Red Bull-loving thief jailed after string of thefts in Mapperley

A prolific thief has been sent back to prison after being caught stealing from businesses in Mapperley, with his trademark can of Red Bull once again featuring in the evidence against him.

Reece Wheat, 29, was spotted walking into a shop on Plains Road, Mapperley, carrying a can of the energy drink before helping himself to goods from the store.

But his crime spree was short-lived.

Just minutes later, officers from the Gedling neighbourhood policing team stopped Wheat nearby and quickly uncovered evidence linking him to not one, but two thefts in the area.

When challenged by officers, Wheat reportedly admitted: “I’ve nicked some crisps, that’s it.”

The snacks had already been eaten by the time police caught up with him at around 10.45pm on July 24. However, officers also found two bags for life nearby.

A search of the bags uncovered around £200 worth of stolen goods that had been taken from a bakery on Breck Hill Road in Mapperley.

The incident is the latest chapter in Wheat’s lengthy history of offending.

He had only recently been released from prison after serving part of a sentence for a series of commercial burglaries and thefts committed last year.

In a twist that almost sounds too familiar, Wheat was previously linked to two break-ins through DNA evidence recovered from discarded cans of Red Bull he had been seen drinking during the burglaries.

And when detectives reviewed CCTV from last week’s offences, they found him once again carrying the same energy drink while allegedly committing crimes.

Images shown to the court also captured Wheat carrying a bag of stolen bakery stock in one hand, with his Red Bull and crisps in the other.

Faced with the evidence, Wheat, of Borlace Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty to shop theft and handling stolen goods at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on July 27.

He was jailed for eight weeks.

Inspector Steve King of Nottinghamshire Police praised officers for their swift response in Mapperley, saying the team’s quick actions led to Wheat being detained, stolen goods being recovered and local businesses being protected from further losses.

He added that neighbourhood officers remain committed to supporting shops across the area and taking immediate action against repeat offenders targeting local businesses.

The recovered stock was returned after officers caught the thief red-handed just streets away from the businesses he had targeted in Mapperley.

More than 200 Nottinghamshire councillor roles to disappear in biggest local government shake-up for 50 years

The number of councillors across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be slashed by more than 200 members under the most significant shake-up in local government in 50 years.

In July, the Labour Government announced Nottinghamshire’s nine councils would be scrapped in favour of two new unitary authorities under its Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) plans.

Nottingham city’s boundaries will expand to absorb parts of Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe, while the remaining parts of these neighbouring boroughs will merge with Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield, Mansfield and Bassetlaw to form another, separate authority.

Existing councils had proposed three different options between them following often contentious debates, and it was Nottingham City Council’s plan that was chosen by the Government.

In a letter to councils on Thursday, July 30, Beatrice Andrews, the deputy director for LGR, revealed the two new authorities would be called the Greater Nottingham Council and the Nottinghamshire Council.

The letter says: “Your councils will remain responsible for services in your areas until they are abolished on April 1, 2028, and will be under a duty to co-operate with each other and with the new councils.

“The Order provides the transitional arrangements, with the core of that being elections to ‘shadow’ councils in 2027 and providing them with preparatory functions, including the preparation of budgets and plans, to enable the assumption of local government functions and powers on April 1, 2028.”

Under the plans, the number of councillors across the city, county and the existing boroughs and districts will be reduced from 408 to 198.

The new councils will have 99 councillors each.

Nottinghamshire Council will include Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, plus five wards from Broxtowe, four wards from Gedling and seven wards from Rushcliffe.

The Greater Nottingham Council will feature Nottingham, plus 15 wards from Broxtowe, 15 wards from Gedling and 17 wards from Rushcliffe.

Elections to the new councils are planned for May 2027.

One Implementation Team will be set up, and officers from all predecessor councils will be included, with the leader of the team being the Head of Paid Service of Nottinghamshire County Council, Adrian Smith.

Mr Smith will be supported by two deputy team leaders, each from a council within each new area.

In the Nottinghamshire unitary, the deputy team leader will be agreed locally from a district in the new unitary area, and for the Greater Nottingham unitary the deputy team leader will be from Nottingham City Council.

Tony McArdle, who acted as one of the Government-appointed commissioners overseeing improvements at Nottingham City Council after it declared what was effectively bankruptcy in 2023, has been appointed as sector advisor, working as an “independent critical friend” during the transition.

Nottinghamshire will be receiving a total of £1.8 million from the Government for transition costs – £900,000 per new council.

This money will help fund early arrangements for children’s and adult social care, cyber security and IT equipment.

Councils have also been promised £150,000 extra per new council to help with social care arrangements in the set-up period, but the Government says the distribution of this has not yet been decided.

Some council leaders are looking at a possible legal review of the process, having raised concerns.

By Joe Locker (Local Democracy Reporter)

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No Hosepipe Ban Yet — But Severn Trent Calls for Smarter Water Use

Severn Trent says it doesn’t want to be “killjoys” by issuing a hosepipe ban – but is advising people to use water wisely.

A drought has officially been declared in seven areas of England, including the West Midlands. This, the Environment Agency says, has been brought by a combination of very low rainfall and warm temperatures.

The UK is set to have its driest July on record, which follows the warmest June.

Several water companies have issued temporary hosepipe bans, including Thames Water, South East Water, and Southern Water.

However, Severn Trent – which supplies water to over eight million customers from mid-Wales to Rutland, and from the Humber to the Bristol Channel – said it is not in a position to do likewise.

“We’ve not had a hosepipe ban in our area for 30 years,” said Gareth Mead, river rangers manager at Severn Trent.

“We don’t want to have one and be killjoys and be the Grinch of summer.

“It’s a case of use your water wisely and sparingly. There are areas of concern that are trigger levels, and we’re keeping our eye on an area in Staffordshire.

“The big users of water are things like sprinklers and hosepipes, so we’d ask people not to use them as much.

“It’s simple things. Like stack your dishwasher – make sure it’s full. When you have got surplus water, use it from the sink to water your plants.”

Mr Mead was talking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury.

He said climate change is concerning many organisations and industries.

“We’re carefully monitoring it and are constantly reviewing our plans,” said Mr Mead.

“This is our third hot weather period. The river is as low as I’ve seen it, and I’ve been looking at it for a few years.”

By Paul Rogers (Local Democracy Reporter)

💬 What you're talking about...

Councillor Sam Smith has called for a halt to a £30 million 'white elephant' project that would see both the Carlton Forum and Richard Herrod centres being knocked down to create a new leisure centre...

Peter Scoffings: The new centre will still be used by people in Gedling and from across Nottingham and I really don't see the problem with it becoming part of a new Nottingham conurbation authority. And a new eight-lane pool will be a fantastic addition and certainly not a white elephant.

Will Sharman: It's like they didn't really have a proper plan before the closing took place, just some nice ideas of soft play ideas and Unicorn rides. It will be houses in 10 years with a " green " bit where the huge water tank was installed.

Colin Porter: Yet again some councillor trying make himself look good and justify his position by opposing demolition. Where was Sam Smith months ago or when it was first being discussed in council meetings? It's too little too late now. I don;t understand why is will apparently take nearly four months to demolish.

Jenny Higgins: Nobody disputes that a modern facility can be a positive thing. The issue is that it comes at the cost of removing the borough's only indoor bowls facility, with no replacement. Hundreds of residents have lost a sport they could access locally, including many older people and disabled participants who benefited physically, mentally and socially.

Ruth Strong: It's a shame that having a bandwagon to jump on means failure to realise the benefits for the many and the future with a purpose built and modern facility with more facilities than the crumbling wreck it replaces

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🌤️ Weather update

Your borough weather forecast for the next few days...

TODAY: ☀️ After a cooler, fresher start than of late, Friday will be a mostly dry day with plenty of sunny spells. Winds will be generally light and it will feel pleasantly warm in the sunshine. A dry night will follow for all with clear spells and generally light winds. Feeling rather cool and fresh once again. Minimum temperature 6 °C.

SATURDAY: 🌦️ Winds remaining generally light with plenty of sunny spells. An isolated light shower is possible, but most staying dry. Feeling pleasant in the sunshine.

SUNDAY: Mostly dry with sunny spells on Sunday. Some rain or thundery showers possible.

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