The Crown Prosecution Service has today announced Joshua Oliver has been charged with arson – following allegations of setting a fire at the offices of Sharon Hodgson MP in the Concord area of Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Joshua Oliver with Arson following a police investigation into a fire at the offices of Sharon Hodgson MP.

A former Wiltshire Police officer who misused police equipment to stalk a woman, has today been sentenced.

Andrew Edwards, 31, from Chippenham, had used the police systems of intelligence records, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Police National Computer (PNC), and an address finder, to monitor the movements of the woman and people she was in contact with.

Edwards conducted these checks when he was both on and off duty, using his home Wi-Fi.

A man who forced his way into a stranger’s home in Hastings and raped her has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, extended for a further seven years.

Jason Wren, 32, was seen by witnesses acting suspiciously outside the property in November 2024, while the woman was home alone.

He knocked at the door and, thinking it was a house mate who may have forgotten their keys, the woman opened the door. Wren grabbed her by the throat and said he would hurt her if she made any noise.

A teacher who groomed and sexually abused one of his students ten years ago has been sentenced today at Bolton Crown Court.

Daniel Rowe, 39, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, and he must complete 25 days rehabilitation. At the prosecution’s request, he was ordered to comply with a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was barred from working with children for 10 years. A 10 year restraining order was also put in place to prevent any further contact with the victim.

A man has been jailed today following a heist that saw 159 luxury watches worth £1.4 million stolen from a shopping centre watch shop. 

David Buisson, 56, has been sentenced to six years and one month imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court after admitting his role in the carefully planned burglary.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecuted Buisson, of Harlow, Essex, following an investigation by Kent Police.