Safety measures to be introduced at busy Peterborough junction
'Jumping red lights'
Katy Cole, Dogsthorpe ward councillor and cabinet member for children's services, said she had been contacted by residents about "the amount of reckless driving that's taking place across this junction", as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "I've seen cars jumping the red lights and I've had my colleague beeped because he was doing 30mph in a 30mph limit," she added.Ellis said the junction had been flagged as having a history of crashes over a number of years, even before the latest incident. The council will look at whether the traffic lights are fit for purpose, consider putting a camera at the junction and ask residents what they think would help, he added. Peterborough City Council has about £75,000 allocated as part of its road safety budget which might be used towards the improvements. Mr Andrews, who lives near the junction, said he was delighted to have received support from councillors after he raised his concerns. Data from crashmap.co.uk revealed a number of crashes in the area up until 2023 and three crashes were reported at the Eye Road and Eastfield Road junction.
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Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My mum wrote a letter in defence of a family friend she thought had been wrongly accused of sexual abuse - little did she know, he regularly raped me from the age of three
A woman has bravely spoken out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her childminder's son - and told how her own mother came unknowingly to write a letter in his defence. Rachael Smith, 23, from Hertfordshire, was preyed upon at the tender age of three by evil predator, Steven Freitas, 34, who raped and sexually assaulted her for three years. Until the age of six, Freitas raped Rachael in his family home when she went to stay with her childminder, threatening to do it to her younger sister, Katie, if she told anyone. Unbeknownst to Rachael, when she was six, Freitas was arrested and convicted of sexually abusing two other girls under 13. In a shocking twist, not knowing of the abuse her own daughter had faced, Rachael's own mother, Steph, 43, wrote a character witness in Freitas' favour, declaring that he'd 'never do something like that' and said she believed the victims' claims were 'untrue'. It wasn't until over a decade later that Rachael discovered the statement and told her mother about the traumatic abuse she'd faced as a child year earlier, leaving her horrified. Rachael has bravely waived her right to anonymity to encourage other survivors to speak out against their abusers. The recovery worker said: 'For so long I kept this terrible secret. When I found Mum's statement I felt sick to my stomach he'd had other victims. 'Steven had managed to manipulate my own mother into thinking he was innocent. When she found out about what he'd done to me, she was beside herself with guilt. 'I'm just glad he's finally behind bars where he belongs.' In June this year, Freitas was jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault by penetration. Rachael was just four months old when she started being cared for by her childminder, Freitas's mother, who was a close family friend, and said she 'loved' going to her house. Rachael remembers: 'I saw Steven's mother like a second mum. I loved going to her house and playing with the other children.' However, everything changed when Rachael turned three. One day, in 2004, Freitas, then aged 11, coaxed her into the downstairs toilet, in the guise of taking her for a wee. She says: 'While inside, he took off my underwear and started touching my privates. He told me it was "our secret". 'I was only young so thought it was normal and agreed.' The abuse escalated and Freitas began making Rachael sit on his lap, naked, and making her touch him too. Just months later, he raped her for the first time. She recalled: 'I just remember how painful it felt. I wanted to get it over and done with and go back to playing.' Most weeks, while she was being looked after, Freitas took her into the toilet multiple times to abuse her, which also included oral rape. Afterwards, he would offer to plait her hair or play games with her. Rachael said that if she ever told him 'no', he would threaten her, saying he would make her younger sister, Katie, then two, do it instead. Another time when she tried to resist, Freitas said he'd tell her mother to 'hate' her. Rachael (pictured) has described her torment when her mother unknowingly wrote a letter in defence of Freitas 'Desperate' to protect her younger sister, Rachael kept quiet, but remembers: 'It was awful'. Once, aged six, Rachael refused to go with Freitas to the bathroom, but he forced her inside and raped her again. Soon after, Rachael stopped going to her childminder's house. Unbeknownst to Rachael, Freitas had been arrested for sexually abusing two children in his mother's care. In September 2008 then aged 17, he was convicted at St Alban's Crown Court of seven counts of sexual assault of a female child under 13 in respect of two victims, aged 7 and 9. He was sentenced to an 18-month Detention and Training Order. His mother's business subsequently shut down. Over the following years, Rachael blocked out the abuse but when she learned about sex education at school at the age of 10, the memories all came back. At school, aged ten, she learnt about sex education. She says: 'Everything came flooding back and I realised what had happened was wrong. 'I asked my teacher questions like, "how long does sperm live inside you?" and "can kids get pregnant?". I was terrified. 'They should've picked up on those signs, as they're not normal questions for kids to ask.' Afterwards, Rachael developed OCD and Tourettes syndrome - a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements. She'd have rituals where she'd wash her hands multiple times and talk to her teddies, telling them 'don't kill my family'. She says: 'I had such intrusive and violent thoughts. I hated my body and felt ashamed and embarrassed. 'I began having nightmares and panic attacks.' In March 2013, Freitas pleaded guilty to another two offences of sexual activity (penetrative) with a female child under 16. He was sentenced to five years custody with an extended license period of eight years. As Rachel grew into her teens, she experienced further problems, entering toxic relationships and finding intimacy painful - and knew it was all down to the abuse. In November 2020, when she was 17, she stumbled across her mum's character witness statement while looking for some documents for a job application - and was 'horrified' and 'felt sick' at what she found. 'I was horrified reading what she'd said about Steven,' Rachael said, recalling the moment she found the statement. He'd convinced her he was innocent. 'The fact that she'd defended him made me feel sick. Knowing he'd had other victims, I felt guilty I'd let him hurt others.' For the next year, Rachael thought carefully about her findings until one day, she plucked up the courage to report Steven to the police. When she confessed what had happened, she said the police were 'so supportive' and the detective in charge believed her 'straightaway'. Two weeks later, she told her mother the truth of what happened via text message. Rachael said: 'She felt so guilty she'd defended him, unknowingly. Was horrified at how monstrous he actually was.' At his trial this month, Rachael bravely gave her evidence, and was horrified when the defence 'asked her what she had been wearing' when she was just three years old. This time, Rachael's mother Steph was called to the stand to give evidence for the prosecution. Steph, 43, said: 'Steven's mother was a registered childminder and good friend of my family. 'She lived opposite my parents. I always thought Steven was immature for his age and behind developmentally and socially. But I had no idea the monstrousness he was capable of. 'When Steven was arrested for the first abuse case, I didn't think the allegations were true. 'I couldn't imagine such a thing happening in a seemingly loving home. His mum was in tears and I felt sorry for her.' Steph wrote a character witness statement for court, after Steven's mother asked for her help and she fully supported the family during the trial. She explains: 'I will always regret doing that now. Receiving Rachel's text made me feel numb. 'I couldn't cope knowing how much he hurt and traumatised her. It breaks my heart I couldn't protect her. I hate him for what he's done.' This June, Freitas, 34, was found guilty of sexual offences against Rachael at St Alban's Crown Court. Rachael, who is now calling for parents to educate their children on their anatomy, boundaries and consent, says: 'Knowing he's been taken off the streets gives me some comfort. 'He's now known as a sex offender so people know what a danger he is. Finally, he's been exposed for the vile creature he is. 'I'm certain he's got more victims out there. I want to let other survivors know, it's never their fault and they should never feel ashamed. 'I'm finally spoken my truth and no longer feel and guilt or shame.'
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Three men in early 20s arrested after woman sexually assaulted in park as cops step up patrols
COPS have arrested three men after a woman was allegedly sexual assaulted in a park. Police launched an investigation after the incident at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, between 9pm and 10pm on June 29. Nottinghamshire Police says all the men arrested are in their 20s and have been released on conditional bail whilst investigations continue. Two men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of rape, said the force. Cops confirmed that a 21-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Patrols have been increased in the area and specially trained officers continue to support the victim. Detective Sergeant Liam Cowan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'Specialist officers were immediately deployed to support the victim while detectives carried out inquiries to understand exactly what happened. 'These arrests are an important development in the investigation and the victim has been kept fully informed. 'We also understand the wider concern within the community following any incident of this nature. 'Neighbourhood officers will continue their patrols in the area to offer support when needed. 'Despite the arrests our investigation is ongoing and we would urge anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or mobile phone footage, to get in touch without delay.' 1
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Newport motorbike crash: Tributes to 'true friend'
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