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Carshalton College Open Event - Saturday 27 April, 10.00am to 2.00pm

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Carshalton College is inviting prospective learners to visit their Open Event for tours and the chance to meet tutors & students on Saturday 27 April from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

Carshalton College has been educating people and realising students' ambitions for more than 50 years and boasts excellent facilities that are continuously evolving to provide an outstanding vocational learning environment. The College offers a vast selection of Full and Part Time courses, Higher Education, Skills for Life & Work and Apprenticeships for students of all ages and abilities. These include qualifications in art & design, accounting, digital media, games development, music technology, construction, brickwork, plastering, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, motor vehicle, health & social care, childcare, catering, hairdressing, beauty, sport, public services and IT.

Tours

Tours will include the Renaissance Hair Salon, Nightingales our in-house training restaurant, Carpentry and Plumbing Workshops, Motor Vehicle Workshops and Pulse Health & Fitness Centre. Run by Pulse Fitness memberships are available for students and the general public with a swimming pool, 80 station fitness suite, sports hall and dance studios.

 

Advice and Guidance

The Student Support Centre will be available to talk to at the Open Event. Visit the team to receive advice and guidance on finances, education & training opportunities and information on College Life with the common room, learner voice, enrichment and student union.

 

Meet our team of tutors and students
For an insight, tutors and students will be available to answer questions. You can also apply at the event for courses with immediate start dates and those commencing in September 2013.

 

Success Rates
Carshalton College is delighted to have been recognised as 'The Best College in London'* for long courses.

 

Janet Sherborne, Head of Carshalton College, welcomes the news of the success rates and says: "We are delighted to hear that we have the best success rates on long courses in London. Here at Carshalton College we have been making steady improvements in our performance and the latest results are a huge credit to the hard work of our dedicated staff and the support from governors. For us, this is just the beginning of what we hope will be a very successful journey for our College. I'd like to thank our 'Student Voice' for their feedback which helps the College meet our learners needs and will ensure we keep going from strength to strength."

*Long course success rates 2010/11, London Region Source: The Data Service,

 

Visit us on Saturday 27 April from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

 

Register to attend an Open Event
If you would like to attend one or more of our Open Events you can register to attend in advance.
Please note only potential learners need to register. Parents/friends attending with a potential learner do not need to register. You can register on the day at the event if preferred.

Under 16's are required to accompanied by a responsible adult.


Woman and child dead after being hit by train at Riddlesdown

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A WOMAN her three-year-old son have died after being hit by a train at Riddlesdown. British Transport Police (BTP) officers were called to Riddlesdown train station, Purley, at 8.29am. Medics from London Ambulance Services and Metropolitan Police officers also attended, but the pair were declared dead at the scene. The woman is said to be in her thirties, but has not been formally identified. BTP said the boy was three years old, and he is understood to be the woman's son. The station has been closed, and enquiries are ongoing to establish what happened. "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the woman and child involved," said Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Iain Miller. "Officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, although early indications show that no one else was believed to have been involved." One passenger on board at the time said the train had been held in position until about 10.10am, when it was moved to Sanderstead to let passengers off. National Rail said electrical supply to the line has been turned off while crews deal with the incident. Southern said a shuttle service is operating between Oxted and East Grinstead, and Oxted and Uckfield. Replacement buses are operating between Purley and Oxted, calling at all stations including Riddlesdown in both directions. There is also a rail replacement service between Uckfield and Haywards Heath calling at Crowborough, Buxted and Uckfield in both directions, and between East Grinstead and Three Bridges in both directions. There will also be a replacement bus service between Oxted and Redhill from 3pm. For more information, including on where Southern tickets are being accepted, click here. Passengers travelling from Sanderstead are being used to use Purley Oaks train station instead. Train services still running are expected to be around 30 minutes longer than usual. First Capital Connect are accepting Southern tickets on the Thameslink services on reasonable routes.
More follows...

Riddlesdown train deaths: Community speak of shock after woman and toddler killed

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PEOPLE in Riddlesdown have spoken of their shock after a woman and three-year-old boy were hit by a train this morning. Emergency services were called to station at about 8.30am, but the pair were declared dead at the scene. The train was an express service from Uckfield to London Bridge, and was not scheduled to stop at Riddlesdown. The woman has not been named by police, but she is in her thirties and lives in the area. The house where she had been living now has police officers posted outside. David Frank, who lives on Mitchley Avenue, said he saw the emergency crews as he returned home from his morning run. "I just couldn't believe it when they [the police] said what had happened," he said. "It's unspeakably sad. People who didn't even know them were in shock, I can't imagine what their family will be going through." Natalie Cooper, 32, said she had heard the news when she went to the chemist. "She said the woman was local and that she'd only seen her yesterday," said Ms Cooper. "It's just really sad, to be honest." A man who was on the train involved described how the service stopped suddenly just as the service passed Riddlesdown. "They said there was a trespasser on the line, but I think most people knew what had happened," said the passenger, who asked not to be named. "There was an announcement asking for anyone who works in the emergency services to make themselves known. "I was on the train with my neighbour, who is a fireman, and he went to help." BTP Inspector Noel Lilly told reporters investigations were continuing. "Our forensic teams are very professional and they followed all the correct procedures," he said. "We are confident that everything was done that needed to be done." Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Iain Miller said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the woman and child involved. "Officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, although early indications show that no one else was believed to have been involved." A file has been passed to the coroner. Network Rail said the line has been reopened, but delays should be expected.

Murdered rapper's brother thought he was intended target of South Norwood drive-by shooting

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THE brother of a rapper murdered outside his home in South Norwood immediately believed he was the intended target, a court has heard. Minutes after Umar Tufail, 25, was shot in the head, his younger brother Amir, 18, told a police office the bullet had been meant for him, adding: "I have a lot of enemies." One of his rivals was Sanchez Thomas, a member of the Squeeze Section gang who had been driving the car which pulled up alongside Umar in Wharncliffe Road, South Norwood, on July 15 last year. Kyrone Daley, a passenger in the vehicle, alleges Thomas pulled out a handgun and shot the talented singer because of his feud with Amir, while Thomas says a third person in the car was the shooter. The two friends are charged with murder under joint enterprise. The Old Bailey had previously been read Daley's defence statement which alleges Amir, known by the street name Renz and a member of Croydon's Block Cartel gang, had threatened Thomas with a knife in Regina Road, South Norwood, in October 2011 and then stabbed him during an incident in Tooting in March 2012. Jurors heard today (Friday) that before the shooting, a member of Squeeze Section had cycled past the brothers' home as Amir was going inside. On the afternoon of the killing, Amir and his friend Stephen Crawford, 18, were playing computer games in an upstairs bedroom when they heard a gunshot. Crawford went to the window and drew the curtain in time to see a grey car drive away. As they ran downstairs, Amir picked up, and then dropped, a knife before shouting: "Umar has been shot." They rushed outside and found Umar slumped over the wheel of his family's red Vauxhall Corsa with a gunshot wound to the side of the head. Jurors were told that Mr Crawford called 999 but when police arrived he gave them a false name. Michael Borrelli QC, representing Thomas, asked Amir: "It was your view at the time that it may have been you who was the intended victim of the shooting, is that correct?" "Yes," said Amir. Mr Borrelli continued: "Do you remember telling a female police officer that you had a lot of enemies?" "Yes," the teenager replied. Umar, an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Humuh, was taken to King's College Hospital but died the following day. Daley claims Thomas offered him a lift to his girlfriend Natasha Henry's house in Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, on the day of the shooting. On the way, he alleges they stopped outside a house in Wharncliffe Road and Thomas began to talk to Umar. "Thomas repeatedly accused the victim of being Renz, which he denied," said prosecution barrister William Boyce QC, reading from Daley's statement. "He reached down below the driver's seat and drew out what transpired to be a firearm, which the defendant (Daley) was completely unaware he had in his possession. "When Thomas established that the victim was the brother of Renz he, without notice, shot him." Amir told jurors that while he and his brother looked similar, "if you knew us, you could tell us apart". Thomas, known by the name Limits, claims that a third passenger in the car, picked up during the journey after asking for a lift to Spa Hill, shot Umar. Last Tuesday he revealed the identity of the alleged killer for the first time, blaming a member of Croydon gang Don't Say Nothing (DSN) known by the nickname Pauser. "In Wharnciffe Road the defendant Thomas saw the brother of Amir Tufail," said Mr Boyce. "He stopped the car to see if he could resolve the situation he had with the younger brother. "Before he could speak, the third person took over and spoke to Umar through the car window. He asked him about a time when the third man was stabbed by Amir. "The defendant Thomas saw his arm move and suddenly there was a gun shot." Thomas claims he "panicked" and drove off, before the killer ordered him to stop the car and left. Extensive CCTV footage shows the grey Vauxhall Corsa travelling to the scene of the shooting and then back to Unity Close, West Norwood, where Daley and Thomas both live. At no point can a third person be seen in the car or being picked up. Police tracked down Pauser but found from his phone records that he was in Maidstone, Kent, at the time. After Thomas was presented with this "cast iron" alibi, he claimed to have been talking about a different member of DSN also called Pauser. "He has backed himself completely into a corner," said Mr Boyce. After returning to Unity Close, Daley and Thomas took a minicab to a friend's house in Fulham where they remained until travelling to Ms Henry's. The car was seized the following day and gunshot residue was later found on Thomas' top. Daley and Thomas both deny murder. The trial continues.

Murdered rapper's brother thought he was intended target of South Norwood drive-by shooting

Riddlesdown train deaths: Pair named as Donna Oettinger and son Zachary

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THE woman and child hit by a train near Riddlesdown station this morning have been named. Donna Oettinger, 41, and her son Zachary, three, were identified by British Transport Police this afternoon. Emergency services rushed to Riddlesdown at about 8.30am after reports someone had been hit by a train. Medics from London Ambulance Service and officers from British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police Service attended, but the pair were pronounced dead at the scene. National Rail said the train line has now been reopened between Uckfield and South Croydon and Grinstead. However, delays are expected to continue.

Riddlesdown rail tragedy: Donna Oettinger wrote of love for son Zakhary on Facebook

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THE woman killed by a train in Riddlesdown wrote of her love for her three-year-old - also killed in Friday's tragedy - on Facebook.
Donna Oettinger, 41, and her son Zakhary were hit by a train at Riddlesdown Station, shortly after 8.30am.
The 41-year-old refers to spells of anxiety on her Facebook account, but also writes of her love for her "beautiful" son.
A message posted last August reads: "Best day of my life when my beautiful zaki was born he brings so much happiness to my life I love you so much zaki love mummy xxxxx"
Another post, from October, read: "Thank god I have my son zaki I owe him a lot when I get better love you son with all my heart xxx"
Mrs Oettinger's social media page is littered with pictures of her son - some with her partner and the boy's father, Mohamed Nasr.
British Transport Police are continuing to investigate Friday's tragedy, while a file has been passed to the coroner.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Iain Miller said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the woman and child involved.
"Officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, although early indications show that no one else was believed to have been involved."

Riddlesdown rail tragedy: Donna Oettinger wrote of love for son Zakhary on Facebook

Jason Banton enjoying a more advanced role at Plymouth

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JASON Banton is certainly enjoying life down at Plymouth Argyle, and helped them secure their second win in 72 hours on Tuesday night at Southend United.

And he nearly scored again for the Pilgrims at Roots Hall but a particular teammate's involvement cost him another goal.

"I was close to scoring again after Reuben Reid played me in, but I had a defender in front of me and I checked back onto my right foot, and I've placed it towards the bottom corner, but our right winger tapped it in on the line and it was given offside," Banton said.

"It was going in but the main thing was that we won and it was great to secure back-to-back wins at Southend."

On Saturday, Banton scored his fifth goal in nine appearances for John Sheridan's side, playing in an advanced role in the green and white.

"It was good to get another goal at Fleetwood Town, but the last three games I've been playing off the striker rather than on the wing," he said.

"I am used to playing out wide but I can also play up top.

"My aim now is to keep playing well and scoring goals, so hopefully I can carry that on and then look forward to being back at Palace for pre-season.

And he revealed he would like to keep Argyle up in front of their passionate fans.

"It would mean a lot to me to keep Plymouth up, especially with their history and you can just tell when you turn up on a Saturday to a home game you've got six or seven thousand supporting you," he said.

"And the club should not be where they are. You can tell that when Ian Holloway was manager here, it is definitely a big club."

Jason Banton enjoying a more advanced role at Plymouth

Roke parents hold anti-academy protest outside Harris Federation offices

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ROKE Primary School parents ramped up the pressure on Tuesday afternoon with a rally outside the proposed academy sponsor's headquarters in central Croydon.

More than 30 parents and children demonstrated outside the Harris Federation's offices in Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, against the Government's plans for their Kenley school.

Supported by representatives from the local branch of the National Union of Teachers and the Anti-Academies Alliance, protesters brandished banners with messages including "Our results are good" and "Parents have no voice".

A formal consultation on the Government's plans, which were triggered by a bad Ofsted report last year, is due to close on March 28.

Joanna Hearn, from Kenley, who has two sons aged three and five at Roke, said: "We hope that they will listen because they claim that there is a consultation, so if there is we hope they will understand the strength of our feelings."

The 38-year-old added: "I do not believe that our school is failing, and Harris claims to be a charity so they should put their resources where they are most needed.

"We would like them to go to a failing school and do good there."

No one from Harris came out to address the crowd, but protester Becky Carrier was allowed inside the building, where she handed over posters.

Harris representatives – including founder Lord Harris of Peckham, chief executive Sir Daniel Moynihan, and head of primary education Sir Robin Bosher – have held open meetings with parents to discuss how they would run the school.

Protester Jane Manning, whose six-year-old daughter attends Roke, echoed other parents' comments that the school does not need rescuing.

The 45-year-old said: "[My daughter] had been to another school [Beulah Junior], and since a year of her coming to Roke she has been well above that level.

"She has been getting ten-letter-word spellings – gymnastics, for example. I think she has got a good teacher and had a good teacher last year.

"I will be panicking if it becomes an academy – I reckon they would bring in all their own teachers and get rid of the ones that they have got.

"There are plenty of schools out there that need their [Harris'] help."

Holly Lloyd, aged eight, who is in Year 4 at Roke, said she worried Harris would "change some of the great things about the school".

She added: "They are going to change the uniform and the logo and I don't see what is wrong with them."

Her mum Claire Lloyd said she was worried her autistic son Jack, 4, would get less special educational support under Harris.

But Sir Robin Bosher has said special educational needs provision would not be changed as long as it was effective.

He told one parent at a public meeting: "If it is effective and your little boy is making the best progress he can then, that will stay just as it is."

The campaigners have also instructed a lawyer to look at challenging the Government's plans in the courts.

The Department for Education told the Advertiser last week it wanted to "help under-performing schools to improve".

It would "carefully consider" consultation responses, a spokesman added.

Roke parents hold anti-academy protest outside Harris Federation offices


Residents oppose plans for new school on South Norwood green space

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ANGRY residents came out in force on Tuesday to oppose Croydon Council's plans to build a new school on green space in South Norwood.

The proposed secondary school on the site of Croydon Arena and Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT) came under fire at a consultation meeting.

Residents are worried it would infringe too much on protected metropolitan land.

The council wants to build the specialist sports and science school in time for September 2014, as they try to meet the rising demand for school places.

The meeting at CALAT, attended by Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, was the second in the consultation process. Those attending the first had complained they were given inadequate information.

Campaigner Sue Kennett said: "It was almost as if they didn't want us to come. They seemed only to be putting flyers up in libraries outside the area. But it's a completely inappropriate plan, given the space and location of the school."

The council said it wants to develop existing buildings on the site and that the school would form part of London's Olympic legacy plans.

But Dr Paula Goodman, of Macclesfield Road, said the council was looking in the wrong places.

She said: "Why, when it has been shown that there are other areas like Thornton Heath which need the extra places, would you try and take one of our only bits of green space?"

A council spokesman said it was still in the process of consulting with residents. The consultation process continues until March 28.

Man who stole gingerbread man during Croydon riots died in Wandsworth Prison cell after ambulances cancelled

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CALL centre staff took eight minutes to send an ambulance to a dying prisoner despite a prison officer's pleas, an inquest heard.

James Best collapsed in his Wandsworth prison cell on September 11, 2011, after exercising in the prison's gym.

He was awaiting sentencing for stealing a gingerbread man during that summer's riots in Croydon, where he had been living.

The 37-year-old was pronounced dead before paramedics reached him.

In a 13-minute 999 call played to the jury at Westminster Coroners' Court on Wednesday, prison officer Paul Morris was heard pleading for an ambulance for Mr Best, who was having "severe difficulty breathing".

But he was told "we may not be able to send you an ambulance immediately" based on the limited information he had provided, and because he was not a healthcare professional.

Mr Morris told the handler a trained nurse with Mr Best was "screaming on the radio" and asking for an ambulance. However, because Mr Morris was not able to respond to specific questions about Mr Best's condition, his answers were registered as "unknown" meaning the call was downgraded to a lower priority.

The call handler, who asked her manager for advice off tape, was finally told by Mr Morris that the man was "having a heart attack," and "this man is dying and we need an ambulance".

Asked by Westminster coroner Fiona Wilcox whether Mr Morris would have had more success in getting an ambulance had he lied, the call's handler, Lauren Hutson, replied: "With the way that the system worked at the time, yes."

Susan Watkins, London Ambulance Service operations manager for control services, said the call handler had been "proactive" in keeping the call open and turning to her manager, who kept an ambulance running while they worked out what was going on in Wandsworth.

She said: "The EMD's role is to be less emotive if you will and to take the information, because people will call up and ask for ambulances for all sorts of things and clearly it's a finite number of vehicles we have to prioritise."

The system has now changed, the court heard, so that clinicians are available to emergency dispatchers, and can take calls on behalf of healthcare professionals. Any 'code one' calls in prisons – the type made when Mr Best collapsed – will also trigger an ambulance being called.

The inquest was scheduled to finish today (Friday). Coroner Dr. Wilcox said she is dealing with five inquests that involve problems with London Ambulance Service's triage system.

Man who stole gingerbread man during Croydon riots died in Wandsworth Prison cell after ambulances cancelled

Ollie's Way: 'Michael Owen was as good as they come'

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MICHAEL OWEN'S emergence on the scene for Liverpool and England was quite outstanding.

His finishing was quite exceptional and he was a predatory number nine who has done his country, his team-mates and himself very proud.

It is quite unbelievable what he's done in the game and he's made himself quite a wealthy man off the pitch in the horse racing industry.

I think injuries did play a part in his career – he was a sprinter. And he had a common problem that all sprinters have which are hamstring injuries.

I'm sure any young gentleman who can score goals at a young age would love a career like Michael's had, and he hasn't put a foot wrong off the field has he?

Well done to him and he's been a great ambassador for football and our country.

He's into horse racing a lot and has stables, so maybe he'll go into that and train horses, but he's probably wealthy enough not to go to work now - I'm sure he's clever enough to keep busy.

Barring injuries, I think he could have easily overtaken Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record for England, and he made some big decisions to go abroad to Spain as well.

Good luck to him in his next venture whatever it is.

Also in the news on Monday, I was surprised by Michael Appleton's sacking at Blackburn Rovers.

It just goes to show it's a living advert of how not to run a football club, and people think it's easy to come in and do this and that, but there has to be stability for it to work to be perfectly honest.

Without knowing Blackburn's owners, I don't know what goes on, but I think that anyone who is successful in life, they have stability and they want stability.

All I can say is what attracted me to Palace, is the stability the board have got – yes, we might get criticised and it might not work, or we might not get what we want when we want it.

We're just going to keep working towards it and I think that's the common sense Steve Parish and the board bring.

Without that, what actually do you have left? It's nothing Palace don't understand with the problems the supporters have had to live through over the past two decades.

The great thing now is you've got real supporters running the club who want to build something for the future.

And they also care about the supporters. They are getting you in for nothing and inviting you in at reduced prices along with a lot of great ideas.

It's important to me that the fans know it's about getting your young players right instead of clubs chopping and changing to get what they want.

You can't do that, but who would want to go to Blackburn now?

Ollie's Way: 'Michael Owen was as good as they come'

Labour putting forward all-female shortlist for Croydon Central seat at General Election

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CROYDON could be poised to get its first woman MP in 2015.

Labour's National Executive has chosen the seat as one which will have a shortlist of candidates who are all women.

According to Councillor Simon Hall, chairman of the Croydon Central Labour Party, whoever wins the nomination will have a good chance of getting into Westminster.

Conservative Gavin Barwell won the seat at the last General Election with a majority just short of 3,000.

Labour would need a three per cent swing to take the seat and Cllr Hall claimed this week that national opinion polls were putting Labour eight per cent ahead.

Cllr Hall said there had been full consultation with members before the decision to choose the seat from an all-women shortlist was made by Labour's National Executive.

He said: "At a consultation meeting there were arguments for and against the idea for Croydon Central but everyone who spoke absolutely believed in the principle of ensuring there was proper representation in Parliament."

Labour's policy is to look at going for all-women lists in seats which are considered winnable.

Cllr Hall said the party was not just paying lip service to the idea of greater representation by selecting women in seats which could not be won.

He said: "We are seeing a shift towards us in Croydon Central which are not traditional Labour areas and are getting some very positive feedback.

"It is going to be a tough fight in 2015 but our prospects are very good."

Cllr Hall added: "The one thing that was very clear at the meeting was that we were confident that whether there was an open candidates' list or an all-woman list that we would end up with an excellent candidate who would run the best possible campaign to take the fight to Gavin Barwell."

He was confident that now the decision to go for an all-woman shortlist had been approved, the local party would rally around to fight a campaign which would see a Labour MP elected in the constituency.

Cllr Hall said the constituency party would be pushing to start the selection process "at the earliest possible date".

Labour putting forward all-female shortlist for Croydon Central seat at General Election

New Addington woman given suspended sentence for threatening neighbour with an axe

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A WOMAN who hurled racist abuse at her neighbour while threatening him with an axe has been spared a jail term.

Jennifer O'Neill was instead given a 10 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months when she was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court, after pleading guilty to one count of threatening unlawful violence while demonstrating racial hatred.

The 46-year-old was arrested on September 11 last year and detained under the Mental Health Act after the outburst that day against her neighbour in Dunsfold Way, New Addington. Considering her sentence, Recorder David Balcombe QC said O'Neill was a "troubled lady" and he needed to be sure she was not a danger to herself or others.

Prosecuting, Vivian Walters told the court that O'Neill's neighbour Ayoola Olaleye had been leaving his house at the time of the incident.

She said: "He saw his neighbour, the defendant, who he knows as Jenny. She was sitting in her front garden [...] and she was shouting racial abuse, things like monkey, ape and telling him to go back to Africa.

"He ignored her at that stage – he was aware she had what he described as mental health issues. He got in his car and went to the post office."

He returned to find Ms O' Neill standing by the driver's door wielding an axe with which she hit the car door, Ms Walters said.

Ms O'Neill was arrested on suspicion of common assault and possession of a weapon, and interviewed over the offence more than a week later.

Her lawyer, Graham Knight, told the court on Monday his client should be released because she has been in custody since the offence and a psychiatric report had not recommended hospital treatment.

"The conclusion is that [while] things were very tough for her then currently she is fine," he said.

Considering her sentence last Monday, Recorder Balcombe said: "What I am concerned about is, whether or not your client would be released today or in the near future, that she have somewhere safe and secure to live at and have somewhere to get medication, should she need it.

"My concern is partly for the welfare of your client but also for the wider welfare of the community."

O'Neill had been due to stand trial for possessing an offensive weapon, assault by beating, racially aggravated common assault, and criminal damage to her police cell.

But the judge agreed to leave those charges on the file, after she pleaded guilty to the charge for which she was sentenced.

ANALYSIS: Jonny Williams - from Crystal Palace to international football with Wales

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WHEN Ian Holloway likened Jonny Williams to Man City star David Silva after arriving at Selhurst Park, a few eyebrows may have been raised within the football world.
But not among Eagles fans - they've always know the man they've dubbed 'Joniesta', after Barcelona and Spain star Andres Iniesta, is a little bit special.
The 19-year-old arrived on the international football scene in style last night, coming on as a half-time substitute in place of the injured Gareth Bale, to inspire Wales to a 2-1 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.
Williams helped to set up Hal Robson Kanu's winning goal, with a trademark, driving run into the heart of the Scotland penalty area. Silva or Inesta-esque, some may say.
When he took over at Palace last autumn, boss Holloway said of his starlet: "I've seen him for 30-40 minutes - fantastic, I love it. To me, he's a little maverick and bit like a David Silva type, he's always thinking and he's always moving.
"His balance is wonderful and I've heard a lot about him."
Indeed, Silva's club Manchester City have been linked with a move for Williams, following Wilfried Zaha's transfer to the red half of the City.
But Eagles fans fearing the loss of a second star player should rest easy; Williams is a homeboy at heart and committed to the Eagles cause.
In a recent interview with our reporter Mark Ritson, Williams spoke of his love for the club and its fans, who helped him recover from the broken leg in 2011, that briefly derailed his promising career.
He told us: "The fans are unbelievable and I can't speak highly enough of them
"The reception I got when I came back from my injury was ridiculous – it was a really special moment that I'll never forget.
"I can't thank them enough for all the support they've given me."
Williams hails from Tunbridge Wells but plays for Wales because his dad was born there. He said the decision to choose Wales over England "wasn't really tough", having represented the Welsh schoolboy and age group sides.
Despite being a childhood Chelsea fan (Gianfranco Zola was his hero) Williams was at the play-off final in Cardiff when Palace were last promoted back in 2004.
And he admits it would be something very special, to play his part in bringing top-flight football back to SE25.
He said: "To think it could happen this year, next year or the year after, I just don't know, but we're hoping it's this year.
"It would be a really special moment for everyone at the club."
 It would also bring the poise, balance and skill of Jonny Williams to the sort of stage he deserves.
Palace fans - just how good is Jonny Williams? Join the debate below...


ANALYSIS: Jonny Williams - from Crystal Palace to international football with Wales

Palace duo hint at longer Borough stay

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CRYSTAL Palace duo Bayan Fenwick and Alex Wynter seem to have settled instantly at loan club Eastbourne Borough and have hinted they could stay longer than their initial one-month agreements.

Wynter's deal is set to run out next week but the centre-back is thriving at non-league level, while Fenwick only joined his Eagles team-mate earlier this week and both contributed to Borough's 2-1 win over Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night.

"I only had my first training session on Monday and I'm here for a month," Fenwick told Advertiser Sport.

"If both clubs want us to stay longer, that means we're doing well – it depends on what Palace and Eastbourne can agree.

"It's about getting as many games under our belts."

And Wynter told Advertiser Sport he believes the nature of the game at Blue Square South level will only put him in a good stead towards the Palace first-team squad, while he hailed the support he's received from everyone at the south coast club.

"I wasn't sure what it would be like for the first time being away from Palace, but Eastbourne is like a second home and everyone has made me feel welcome," he said.

"The management at Palace said if I'm going to make mistakes, to get them out now - I'm going to need the physicality of this level."

Furthermore, having had experience in the new U21 development league this season with the Eagles, the defender says it's been a great introduction to clubs up and down the country.

"I think it's brilliant because you're coming up against guys who will be playing in the Premier League and their countries," said Wynter.

"For a club like Palace in the Championship to test ourselves week in, week out against the top clubs – there's nothing better really for us."

For the full interview with Fenwick and Wynter, where the duo talk about the match on Tuesday, including a certain penalty decision and a chance to score from close range, do not miss the current edition of the Croydon Advertiser.

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Mohamed Nasr speaks about death of Donna Oettinger and their son Zaki

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THE husband of tragic Donna Oettinger and father of their son Zaki has spoken out about his loss - saying: "I am never going to sleep. I am never going to eat. He was part of me. He was my world."

Mohamed Nasr said Mrs Oettinger and three-year-old son Zaki, who both died after being hit by a train in Riddlesdown on Friday morning, were soon due to join him for a life in Egypt.

The 41-year-old met Mohamed, 27, while on holiday in Sharm el Sheik.

She moved home after becoming pregnant, but with Mohamed's national service completed a fortnight ago, Donna and Zaki were set to join him in Egypt.

Mohamed told a national newspaper how they planned to live in a flat with a view of the pyramids but said "everything is black" after his son's death.

He said: "Even if Donna was sick it wasn't my son's fault.

"She loved me and she loved Zaki so much. She was a very good mother.

"Donna was so soft, so nice, so lovely."

Mrs Oettinger had written on her Facebook page of her battles with anxiety, but also told of her love for her son.

In one post, she wrote: "Thank God I have my son Zaki. I owe him a lot when I get better. Love you son with all my heart xxx"

Mohamed Nasr speaks about death of Donna Oettinger and their son Zaki

Palace duo pipped to Player of the Year awards

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CRYSTAL Palace duo Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha have been pipped to their respective nominations at the Football League Awards in London this evening.

Murray has been in sensational form this season with 30 goals so far in all competitions, but the Championship Player of the Year gong was given to Watford's Matej Vydra instead.

And Zaha, despite a phenomenal season with the Eagles and earning a big money move to Manchester United in January, missed out on the Championship Young Player of the Year award to England U21 team-mate Tom Ince.

Check out next Friday's Croydon Advertiser for the full reaction from Palace boss Ian Holloway and more.
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Crystal Palace duo enjoying playing time at Eastbourne

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PALACE duo Alex Wynter and Bayan Fenwick helped loan club Eastbourne Borough to a 2-1 victory over Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night and both have settled instantly at the south coast outfit.

With Borough looking to pull away from the relegation places in the Blue Square Bet South, it was nearly a bad start to the match at the Priory Lane stadium when defender Wynter conceded a penalty.

However, the 19-year-old was relieved to see the spot-kick saved by skipper Danny Potter.

He did think he would receive his marching orders though.

"To be fair, I think it was a penalty although the lads have come up to me and said it wasn't," Wynter said.

"The ball went in a different direction from my challenge but I think I could have got back if I didn't slide in.

"I think it could have been a sending-off but the striker has touched it away from goal so it wasn't a clearly goalscoring opportunity, but I did think I was going off.

"Pottsy has been great for us since I've arrived and he kept us in the game – I owe him a beer or some sort of drink.

"I wasn't sure what it would be like for the first time being away from Palace, but Eastbourne is like a second home and the lads here have made me feel welcome."

Wynter was involved with the first team and U21 squad earlier this season, and having been on the south coast for a few weeks, he welcomed the idea of extending the initial one-month loan.

"I am enjoying it down here and I just want to play games," he said.

"I'm down here for a month until March 30 – whether that gets extended or not, I'm not sure.

"The management at Palace said if I'm going to make mistakes, to get them out now so I'm geared towards the first team squad.

"Especially as a centre-half, I'm going to need the physicality of this level – look at Peter Ramage and Damien Delaney, they come off the pitch with black eyes and cuts.

"Look at Rammo, he's got a cut on his head at the moment so, especially as a young lad, I need it."

And despite the education at non-league level, Wynter says the introduction of the U21 league this season will be beneficial for years to come.

"I think it's brilliant because you're coming up against guys who will be playing in the Premier League and for their countries," said the stopper.

"It's good, especially for a club like Palace in the Championship to test ourselves week in, week out against the top clubs – there's nothing better really for us.

"It's a positive step because the old reserve league was less frequent and against the same teams every other week, but now it's against different teams and a lot more competitive."

Fenwick only joined the club on Monday earlier this week and had to settle for a place on the bench on Tuesday night, but he came on after 70 minutes and made a good impression.

And he nearly capped off his first appearance with a goal in the dying moments after he robbed the ball off a Hayes defender before bursting into the box and shooting narrowly over.

"My eyes lit up and I got the ball onto my left foot, but I think a mole popped up or something," he joked.

"I should have scored, but it will go in next week.

"This level is a lot more physical – it's competitive but this is adult football and it's going to be hard on a Tuesday night when it's cold, so you have to dig in and get used to these circumstances."

"I only had my first training session on Monday and I'm here for a month, having signed the papers as well."

And like Wynter, he thinks it will be good to continue playing at Eastbourne's level with an eye on Palace's first-team squad in the summer.

"If both clubs want us to stay then we're doing well – it depends on what Palace and Eastbourne can agree," said Fenwick.

"It's about getting games under our belts and seeing if we can make the step up towards the end of the season.

"If not, then it will be towards next season, but for now it's about experience."

Crystal Palace duo enjoying playing time at Eastbourne

Croydon Council could pay tenants to move into smaller properties

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THE council has said it may start paying the 2,156 families who will be affected by the so-called bedroom tax in April to move into smaller properties.

In an attempt to prevents tenants from being hit by the loss of benefits for having spare rooms, the council says it will offer a special transfer payment scheme which pays £2,000 for each bedroom freed up, with the maximum payment set at £8,000.

Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for corporate and voluntary services, said: "We want to help Croydon residents who will be affected by the government's welfare reforms. We urge those who are unsure of how the benefit changes will affect them, or who have any concerns, to get in touch with us."

Overall, Croydon has 15,820 people who will be affected by April's welfare changes. Just over 14,000 of these will lose on average £7 a week from changes to council tax support.

The 193 people affected by both the benefit cap and the changes to council tax benefits will be the worst hit, with an average loss of £94 a week.

There will be 621 people losing £79 a week from the benefit cap alone and 1,149 people affected by both council tax changes and the bedroom tax who will lose £25 per week.

Residents can find out more at www.croydon.gov.uk/benefitchanges

Broad Green survey shows one in four London Road shops sells alcohol or fast food

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ONE in every four shops in deprived London Road sells alcohol or fast food, an Advertiser study has revealed. A survey of the Broad Green stretch of the street has highlighted an alarming lack of variety among its shops. One third of the 179 currently occupied stores sell booze or fast food, or is a pawnbroker, betting office or payday loans firm. Croydon Council is currently in the process of changing its licensing policy to give it greater power to reject applications to sell alcohol, but it has little influence in other areas. The proliferation of off-licences and convenience stores supports Broad Green's inclusion in the new 'cumulative impact zones' which are being created to tackle alcohol-related crime and health issues. Binge drinking in the ward has increased 44 per cent in two years, from 82 ambulance call outs in 2010 to 120 in 2012. Kanagaratnam Kanendran applied for a licence to sell alcohol in his convenience store Best Goods in 1996. "At the time there was very little competition," he said. "Customers kept asking for alcohol because only one other shop near us sold it. "Now everyone seems to have a liquor licence. Yes, there are too many. It's too easy to buy cheap alcohol. "But we can't say 'you can't open a shop here'. It would be less competition for me but I don't think it would be fair. "I don't think I'm contributing to poor health. I can't tell the customer how much to drink and if I did they would just go somewhere else. People need to be better educated about the dangers." Brian Mumford, chairman of Broad Green Residents' Association, believes the law should change to allow councils more control over businesses based on "financial exploitation". "Whichever way you look at the type of shops down here, people are screwed," he said. "They go to the off-licence for a cheap drink or to the betting shop to gamble, and when they run out of money they can go to the quick loan shop and get more. "People are getting roped into all sorts of things. It drags the area down. It's like a little Harlem. "It's good they are drawing a line when it comes to selling alcohol. They need to do the same for money lending places, but what can they do? The law says they can be there." Vidhi Mohan, cabinet member for economic development, recently compared Labour councillors to members of the Communist Party for wanting to control what types of business open in Broad Green. "I certainly accept there has to be more diversity in London Road," he told the Advertiser. "In recent months three or four pawnbrokers have been set up in West Croydon which is not something I am pleased about. I wish that wasn't the case. "The reason why landlords let out their properties to these types of businesses is they are the ones that pay the highest rents. "People have to be supported to start different styles of business, that's why we have set up a package of measures to help them. "However, I don't think it's desirable for the council to dictate which businesses open and which don't. We don't have the power." Our survey was prompted by the approval, taken earlier this month, of bookmaker Paddy Power's application to open a new branch in a former Chicken Cottage. The plan met with the opposition of every major community group in Broad Green, who argued the shop would add to pre-existing problems created by the area's gambling and quick-fix culture. It found 24 pubs, off licenses or convenience stores between the start of London Road to where it meets with Croydon University Hospital. In the same area there were 19 fast food outlets and eight loan or pawnshops, though only two betting shops Croydon North MP Steve Reed said the figures are an indication that London Road "has been going downhill for a long time" adding that regeneration and tackling crime, rather than restricting types of business, is the answer. There has been a sharp increase in robberies in Croydon, particularly in Broad Green, where the number of offences per 1,000 of the population increased 20.4 per cent in one year, from 16.5 in 2011 to 19.8 in 2012. "We cannot hope to attract a variety of businesses to London Road unless we tackle rising crime levels," said Mr Reed. "A lot of people are afraid to do their shopping or open a business there. Before confidence can return there needs to be a more visible police presence and the promise of a front office in London Road must be kept. Only then will people feel safe." Mr Reed said he would support any attempt to extend cumulative impact policies beyond alcohol but stressed regeneration was equally important.  "Betting shops leech off desperate people," said Mr Reed. "But it's not enough to say we will ban these things. We would just end up with empty shops. There has to be a plan to regenerate the area, to revamp the public realm." Some of the Mayor's £23 million regeneration fund, allocated to Croydon after the riots, promises to do just that. Around £5 million is going to be spent on improving the area outside West Croydon station and a further £3 million on London Road up to Campbell Road. The council will also spend £1.5 million of the money on a three-year business investment programme, including the creation of an 'enterprise hub' based in Croydon Voluntary Action's (CVA) office in London Road. Toni Letts, Labour's shadow cabinet member for economic development, believes the council should be more proactive. The Selhurst councillor wrote to all the major banks and asked whether they would consider opening a branch in London Road. RBS was the only bank to reply and, in November last year, Ross McEwan, chief executive of retail banking, visited West Croydon. "What he said was that banking is changing," said Cllr Letts. "So many people do their banking at home so he couldn't see a way of putting a bank (in London Road). "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to think outside the box. People want a coffee shop in London Road. If you look at the pub which is going to be turned in a Sainsbury's it sells between 700 and 800 cups of coffee a week. Isn't that enough to say that a coffee shop would be successful there?"

Broad Green survey shows one in four London Road shops sells alcohol or fast food

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