Thames Valley Police is investigating a report of a rape in Milton Keynes.

It has been reported that a teenage girl was raped by a man in an alleyway off Marjoram Place, Conniburrow between 8pm and 8.40pm last night.

Detective Inspector Amanda Blake, overseeing the investigation, said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation and the victim is being looked after by specially trained officers.

“Until we have further information we are unable to release any more details, but I would like to reassure people that we are treating this matter very seriously and a team of detectives are working to gather evidence.

“Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the local area and will be doing so throughout the day. We appreciate that this incident is likely to cause concern in the community. We are putting on extra patrols in the neighbourhood to help reassure the community and I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to those officers.”

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area or has any other information about this incident should contact the Milton Keynes CID team via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

PLAYING fields behind the Territorial Army centre in Bletchley were sealed off yesterday morning after a man was arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl.

Police were called by the victim’s parents just before 8am and cordoned off the area.

The incident reported occurred at around 7pm on Tuesday night in the park near Water Eaton Road.

Forensic teams cordoned off the area around the play park as they carried out a series of tests before leaving shortly before midday.

The offender, who is believed to be known by the victim, was arrested on Wednesday morning.

He was being held in custody by police as the Citizen went to print.

A MUM of two from Milton Keynes was so fed up with tiny handbags that she designed her own more practical model.

Charlotte Jamme designed her own bag while living in Vietnam after she struggled to find one she could use when travelling back to the UK with her two children.

None of the bags on the market were stylish and big enough to accommodate everything she had to cart around for two toddlers.

In July 2011 Charlotte and her family relocated to the UK and launched Mia Tui, based in Great Linch, Middleton, to the British market in October using social media and consumer events.

Mia Tui means ‘my bag’ in Vietnamese.

The first 200 bags were made in 2010 and sold out in six weeks. The second production run increased by 200 per cent and was shipped to the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, again selling out within a matter of weeks.

Since then Charlotte has sold over 16,000 bags, achieving success in the mother and baby sector with mums who like the fact that the bags can be used as a changing bag yet still look stylish at the same time. The fitness industry is another sector that is proving successful.

Charlotte found the right materials and fabrics from the markets of Vietnam, as well as a factory to produce the bags for her.

She has spent many hours at the Mia Tui factory to ensure the workers have good working conditions and enjoy their environment. The use of under aged workers is forbidden. She has also developed work from home and basic skill development programmes for all Mia Tui makers.

Charlotte said: “My bags seem to have struck a real chord with mums and women from all walks of life. It can take you from the office to the airport and then out to dinner. I call it ‘a bag for all reasons’.

“I have had nothing but positive feedback about the bags and am excited about what the future holds for the brand.”

A party plan service, Mia Tui at Home, is due to be launched in spring to allow the bags to be sold directly to the consumer. This will be rolled out across the UK with a network of consultants following a successful trial party in Milton Keynes.

Visit www.miatui.com

SO, our whole economic system is suffering from a massive hangover but it’s binge drinking that’s going to get sorted out.

You may wonder whether that nice Mr Cameron has got his priorities right – but there’s no denying that, if he can make some headway, he’ll have made as big a contribution to public health as his unlamented Labour predecessors did by introducing the smoking ban.

There’s a strategy on the way, of course, but for starters the PM has called for bars and supermarkets to help tackle a problem that costs the NHS £2.7bn a year.

But it shouldn’t be about money, and we shouldn’t even be thinking about a ban.

And the PM ought to be looking to recruit far beyond the pint-pullers and grog floggers to help achieve this admirable end.

It’s one of those issues – like seat belts and the smoking ban, which have been great successes, and the ban on using your mobile at the wheel, which is still a boil to be lanced – where the vast majority of us are just waiting for someone to take a sensible lead.

And the way to do it is to make life more difficult for the drinker – and when I say drinker, I don’t just mean the lager-fuelled lout or the alcopop addled teenager – I mean all of us.

I’m fed up of all sorts of expensive measures being put in place to pick up the pieces of other people’s lack of self-control. The aim has got to be to stop people regarding the act of getting completely hammered as an option for a night out, or even a night in.

So here are a few ideas to throw into the mix, for the PM to consider over a relaxing glass of wine one evening.

Number 1, ban all alcopops. Strong drink isn’t supposed to taste like lemonade.

Number 2, restrict the sale of all spirits to people over the age of 25. If I had my way I’d also make it illegal to use mixers to soften the taste of hard liquor, for the same reasons that alcopops have to go, but I do enjoy the occasional gin and tonic so that one will have to stay on the drawing board.

Number 3, by all means introduce a higher unit price for alcohol but don’t penalise those who enjoy a bracer but know when to stop – jack up the pub prices only after the first two drinks, introduce maximum purchase rules in supermarkets and the like just like they have for painkillers these days, and halt the sale of alcohol in containers larger than one litre, especially if we’re talking about super strength cider.

Number 4, forget street pastors and people being paid by the public purse to get drunk and incapable kids home safely. Employ them instead to wander town centres at closing time, corner people who have had a skinful, and paint their faces purple.

The paint should not be permanent, of course, but it should be pretty much immovable for a week or so as evidence of a bender that would last a lot longer, and be a lot more visible, to the world at large than a hangover.

Then it would be for the rest of us to bring peer pressure to bear, and sneer and snigger at the victims for long after whatever memory they had of a good night out had faded. Purple paint would make them pariahs, and we’d soon change their habits.

THE annual Olney Pancake Race has been won in a record breaking time by an 18-year-old who was taking part in the event for the first time.

Devon Byrne, whose mother has won the race three times, became the first woman to complete the course in under one minute, finishing in a time of 58.5 seconds.

There were 22 competitors in this year’s race who were watched by more than 1,000 people who lined the streets of the town.

Miss Byrne was the first woman to complete the 415 yard course which finished outside the church.

Speaking at the end of the race, Miss Byrne said: “My legs hurt. I train at Milton Keynes Athletics Club so it goes with the territory.”

THIS week saw the release of the latest national unemployment figures from the Office for National Statistics.

These figures showed that the unemployment rate for the UK stands at 4.1 per cent, with Milton Keynes just below the average at four per cent. Of concern are figures for 18-24 year olds which shows an unemployment rate of 7.6 per cent in MK.

In recent weeks I have been trying to do my bit by promoting apprenticeships for young people. Encouraging employers to start new programs as well as visiting schemes run at places such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at Hanslope Park, the new training academy at Mercedes Benz and a new and innovative apprenticeship scheme set up by 3aaa. These are all making a difference to help people to help themselves. Apprenticeships and training might not be for everyone, so with a reputation as a city full of entrepreneurs, I also recently visited thecentre:mk branch of Barclays bank to see how they are supporting start up businesses.

Over the past three years the news has read like a horror story about bankers’ bonuses and the lack of money being lent by banks. However, there now may be some light at the end of this rather dark and grim tunnel.Project Merlin is a government scheme to encourage banks to lend money to small and medium sized businesses. It ring fenced £190bn and stipulated that £76bn go to small firms. So far banks have lent £74.9bn to small businesses, so there is some room for improvement.

When visiting Barclays I met with their Regional Business Director to see what they are doing to increase lending to businesses in MK.

What I discovered was a far cry from the horror stories with which we are so familiar. Barclays has launched a series of lending clinics, where business managers from the company go along and meet with small and medium sized businesses and those who are looking into setting up their own businesses. They can offer a huge array of help, information and continued support by way of a specialised support line, direct access to your business manager and free consultations. They have increased the number of specialised business managers by five per cent and with over 770,000 business banking customers they offer tailored banking and support for each and every business.

This is fantastic news for MK. We have seen over 10 per cent of businesses in the city which were set up during the tough markets over the past three years are achieving £100,000 turnover. In the UK as a whole during the same difficult period, there are around one in 20 businesses which are turning over £200,000.

It’s a turn of phrase which has been over-used recently, but we really are starting to see the green shoots of growth and I am pleased MK is playing a huge part in this success story. The turnover figures for businesses set up over the past three years really is encouraging and I hope all banks in MK sign up to similar schemes to ensure there is enough support for people looking to set up their own business.

Thames Valley Police has released an e-fit image of a man it would like to identify as part of its investigation into a sexual assault.

The incident happened between 11pm and 11.30pm on Saturday February 4.

The victim, a 19-year-old woman, was walking through the underpass under the V6 Grafton Gate, next to the skateboarding site and the side of the bus station, when she was approached from behind by a man.

The man grabbed hold of her and led her away from the underpass to the stair that lead to the back of the skateboard site where he forced her to touch him inappropriately. He then let the victim go and walked off past the bus station.

Det Con John Swallow, who is investigating the incident, said: “There were skateboarders at the back of the bus station at the time of this offence and they could be crucial witnesses – they will remember the night as it snowed heavily that evening.

“I am also keen to hear from anyone else who recognizes the man in this image.”

The offender is white, around 19-20-years-old, 5ft4ins, with a slim build. He has freckles across his nose and cheekbones and dark eyebrows. He wore dark blue jeans and a waterproof jacket with the hood up which was dark blue. He also wore a dark blue scarf.

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact Det Con Swallow via the Force enquiry centre on 101.

Sanuja Theivendirajah, a 22-year-old woman and her 11-month-old daughter Yalshana Yalenthan, reported missing from their home in Daniels Welch, Coffee Hall, Milton Keynes, have been found safe.

Ms Theivendirajah and her daughter attended a police station in the North East of England yesterday afternoon (20/2).

Thames Valley Police would like to thank the public for their support with this inquiry.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a 32-bed mental health centre in West Bletchley have been given the green light.

Much to the dismay of various campaign groups the plans were approved at a planning committee meeting held on Thursday night.

Councillor Veronica Belcher, chairman of West Bletchley Council, said: “West Bletchley Council is extremely disappointed by Milton Keynes Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the development of the White Hart site.

“Many, many residents objected to this proposed development and the White Hart Campaign Committee worked extraordinarily hard to make sure those objections were heard.

“As a council, we gave our full support to the campaign in as many practical ways as possible but despite all this effort the outcome was not as we would have wished.”

The male only site, referred to by developers as a mental health rehabilitation centre, will have room for 32 occupants between the ages of 18 and 65.

Those living there will be in the final stage of their recovery where their needs are based on rebuilding life skills with treatments and therapies to help them return to independent living.

A statement, released last week by the Cambian Group, which will run the centre, said: “Cambian recognises that there are often anxieties due to different understandings, knowledge, and attitudes towards people who are mentally unwell.

“The Cambian Group is committed to a policy of openness and engagement with the communities in which it works and we look to build a long term, successful relationship in Bletchley, as we have done elsewhere, with each of our existing services.”

Naomi Sinclair, chairman of the White Hart Campaign Group, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to everybody who helped, encouraged and supported us during the campaign, with special thanks to residents who gave up their valuable time to help raise awareness and deliver leaflets over the hectic Christmas period.

“I know there are a lot of residents who are very disappointed with the Milton Keynes planning committee, who in our opinion had already made their decision prior to the meeting.

“We are now awaiting the Final Decision notice to give us clarity on the conditions passed with the approval in order to ensure the applicant complies with them.”

A city woman who claimed a whole array of benefits, despite inheriting £100,000 in 2007, which she held in undisclosed bank accounts, has narrowly escaped jail.

Details of the undisclosed bank accounts came to light following a routine data match carried out jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions.

On Friday 17th February 2012, Milton Keynes magistrates heard how Samantha Mackenzie-Smith claimed just short of £25,000 in benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance, from April 2008 till June 2011.

Ms Mackenzie-Smith, of Townsend Grove, New Bradwell, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud.

On Friday she received a 12 week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work. The magistrates also ordered that she pay £500 towards the prosecution costs.

She was prosecuted under Section 111a of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (Dishonesty).

Ms Mackenzie-Smith has also had to pay back £24,912.30, which had been wrongly claimed in benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance.

A council benefits fraud spokesman said: “We’re very pleased with the outcome of this case, which sends a clear message that if you are involved in fraudulent benefit claims, we will catch you.”

Take care if you are planning to indulge in one of the nation’s favourite foods during National Chip Week this week.

More than half of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen, and last year 25 fires in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes were sparked by overheated chip pans, resulting in four people being taken to hospital.

Leaving a chip pan unattended for any length of time can have disastrous results as the oil can easily overheat and ignite. A simple switch from the pan to the oven or a temperature-controlled deep-fat fryer can help prevent the worst.

Chris Bailey, head of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety team, said: “Chips will be on the menu in a lot of homes this week, but remember that even the smallest distraction when using a hot chip pan can lead to a fire in a matter of moments.

“Oven chips are a safer and healthier way to enjoy your favourite, but if you do choose to deep-fat fry, please don’t leave the pan unattended. If your pan does catch light, don’t throw water over it – get out, stay out and call 999.”

These all-year-round fire safety tips could help reduce the risk:

Don’t overfill a chip pan with oil – never fill it more than one-third full.

Be careful that it doesn’t overheat - hot oil can catch fire easily.

Use a thermostat-controlled deep-fat fryer, which will make sure the fat doesn’t get too hot.

Never throw water on a chip pan fire.

Don’t cook after drinking alcohol.

In the event of a fire, have an escape route in place.

Don’t take risks by tackling a fire. Get out, stay out and call 999.

Get a smoke alarm and test it weekly.

A 22-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist was taken to hospital last night after he was involved in a collision in Shenley Church End.

His blue Yamaha XT motorbike was involved in a collision with a blue BMW 320 at around 6.15pm last night.

Police arrived and the 22-year-old was taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital to be checked for minor injuries.

AN arts company has launched a training service for firms.

Festive Road Community Interest Company, which has a workshop in Hollin Lane, Stacey Bushes, has created a corporate training arm called Tea Breaks.

The company uses the arts to tackle business problems and increase productivity.

Corporate teams take part in workshops using theatre, visual arts, dance and music, but this is fun with a serious purpose.

Festive Road Director Simon Tipping said problems could be solved by looking at them creatively: “Our artists have over 20 years’ experience in working with people creatively to bring the very best out of them.

“We have seen teams and organisations transformed through approaching problems in a different way.

“People don’t need to be painters or musicians to get the most out of our workshops. We are very careful to tailor every business programme for the individuals and issues involved.”

Festive Road say their workshops help to transform business teams through better communication, creative thinking and motivation.

Sessions are facilitated by expert practitioners who have years of experience creating motivational environments and empowering participants to overcome their inhibitions.

Festive Road also works in the community with young people at risk of offending, and other disadvantaged groups.  Their work has included constructing giant illuminated figurines and costumed characters for carnival processions, and this service is also offered to business to liven up corporate events. 

Find out more by visiting www.teabreaks.org.uk