Willen Hospice has opened online bookings for its biggest fundraiser of the year – The Willen Hospice Midnight Moo walk, sponsored by Specsavers MK.

The 2025 event will start from its new location at Middleton Hall in Centre:MK and earlier in the summer than usual, on Friday 20 June. Willen Hospice have said this is thanks to a spike in demand for the event.

With more space, Midnight Moo-ers will be welcome to arrive as early as 8.30pm to soak up the highly anticipated atmoo-sphere, and they will also be greeted with extra entertainment.

Last year, over 1,200 people joined the herd. The skies of MK lit up, with Midnight Moo-ers dressed in flashing accessories and cow-ear headbands, complementing their cow-print Midnight Moo t-shirts. The event was a huge success, raising over £130,000 for the Hospice.

Lead walker and Hospice Matron, Amy Malburn, said, “We’re absolutely dependent on people taking part in our events, like the Midnight Moo. By doing so, you’re helping raise the funds we need to keep providing our specialist care and support for local people with life-limiting illnesses.”

Laura has walked the Midnight Moo every year since her mum, Carol, lost her battle with bowel cancer in January 2019. Carol was cared for by the Hospice’s In-Patient Unit and Willen at Home teams for more than six months. At each Moo Laura carries a balloon with a picture of her mum on it. “Willen Hospice is the most incredible place,” says Laura. “I truly believe that their support gave Mum the strength to continue fighting for as long as she did. Myself and my family wouldn’t have gotten through it all without their love and support during one of the most difficult times of our lives. As a family we’ll forever be grateful for Willen Hospice and understand how much their service is needed.”

Fundraising for this year’s event is more important than ever, with hospices across the country facing a financial crisis. Only 13.8% of Willen Hospice’s running costs are met by ongoing funding from the NHS, which means the charity relies on the Milton Keynes community to help raise an enormous £8.7 million each year.

The charity is running an early bird offer until 31 March, with entry including a Midnight Moo t-shirt costing £15, and entry without a t-shirt just £10. There are also plenty of volunteering opportunities on the night for those who want to support the event without walking the route. Visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk/moo to find out more.

Four men have appeared in court in connection with a fraud case linked to the redevelopment of Northampton Town’s stadium.

The former chairman of the Cobblers appeared in a hearing at Northampton Magistrates Court earlier today (January 16) in connection with an investigation into an alleged theft and fraud case involving money in excess of 10 million pounds, in which money leant to the club to redevelop the Sixfields Stadium went missing.

The case marks the first time anyone has been brought before a court in relation to Operation Tuckhill, which is Northamptonshire Police’s investigation into the disappearance of money between £10.25 and £10.75 million loaned to the club by Northampton Borough Council in 2013 and 2014 to develop a new stand and hotel at the Cobblers’ Sixfields Stadium.

The intended new stand was not completed while the company who were intended to oversee the project were put into administration in January 2015.

Former Northampton Town chairman and owner David Cardoza, 54, of Eastbourne, was one of five men with links to the redevelopment who were due to appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on several counts of fraud and money laundering.

The other four included his father – 80-year-old former director Anthony Cardoza, of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, who was excused from appearing at court in person for health reasons.

Appearing in the court for the case were David Cardoza along with fellow charged defendants Howard Grossman, a 63-year-old property developer from Bushey in Hertfordshire, his son – 37-year-old Marcus Grossman, of Barnet in North London – and 54-year-old Simon Patnick, of Stanmore in north London.

No pleas were entered at the hearing and all five men were bailed to appear at Northampton Crown Court on 27 February 2025.

All five defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between September 2013 and April 2015.

These relate to false representations, allegedly made to Northampton Borough Council, that money loaned by the authority to the football club would be used solely for developing Sixfields Stadium and an adjoining hotel, which were “untrue or misleading”.

In addition, the Cardozas are both charged with fraud by abuse of position, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act, which relates to a sum of £8.75m being paid from the football club to 1st Land Limited, a company owned by Howard Grossman.

David Cardoza is further charged with transferring criminal property, with Northamptonshire Police alleging that £166,000 was transferred in a credit balance via a bank transfer from the bank account of Northampton Town Football Club Limited, knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.

Howard Grossman also faces three charges of transferring criminal property, specifically amounts of £650,000 from the bank account of his company County Homes (Herts) Ltd to his son and fellow director, Hayden Grossman, as well as transferring £10,000 from 1st Land Limited to Simon Patnick and £15,000 from 1st Land Limited to Simpa Investments Limited, a company owned by Simon Patnick.

Mr Grossman and his son Marcus are further charged with transferring criminal property, namely £20,000, from Marcus Grossman’s account to Simon Patnick, knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.

As well as fraud, Simon Patnick is accused of acquiring criminal property contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, namely £61,800 in credit balances via bank transfers from or on behalf of Howard Grossman and Marcus Grossman knowing or suspecting it to constitute or to represent, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the benefit from criminal conduct.

Howard Grossman faces the same allegation, relating to a separate sum of £10,000 allegedly transferred to Margro Properties Ltd, a company run by Marcus Grossman.

A raid was carried out by Northamptonshire Police at Sixfields in November 2015, when a criminal investigation was formally launched into the missing money following a complaint by the now-defunct Northampton Borough Council. The raid and seizure of documents came shortly before Cardoza, who had run the club for 12 years, sold the club to a consortium lead by former Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas, who still own the club.

The redevelopment of the East Stand at Sixfields is currently in progress after new funding and a separate legal battle over rights to use land behind the stand, with the club hoping to open the fully developed stand later this year.

MK Dons have announced the loan signing of midfielder Tommi O’Reilly from Premier League side Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old will spend the rest of the season on loan at Stadium MK, with the move being his second loan out from the Villains this campaign.

O’Reilly had spent the first half of the current campaign on loan with Shrewsbury Town, making 18 appearances for the League One side from Shropshire.

Before his time with the Shrews, O’Reilly had made a competitive debut for boyhood club Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League in 2023 and had a brief spell on loan in Spain with Basque Country-based third tier side Real Unión Club, who have links with Villa.

He told the official MK Dons website that he was happy to make the move.

O’Reilly said, “I’m buzzing to be here! I’m happy it’s finally got over the line and I can’t wait to get started. The Stadium is great, it’s a big pitch too and I’m excited to show people what I can do.

“I’m a creative player. I like to get on the ball a lot, I like to excite fans and play with no fear. 

“I want to help the team as much as I can, I want to create chances and score goals. I want to make an impact and be positive around the group.”

The Dons’ Head Coach Scott Lindsey added that he would provide a useful option as a ball-carrying attacking midfielder.

He said, “Tommi is a really exciting footballer. He plays as a number ten, but can fulfil a position anywhere across that frontline. He’s really comfortable on the ball, likes to dribble, drive forward and make things happen.

“He’s a player that I think we needed, we haven’t got many ball carriers in the squad and he certainly brings that.

“He’s had a good loan spell at Shrewsbury Town in League One, that was a really good experience for him and he’s ticked that box but now he can come to a team that’s fighting for promotion.”

The Chief Constable of the police force that covers Milton Keynes has been suspended with immediate effect while they are subject to an independent misconduct investigation.

Thames Valley Police, who cover Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, confirmed Chief Constable Jason Hogg was suspended by the force’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber earlier today (16/1) after an investigation was opened by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC said in a statement that the investigation related to concerns of an alleged failure by Thames Valley Police staff including Hogg to adequately investigate allegations relating to the improper retention of sensitive police information.

IOPC Director of Operations Steve Noonan said, “We are investigating the conduct of the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police (TVP), Jason Hogg, as part of an ongoing independent investigation. The investigation relates to concerns that, between 2016 and 2020, he and another senior TVP officer failed to properly investigate allegations that a former senior TVP officer retained a significant amount of sensitive police information after they left the force.

“As part of our independent investigation, which started in April 2023, the Chief Constable will be served with a notice of investigation for potential gross misconduct, relating to alleged breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour regarding honesty and integrity, and duties and responsibilities. A second senior TVP officer is under investigation for potential misconduct.

“This does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings. No criminal offences have been identified as part of this investigation.”

PCC Barber said in his own statement, “This afternoon (Thursday 16 January), I have taken the decision to suspend Jason Hogg from his role as Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police with immediate effect. This follows a meeting earlier today with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in which they informed me that as part of an ongoing investigation that they are conducting they have assessed that allegations against the Chief Constable would, if proven, amount to gross misconduct. 

“I emphasise that the decision to suspend is a neutral act. It has no bearing on any indication of guilt and should not be seen as such.

“The IOPC investigation involves concerns that the Chief Constable failed to adequately investigate allegations relating to the improper retention of sensitive police information. The matters relate to alleged breaches of the standards of professional behaviour amounting to failure in duties & responsibilities and a lack of honesty & integrity. There is no criminal investigation into the Chief Constable.

“This announcement will come as a shock to many across Thames Valley, especially to our hard-working police officers and staff, but it is right that any allegations of this serious nature are dealt with consistently and investigated properly and thoroughly. I urge the IOPC to conclude their investigations and to present evidence as swiftly as possible.”

PCC Barber confirmed Ben Snuggs has been appointed as an Acting Chief Constable pending the results of the investigation.

The Acting Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Ben Snuggs, said, “I want to reassure everyone across Thames Valley that we will continue to serve, protect and respond to our communities as normal.

“Our officers, staff and volunteers remain fully committed to serving the public, tackling crime, serving victims and building trust in our communities.”

Thames Valley Police have said they are not in a position to make any further comment on the ongoing investigation.