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A THAME man has been found guilty of Sexual Assault against a 13 year-old girl.
The 25 year-old Thame man, who is currently the subject of a Community Order associated with an alcohol dependency problem, committed the offence in July last year (2004) in the Churchill Crescent play area in the town.
Witnesses told the court that they saw the man drinking cans of lager under a tree in the area, with a baseball bat by his side. After a while, they said, he walked over to them staggering as if drunk, with the bat in his hand. Several of the witnesses told how he stroked their friend?s thigh for several minutes whilst asking her to go off with him, and how she appeared to be very frightened.
The case was tried in the absence of the offender who failed to turn up for the hearing, having sent a message that he was receiving hospital treatment. A medical certificate was received by the deadline (last Friday, July 1) set by the judge, who extended the offender?s Bail to August 5, when he is expected to be sentenced.

PLANS to demolish a house in historic Priest End, Thame, and replace it with seven modern flats, have been turned down by South Oxfordshire District Council.
The district council kicked out the plans, which were the subject of much local opposition, because, it said: “?having regard to the size, bulk and massing of the proposed flats, to the extensive car parking area and to the location of the site adjacent to open, unspoilt semi rural land, the proposal would constitute an overdevelopment of a highly sensitive site and would appear unacceptably prominent and incongruous in the street scene.”
Both Thame Town Council and the local Conservation Area Advice Committee had objected to the plans.

THE future of the Post Office in Park Street, Thame, is uncertain, following the granting of planning permission to turn the building into a residential property.
The current owners, Mr and Mrs Odd, have placed the property on the market because, they say, the viability of the post office business as it is, is reducing whilst the overheads continue to go up and up.
Until they find a buyer, it is not yet known when or if the Post Office will close.
The deputy mayor of Thame, Cllr David Dodds, has put on record that he and the rest of the town council would regret the loss of this vital service for the people of Thame.

THE 2004-2005 trading results for the Oxfam Book shop in the Cornmarket, show more local residents than ever are spending there.
According to the shop manager, Dick Jennens, this is further evidence of a shift in local consumer attitudes towards conscience shopping which reflects a nationwide trend bucking that of High Streets nationwide.

As a result of higher sales, income from the shop increased to over

THAME Leisure Centre is offering free public swimming sessions for children this summer who enrol for swimming lessons at the Jubilee Pool.
Enrolments are now being taken for the next set of 10 weeks, which start on August 1, at the pool, which is funded by Thame Town Council.
In a statement today, the centre states that it “provides structured lessons either within a group or as a private lessons operating to the Amateur Swimming Association?s (ASA) range of skills and proficiency. Courses run continuously throughout the year offering maximum opportunities for children and adults to learn to swim.
There is never a bad time to start because the younger your child, the quicker they will adapt to water. Babies as young as 6 months old can be taught the basic skills to save themselves in water. And of course, it is never too late to learn to swim, whatever your age.”

Di Boulton, General Manager at Thame Leisure Centre, said: “You really just can’t beat swimming as a form of fun exercise; Aerobically working your heart and improving cardio strength, (promoting weight loss), and not to mention the all around physical strength from water resistance. It’s a good environment for stretches difficult on land, and most of all it feels good, it’s sociable, refreshing and saves lives!”