James Richings

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information to locate Timothy, a man reported missing after he was last seen by carers near KFC on Broad Street in Reading at around 12:20 p.m. on August 8. Timothy is described as a white man of large build, about 5ft 8ins tall, with light grey hair, and was wearing a white-and-green striped shirt, khaki trousers and black glasses. He has links to Winnersh, and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 43260410121.

A petition calling for Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 death of police officer Andrew Harper, to be barred from early release has surpassed 160,000 signatures. The pair were sentenced to 13 years in 2020 but remain eligible for release under government measures intended to ease prison overcrowding. Harper's widow and mother, police representatives and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber have condemned the decision, while the Government has announced emergency sentencing legislation that will not cover their case.

The Coffee Van will leave its pitch at the entrance to Reading’s Oracle shopping centre after two years of trading. In a July 29 message, the owners described the departure as bittersweet, thanked customers and The Oracle, and said the business will continue operating from its other vans, with a possible return in the future.

Allan Grimson, 66, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of 13 historic sexual offences against four males, including the rape and indecent assault of a teenage naval rating and offences involving a 14-year-old child. Prosecutors said Grimson made statements suggesting some victims could have been killed, while he denied all charges. Already serving a life sentence for murdering Nicholas Wright and Sion Jenkins, Grimson is due to be sentenced for the sexual offences on November 6.

A 17-year-old boy from Slough was acquitted of manslaughter after a unanimous jury verdict at Reading Crown Court. The case involved the 2024 death of 82-year-old Giovanni Cecaro, who died days after being pushed outside shops on Stoke Road. Thames Valley Police emphasized the tragic nature of the incident, and the victim’s family continues to receive support and has requested privacy.

A case management hearing has been scheduled at Reading Crown Court for former Dorset Police officer Lorne Castle, who is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Daniel Meyrick during an incident outside a Bournemouth shopping centre in June 2024. Castle denies the charge and has elected for a Crown Court trial set for August 2027. Earlier proceedings indicated that Meyrick suffered a fractured femur, and Castle also reportedly sustained injuries. Castle was previously dismissed from Dorset Police in 2025 after separate misconduct findings. The criminal case remains ongoing.