The boss of a West Sussex firm behind more than half-a-million spam texts a day has been banned as a company director.
Leanne Richardson from Horsham, ran ESL Consultancy Services Ltd, which hired another business to send the messages to customers.
The 44-year-old’s company promoted high-interest loans through the messages – sending over 500,000 a day from September 2022 to December 2023, nearly prompting 38,000 complaints.
Her ban started on Tuesday.
Horley High Street will be closed to through traffic for about five months for roadworks, Surrey Highways says.
The works from 8 June will involve the repaving of the High Street and the resurfacing of Albert Road as part of a £3m project.
The resurfacing on Albert Road is expected to take approximately three weeks, and it will then reopen to delivery vehicles only.
Sunday Brunch features soundbites from the ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast latest episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right) or join the conversation in our Facebook Group HERE.
Special Guest: Keith Collyer, Crawley Combat Academy and Shariff Boolaky, Menshare Listening Group. Plus Roundtable Featuring: Maureen Jones, Micaela Leal, Abigail Chapman-Miller & Iqbal Khan. Host: Clive Hilton.
A knife doesn’t just threaten one person, it detonates consequences across families, schools, and whole streets. We sit down to talk honestly about knife crime, why the fear of being attacked pushes some young people to carry blades, and why places like Crawley feel the pressure so sharply. Along the way we challenge the comforting myths, including the idea that it is only “gang stuff” or that it can be solved with one slogan.
Keith Collyer from Crawley Combat Academy explains what real-world knife awareness looks like: spotting pre-attack indicators, managing distance, moving with purpose, and escaping rather than trying to win a fight. We also hear personal stories of being stabbed, surviving threats, and the numb shock that hits even when you think you know what to do. The conversation keeps returning to trauma and the ripple effect, and why counselling and support are vital for victims and families who are left carrying it for years.
We then zoom out to prevention: county lines, youth violence, easy access to kitchen knives, parenting awareness, and the debate around policing, stop and search, and deterrence. Abigail Chapman-Miller shares what it means when youth services disappear and you only qualify for help after you’ve been convicted, while Shariff Boolaky from Menshare Listening Group talks about education, responsibility, and creating routes out for young people who feel trapped by their environment.
Surrey police are appealing for the public’s help to find the owner of these pieces of jewellery, which we believe were likely stolen between 19 and 24 April.
At this stage, it’s not known where these items have come from but they could be from Weybridge or anywhere across Surrey and surrounding counties.
If you recognise this jewellery, or know someone who has been a victim of a burglary – please contact us quoting PR/45260047438.
As the soaring temperatures continue to rise West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are asking people to stay vigilant when you’re out enjoying the countryside.
The risk of wildfires is increased at this time of year, and people are being urged to avoid any activities which could trigger them.
The advice is to properly dispose of cigarettes and to only have fires or barbecues in designated safe areas, while disposable barbecues should be avoided altogether.
Photo Credit: David Green