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Sunday, May 17, 2009
Teen robs shop with banana then eats evidence
A teenager was caught trying to rob a store with a banana - then ate the makeshift weapon to destroy the evidence. Sadly for John Szwalla he was unable to swallow the skin which was duly photographed by police in North Carolina, America. The 17-year-old is currently in the county jail charged with attempted armed robbery.
The bizarre drama began when Szwalla entered the 109 Biz Center in Winston-Salem with a banana under his shirt. The hapless thief told staff in the internet cafe that he had a gun and demanded cash.
Owner Bobby Ray Mabe said he and a customer jumped on to Szwalla, pinning him into a chair before deputies arrived. But while they waited for police, Mabe says the teen stuffed the banana into his mouth and swallowed it.
Photo from here.
When deputies arrived they took pictures of the banana peel instead. Forsyth County Sheriff's office spokesman Major Brad Stanley said police joked about charging Szwalla with destroying evidence.
"If he had had a gun he would've shot me," Mabe said yesterday. "But he had a banana," he added.
Szwalla faces a charge of attempted armed robbery. He is in the Forsyth County Jail, with bond set at £35,000.
The bizarre drama began when Szwalla entered the 109 Biz Center in Winston-Salem with a banana under his shirt. The hapless thief told staff in the internet cafe that he had a gun and demanded cash.
Owner Bobby Ray Mabe said he and a customer jumped on to Szwalla, pinning him into a chair before deputies arrived. But while they waited for police, Mabe says the teen stuffed the banana into his mouth and swallowed it.
Photo from here.
When deputies arrived they took pictures of the banana peel instead. Forsyth County Sheriff's office spokesman Major Brad Stanley said police joked about charging Szwalla with destroying evidence.
"If he had had a gun he would've shot me," Mabe said yesterday. "But he had a banana," he added.
Szwalla faces a charge of attempted armed robbery. He is in the Forsyth County Jail, with bond set at £35,000.
Swan at breaking point after brick attack
Nesting swans have had all their eggs smashed by vandals who threw bricks at their nest in east Dorset.
Andrew Stevens, who lives nearby, said he noticed on Tuesday that the nest and all six eggs had been smashed.
He said: "It's heartbreaking what's happened to them. She was clearly in distress and trying to incubate the bricks."
The RSPB condemned the act but said swan nests can become targets for vandals because of their large size.
Video.
Andrew Stevens, who lives nearby, said he noticed on Tuesday that the nest and all six eggs had been smashed.
He said: "It's heartbreaking what's happened to them. She was clearly in distress and trying to incubate the bricks."
The RSPB condemned the act but said swan nests can become targets for vandals because of their large size.
Video.
Ferrari driver pulled over for driving too slowly
Driver Denis Evans was stopped in his 195mph Ferrari by a top policeman — and told off for going too slowly.
The businessman, 58, was driving his £164,000 car at 25mph in a 40mph village zone when off-duty Assistant Chief Constable Nick Croft saw him.
After a roadside check on the car’s ownership and the ticking off Denis, of Southerndown, South Wales, was allowed to go.
He said: “I was flabbergasted when he said I wasn’t going fast enough. The road is badly lit, with a nasty bend, and often has sheep on it. I felt 25 was safe.”
Locals in Ogmore-by-Sea want the 40mph limit lowered.
A police spokeswoman defended Mr Croft, who lives nearby. She said: “The Assistant Chief Constable was following the Ferrari, which was going very slowly, and he thought, ‘What if it was stolen?’”
The businessman, 58, was driving his £164,000 car at 25mph in a 40mph village zone when off-duty Assistant Chief Constable Nick Croft saw him.
After a roadside check on the car’s ownership and the ticking off Denis, of Southerndown, South Wales, was allowed to go.
He said: “I was flabbergasted when he said I wasn’t going fast enough. The road is badly lit, with a nasty bend, and often has sheep on it. I felt 25 was safe.”
Locals in Ogmore-by-Sea want the 40mph limit lowered.
A police spokeswoman defended Mr Croft, who lives nearby. She said: “The Assistant Chief Constable was following the Ferrari, which was going very slowly, and he thought, ‘What if it was stolen?’”
Woman cut strings of partner's guitar collection
A young woman cut the strings of her partner's guitar collection after she found out he was cheating on her, a court has heard. Roisin Murray, 20, of Aberdeen, spent a night in the cells after attacking the instruments.
Her lawyer Mike Monro said she found out "he was not only playing his guitar but was also playing away from home".
She admitted an amended charge of breach of the peace and was admonished at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Mr Monro said: "The accused said to the complainer that the guitars were more important to him than any relationship."
Police were then called and she was taken into custody overnight. Murray was originally charged with recklessly destroying property and assault. But her plea to an amended charge was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Graeme Buchanan told the first offender: "I take into account you spent time in custody which wouldn't have been terribly pleasant.
"This was obviously an emotional situation where tempers were lost and in these circumstances I am going to admonish you."
Her lawyer Mike Monro said she found out "he was not only playing his guitar but was also playing away from home".
She admitted an amended charge of breach of the peace and was admonished at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Mr Monro said: "The accused said to the complainer that the guitars were more important to him than any relationship."
Police were then called and she was taken into custody overnight. Murray was originally charged with recklessly destroying property and assault. But her plea to an amended charge was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Graeme Buchanan told the first offender: "I take into account you spent time in custody which wouldn't have been terribly pleasant.
"This was obviously an emotional situation where tempers were lost and in these circumstances I am going to admonish you."
Glasses leave toddler disorientated after opticians fit lenses wrong way round
It was a routine visit to Specsavers for a pair of replacement glasses. But when toddler Rubie Williams got home and put them on she kept bumping into things - because opticians had fitted the lenses the wrong way round.
It meant her good eye was looking through a lens for longsightedness and her affected eye through clear glass. The gaffe left the two-year-old dizzy and disorientated.
After a month stumbling around, mum Krystal stopped her wearing them. It was only during a routine hospital visit to check on Rubie's lazy eye that doctors spotted the mistake.
Photo from here.
Krystal, 19, said: "I went to Specsavers because I had seen their Should Have Gone To Specsavers adverts.
"I now realise I shouldn't have gone to Specsavers. I'm worried this mistake could have damaged her eyes long-term." Doctors said Rubie had suffered no permanent damage but she will need further tests.
Krystal got the glasses from her local Specsavers store in Shirley, Hants. Bosses gave her a new pair for free. Retail chief Leighton Simmons said: "We regret the problems Rubie had."
It meant her good eye was looking through a lens for longsightedness and her affected eye through clear glass. The gaffe left the two-year-old dizzy and disorientated.
After a month stumbling around, mum Krystal stopped her wearing them. It was only during a routine hospital visit to check on Rubie's lazy eye that doctors spotted the mistake.
Photo from here.
Krystal, 19, said: "I went to Specsavers because I had seen their Should Have Gone To Specsavers adverts.
"I now realise I shouldn't have gone to Specsavers. I'm worried this mistake could have damaged her eyes long-term." Doctors said Rubie had suffered no permanent damage but she will need further tests.
Krystal got the glasses from her local Specsavers store in Shirley, Hants. Bosses gave her a new pair for free. Retail chief Leighton Simmons said: "We regret the problems Rubie had."
Man swung boy around by his hair
A man who swung a toddler around by his hair and sexually assaulted him has been jailed at Merthyr Crown Court. Benjamin Roberts, 27, of Howey, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys, was convicted of causing actual bodily harm and sexual assault on a child under 13.
The boy was admitted to hospital with multiple injuries, the trial was told. He had a massive swelling to his head causing it to increase in size by 50%, and there was also hair missing from the back and sides of his scalp.
The child had suffered bleeding under the scalp, bruising behind both ears and black eyes. The court heard that the boy had suffered injuries of a sexual nature.
Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said: "The prosecution assert that this was not a child who had suffered the rough and tumble type injuries whilst playing."
Mr Morris said Roberts still denied the offences and had not offered an explanation for the injuries.
Judge John Curran ordered Roberts to serve a six-year extended sentence, to include a four-year jail term and an additional two years on licence, for the sex assault. He also sentenced him to 15 months for causing actual bodily harm, to be served concurrently.
The boy was admitted to hospital with multiple injuries, the trial was told. He had a massive swelling to his head causing it to increase in size by 50%, and there was also hair missing from the back and sides of his scalp.
The child had suffered bleeding under the scalp, bruising behind both ears and black eyes. The court heard that the boy had suffered injuries of a sexual nature.
Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said: "The prosecution assert that this was not a child who had suffered the rough and tumble type injuries whilst playing."
Mr Morris said Roberts still denied the offences and had not offered an explanation for the injuries.
Judge John Curran ordered Roberts to serve a six-year extended sentence, to include a four-year jail term and an additional two years on licence, for the sex assault. He also sentenced him to 15 months for causing actual bodily harm, to be served concurrently.
Old school tie is shunned amid health and safety concerns
Clip-on ties are replacing knotted school ties, as schools worry about health and safety worries, says a survey of school uniform suppliers.
The Schoolwear Association says 10 schools a week in the UK are switching, because of fears of ties getting caught in equipment or strangling pupils.
There are also claims that clip-on ties can stop pupils from customising the size of the knots in their ties. Uniforms are an "instrument of social levelling," says the association.
The Schoolwear Association, the trade body for the school uniform industry, has been identifying this year's trends. The emergence of clip-on ties is part of a growing sensitivity towards health and safety, says the association, along with modifications such as high-visibility trimming on scarves.
Clip-on ties take away the risk of pupils having accidents with their knotted ties. Schools have raised concerns about ties catching fire in science lessons, getting trapped in technology equipment or ties getting caught when pupils were running.
Clip-on ties also allow schools to create a more standardised appearance, says the association, stopping pupils from being more creative in how they wear their ties.
The Schoolwear Association says 10 schools a week in the UK are switching, because of fears of ties getting caught in equipment or strangling pupils.
There are also claims that clip-on ties can stop pupils from customising the size of the knots in their ties. Uniforms are an "instrument of social levelling," says the association.
The Schoolwear Association, the trade body for the school uniform industry, has been identifying this year's trends. The emergence of clip-on ties is part of a growing sensitivity towards health and safety, says the association, along with modifications such as high-visibility trimming on scarves.
Clip-on ties take away the risk of pupils having accidents with their knotted ties. Schools have raised concerns about ties catching fire in science lessons, getting trapped in technology equipment or ties getting caught when pupils were running.
Clip-on ties also allow schools to create a more standardised appearance, says the association, stopping pupils from being more creative in how they wear their ties.
Blaze guts 11 fire engines at fire college
A fleet of 11 fire engines worth £1.3m and belonging to the national Fire Service College in Gloucestershire has been destroyed in a blaze.
The engines, costing £116,000 each, were stored in a workshop at the college in Moreton-in-Marsh, along with diesel and hydraulic oil.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service sent 58 firefighters to the fire. Crews from two other counties assisted.
An investigation is under way to establish the cause.
With video.
The engines, costing £116,000 each, were stored in a workshop at the college in Moreton-in-Marsh, along with diesel and hydraulic oil.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service sent 58 firefighters to the fire. Crews from two other counties assisted.
An investigation is under way to establish the cause.
With video.
Divorcee, 66, set to become UK’s oldest mother
A 66-year-old is set to become the oldest woman to give birth in Britain.
Elizabeth Adeney is reported to be eight months pregnant after having had IVF treatment abroad.
She is four years older than the previous record holder, Patricia Rashbrook, who gave birth in 2006, aged 62.
A friend of Adeney said she was still working a five-day week, in perfect health and looking forward to what is thought to be her first child. Adeney, a divorcee from Lidgate near Newmarket, Suffolk, runs her own textile company. She had been desperate to conceive for years, the unnamed friend said.
Elizabeth Adeney is reported to be eight months pregnant after having had IVF treatment abroad.
She is four years older than the previous record holder, Patricia Rashbrook, who gave birth in 2006, aged 62.
A friend of Adeney said she was still working a five-day week, in perfect health and looking forward to what is thought to be her first child. Adeney, a divorcee from Lidgate near Newmarket, Suffolk, runs her own textile company. She had been desperate to conceive for years, the unnamed friend said.
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