Dear readers, welcome to Wednesday. A Carlton man has been jailed after being behind the wheel of a speeding car that caused a crash that left a woman requiring surgery. You can read more below. We also bring you news of a young Mapperley poet who is hoping his creative flair can inspire young people to make positive life choices and an update from Gedling Indoor Bowls Club, who have found a temporary new home following the closure of the Richard Herrod Centre.

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow.

David Bratton - Editor

Carlton man jailed for causing A52 collision

A Carlton man has been jailed after being behind the wheel of a speeding car that caused a crash that left a woman requiring surgery.

Rhys Courtney, aged 22, was driving in close proximity to several other vehicles on the A52 near Bramcote when the collision occurred on the evening of 18 January last year.

Officers arrived at the scene at about 10pm and were immediately confronted with a serious collision involving three vehicles – one of which had been hit from behind and sent spinning off the carriageway.

The female passenger suffered a broken collarbone in the incident, while the male driver sustained significant bruising.

A dog travelling in the car also required veterinary treatment as a result of the crash.

Courtney was spoken to at the scene and was arrested nine days later.

During his police interview, he initially claimed to have been driving at around 60 or 70mph after deciding with a friend to “drive around the area aimlessly”.

Courtney was then confronted with damning mobile‑phone footage showing his silver Seat rapidly closing on the car in front before hitting it as he swerved to avoid it.

He then admitted to going “a bit fast” and claimed the incident had made him a more cautious driver.

Courtney, of Carlton, later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court he was jailed for 18 months. He was also banned from driving for two years and nine months. If he is to drive legally again, he will have to pass an extended re‑test when his ban expires.

Courtney appealed the sentence when it was imposed. That appeal has now been dismissed.

PC Pip Luxton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Courtney can consider himself fortunate not to have killed anyone with his reckless and dangerous behaviour.

“The victims in this incident were doing what the vast majority of road users do every single day – driving within the speed limit in a safe and sensible way.

“Their reward for that care and consideration was to be hit violently from behind by a man who chose to go out that night and drive dangerously and aggressively.

“I am pleased he has now been held to account.”

Inspector Usha Madara, district commander for Broxtowe, added: “As Courtney has discovered to his cost, the consequences of this kind of behaviour can be very serious indeed

“I hope what has happened to him acts as a warning to other young men about the consequences of such recklessness, stupidity, and disregard for the safety of other road users.”

Pen mightier than the sword for young Mapperley poet

An aspiring young performer from Mapperley is using the power of poetry to persuade his peers that being a pillar of the community is far better than chasing a misguided reputation as a “bad boy.”

Twenty-one-year-old Zion Payne, who wrote and performed a heartfelt spoken-word piece at a recent community event held by four of the UK’s largest charitable funders, hopes his creative flair can inspire young people to make positive life choices and for communities to step up and support them to take the right path.  

The gritty and thought-provoking piece stems from Zion’s reflections as a young adult, and his sadness that some vulnerable young people feel pressurised into carrying weapons, with a misplaced belief that they need to prove themselves as a ‘threat’ and represent for a gang.

Yet there is an underlying positive message of hope that by coming together, communities can support young people to aspire to a better life as a productive member of society.

Zion was given the opportunity to hone his creative talents at the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in Lowdham Street, St Ann’s, after being introduced to the youth facility several years ago by a family member.

CRS is one of a number of community organisations that was awarded multi-year funding as part of Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden’s Safer Nottinghamshire Together grants scheme in 2025. 

Under the mentorship of CEO Trevor Rose, Zion said he learnt to express himself and feel “comfortable being vulnerable,” giving him the opportunity to channel his energy into positive and creative outlets. 

Now – speaking out as part of the national knife crime week of action known as Sceptre - Zion hopes to inspire other young people with his creativity, which was showcased at a recent collaboration and insight event at CRS, held by the Youth Endowment Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need and Sport England.

Zion, an upcoming artist, said he was aware that some young people come to community and charity organisations like CRS when they are at a crossroads in life and may need support to stay away from harmful social influences.

 “I do appreciate everybody comes from different backgrounds. There’s nature and nurture,” he said. 

“The environment that some people are brought up in does have a great deal of influence on the way they act.

“Sometimes there’s a lot of pressures that people feel about having a bravado and living up to certain expectations that might be the wrong expectations.   

“A lot of young people care about reputations and being a ‘bad boy.’

 “This poem is about making people comfortable to be themselves and to prove to people that there is a different way of being a ‘bad boy’…  someone that’s respectful and polite and a pillar of the community, someone who can and will speak out and has the correct morals and values to be living by.”

Set up in 1991, CRS teaches film and video skills as well as music, giving youngsters access to professional equipment and key industry contacts.

The charity was founded by members of the local community who have first-hand experiences of the needs of young people growing up in the area.

Zion added: “In regards to the studio, some really important factors are the comfortability and creativity. It allows everybody to have a voice and allows you to be the best version of yourself.

“You don’t have to be afraid to be vulnerable there, and you can speak about really hard-hitting topics. It’s a great place to express and find purpose.

“I wrote the poem because I wanted to be an example for young people and show them we are all in the same space and you can use the guidance that I was given to do something positive.”

Zion praised his mentor, Trevor Rose, for giving him the opportunity to express himself at the studio and channel his energy in a positive way.

“Trev is probably one of the most influential men I have met in my life,” he said.

“I will forever be indebted to him for the positive influence he has had on my life.

“He has always given me the opportunity to express myself and have such great opportunities and feel like a pivotal part of the community.” 

PCC Godden paid tribute to Zion’s poetry and desire to be a positive role model.

“His poem is really powerful, thought-provoking and insightful,” he said.

“Zion is a perfect example of how young people can achieve great things when they are given opportunities and support from good role models like Trevor at CRS.

 “As PCC, one of my responsibilities is to work closely with partner agencies and the community to create a safer Nottinghamshire for all, and this demonstrates clearly the positive impact we can have when we come together – to stand up and make a difference and give our next generation a platform to thrive.”

Bowls club say they are 'down, but certainly not out'

Despite recently losing their home at the Richard Herrod Centre, members of Gedling & District Indoor Bowling Club are proving that while they may be down, they are certainly not out. 

The Club has expressed its sincere gratitude to South Forest Indoor Bowls Club and Nottingham Indoor Bowls Club for the exceptionally warmmwelcome extended to Gedling members following the loss of their long-standing home. 

The club say owners and members of South Forest, together with the Management Team and Bowls Committee at Nottingham, have worked tirelessly to enable Gedling members to continue enjoying summer leagues, social bowling, and competitive fixtures. This support has also enabled the Club to maintain its competitive presence by entering the national Fantastic Fives competition, while ensuring that Gedling & District Indoor Bowling Club can continue supporting the wider community through a sport that delivers significant physical, mental, and social wellbeing benefits to people of all ages and backgrounds. 

For many members, indoor bowls is far more than simply a sport — it provides friendship, routine, purpose, exercise, and valuable social connection, all of which play an important role in supporting health, wellbeing, and reducing social isolation within the community.

However, the Club also recognises that, despite these positive arrangements, a number of its members are currently unable to travel to the alternative venues due to personal circumstances, mobility challenges, or transport limitations. Ensuring that no member is left behind remains a key priority, and Gedling is actively exploring additional opportunities and creative solutions to support those bowlers

A spokesperson for the Club said:  “This has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging periods in our Club’s history, but the response from the wider bowling community, local partners, and some public bodies has been nothing short of inspirational. 

"South Forest and Nottingham have not simply opened their doors — they have opened their arms. The support we have also received from Nottinghamshire County Council and the English Indoor Bowling Association has given us real belief that Gedling still has a future. 

Just as importantly, this support means we can continue delivering the physical, mental, and social wellbeing benefits that bowls brings to so many people in our community. It is a sport with a proud heritage, (Richard Herrod Centre being the birthplace of Disability Bowls), recognised on the international stage through the Commonwealth Games, yet one that remains accessible to everyone at community level. 

They added: "Gedling may have lost its home, but it has not lost its spirit, its identity, or its determination. We are down… but we are certainly not out.” 

Website: https://www.gedlingibc.co.uk 

🌦️ Weather Update

☀️ Some patchy low cloud this morning that will break up to leave a dry day with plenty of sunshine. Feeling cooler than recent days. Tonight it will stay dry, but with patchy low cloud spreading inland from the coast. Some showers possible in the early hours of Thursday, perhaps heavy at times.

Any low cloud will quickly clear to leave a fine day on Thursday, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures increasing again.