I heard somewhere that serial canal boat burglar/thief Anthony Finch is out of jail and back in his niche habitat of the canals. Anyone know about this?
When Finch was sent down early last year I called the Northamptonshire probation service, trying to find out who was dealing with his case and what boaters could learn about him. I learned his case was being dealt with by Denise Meylan, Assist Chief Officer of the Northants Probation Service, on 01604 658000. Meylan's PA said I should put something in writing to her (email was OK: denise.meylan@northamptonshire
I sent an email, but it was immediately bounced back saying 'domain not found'. And I forgot to follow it up further, dammit.
Now that I've heard reports of burglaries on the towpath again, I'll try to pursue it again. But Denise Meylan seems to be the right person to chase. She's part of something called the Rose Project:
...presently working with 91 of Northamptonshire’s persistent and priority offenders (PPOs) who between them have stacked up drug-related crimes costing individuals and households millions of pounds. The multi-agency scheme is designed to cut volume crime by dealing individually with prolific offenders and the reasons they commit crime.
She said last year:
We really have to stop this revolving door where the same people keep on offending again and again. We have drawn together a number of case studies which I think clearly show a constructive but tough approach to dealing with those offenders whose lifestyle is that of committing crime to buy drugs. The work we do is geared to helping these individuals break free from drugs and break free from a life of crime.
She put together this Powerpoint presentation explaining the Rose Project. I've looked at it, and I think that watching is part of the victim's punishment!
I asked on the canals list, and was told:
"He was spotted between Braunston and Watford on the day before the SOW protest"
so yes, he's out and about. Lock up your boats in the Braunston/Napton/Watford/Weedon area!
Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Napier | Monday, 14 May 2007 at 04:25 PM
Didn't think Finchy did drugs, actually - he seems to go for whisky, food and torch batteries, mainly
Cheers Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Napier | Wednesday, 09 May 2007 at 04:32 PM
Thass like having teeth pulled. Reminds me of tv newscast today where one of a pair reads a short sentence then tother reads the next, its like ping-pong, drives me up the wall.
Posted by: Geoff Ellis | Wednesday, 09 May 2007 at 02:31 PM