Friday brief: Women thought to have died in bath electrocution accident, may have been murdered
Crime, politics and events in this week’s Friday news round up
Police think a Northampton woman who a coroner ruled had died in an accidental bath electrocution 25 years ago, may have been murdered.
According to newspaper reports from the time, shop worker Rhonda Anderson, 29, was found unresponsive at her home by a neighbour in Hembury Place in the Briar’s Hill area of Northampton on July 8, 2000.
An inquest carried out three months later ruled that her death was accidental, with coroner Anne Pember finding that Rhonda had brought a mains radio into the bath ‘which had been foolish in the extreme’, but now, after new information has come forward, Northants Police are reexamining the case.
Detective chief inspector Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team said:
“Rhonda died at home in July 2000, when an investigation took place and a report prepared for the coroner, who ruled at the conclusion of the inquest that Rhonda’s death was accidental.
“However, new information has come to light this summer which has prompted us to reexamine what happened to Rhonda and a formal murder investigation is now underway.”
Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have been friends with her, or knew her at the time to contact them.
DCI Harrison said:
“A significant amount of time has passed since Rhonda’s death, but I am hopeful that anyone who may have information about her life or what may have happened to her will still have clear memories they can share with us.
“It doesn’t matter how insignificant you think the information you recollect is, we want to hear from you as we explore the circumstances of what happened.
“This development has obviously come as a huge shock to Rhonda’s family who are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”
Anyone with information call Northants Police on 101 and quote crime number 25000 536509.
By Sarah Ward
News in brief:
Several East-Asian run businesses in Northampton were damaged this week in what police are treating as hate crime incidents.
On Tuesday evening windows were smashed and damage done at the Matchbox Cafe and Hollywood Nails on Abington Street; Ji’s Chicken Shop on Mercer’s row, Ginza in Wellingborough Road and Oriental Garden Fusion on Sheep Street.
Bing Wan, who runs the Matchbox Cafe, has set up a go fund me page to help pay for the window repairs.
Patrols have been stepped up in the town centre and community engagement officers will be setting up a community meeting.
The owners of Oriental Garden Fusion put out a social media post which said the Asian community is ‘being targeted again and again’.
“To members of our community please continue to support your local East and South-East Asian business, we need your support now more than ever.”
Anjona Roy, chief executive of the Northamptonshire Race Equality Council, said:
“With the build up of racist rhetoric and anti migrant feeling, this hate is not surprising. This is how hate gets demonstrated.”
She said hate incidents are under reported in the town, she fears due to a lack of confidence in the police.
Northants Police have said this morning that a 30 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage to property and is in police custody.
By Sarah Ward
Tatty St George’s flags have been taken down in the West of the county by the local authority.
Contractors were seen removing union flags from lampposts on the Borough Hill estate in Daventry at 10pm on Tuesday. A photo of the contractors, dressed in orange high-vis, being lifted up to the lamppost in a cherry picker van was later posted on social media. The flags went up during the controversial flag explosion promoted across the country during this summer.
In August all 12 Reform UK-led council leaders, including West Northamptonshire, signed a pledge that they would not take down any flags tied to lampposts after the popularity of what was branded ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.
The council later issued safety advice urging any residents wishing to fly patriotic flags to do so safely and avoid putting them up on lampposts or road signs, but they did not say that flags would be taken down.
In response to questions from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on why the Daventry flag was removed, WNC leader Mark Arnull said: “Flying of the union and St George’s flags shows a sense of celebration for our country and everyone living and working in West Northants.
“However I’m sure many will agree that tatty, ripped and dirty flags are a sad sight and don’t reflect the pride we have for our beautiful district so may be taken down if they’ve had their day.”
Despite this, local resident John Treherne when speaking to the LDRS about the incident has claimed that the flag he saw being taken down was “in good condition, clean and safely attached with no rips”.
Report by Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) housing provider has been slammed for being a “Christmas Grinch” by a local politician, after its decision to remove a children’s trampoline at a block of Northampton flats.
Labour councillor Sally Keeble said the news that a trampoline in the Park Drive flats, on Kings Heath, would be dismantled had left children in tears. She has called on the council and its housing provider to reconsider its ruling and let the families off the hook for the garden play equipment.
Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) said that the trampoline the parents provided goes against their policy, which requires communal gardens and external areas to remain clear of obstacles, banning play equipment such as trampolines, swings and temporary pools.
However, a mum of three who has lived in the flats for over a decade told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that families have always had trampolines in the garden for children, which the parents maintain and replace when necessary.
She said:
“The thing that upsets us the most is that our children are being told that they can’t have their trampoline because of health and safety, meanwhile NPH are walking around this block ignoring the real safety concerns that have been here for years. In the decade we’ve been here, we’ve never had an accident.
Cllr Keeble, who is also the group leader for West Northants Labour group, said: “This is so unfair on the families that have made such an effort to provide some fun activities for their children. It’s exactly the kind of community spirit the council should encourage.
“Whether it’s Northampton Partnership Homes, or West Northants Council – they shouldn’t be acting like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Some of the children were literally in tears when I visited.”
An NPH spokesperson said:
“Our Neighbourhood Management Policy, developed with residents, requires communal gardens and external areas to remain clear of obstacles. This includes play equipment such as trampolines, swings and temporary pools.
“Large items not only prevent our grounds maintenance contractor (which is funded through residents’ service charges) from carrying out essential work, but they also pose significant safety risks.
“Where removal is necessary, we will always provide written notice at least five days in advance. We appreciate residents’ understanding and cooperation as we work to keep communal areas safe, accessible and well-maintained for everyone.”
Report by Nadia Lincoln
North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) is proposing a maximum council tax rise of 4.99 per cent as it warned of “unprecedented financial challenges”.
The proposed £431m budget for 2026/27 will be used to provide a range of services across the area, including care for vulnerable adults and children, collection and disposal of waste, highways maintenance, housing and support for those who are homeless.
Cllr Graham Cheatley, the executive member for finance, said: “The financial climate remains extremely demanding, but we’re determined to provide quality services to the people of North Northamptonshire and we’ve managed to do this while setting a balanced budget.
“These are our draft proposals. With Executive approval, these plans will then be consulted upon and it’s important that we get as much feedback as we can to help further refine our proposals.”
The proposed council tax rise will see the bill for a Band D property in North Northants rise by £91.17 for the year to £1,918.23. This figure does not include the precepts set by individual town and parish councils or the funding for fire and police.
Fees and charges for next financial year have also been reviewed and will include a potential increase in the annual charge for the council’s garden waste service from £50 to £62.
The use of £6.7m of council reserves to support one-off investment in digital transformation, fund the continuing commitment to the NNC transformation programme and business rates smoothing has also been noted to keep to a balanced budget for the year. This would see NNC’s earmarked reserves reduce from £76.3m to £69.7m.
The draft budget has been prepared using indicative figures from central government, however the council says it expects to receive full details of its financial settlement in the week starting December 15.
NNC leader Martin Griffiths added:
“We’ve made a promise to the residents of North Northamptonshire that we’re going to build on the quality of services that we provide while ensuring that every penny of taxpayers money is spent efficiently.
“I’m proud we’re able to propose a draft budget that does just that and proud that we’re able to invest in services to make them fit for the future.
“Like for many councils, we need to be mindful that the next few years still look very testing. We are going to continue to work hard to rise to this challenge and deliver services that our residents deserve.”
The draft revenue budget will be discussed at a meeting of the executive on Tuesday. The final budget plans for 2026/27 will then be debated and approved by full council in February.
Report by Nadia Lincoln
Events
🧑🎄Beauty and the Beast is being staged at Corby Cube tomorrow at 4.30pm.
🎁The winter light trail at Delapre Abbey in Northampton continues this weekend. More info here.
🎄A traditional carol service is being held at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Market Place, Kettering on Thursday, December 18 at 7.30pm.