Crosspool man jailed for haul of disguised tasers

Matthew Bandoo of Lydgate Hall Crescent
Matthew Bandoo of Lydgate Hall Crescent

A man living on Lydgate Hall Crescent has been jailed after police found more than a hundred tasers and CS gas canisters disguised as mobile phones, torches and lipsticks.

Former doorman Matthew Bandoo was identified by police after a package from China was traced to his home address.

When officers searched his home address in Lydgate Hall Crescent, Crosspool, Sheffield, they recovered the parcel which, according to the customs declaration, contained flashlights.

However, inside the box was actually 52 tasers and 50 CS gas canisters which are both classed as banned weapons. The gas canisters looked like lipsticks and the tasers were disguised as mobile phones and torches.

A further four tasers and one gas canister were found in the house and police also recovered a quantity of Mephadrone – a class B drug known as MKAT.

Bandoo, 29, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday 12 February where he pleaded guilty to possession of disguised firearms, possession of prohibited articles and possession of a class B drug. He was sentenced to five years for the crimes.

Detective Constable Bradley Ward said: “This was an unusual case in which these dangerous weapons had been made to look like everyday objects, concealing the potentially life-changing damage they could do.

“It still remains unclear as to what Bandoo aimed to do with more than 100 tasers and CS gas canisters but a trawl of his computer’s history was found to contain searches for stun guns, hidden stun guns and pepper spray.

“Thankfully the swift actions of colleagues in the UK Border Agency, and local officers, meant the items have been recovered and Bandoo is now rightly facing a lengthy time in jail.”

The disguised devices
The disguised devices

Dransfield Road collision: police appeal for witnesses

Dransfield Road
The police would like to hear from anyone in the Dransfield Road area yesterday between 5pm and 6pm

Police are appealing for witnesses after a traffic collision in Crosspool left an elderly pedestrian in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A red VW Polo was travelling in Dransfield Road away from Watt Lane around 5.10pm on Thursday 13 February when it collided with an 86-year-old man who was crossing the road.

The pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. The driver of the VW, a 93-year-old man, was not injured.

Officers want to hear from anyone in the Dransfield Road area between 5pm and 6pm on 13 February 2014. Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 858 of 13 February 2014.

Cooking course for men at St Columba’s

Men's Magnificent Meals course
Men’s Magnificent Meals course

A new six-week course that will teach men how to cook a tasty, healthy meal using fresh ingredients is starting next month in Crosspool.

Men’s Magnificent Meals takes place at St. Columba’s Church Hall on Fridays from 28 February 2014. Sessions are taught by an experienced and qualified tutor and run from 10.30am-12.30pm. No previous cooking experience is necessary.

The course costs £42/£21 (you choose what you pay). Pre booking is essential: ring Kate in the St Columba’s Parish Office on 0114 267 0006 or email st.columbas@hotmail.co.uk.

A similar course which ran in 2013 was a success.

Men's Magnificent Meals course
Men’s Magnificent Meals course

Watch found on Manchester Road; keys found in Rivelin Valley

Rivelin Valley
Rivelin Valley

Have you lost a bunch of keys in Rivelin Valley?

On Sunday 19 January, a set was found on a muddy Rivelin Valley path near Hagg Lane parking area. The keys include one door and one car key.

If you think they might be yours, call 0114 229 5670.

Meanwhile, a watch was also found on the stretch of Manchester Road between Barnfield Road and the Sportsman on Sunday.

If you think it might be yours, call 07713 687 955.

Residents question deputy PM at Clegg Crosspool Q&A

Residents question deputy PM at Nick Clegg at his Crosspool Q&A
Residents question deputy PM at Nick Clegg on Friday

On Friday evening (13 December) deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg held a constituency question and answer session at St. Columba’s church in Crosspool.

Chaired by Councillor Rob frost, nearly 90 local residents attended the meeting, which lasted just over an hour. Questions covered subjects including the national rise in food banks, flood defence zoning issues and the rankings of Lydgate Junior and Infant schools.

About a dozen Tapton School students were present with their teacher. Their questions covered tuition fees, and poor election turnout and political disillusionment among 18-25 year-olds.

Other topics included the recent gagging bill, and political disillusionment
with middle-aged voters – it seems that politics isn’t flavour of the month.

Things then got rather animated when a discussion about the banking crisis of five years ago caused considerable disagreement amongst several of those attending.

Closing questions covered Eric Pickles’ Public Development Act, politicians’ blaming tactics – which is unlikely to ever go away – and the criticism that the European Union has recently come in for. The deputy prime minister took the opportunity to reinforce his party’s support for the EU.

Thanks to John Holliday for this report.

Reward offered for safe return of pet hen

Cream Legbar hen
Have you seen this Cream Legbar hen?

The owners of a distinctive hen are offering a reward for her safe return following its theft from local allotments.

A pet Cream Legbar hen – which lays distinctive blue eggs – was stolen from Hagg Lane allotments between 7pm on Tuesday 3 December and 10.30am on Wednesday 4 December.

Tools were used to break into the shed and hen run. The other hens were left frightened in the run, even though the door had been left wedged open with a large stone. The incident has been reported to the police.

If anyone knows anything about the hen then please get in touch with the owners by emailing info@tonicannelli.com. A reward has been offered for her safe return.

A57 Manchester Road reopens

Temporary traffic signals on Manchester Road
Temporary traffic signals on Manchester Road

The A57 at Crosspool reopened on Monday lunchtime to single lane traffic after three weeks of maintenance work.

The road was closed in both directions from Hagg Lane and Coldwell Lane to the junction of Rivelin Valley Road at the beginning of November. The closure was to allow major repairs to be carried out following a landslip.

Andrew Harley, Construction Manager at Amey who are carrying out the work as part of the Streets Ahead project, said: “We’ve dug deep under the road to replace a damaged drain and to dig out more than 700 tonnes of clay and rock and install supports to help prevent further land movement.

“We are now ready to make further repairs on the upper embankment and plan to have the rest of the work finished and the road fully reopened by the end of January.”

The Bamford bus is also now running as normal once again.

Winter 2013 Crosspool Clarion out soon

The new issue of the Crosspool Clarion will soon be landing on your doormat. If you can’t wait, then download and read a PDF of it below.

Download current issue: Autumn 2013, volume 12, issue 4 (PDF, 839KB)

Crosspool Clarion Autumn 2013, volume 12, issue 4
Download Crosspool Clarion Autumn 2013, volume 12, issue 4 (PDF, 839KB)
  • All change at Artisan
  • Library closures
  • Letter box
  • St Columba’s community lunch club
  • Tapton Hill centenary year
  • Sheffield Steelers Lacrosse Club
  • Provision of school places
  • Computer courses
  • Be a green dog owner
  • Renovation donation
  • Hillside Harvest summer report
  • The Chappil’s Christmas tea
  • Do I really need to make a will?
  • Crosspool WI coffee morning
  • Meeting minutes
  • Forum Chairman’s report

Download current issue: Autumn 2013, volume 12, issue 4 (PDF, 839KB)

The Crosspool Clarion is the official newsletter of Crospool Forum. It is a free, quarterly publication, with over 2,500 copies delivered to local households.

Some back issues of past editions of the Crosspool Clarion are also available to download.

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