?30,000 reward
offered for
murder suspect
by David Skentelbery
A REWARD of ?30,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of a man from Lymm, near Warrington, wanted in connection with a four-year-old murder case.
Police have announced that a reward of ?10,000 ? offered several years ago ? for the arrest of Christopher Moore junior has now been increased to ?30,000.
Moore is wanted in connection with the horrific murder of Brian Waters at Tabley, near Knutsford, in June 2003.
Three men have now been convicted of the murder and each jailed for life.
Brian Waters was tortured and then murdered in front of members of his own family.
Three men originally stood trial. John Wilson and James Raven were convicted and jailed but the jury could not agree about Otis Matthews, 29, from Manchester.
A second trial was held when Matthews was also convicted, but he appealed on technical grounds and a third trial was held. Again, the jury could not reach a decision.
But a fourth trial has now been completed and the jury found Matthews guilty after retiring for only three hours.
Christopher Moore has been wanted in connection with the case from the beginning and is believed to be abroad. National and international arrest warrants have been issued for him.
A police spokesman said: ?We would ask Mr Moore to give himself up. He should come forward so that he can be eliminated from our enquiries.?
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Moore is asked to call police on 0845 458 000 or 01244 613550 or to use the confidential Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111.
Pioneering new wing
opened at dogs? home
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON dog lovers were invited to Cheshire Dogs? Home in Grappenhall to celebrate the opening of its new specialist wing.
International footballers Richard Dunne and Micah Richards from Manchester City, Scandinavian TV vet Trude Mostue, star of Vets in Practice and international dog show judge Dorothy Gregson-Wood were on hand to help celebrate the new state-of-the-art facilities.
The event also included entertainment provided by circus acts, a steel band and a fun dog show where members of the public entered their own dogs.
The new wing includes the UK?s first purpose-built canine maternity unit, a puppy cr?che, grooming and relaxation room and a canine special needs kennel unit, including specially-designed kennels for rescued greyhounds.
Cheshire Dogs? Home boasts 11.5 acres with its own woodland for the dogs to exercise. The site is also able to house 100 dogs at any one time.
The Manchester and Cheshire homes take in a combined total of over 7,000 dogs each year, of which an amazing 96% are re-homed.
Pub attack left man
in hospital five days
by James Parr
A THUG who attacked a man in a pub, putting him in hospital for five days, was given a 12 month suspended jail sentence at Warrington Crown Court.
The court heard Gareth Lewis, 29, and another man, followed their victim into the toilets at the Nelson?s Quarterdeck pub at Birchwood and beat him up.
Lewis, of Warrington, pleaded guilty to assault and was also ordered to complete the domestic violence programme.
Simon Mills, prosecuting, said Lewis and another man followed a man into the toilets in the pub shortly before closing time.
They proceeded to butt him and punched him to the floor.
The assault then spilled out into the main pub area and the victim was left with severe bruising to his scalp, ribs and face and cuts to his legs face and arms. As a result he was detained in hospital for five days.
Recorder Richard Talbot heard that Lewis has previously spent time in prison in 2002 for assaulting a police officer and had appeared in court for battery of his girlfriend and domestic abuse of his girlfriend in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Mark Smith, defending, told the court that much of Lewis’ problems derived from his relationship with his former partner and that it was his understanding that this attack had taken place over a matter in connection with her.
He said the relationship had now ended and Lewis was now living with his parents again.
Night closures
for busy road
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON?S busy Woolston Grange Avenue will be closed at night for a week while essential resurfacing work takes place.
The road between the Kingsland Grange and Chesford Grange roundabouts will be closed from Thursday November 1 for seven nights. A diversion route will be signed during the closure.
Work will take place during the night between 1900 and 0530 hours to minimise disruption to motorists as much as possible.
Access to Chesford Grange and Nicol Avenue will still be possible, but only from the south via Manchester Road and Woolston Grange Avenue.
Access to the business premises on Hardwick Grange will be from the north via Kingsland Grange.
Woolston Grange Avenue is currently being upgraded from a single to a dual carriageway between Chesford Grange and Hardwick Grange and the closure is to allow for resurfacing of this part of the road.
Max is top dog
at Westminster
by staff reporter
FORMER Warrington South MP Mike Hall has achieved new success at Westminster ? thanks to his four-legged friend Max.
Max has been named as Westminster Dog of the Year in a closely fought competition between dogs of politicians and political journalists.
Canine candidates were judged on their companionship, good deeds and overall charm, with no attention given to their age, dress sense or choice of partner.
Mike,(pictured) who still lives in Warrington and is now MP for neighbouring Weaver Vale said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Max has won the Westminster Dog of The Year show.
?He is a rescue crossbreed from Cheshire Dogs Home so I think he’s done really well to win today. The serious message is all about responsible dog ownership and I’m very proud that Max has played his part.”
The former borough councillor’s dog was credited with the Best Newcomer and Best of Competition awards to take the overall prize.
Man robbed after
stabbing threat
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington are seeking help from the public after a man was threatened and robbed of his mobile phone.
The victim was walking alone in Guildford Close, Padgate late at night when he was approached by a spotty faced youth wearing a white tracksuit who threatened to stab him if he did not hand over his mobile.
He did so ? and the offender made off.
Police say the offender was about 5ft 10 inches tall, slim with a pale complexion and dark hair cropped short. He was in his late teens or early 20s.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who recognises the offender from the description is asked to call DC Ian Hampson on 01244 613831.
Father spared from jail
to look after his baby
by James Parr
A FATHER was spared from prison so that he could care for his one-year-old son.
Recorder Richard Talbot, at Warrington Crown Court, told Anthony Hollywood, 37, he was suspending a one year jail sentence for two years so he would be able to care for his son.
But he also told him to deal with the drugs problem which had led him into crime.
Hollywood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and the court heard how he cut underground power cables leading to his employers? premises, Runcorn Plumbing Centre, so that other men could break in.
But security guards spotted him cutting the cables on CCTV and he was later arrested.
Steven Ball, defending, said got into debt because of drug addiction and was under considerable pressure to assist with the burglary to get money to help pay off some of the debt.
He said Hollywood had been spending up to ?50 a day on cannabis, although he had significantly reduced the amount of drugs he used since becomi
ng a father.
Hollywood, from Runcorn, was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work in the community.
Electrical blaze
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze at the premises of M-Tec Ltd, in Pitt Street, Warrington.
They discovered a fire involving an electrical intake into the factory and used CO2 extinguishers to tackle the outbreak. The installation was later made safe by utilities engineers.
