DESPITE the UK being in a third lockdown, the justice system is continuing to process the most serious criminal cases. In south Essex, many cases have been heard at Basildon Crown Court, will other south Essex offenders have been sentenced elsewhere. Here is a rundown of the major cases from this week.
Annabelle Forbes Forbes was told numerous times by her friend and police officers to calm down as she was held down outside her home. Despite this, she ended up lashing out at an officer resulting in her arrest. Officers had gone to her home in Southend where they responded to reports of an altercation involving a knife.
The University of Reading has signed a deal to build a £200m film studio at its science park campus in Berkshire.
Los Angeles film studios investor Commonwealth Real Estate will lease the land and develop the site, which will be called Shinfield Studios.
A contractor has not yet been appointed to the job, but it is hoped it will be completed in late 2022, a statement from the university said.
It is the second major deal in the burgeoning studio-development sector in the past few weeks, with Barking and Dagenham Council agreeing a deal with Los Angeles investor Hackman Capital Partners in November to fund a studio build that will be called Eastbrook Studios London (pictured) .