Paper Preview: Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot

Concerns over subway safety in the town has prompted the council to respond to a string of violent crimes that have been reported over the years.

Bracknell Forest Council has spoken out to address concerns from residents after the most recent attacked reported on Easter Monday where a woman was raped within the Eastern Roundabout underpass.

Following this attack, the outrage has sparked conversations about the lack of CCTV cameras within the maze of subways that run under the town. The 88 underpasses have often been a hotspot for reports of dangerous crimes. Many question whether the network of passages should remain open.

Also in the paper:

• The deck on track for 2023
• 88 year-old man’s challenge to walk 50,000 steps a month for charity
• Awards see Bracknell named best children’s party venue
• School kids run Easter bake-sale to help Ukraine refugees
• Bracknell man’s ‘God-driven’ mission to Romania
• Figures show there are twice as many charging points than there were two years ago
• Barrack Obama’s secret connection to Bracknell
• Crowthorne Parish council organises Platinum Jubilee art competition
• Housebuilder hands over Bucklers Forest to charity

And much more

Wokingham News

A music teacher at a Wokingham private school has been spared jail despite “using every spare hour” to download more than 10,000 indecent images of children. Gordon Waterson, who now lives on Clinton Road in Edinburgh, also distributed images of young boys being abused in order to join group chats where ‘like-minded people’ would discuss child porn.

The 33 year old taught as the Director of Music at Ludgrove School, an independent boarding school for boys aged 8-13 in Wokingham where parents pay £9,775 per term. He was suspended by his employers in July 2020 after it emerged Waterson had been downloading indecent images - including material featuring boys aged between two and 10 - since 2015.

Police arrested Waterson at Ludgrove School after linking his email address and phone number to the access of child porn. The teacher, originally from Scotland, had four iPhones on which he stored5,270 category Cindecent images, 3, 258 category B indecent images, and 1,880 category A indecent images (the most explicit kind).

Also in the paper:

• A device to warn speeding drivers to slow down has been approved for installation on Reading Road.
• An Indian restaurant is offering free meals to Ukrainian families that have been forced to flea their homes
• Hundreds of people set to attend this years May day fayre
• Prospect Park was turned into a vibrant canvas on Sunday after a colour run event came to the town.
• Wokingham MP defends Rwanda scheme

And much more

Ascot News

Police have issued a warning after a resident with memory loss was scammed into having roof work done.

Thames Valley Police received a report on Monday, April 25, about cold callers who talked an Ascot resident into having work done on his property. The scammers Tarmaced the driveway, which the resident’s son in-law says has created a mess.

They also re-pointed the roof and jet washed the back patio. Police received the report from the son-in-law, who says his father in-law has memory issues so can’t remember what work he agreed to have carried out.

Also in the paper:

• An Ascot woman who has helped 20 Ukrainian families reach their relatives has said that many have lost hope in their home country and are leaving to build a new life elsewhere.
• ‘Charters school’ children win Ascot racecourse art competition
• Jockey Frankie Dettori hopes to ride at winner for the Queen at Royal Ascot

And much more

You will also find a four-page puzzle supplement in each paper this week to keep your brain active.

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