A lead thief who was caught stealing from a school in Tolworth committed the offence in order to get sent to prison, a court has heard. Carl Richardson, 33, was made homeless after being thrown out by his mother and had relapsed into a serious
Chatting on his phone and looking dashing in a sharp suit Kelsey Grammer looks every bit the banker he is portraying in his latest movie. But instead of walking into a bank he is walking into Croydon town hall as it is the latest filming location
Jeremy Hunt kept his suit and tie on during a visit to a patient’s Surbiton home last week. The health minister praised social enterprise Your Healthcare during the visit to patient Bernard Homa’s home, which was not publicised beforehand.
A chef is bidding to become the first winner from Sutton of MasterChef. Rani Pathare, from Sutton Common, is currently in the running to be crowned MasterChef 2014. Viewers will find out tonight if Rani Pathare, 37 will go through the Quarter
A Kingston Council-run interpretation service that provides cheap translators could be forced to shut because the council has threatened to withdraw funding. From this month, Kingston Interpreting Services (KIS), which has been running for a decade
The wait is almost over for parents to hear what primary school place their child has been offered for September. Anyone who applied online can log on to their account from 5pm next Wednesday. All offers will be going out from Croydon Council
Two people have been chased by police and arrested on suspicion of drugs offences this afternoon. Officers patrolling in the Mitcham Lane area of Mitcham chased and arrested two people for possession with intent to supply drugs, a police spokesman
Three weeks after a great Cheltenham Festival had been marred by horse deaths and serious jockey injuries, the Aintree Festival was well anticipated in the Racing world. But the home of the Grand National was also greeted with trepidation due to
Surbiton goalkeeper David Kettle revealed he was at a loss to celebrate his Championship play-offs exploits on Sunday – because he is not used to being the hero. The 25-year-old Wales international made two crucial saves as his side beat
Residents are rallying round in a bid to block plans for what some describe as a "humongous" cemetery and chapel in the greenbelt. Reigate and Banstead Council has received a planning application to create a multi-faith, non consecrated cemetery
As the dark cloud that is GCSE's begins to linger over year 11's, more and more students are beginning to draw up timetables for revision and say goodbye to any social life they may have. The amount of tweets sent is on the decline, and the number
The highlights of last year's International Youth Arts Festival have been brought together in a music video by students from Kingston University. The video, ahead of this year's IYAF shows the best moments of the month long music, theatre, dance
Kingston Council will need to act fast to salvage a land swap deal that would secure a desperately-needed primary school for north Kingston. Opposition councillors have urged the authority to take up an offer from property developers Goldcrest
Quins fly-half Nick Evans knows his men are in the Premiership’s last chance saloon. Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men visit Sale Sharks tonight, knowing they must win to remain in the Premiership play-off race. Evans delivered a
Backers of Kingston’s first free school have delayed announcing the name of the new school. Kingston Education Trust (KET) was due to release the name of the new North Kingston Secondary School earlier this month but have delayed the announcement
Drivers heading for the M25 this evening are advised to add extra time to their journey due to severe delays building up on the motorway. Tailbacks for 20 miles - between Junction 9 (Leatherhead) and Junction 15 (the M4) - have been reported, as
Chelsea will play Atletico Madrid for a place in the Champions League final. Today's semi-final draw pitted Jose Mourinho's men against the Primera Division leaders, who knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Real Madrid will face Bayern
Gypsy families have been refused planning permission to stay on a greenbelt site which has been their home for more than a decade. It marked the latest battle in a saga involving multiple applications, enforcement orders and appeals over the site
A petition has been launched to persuade the council to provide additional parking on an estate. Nicola Glover, from Croydon, has called on Croydon Council to add more parking spaces for Tollers Estate in Old Coulsdon by starting a petition.
A UKIP candidate suffered a suspected stroke during a community group’s hustings. It is understood Strachan McDonald suddenly became ill in the middle of speeches at the Wandsworth Society election forum last night. Mr McDonald A spokesperson
Hampton & Richmond Borough striker Charlie Moone responded to joint boss Paul Barry’s red card blast with a late match winning double against Hendon on Monday. Strike partner Dave Tarpey and Moone both saw red in the first half – the first
Air pollution could be responsible for as many as 68 deaths a year in Kingston, according to Public Health England. A new report estimates 6.7% of deaths in the borough from those aged over 25 could be caused by a combination of nitrogen-dioxide
A drunk who threw an ashtray through a pub window, damaged a police van and then spat at an officer while in custody has been banned from five pubs. David Parsons, 35, was arrested for being drunk and disorderly at the Wellington pub in Kingston
A burglar has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of his 99th crime. Colin O'Brien, of Penge Road, South Norwood, was locked up for stealing two bikes, car keys, jewellery, five mobile phones, gloves and cash from a house on Christmas
A top teenage tennis player is suing the sport's British governing body over alleged racial discrimination that has "destroyed his career". Isaac Stoute, of South Croydon, claims the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has damaged his career by unfairly
Danny Care’s summer plans may yet save Harlequins’ Premiership campaign, writes Pippa Field. Injury denied the 27-year-old an appearance at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and the scrum half is determined not to miss England’s tour to All
A young man was taken to hospital with neck, chest and back pain after a collision in Morden this morning. The busy Martin Way was partially closed while the emergency services dealt with the collision which happened at about 9am. A 23-year-old
Motorists have complained after being hit with fines for using a “misleading” parking meter on a street where there is no pay-and-display parking. A pay-and-display machine in Clyde Road has caused several unsuspecting people to receive fines of
After back to back wins against Chelsea and Cardiff, Crystal Palace are tantalisingly close to avoiding relegation and enjoying another season in the Premier League. If the Eagles stay up, it would be their most successful season since the Premier
Residents facing eviction from their police-owned homes are presenting a petition to the Mayor of London, pleading with him to reverse the decision. Public service workers living at Raynesfield, Raynes Park and 30 Griffiths Road, South Wimbledon
An community hospital ward is to be temporarily closed to repair damage worsened during the recent bad weather. The inpatient ward with 15 beds at New Epsom and Ewell Community Hospital (NEECH) in Horton Lane, Epsom, is set to close for five weeks
A man arrested for carrying a gun and a large knife inside a shopping centre yesterday has been bailed - after analysis found the firearm was an air pistol. The 51-year-old was arrested by firearms officers inside the busy St Nicholas Centre yesterday
Police have issued a warning after a "high value of gold" was stolen from two homes on Monday. A home in Sandes Place, Leatherhead, was burgled between 7.15pm and 10.20pm when the homeowners were out. Another home in Woodhatch Road, Redhill
Thieves are believed to have fished keys for a Ferrari kit car from a letter box in Walton before torching it. The silver coloured replica was discovered in flames at about 8.15pm on March 24 in garages in Fleetside, West Molesey. It had last
Crystal Palace have denied any wrongdoing after being accused by Cardiff’s maverick chairman Vincent Tan of spying. The Eagles beat Cardiff City 3-0 last weekend but Tan believes his club’s starting lineup was leaked before the match. According
No neighbourhood can ever have too many good restaurants. When the fridge is bare, when the working day has been too long or when the prospect of facing a pile of washing up makes you wince, the salvation a reliable eatery can provide - a casual jaunt
The circus is coming to town this week adding a new twist to your shopping experience. Performers from the Covent Garden Entertainment Company will be returning to Croydon with their own unique brand of showmanship. The group will be holding
Jack Midson has sent a plain message to AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley – give me the starts, and I’ll give you the goals. For two seasons, the 30-year-old has topped the club’s goal-scoring charts, but the arrival on loan of Michael Smith this
The run-in is always the most exciting part of the season. What were the other results? Did they win? Where are we now in the table? Who have they left to play? These questions are asked by players in dressing rooms in all football clubs from Premier
More needs to be done to protect people from harmful air pollution, health officials have said after new estimates suggest thousands die every year as a result of poor air quality. In London there were 3,389 deaths in 2010 of people over the age
Hercules Wimbledon AC welcomed home its Young Athletes Open meeting after 33 years, leading athletics coach Rob Russell to proclaim the atmosphere as the best yet. The event has been held at Crystal Palace Sports Centre since its inception in 1981
Fresh from the success of their latest top five hit girl band Neon Jungle are releasing their new single later this month. It has been a whirlwind year for band mates Jess Plummer, from Crystal Palace, Amira, Asami and Shereen who have been together
Sutton United’s hopes of automatic promotion out of the Skrill South are fading after a defeat last weekend, but striker Gavin McCallum believes they have what it takes to win promotion via the play-offs. United, five points behind leaders Eastleigh
A woman is alleged to have brazenly taken flowers from town centre planters and told astonished onlookers she was entitled to them. One shopper took pictures that appear to show the woman loading her shopping trolley with flowers from a pot in
Kingstonian skipper Sam Page ended his goal drought on Saturday, but revealed he is more interested in cleansheets as the race to the Ryman Premier League play-offs enters the home straight. The former Sutton United centre back headed his first
Rosslyn Park head coach Alex Codling reckons the final five minutes of Saturday's 32-10 win over Coventry encapsulated everything about their season. The win keeps Park second National League One, four points behind leaders Doncaster Knights -
Councillors and residents determined to banish litter from the borough donned rubber gloves and high-vis jackets for a huge spring clean. Merton's big spring clean, a day dedicated to cleaning streets, saw ten wards take action against rubbish
After the jubilation surrounding midweek European footballing success, the mundane – but no less important – demands of bread-and-butter league action loom for Chelsea. Sunday’s outing to Swansea gives the Blues a chance to improve their decidedly
Brentford midfielder Stuart Dallas is reaping the rewards of time spent at the wrong end of the table. The 22-year-old made his second successive start of the campaign in Tuesday’s 1-0 triumph over Crawley Town that has the Bees on the brink
A couple celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary has revealed the secrets to a happy marriage. Doreen and Douglas Newton, from Wimbledon Park, married in St Luke's Church, Wimbledon, in 1954, when they were 25 years old. They met when
Staff from a Battersea-based marketing and web company, Southerly, visited Falconbrook Primary School, in Wye Street, on March 28. They volunteered to transform a part of the school library into a castle, complete with fairy lights and cushions
Brooklands Hotel has been sold to a Singaporean tycoon for more than £20m, after its owners went into administration. Tan Boy Tee’s Bestford Capital has bought the 120-bedroom hotel, next to Mercedes-Benz World, with Westmont Hospitality Group,
Repair work to the banks of the River Mole have been completed, after a turbulent winter caused extensive damage. The Environment Agency (EA) carried out the project on the banks of the river at west Molesey which involved installing 250 large
Police are hunting a man who exposed himself to two women on trains, and have released pictures of someone they believe has information. British Transport Police (BTP) released these images as part of an appeal to trace a man who allegedly carried
Walton Bridge has been shortlisted for the annual ICE London civil engineering awards. First conceived in 2004 by Surrey County Council, and dreamed of years prior, the bridge was built by Costain and designed by Akins. The £32m project was
