A RETIRED train driver may just be the unluckiest man in Britain when it comes to getting billed for water he hasn't used.

Paul Hawkins goes to great lengths to conserve water, even re-using it wherever possible.

Yet his water supplier must think he is a serial-waster as he has twice been charged for using double the amount he actually got through.

What makes the situation even more bizarre is that he has been overcharged at two separate addresses.

Southern Water has billed Mr Hawkins for using an average of more than 200 litres a day at the two homes, based on water meters linked to his addresses, when he uses less than 100.

The 55-year-old said: "I live alone in an upstairs maisonette so I don't have a garden and I actively try and save as much water as I can.

"Whenever I do the washing up I pour the water into a bucket afterwards to mop the floor.

"Yet when Southern Water look at the reading for my address they must think I have several baths a day and run a water feature in my front room day and night."

In 2012 the Crawley News told how Mr Hawkins had been billed by Southern Water for using an average of 203 litres per day when living in Southbrook, Broadfield.

His neighbours were apparently only using 89 litres a day, despite having more people in their house and a garden.

At the time the water company apologised for the mix-up and assured Mr Hawkins that he would only pay for what he had used.

Much to his despair, the same thing has been happening since he moved to Callisto Close, in Bewbush, last July.

He explained: "I got my first letter through in September which said I was using an average of 257 litres of day. I instantly thought this is ridiculous and that it cannot be happening to me again.

"But because it was my first bill since moving in I gave them the benefit of the doubt in case there was a crossover period from the family that lived here before.

"I got my latest bill in March and the reading had gone up to 261 litres a day.

"After investigating the water meters under the driveway outside I found the serial number linked to my address wasn't moving when I ran the taps but one directly next to it was spinning like crazy."

A Southern Water engineer visited Mr Hawkins's home last Thursday and confirmed he was being charged for the water being used in another home.

A Southern Water spokeswoman said it was rare for meters to be mixed up, with only "about 1 per cent" of the 500,000 installed across the South East thought to be wrongly assigned.

Mr Hawkins is concerned, though, that there could be many more cases that residents just aren't aware of.

"Southern Water says it is very rare but for it to happen to me twice shows something must be wrong," he said. "My fear is that other people don't bother to check the amounts they are billed for and just pay it."

The Southern Water spokeswoman said that human error may have been to blame for the latest mix-up.

She added: "I can confirm that Mr Hawkins' meter had been wrongly assigned and for this we apologise.

"We have now updated his account, as well as his neighbour's, and they will now receive the correct bills. We will also refund any overpayments.

"We would like to reassure other residents of Callisto Close that we are checking all of our meter installations and, so far, have not found any more wrongly assigned meters."

CRAWLEY missed out on successive promotions after suffering a 41-22 defeat by Hastings & Bexhill in their play-off game for a place in the London leagues.

The visiting forwards took control initially and Crawley had to work very hard to get anything. From a scrum the visitors had a good platform from which they put the first points on the board.

Crawley were undeterred and within a few minutes a jinking run by Steve Wilson had levelled the score. This was to be the last action as he left the field with a shoulder injury.

From a quick penalty and more pressure, Hastings broke the Crawley defence to again go in front. After 20 minutes, Luke Wilson was forced to leave the field through injury as well.

At the visitors' posts, Crawley forced a penalty five metres out. Josh Burt was unstoppable from there and levelled the score.

Hastings then tried to win the game with their forwards, Crawley through their backs.

Crawley were caught on the hop, allowing Hastings to take the score to 19-14 at half-time.

From the restart, the home team again pressurised and the visitors had two players dismissed to the sin-bin for ten minutes.

But good defending by Hastings and poor choices by Crawley saw the two players return to the field with the home side having added only three points from a Matt Lane-Miller penalty.

Hastings soon nullified the Crawley penalty points and a break through the centres again took them a score in front.

Crawley full-back Matt Lane-Miller kept his side in touch with a counter-attacking run out wide.

Hastings plugged away through their forwards and a penalty in front of the posts put them a score clear, while another break on the wing found space for a fifth try.

Pressure stayed on Hastings, but a penalty gave them time to return to the Crawley line and one last score closed the game, although Crawley battled to the end.

Coach Steve Silver said: "Another year older, another year wiser may see promotion into the London leagues become a more viable step."

MICHAEL DUNFORD has confirmed Crawley Town are set for talks with AFC Bournemouth over a permanent transfer for striker Matt Tubbs – but insists nothing has been discussed yet.

Crawley Town boss John Gregory has made no secret of his desire to sign Tubbs on a permanent deal after the striker's success since he returned to the Reds on loan in January but foresaw the financial aspects of the move being a stumbling block.

And while chief executive Dunford has confirmed plans to speak with the Cherries, he says nothing will be decided until after the Football League season finishes on Saturday.

"I've arranged to speak to Bournemouth after the last game of the season," Dunford said. "We will have a conversion with Bournemouth about Matt Tubbs but that won't take place before Saturday's game against Bristol City. It's neither positive or negative news at the moment."

And Gregory would also like to see Gwion Edwards stay, with the Crawley boss hoping to secure another loan deal for the Swansea City winger.

"We have spoken, me and him, and he is certainly enjoying himself and we have been able to extend his loan past Saturday, which is pleasing," Gregory said of Edwards. "We have also discussed the possibility of him coming against next season and I think he would be quite keen to come and play with us again next year.

"I think he has really enjoyed it and I'm really proud to see on his Twitter page he has pictures of himself in a Crawley kit – I do notice these things."

However, one deal that has already been negotiated is the use of Oakwood Football Club's Tinsley Lane facilities as a training ground for another year.

"I've met with Oakwood's chairman and we're staying for another year," Dunford said. "We are lucky to have such a good relationship with them and I think it's an arrangement that both parties are happy with.

"They suffered like us with the wet weather in January and February, but I don't think there was much grass in the whole of Sussex that escaped the rain.

"Compared to Bewbush, Oakwood's facilities are far superior and we're happy to stay there for another season."

A DAD of six has been found guilty of flashing at families Christmas shopping with young children as he walked through County Mall.

Benhur Thamby strolled through the lower mall of the shopping centre with his penis out of his trousers.

Still exposing himself, the 51-year-old stood outside jewellers F Hinds for about five minutes as staff closed the store.

Appearing in court last Thursday charged with exposure, the former Gatwick Airport worker claimed he had been tipsy and not realised he was exposing himself following a trip to the toilet.

But after a trial Thamby, of Heron Close, Langley Green, was found guilty of the offence, which took place on December 14 last year.

Prosecutor David Lewis-Hall told Horsham Magistrates' Court: "At about 6.45pm the mall was still open because it was the Christmas shopping season.

"A lady removing items from the window display at F Hinds sees the defendant looking through the window at her.

"He is about one metre away and she thought he was pointing with a finger from the area of his crotch but then realises he has both of his hands in his pockets.

"His penis was pulled through his trouser zip and was fully exposed.

"The shopping assistant ran off to get help. She was shocked to see this in the shopping centre, especially when it was full with families and children."

The court heard a security guard was called who detained Thamby after he attempted to walk out of the exit.

Statements from "distressed" witnesses were read out in court.

Elysia Wilson, a shop assistant at F Hinds, said: "I saw a man outside who was looking at me and I double-took and realised his penis was out of his trousers.

"I ran off to tell my assistant manager what had happened and then ran from the store up the escalator to get a security guard.

"The whole thing must have lasted five to seven minutes.

"I feel shocked and angry that the man felt he could act in that way."

Hazel Lucy, assistant manager of the jewellers, added: "I'm shocked. At this time of year there are so many families with young children that could have seen him."

Michael Senior, the security guard who stopped Thamby from leaving County Mall, said the shopping centre was busy at the time.

He added: "The man had his zip undone and his penis was hanging out of his trousers."

Thamby gave evidence under cross-examination and strenuously denied purposely exposing himself.

He told the court he had been working at Starbucks in Gatwick Airport on the day, from 3.30 to 11am, before going to a pub in Crawley with colleagues.

He then returned home before heading to County Mall to go Christmas shopping. Thamby said: "I went to the restroom and then walked around the mall for a good ten minutes.

"I had no idea. I didn't feel anything different, I had had a few drinks and I didn't know.

"I drank four pints and a gin and tonic so I felt tipsy.

"I feel so embarrassed and it is very shameful. I am not that type of person, I didn't do it on purpose.

"I have six children and four grandchildren, I would not do that."

But Mr Lewis-Hall told the court it was "frankly ridiculous" for him not to have noticed for so long.

Tanya Price, defending Thamby, said: "There has been no suggestion that he was indicating to it or making lurid gestures.

"My client has lost his job as a result of this. He is remorseful and embarrassed.

"He is not the type of man to embark on such activities to gain sexual gratification."

Finding Thamby guilty, magistrate Ron Adams, chairman of the bench, said: "We are satisfied the exposure took place over a considerable amount of time causing alarm and distress.

"The defendant would have been fully capable and in control of his actions."

Thamby was released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced at Crawley Magistrates' Court on May 22.

TWO senior officers at Sussex Police have been quizzed on the force's handling of domestic abuse cases following a damning report.

On Friday, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne questioned the officers during a themed Performance and Accountability Meeting.

The PAM followed a recent report into how police forces are still failing victims of domestic abuse. Mrs Bourne wanted to know what Sussex Police is doing to improve its interaction with, and support for, victims of domestic abuse.

Mrs Bourne and her chief executive, Mark Streater, questioned temporary chief constable of Sussex Police, Giles York, and assistant chief constable of Surrey Police, Stuart Cundy.

Mr Cundy oversees specialist crime in Surrey and Sussex, which includes domestic abuse.

Mrs Bourne said: "I want to know that domestic abuse is not just a priority on paper for Sussex Police but is a priority in practice and that every officer knows this and is receiving the right training."

Both officers were questioned about the training of police officers and staff and agreed that current training is not fit for purpose.

The death of Cassandra Hassanovic in 2008 and the coroner's report into her death, which criticised Sussex Police and partner agencies, was also discussed.

Mrs Bourne said it is clear that there are "still substantial improvements to be made."

A PSYCHIATRIC hospital caring for patients with severe mental health conditions is opening its doors as part of a recruitment drive to improve its support.

Langley Green Hospital, off Martyrs Avenue, is looking for registered mental health nurses, experienced or aspiring assistants and support workers for a whole range of permanent and bank roles throughout the hospital.

The hospital was criticised in a recent Care Quality Commission inspection for staff shortages which left patients at risk of poor care. In a drive to ensure there are enough staff working, the trust which runs the hospital, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is hiring.

To give interested parties a chance to see the hospital and discuss what sort of roles might suit them, the building is opening up today (Wednesday) from 10am to 3pm.

Visitors will be welcomed by senior nurses and the matron of the hospital and have a chance to talk to the recruitment team at the trust.

Deon Loudon, Langley Green Hospital matron, said: "We want to do things differently and we are opening our doors to a wider range of people who feel they have something positive to offer.

"We are looking for people with a caring and mature attitude, who want to play a part in a dynamic team determined to improve the patient experience.

"We are working on a wide range of service developments – this is a brilliant time to come and join a dedicated and energised team committed to delivering improvements and excellent care."

A NOTABLE Crawley author whose Victorian horror story initially outsold Bram Stoker's Dracula has been commemorated.

A blue plaque in honour of Richard Marsh was officially unveiled last Friday.

The plaque was installed in New Street, Three Bridges, last August but its official unveiling took some time to organise.

Mr Marsh lived there from 1891 to 1910.

In keeping with Mr Marsh's profession, the plaque was unveiled by Brighton-based thriller writer Julia Crouch, alongside Mayor of Crawley Bob Burgess.

The prolific author penned more than 70 horror, crime and fiction novels. Ironically, his house was named Sunnyside.

His most famous book is The Beetle, published in 1897, the same year as Dracula was published.

At first it outsold Stoker's book, which must have pleased Marsh as the two writers are believed to have been friends who had a wager on who could write the most successful book.

The Beetle is the story of a creature with supernatural and hypnotic powers that stalks a British politician.

Among the other blue plaques in the town are one for Sir Malcolm Campbell, beside Tilgate Lake, where he tested his boat Bluebird ahead of it breaking the water speed record.

HUNDREDS of drivers have been caught by police risking lives by allowing someone in their car to not wear a seatbelt.

Figures revealing the scale of the problem have been released after a car was stopped last Tuesday evening in Crawley when a two-year-old boy was spotted sat on his mother's lap in the front passenger seat.

This was despite there being an empty child seat in the back of the car.

The incident in Woodfield Road, Northgate is one of many police officers have encountered.

PC Vicki Lank, from Sussex Police Road Policing Unit, said: "It's disappointing when they had the appropriate restraint, a car seat in the back, and were putting the child at risk."

The toddler, PC Lank added, did not appear distressed, so it did not even appear to be a case that the boy's mother felt she needed to have him on her lap to calm him down.

The mother and the male driver, in fact, told officers the toddler was sat there as they were only driving a short distance.

Including this incident, drivers have been stopped 202 times in the town because of someone in their car not wearing a seatbelt between January 1, 2013 and April 23 this year.

On 146 occasions the motorist was the guilty party who wasn't safely secured.

In 74 of these cases there was no actual punishment, on five occasions drivers have a fine waiting to be paid, 37 have paid a fine, 24 have been prosecuted and six are waiting to have their case assessed to decide what happens next.

Over the same period police stopped drivers 32 times for having a child aged under 14 in the vehicle without a seatbelt on.

Only two have been prosecuted with a further 15 fined so far.

Five of these children were sat in the front passenger seat when seen without a seatbelt on.

Other offences included having adult passengers sat in both rear and front passenger seats while unsecured.

The incidents were spread across the town, with examples occurring in Seymour Road, Broadfield, Station Way, in the town centre, Gatwick Road, Manor Royal, and even on the M23.

PC Lank believes drivers need a "wake up call" to prevent unnecessary serious injuries or even deaths occurring on Crawley roads.

She said: "People think they are in the compartment of their car and that makes them entirely safe.

"They don't think anything can happen to them.

"I have seen people not wearing a seatbelt thrown around inside a car, thrown out through the side or even through a windscreen.

"It can lead to very serious injuries, if not fatalities.

"Most people would do anything to protect their child so it is ridiculous to not think about putting a seatbelt on them, something which takes a second.

"You couldn't imagine the lifetime of regrets a parent would go through by leaving a child not strapped in and something happening.

"Some people need a wake up call and we hope it isn't the shock to the system of something devastating happening to them or someone they know for the realisation to sink in.

"We are increasingly recommending people we stop to go on diversionary courses. The evidence shows this educates and makes drivers aware of the dangers."

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the driver who was stopped last Tuesday, a 30-year-old man, has been issued with a traffic offence report which could lead to a £100 fine or require him to attend an education course.

AN indoor market for independent traders is launching in Crawley town centre with a focus on selling distinctive, artisan and hand-crafted products.

The Civic Makery will be opening for the first time tomorrow (Saturday) in the Civic Hall between 9.30am and 3pm.

At least 15 stallholders have signed up to the first market, including Stacey's Delights, selling handmade cakes; Scentsy, which will offer scented candles; byHomely.com, which sells home accessories and offers gift-wrap ideas; and Ezee Party Bags, selling party accessories.

Tilgate Bakery will also have a stall.

Elaine Sayers, of St Mary's Drive, Pound Hill, who is running the indoor market with her husband Darren, said: "For a long time I have thought the people in Crawley would respond to a market centred on traders from the town.

"People want to support local small businesses, given the chance. I have sent out 70 forms to different traders so there are a lot of businesses out there.

"I would love to have a fruit and veg stall from the area or a farmers' market area as well."

Mrs Sayers's daughters Claire Halton and Cheryl Halton will also have their own stalls.

Claire will run Makery Cafe, selling homemade cakes, and Cheryl will run Sweet Trees, which sells "trees" made out of sweets such as lollipops and marshmallows.

The Civil Hall, on The Boulevard, has been booked out on every Saturday for the rest of this financial year, until April 2015, apart from a handful of weekends where other events had been pre-booked.

Last August the Crawley News reported on how entrepreneur Cheryl Jones was hoping to set up an indoor market in vacant retail space in the town centre.

After the article she started working with Mrs Sayers on the project.

Mrs Jones, 53, set up her own business Hubble and Bubble from her home in Oatlands, Gossops Green, a year ago.

Although her soaps and bath salts have proved a success online and at art and craft fairs she has struggled to find a permanent unit in her home town due to expensive property and business rates.

Mrs Jones will be a stallholder at the Civic Makery and is confident of its chances of success.

She said: "I really believe this is going to be a spark for small businesses in Crawley to thrive. There are so many of us out there in the town who are trying hard to make a living; traders producing a wide variety of hand-crafted, homemade goods of a high quality, but we just couldn't imagine being able to afford our own shop unit.

"The most important thing is that they are all 'proper' businesses. You won't find this market becoming a place to just sell mobile phone covers.

"The weekly indoor market will provide us with shelter in the winter months so nothing can stop us. It could kick-start something special.

"I have had a stall at the Horsham market before and although it was well run I had much better sales when I have sold in Crawley."

Mrs Jones also hopes a brand-new indoor market will work alongside the outdoor weekend market and potentially lead to similar events, such as a Christmas market, being launched in the town.

Businesses interested in running a stall can contact Mr and Mrs Sayers by e-mail at hello@civicmakery.com or by calling 01293 402806.

WHEN Pam Pollard died her family made a pact to honour her memory by celebrating life as best they could.

So at her wake, rather than a sad, mournful occasion, the former Crawley resident's daughter, Claire Burt, and her family threw a party.

Those who came were encouraged to wear green, Pam's favourite colour, and there were balloons dotted about, which she had loved.

And at the wake Pam's grandchildren Isaac, 8, and Amelia, 4, had the idea to raise funds for St Catherine's Hospice, where she was cared for during the last week and a half of her life.

"My mum was known for her celebrating – she would celebrate anything she possibly could," explained Claire, who grew up with her mum in Broadfield and Gossops Green before moving to Horsham.

"Isaac and his sister Amelia would get Valentine's Day cards from her and she would throw Hallowe'en parties and treat the children.

"She was devoted, completely devoted to her children and grandchildren. She is massively missed.

"Two days before her funeral Isaac said 'we should have a big bowl of sweets at the wake – why don't we see if we can charge 10p per sweet'."

Pam was aged two when she came over to the UK from Italy with her father as one of seven children.

They settled in Faygate before moving to Crawley, where she lived until relocating to Horsham seven years before she died, having suffered from lung cancer, on April 2.

Claire, 39, also moved to Horsham seven years ago to be near her mum.

At her wake, Pam's friends and family began donating £10 and £20 at a time to the children's sweet stall and within four hours the pair had raised £320.

"My stepdad Brian said to Isaac and Amelia that whatever they made, he would double, not realising they would make that much," said Claire, who has been married to husband Chris Burt for ten years.

Isaac and Amelia donated a cheque for £640 to St Catherine's Hospice, based in Malthouse Road, Southgate, on April 11.

They then took part in the hospice's 'Bunny Run' in Haywards Heath on April 13 to raise even more money.

"I was extremely proud of them," said Claire. "We asked Isaac how he felt and he said it made him feel proud, too, because he knows St Catherine's Hospice gives support to people who are very poorly.

"I think St Catherine's Hospice is amazing," she added.

"They had so much time for us – they made us feel like we weren't just another person and had individual needs."

PASSENGERS flying with a leisure airline from Gatwick Airport can now enjoy going through an updated check-in area while being able to fly to three new destinations.

Monarch has completed its new look check-in area with more desks to cut queues and stronger branding.

The airline has also announced three new routes from Gatwick – Nice, Hurghada and Enfidha.

On Monday Monarch held a special flight from Gatwick to Alicante. On-board service was provided by five crew members who all joined Monarch in 1994, when it formed.

The crew on-board flight ZB252 were Mark Bunyan, Jane Goodchild, Laura Chappell, Emma Strachan and Kerry Mitchell. There were centenary banners on board – as the group has 100 years' experience between them – and competitions were held for customers to win flights or a bottle of champagne.

Jane Goodchild, cabin crew base manager for Monarch at Gatwick, said: "We are all so pleased to be celebrating a centenary of service. The past 20 years have flown by but it's still such a pleasure to be part of the Monarch team. I have made some good friends and continue to meet new and interesting people."

Monarch received more than 1,000 applicants for this year's cabin crew vacancies.