This week: Men jailed for Cavendish home robbery, appeals following assaults in Southend, Thurrock and Tendring, rape and drug offences convictions, teenagers arrested in connection with robberies and man given football banning order. Plus signs of romance fraud, current vacancies and more.
News 5 February to 12 February
Epping Forest: Men jailed for combined 35 years after robbery at Cavendish home
Two men have been found guilty of robbery at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta. Read more.
Epping Forest: Investigation launched following gun discharge
Specialist detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate investigated an incident in North Weald on Sunday 12 February where we believe a firearm was discharged. Read more.
Southend: Serious assault on Cranley Road
Detectives from Southend CID, investigating a serious assault in Westcliff, are appealing for witnesses. Read more.
Southend: Man jailed for cannabis cultivation
Thanks to our officers, a man has been jailed after he admitted growing cannabis. Read more.
Uttlesford: Man convicted of rape
Work by specialist officers have ensured a man has been found guilty of raping a woman in Dunmow. Read more.
Southend: Man charged after drug warrant
A man has been charged with drug offences after a warrant was executed at an address in Southend High Street. Read more.
M11: Fatal collision appeal
We are now able to confirm the death of a woman after a collision on the M11 on Monday 30 January. Read more.
Thurrock: Man injured in Dartford Tunnel assault
Officers investigating an assault at the Dartford Tunnel are asking for witnesses and dash cam footage. Read more.
Thurrock: Two arrested over Lakeside robberies
Two teenagers have been arrested after our officers responded quickly to reports of robberies at Lakeside on Friday 3 February. Read more.
Castle Point: Teen arrested over robbery
An investigation is underway into a robbery on Canvey Island. Read more.
Southend: Man given football banning order
A man has been given a football banning order after assaulting a Woking player during a Southend United match last October. Read more.
Tendring: Man charged after incident in High Street
We were called to High Street at 6.45pm on Wednesday 1 February to reports of a disturbance during which a man, aged in his 50s, had sustained serious injuries. He was taken to hospital for treatment. Thankfully, he is now in a stable condition. Read more.
Castle Point: Murder Investigation: Tributes paid to victim
A man who died following an assault on Canvey Island at the weekend has been described as a “devoted and caring father” with “a love for music”.
Forty-two year-old Matt Portwood was found injured in the car park to Iceland in Furtherwick Road at around 1.45am on Saturday (3 February). Sadly he later died.
The detective leading the investigation says he needs those at The Haystack pub that night to come forward. Read more.
Crime prevention advice
Are you still over the limit?
If you've been out drinking, you may still be affected by alcohol the next day and could lose your licence if you drive and are still over the legal limit.
It's impossible to get alcohol out of your system quickly, it always takes time. A shower, a cup of coffee or other ways of ‘sobering up’ may make you feel better but won’t remove the alcohol from your system.
For more advice about road safety, please go to the crime prevention pages on our website.
Be fraud smart
Stay alert when a stranger flirts
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we are offering advice on how to stay safe when dating online to help make sure criminals don’t break any hearts this year. Find out more.
Careers at Essex Police
Police Staff jobs
Detention Officer £23,100 to £25,353
Closing date 24 March, 2023
IT - EUC Field Operations Engineer (Collab) £26,439 to £30,657
Closing date 22 February 2023
Communications Delivery Officer - Estates Change £28,530 to £30,375
Closing date 21 February 2023
Director of Support Services £107,502 + car/allowances
Closing date 20 February 2023
Senior Communications Officer - Estates Change £38,856 to £42,207
Closing date 17 February 2023
Operational Investigative Skills Trainer £27,432 to £32,394
Closing date 14 February 2023
Resolution Centre Investigator £28,299 to £32,754
Contact Handler (full time) £27,279 - £32,754
Contact Handler (part time) £16,103 per annum
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
This week we will remember Walter Reeve, Felix Pauley and Herbert Guiver.
Walter Reeve
Police Constable Walter Reeve served with Essex County Constabulary from 22 September 1890 and started life as a gamekeeper at Foxhall near Woodbridge in Suffolk. His first posting after joining as a constable was to Southend and after moves all over the county, he settled in Coggeshall with his wife and seven children. Shortly before 6pm one winter evening, Walter Reeve left his house on duty to walk into Kelvedon to serve some notices and make a point. He should have been home by midnight, and when he failed to return the alarm was raised. His body was later found in full uniform in the River Blackwater at Little Coggeshall, near a point where there were no guard rails. There were no signs of violence, and the coroner recorded an open verdict.
Felix Owen Warboys Pauley
Police Constable Felix Owen Warboys Pauley served with Essex County Constabulary from 26 April 1937. After posting to Romford and on mobile patrols at HQ and Clacton, he joined the R.A.F. on 29 September 1941. He was killed on an air operations on Wednesday 16 February 1944 which serving as Air Bomber with 106 Squadron. His Lancaster crashed on the way back from an operation in Berlin. Four crew, including Felix, died in the crash.
Herbert Guiver
Herbert Guiver served with Essex County Constabulary from 8 October 1906 and moved to Southend Borough Constabulary on 1 April 1914. Four months later, with the outbreak of war, he was recalled to the Colours and assigned to the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. After many battles in France, his division withdrew to move north to Flanders. Herbert was killed when a shell exploded in his trench on 17 February 1916.
Read more about Herbert and other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
Obituaries
Victor Wilcockson
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Victor Wilcockson who retired as a Constable in 1990 and served at Southend, Chelmsford and Traffic. He then re-joined as a support staff pursuit driving instructor. He passed away on the 20th January 2023 aged 80 years.