Archive
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Pets Are Family Too
The weeks leading up to Christmas can be hard for a plethora of reasons, stress-shopping, frantic decorating and family visits. However, for one girl this run-up to Christmas was more than less than ideal! On December 18th, Old Palace of John
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Graffiti: Vandalism or Street Art?
In the UK, the removal of graffiti costs over £1 billion every year. Repainting, pressure washing and chemically dissolving are methods used to get rid of the drawings, messages and ‘tags’ spray painted onto buildings, street signs and public land.
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Top detective says "no third party involvement" in Bussandri fire death
A senior detective has said he believes there was "no third party involvement" in the death of retired Italian businessman Adriano Bussandri last week. DCI John MacFarlane said he had conducted "extensive enquiries" with scientists and fire experts
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Driver escapes overturned car with minor injuries
A driver whose car overturned and ended up on its roof escaped with minor injuries this afternoon. It is unclear how the blue Clio came to be completely overturned in Wellesley Road, Twickenham. A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service
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Alleged gang leader jailed for intimidating police witness
The alleged leader of Tamil gang the Jaffna Boys has been jailed for intimidating a witness. Edward Armstrong-Anton of Broadstairs, Kent, was jailed for 30 months at Croydon Crown Court after a jury took just hours to convict him of the charge.
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Battersea Power Station development battle down to four firms
The battle to secure the construction of the of the £350m first phase of work at Battersea Power Station has been whittled down to four firms, according to a construction news website. The Construction Enquirer website has revealed the four bidding
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Police called to Valentine's Day fight at Nando's
Police were called to Nando's in Balham yesterday afternoon after a fight broke out. Staff and diners grew concerned when a large group of men at a table started arguing. The argument quickly escalated and several of the group started trading
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Croydon Council to increase council tax by 1.85 percent
Croydon Council is to increase council tax in the borough by 1.85 per cent. There have been no increases in council tax for the last two years. Residents will pay an extra 34p a week- £17.64 a year - to add £1.3m to the council's budget.
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Running seven marathons
A runner from Esher will run seven marathons in four months, finishing in South Africa in the Comrades Marathon. Roger Brooks, of West End Gardens, will finish his challenge in June by running 54 miles from Durban on the coast to Pietermaritzburg
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Tooting MP pushes Foreign Office for Guantanamo detainee's release
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has gained assurances from the Foreign Office that they will continue to push for the release of his friend and Guantanamo Bay inmate Shaker Aamer. Mr Aamer, who was incarcerated in 2002, is the last British inmate in the
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Smith plays down Esher ref row
Esher head coach Ollie Smith has moved to play down his verbal clash with match officials at the weekend. The 30-year-old former Harlequins centre Smith and assistant coach Ricky Nebbett were both reported to the Rugby Football Union this week
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Taylor sets sights on a lasting tribute with Ks
Kingstonian midfielder Lewis Taylor is out to win Ryman Premier League promotion in memory of his mum. Kathy Taylor, 54, died of a sudden heart attack last month and was buried last Thursday two days before Kingstonian’s 9-3 win over Cray Wanderers
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Beavers boss Harper seeks Borough revenge
Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Mark Harper believes his players will learn from their mistakes as they look to get one over on Harrow Borough on Saturday. The Beavers threw away the lead twice as they were held 3-3 by Wingate & Finchley
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Child protection whistleblower sent email one hour before leaving council
A whistleblower raised concerns about a cover-up in Kingston Council’s social services one hour before she walked out of the authority for good, it has been revealed. Kingston Council said it did not learn of allegations of a cover up in the Charito
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Doctors "lost opportunity" to save pensioner
Doctors missed opportunities to potentially prolong an injured pensioner's life, a coroner said yesterday. Michael Healey, 77, of South Croydon, was discharged from hospital after radiologists failed to spot a small bleed on his brain caused by
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Community group to host film night
A community group is to host a film night this weekend. The Power of Community, a short film about how Cuban people came together to survive a fuel and food shortage, will screen at Matthews Yard off Surrey Street on Sunday February 17. The
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Top MP impressed by borough's green credentials
A Government minister says he is very impressed by the borough's work to tackle climate change and create a green environment. Don Foster, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, visited Sutton on Thursday to
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Council: No horse meat in our school dinners
Merton Council has reassured parents over its schools meals amid the current horse meat scandal. The council said it is in close contact with its main school meal contractor, ISS, and their suppliers to ensure no contaminated beef products enter
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Distraught father told “there was nothing you could have done” following death of addict son
A distraught father was told “there was nothing you could have done” after he blamed himself for his alcoholic son’s death. Salvino Muccio, of Cortis Road, Putney, sobbed as Westminster Coroner’s Court ruled that his 43-year-old son, Riccardo Muccio
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Grassroots football 'uproar' over council cutbacks
Football clubs across the borough are in "uproar" over a new council regime forcing them to pay for phantom matches and substantial up-front sums. Kevin Knott, manager of south Wimbledon-based Wilf Kroucher FC, said he was forced to pay £1,000
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Businessman named entrepreneur of the year
A business man has been named entrepreneur of the year during a top award ceremony at the House of Commons. Sutton man Deepak Kuntawala, founder of global trading and finance company DVK, was presented with the award at the Asian Voice Political
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Dallaglio: Robshaw would make outstanding Lions captain
They say it takes one to know one so when former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio praises current occupant Chris Robshaw it suggests he is the right man for the job. Robshaw, man of the match for England in Sunday’s 12-6 win over Ireland
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Manuwa punching to become Britain's first UFC champion
Croydon’s ‘Poster Boy’ Jimi Manuwa believes he can become Britain’s first ever UFC champion. The 32-year-old light-heavyweight prospect re-enters the octagon on Saturday at Wembley Arena, this time against towering 6ft 6in kick-boxing specialist
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Mourners pay tribute to big-hearted man killed in Vauxhall helicopter crash
There was standing room only in a crematorium as more than 100 people gathered to pay their respects to a man killed in the Vauxhall helicopter crash. "Big guy with a big heart" Matthew Wood, from Brunswick Road, Sutton, died when the helicopter
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Buses diverted from Kingston town centre after sewer collapses
Eden Street has closed following a collapsed sewer today. Bus routes on the busy Kingston road have been diverted, with stops moved to Wheatfield Way. The road has been closed between Lady Booth Road and Nationwide Building Society. Thames
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Campaigners' anger after playground charge returns "via back door"
The “pay for play” debate has erupted again after Wandsworth Council unveiled plans to charge children to use new Battersea Park adventure playground equipment. Standard equipment such as chain ladders and rope swings will continue to be free but
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Cooper questions Blues commitment
Met Police boss Jim Cooper questioned his play-off chasing squad’s desire after slumping to a Tuesday night drubbing at Enfield Town, writes Tom Ambrose. The Blues went into the Ryman Premier League fixture off the back of three straight wins
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Man driven to brink of suicide blasts welfare reforms
A man driven to the brink of suicide by the Government’s "cruel" welfare reforms has condemned the system used to assess whether people with mental health issues are able to work. Edmund O’Leary, of Aspen Close, Epsom, has suffered from clinical
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Bridge Banter: Bees clash is must win for Chelsea
Despite his nose still throbbing from a boot in the face at Newcastle, Demba Ba is tipped to start up front when Chelsea host the Bees in the FA Cup at the Bridge this weekend. It’s a must-win game for the Blues, whose season threatens to fade
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Missing woman found safe and well
A 76-year-old woman has been found safe and well. Police issued an appeal yesterday (Thursday February 14) after Beryl Black failed to return home in Worcester Road, Sutton on Wednesday. She was found at a community centre in Banstead, Surrey
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Quins prop Lambert has no fear for Leicester scrum
Harlequins prop Mark Lambert insists the days of fearing the Leicester Tigers front row are long gone. Having spent his entire career at the Stoop, 27-year-old Lambert admits he would have felt anxious about facing a much-feared Tigers pack in
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Elderly couple escape house fire
An elderly couple escaped from a fire at their house in Kingston Hill yesterday afternoon after a kitchen blaze spread to the loft space. Two engines from Kingston, one each from Surbiton and New Malden, plus a cherry-picker from Wimbledon, attended
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Work starts on 'dangerous' crossing
Works have finally started on a dangerous road junction in Chessington where a girl was hit by a motorbike more than a year ago. A pedestrian crossing is being installed at the junction of the A243 Leatherhead Road and Merritt Gardens, close to
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Esher admit defeat in National One title race
Head coach Ollie Smith has admitted his Esher side can forget about National Division One – for this season anyway, writes Stuart Amos. The Molesey Road outfit crashed 21-20 at Old Albanians on Saturday as a flurry of controversial late penalties
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Couple appeals for speed humps after four cats killed
A couple is demanding speed bumps along their road after four of their cats were killed in just two years. Steven and Stella St Lawrence moved to Central Road, Morden three years ago with their beloved brood of 10 cats. Within a year their
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Earlsfield parking is shocking
Further to Nick Padget’s letter (Virtual traffic wardens are a big shock to the system, February 7) regarding parking tickets at Earlsfield station, I too have been the recipient of a ticket while collecting my son from Earlsfield station. My son is
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Madagascar: Looking for lemurs on the lost continent
It starts at 2am, an unearthly chorus of high-pitched wails fills the forest. It's as if the indri, the largest living lemurs, are singing at the door of my simple rainforest lodge in the lowland jungle of eastern Madagascar. In reality, they could
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Law impresses again for Kingston
Kingston AC & Polytechnic Harrier Phoebe Law followed up her Surrey Schools’ Cross Country Championship silver medal last week by winning her U17s Surrey Ladies Cross Country League race on Saturday. The 14-year-old Surbiton High School
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VIDEO: Love in the air as husband surprised by dancing flash mob
Think you overdid it on Valentine’s Day? Well have a look at how a quiet and shy husband was surprised by his wife with a dancing mob in Kingston for his birthday. And she was rewarded for her very public display with a cheeky kiss.
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Kingston star Blaize-s a trail at Euro trials
Dominique Blaize says there is more to come from her this summer, having signed off indoors by winning long jump gold at the UK Championships and European trials in Sheffield on Sunday, writes Ziad Chaudry. The 25-year-old New Malden heptathlete
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Tibble's Surbiton reign gets off to winning start
New Surbiton men’s captain Ben Tibble finished on the winning side in his first game at the helm last Sunday following predecessor Tim Deakin’s departure for Men’s Hockey League Premier Division rivals East Grinstead. James Tindall hit his ninth
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England experience will help Surbiton
Surbiton Ladies captain Sarah Haycroft says making her England debut is only going to help her team’s play-off quest. Haycroft took her international bow at the Investec Challenge in South Africa last week, where she helped her country to a
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Pair of Jokers open Norbury Comedy Club
A new comedy club in Norbury promises to play host to a hilarious line-up of some of the country's best comedians, but the acts will remain secret from audiences until they get there. Croydon comics Nabil Abdul Rashid, 26, and Ola Gbaja, 25, launched
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Crimewatch appeal over missing Lee Boxell gives police new witnesses
Murder detectives investigating the disappearance and possible murder of Lee Boxell received more than 40 calls as a result of last night's Crimewatch appeal. The show last night prompted calls from members of the public with information about
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Police seize 300 cannabis plants in raid
Police seized 300 cannabis plants in a drugs raid yesterday morning. One man was arrested after officers executed a warrant to search a house in Springfield Road, Thornton Heath in the early hours of Thursday. He was detained in a south London
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Scent with love from the catwalk
The glamorous month-long Fashion Week calendar has kicked off in style, stopping off at New York, London, Milan and Paris. But if your show tickets got lost in the post, you could still come up smelling of roses - or something equally gorgeous,
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Musical to rock Ewell
Acclaimed rock musical Chess will be raising the roof of a theatre in Ewell next month. The musical, written by award-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice and former Abba members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, will come to the Adrian Mann Theatre
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Council secrets 'at risk' after ex-cabinet member's phone hacked
Council secrets could have fallen into the hands of tabloid journalists, it was claimed, after a former senior councillor was targeted in the phone hacking scandal. Amanda Ramsay, a Labour councillor until 2006, received a cash settlement last
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Art group set for exhibition
A long-standing art group is preparing for its Spring exhibition next month. Epsom and Ewell Art Group is hosting the show in Denbies Vineyard, near Dorking, from March 4 to 10. The group formed in 1948 for artists in the area and its current
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Hair-raising horrors to storm into Epsom
The Circus of Horrors will take the audience on a whirlwind journey of the bizarre at the start of next month. The show returns to Epsom Playhouse on Sunday, March 3, with daredevil and bizarre circus acts from around the world. Doktor Haze
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Two-year-old treated in hospital after going months without heating
A two-year-old boy ended up in hospital after his rented home was left without heating or hot water for two months. Cameron McCaskie, who suffers from a blood disorder that makes him sensitive to extreme temperatures, spent two spells at Croydon
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Valentine's treats at care home
Glendale care home, Walton, celebrated Valentine’s Day with a sweet treats afternoon for residents and staff. Spoiled for choice, they dipped strawberries and marshmallows into a chocolate fountain, before washing them down with a glass or two
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The Wimbledon airman who saved Britain
Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding (1882-1970), head of the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and three-times a Wimbledon resident, died 43 years ago today in 1970. From April to October 1940, his pilots had resisted the
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Rush hour crash causes gridlock
A motorbike crash forced police to close one lane of a busy roundabout causing rush hour traffic chaos for commuters. Police closed part of the Rose Hill Roundabout in Sutton after a motorcyclist crashed causing tailbacks on some of the town's
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Mitcham doesn't need a bus lane, it just needs tidying up
By John O’Sullivan; Cricket Green, Mitcham I refer to Carole Mauger’s letter relating to the proposed introduction of an additional bus lane through the pedestrian area of the Fair Green. As a local resident who, from the age of maturity, has
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Man dies from huge methadone overdose
A drug user died after taking more than four times the potentially fatal amount of methadone, an inquest heard. Thomas Horgan, 46, died at a flat in Sutton in November last year having taken a huge dose of the heroin-replacement drug. An inquest
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Shameless benefit fraudster's website boasts he 'works all year round'
A tiler was convicted of benefit fraud after boasting on his company's website he "works all the way through the year." Andrew Bradbury, 50, of Kinloss Road, Carshalton, was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment at Camberwell Green magistrates
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Council on the hunt for business development manager
The council is on the hunt for a business development manager to boost Epsom’s flagging town centre. In partnership with Bride Hall, the company which manages The Ashley Centre, Epsom Council is advertising for an "enthusiastic and self-motivated
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Battersea Power Station to be turned into temporary park
Battersea Power Station is to be transformed into a temporary park this summer meaning picnic-lovers will be able to be bask in sunshine by the river. The park would be connected to Battersea Park via a new riverside walkway which would run underneath
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Police look to reunite jewellery with rightful owners
Police are attempting to reunite stolen items with their rightful owners following a burglary raid. Officers raided a flat in Bensham Manor Road on February 8 and found a stash of what is believed to be stolen goods. They discovered several
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A&E waiting times worst for a decade
Sutton’s councillors are up in arms following the revelation that A&E waiting times are at their worst level for a decade. A health think-tank, The King’s Fund, found that nationally more than 230,000 patients waited more than four hours to
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BT copper cable thieves jailed
A pair of thieves who left thousands fuming when they ripped out BT copper cables have been jailed. Daryl Carslake, 30, and Gavin Marriott, 28, both from Epsom, were jailed at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, February 8, after pleading guilty to
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VIDEO: King of Pop spotted in town centre
The King of Pop was spotted at the Whitgift Centre. Shoppers were given a sneak preview of the Jackson Live concert taking place at the Fairfield Halls on Saturday. Ben Bowman, 26, who stars as Michael Jackson in the show, performed three songs
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Students perform well on the stock market
Aspiring stock brokers have won the first phase of a national competition for the third year in a row. Students from Trinity School triumphed in the ifs Student Investor Challenge - which gives students the chance to practice investing in the stock
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MP would back village council push if people want it
An MP has said he would back a push for a village council as long as there is enthusiasm and support for it. Community leaders have mooted the idea of a council in Banstead that would get a say over planning and could run youth projects and improve
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Council leader brands police plans unconvincing
Plans to reform the way the borough is policed have been branded one-size-fits-all and unconvincing by the leader of the council. It raises the prospect Sutton Council may oppose plans from the Mayor's Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) to reshape
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Council urges residents to email minister over plane noise
Wandsworth Council is asking residents to write to Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin to tell him how their lives are affected by aircraft noise. The minister is set to make changes to Heathrow flight pattern rules which will have
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Cancer sufferer appeals over power station asbestos
A former power station employee who has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive former of cancer has appealed for former co-workers to come forward. Kevin Shaw, 71, was diagnosed with mesothelioma - which carries a life expectancy of less than
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Pensioner had secret black fungus cancer
A pensioner was found dead on the floor after he kept quiet about a skin cancer so bad that it had taken over his whole back and infected his internal organs. Colin Peddle, 72, had been dead for three weeks before he was found by council staff
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Dog owner jailed for "hideous cruelty" to puppies
A man jailed for illegally docking four puppies' tails has been accused of causing "hideous cruelty". George Charles Williams, from Neville Gill Close, Wandsworth, was given a lifetime ban on keeping animals after he was found guilty of five breaches
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Police warning after fuel thefts
Gas-grabbing thieves have prompted a warning from police in Weston Green. Surrey Police have received three reports in the past week of thefts from cars in the area, after a spate of fuel thefts from vehicles in Thames Ditton, Weston Green, West
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Robbers threaten supermarket workers with knife and hammer
Robbers threatened supermarket workers with a knife and hammer before walking out with cash. Two men entered a Co-Op store, in Ewell High Street, on Tuesday, February 12, at 10.40pm and threatened two members of staff with the weapons before leaving