Ian Draper arrives at Banbury Magistrates' Court A man who held organised dog fights in an outhouse behind his father's pub in a quiet Oxfordshire village has been sent to prison. Ian Draper, 41, of Walker's Close, Asthall, was arrested during a nationwide
Oxford is already in a state of recession, especially now Allders has closed. Any increase in parking charges (Oxford Mail, May 17) will drive more shoppers to Reading, Banbury, Stratford and Cheltenham. We shopped in Bath recently and it cost just £3.80
People in and around Wallingford have a chance to make their voices heard over nuclear waste. A meeting on May 11 in the Regal Centre, Wallingford, organised by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management between 7.30pm and 9pm will look at the ways
People from across the Vale of White Horse will be striding out in a sponsored walk in aid of the Poppy Appeal. The walk on May 15 will start from Harwell Royal British Legion Club, with people walking either 10 or 15 miles, before enjoying a barbecue
A man from Wantage has died while on holiday in Malta after a fire swept through the hotel where he was staying. Stephen Northrop, who had lived in the town for about 30 years and was well-known in the area, was the only person to die in the blaze at
Hellenic League patron Sir Henry Cooper added his congratulations after Didcot Town's FA Vase triumph. The former British heavyweight boxing champion left a message on Didcot's website following the victory. He said: "I would like to offer my sincere
Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace will be able to strengthen his squad for a fresh promotion push from the Hellenic League with money netted from their successful FA Vase campaign. The Railwaymen secured around £40,000 in prize money from their cup run, and
Hopes of a Twickenham final turned to fears of relegation as Oxfordshire lost 18-10 to Cumbria in Penrith. Oxon's second successive away defeat in the County Shield means they now need to beat favourites North Midlands - with a good points difference
A soldier based in Oxfordshire has gone on trial accused of falsely claiming that a Fijian fellow serviceman raped him after returning from a night out. Terrence McDonald, 22, a private in the Royal Logistic Corps, made the claim against Orisi Vasukiwai
Bicester ace James Tatton is hoping to follow in Shaun Murphy's footsteps after breaking into the world's top 64. The 26-year-old has guaranteed himself between £15,000 and £20,000 next season by finishing in the top six on the Pontin's Holidays World
RESIDENTS in Bicester are fuming after being told they may have to pay up to £200 a year to park in their own street. People living in Woodfield Road want to stop rail commuters blocking driveways and parking in their spaces. But they are unhappy with
Three armed youths held a Banbury taxi driver at gunpoint after a fake call to book a ride. The youths pointed guns at the driver's head and demanded money but ran off empty-handed when approached by passers-by. The driver was called to Setler House in
The new Tory-led county council is starting business with a shake up at the top when it meets for the first time today. It is planning to rename the decision-making executive 'the cabinet' and also increase its membership from nine to 10, while creating
A cycling pressure group is calling on Network Rail to replace steps with a ramp at a railway bridge in west Oxford as part of a £170,000 refurbishment. Cyclox wants the company to improve cycling and disabled access at the footbridge which links Osney
A city councillor has called for Oxford Credit Union to be given rent-free premises in Cowley by the council. Dan Paskins, Cowley councillor and executive member for social inclusion, spoke out after a credit union supporter told him the organisation
Two men who stabbed, bit and robbed a student before kidnapping him during a terrifying and evil ordeal in Oxford were today starting long prison terms. Dean Coulling, 21 and Vincent Wray, 26, admitted carrying out the unprovoked attack on James Halstead
Stuart Baker at East Oxford sorting office during the Christmas rush last year Postal workers in Oxford, who last year delivered one of the worst services to customers in the country, have each received a £1,000 reward after national profits rocketed.
A new convoy control method of traffic management is being piloted on the M40 near Oxford this week. The Highways Agency is testing a new way of slowing down traffic which is designed to improve safety for contractors carrying out roadworks. High visibility
Pupils have accused a driver of ordering them off the school bus and leaving them stranded miles from home. Burford School and Community College pupil Zoe Amos, 16, claims the driver left more than 80 students -- some as young as 11 -- at the roadside
The victim of what an eyewitness described as a "vicious assault" in Abingdon has not come forward to report the incident to the police. A woman was driving along Oxford Road near Norman Avenue at about 7pm on Monday when she saw a man get out of a car
Hugo Brunner unveiled the sculpture A film spool carved in stone forms part of a specially commissioned art work at the Neave Mews building in Abingdon to mark the completion of a major new development on part of the old Regal cinema site. The sculpture
Wallingford town councillors are relying on cameras to prove that more protection is needed in Market Place. Pictures will be taken of the Market Square as it is now, with planned seating and flower baskets on poles drawn in. The changes are aimed at
Flower arrangements in memory of loved ones will be a feature of the Charter Flower Festival in St Mary's Church, Wallingford, at the end of July. The festival is part of Charter Weekend celebrating the 850th anniversary of the granting of the town's
A woman was sexually assaulted in Wantage in the early hours of May 8. The 32-year-old woman was approached by the man who assaulted her in an alleyway running from Mill Street to Witan Way and Barwell between 1.15am and 1.45am. Dc Chris Leech, of Abingdon
Man-of-the-moment Stuart Beavon believes he can still make it in professional football after his stunning FA Vase final display. The 21-year-old Didcot striker deservedly won the man-of-the-match award for his two-goal show at White Hart Lane, which enhanced
A motorcyclist was left in a critical condition following a crash near Bicester. Police are appealing for information about the accident on the A43 near Ardley at 10am on May 8. The 45-year-old man was travelling on a blue Suzuki motorcycle towards junction
Oxford City manager Andy Sinnott has paid the price for relegation after he was moved upstairs in a board reshuffle at the Court Place Farm club. He now becomes a director with special responsibility for the club's community and youth development prog
Belle Vue Aces 59, Oxford Silver Machine 35: Despite a paid 15-point haul for skipper Greg Hancock, Oxford Silver Machine have left themselves with a mountain to climb if they are going to progress in the Speedway Star KO Cup. The Aces were never in danger
Radio fans in Banbury will soon have another station to tune into after Ofcom issued a new commercial radio licence in the area. Radio station The Bear was awarded the licence on May 9. A spokesman said: "The Bear will provide a locally focused, adult
Rachel Howard was one of nearly 5,000 Didcot Town fans who travelled to Tottenham's White Hart Lane to support her home-town club on Saturday. Although she does not claim to be a regular supporter - this was her fourth game in Didcot's successful Vase
It is ironic that many Labour supporters defend Val Smith's attempted move from the city to the county councils and her call for a unitary Oxford. Rearranging the deckchairs is all very well, but what difference will it make without a real commitment
Bosses of a stricken software company lied to advisers and investors to stave off a looming cash crisis and possible receivership, a court has been told. Executives of Henley-based AIT, worried they would not even be able to pay workers' wages, allegedly
Sam McKenzie has had ME since she was sixTeenager Sam McKenzie, who has suffered from ME since she was six, hopes new funding will stop others in Oxfordshire facing the problems she has encountered. Sam, 15, has not attended school for more than two years
Steve Basham has signed a new deal that keeps him at Oxford United for the next two years. The former Preston and Southampton striker was top scorer for the U's in his first two seasons at the club and hit nine goals last season, despite playing much
Oxford United may invite Didcot Town's FA Vase hero Stuart Beavon for another trial after his White Hart Lane wonder show. The Coca-Cola League Two club say they have kept tabs on the 21-year-old's progress throughout his career, and the glowing reports
As a Conservative supporter, I share Labour leader Liz Brighouse's upset that Oxfordshire County Council, through democratic vote, has been elected hugely in favour of Conservative members (Oxford Mail, May 11). As a 'general body', a Conservative authority
Having seen all the comments in the Oxford Mail about the festivity and stupidity on May Day, I think I am ready to comment. I am amazed that people are concerned about how much the event costs the health service, the police and any other emergency organisations
