Train journeys on Govia Thameslink were down 80% from March last year due to the pandemic.

It is as train usage across Britain fell to its lowest levels since 1872 when records began.

Despite the drop, recent estimates by the Department for Transport show journeys by train have recovered to around 45% of pre-covid levels.

Graham Richards, Director of Planning and Performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said:
“This unprecedented fall in passenger numbers, the lowest annual fall since the time series began, has clearly had an impact on both rail usage and ticketing revenue.

“ORR continues to work closely to support industry and help passengers back on to the railway safely.”

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A man has been jailed for three years after a car crash which left another man paralysed.

Alexandru Ifteni, from Farnborough, was driving without a valid licence and under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his white van into another car on Pebble Hill in Betchworth in April last year.

The other driver had to be removed from their car by firefighters and was rushed to hospital, but was left paralysed from the chest down.

Ifteni, who also had cocaine in his system at the time of the crash, was sentenced to three years in prison at Guildford Crown Court on Friday. He was also disqualified from driving for 78 months.

Stuart Bonner from Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The injuries which the victim sustained in this collision were horrific.

“Ifteni put lives at risk by getting behind the wheel that day without a valid licence and whilst being over the legal limit. Anyone driving dangerously especially with alcohol and drugs in their system should be aware of the serious life-changing implications their selfish actions may have.”

Ifteni, 33, of Aldwick Close, Farnborough, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

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Con artists stole a valuable coin collection, jewellery, a passport and thousands of pounds in cash during two incidents in Crawley.

The victims, a man in his sixties and a woman in her nineties, were both approached by men claiming to be checking for drainage problems or water leaks. They let the men into their homes, only to later discover they had been robbed.

Police have not currently established a link between the two incidents but have warned residents to be on their guard.

In the first case, two men called at the address of a man in his late sixties in Vanbrugh Close, Bewbush, on Tuesday 18 May. They said they were from the council and were checking for water leaks. They were in the house for some time and after they left the man found that a valuable coin collection had been taken.

Sussex Police said both men were described as white with accents that were “not local to the area”, wearing Hi-Vis yellow jackets, medical masks and black baseball caps.

In the second incident, on the following day, a man described as of “southern European appearance and accent”, with short black hair, wearing medical mask, a grey jumper with motif on the front, and blue jeans, called at an address in Garrick Walk, Tilgate, saying he was checking for a drainage problem.

After he left the resident, a woman in her nineties, realised that a small safe containing several thousand pounds cash had been taken, as well as two sapphire rings, some saving books and a passport. However the books and passport were later found abandoned in Southwater.

PC Matt Hollingdale of Crawley CID said; “If you were in those areas on 18 or 19 May and saw any suspicious activity, or if you have had similar callers recently, please contact us either online (link will be added) or by calling 101, quoting serials 554 of 18/05 or 932 of 19/05.

There are a also number of specific ways you can prevent distraction burglary. Always remember “if in doubt, keep them out”.

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