I’m no hero, I just protected my friend

10:30pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

Leanne Read (left) and Vicky Laws Leanne Read (left) and Vicky Laws

A MUM hailed her friend a hero after she shielded her during a drive-by shooting outside TP Sports Bar in Colchester.

Vicky Laws, 25, of Nathan Court, Colchester, has thanked pal Leanne Read, 23, for risking her own safety to protect her.

They were among the late-night revellers, spilling onto the street as bars closed, who heard the gun shots.

Using lightning-quick reactions, Leanne, who works at Colonia Court care home, Colchester, pushed Vicky against a wall, into a doorway and stood in front of her.

Leanne, of Dilbridge Road, Colchester, said: “I had to get Vicky safe. She has two children, so I had to make sure she was OK.

“Vicky keeps texting me calling me her hero, but I think anyone would have done it really.”

Vicky, who is mum to four-year-old Tori and three month old Tiana, said: “Leanne said ‘Don’t worry about me, you are the one with kids to look after’. I couldn’t believe it. It was a brave thing to do.

“There were police everywhere and people were running.

“The police haven’t found the weapon yet, it could have been chucked anywhere. It makes you feel sick.”

The shooting has rocked Colchester residents who are still coming to terms with the tragic murder of 17-year-old Jay Whiston, from Clacton, who was killed in Colchester last weekend.

Tony Farmer, 30, of Guildford Road, Colchester, said: “I don’t put anything past Colchester these days.

“When we were growing up, people would just have a fight, but these days it is more likely they could stab you or shoot you.”

Steve Aznar, 51, of Winnock Road, Colchester, said: “I am shocked that it’s happened in Colchester. I wouldn’t expect it in this town. It is a shame it has come this far. It has come very quickly after the murder that shocked everyone. It is very disturbing.”

Hilary Ash, 42, of Walthorn Way, Frinton, said: “We have just had the death of poor Jay Whiston who my son was friends with. It just seems to be one thing after another.

“It is getting too much around here.”

Joy Mitchell, 74, of Harwich Road, Colchester, added: “We seem to get something all the time every weekend. What is happening to our little town? People will not come here on holiday if this keeps happening.”

Comments (11)

12:47am Tue 18 Sep 12

citycommuter says...

Well planners & politicians time to stand up, be counted and own up to what you have created. Maybe the plan to flood North Essex with Social Housing just wasn't a good idea after all. Most self respecting & honest hard working folk from our hitherto pleasant UK market town have seen this coming for some time.
Politicians have been naive and have destroyed the balance of the Community.
The events of the past few weeks have been looming over us for months. Drugs, violence, crime and disrespect abound. Take a walk down the High Street and look around you - there are issues everywhere. My sympathies go out to the Police, cut back, weakened by poor policy, inexperience and totally overwhelmed but still expected to perform. Last one out of Colchester, please turn out the lights.
Well planners & politicians time to stand up, be counted and own up to what you have created. Maybe the plan to flood North Essex with Social Housing just wasn't a good idea after all. Most self respecting & honest hard working folk from our hitherto pleasant UK market town have seen this coming for some time. Politicians have been naive and have destroyed the balance of the Community. The events of the past few weeks have been looming over us for months. Drugs, violence, crime and disrespect abound. Take a walk down the High Street and look around you - there are issues everywhere. My sympathies go out to the Police, cut back, weakened by poor policy, inexperience and totally overwhelmed but still expected to perform. Last one out of Colchester, please turn out the lights. citycommuter

4:34am Tue 18 Sep 12

Wayland says...

What?

So the whole of North Essex Social Housing is to blame for this incident?

Two people that do not live in Colchester commit a potentially life threatening gun crime, and you want to bandy a pathetic agenda about social housing?

And what do you mean by 'Recent events'?

Because if you are alluding to what i think you are - you have to be of absolute moronic proportions to have got that so wrong!

I would suggest that, if you meet a lot of negativity and aggressive types - it might just be your disgustingly snobby and reprehensible attitude that is causing it!
What? So the whole of North Essex Social Housing is to blame for this incident? Two people that do not live in Colchester commit a potentially life threatening gun crime, and you want to bandy a pathetic agenda about social housing? And what do you mean by 'Recent events'? Because if you are alluding to what i think you are - you have to be of absolute moronic proportions to have got that so wrong! I would suggest that, if you meet a lot of negativity and aggressive types - it might just be your disgustingly snobby and reprehensible attitude that is causing it! Wayland

7:14am Tue 18 Sep 12

fnagwaa says...

Wayland wrote:
What?

So the whole of North Essex Social Housing is to blame for this incident?

Two people that do not live in Colchester commit a potentially life threatening gun crime, and you want to bandy a pathetic agenda about social housing?

And what do you mean by 'Recent events'?

Because if you are alluding to what i think you are - you have to be of absolute moronic proportions to have got that so wrong!

I would suggest that, if you meet a lot of negativity and aggressive types - it might just be your disgustingly snobby and reprehensible attitude that is causing it!
Wayland, I don't know whether citycommuter is right or wrong but you have to admit there are major problems in Colchester at the moment.

I know someone who's son is a police officer and has recently moved from Chelmsford to Colchester. He says that Colchester is so much worse than Chelmsford and far worse than he was expecting.

I challenge anyone to walk around town alone at night and not feel that there is danger or trouble lurking around the corner. I remember when you could go out with family and friends and have a nice time, unfortunately the town is now full of young testosterone filled idiots who drink too much alcohol and are always spilling onto the roads and looking for aggravation.

The high street is full of homeless people sleeping in shop doorways, I counted 7 last time I was in town and that was at 8.30pm! At the same time there was a young lad, around 19, wandering around asking for money which can be very intimidating for some people, a couple of buskers and a group of youths who were shouting, swearing and, I dare say given a few more drinks, out to cause trouble. The only people I couldn't see were any police.

I have been a Colchester resident for some 30 years and I never remember the town being as bad as this. Something needs to be done, but I'm afraid that the problem is to do with how people are brought up and a general lack of respect for others and for authority. Not sure how this can be solved but I do know that the state of the town leaves me feeling quite sad at the moment.
[quote][p][bold]Wayland[/bold] wrote: What? So the whole of North Essex Social Housing is to blame for this incident? Two people that do not live in Colchester commit a potentially life threatening gun crime, and you want to bandy a pathetic agenda about social housing? And what do you mean by 'Recent events'? Because if you are alluding to what i think you are - you have to be of absolute moronic proportions to have got that so wrong! I would suggest that, if you meet a lot of negativity and aggressive types - it might just be your disgustingly snobby and reprehensible attitude that is causing it![/p][/quote]Wayland, I don't know whether citycommuter is right or wrong but you have to admit there are major problems in Colchester at the moment. I know someone who's son is a police officer and has recently moved from Chelmsford to Colchester. He says that Colchester is so much worse than Chelmsford and far worse than he was expecting. I challenge anyone to walk around town alone at night and not feel that there is danger or trouble lurking around the corner. I remember when you could go out with family and friends and have a nice time, unfortunately the town is now full of young testosterone filled idiots who drink too much alcohol and are always spilling onto the roads and looking for aggravation. The high street is full of homeless people sleeping in shop doorways, I counted 7 last time I was in town and that was at 8.30pm! At the same time there was a young lad, around 19, wandering around asking for money which can be very intimidating for some people, a couple of buskers and a group of youths who were shouting, swearing and, I dare say given a few more drinks, out to cause trouble. The only people I couldn't see were any police. I have been a Colchester resident for some 30 years and I never remember the town being as bad as this. Something needs to be done, but I'm afraid that the problem is to do with how people are brought up and a general lack of respect for others and for authority. Not sure how this can be solved but I do know that the state of the town leaves me feeling quite sad at the moment. fnagwaa

7:51am Tue 18 Sep 12

RB, Lexden says...

What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have
been at home looking after her children.
I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,. RB, Lexden

9:38am Tue 18 Sep 12

anotbot says...

RB, Lexden wrote:
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
time for a wake up call RB.
the "real world" out there is a place only the creatures of the night see.
Not experiancing "much" Colchesters charms after midnight, but a bigger, harder environment elsewhere at one time,
Colchester grows more aggressive day by day, catching up in reputation the place I once worked all night in.

re:- Tony Farmer, 30, of Guildford Road, Colchester, said: “I don’t put anything past Colchester these days.
[quote][p][bold]RB, Lexden[/bold] wrote: What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.[/p][/quote]time for a wake up call RB. the "real world" out there is a place only the creatures of the night see. Not experiancing "much" Colchesters charms after midnight, but a bigger, harder environment elsewhere at one time, Colchester grows more aggressive day by day, catching up in reputation the place I once worked all night in. re:- Tony Farmer, 30, of Guildford Road, Colchester, said: “I don’t put anything past Colchester these days. anotbot

9:59am Tue 18 Sep 12

wormshero says...

RB, Lexden wrote:
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have
been at home looking after her children.
I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
Bit harsh? I have no idea how often this mother goes out, so rather than make unnecessary snide remarks, why not presume that she was on a one off night out, and that this isn't something she does regularly. I mean, are parents no longer allowed to relax once in a while? Does relaxing every once in a while make someone a bad mother?
[quote][p][bold]RB, Lexden[/bold] wrote: What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.[/p][/quote]Bit harsh? I have no idea how often this mother goes out, so rather than make unnecessary snide remarks, why not presume that she was on a one off night out, and that this isn't something she does regularly. I mean, are parents no longer allowed to relax once in a while? Does relaxing every once in a while make someone a bad mother? wormshero

9:29am Wed 19 Sep 12

shyprincess says...

To the ridiculous person who made the comment about Vicky being out cluing, I happen to know Vicky, she is a fantastic mother, why is she not allowed to go out, just because she is a parent, would you have said the same if it was a man who was a father??

What an utterly stupid comment.

Surely the bigger issue here is the fact someone could have been killed, would you have sad the same had she been hit??
To the ridiculous person who made the comment about Vicky being out cluing, I happen to know Vicky, she is a fantastic mother, why is she not allowed to go out, just because she is a parent, would you have said the same if it was a man who was a father?? What an utterly stupid comment. Surely the bigger issue here is the fact someone could have been killed, would you have sad the same had she been hit?? shyprincess

10:01am Wed 19 Sep 12

romantic says...

RB, Lexden wrote:
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have
been at home looking after her children.
I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
What a ridiculous statement to make! Everybody is allowed a night out, I´m sure the kids were being well looked after. How can you turn a story about somebody looking out for their friend into something negative?

There are a few thousand people out and about the town centre on a typical weekend night. 99% of those come into town, have fun and go home again.

I know who I´d rather have next to me if the same thing were to happen again.
[quote][p][bold]RB, Lexden[/bold] wrote: What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.[/p][/quote]What a ridiculous statement to make! Everybody is allowed a night out, I´m sure the kids were being well looked after. How can you turn a story about somebody looking out for their friend into something negative? There are a few thousand people out and about the town centre on a typical weekend night. 99% of those come into town, have fun and go home again. I know who I´d rather have next to me if the same thing were to happen again. romantic

2:11pm Wed 19 Sep 12

artdecofan says...

Well, I for one happen to totally agree with Citycommuter, and would echo his/her comments about the Social Housing that has flooded our Town in recent years (and they are STILL planning MORE!!).
Since the dumbing-down of GCSE's and the availability of Uni places for anyone with an IQ greater than 8.5, all Uni towns have faced terrible redevelopment issues, with accomodation thrown up by rich property magnates, with little or no regard for history or consequences. Well, unfortunately the consequences are what we are now having to endure; stabbings,litter, unruliness and drunkeness. Nice, eh? Well done everybody.
Well, I for one happen to totally agree with Citycommuter, and would echo his/her comments about the Social Housing that has flooded our Town in recent years (and they are STILL planning MORE!!). Since the dumbing-down of GCSE's and the availability of Uni places for anyone with an IQ greater than 8.5, all Uni towns have faced terrible redevelopment issues, with accomodation thrown up by rich property magnates, with little or no regard for history or consequences. Well, unfortunately the consequences are what we are now having to endure; stabbings,litter, unruliness and drunkeness. Nice, eh? Well done everybody. artdecofan

6:29pm Wed 19 Sep 12

Johnny T says...

RB, Lexden wrote:
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have
been at home looking after her children.
I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
She was getting free shots at tp's
[quote][p][bold]RB, Lexden[/bold] wrote: What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.[/p][/quote]She was getting free shots at tp's Johnny T

1:10pm Thu 20 Sep 12

FairPerson says...

RB, Lexden wrote:
What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have
been at home looking after her children.
I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.
What an awful thing to say. It's people like you that are the problem. Judging before you know the facts. No regard for the feelings of others what so ever. For all you know this could be the first night out in a long time, she could be holding down a job and studying and being a mum. Why assume? Surely if you are going to assume something about someone would it not be better to assume something nice? After all she's not in the paper for a bad reason!

Hopefully one day someone will judge you on something innocent and see how you like it!
[quote][p][bold]RB, Lexden[/bold] wrote: What exactly does mother of two Vicky Laws,25,think she was doing out clubbing in the early hours?.If she were a responsible mother,she would have been at home looking after her children. I have little sympathy for Ms Laws but I do feel sorry for her unfortunate children,.[/p][/quote]What an awful thing to say. It's people like you that are the problem. Judging before you know the facts. No regard for the feelings of others what so ever. For all you know this could be the first night out in a long time, she could be holding down a job and studying and being a mum. Why assume? Surely if you are going to assume something about someone would it not be better to assume something nice? After all she's not in the paper for a bad reason! Hopefully one day someone will judge you on something innocent and see how you like it! FairPerson

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