Student bikes stolen in series of bicycle thefts

Ned Aufenast’s bike was stolen from Stocker Road on Thursday
Image credit: Ned Aufenast

Three Exeter University students have been victimised in a recent series of bike thefts in Exeter.

The students all had their bikes, valued at between £250 and £550, stolen on and around Streatham Campus in the last three days, including from student accommodation.

Engineering student Ned Aufenast’s Hardrock mountain bike was stolen from the main undercover rack on Stocker Road near the library at between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday 16 January.

Despite the bike being secured, the thief was able to cut through the heavy duty cable lock. Aufenast, who runs a business importing bikes from Holland, had another previous bike stolen while in Exeter.

“I never would have expected bike thefts to happen during the day in such a busy place.” Aufenast told Exeposé, “I use my bike all the time for getting to uni and for cross country trekking. I will be sure to take more care with where I leave any bike I bring here in the future and get a decent D Lock!”

Third year Biosciences student, Emma Renshaw also had her Grey Carerra Subway hybrid taken from campus on Thursday evening. The bike was lifted from the bicycle racks outside Streatham Court at between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Like Aufenast’s, the bike was chained securely with a cable lock and key.

Emma Renshaw’s bike (pictured without bag and lights attached) was stolen from campus yesterday evening
Image credit: Emma Renshaw

Renshaw told Exeposé: “It’s sad that a bike lock and CCTV isn’t enough to put off bike theft on campus. It’s very disheartening and frustrating because I used the bike a lot to explore Devon and they’ve taken that away from me, especially as I can’t afford to replace it.”

An additional third bike was stolen this week, at some point between the morning of 14 January and 16 January from a locked bike shed in St. David’s student village near Streatham Campus.

The police told Exeposé that they have not yet linked the thefts but may do so in due course. They are currently being investigated as thefts and the police appealed for anyone who had seen anybody suspicious or any information about the bikes in question to get in contact.

Olivia Luder, Online Editor

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Mock News Workshop: Robber Targets Forum Marketplace

This story is fake and was created for the purpose of the mock news workshop. 

The scene of the crime.
Image Credit: Liam Trim

A female robber targeted the Forum Marketplace at the University of Exeter, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The robbery took place by the chilled food section of the Marketplace, with the robber’s key target being pork pies. A bystander described the thief as a 5″3 attractive, “smug-looking” woman, who said she did it because her landlord put her rent up and she could not afford food.

Exeposé was alerted to the situation at 12:40pm by an anonymous tip-off, and spoke to one of the police officers that descended upon the scene: “We’re really trying to crack down on crimes but we can’t really be expected to keep order with the recent weather.”

The shopkeeper was also present at the scene and was irate, saying “They stole millions and millions of pork pies.”

With the evidence of pork pies remaining on her face, the robber will be taken to a local police station where she will be charged with theft. Speaking to the thief after the event, she said “I hope they have mercy on me.”

Shiryn and Sarah

Police warnings over drink-driving

Devon And Cornwall police are running their annual campaign to warn people of the potential consequences of drink-driving.

The ‘What Will Your Drink Cost You?’ campaign is being run in association with a Plymouth University student who was convicted of drink-driving last November. The student said: “Drink driving had a catastrophic impact on every part of my life – my university placement, my finances, my relationships and my independence”.

The Plymouth man had elected to drive home after a night out in order to avoid a £25 parking fine. He was caught by police, found to be three times over the drink-drive limit, and banned from driving for 12 months.

As part of this year’s operation, officers will be increasing the frequency of roadside checks in early mornings and at night, in a bid to deter reckless driving over the festive season.

Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare & Community, said: “I urge all students to consider their own safety and that of others over the Christmas period. Drink driving is a serious offence that costs lives. If you are going to drink, leave the car at home and encourage your friends to do the same. It simply isn’t worth running the risk of losing your license or picking up a criminal record”.

Inspector Richard Pryce, Head of Roads Policing, said: “If convicted of drink driving you will have a criminal record, lose your licence and potentially your livelihood; you could spend time in prison and receive a hefty fine. Convictions can also significantly increase insurance premiums and prevent travel to certain countries. More importantly they risk causing a death or serious injury on the roads”.

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said: “I want everyone to enjoy Christmas and I know for many that involves drinking alcohol but if that is the case don’t drink and drive. The implications are high and the cost of a taxi ride might just be the best thing you buy this Christmas”.

The Force campaign is part of a national initiative launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Helen Carrington, News Team

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Police close Exeter High Street after suspicious package discovery

Image credit: Tom Elliott

Police were called to a Princesshay shop this evening in response to the discovery of a suspicious package.

The police received a call from staff members in New Look at around 6:30 p.m. after they spotted a suspicious package in their shop. The shop was closed for business at the time of discovery.

Approximately 10-15 police arrived on the scene shortly after and, as a precautionary message, placed a cordon around the surrounding Princesshay area causing Exeter High Street to be closed. A specialist search officer was brought in to remove the item.

Once the item had been successfully and safely extracted, the cordons were removed and the city centre largely reopened. At the time of writing, several streets remain closed.

Third year Exeter student, Megan Smith was returning home from her part-time job in Marks & Spencer at the time of the incident. She told Exeposé: “There were police around on the high street but it wasn’t clear what the situation was.”

Updates to follow as further details emerge.

Olivia Luder, Online Editor and Tom Elliott, Online News Editor

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The Faults and Flaws of British Police

Online News Editor Harrison Jones discusses and highlights the violent and corrupt side of the police force in Britain.

After US police officers were filmed brutally beating a father of four shortly before his death,  it is easy to dismiss foreign policing tactics as alien.

But as an unprecedented demonstration to Defend London’s NHS  looks set to go ahead on May 18th, the actions of British police, particularly at protests, needs to be scrutinised.

Image Credits- The Guardian

The right to protest has been a central pillar of our democracy for centuries. But before we dismiss the actions of foreign authorities as barbaric, it should be noted that Britain is no stranger to police brutality.

At least 1,433 people have died in UK police custody since 1990. No police have ever been convicted.

The same justice system sentenced Nicolas Robinson to 6 months in jail for stealing a bottle of water.

When spelt out so bluntly, such hypocrisy makes an absolute mockery of our judicial system.

Britain’s cosy view of it’s police force has rightly taken a hit in recent years, especially after the Leveson enquiry revealed widespread corruption, particularly amongst the Metropolitan police.

Make no mistake, the service provided is essential and their comparatively good performance deserves respect, but that does not mean they can use disproportionate force, as in the cases of Alfie Meadows, Ian Tomlinson and Charles de Menezes.

People have long suggested that because footballers are paid such ridiculous salaries they should be able to put up with the occasional insult – it’s part of their job, they claim. Yet this defence is turned upon it’s head when the police are involved. Since they have to endure some abuse (which – granted – is often unnecessary), their tactics are apparently justifiable. If that claim had any consistency, then Eric Cantona’s infamous attack on a fan would be seen as acceptable. The truth is there is no difference: insults do not warrant retaliation, professionalism should be expected.

In recent years, the police have taken to ‘kettling’ protestors. They know full well it rightly enrages crowds, illegally detaining them in all but name and inciting violence, which they then pre-empt and clamp down inappropriately.

There is no excuse for this sort of brutality. Police might occasionally face violence from a small minority of protestors, but when their primary job is citizen protection, battering them – often unarmed – is an outrageous misuse of power and another unwanted relic of Thatcherism.

This behaviour also discourages attendance at demonstrations, meaning there are less protestors and the cause is given less attention, adding to the frustration of the people exercising a democratic right. It’s a cycle detracting from the very spirit of our political system.

More worrying is the recent news of undercover police infiltrating peaceful protestors. It only takes one small step further for them to incite violence in an effort to discredit protests. Such agent provocateurs still exist globally, but if proven to be operational in Britain that really would be a despicable stain upon our democracy.

Questions remain unanswered about the shooting of Mark Duggan and in an age when police behaviour is often swept under the carpet, it is imperative that the service is transparent. But the recent move towards less experienced, populist police commissioners only adds to the unlikeliness of this eventuality.

For too long police behaviour has gone unnoticed and it is time that media coverage highlighted British shortcomings. For as long as it remains hushed up – or seemingly acceptable compared to America – it will continue.

Harrison Jones, Online News Editor

Police appeal for information after assault

Image credit: The Express & Echo

Exeter police are currently appealing to the general public for any information regarding an unprovoked assault in the city centre.

The police require the help of the public in identifying three unknown men who attacked an 18-year-old on Sunday 12 April. The identity of the victim has not been revealed.

At around 2:30am on Sunday morning, the teenager was waiting at a bus stop in South Street, Exeter. It was here where three unidentified males approached him from behind. The victim’s hoodie was then removed, and he was punched in the face. His attackers then threw the hoodie back before running from the scene.

The incident caused bruising to the victim’s face, resulting in swelling and a black eye. It seems that no further injuries were sustained.

CCTV has provided the police with four detailed pictures of the attackers. These pictures show them walking down both South Street and Fore Street during the night and can be found at the bottom of this page.

The three suspected perpetrators all appear to be young males with short hair. One of the attackers was wearing a distinctive chequered shirt on the night of 12 April.

If anyone recognises any of the three males, or remembers seeing them walking down Fore Street or South Street in the early hours of 12 April, police are asking that you contact PC 2013 Westlake, Exeter CID through the 101 non-emergency number, quoting the crime reference DE/13/3222.

Amy Young, News Team

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Image credit: The Express & Echo

Image credit: The Express & Echo

Image credit: The Express & Echo

 

Car catches fire on Mount Pleasant

Firefighters put out the blaze Image credit: Kate McBride

A car violently caught fire on Mount Pleasant Road this afternoon, at around 4:30-5pm. No one was harmed in the blast though the road remains closed due to damage from flames.

Firemen told an Exeposé reporter that a female driver exited the vehicle after the car began smoking. The car erupted a few moments later. The driver remains unidentified.

After the fire Image credit: Jon Jones

Police have sectioned off the area.

Firefighters remain at the site of the incident as they wait for the petrol to burn out. They must assess how hot the underneath of the car is before removing the wreckage and are using sand to cool down the affected area.

Highway maintenance have arrived to start cleaning debris surrounding the car.

Further images are in the gallery below.

 Olivia Luder, Site Manager and Jon Jones, Online Games Editor

Follow @ExeposeNews on Twitter and like us here on Facebook.

The road remains closed Image credit: Jon Jones

Image credit: Jon Jones

Image credit: Jon Jones

Flames have caused damage to the road Image credit: Jon Jones

Image credit: Jon Jones

Police wait for the petrol to burn out Image credit: Jon Jones

 

 

Police arrest man who threatened to jump off Exeter Central bridge

Police cordoned off Queens Street at 6:50pm on Thursday Image credit: Exeter Express and Echo

A man who threatened to jump off a bridge at Exeter Central Station on Thursday evening has been arrested by police.

The man had reportedly been chased by a security guard from the Queens Street Co-op regarding an alleged shop lifting incident. He ran onto the bridge and threatened to jump causing the police to cordon off the area at 6:50pm on Thursday.

Trains at Exeter Central Station were cancelled for more than hour while a specialist negotiator was brought to the scene to speak to the man. It then took negotiators over an hour to talk the man down from the bridge.

Local businesses along Queen Street were largely unaffected as most were closed at the time of the incident. Ana Parnell of Platform 3, a popular sandwich café adjacent to Exeter Central Station, said that she shut up her shop before the incident and only heard about it from others after it had occurred.

Police were able to detain the man that evening. The man has since been arrested and is in custody. He awaits police questioning over the alleged incident of theft and a public order of offence.

The Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman was quoted as saying, “Thankfully we were able to bring this incident to a safe conclusion. No-one was hurt and an investigation is now underway.”

 Olivia Luder, Site Manager

Students accused of assaulting local man escape prosecution

Mr. Walden uploaded the photo to Facebook on April 1, stating “the justice system works for you if you come from a wealthy background”

A man who was assaulted by a group of men he identifies as students of the University of Exeter has been told by the justice system that no charges will be brought to those responsible.

Gary Walden has been told by the Crown Prosecution Service that there is not enough evidence to prosecute, following an assault he attained on a night out last November. Mr. Walden was attacked by a group of five men he identified as University of Exeter students, sustaining a fractured cheekbone and cuts and bruises across his face that required two days of hospital treatment.

A photo was published to Facebook on April 1 by Mr. Walden depicting his injuries in a plea to help identify those responsible, after he had been advised by Devon and Cornwall Police not to post the image on social networking sites. In a statement alongside the photograph Mr. Walden registered his disgust with the judgement from the Crown Prosecution Service, saying “the five lads walked free after doing this to me so they can do it again to someone else.”

Timepiece nightclub Image credit: Copyright Derek Harper, licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Mr. Walden asserts he was knocked to the ground, being punched and kicked repeatedly after he tried to defend his girlfriend, as the group had urinated in front of her and knocked her to the ground.

The incident occurred outside Timepiece nightclub and the perpetrators of the assault are still to be charged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louis Doré, News Editor

 

Police appeal for city assault

The police are appealing for information after an incident involving a man and a young woman in Exeter, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The victim, a 21-year-old, had been walking alone from Sidwell Street to Blackboy Road when the man attacked her, between 1am and 2am according to officers.

Photo credits to didbygraham

The attacker is described as 6ft 1in tall, aged between 30 and 40, and of medium build with short blond hair. He had a small blond beard and was wearing a white and red flannel top.

Anyone who saw the incident or may have information should call the police on 101.

By Will Binks