Daniel Rees

Wyatt Larkins won bronze in the hammer throw at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Oregon with a personal-best throw of 75.38 metres, giving Great Britain its first medal of the championships. Ranked 12th before the event, the 19-year-old briefly held silver before American Kayden Hulet surpassed him with 77.55 metres in the final round. China’s Jiawei Chen won gold with 79.16 metres. Larkins, who studies at Weber State University, said he was delighted by the result and the close competition.

A man identified as Ramadhani Matenga denied charges of common assault and criminal damage following an alleged incident at a Braintree RSPCA shop. Speaking through a Swahili interpreter, he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, where a future three‑hour trial was scheduled. Matenga, an asylum seeker living at the former RAF Wethersfield base, was released on conditional bail prohibiting entry to Braintree town centre and contact with prosecution witnesses.

A Braintree man, Jack Burgess, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance after claiming he did not receive DVLA letters informing him of his ban due to a previous address. He was stopped by police in April after an ANPR alert. Magistrates fined him £461, added a victim surcharge and costs, endorsed his licence with six points and confirmed his driving ban remains in place.

Christian Murphy received a one-year conditional discharge after admitting racially aggravated harassment toward a woman at a Co-op in Dunmow. The court heard his behaviour was influenced by recent changes to his psychosis medication, with his lawyer noting he became impulsive and agitated. Magistrates also ordered him to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.

An 18-year-old from Witham received a suspended 20‑month prison sentence after admitting to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply. Police found him dealing and later discovered 27 bags of cocaine, cash and drug‑related messages on his phone. Prosecutors said he was influenced by others but also showed initiative in expanding drug sales. Mitigation highlighted his troubled upbringing, addiction and lack of support. The judge imposed unpaid work, rehabilitation days and mental‑health treatment instead of immediate custody.

A disqualified driver, Shane Finn, led Essex Police on a high‑speed chase reaching 120mph after an argument about his partner’s infidelity. Pursued on the A12, he fled on foot before being caught by a police dog and was found with cannabis. Finn admitted multiple offences including dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. Chelmsford Crown Court imposed a 15‑month suspended sentence along with unpaid work, rehabilitation days, an alcohol monitoring tag, a curfew, and a three‑year driving ban requiring an extended re-test.