In the know

Local News

Following the attack at Bondi Beach in Australia this weekend, our thoughts continue to be with the victims and all those affected. We know this attack has caused heightened concerns around the world about safety at religious gatherings and particularly within the Jewish community. Whilst there is currently no indication of an increased threat in Surrey, we are reaching out to all our religious communities and increasing patrols around synagogues and religious events.

Local Officer Launch Business Watch Scheme in Virginia Water 

Local neighbourhood community officer Naz SVYNTAKH have recently launched a Business Watch Scheme, aimed at strengthening partnerships between police and local businesses and reducing crime across the area. The initiative has been set up by local officer in response to concerns raised by business owners around theft, anti-social behaviour, and suspicious activity affecting the high street and surrounding commercial areas.  Business Watch provides a clear and effective platform for businesses to work together, share information, and receive timely crime prevention advice. Through the scheme, participating businesses are encouraged to report incidents promptly via normal channel, share descriptions of suspects, and highlight emerging patterns of offending.  This collective approach allows officers to identify trends more quickly and deploy targeted patrols where they are most needed. Local officers are also using Business Watch meetings to provide practical guidance on crime prevention measures, including staff safety, use of CCTV, and effective store layout to deter theft, improves communication, and ensures businesses feel supported. As part of ongoing engagement with the community, Naz has also arranged a Meet the Beat session, which will be held at Christ Church, Virginia Water on Wednesday 28 January between 9.30am and 10.30am, with additional dates to be confirmed. The session will provide an opportunity for local businesses and residents to meet their neighbourhood officers, raise concerns, and receive crime prevention advice. A neighbourhood policing community officer Naz involved in the scheme said: 

“Business Watch is about working together. By sharing information and keeping communication open, we can prevent crime, identify offenders faster, and make Virginia Water a safer place for everyone”. 

The Business Watch Scheme continues to grow, with more local businesses encouraged to take part. Officers hope this initiative will foster a strong network where businesses look out for one another and work closely with police to address local concerns.

A man has been charged following a theft in Walton on Saturday, 13 December. Petre Catana, 41, (15/09/1984), of no fixed address was charged with three counts of theft from a stop and one count of conspire to steal from a shop. He appeared at Staines Magistrates Court yesterday morning (Monday, 15 December) and has been bailed with the condition that he does not enter the county of Surrey until his applicable bail period has ended, pending further enquiries.

A man who was originally acquitted of the murder of his wife on the grounds of self-defence has been found guilty of her murder after new evidence came to light, resulting in a re-trial which concluded on 12 December. Following an eight-week re-trial at the Inner Crown Court in London, Robert Rhodes, 52 (DOB: 20/6/1973), from Withleigh, Devon, was convicted of the murder of his wife Dawn on 2 June 2016 after the jury returned a unanimous verdict. Rhodes was also found guilty of child cruelty by inflicting a wound to a child under 10 (who cannot be named for legal reasons), in an attempt to cover up this crime; guilty of perverting the course of justice by causing injuries to himself and the child, and by manipulating the child to cause them to injure him in an attempt to cover up this crime; and guilty of perjury at the Central Criminal Court in London in 2017 and perjury at the family court in 2018 for falsely giving evidence that he knew was untrue. The court heard how Rhodes had originally been charged with Dawn’s murder but was acquitted in May 2017 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in London after the jury believed his account that he had acted in self-defence and that Dawn had tried to attack him first. In November 2021, a main witness in the trial, the child under 10, told their therapist that their father had planned Dawn’s murder and had manipulated them into being involved in it, which Rhodes described as “our plan”, and then made them lie about how their mother had died. Following an application to the Court of Appeal in November 2024, the acquittal was quashed, and permission was granted for a retrial for the offence of murder. Rhodes was also charged with child cruelty, perjury and perverting the course of justice. During the trial, the court heard how that prior to Dawn’s death on 2 June 2016, the marriage between her and Rhodes had been in difficulty and he had filed for divorce. At 7.34pm on 2 June, the child made a 999 call to police, during which Rhodes said that his wife had attacked him and their child with a knife, and that he had acted in self-defence. When police attended, they found Dawn Rhodes lying on the kitchen floor.  Her throat had been cut, to the extent it had severed all the structures in her neck. Rhodes told police that Dawn had hit him twice on the back of the head.  The child showed officers a deep laceration to their arm which they said had been caused by their mother. Rhodes was arrested for murder that evening.  During his police interview, he said that he and Dawn had been arguing in the kitchen when she picked up a knife and swung it towards the child, at which point he told the child to go upstairs. He said that managed to get hold of the knife from Dawn and that she came at him in a fury, and he swung at her with the knife, making contact with her neck, before he ran upstairs and called police. When the child was interviewed, they gave an account consistent with the one Rhodes had given as to how the injuries they had suffered had been inflicted. Following a lengthy investigation, Rhodes was charged was murder and stood trial in May 2017. The jury reached a majority verdict, finding Rhodes not guilty of murder on 30 May 2017. After coming forward in November 2021, the child was interviewed and described how their father had caused the relationship with their mother to deteriorate and how he had manipulated them into helping Rhodes get rid of their mother. The child also told police that during supervised contact with Rhodes in 2016 and 2017 (while he was on bail after being charged with Dawn’s murder), he had told them that they had “got some things wrong” and continued to give them instructions to stick to the plan. Rhodes continued to manipulate and groom the child, even going as far as to hide a phone at his mother’s house when the child visited, on which he would leave messages reminding them about the agreement they had made to get rid of Dawn. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dawn Rhodes. The loss they have suffered is immeasurable and cannot be underestimated. “They have also had to deal with the fact that Robert Rhodes got away with murder for nine years, all the while knowing the misery and suffering he had inflicted on Dawn, not just on the night he killed her, but also leading up to her death. “During the first trial, Dawn was portrayed as the villain but had actually been a victim of domestic abuse and coercive control at the hands of her husband for years. “The fact that Rhodes not only murdered his wife in cold blood but then manipulated and groomed his own child to play a part in his evil scheme and cover up what he had done is simply despicable - not only did he take a life; he irreparably damaged another, as well as the lives of everyone else who loved Dawn. “The fact that the child came forward nine years after their mother’s death to tell the truth about what happened is remarkable and shows enormous bravery. “While it should be acknowledged that the child was under the age of criminal responsibility at the time of Dawn’s death and that they were not responsible for the acts that Rhodes manipulated them into doing, the realisation that they were complicit in Dawn’s death and coming forward to set the record straight nine years later, is nothing short of extraordinary.” DCI Edey continued: “I would like to thank the investigation team for their tireless work in leaving no stone unturned to ensure Rhodes was brought to justice today, and a very special mention must be made to the family liaison officers who went above and beyond to assist the families throughout this investigation. “I would also like to thank our partner agencies, particularly the Crown Prosecution Service.” He added: “Lastly, I would like to thank the witnesses who assisted in giving evidence which helped to bring out the truth of the events from 2016, helping to piece together Robert Rhodes’ web of deceit, and the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence which has been presented throughout this trial.'' Robert Rhodes will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 16 January.

An eye-opening read on the real impact drug-driving has on families and communities - The BBC has today shared the story of 62-year-old Steven Ward, who tragically lost his life in January 2024 after being struck by a driver under the influence of both drink and drugs in Englefield Green. His daughter, Charlie Ward, spoke to the BBC about the profound loss her family has suffered, saying: “The man who did it was going too fast and he crossed on to the other side of the road, mounted the pavement and hit my dad from behind as he was walking.” Surrey Police investigated Steven’s death. In interview, the driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Samuel Russell, stated he had no memory of the collision. He was found to be more than 10 times over the drug-drive limit and nearly three times over the drink-drive limit. Russell, (22/06/1988), of Sutton, was jailed for nine years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, 21 November 2025. He will also serve a concurrent six-week sentence for possession of cocaine. Once released, he will be disqualified from driving for seven years and eight months and will need to take an extended test before regaining his full licence. The BBC article also highlights the wider national conversation led by policing partners about improving road safety and preventing harm on our roads. As part of Operation Limit, we continue to crack down on drink- and drug-driving across Surrey during the festive period. Every driver under the influence that we stop reduces the risk of another family suffering a similar tragedy.

A man has been jailed for 17 years for rape.

Following a two-week trial at Guildford Crown Court, 36-year-old Jamie Elliott was found guilty of:

• Three counts of rape

• Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

• One count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

• One count of sexual assault

• Two counts of assault by penetration

• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

Elliott was found to have groomed his victim, who was known to him, plying her with alcohol and showering her with gifts and subjecting her to repeated abuse for half a decade before his crimes were discovered when explicit texts were found on the victim’s phone. Elliott, (12/06/1989), of Egham, was sentenced today (Monday 15 December) at Guildford Crown Court. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with an additional extended term of five years on licence and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Investigating officer, DC Hollie Grant, said, “Elliott carried out a catalogue of sustained abuse over five years, betraying his position of trust in the victim’s life to carry out these crimes. I hope that his time in prison will allow him the opportunity to find some remorse for his despicable actions.”

A week ago, there were nine worthy winners of the Surrey Police Federation Recognition Awards, a ceremony that realises the great work throughout Surrey Police. One of those winners was Detective Chief Inspector Maxine Cilia for Services to Women in Policing. She is the Chair of the Surrey Police Women’s Network, which drives initiatives to help female officers succeed in the workplace and helps women in the force feel seen, heard and valued. Detective Chief Inspector Cilia said: “I’ve been with Surrey Police for 29 years, and I’ve always worked to improve the working environment for women. “When I first joined Surrey Police, it was a very male-dominated organisation, and I was the only woman on my team. I joined the Police Support Unit and then went on to do other things like become a conflict trainer, working in CID, I was a DC, and still doing public order policing. I'm only five foot three, and people kept saying, ‘Why do you want to do that?’. It was almost like they were saying, ‘Small women like you don't do that’. “I had to break down every door, and once I started I didn’t want to stop – it was about making sure all women had opportunities.”