty, having originally denied killing the 12-year-old. The prosecution and defence outlined their cases to the judge this afternoon but proceedings were brought to a halt at around 3.15pm. Hazell is expected to be sentenced tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and his defence team has admitted he expects to spend a long time behind bars. The trial was due to enter its fifth day, with the court having previously heard that Hazell - the former partner of Tia's grandmother - had a sexual attraction to Tia. He also took a photograph of the girl's dead body, for his own sick gratification. Tia's body was found in the loft of a home in The Lindens, New Addington, which her grandmother Christine Bicknell shared with Hazell. Police found the body on August 10 last year - a week after the schoolgirl was first reported missing. However, the trial heard the police had searched the loft on three previous occasions, but failed to spot the body. Earlier in the trial, which began last Tuesday, CCTV footage was shown to the jury, of Hazell and Tia together on a bus and shopping in a Forestdale supermarket, hours before he allegedly killed her. The jury was also told how Hazell tried to pin the blame for Tia's death onto Somalian neighbours and complained of his treatment in the media, claiming he was being made to look like "Jack the Ripper".

TIA SHARP: Stuart Hazell will be sentenced on Tuesday for Tia Sharp murder

LIVE: Stuart Hazell to be sentenced for murder of Tia Sharp

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STUART Hazell will be sentenced this lunchtime, having pleaded guilty to the murder of Tia Sharp. The 37-year-old dramatically changed his plea this morning, as the fifth day of his trial was about to start at The Old Bailey. The court previously heard claims that Hazell was "sexually attracted" to Tia, whose body was found in the loft of a home in The Lindens, New Addington, which Hazell shared with his partner Christine Bicknell, Tia's grandmother. The jury was also told how Hazell tried to pin the blame for Tia's death onto Somalian neighbours and complained of his treatment in the media, claiming her was being made to look like "Jack the Ripper". Earlier in the trial, police blunders in the search for Tia were discussed, with the court hearing officers failed to find her body until a fourth search of the loft on August 10 last year. CCTV footage was also shown to the jury, of Hazell and Tia together on a bus and shopping in a Forestdale supermarket, hours before he allegedly killed her. Our reporters Rachel Millard and Gareth Davies will be providing live updates as Hazell is sentenced. Follow below for the latest.

LIVE: Stuart Hazell to be sentenced for murder of Tia Sharp

Wilbraham and Phillips vying for key role in play-off clash

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By Zoe Messenbird (Twitter @Zoe591)
CRYSTAL Palace head to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion for the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals this evening.
Either side will face Watford at Wembley in the final on the Monday, May 27, to earn a place in the Premier League next season.
The first leg of the semi-final was held on Friday night, which saw a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, and despite Brighton going into tonight's game as favourites, Palace manager Ian Holloway insists it is still all to play for, despite the Eagles being without their 30-goal striker Glenn Murray after he was taken off with a cruciate knee injury during Friday's match.
The Palace star was set to go for an MRI scan today and we await to hear the outcome but he is expected to be out for 6-9 months. 
This means that either Aaron Wilbraham or Kevin Phillips will start tonight's game. Jonny Williams is also expected to play despite coming off on Friday with cramp in his hamstring.
Brighton's Craig-Mackail Smith and full-back Bruno remain sidelined with long term injuries.
Kazenga LuaLua, who looked impressive when he came on for Will Buckley in the 72nd minute in Friday's game, could start for the Seagulls tonight alongside striker Ashley Barnes and Leonardo Ulloa.
Meanwhile, Brighton have released a travel update for fans going to the game tonight.
Normal matchday bus services will remain in operation but for fans travelling by train, the 22.10 train direct from Falmer Station to East Croydon will be running, and if the match goes to extra time and penalties, fans will have to get the 23.10 train.
Brighton train station will also be implementing a queuing system to ensure supporters can travel safely to their destinations.
Fans travelling by car can park in The Bridge car park, which will cost £12.
For live updates on tonight's match, follow us on Twitter @AdvertiserSport or 'Like' our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/advertisersport.

Wilbraham and Phillips vying for key role in play-off clash

Police blame 'human error' for failure to find Tia Sharp's body

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POLICE have said "human error" was the reason why it took five searches of 20 The Lindens to find Tia Sharp's body. The 12-year-old's body, wrapped up in a sheet and bin bags, lay in the loft of the house for seven days before it was discovered. Officers searched the loft twice and, in a separate visit, a sniffer dog was taken to the house but not used in the loft. The Met apologised to Tia's family when it became clear they had missed her body and today, after Stuart Hazell's dramatic guilty plea, one of its most senior officers blamed the mistake on human error. Commander Neil Basu said: "While the police failure did not contribute to Tia's death, the Met deeply regrets that this error caused additional distress to Tia's family by prolonging the situation when it could have been brought to an earlier conclusion." After Tia was reported missing on August 3 a specialist team was sent to search Christine Bicknell's house in The Lindens, New Addington. "As is routine in missing person cases, this was an initial visit to assess the situation and briefly examine the property," said Commander Basu. "It was not intended or considered to be a full search of the property." The following evening officers visited the house for a second time. Two police sergeants and two constables from Croydon checked the rooms, loft space, outbuildings and two vehicles at the address as part of the missing person investigation. None of the officers involved were trained to conduct searches. The court heard how there had been no obvious way, such as a ladder, of accessing the space and that when they were inside, they saw bin bags but decided they were full of clothes and did not need to be disturbed. Another search was undertaken in the early hours of August 5. "This involved a team of specially trained officers, consisting of one Police Sergeant and five PCs," said Commander Basu. "They were briefed to look for evidence that could help find the 12-year-old. "The search strategy included checking rooms that Tia had access to within the address. The loft was checked but a systematic search was not carried out." On August 8 the police visited the house for a fourth time. This time officers were accompanied by a search dog to "sniff areas that hadn't been searched before and were less accessible", such as under floorboards and bath panels. The dog did not go into the loft as, Commander Basu's explained, it had been searched before and was not boarded out. Police told the court last week that the dog had lifted his head toward the ceiling, as if to indicate it had smelt something, but it would have been "impractical" to deploy in the loft due to its size. Two days later officers attended the house again. This time they were alerted to a smell by Christine, who claimed it was cat faeces she could not find. An experienced officer, however, recognised the smell of a dead body. The loft was searched again and this time Tia was found "well-concealed". They also found a bag containing her clothes. The Met began a review of the searches, focusing on the loft. It found human error on how the searches were conducted and supervised was primarily to blame rather than organisational failings. The inexperience of the constable who searched the loft was a contributing factor, Commander Basu said. "The PC who searched the loft and the supervising sergeant were subsequently given words of advice," he added. "Both officers are devastated by their failure to find Tia and this case has deeply affected all those involved. The PC voluntarily decided to remove himself from search duties. "The Met apologised to Tia's family as soon as it became apparent that her body had been missed. "A fuller internal review of the search strategy was carried out by the Met's Counter Terrorism Protective Security Command which has responsibility for specialist search officers and staff. "Its report confirmed that human error was the major factor in this case as opposed to training or other organisational considerations. "However, some organisational learning points did emerge, including the need to standardise the Met selection process for Licensed Search Officers. These are being taken forward." Following today's events at court, the police released footage of an interview with Hazell after his arrest. Hazell is seen staring at the table as a detective asks him: "So what can you tell me about the murder of Tia Sharp, Stuart?" There is a pause as Hazell continues to look away. He scratches his head and looks very uncomfortable before replying: "Can I have a couple of minutes with my solicitor please?"

Police blame 'human error' for failure to find Tia Sharp's body

Championship play-off semi-final: Brighton v Crystal Palace LIVE!

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Welcome to live coverage of the npower Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. It is level pegging from the first leg after the game at Selhurst Park on Friday night finished 0-0. Can Ian Holloway's Palace make it through to a Wembley final against Watford? Or will big rivals Brighton send them packing?
LIVE BLOG GAME OVER! PALACE ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY. BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE! 90+2: Bolasie shoots wide. At the other end, Speroni saves comfortably from Barnes. 90 mins: Five mins of injury time. Zaha, the hero, off and replaced by O Keefe.87 mins:AND THERE IT IS! GOAL!!!!!!!! Zaha's second of the game, emphatically into the roof of the net from just inside the area. GAME OVER. 86 mins:Cleared. Palace now have the ball in the Brighton half. Another Eagles goal looking more likely than an equaliser. Palace fully deserve this so far.85 mins:ANOTHER CHANCE! It's Wilbraham again, shoots wide from the edge of the box after great build-up play from Zaha and Bolaise. But now, Brighton have a free kick...84 mins:CHANCE! Free header for Wilbraham but he fluffs his lines, 8 yards out. Wide.84 mins:Moritz shot deflected wide. Corner.83 mins:Seven minutes left. We can safely call this squeaky bum time...81 mins:Holloway's tactics haven't always gone down well with Palace fans, but you'd have to say he;s got it bang on tonight so far79 mins:Brighton starting to resort to long balls. Good signs for Palace.78 mins:29,518 at the AMEX tonight, including 1,962 Palace fans. At the moment, they're going home happy75 mins:Palace look full of belief here. Moxey, who's had a stormer, draws a foul from Buckley, who is booked.73 mins:Wasted. Good.72 mins: 18 minutes plus added time left. Lua Lua is on for Brighton, who now have a free kick..70 mins:More on the goal - great footwork from substitute Bolasie on the left, he got half a yard and produced an inswinging cross which was headed in by Zaha, who caught Wayne Bridge napping.69 mins:GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! Zaha heads in after a brilliant Bolasie cross from the left.68 mins:CHANCE! Jedinak almost scrambles the corner home, but Brighton clear.67 mins: Palace corner, Upson clears Moxey's dangerous cross65 mins:That was a wonder save from Speroni. Barnes almost scored with his first touch, having just come on for Orlandi. Brilliant from Jules.64 mins:HUGE LET-OFF! Ashley Barnes, only on the pitch for 30 seconds, has an effort tipped onto the bar by Speroni. From the resulting corner, Albion have a header cleared off the line.63 mins:BOOKING: KG yellow carded for Palace.62 mins:Palace have one change left - how long before it's KP time?61 mins:DOUBLE CHANGE: Bolasie and Moritz on, Williams and Garvan off.60 mins:Williams appeals for a penalty after feeling he was bundled over in the area - Clattenburg has none of it. Replay suggests he slipped as much as the defender nudged him.59 mins:Bit of territoy for Brighton but still no chances to speak of for the home side.57 mins:More silky Zaha skills win a corner. Cleared.56 mins:Back underway. Brighton have a free kick into the box cleared.54 mins: Orlandi still being treated. Our man Mark Ritson has just Tweeted: 'cpfc fans mock Brighton paper clappers: "We clap with our hands, we clap with our haaaands, we're Crystal Palace, we clap with our hands".52 mins:Pause in play after Orlandi takes a boot in the face from Eagles full back Joel Ward. Holloway still in the referee's ear anout earlier incidents.49 mins:That was brilliant from Zaha, who ran from his own box and left the defence in his wake. Williams really should have scored, it was a poor finish. Great stuff from Palace though who, increasingly, are looking the stronger side.48 mins:WHAT. A. CHANCE. Zaha bursts away from the floundering defence, plays in Jonny Williams clean through on goal, but the teenager drags the shot wide. Best chance of the tie.46 mins:No subs at half-time. Gentle sparring in the early stages. Players are out for the second half. Palace will hope for more of the same, then perhaps play the aces in their pack - Kevin Phillips and the tricky Bolasie. Wilfried Zaha grew into the half as it went on. Ian Holloway clearly unhappy with the treatment being dished out to his winger.
HALF TIME:Brighton 0 Palace 0. Still all to play for! The Eagles will be happy with their display, just need bit more cutting edge.45 mins:Zaha scythed down by Calderon - a really reckless tackle. Yellow card brandished by the referee, Zaha up and ok.43 mins:Eagles look solid and getting better all the time in possession. Only thing missing is a clear cut chance or two, but Brighton haven't created much either.41 mins:Best spell of the game for Palace. A couple of corners and some controlled possession. Upson forced into a hurried clearance after Zaha's cross caused panic.39 mins:Major wiFi issues at the AMEX, so I'll plough on. I'm liveblogging this while trying to watch the game AND amuse a 6-month old child. Tricky.37 mins: Without tempting fate too much, Palace look really solid here. Little in the way of clear-cut opportunities for either side.34 mins:Better from Zaha, floored by a Buckley tackle after some neat skill near halfway. Ian Holloway furious on the touchline, wants more protection for his star man.33 mins:Moxey with a great headed clearance after a free-flowing Brighton move32 mins: Palace need a bit more from Zaha. Giving the ball away and running up a lot of blind alleys so far, the £15m man.29 mins:Muted shouts of handball at the near post against Upson. Replays clearly show it hit the former England defender's chest28 mins:Coming up to 120 mins of football without a goal. But it's a corner to Palace....25 mins:Another Premier League ref tonight - Jon Obi Mikel's favourite whistleblower, Mark Clattenburg.23 mins: Better Palace spell of possession. Ends with Garvan shot straight at the keeper. Another tame effort from distance.20 mins:First glimpse from Zaha, tricky play on the left earned a corner, but it came to nothing. At the other end, Brighton break and left-back Wayne Bridge (yep, that's where he is now) shoots wide from outside the area. Never really troubling Speroni.17 mins:Tame header wide from Upson16 mins:Brighton with 69 per cent of possession thus far. Lopez has a shot from edge of box deflected over. Corner.14 mins:Our man at the AMEX Mark Ritson says both sets of fans are generating a great atmosphere. Zaha is furious as the referee ignores his pleas for a free-kick.12 mins: Best chance so far. Zaha caught in possession on edge of box, ball fell to Buckley whose shot was parried away by Speroni. Lucky escape for Palace and, especially, Zaha.8 mins:Both players fine after that clash. Brighton coming into the game a bit more after a good Palace start. Apologies for the technical issues, you may need to refresh the page for updates.5 mins: Speroni receiving treatment after a clash with Ulloa. Bravely gathered the ball at the Albion striker's feet.3 mins: Apologies, wiFi issues at the AMEX at the moment. Advertiser editor Glenn Ebrey holding the fort here. Good start from Palace, most of the game being played in Brighton's half so far.

Championship play-off semi-final: Brighton v Crystal Palace LIVE!

Brighton 0-2 Palace: Zaha gives Eagles Wembley date with superb double

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CRYSTAL Palace will face Watford in the Championship play-off final after Wilfried Zaha's stunning double helped defeat arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.

In a frenetic match with a top atmopshere throughout, the on-loan Manchester United winger made sure it wasn't his last game in the famous red and blue just yet.

And now he will be looking for further glory at the national stadium. What a feeling for Palace.

The Eagles made a fairly bright start with Jonny Williams making a surging run into the box, while Owen Garvan's long range effort was flicked on by Aaron Wilbraham and wide of the post.

Julian Speroni then had to be extremely brave when Leonardo Ulloa found himself through on goal but the custodian raced out to smother at his feet.

And moments later the goalkeeper made a flying stop to deny Will Buckley on the right side of the box after Wilfried Zaha lost control of the ball.

Brighton then began to pin Palace back and were making waves particularly down the right side with Inigo Calderon and David Lopez, and the latter went close with a deflected effort that sailed just over.

Then following a Palace corner, a ball was lumped upfield towards Buckley, and after holding up play, he fed Dean Hammond who eventually drove a fierce effort inches wide with Speroni at full stretch.

Garvan then tested Kuszczak from range, before Speroni was called upon again to deny Andrea Orlandi's effort on the left side of the box.

Wilbraham thought he had a claim for a penalty when his flicked-on header from a corner struck a Brighton player but referee Mark Clattenburg wasn't interested.

And they were close to taking the lead five minutes before the break when Zaha's low cross was deflected towards the bottom corner but Matthew Upson managed to clear the danger.

However, just minutes into the second half, Palace should have been one-up. Zaha broke from his own half and found himself backed up with Wilbraham and Williams, and he decided to play in the latter who was through on goal but missed the target inches the wrong side of the post.

It was the biggest chance of the match so far and the Welsh youngster really should have given Ian Holloway's side the lead.

The boss made changes on the hour mark with Andre Moritz and Yannick Bolasie coming on for Garvan and Williams, but then Brighton went extremely close with two back-to-back chances through substitute Ashley Barnes.

The first saw Speroni deny him with a superb save from close range and onto the crossbar, and then from the following corner, his goal-bound header was brilliantly cleared off the line at the back post from Dean Moxey.

However, in the 69th-minute, the Eagles went ahead in emphatic fashion to send the away support crazy.

Bolasie dinked his way down the left and cut the ball back onto his right foot before curling in a fantastic ball at pace for Zaha to race in and power home an unstoppable header past Kuszczak.

Brighton huffed and puffed in search of a response, with substitute Kazenga Lua Lua lively down the left, but Palace looked a threat on the counter-attack.

Wilbraham had two chances to put the game to bed in the 85th-minute, one from a free header following a corner and then driving a shot inches past the post.

But then came another spot of absolute brilliance from Zaha, who made sure of a play-off final date with Watford on May 27, when he scored his second of the match after turning Gordon Greer inside the box and powering home via the underside of the crossbar.

What a moment, and what a trip to look forward to at Wembley Stadium, with more than 30,000 Palace fans set for a big day out on the next Bank Holiday Monday.

Meanwhile, co-chairman Steve Parish confirmed to Advertiser Sport after the game that striker Glenn Murray, who was on crutches at the AMEX Stadium watching, faces a long spell on the sidelines after an MRI scan revealed he has torn his cruciate in his right knee.

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Moxey, Gabbidon, Delaney, Dikgacoi, Jedinak (c), Garvan (Moritz 61), Williams (Bolasie 62), Zaha (O'Keefe 90), Wilbraham.

Subs Not Used: Price, Richards, Ramage, Phillips.

Attendance: 29,518 (1,962 Palace fans).


By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson

Brighton 0-2 Palace: Zaha gives Eagles Wembley date with superb double

TIA SHARP: After four days of harrowing evidence, Hazell says 'enough, I'm guilty'

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AFTER subjecting Tia Sharp's family to four days of harrowing court proceedings, Stuart Hazell decided they had "suffered enough" and pleaded guilty to murdering the 12-year-old. The Old Bailey had been preparing for the prosecution to continue to detail the overwhelming evidence against the 37-year-old when, this morning, the clerk was asked to read the indictment again. When asked for his plea, Hazell lowered his head and said: "Guilty". It was the first true word the former window cleaner had said since Tia was reported missing on August 3 last year. His latest lie was that Tia had he panicked and hidden Tia's body in the loft after she accidentally fell down the stairs and broke her neck. The truth of what happened may never be known but today Hazell finally admitted he murdered a little girl who idolised him, probably by smothering her. Then he posed her naked body for, the prosecution say, his own sexual gratification and took a photograph, which police later found on a memory card hidden in 20 The Lindens, a house which will now be demolished. Hazell's barrister, Lord Carlile QC, said that his client had an "extraordinary capacity for living through lies that he had made up". He added: "The easiest thing for him would have been to brazen out the rest of this case and to allow us as his counsel to address the jury on his behalf and say the prosecution case just wasn't strong enough. "His decision to plead guilty today is probably the bravest decision he has ever made in his life – maybe the only brave decision he's made in his life." This will be little consolation to Tia's family, who often broke down in tears as the court were told of Hazell's sexual interest in the schoolgirl. His obsession him to search the internet for indecent images of children wearing glasses and pony tails, like Tia. He even recorded her when she was asleep. Detectives believe he deliberately removed the bathroom door so he could spy on the schoolgirl, and modified the light socket in her room to create a 'spyhole'. Somehow that interest had deadly consequences for Tia, who had met the man she thought of as a grandfather at East Croydon station on the afternoon of August 2. They travelled back towards New Addington by tram. On the way they stopped off at the Co-op in Forestdale, where Tia is seen on CCTV flicking through the magazines like a girl of her age might do. They returned back to the house Hazell shared with Tia's grandmother, Christine Bicknell, who was on a night shift at the care home she worked at. At 12.40pm Tia sent her last message on BlackBerry Messenger. Using the indecent images found on the two memory cards police were able to say she died at some point between 3am and 6am. Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, argued that Hazell should face a whole life sentence because the murder was sexually motivated. "We do not know and will never know exactly what took place in the house that night, but it is the submission of the prosecution that Hazell committed a significant sexual offence against her, killed her, took her photograph as some sort of keepsake and then, in quite a calculated way, wrapped up the body". Tia's blood was found on a sex toy recovered from the house and Hazell's semen was discovered on her duvet. Her DNA was also found in blood on a belt in his bag when arrested. Hazell's barrister, who has urged the judge not to impose a whole life term, said his client did not set out to murder Tia or to find sexual gratification by killing her. "He accepts that whatever happened that night he killed her," said Lord Carlile, "but he pleads guilty not on the basis he intended or set out to kill her at the beginning of the evening but that death occurred during what happened that night. "We are not concerned with a man who, over a long period of years, has been interfering with large numbers of children or indeed any other children." Hazell, who was taken into care at an early age after his father was sent to prison, had a string of previous convictions, including supplying cocaine and possession of a machete, but nothing of a sexual or seriously violent nature. Whatever his sentence, her family have been left with the consequences of his cowardly actions. In an impact statement read to court, Natalie Sharp, Tia's mother, said: "When I knew I was expecting Tia, I was so happy that I would have something to love. "Tia's father, Steven, disappeared before she was born and I realised that the unique relationship I had with my Nanny would be repeated with Tia and my mum. "When Tia came along I had a reason to keep out of trouble; if it had not been for her, my life would have been very different. She was mine and I had someone to love. "When I was told Tia had gone missing, I always believed she would come back. At the very worst I'd have to face the fact that someone had touched her and scared and hurt her. I never really considered that she would be dead. How could I? "Since Tia was taken I have lost my trust in everyone. It's too hard for me to believe she is really gone. "Jack, my eldest son, who is three, asked me just this week if Tia was coming home from school soon. I've had to tell him the truth. It made him really cry. "I told him that Tia is a star in the sky and now when we go up to say goodnight, we look out of the bedroom window and speak to the star, the one that was bought in Tia's name." Natalie added: "I have so much to ask Stuart. Sometimes I feel pity for him but I want to hurt him. I could never manage to hurt him like her hurt me." In his impact statement Tia's father, Steven Carter, said his daughter's death had "shattered" his heart. "We will never get the chance to see Tia walk down the aisle and get married, and have children of her own," he said. "We have all lost someone special". Outside court Mr Carter added: "Four days of trial have been very hard to deal with, hearing the vile things Hazell did to Tia. "Hazell will be sentenced tomorrow. In my opinion it will not be enough. He should serve his time, then be hung (sic)." Hazell will be sentenced today at 10.30am(Tuesday).

TIA SHARP: After four days of harrowing evidence, Hazell says 'enough, I'm guilty'


First image of Aldi's plan for Coulsdon

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THIS is how the Red Lion car park site in Brighton Road could look if a supermarket chain gets its way. Aldi has released this artists' impression of its plans for a supermarket and regional training centre on the site. The development would have 50 car parking spaces, which would be open as "free short-term parking for the town centre," said Aldi property director Roland Stanley, adding: "We are not like larger supermarkets and do not have in-house bakers, butchers, pharmacy, post office and delicatessens. We sell primarily own-branded products and we do not sell newspapers, cigarettes or lottery cards. This means Aldi customers are more likely to combine their shop with a visit to local shops and services." The company hopes to submit a planning application this summer, and, if that is approved, to open the store by the end of 2014.

First image of Aldi’s plan for Coulsdon

TARA GREEN: Parenting isn't a competitive sport

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IN THE ideal world, the job of parents is to raise their children in a safe, happy and loving environment, to accept the child they have and to raise them in a balanced and conscious way.

Like all human beings, your child has their own individual mix of likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, talents and difficulties. This is a really complex area and brings up the nature/nurture debate: were you born the person you are or were you made into the person you are by your upbringing and experiences?

What did your parents want you to be when you grew up? How did they communicate this to you and did you match up to what they wanted? I also wonder whether you found yourself pleasing them by becoming who they wanted you to be, or choosing a path based on your wants and needs?

For many (if not all) parents, these issues are further complicated by the comparisons that they make between their own children and other people's children.

Parents note the age at which other people's children first roll, sit-up and walk. We observe, discuss and compare our children to their peers all the time. This is one of the ways that we check the effectiveness of our parenting but it is also one of the ways in which we introduce the element of competition into it.

Many people feel good when they feel equal to, or better, than others and feel bad when they find themselves or their children to be 'lacking' in some way.

But how can we feel superior or inferior when we compare the achievements and milestones of our children to others?

We are not comparing like with like. Even your own children differ markedly from one another. For example, there is a range of six months in the ages at which my three daughters learnt to walk, and two years' difference in the ages at which they learnt to ride a bike without stabilisers.

Children already compete with each other and compare themselves to their peers. Teachers may call the maths or spelling sets in their class after colours or topic words but you can be sure that your child has a clear picture of who is in the top, middle or bottom ability groups.

Give yourself and your child a break from the level of comparison and competition that they are subjected to.

Parenting is not a competitive sport. The question is not "How does my child compare to other children?" There are many much more important questions to seek answers to.

Is your child happy? If not, how can you help them to be happier?

Do they have activities they enjoy and talents that they are developing? If not, what resources are available for you to help them find things that they love to do?

Are they able to make and keep friends and get on with people around them? If not, what social skills do they need support to learn? Do they know how to learn new skills and to bounce back from the inevitable failures and mistakes that occur during all learning experiences? If not, remind them of how a baby learns to walk; they fall over a great many times and try again when they are ready to.

Childhood is not just a preparatory phase of your child's life that they need to get through faster and better than everyone else.

This is their actual life, happening right now.

Addiscombe con artist falsely tells victims her son has been stabbed

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A CON artist scammed an elderly couple in the middle of the night – by claiming her son had been stabbed and she needed money to go to hospital.

Margaret Broadbent, 68, and her husband Robin, 74, were fast asleep in their Addiscombe home when the doorbell rang.

Mrs Broadbent, of Hithbarrow Road, explained: "She was a young mixed-race girl, about 30, and she kept ringing the bell and knocking until we answered at 2am; we were very sleepy and shocked.

"She asked us to drive her to King's College Hospital [in Camberwell] as her son had been stabbed and she was on her own with young children. We were unable to drive as we had been out for a meal with friends and had drunk some wine.

"She persisted and asked for help so we told her to go to an ATM for cab money, but she said she couldn't. In our sleepy state we gave her £40 and she said she would return in the morning with our cash to collect a broken watch she left for us."

However, the woman did not return and the couple decided they had to contact the police, for fear of her conning other residents.

Mrs Broadbent, who was targeted on April 24, said: "We reported her to the police the next day, who knew of her and asked us to warn local people. We hope our story can keep folk safe from theft and possible intruders.

"It was a very shocking thing to have happened, and we were so sleepy and disorientated it was very easy for her to get money off us.

"People around the area need to know and make sure they don't succumb to this scam as we did, as it's obvious she is targeting lots of people in the area."

Sergeant John Nunn, from Ashburton Safer Neighbourhood Team, is now warning local residents about the woman, who has been committing the doorstep scam in the Woodside, Addiscombe, and Ashburton areas.

He said: "The woman has been knocking at apparently random addresses late at night, or in the early hours of the morning, banging and shouting hysterically.

"She then claims that a family member has been taken to hospital, and she needs to get there. She usually states that she has a number of children, and they all need to get to hospital.

"The woman has been offered lifts and declined, saying she needs to get a taxi. Residents have deceived by this story and given her money for a taxi.

"This whole story is a scam. Residents are advised to call 999 should anyone knock on their door with a similar story, at any time of day, and not to hand over any money. "

If you have been the victim of a similar scam, e-mail Ashburton.SNT@met.police.uk or call police on 101.

Addiscombe con artist falsely tells victims her son has been stabbed

Kenley man turns his shed into a railway shrine

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A TRAIN enthusiast hopes he is on track for an award after turning his shed into a railway signal box.

Christopher Parker, of Valley Road, Kenley, started tinkering with his shed when he moved into his current house five years ago.

What began as a hobby quickly spiralled out of control and Christopher just cannot stop adding bits and pieces to his second home.

Now the 30-year-old is hoping his shrine to all things railway will land him the national Shed of the Year award.

Christopher, a caretaker at Riddlesdown Collegiate, said: "It became a little bit of an obsession.

"We live near Kenley station and I've always been a train fanatic, so I thought I could use that as my theme when I was decorating it.

"It looks like a fully blown signal box now."

Despite the shed's impressive appearance, Christopher's wife Michelle does not share the same passion for his creation. "She will have a go if I'm out there too much," he said.

The prize for Shed of the Year 2013, sponsored by Cuprinol, is £1,000 and public voting closes at midnight on May 31.

Vote for the Kenley Signal Box at www.readersheds.co.uk

Kenley man turns his shed into a railway shrine

Furniture Village opens its biggest UK store in Croydon

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CROYDON'S reputation as a major retail centre has been given a massive vote of confidence by a national furniture chain.

Furniture Village's new store on Purley Way opened last Thursday and, at 36,000 sq ft, it is the largest of its 39 outlets across the country.

Company founder and chief executive Peter Harrison sees Croydon as his firm's flagship store, describing Purley Way as "the Oxford Street" of retail parks.

Furniture Village, which is the UK's largest independent furniture retailer, has had a store in Croydon for 20 years.

And Mr Harrison makes it clear that moving to the former Comet premises opposite Sainsbury's indicates just how much faith he has in the town and his belief that Croydon is very much a business growth area. He is no stranger to the town, living relatively nearby in Chipstead and having worked for Allders department store for 20 years before starting out on his own.

Mr Harrison said: "The town centre has suffered recently and it was heartbreaking when Allders closed."

But he believes the Westfield/Hammerson plans to revitalise the centre and rebuild the Whitgift Centre will help re-establish its reputation as a prime retail venue.

He said: "Allders may have shut but the people haven't, they are still here and they want to buy nice things."

That, he said, would only be good for the already thriving Purley Way area.

Mr Harrison said: "To me, Purley Way is the Oxford Street of retail warehousing. There is a great selection of big name stores such PC World, John Lewis and IKEA and people like that. It is a really vibrant area and I anticipate a long and exciting presence for Furniture Village in the area."

He added: "We are in a prime location close to a tram stop which many people are using and although we started trading officially last week, we have been open unofficially for a while and we are already doing very well."

Furniture Village moves into the new premises from its former site on the Fiveways Retail Park.

The new home has undergone a 12-week renovation, replacing the front elevation with a glazed shop front and extending the existing mezzanine to provide additional showroom space. The store has two levels to house its range of sofas, dining tables, beds and garden furniture.

Furniture Village opens its biggest UK store in Croydon

Croydon binmen set to go on strike

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CROYDON binmen will be out to cause "maximum disruption" if they decide to go on strike this summer, a union official has warned.

Between 60 and 70 refuse collectors will be balloted over strike action within the next month, after what the Unite union has described as a breakdown in negotiations over pay. Croydon staff have been offered a wage rise of 1.75 per cent.

A similar vote will be held in neighbouring Bromley, where Veolia Environmental Services also has the refuse collection contract.

The union says any action will be coordinated across both boroughs to make sure that any strikes take place on the same days – ensuring Veolia cannot move staff from one borough to the other to cover for those not working.

Onay Kasab, Unite's regional officer, said members would be balloted on whether they were prepared to take strike action.

Details on any action will not be decided until after results are known, but Mr Kasab told the Advertiser: "The minimum length of action is likely to be three days, if not longer.

"We will be looking to cause the maximum disruption and at what action is going to be the most effective."

He described the offers of 1.75 per cent in Croydon and two per cent in Bromley as "an insult".

Mr Kasab said: "Inflation is running at 3.3 per cent so this would effectively be a pay cut.

"Utility bills, food and travel are all getting more expensive. Yet we are told that this is the price workers must pay for an economic mess we did not cause.

"The last thing we want is our workers set against the public but every worker should be entitled to a wage that meets the cost of living."

A Veolia spokesman said: "We have a long and proud history of working in Croydon and Bromley and have always negotiated and settled amicably with the union on pay issues.

"Having offered two per cent in Bromley and about to do the same in Croydon, it is disappointing that the union has chosen to go to ballot straight away without completing negotiations with us."

Councillor Phil Thomas, Croydon's cabinet member for highways and environmental services, said the council would be monitoring the situation closely but negotiations were a matter for the contractor and their staff.

He added: "We are fairly confident that a settlement will be reached."

Croydon binmen set to go on strike

VIDEOS: The evidence that helped to convict Tia Sharp's killer Stuart Hazell

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MORE CCTV and video footage has been released, showing some of the evidence used to convict Stuart Hazell. The 37-year-old dramatically changed his plea to guilty yesterday at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced this morning (Tuesday) for the murder of 12-year-old Tia Sharp. The schoolgirl's body was found in the loft of the home Hazell shared with his then partner, Tia's grandmother Christine Bicknell, on August 10 last year. The court has heard how Hazell was sexually atrracted to Tia and took a photo of her dead body after he killed her. He wrapped her body in a bin bag and hid it in the loft, where it was only discovered after a fourth police search of the premises. Speaking yesterday, investigating officer DCI Nick Scola said: "Tia was murdered by a man who had gained the trust of Tia's family and who, on that day, was tasked with looking after her whilst her grandmother was at work. Hazell abused that position of trust by planning an assault on Tia that ultimately led to her murder. "The evidence was overwhelming and clearly Hazell realised he had no choice but to plead guilty. However, he put Tia's family through a week of heart-breaking evidence in court and I wish for their sakes he had admitted his guilt sooner. "Hazell is an extremely dangerous individual who poses a significant threat to young girls and it is only right that he should be imprisoned and removed from society so that he can no longer pose any risk." The police has now also released more footage, showing Tia and Hazell together in the hours before she was killed, and some of the evidence used to expose Hazell's lies.
CCTV of Hazell in a Merton off-licence, on the run from police, after Tia's body was discovered on August 10.
CCTV showing Hazell and Tia shopping at the Co-op, in Forestdale, hours before she was killed.
Hazell and Tia on the same day, walking past a Forestdale chip shop
Stuart Hazell's police interview

VIDEOS: The evidence that helped to convict Tia Sharp's killer Stuart Hazell


Brighton 0 Crystal Palace 2, in pictures

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CRYSTAL Palace are just one game from the Premier League, after beating arch-rivals Brighton in their own back yard. A second half brace from Wilfried Zaha earned the Eagles a 2-0 victory at the AMEX Stadium last night - making it 2-0 on aggregate after Friday's goalless first leg. Palace were by far the better side and fully deserved their victory. They will now play Watford in the play-off final at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday, May 27, with a place in the Premier League up for grabs. Courtesy of photographer Neil Everitt, here are some unforgettable images from an unforgettable night for Crystal Palace Football Club.

Brighton 0 Crystal Palace 2, in pictures

Croydon Travel Update: May 14

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7.06am: There are no reported disruptions on Southern or South West trains. A good service is reported on all London tube lines, and the trams. Slow traffic is reported on the A23 Streatham High Road northbound between Streatham Common North and the A216.

Ten immigration arrests following raids on London Road shops

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TEN people have been arrested in a series of immigration enforcement raids on Croydon shops. Home Office immigration enforcement officers made the arrests from five shops, in London Road and Portland Place, last Thursday (May 9). At Savemore Foods in London Road, they arrested a 57-year-old Sri Lankan man "who was a failed asylum seeker" and a 56-year-old Pakistani man who "had entered the country illegally," a Home Office spokesman said. At Croydon Halal Meat and Grocery in London Road, they arrested a 21-year-old Afghan man, not an employee, who was "found to be a failed asylum seeker," the spokesman added. At Perfect Halal Meat in London Road, they arrested a 23-year-old Afghan man "who had entered the country illegally." At CFC Butchers in London Road, they arrested a 45-year-old Pakistani man "who had overstayed his visa," an Iraqi, 25, and an Afghan, 23, "who had both "entered the country illegally."" At Chicken Palace in Portland Place, South Norwood, they arrested three Pakistani men, aged 23, 25 and 33, "for overstaying their visas." The spokesman added the shops – apart from Croydon Halal Meat and Grocery – have been warned they will be fined up to £10,000 per worker without legal immigration status, unless they can prove they carried out appropriate checks. Jill Smith, Head of the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in South London, said: "Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work. "While we are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines."

LIVE: Stuart Hazell to be sentenced for murder of Tia Sharp

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STUART Hazell will find out how many years he will spend in prison for murdering Tia Sharp when his sentencing resumes later this morning. The 37-year-old changed his plea yesterday and admitting killing the 12-year-old and then hiding her body in the loft of his house in The Lindens, New Addington, last August. Barristers for prosecution and defence then made submissions to the judge over the length of sentence he should be given. Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC argued the murder had been sexually motivated and warranted more than a minimum 30 year tariff. Lord Carlile QC, defending, said Hazell had not set out to kill Tia and that a whole life term was not appropriate. Follow live updates on the sentencing from reporters Gareth Davies and Rachel Millard. The court resumes at 10.30am.
Read the full story of yesterday's dramatic proceedings here.
Watch the evidence which helped convict Hazell here.
Police explain why it took five searches of the house to find Tia's body.

LIVE: Stuart Hazell to be sentenced for murder of Tia Sharp

BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Hazell jailed for life for the murder of Tia Sharp

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STUART Hazell has been jailed for life for the murder of 12-year-old Tia Sharp. Hazell, who dramatically changed his plea to guilty yesterday - five days into his murder trial - will have to serve a minimum of 38 years behind bars. The 37-year-old was sentenced by a judge at The Old Bailey this morning (Tuesday). Mr Justice Nicol told the court there was no doubt Hazell developed a sexual attraction to Tia, but said he could not be sure whether there was a sexual motivation to the murder. He added: "Tia was not your blood relationship but there was a bond, you took pictures of her." The judge also said that the only sentencing option available to him was life imprisonment, but added a whole life term couldn't be applied to this case. Tia's body was found on August 10 last year in the loft of a home in The Lindens, New Addington, which Hazell shared with his then partner and Tia's grandmother, Christine Bicknell. The murderer went on the run but was hunted down by police around two hours afer the discovery of the body, having been caught on CCTV buying alcohol at an off-licence in Merton. He initially pleaded not guilty to murder and his trial began last Tuesday. But yesterday, in dramatic scenes, Hazell changed his plea and admitted murdering Tia. As the life sentence was announced, there were a mixture of cheers and cries of 'beast' from the public gallery. Christine Bicknell, Tia's gran, burst into tears and hugged a family member as the verdict was read out. Hazell, on the other hand, showed little emotion as he was led away to the dock. The judge added: "Tia was a sparky girl who was full of life and you took that life from her. "All that lay ahead of her - career, loves and a family of her own - will now never be and the loss of her has been devastating for her mother, her father and all of her relatives and friends." Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, whose constituency includes New Addington, described the jail term as a "just punishment" for Hazell, but also spoke in support of the local community, who rallied around in the hunt for Tia. He said: "Throughout this tragedy I took comfort from the scale of the community response. Evidence from the trial now suggests that it was this community spirit that played a huge role in securing justice for Tia. "If the teams had not been scouring the area daily, Hazell may have attempted to move Tia's body, making the job of finding her and so catching him all the harder. "My thoughts and prayers are with Tia's family, the community of New Addington and everyone that has been affected by this tragedy. If there is one lesson we can take from this sad time, it's this. "The unwavering community spirit of New Addington is something we should all be proud of. I know I am."

BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Hazell jailed for life for the murder of Tia Sharp

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