News 18 February to 24 February
 Jaywick: Man guilty over death of Esther Martin
Ashley Warren has been convicted over the death of 68‑year‑old Esther Martin, who was fatally injured by two XL Bully dogs at a property in Hillman Avenue, Jaywick, on 3 February 2024.
Warren had left Esther alone to look after the dogs and their eight puppies while he was in London. The court heard the dogs were large, difficult to control, kept in poor conditions, and that Warren did not hold the required exemption certificates under new XL Bully legislation.
He was found guilty of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing death and possession of a knife, but not guilty of being in charge of the dogs at the time. Sentencing is due on 1 April at Chelmsford Crown Court.
 Clacton: Drug‑dealing duo sentenced after shop used to hide cocaine and cannabis
A father and son who used a Clacton second-hand furniture business as a front for illegal drug supply have been sentenced following years of investigative work by our officers.
Darren Simmons, 58, led the operation as a committed supplier of large quantities of Class A, B and C drugs.
He used his business, Simmons and Sons, in Old Road, to store drugs and facilitate supply.
Arrests were made and drugs were seized across several intensive searches at the shop and at addresses linked to Darren Simmons and his son, 30-year-old Charlie Simmons, who was involved in his father’s cocaine supply operation.
 Scam & Rogue Trader Awareness Event at Manningtree Library
Tammy, Essex Police Fraud Prevention Coordinator for the Tendring district, teamed up with Paul from Suffolk Trading Standards for a Scam and Rogue Trader awareness event at Manningtree Library.
Together they sparked some great conversations with residents, tackled plenty of insightful questions, and were met with a warm welcome from the local community.
 Community Engagement & Speed Checks in Alresford
On Sunday 22 February, Julia the Alresford police community support officer spent time engaging with residents, including meeting with the 'Friends of the Station' volunteer clean‑up group.
During the patrol, speed checks were completed across the village. A total of 13 motorists were recorded exceeding the speed limit, with the highest speed recorded at 38mph.
This activity forms part of ongoing work to support community safety and maintain safe driving standards in the area.
 Arrests Made After Cannabis Cultivation Discovered in Brightlingsea
Two people have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the cultivation and supply of cannabis in Brightlingsea.
Officers from the Tendring Neighbourhood Policing Team executed a warrant on Thursday 19 February at an address in Church Road. Inside the property, officers discovered almost 50 cannabis plants, with an estimated value of at least £25,000. Electricity had also been illegally bypassed to support the growing setup, posing a significant fire risk.
All plants and associated equipment have been seized.
A 67‑year‑old man and a 61‑year‑old woman were arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis, being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug and abstracting electricity. Both have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
Sergeant Wendy Crowson, of the Tendring Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“The supply of any illicit drug is not a harmless crime, and we will work determinedly to tackle it. We rely on the public placing trust in us and sharing information—when concerns are reported, we will always act where it is appropriate to do so.”
 January 2026 – Roads of Essex Summary
January presented significant challenges on Essex’s roads, highlighting the continued importance of road safety and proactive enforcement.
Across the month, five people tragically lost their lives in traffic collisions and 60 sustained serious injuries. Essex Police, working alongside Safer Essex partners, carried out targeted enforcement to address key risk factors, including:
- 141 mobile phone offences
- 98 drink‑drive arrests and 228 drug‑drive arrests
- 167 seatbelt offences
- 545 uninsured vehicles seized
- 356 careless driving prosecutions
- 265 total arrests by Roads Policing teams
Education and public engagement also played a vital role, with 8,687 road safety courses delivered, 426 Community Speed Watch warning letters issued, and 368 Extra Eyes submissions received from the public.
These efforts emphasise the combined impact of enforcement, education, and community involvement in reducing harm on our roads. As 2026 progresses, agencies remain committed to preventing collisions and ensuring safer travel for all road users.
More information is available at www.saferessexroads.org
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