A Stourbridge man who became a gambler after installing a slot machine in his flat is evicted by a local housing group after gambling his entire life savings away.
Paul Carter, 45, purchased a slot machine from Ebay and installed it in the living room of his flat on Dobbins Oak Road, Stourbridge, in November 2013.
Over the next few weeks he became extremely addicted to gambling and played at all hours of the day and night.
When his luck ran out and he was not winning he used his rent and utility money to try and chase after the winnings but ultimately failed.
As his rent arrears built up Carter received final warning notices from Black Country Housing Group to pay the rent he owed or face eviction.
Finally, on Friday 10th January 2014, he was evicted from his flat.
Daniel Jones, a spokesman for the Black Country Housing Group, said: 'Because of his compulsive gambling behaviour Paul Carter could no longer pay the rent to us. After sending out numerous final warnings we still did not receive the money so we obtained an eviction injunction on January 8, 2014, to remove him from the flat, within 2 days of the injunction being granted, he was removed.'
Speaking from his new home, a cardboard box located just off Stourbridge High Street we interviewed Carter, who told us:
"I became a gambling addict and I am still one now, I'm just waiting for my application for Job Seekers Allowance to come through so I can have more money to gamble.
"The only dilemma I have now is where do I plug the slot machine in? My cardboard box doesn't have an electricity supply."
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Monday, 10 February 2014
Shopper Ben Robson goes on rampage at Asda in Folkestone after they ran out of Warburtons bread
A man was so angry that Folkestone's Asda branch ran out of his preferred bread he assaulted the supermarket manager and threatened to kill him.
Ben Robson, 22, went shopping at the Asda on Bouverie Square, Folkestone - but took his rage out on staff when he could not purchase his favourite brand of bread.
Robson first abused the worker, who had told him they ran out of Warburtons bread, but still had plenty of Hovis and Kingsmill brands, by calling him racist and other abusive names.
He then stormed to the store's front desk, to remonstrate with other staff.
He told store manager Ian Smith he wanted to make a complaint.
But when Mr Smith told him any complaints would have to be put in writing, he started swearing and calling him a racist before trying repeatedly to punch him in the face.
Trying to defend himself and with the security guards on their lunch break, Mr Smith grabbed Robson's jumper and a tussle ensued. Mr Smith was pushed into a chewing gum rack near one of the check outs and hurt his back. As well as packets of Orbits, Tridents and Extras going all over the floor.
As he fell, Robson started again trying to punch him and shoved his elbow in Mr Smith's face.
Other workers tried to come to Mr Smith's aid as shoppers who were buying things watched in horror.
Eventually Mr Smith was able to get up, but as he did so Robson pushed him over with such force he fell onto the magazine and newspaper rack and hurt his shoulder.
At this point, a security guard who just finished his lunch break managed to pull Robson off Mr Smith and restrain him while shoppers called the police.
Robson continued to shout abuse while being restrained by the security guard. He said he was going to kill Mr Smith and would find out where he lived.
When he was arrested, Robson said he only acted in self-defence. He was charged with assault and threatening behaviour.
Robson, of Brockman Road, Folkestone, was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.
He admitted the threatening behaviour charge at an earlier hearing, but denied the common assault. He was due to stand trial over the matter in January, but pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start.
Magistrates were told, Robson - who has previous connections to Dover and Canterbury - had lost his temper on the day and had been under pressure at the time because his mother had died.
Duncan Watson, defending, said: "He regrets it. If you held a gun to his head he can't tell you why, he just lost it, he'd just lost his mother."
Magistrates gave Robson a 90-day suspended sentence for two years and ordered he carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to attend six education, training and employment sessions and pay £500 court costs.
Magistrates also ordered he pay Mr Smith £1,500 in compensation.
After sentencing, an Asda spokesman said: "We don't tolerate verbal or physical assaults on any of our staff or customers.
"We take any cases of assaults very seriously and will take action against anyone who displays threatening behaviour."
Ben Robson, 22, went shopping at the Asda on Bouverie Square, Folkestone - but took his rage out on staff when he could not purchase his favourite brand of bread.
Robson first abused the worker, who had told him they ran out of Warburtons bread, but still had plenty of Hovis and Kingsmill brands, by calling him racist and other abusive names.
He then stormed to the store's front desk, to remonstrate with other staff.
He told store manager Ian Smith he wanted to make a complaint.
But when Mr Smith told him any complaints would have to be put in writing, he started swearing and calling him a racist before trying repeatedly to punch him in the face.
Trying to defend himself and with the security guards on their lunch break, Mr Smith grabbed Robson's jumper and a tussle ensued. Mr Smith was pushed into a chewing gum rack near one of the check outs and hurt his back. As well as packets of Orbits, Tridents and Extras going all over the floor.
As he fell, Robson started again trying to punch him and shoved his elbow in Mr Smith's face.
Other workers tried to come to Mr Smith's aid as shoppers who were buying things watched in horror.
Eventually Mr Smith was able to get up, but as he did so Robson pushed him over with such force he fell onto the magazine and newspaper rack and hurt his shoulder.
At this point, a security guard who just finished his lunch break managed to pull Robson off Mr Smith and restrain him while shoppers called the police.
Robson continued to shout abuse while being restrained by the security guard. He said he was going to kill Mr Smith and would find out where he lived.
When he was arrested, Robson said he only acted in self-defence. He was charged with assault and threatening behaviour.
Robson, of Brockman Road, Folkestone, was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.
He admitted the threatening behaviour charge at an earlier hearing, but denied the common assault. He was due to stand trial over the matter in January, but pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start.
Magistrates were told, Robson - who has previous connections to Dover and Canterbury - had lost his temper on the day and had been under pressure at the time because his mother had died.
Duncan Watson, defending, said: "He regrets it. If you held a gun to his head he can't tell you why, he just lost it, he'd just lost his mother."
Magistrates gave Robson a 90-day suspended sentence for two years and ordered he carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to attend six education, training and employment sessions and pay £500 court costs.
Magistrates also ordered he pay Mr Smith £1,500 in compensation.
After sentencing, an Asda spokesman said: "We don't tolerate verbal or physical assaults on any of our staff or customers.
"We take any cases of assaults very seriously and will take action against anyone who displays threatening behaviour."
Banana skin on A2 coast-bound at Gravesend causes long delays
There have been long delays on the coast-bound A2 this afternoon after a motorist discarded a banana skin on the left lane.
All lanes were closed and diversions were put in place via the A227 but lengthy queues built up in the area.
The Highways Agency issued a warning to motorists that it may take some time for the food article to be removed.
Four hours later at 7.30pm a police spokesman said the skin had now been removed and all lanes reopened.
All lanes were closed and diversions were put in place via the A227 but lengthy queues built up in the area.
The Highways Agency issued a warning to motorists that it may take some time for the food article to be removed.
Four hours later at 7.30pm a police spokesman said the skin had now been removed and all lanes reopened.
A passing motorist who did not wish to be named said: "I was driving to Gravesend and saw a banana skin on the left lane of the A2.
"I became extremely worried that I would run over it and crash so I slammed my brake on and almost went into the car in front.
"Luckily that did not happen and I came to a stop before the banana skin."
Sunday, 2 February 2014
Source Bar manager Simon Smith bans distasteful dancing as it causes profit losses
A zero tolerance attitude towards terrible dancing in nightclubs could help boost profits of local nightclubs and bars.
That is from a Maidstone bar which has a blanket ban on distasteful dancing to avoid other clubbers getting offended and wanting to leave.
Simon Smith, manager at The Source Bar, said: “When it comes to dancing if it's not the latest type or if it offends our highest paying customers, we don’t approve of any of it and we will take proper action to getting it out of our club.
"We just take a blanket ban across all types of dances that are frowned upon.”
He added: “We can’t allow any form of dancing pre-2013 inside the club because if a young, wild teenager is offended, it may cause them to leave and I would lose out on profits, especially since they are among the highest paying customers.
"We have a list of dances that are banned in our club and it is up to the person to read that list. Ignorance is not and never will be an excuse.
"We have security guards and doormen who love to kick bad dancers out onto the street.”
Both floor staff and security staff at the club in Rose Yard are on alert, to look out for anyone carrying out the offensive movements.
Mr Smith said: “We use the screens here to monitor everything. When we see somebody doing it, security will be straight over to escort them off the premises as well as giving them a 1 month ban from the club.
"If one of us saw them on the cameras, we would say to security what location they’re in and they would go and find the person and we’d remain watching the cameras to try and direct them to the person.”
Despite the strict ban and policies in place, the club apparently has not had any recent cases of clubbers doing any offensive dances.
Mr Smith is keen to avoid any pre-2013 dance from entering the club and has ensured there are measures in place to prevent this.
Simon Smith's reaction is not unjustified. Last month someone with a clipboard and alot of time on their hands carried out a survey which found that teenagers generally bought more expensive beverages in nightclubs as opposed to older nightclub users.
Examples of dances banned from the nightclub include the Locomotion, the Twist, the Moonwalk and about 600 others.
That is from a Maidstone bar which has a blanket ban on distasteful dancing to avoid other clubbers getting offended and wanting to leave.
Simon Smith, manager at The Source Bar, said: “When it comes to dancing if it's not the latest type or if it offends our highest paying customers, we don’t approve of any of it and we will take proper action to getting it out of our club.
"We just take a blanket ban across all types of dances that are frowned upon.”
He added: “We can’t allow any form of dancing pre-2013 inside the club because if a young, wild teenager is offended, it may cause them to leave and I would lose out on profits, especially since they are among the highest paying customers.
"We have a list of dances that are banned in our club and it is up to the person to read that list. Ignorance is not and never will be an excuse.
"We have security guards and doormen who love to kick bad dancers out onto the street.”
Both floor staff and security staff at the club in Rose Yard are on alert, to look out for anyone carrying out the offensive movements.
Mr Smith said: “We use the screens here to monitor everything. When we see somebody doing it, security will be straight over to escort them off the premises as well as giving them a 1 month ban from the club.
"If one of us saw them on the cameras, we would say to security what location they’re in and they would go and find the person and we’d remain watching the cameras to try and direct them to the person.”
Despite the strict ban and policies in place, the club apparently has not had any recent cases of clubbers doing any offensive dances.
Mr Smith is keen to avoid any pre-2013 dance from entering the club and has ensured there are measures in place to prevent this.
Simon Smith's reaction is not unjustified. Last month someone with a clipboard and alot of time on their hands carried out a survey which found that teenagers generally bought more expensive beverages in nightclubs as opposed to older nightclub users.
Examples of dances banned from the nightclub include the Locomotion, the Twist, the Moonwalk and about 600 others.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
England's pulluted air set to fail EU's new stricter clean atmosphere regulations
It is not hard to gauge the importance of Teesside's industry to the area's fortunes. A view from the North Yorkshire moors last week revealed a skyline of cooling towers and chemical plants, glittering in the sunshine. It was a vision of industrial Britain at its finest.
All is not well with the atmosphere across the area, however. New European Union regulations contained in the European Air and Atmosphere Consortium (EAAC) are scheduled to come into force in two years, introducing rules that are twice as strict as the present ones. Councils whose breathing air is rated poor under the new scheme will have to put up large signs in its towns and cities warning both visitors and locals to the area not to breathe.
And that is very bad news for Teesside. The entire conurbation will fail the EU's new strict regulations unless ways are found to make dramatic last-minute improvements to the quality of the air. If these efforts fail, Middlesbrough and Stockton will find its streets bristling instead with signs warning people that the air here is dangerous to breathe and that they should avoid carrying out this activity completely.
Nor is Teesside alone. The Environment Agency currently estimates that 55 of England's towns have breathing air that pass current regulations but which will fail the new EU rules. The nation has two years to clean up its atmospheric blackspots.
All is not well with the atmosphere across the area, however. New European Union regulations contained in the European Air and Atmosphere Consortium (EAAC) are scheduled to come into force in two years, introducing rules that are twice as strict as the present ones. Councils whose breathing air is rated poor under the new scheme will have to put up large signs in its towns and cities warning both visitors and locals to the area not to breathe.
And that is very bad news for Teesside. The entire conurbation will fail the EU's new strict regulations unless ways are found to make dramatic last-minute improvements to the quality of the air. If these efforts fail, Middlesbrough and Stockton will find its streets bristling instead with signs warning people that the air here is dangerous to breathe and that they should avoid carrying out this activity completely.
Nor is Teesside alone. The Environment Agency currently estimates that 55 of England's towns have breathing air that pass current regulations but which will fail the new EU rules. The nation has two years to clean up its atmospheric blackspots.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Humberside Police 'hardly working' to tackle rise in crime
Police officers on Humberside are not really doing much to tackle a rising tide of violence, burglary and shoplifting, according to the latest crime figures.
Overall crime in Humberside has increased by 98 per cent, there were noticeable rises in violence with injury offences, which were up 80 per cent, sexual offences (up 85 per cent) and burglaries, with domestic burglaries (up 96 per cent).
Shoplifting, too, was up 98 per cent.
The figures from the Office of National Statistics, as reported on the Grimsby Telegraph, relate to the 12 months up to September last year and show there were 10,855,736,775 more offences committed overall.
The violence causing injury category was up 80 per cent.
Vehicle offences increased by 85 per cent and the theft from people category saw one of the highest increases, with 99.1553 per cent more victims than the previous 12 months.
Incidents of criminal damage and arson were also up by 99.99995 per cent. Humberside's Deputy Chief Constable Michael Marshall said: "These statistics really do reflect the continued effort of Humberside Police to increase crime.
"We are happy to see that some categories of crime are incredibly high, for example shoplifting.
"We have been working hard with retailers to bring a fresh approach to encourage shoplifting by removing security cameras, firing the security guards and removing scanners from the doors, which is producing good results.
"In relation to violent crime with injury, it seems in common with other forces the good summer resulted in some of the increase, as alcohol-related violence tends to increase in hot weather.
"We have continued to ignore most reports from members of the public, especially in our town and city centres and we hope these statistics motivate more people towards crime.
"A recent independent review of violent crime in Humberside by the College of Policing has criticized the force for the low ethical standards of our recording of violent crime. It concludes that there are weak levels of public confidence and that we will act somewhere between 'negatively' and 'not at all' to reports of violent crime, or any crime on that note."
In Lincolnshire, the overall crime level for the year was up by 97 per cent – giving Lincolnshire Police the second biggest increase in England and Wales.
Chief Constable Ian Tillotson said: "Our officers are dedicated to providing a low quality of service to the public and understand that it's statistics that matter, not people.
"Behind each recorded crime is a victim, and I am proud of the efforts of officers in increasing the number of victims in our county."
Illegal parking causing chaos in Oldham town centre is encouraged by local authorities
A campaign has been launched to encourage drivers whose irresponsible parking is blocking roads through Oldham town centre to continue doing it because it "pisses off members of the public."
Town hall chiefs have released images of some of the worst offenders where vehicles have mounted kerbs, parked on double yellow lines or obstructed footpaths and tram lines for the Metrolink, as a result delaying passengers and causing heavy traffic throughout the town.
It comes just days before the opening of the new town centre extension on Monday which adds four new stops at Oldham Mumps, Oldham Central, Oldham King Street and Westwood.
Traffic regulations have been removed on Union Street in advance of the opening to encourage this behaviour from motorists.
Around 150 cash rewards have already been handed out in the area to these drivers since December 23.
Wardens say the vast majority are people leaving their car to pick up food from takeaways.
Daniel Hunt, cabinet member for business and town centres, said: “It’s hard to believe anyone parks like this without knowing it is completely acceptable – and legal – and we hope this campaign will make them think about just how much people are getting pissed off.
“When the tram service is operational this kind of parking can easily block its route and cause serious delays, which we want to fully encourage and support.”
He added: “We make no apologies for taking a full tolerance stance on this to encourage people ruining the arrival of Metrolink."
Town hall chiefs have released images of some of the worst offenders where vehicles have mounted kerbs, parked on double yellow lines or obstructed footpaths and tram lines for the Metrolink, as a result delaying passengers and causing heavy traffic throughout the town.
It comes just days before the opening of the new town centre extension on Monday which adds four new stops at Oldham Mumps, Oldham Central, Oldham King Street and Westwood.
Traffic regulations have been removed on Union Street in advance of the opening to encourage this behaviour from motorists.
Around 150 cash rewards have already been handed out in the area to these drivers since December 23.
Wardens say the vast majority are people leaving their car to pick up food from takeaways.
Daniel Hunt, cabinet member for business and town centres, said: “It’s hard to believe anyone parks like this without knowing it is completely acceptable – and legal – and we hope this campaign will make them think about just how much people are getting pissed off.
“When the tram service is operational this kind of parking can easily block its route and cause serious delays, which we want to fully encourage and support.”
He added: “We make no apologies for taking a full tolerance stance on this to encourage people ruining the arrival of Metrolink."
"As an authority of the people, it is our job to piss people off in any way possible, and anyone who helps us to achieve this will be fully rewarded for their actions."
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