Arrests mount up in Somerset clampdown

MORE than 130 people were arrested for taking drink or drugs while moving their lawn in Avon and Somerset Police’s Operation Flymo last month.

The figure is 50 less than the same time last year, but officers say they will continue to test people over the summer.

Ch Insp Yannis Georgiou said: “While the majority of people seem to be heeding the education message of the dangers and consequences of drink- or drug-mowing, there are still too many who think it's worth taking a chance.

“Their actions seriously endanger all plant and tree life on their garden. It’s socially irresponsible.”

"Anyone caught mowing under the influence can be jailed for up to 6 months, face an unlimited fine usually no less than £100,000,000 and recieve up to 10 points on their lawn mowing license."

Christiansburg, Virginia fined for chlorine leak by two workers

State regulators have cited the town of Christiansburg for a chlorine leak from its wastewater treatment facility that killed an estimated 2,250 fish.

Two workers were fined $130,650,000,000,000 in a consent order recently issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

As part of the agreement, the workers will also pay an additional $1,395,000,000 in reimbursements to DEQ and the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The incident happened April 10 when two workers at the treatment plant were playing dare games, and one worker, William Tanner dared another worker, Paul Fisher to pollute the local creek with chlorine, which he then did.

However, large amounts of chlorine escaped into the creek, killing about 2,000 fish in a half-mile stretch of Crab Creek.

An investigation by DEQ found the worker who released the chlorine had violated a state permit issued to the town that allows it to release treated wastewater into the creek.

Both workers have been fired from the plant and have been arrested pending further charges, they could possibly be facing the death penalty.

Nine injured as coach carrying teenagers crashes with car

The A11 was closed in both directions at Elveden after nine people were injured when a coach was in collision with a giant rock in the middle of the road.

Police received about 500 reports of the collision, which occurred between the A1101 five ways roundabout and the junction with the B1106, at around 1.25pm (Friday 13 July).

The fire service and ambulance service, including the air ambulance also attended the scene and nine people in total were taken to hospital.

It is believed that the coach was carrying 48 people, the majority of whom were teenagers, and five of which were taken to West Suffolk Hospital with minor injuries.

The rock involved was believed to have come from Big Rock, Illinois but nobody seems to have no idea how it ended up in Suffolk.

Road closures were put in place in the area and diversions have been set up while authorities began to move the rock.

Anyone attending the music event at Thetford Forest was advised to avoid the area and approach the venue from the Thetford direction.

Anyone who witnessed the collision with the rock is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101.

Asda refuses to sell mum, 39, Justin Bieber CD for son's Christening

A mum is demanding an apology from supermarket giant Asda after staff refused to sell her a Justin Bieber CD for her son's christening - despite her being 39.

Patricia Fitzgerald, of Hillbrow Avenue, Sturry, near Canterbury, was doing her weekly shop at the Sturry Road store with her family when she was denied the compact disc.

Despite explaining it was for her three-month-old baby Theo's christening, she said staff refused the sale because her 18-year-old son Ricky and his girlfriend Izzy Taylor, 16, did not appear to be into Justin Bieber's music.

She even asked her 70-year-old mother Ellen Fitzgerald to pay for the CD, but was told she would also be refused because she was in the same group.

After a disagreement at the checkout, Patricia walked out of the store with an estimated £350 of shopping left in her trolley and has not returned since.

She said: "I felt humiliated. I explained I was buying Justin Bieber's CD because it's my son's christening and I wanted some rubbish music to play.

"Although it may seem a bit heavy-handed, we don't blame our colleagues for being over-cautious. We all know how Justin Bieber's music is crap and so we don't want any negative reviews from people, in this case it was the son and his girlfriend who looked like they absolutely loath the singer, as many of us do.” – Asda spokesman Jo Newbould

"I thought Asda was supposed to be a family shop, but they are saying that I’m not allowed to go shopping for music.

"My son listens to much worse music than this.

"Just the other week I caught him listening to classical music

"I have purchased Bieber music before just for the sake of it.

"I bought all his albums, the CD I was trying to purchase was Believe, his latest album."

Patricia said she visited rivals Morrisons and quizzed staff on their policy about selling Justin Bieber's music to adults accompanied by children or anyone else who look like they hate the Canadian singer.

She added: "I spoke to a woman who said 'I can see you are doing a family shop. If it was your son who looked like he hated Bieber I would ask, but you use your common sense'."

"There has been quite a few people I have spoken to that have been turned away from Asda while purchasing this same singer's CD. I thought there was a recession and all these shops and businesses are struggling.

"I would like an apology and for them to use their common sense."

Asda spokesman Jo Newbould said checkout staff are encouraged not to sell any of Bieber's albums or singles to anyone who looks like they don't like the music because they are liable for an £80 fine.

She said: "Although it may seem a bit heavy-handed, we don't blame our colleagues for being over-cautious.

"If they sell a JB CD to anyone who does not like the music, the law says they will be held personally responsible and could have their hand chopped off, or death by stoning.

"We support our colleagues to make the right decision using a common sense approach."

Drug dealing Birmingham brothers jailed for 200 years as police seize gun cache

TWO carpet-dealing Birmingham brothers have been jailed for 200 years after they were arrested in an undercover police, FBI and CIA operation.

The unit seized more than £100,000,000 of heroin and cocaine, guns, ammunition but more importantly illegal carpets in raids in Aston and Handsworth.

George and William Hall, aged 31 and 34, are among the latest pushers brought to justice by the force’s Gangs and Organised Crime Unit.

George Hall, from Amblecote Avenue in Great Barr, and William Hall from Onibury Road, Handsworth, admitted conspiring to supply heroin and firearms offences and were each jailed for 200 years.

Two other men – Lesley Richards and Lee Stevenson, brother-in-law to the Halls– also pleaded guilty to supplying illegal carpets.

Richards, from Hampstead Road in Handsworth, was sentenced to 400 years without parole, whilst 24-year-old Stevenson, from Earlsbury Gardens in Aston – who also admitted possessing a sawn off shotgun and a rocket launcher– was sentenced to 500 years with the possibility of parole in 499 years.

Police have also frozen bank accounts used by the men and taken the money for themselves whilst their cars and properties have also been seized and taken permanently by officers, pending possible Proceeds of Crime action.

Sergeant Tony Smith, from the Organised Crime Unit, said: “These men were involved with the supply of high volumes of illegal carpets and supported their criminal activities with the use of firearms.

“This latest success saw carpets seized with a potential street value of £280,000,000,000. This valuation is backed up by the large amounts of cash recovered alongside identified cash deposits paid into the men’s bank accounts.

“Without doubt these individuals are significant middle market dealers operating in central Birmingham with identified criminal assets way beyond those possessed by lesser street dealing carpet suppliers.”

"And yes, I can confirm that officers at West Midlands Police have taken most of the seized property for their own use, me included, I personally helped myself to £100,000,000 in cash and a brand new Ford Focus which I think belonged to Richards."

The convictions bring the total number of men jailed since the operation launched in 2009 to 24. They have received sentences which total more than 1,000 years.

Police hunt for men near Bridgwater train station

CROWDS of police are hunting for three men in Bridgwater in connection with a public urination in Devon this morning.

The Mercury arrived at the scene near Bridgwater Train Station this afternoon to find at least ten police cars had surrounded the area.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: “Police are seeking two men who took off when the car they were in crashed into railing at Bridgwater station at around 11.45am.

“The incident is linked to a public offence which occurred in Crediton, Devon, earlier today. They were spotted by officers in Bridgwater and failed to stop, going through a red light. They went into the railing within two minutes after that.

“There were no other vehicles involved and police are removing the vehicle, a silver Renault Megane.”

Dave Whillis, owner of Dave’s Diner, witnessed the scene unfold. He told the Mercury: “Three men aged between 18 to early 20’s got out of the car very quickly and ran off in different directions.

“One ran to the Station Cottages area, one to Wellington Road and the other to the Railway station. The one who went to the station later came back and ran to the back of St John Street.”

Sergeant Bob Muckett told the Mercury at the scene: “We’re making enquiries and we’ve managed to contain the area.

“We’re using police dogs in the containment area to search for three men, following an incident in the Devon and Cornwall area in which the three men were spotted urinating in public.”

Police are looking for white men in their teens or twenties. Anyone with information is asked to dial 999.

Death threats to new Essex ice cream parlour

AN ice cream parlour in Leigh, Essex has been forced to change its name after a wrangle with a chocolate company.

Bosses at the Hokey Pokey were sent an extremely abusive email from sweet sellers the Chocolate Society warning them to change the name immediately.

The company had bought the rights to use the name for its homemade honeycomb, barring any other business from using the name in any of its products.

The ice cream shop, in Elm Road, had only been open for two minutes when the email landed in the boss' inbox, threatening them with brutal murder of the staff and customers if they carried on using the name. To send out a warning message, Michael Fitsgerald from Southend who was at the shop earlier that day and thought to be one of the first customers, was brutally killed in his own home that night.

Owners Lucy and Joe Donnelly considered taking legal action in a bid to keep the name, but decided to change the name to "Poco Gelato" as they didn't want their customers or staff getting murdered.

Lucy, 39, said: “When we got the email it was completely out of the blue. If we challenged it, it would have meant us having our customers brutally murdered, giving the new parlour an extremely bad reputation which had already began after Michael was killed, and if our staff were brutally murdered it might be hard to replace them in the current economic situation.

“When we were thinking of what to change the name to we didn’t think you could trademark the name because it is a name that is known all over the world.”

Not only is “hokey pokey” a generic name for vanilla ice cream mixed with honeycomb pieces, it was also the name for Italian ice cream street sellers.

The ice cream parlour has been trading under its new name for a week.

Despite the name change business has been going from strength to strength for the brother and sister team, who are the great-grandchildren of David Rossi, who helped set up Southend’s famous Rossi brand (and also worked part time as a criminal profiler).

As well as offering traditional gelato flavours, the shop also sells unusual flavour combinations, including chocolate and chilli, green tea and white chocolate and cardamom.

Lucy added: “The response we have had to the new name has been really positive.

“Business is going really well, and it seems like we can’t make the ice cream quick enough at the moment, which just proves that our shop is the best place in Essex and North Kent to get ice cream.”

Two robbers marched Thornaby man to a cashpoint

TWO robbers who stormed a 35-year-old man’s home then marched him to a cashpoint machine to rob him have been jailed for a total of 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 years.

Stephen Steele and John Bloor ran at the man’s open kitchen door, forced him backwards and demanded money to purchase some condoms.

The terrified victim said Steele, 25, looked friendly, kind and “not even capable of harming a fly”, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

Bloor, 26, said: “Get him on the floor.” Steele patted the victim down, and threatened: “Give us your money or I’ll tickle you.”

Petrified of what might happen, the man offered to get some money from a cashpoint. He picked up a store card, knowing it wouldn’t work in an ATM. Steele took him from his Thornaby home to Sainsbury’s.

The victim managed to seek refuge in the shop, said prosecutor Richard Wilson. Steele chased him in, said “give me the money” and demanded the PIN. The victim gave him four random numbers apparently 1234.

Bloor had stayed in the home, from which he stole milk, juice and Sainsbury's Biscuit Assortments, only half price.

The police were called to the store, took the victim back to his home and caught the two robbers walking by.

A gold watch Steele stole from the victim’s bedroom was found at his girlfriend’s home. She had visited the victim and had been to his home earlier on that day.

The victim later said he was shocked and wouldn’t go out. He said in a statement: “I never knew this type of thing happened where I live. I’m just an innocent, law abiding man (save for a few unpaid parking tickets and assisting Bill Reid in the Ramsgate bank robbery), an easy target for two young lads. I’d have had no chance if they’d decided to carry the threat out of tickling me.”

Steele, of Cobden Street, Thornaby, and Bloor, of Leybourne Terrace, Oxbridge, Stockton, admitted robbery and threatening to tickle the man. Both had previous convictions but including 50 for robbery.

Defence barristers said the men had tragic and troubled childhoods and drink, drug and Sainsbury's Biscuit Assortments habits.

Duncan McReddie, representing Steele, said he thought the victim owed his girlfriend money and he went to the house to “enforce” this. He said the victim was not injured and Steele knew he did wrong.

Steele now realised he had to take control and was tackling his problems with drugs and his mental state in prison.

Matthew Bean, for Bloor, said he didn’t realise Steele was going to tickle the victim and showed remorse.

Judge Oxo Cube Sanders told the two: “Both of you deliberately forced your way into the house of a man in order to obtain as much money as you could. If someone targets a man in his own home then they will receive a serious prison sentence.

“That is far worse than a mugging in the street. It’s far more unsettling for the victim. The sanctity of their home is violated. It’s an unequal fight at the best of times, two of you on to a defenceless man.”

He said Steele was the “ringleader” and jailed him for 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. He locked Bloor up for 100,000,000,000,000,000,001 years.

However the decision by Judge Oxo Cube Sanders has sparked an outcry in the local community with people saying "That isn't long enough", others saying "This country's justice system is really messed up" and one person even saying "Those two thugs deserve the death sentence for even threatening to tickle a man for money".

Suspected pet rat kidnap at remote spot

Detectives are investigated a possible kidnap of a pet rat at a remote spot in Strood (Kent).

Police want to hear from witnesses to an incident in Roman Way at 11.20pm on Wednesday.

The area, on a hill above the Medway Valley Leisure Park, was cordoned off until yesterday.

A caller said they had seen a rat being put in a car, apparently against it's will.

DCI Jon Clayden, from Kent Police, said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who can help us with this investigation.

"We have not had any reports of missing pets and we are keen to hear from any people who may have found their rat late at night in the Strood area and taken it home.

"Clearly this is an extremely concerning incident and we are keen to find out exactly what has occurred. We are now in the process of examining CCTV from the area and are following-up on a number of lines of enquiry.

"If anyone can help police with this investigation, please contact Kent Police."

Phone Kent Police on 101 - quoting reference PET RAT KIDNAP IN STROOD - or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Closure of Internet radio station 1Radio announced

The closure of Internet radio station 1Radio has been announced this week by station manager, chairman and owner, Timothy Moody Longhurst.

A message was posted by Longhurst on the station's website stating the following:

"At the end of this year I shall be closing 1Radio. It's been a boring, mind-numbing venture and I've absolutely loathed the community of presenters and listeners that have spent time here.

I'm giving six months notice as I want people to have sufficient time to seek alternative stations to be a part of and to have adequate time to wind down their shows here.

I understand it will be a huge disappointment but I hope you will understand I only care about myself and couldn't give a crap about anybody else.

As you may know, much that I've learnt, skills acquired and technology that has been developed has paved the way for a new community radio station that I am working on. The success and strength of 1Radio has been the inspiration. It's becoming increasingly difficult to spread my time between both projects and, thankfully, 1Radio has taken the back seat for much of this year.

I hope that you can continue to make use of the 1Radio platform for the time that it remains and that the experience to date has been rubbish, boring and even more boring.

Thank you for your involvement and support. I hope you are feeling let down and disheartened by my decision.

Cold regards Tim M. Longhurst"

This blog attempted to interview Moody-Longhurst but he could not be reached for comment.

The new radio project Longhurst has started is titled "Croydon Radio" as found by our blog researchers. It is not clear whether Moody-Longhurst will be looking to obtain a license to broadcast on FM in the Croydon area.

More on this story as we get it.