Baptist minister “murdered”
a month after leaving town
by our correspondent
A FORMER Baptist minister from Warrington, who moved to start a new life in the Philippines little more than a month ago, has been found dead.
According to police in the Philippines, David Brash, 62, who until recently lived at Wilmslow Crescent, Thelwall, was murdered.They say his 23-year-old Filipino bride, Annalyn has confessed to plotting to have him killed.
Mr Brash, spent 12 years at Runcorn Independent Baptist Church, in Palacefields Avenue, Brookvale. But he flew out to the Philippines on November 1 to join Annalyn on the island of Mindanao, where they married last year.
Reported in a local newspaper, Filipino police say Annalyn has claimed her husband maltreated her so she arranged for two men to kill him. She later reported him missing, but eventually led police to where his body had been dumped.
Two months ago, shortly before his move to the Philippines, Mr Brash wrote on his website: “Annalyn has asked that we spend Christmas and New Year with her family. It will be our first Christmas together and my first one in the Philippines.”
He also said he planned to look for a home with his wife and that he wanted her to make the final decision on a place to live.
Mr Brash wrote: “I want her to be happy about where we live. “Me? – I would be happy to live anywhere with her, so long as we are serving the Lord.” Three years ago, Mr Brash split with his former wife, Veronica who, it is understood, still lives in the Warrington area. It is believed the couple had two sons.
Check-out worker stole
?33,000 from employers
by James Parr
CHECK-out worker Daniel Whittaker, 26, stole more than ?33,000 from Warrington?s IKEA store over a period of six months.
He spent the money on a car, a holiday and lavishing gifts on his girlfriend, Warrington Crown Court was told.
But when he was finally caught on the store’s CCTV system he still had ?16,000 cash.
Whittaker, of Millingford Avenue, Golborne, admitted seven offences of theft and was given a 12 month jail sentence on each, suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to complete 300 hours unpaid work and was made the subject of a curfew.
Judge Nicholas Woodward told him: “This is a serious matter as you have committed fraud. However you are genuinely remorseful and you are ashamed of your actions.”
Joanne Parsons, prosecuting, said Whittaker had been employed by IKEA at Warrington for nine years and worked out a way of getting around the security system.
He processed fake returns receipts and pocketed the cash himself. He was only found out when he was caught on CCTV after returns stock levels had been monitored.
Whittaker had bought a car, paid for a holiday, bought presents for his girlfriend and paid credit card debts with the money.
Simeon Evans, defending, said Whittaker had co-operated fully with the company and the police, even telling officers the exact location of ?16,000 in cash.
He had resorted to defrauding the company because of large credit card debts due to gambling. He had since been attending Gamblers Anonymous to beat his addiction.
College maths students
add up their successes
by Lesley Wilkinson
FIVE gifted maths students from Warrington?s Priestley College scored top marks in the United Kingdom Maths Challenge.
Youngsters from the Loushers Lane campus were chosen to take part in the national competition, which aims to stimulate interest in the subject outside the traditional curriculum.
Dewi Howells gained a silver certificate, and there were also bronze awards for Joe Sutton, Ross Pendlebury, Jonathan Ward and Michelle Watts.
College staff say that despite claims that traditional subjects such as maths are in decline, this is not the case at the college as there are a range of courses in the subject available. Many students without a maths qualification at GCSE level also take the option to study the subject alongside their advanced level programmes.
Maths tutor Dave Kay said: ?I would like to congratulate the students on their performance in this national event. Priestley has a long history and tradition in the competition and previous entrants have subsequently been able to pursue very promising career paths.”
Two injured in
four-car crash
by David Skentelbery
TWO people were trapped in their cars for nearly an hour after a four-car pile-up in Manchester Road, Warrington.
Fire crews, police, two ambulances and a doctor were called to the scene, near the junction with Jackson Avenue. A man and a woman were eventually released from two wrecked cars and were rushed to Warrington Hospital, one with leg injuries and the other with head and leg injuries.
They had earlier been treated at the scene.
Their injuries were described as “serious”.
The crash, shortly before 7pm last night (Tuesday) completed closed the road and police operated diversions. But there were huge tail-backs.
Extra money needed
for town’s green legacy
by Lesley Wilkinson
EXTRA funds have had to be found to maintain parcels of green land left to Warrington Borough Council by the former New Town.
The council’s Sustainable Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee is considering a report on future maintenance of the land.
In the report Paula Darlington, head of environmental management, outlines plans for the inherited structural planting and woodlands areas. It follows a request in October for information regarding the transfer of community related assets (CRA) and negotiated settlements form the New Town.
The CRA sites are located throughout the borough, but mainly on the North East and North West residential and business communities. At the time each parcel of land was assessed and a maintenance budget prepared.
Stage one transfer was completed in 1993 and included approximately 250 hectares. A dowry from the New Town was allocated to cover 50 years maintenance (categorised as one to 10 years and 11 to 50 years).
Costs agreed were ?556,620 to cover the period 1993-2003 and ?1,387,760 for the period 2004-2043 ? a total of ?1,944.380. The report states that work has been carried out by street services staff and the annual agreed sums incorporated into the budget. Figures show the true annual expenditure has been higher than anticipated, eg in 2000/01 was ?139,154 (average amount allocated was ?55,620 per annum for that period).
In the report Ms Darlington says: “The remaining budget (dowry) determined that the level of work carried out on structure planting was unsustainable, as the annual overspend was having a significantly detrimental impact on other tree works throughout the borough.”
She adds: “In 2006/07 service priorities and pressures were identified and a decision made to adequately resource the arboricultural team, to deal more effectively with the borough’s tree stock.”
The remaining dowry budget would only cover essential works such as storm damage, removing obstructions from footpaths and emergency work relating to insurance claims.
“However, as the remaining annual maintenance dowry is required to cover the outstanding 37 years maintenance (approximately ?18,000 per annum), the service can demonstrate spending to budget availability since 2006.”
Police in new crackdown
on underage drinking
by John Hendon
POLICE in Warrington are stepping their campaign to ensure the town’s residents have a “silent night” this Christmas.
The ArcAngel Who’s Looking Over Your Shoulder campaign is being run by officers in a bid to clamp down on the number of people buying alcohol for under age drinkers.
Cheshire Police is making sure anyone who may be thinking of buying drink for people who are underage get the message that they face being fined, having
their alcohol seized and could end up being prosecuted.
Retailers and even parents who have drink at home will all feel the force of the crack down over the festive period.
More local officers will challenge youngsters they see drinking on the streets and will be testing liquids in soft drink bottles to check for alcohol.
Chief Inspector Nick Bailey said: “This is part of our ongoing campaign to tackle alcohol related crime and we hope this sends out a strong message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“We are working closely with representatives from various partner agencies to address the issues.
“We want to reassure the public that we take alcohol related crime very seriously and we will take positive action where necessary.”
Everyone in Warrington is being asked to help police with their efforts as bar staff and retailers will continue with “challenge 21”, while also reminding those old enough about not buying for under age drinkers.
A campaign newsletter will be delivered to homes across the area by PCSOs who will talk through the issues relating to underage drinking.
Pupils will join
in carol concert
by Lesley Wilkinson
LOCAL schoolchildren will join in the celebrations when a Christmas Carol Concert is held today (Wednesday) in Warrington.
St Elphin?s Primary School children will sing a variety of popular carols at the service from 2.15pm at Carrington Park sales and marketing suite, Firth Boulevard (off Battersby Lane), Warrington.
The youngsters will entertain guests as Countryside Properties lights up its Carrington Park development for Christmas. Guests will be treated to mince pies and refreshments as they gather round a 21-ft high tree in the boulevard.
Countryside Properties will donate ?500 to the school as a thank-you for joining in the event.
Man attacked near
town centre pub
by staff reporter
POLICE are hunting a thug who attacked a man outside a Warrington pub shortly after the televising of the Ricky Hatton boxing match.
The 26-year-old man was attacked outside the Postern Gate pub at about 5.45am on Sunday (December 9).
Police say there was a large crowd of people in the area at the time and someone must have seen the attack.
Anyone who saw the incident is asked to call DC Adam Bolger on 01244 613834.
