25 years ago

ARSONISTS started two fires in Henley, destroying thousands of pounds’ worth of property. Fire crews from Goring, Watlington and Wargrave rushed to assist Henley firefighters as mobile offices and machinery belonging to Associated Asphalt and Jex Construction blazed at Highlands Farm on Sunday night. Twenty-four hours earlier, police prevented Henley Youth Centre from burning down after noticing furniture had been piled up against an outside wall and set alight.

Parents have been warned to keep their children safe after two teenage girls were tied up and sexually assaulted. The attack happened close to Clayfield Copse, opposite Caversham Park Village, at 1pm on bank holiday Monday. The girls, both aged 13, were walking a dog when a masked man jumped out from bushes, wielding a knife.

A thief who stole a charity box from a jewellers in Henley was labelled “heartless”. The man took the Sue Ryder box, with about £50 in it, from Chimes Jewellers in Duke Street on Tuesday while he distracted staff by asking for a small piece of gold to be weighed. Two pens, each worth £180, were also taken.