Suspect appears in court over Mapperley house burglaries

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💍 Man appears in court following jewellery thefts in Mapperley

A man has this week appeared in court after a vast amount of jewellery was stolen during house burglaries in Mapperley. 

Police carried out inquiries, including checking CCTV footage, after reports of two break-ins which happened in the Spring Lane area, on March 6 and 27, 2026. 

Further inquiries led to a suspect being arrested in the Hucknall area in connection with the incidents. 

Jesse Blacknell, aged 39, of Chatsworth Drive, Hucknall, was subsequently charged with two counts of burglary. 

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (7) and was remanded on conditional bail until his next appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on May 5, 2026. 

PC David Williams, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We understand the significant impact that burglary can have on victims.

"That’s why the force treats all burglary reports very seriously and continues to work hard to prevent and reduce these types of crimes as well as supporting victims. 

"As shown in this instance, we will investigate reports and relentlessly pursue those believed to be responsible for this sort of upsetting criminality in our communities.”

🏪 Shop plans for Arnold pub

Plans have been submitted to Gedling Borough Council seeking permission to turn a pub in Arnold into a shop.

Documents submitted to the council this week outline a proposed change to the use of The Eagle, in Howbeck Road, which is listed as currently vacant.

The application would only change the ground floor of the building into a commercial premises, leaving a residential unit on the upper floor "unaffected".

A date on when a decision will be reviewed has yet to be confirmed.

⚠️ Heads up...

🌤️ Weather: There will be brighter spells likely at first, and it will soon feel warm in any sunshine. Cloud then thickens late morning, with outbreaks of rain during the afternoon. Turning colder, breezy with occasional showers later. Tonight it will be cloudy with occasional showers at first becoming more settled overnight and partly cloudy at times, with easing winds and feeling cooler with mist and fog patches possible.

There will be a chilly start to Friday then sunny intervals. Cloud will thicken later with a band of rain spreading through the borough. the wind will gradually increase overnight.

🦮 Birds Bakery announces two-year partnership with pawsome charity

Birds Bakery has announced a two-year fundraising partnership with Canine Partners, a charity based in the East Midlands who support and train assistance dogs to help transform the lives of disabled people.

Birds, which has bakeries in Arnold and Stoke Bardolph, will donate 20p from every sale of its popular dog bone biscuits, available across all stores.

The money raised will support the specialist two-year training process for each assistance dog, during which they learn to support with essential daily tasks, from opening doors to loading washing machines. 

Assistance dogs make a life-changing difference for their owners, helping them to gain independence and live their lives to the fullest. 

Shelley, from Bedfordshire, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, was matched with her first assistance dog Kibble in 2014.  After Kibble retired, she was partnered with Meikle in 2024. 

She said: “It gave me my independence back. I was never on my own. Things turned dark after my first dog retired, but when my new partner Meikle arrived, I felt like the lights came back on.”

Canine Partners currently operates with a full waiting list and no government funding. This partnership will help the charity expand its presence across the East Midlands and help those in need. 

Lesley Bird, director of Birds, said: “Canine Partners trains incredible assistance dogs who transform the lives of people with various disabilities, helping them with greater independence and enabling them to live fuller and happier lives.

“With the Training Centre based right here in the East Midlands, continuing to support a local organisation making such a meaningful impact felt like the perfect fit for Birds."

For more information about the work being done by Canine Partners, visit https://caninepartners.org.uk/