Hull Online

04/12/2024

£4 MILLION BOOST FOR NEWLAND AVENUE AREA

A bumper £4m of investment is set to be injected into the streets around Newland Avenue starting in late 2025 with housing improvements as part of Hull City Council's 'Priority Streets' programme.

Works are expected to take place over a period of three years, the work including rejuvenating property frontages, drainage and communal footways

Read more on Hull Live.

The Priority Streets programme identifies areas which would substantially benefit from regeneration works

03/12/2024

Rubén Sellés rumoured to be the next Hull City Manager

As Hull City search for their new manager after parting company with Tim Walter, rumours circulate that the club is poised to offer the position to the current Reading head coach

Rubén Sellés, born on June 15, 1983, in Valencia, Spain, is a talented football manager currently at the helm of Reading F.C., competing in League One. With a strong foundation in coaching, Sellés began his journey in football at a young age, starting as a youth coach at Parreta CF when he was just 16. He went on to gain extensive experience across various countries, including Greece, Russia, Azerbaijan, Spain, Denmark, and England, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in different football cultures.

Coaching Journey

Sellés’ coaching career took off in earnest with his involvement at the University of Valencia, where he led the football team to promotion. He then transitioned to professional coaching, taking on roles in clubs such as Aris Thessaloniki and Villarreal, where he initially served as a fitness coach. His journey continued as he worked in assistant roles at various teams, including Shinnik Yaroslavl in Russia and Aarhus in Denmark, where he contributed significantly to team performance as both a coach and analyst.

Southampton Experience

In June 2022, Sellés joined Southampton F.C. as an assistant manager. Following the dismissal of Ralph Hasenhüttl in November 2022, he briefly took charge as caretaker, managing the team for one match before Nathan Jones was appointed. After another managerial change, Sellés again assumed caretaker responsibilities in February 2023, achieving a notable victory against Chelsea. He was officially appointed as Southampton's head coach until the end of the 2022-23 season, ultimately overseeing the team during a challenging period that resulted in relegation to the EFL Championship.

Current Role at Reading F.C.

Sellés moved to Reading F.C. in June 2023, signing a contract until 2026. Under his leadership, the club aims to progress in League One and return to its former glory. His approach emphasizes an attacking style of play, notably employing a 4-3-3 formation that reflects his philosophy of fluid and dynamic football.

Conclusion

Rubén Sellés represents a new generation of football managers, blending tactical acumen with practical experience gained from diverse environments. As he continues to mold Reading F.C., the football community is keenly observing his potential to make a significant impact in the English leagues. With his rich background and commitment to developing young talent, Sellés is undoubtedly a manager to watch in the coming years.

Could he be the man to stabilise the struggling Tigers and lead them to safety before challenging for a return the Premier League?

03/12/2024

FLY TIPPING CRACKDOWN IN HULL

With a zero tolerance approach, Hull City Council has issued hefty £1,000 fines to offenders caught illegally dumping waste. It's a mess that not only hurts our environment but is also a health hazard.

So far, the significant fines have been issued against illicit tipping of household waste, and discarded furniture

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The penalties were handed out following three fly-tipping incidents in Hull.

03/12/2024

Beverley Christmas Festival Cancels Reindeer Parade Due to Bluetongue Disease Restrictions

The Beverley Festival of Christmas in East Yorkshire has cancelled its reindeer parade due to bluetongue disease restrictions, as the town falls within a restriction zone for the virus. Originally, Cairngorm reindeer were set to participate in the parade, but the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, following direction from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, was forced to cancel their appearance. Despite this change, the festival will still feature a live ice carving sculpture and over 125 stalls, with Santa Claus present to spread holiday cheer. Bluetongue disease affects livestock but poses no risk to humans or food safety.

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The animals have been axed from the Beverley Festival of Christmas as the East Yorkshire market town is in a restriction zone for the virus.

03/12/2024

Drug Trafficker Ordered to Repay Nearly £2 Million in Proceeds of Crime Crackdown

Drug dealer Richard Batty, 39, from Withernwick, has been ordered to repay nearly £2 million under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Batty, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, was found to have profited approximately £1.9 million from his criminal activities.

A man who was sentenced to 12-years in prison for the conspiracy of supplying Class A drugs between April and August 2020, has been ordered to pay back nearly £2 million pounds under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Richard Batty, 39, from Church Lane, Withernwick, was arrested in August 2020 for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The investigation was part of the National Crime Agency’s “Operation Venetic”, a major international operation targeting organised crime groups that used the encrypted messaging service ‘EncroChat’ to conduct illegal business.

Between April and August 2020, Batty was involved in conversations about receiving shipments of drugs, with one delivery taking place in June 2020. On that occasion, 41 kilograms of co***ne, worth around £4.1 million pounds, were brought into the force area.

Batty was sent images of five 1kg blocks of co***ne, branded with the designer labels ‘Prada’ and ‘GVY,’ and a price offered of £37,500. These were later seized during an interception on the M62. During a search of Batty’s address, a 10-tonne hydraulic press, used for pressing co***ne, was seized.

Batty appeared at Hull Crown Court on Friday 30 June 2023, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs and was sentenced to 12-years in prison. Another man was also charged in connection with the investigation and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Officers from our Asset Recovery Team then began seeking a confiscation order against Mr Batty’s property, which was believed to have been built using the proceeds of his criminal activities.

Last week, Thursday 28 November, a confiscation hearing was held at Hull Crown Court which identified that Mr Batty had netted around £1.9 million pounds from his criminal activity. Mr Batty is now required to pay back approximately £375,000 through assets currently owned by him. This includes a house, cars, money in bank accounts and high value items. The outstanding amount of money from the £1.9 million pounds will remain a lifetime time debt for Mr Batty.

Detective Inspector Jim Clarke from our Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “My team welcome this finding against Batty which demonstrates that a life of crime doesn’t pay.

“Not only do we seek to prosecute those who are involved in serious organised crime within our communities, we will go on to relentlessly pursue all profits made through criminality to ensure assets and illicit finance are recovered.”