SAINSBURY'S has compromised on its plans to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight seven days a week at its proposed new supermarket in London Road, West Croydon.

The chain has partially stepped down after discussions with police and now says it will push back the time until 7am.

Sainsbury's has also been in discussion with trading standards, which has insisted on a number of measures to ensure under-18s are not served.

News that the supermarket is to replace the popular Ship Of Fools pub – named Croydon's best by the council last year – has proved unpopular with local traders, who fear it will drive them out of business.

Regulars have also told the Advertiser that there is no need for another supermarket in the area and said they would be sorry to see the pub go.

A resident of Cornwall Road, whose name has been redacted from the council report, wrote to the council to object to the application, saying it will encourage street drinking in the area.

However, the council licensing department's report states: "The council will not take 'need' into account when considering an application, as this concerns 'commercial demand' and is a matter for the planning process and the market."

The application is set to go before the council's licensing subcommittee on Monday.

A CARSHALTON garage boss who broke a neighbouring mechanic's arm with a heavy-duty spirit level during a "parking rage" row was jailed for 16 months on Wednesday.

Mark Evans Blackburn, 46, of Bakers Gardens, Carshalton, swung the four-foot-long wooden weapon at Matthew Ward's head during a furious row over blocked access.

"You walked away from the argument, entered your workspace, and armed yourself with an industrial-sized heavy-duty spirit-level and attempted to hit Mr Ward over the head," Judge Peter Gow QC told Blackburn at Croydon Crown Court as he put him behind bars.

"He raised his left arm in an attempt to protect himself and suffered a fracture when struck, by you, with that weapon."

Father-of-two Blackburn was convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm in Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, on January 5 last year.

The court heard that trouble had begun when Mr Ward, who had just pulled up in his car, complained a small transit van Blackburn had just parked was blocking the entrance to his garage.

Swearing, the defendant shouted: "I'm not going to move the van."

The pair had a face-to-face confrontation, shouting abuse at each other and Mr Ward's friend got out of a car with a dog.

"I was looking at the floor for something to arm myself with because I thought the dog was going to attack me," Blackburn told the jury.

Mr Ward said the defendant warned: "Wait there. I've got something to show you."

Seconds later he returned with the spirit level and, swinging it like a baseball bat, struck Mr Ward, breaking his left arm, and causing him to fall to the floor. Blackburn claimed the blow was in self-defence as he feared Mr Ward was going to grab a weapon from the back of his own vehicle.

Prosecutor Mr Nicholas Bleaney said: "This injury ruined Mr Ward's professional life. As a direct result of his injuries, he has had to give up his business."

Robert Rye, defending, said: "This is a hard-working family man and the working relationship he had with Mr Ward has been lost due to this aberration.

"The impact on Mr Blackburn is going to be very hard and dramatic indeed. If he receives a substantial prison sentence he will inevitably lose his business."

Blackburn suffered a minor stroke on Christmas Eve while on remand.

"That must have been brought about by the stress of being in custody," said Mr Rye. "This was a moment of madness."

Judge Gow told Blackburn: "It is clear you are a hard-working, family man, kind and peaceful in the normal course of events and what you did was out of character."

WIELDING flowers at crazed extremists intent on wreaking havoc may sound like a last resort for preventing a terrorist attack.

But a series of floral displays is at the heart of the Home Office's new beefed-up security measures at the UK Border Agency's Lunar House headquarters in Wellesley Road.

A planning application submitted to Croydon Council upon "Home Office instruction", shows 27 one-metre tall, two-metre wide plant pots are to be strategically placed around the building "for security purposes".

The application states: "The Home Office have instructed DTZ [the agent] to submit a planning application, which seeks approval for the development of 27 planters outside Lunar House, Wellesley Road, for security purposes.

"The proposed planters will be located within the curtilage of Lunar House to the north, west and south of the building…They will increase the level of protection from security threats."

It is understood the measures - set to replace a series of concrete "security blocks" which the Home Office spent £10,000 installing five years ago - are designed to stop car bombs crashing into the building.

But the Home Office was this week tight-lipped on the pots' purpose, saying only: "We don't comment on the measures we take for security reasons so that people who might wish to do us harm are not aware of why we are taking steps to secure buildings."

The proposed planters will be about one-metre tall and two metres wide, and made from dark grey, "Darley" polished concrete.

So "robust" is the plant-housing material, it is expected to deter "security threats whilst enhancing the visual amenity of the building and local area".

The application adds: "Due to the nature and scale of the proposed security planters, it is considered they will have a positive impact on the surrounding area.

"The proposals adhere to the policy aspirations for the site as they protect and enhance the Home Office's existing operations on the site."

The council will decide next month whether to approve the plan.

Years of nightmares and blackouts, then more than a year of reliving what had happened with their parents and in interviews with the police, had all led to a day neither brother or sister believed would come.

Bernard Pereira, the man charged with abusing them, was to stand trial. Now they waited for the phone call asking them to attend court and tell a jury what he had done.

But, when the call came, Steven and Lucy, whose names we have changed to protect their identities, were not asked to give evidence.

Instead they were told Pereira, 55, of Mitcham Road, Croydon, was cutting a deal which would see him plead guilty to just two of the seven offences he had been charged with.

He would admit two counts of indecency with a child if the other offences, including one of attempted rape, were dropped.

The news was relayed to Steven and Lucy by a senior detective from Sapphire, the Met's specialist rape and sexual assault unit.

"He told us that Bernard had pleaded guilty to some of the lesser charges and that we had five minutes to decide whether to accept the deal," said their mother Paula, who had been waiting with her children to attend court.

Speaking at the family home in Croydon, she added: "My daughter didn't understand why they needed a decision in five minutes. She was distraught. We asked for more time but the detective replied: 'You don't have more time. You either make up your mind or the CPS will decide for you'."

Paula described how talk of a plea bargain contradicted reassurances given by the police to the family in the lead-up to the trial in October.

While they were aware how difficult it might be to prove allegations of historic sexual abuse, there were a number of witnesses willing to corroborate Steven and Lucy's evidence, leading police to tell the family their case was strong.

Paula said: "When my children first reported it we felt the police wouldn't believe them. It happened such a long time ago and cases like this are difficult to prove.

"But when they went round to all the witnesses, the police had such strong statements they felt there was genuine evidence.

"Our lives had been turned upside down but we had built up to this moment and were prepared to go as far as it takes.

"The detective said my children could get justice. In the end that chance was taken away from them."

Paula added: "Lucy and Steven wanted to give evidence. They wanted the opportunity to show Bernard he hadn't won.

"Me and Steven even went to court on the Thursday before the trial to get an idea of what it would be like. When we were there, the detective turned to Steven and said 'you and Lucy need to think about whether you would be happy if Bernard pleaded guilty to one or two charges'.

"We said no. Why would we be happy with that? We wanted him to be punished, to get a prison term and to know what he did was wrong. That would be justice for Steven and Lucy. But obviously the police were already talking about a deal before it got to court."

Neither Steven or Lucy agreed to the deal, so the CPS did. James Dawson, prosecuting, told the judge at Croydon Crown Court that the agreement had saved the victims, particularly Steven, the "stress" and "embarrassment" of giving evidence.

Pereira pleaded guilty to assaulting nine-year-old Lucy between January 1989 and January 1991. The self-employed builder, a family friend, was babysitting the girl when he put her hands between her legs while she was having a bath. He also admitted indecency with Steven between July 30 and August 1, 1993, when he put his hands under the boy's underpants and touched his bottom.

Four other charges of indecency and one count of attempted rape of a child were not pursued.

After agreeing to the deal, Pereira was given 60 hours' unpaid work for each offence, to run concurrently, and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years. The following day, the senior investigating officer visited the family to "congratulate" them on the result.

"He sat next to my son and said it was a good thing the CPS had accepted the plea because the jury might have found him not guilty," said Paula.

"He asked us how we would have felt knowing we hadn't taken his guilty plea.

"The detective said my son's evidence was not as strong as Lucy's and that the jury might have thought he was unreliable.

"I didn't like that at all. As soon as he said it, my son shut down. He felt guilt-ridden because he thought it was his fault that my daughter didn't get the justice she deserved.

"I wish there was a way we could do a civil case but the detective said we needed to 'get on with our lives'. How do you move on with your life? How do you put it back to the way it was? I can't. My life is completely finished."

THREE new workshops designed to help local firms grow and succeed are being planned by Croydon-based business support group South London Business (SLB).

The first, Effective Networking, will be held on Friday between 9am and 1pm with the aim of helping companies make better use of networking opportunities.

On January 22, the subject will be team building.

SLB says teams that work together help to ensure a business gets the positive results it seeks and to provide sustainable employment opportunities.

The workshop will provide advice on ensuring employees have the right level of motivation and commitment.

And on January 24, the workshop focus will be on helping companies make the best of building business in Europe's emerging markets.

It will offer advice on international expansion into these markets.

The events will be held at SLB's office at Sunley House in Bedford Park, Croydon. Companies wishing to book place on any of the workshops should visit the website or email membership@southlondonbusiness.co.uk

A BUS station controller who braved rioters to defend his station and help passengers has been appointed an MBE.

Nana Nyarko has made the New Year's Honours List for his bravery and commitment while working at West Croydon bus station on August 8, 2011.

The father-of-two, from Thornton Heath, said this week: "It is surprising and exciting, being recognised and honoured for a job I was sent to do."

Mr Nyarko, who works as a controller at Crystal Palace, Addington and Kingston bus stations, as well as West Croydon, defied police advice to go home as riots spread through Croydon.

The 52-year-old said: "I thought the best thing for me to do was to get people out of the station. I told drivers, 'I am sure the riot is coming this way, so we should move the buses out of the way'.

"Then I was able to direct passengers to the next bus station. But I could not just close the station and go home; I had to protect it."

My Nyarko stayed on site, warding off youths who were gathering outside.

He said: "Whenever the kids moved to one side of the station, I followed them.

"I am a bus controller and it is my duty to maintain my station."

Mr Nyarko left when his shift finished at 10pm, and was stunned the next day to see the devastation around the town centre.

He said: "When I saw Reeves Corner I was just so disappointed. I just could not get my mind around it."

Mr Nyarko worked as a distributor for a retailer before becoming a bus controller in 2004, and says the best part of the job is helping people.

He said: "When people are lost, or looking for something, and you can calm them down and give them directions, that is the best part."

He said he was not sure who nominated him for the honour, but that his family - wife Rosemond, and two sons, aged 21 and 26 - were "very proud".

HUNDREDS of players and spectators attended a hockey match in memory of a young player who died in a boating accident.

Charlie Hutton, a talented youngster who had future Olympic hopes, died in July after falling from a boat while sailing off the Isle of Wight.

The 14-year-old, of Rockfield Road in Oxted, died soon afterwards in hospital. He had apparently been hit by the boat's propeller.

Charlie played for Oxted Hockey Club, and the first annual Charlie Hutton Hockey Festival was held on December 15 at Whitgift School in Croydon, where he was a pupil.

Aly Osborne, Whitgift School's director of sport, said: "The day was a tremendous success.

"Charlie was an incredible hockey player who lived life with a smile on his face."

The festival involved ten junior teams of mixed ages and five senior teams, which included some Whitgift teachers and a Surrey Old Boys team with England international Darren Cheesman among its ranks.

Surrey Old Boys won the senior competition, with the junior section won by a Whitgift School team.

Their captain, George Oyebode, collected the trophy. He was one of Charlie's close friends, and also fell off the boat on the day Charlie died, but he was rescued by a crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

More than £2,000 was raised in donations on the day, which will be sent to the RNLI.

Andy Rogers, from the England Hockey's junior regional performance centre in Tonbridge, which Charlie attended, said: "The festival was superbly organised, supported and enjoyed by almost 200 hockey players who knew and played alongside Charlie.

"He was a sensational player with immense ability and potential, destined to achieve great things in the game at the very highest level."

Charlie was the youngest of three brothers. His siblings Tom and Sam will take part in the Virgin London Marathon on April 21 in his memory.

To sponsor them, and to make a donation in tribute to Charlie, visit bit.ly/RNLIfundraising

THE Vicar of Croydon has chastised Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley for claiming Malcolm Wicks' death was the "Lord's justice".

Canon Colin Boswell described Mr Bentley's claim that the respected Croydon North MP's death had been divine retribution for leading a campaign to have him barred from the country as "about as far from the understanding of God that I have ever known".

"I believe Malcolm to have been one of the most courageous people faced with death that I have ever met and someone speaking such theological nonsense is an insult to his memory," Canon Boswell told the Advertiser.

Bentley had planned a UK tour in August, including a three-day visit to Croydon.

But he was prevented from entering the country after Mr Wicks urged the Home Office to take action following concerns about his controversial "healing" techniques and criminal past.

Mr Wicks, who had been battling cancer, died on September 29.

Bentley, who was as a teenager convicted of a sex attack on a seven-year-old, claimed God had visited him in a dream and told him to mark the date in his calendar.

In the video, he referred to Mr Wicks' death as "the Lord's justice" and was joined on stage by another preacher who claimed God was "removing opposition from his people".

Canon Boswell, who led the memorial service for the Labour MP at Croydon Minster, said Bentley had "lost any connection with the reality of a loving God".

He said: "If he thinks that Mr Wicks suffered cancer because he campaigned against him, he might like to go to the children's ward of his local cancer hospital and tell them what God is punishing them for.

"To imagine a God, who the Bible says is 'love', causing someone to have cancer is contrary to any understanding of the concept of a God who creates, sustains and saves."

Bentley, 36, is known for his controversial preaching techniques, which have included intentionally kicking an elderly woman in the face. Canon Boswell said: "I feel it important to speak as the Vicar of Croydon and to assure people, especially those who are not committed to the Christian faith, that the talk of the death of Mr Wicks as the Lord's justice, is just about as far from the understanding of God, or the reading of the Gospel, as I have ever known." He added: "If you are wondering about the Christian faith, please find a sane expression of it and open yourself to the possibility of God.

"I can assure you that he won't kick you in the face."

JANUARY

Despite reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup, Palace opened 2012 with two defeats - to Leicester City and Derby County. However, they defeated Cardiff City in the first leg of the semi-final 1-0, before suffering a reverse scoreline in Wales. Having seen captain Paddy McCarthy red-carded, the tie went to penalties and the Eagles crashed out, losing 3-1. And spot-kicks were the order of the day at the end of the month when they drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion at Selhurst Park, thanks to Chris Martin and Ashley Barnes.

FEBRUARY

The game against the Seagulls kicked off a ten-match unbeaten run for the side. Having drawn three times, with Middlesbrough, Bristol City and West Ham United, Palace thrashed Watford 4-0 in between thanks to a Chris Martin double, Wilfried Zaha and Kagisho Dikgacoi. In the game against Bristol City, they found themselves 2-0 up after 69 minutes thanks to Zaha and Darren Ambrose, but victory was snatched away after two late goals from Brett Pitman.

MARCH

The unbeaten run continued until the end of the month when Derby secured a 3-2 win. Beforehand, Palace kicked off the month with a 1-0 win over Peterborough United thanks to Mile Jedinak, with 1-1 draws at Coventry City and Burnley following. Darren Ambrose scored from the penalty spot in those matches, while Wilfried Zaha was sent off at Turf Moor. They picked up another five points before a heavy 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

APRIL

Palace failed to record a win in their last six matches of the season. Two defeats in quick succession against Birmingham City and Southampton kicked the month off before a 1-1 draw at home to Ipswich Town. Defeat followed at relegation-threatened Portsmouth, before a hard-fought 2-2 draw at eventual champions Reading. However, goalkeeper Julian Speroni, who suffered a fractured finger at the Madejski Stadium, was ruled out for at least two months. And on the last day of the season, Wilfried Zaha got Palace off to a great start against Cardiff City, but they went on to lose 2-1 and finish the campaign in 17th position on 56 points.

MAY

First-team coach Tony Popovic left Selhurst Park to return home to Australia, while right-back Nathaniel Clyne looked set for a move to the Premier League. However, Joel Ward was recruited from relegated Portsmouth as the Eagles' first summer signing.

JUNE

Clyne continued to be linked with top flight clubs, while striker Aaron Wilbraham arrived on a free transfer from Norwich City and defender Aaron Martin joined on a season-long loan from Southampton. Wilfried Zaha was named in Team GB's provisional squad for the Olympic Games, but fellow academy product Sean Scannell left Selhurst for Huddersfield Town.

JULY

Clyne sealed a four-year deal at Premier League new boys Southampton, with his transfer forced to go to a tribunal after the clubs failed to agree a financial package. Darren Ambrose left for Birmingham City but defender Peter Ramage started pre-season training with the Eagles. Wilfried Zaha missed out on a place in the final Team GB squad. Former Eagles striker Neil Shipperley tells Advertiser Sport he believes the club will find it tough to sign a 20-goal-a-season forward. Keeper Julian Speroni returned to training following the broken finger picked up at Reading and immediately targeted a top-six finish.

AUGUST

The Eagles lost 3-2 to Watford at home on the opening day of the season, but they secured a 2-1 win over Exeter City in the Capital One Cup. A 4-1 defeat at Bristol City followed, leading to the signing of Darcy Blake from Cardiff City. He made his debut away to Middlesbrough in a 2-1 defeat, while another new signing, Andre Moritz, also made his debut. A 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Preston North End followed in the Capital One Cup and Freedman's future was put in doubt. Damien Delaney was recruited on a free transfer while Blackburn striker David Goodwillie was brought in on loan.

SEPTEMBER

Palace picked up their first league victory with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Glenn Murray's double. In a south London derby at Charlton Athletic, Kagisho Dikgacoi's volley secured back-to-back wins, followed by a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. A stunning comeback against Cardiff City saw Palace secure a 3-2 win, having been two goals down in the first half. To end the month, the Eagles broke an all-time record of never winning away at Bolton Wanderers by doing just that and coming away with a 1-0 victory thanks to Glenn Murray's penalty. Meanwhile, experienced defender Danny Gabbidon was also brought in on a free transfer.

OCTOBER

A controversial month for the club. On the pitch, the team got off to a flyer with a 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. A 4-3 victory over Burnley followed, but after an international break, Dougie Freedman was linked with the managerial vacancy at Bolton Wanderers. Seventy-two hours after a 2-2 draw with Millwall, Freedman became Bolton manager on the day Palace were set to face Barnsley. Advertiser Sport secured an exclusive interview with Freedman, who said the move was about job security for him and his family rather than money. Assistant boss Lennie Lawrence and Curtis Fleming took charge of the team in a 1-1 draw at Barnsley and a 2-1 win at Leicester City.

NOVEMBER

Lennie Lawrence and Curtis Fleming leave Palace for Bolton, while the Eagles unveiled Blackpool boss Ian Holloway as their new manager, before trouncing Ipswich Town 5-0 at Selhurst Park. A fantastic 2-1 win away at strugglers Peterborough follows courtesy of two late goals, while Wilfried Zaha is called up to the senior England squad for a friendly against Sweden and comes on as an 84th minute substitute. A 3-0 win over Derby County followed, however the 14-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Leeds United.

DECEMBER

Palace thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at Selhurst thanks to Glenn Murray's double. Ian Holloway faced former club Blackpool and had to settle for a 2-2 draw, after a last minute equaliser. Draws with Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest followed, before the 2-1 defeat at promotion rivals Cardiff City on Boxing Day.

A VOLUNTEER who dedicated three decades of his life to raising money for veterans has died suddenly aged 58.

Brian Jones had organised the Poppy Appeal for the past 30 years for the Croydon branch of the Royal British Legion.

He died at home in Sanderstead on December 12, having collapsed the night before after battling illnesses for more than two years.

His devastated brother, Shaun Jones, 55, said: "I loved him to pieces; he looked after every single one of our family. I was very, very close to him."

Brian helped his mother, Dawn, organise the Poppy Appeal for 20 years before taking over from her when she died in 2000.

His father, Charles, a former paratrooper, was chairman of the branch for 30 years from the 1970s.

Brian continued the demanding role well into 2012 before reluctantly retiring due to his ill health.

Wally Filby, who has taken over organising the appeal, said: "It was a really big job and he did it for 30 years.

"I started to take over from him last year as he was not all that well. "He was very reluctant to give it up as he had been doing it for so long.

"He was a fantastic bloke and he really enjoyed doing the job.

"He did not let on how ill he was; his sudden death was a surprise to all of us."

Raised in Croydon, Brian served as a mechanic with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers before working as a bus conductor and security guard, among other roles.

Brother Shaun remembered: "He was very talkative and would talk to any stranger. You would go shopping with him and find him talking to someone.

"He ended up looking after my family; he really looked after my two younger brothers when they had long illnesses, and my mum when she had a long illness. He has been like a mother in the family."

Brian was also remembered as an ardent motorbike enthusiast who had a collection of about 20, mainly Japanese, models.

Shaun said: "He just liked to have them; had been riding since he was about 15.

"I suppose he liked the freedom of it, meeting people and talking to people."

Mr Jones's funeral will be held at the Beckenham Crematorium at 2.15pm on Tuesday, January 8..