1. Man hunted after attempted abduction of 10-year-old boy in Blackbird Leys, Oxford

A man is being sought by police after the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old boy in Blackbird Leys.

Police said the boy was walking in Cuddesdon Way on Friday when he was approached by a man between 5.10pm and 5.20pm.

The man grabbed the boy's wrist and said: "You're coming with me."

The boy managed to get away without being hurt and made his way home safely.

More here.

2. Man arrested in connection with "vicious and sustained" murder of "Harry Potter collector" Adrian Greenwood

A man has been arrested in connection with the "vicious and sustained" murder of Oxford historian Adrian Greenwood.

Previously detectives said they had been hunting a potentially wounded attacker who stabbed the Harry Potter book collector to death in his Oxford home, during a "vicious and sustained" assault.

Thames Valley Police announced that a 50-year-old-man from Peterborough was arrested before 11pm last night in the Cambridgeshire town, on suspicion of his murder. 

More here.

3. Case dropped against students accused of raping woman at end-of-year Royal Agricultural University ball​

A student from Chipping Norton is among four men who have had rape charges against them dropped. 

James Martin, 20, of Hook Norton Road, denied a single charge of rape at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester in May 2014.

Prosecutors at Gloucester Crown Court dropped the case, stating that no evidence had been made against him or co-accused Thady Duff, 22, Leo Mahon, 22, and Patrick Foster, 22.

The group denied all charges which were alleged to have been committed against the same woman at the Gloucestershire university. 

More here.

4. Former Oxford drug smuggler turned author Howard Marks dies aged 70

A former Oxford drug smuggler turned author - known as 'Mr Nice' - has died. 

Howard Marks, 70, announced he had inoperable bowel cancer last year. 

Marks launched his criminal career from posh frock shop Annabelinda in Gloucester Green before beginning a 25-year jail sentence in America in 1990.

But six years, later the master of disguise, who had 43 aliases, was freed on parole and began to write his autobiography Mr Nice. 

It soon became a best-seller, with the former Ballioll College student being given a column in Loaded magazine for five years while his book was turned into a film starring Rhys Ifans. 

More here.

5. Armed robber in knitted elephant mask stole cash from Eynsham shop and fled on a bicycle

An armed robber held up a shop assistant at knife-point wearing a knitted elephant mask and cycled away with a wodge of cash.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information about the robbery at Eynsham Cellars wine shop in Mill Street, Eynsham. 

A man threatened the assistant with a knife and demanded money at 9.42pm on Saturday.

He snatched cash before fleeing in the direction of John Lopes Road on his bike.

The victim was not injured.

More here.