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Friday, July 09, 2010
Man with 'hot smoked sausages' in pants arrested
A man accused of sticking "hot smoked sausages" down his pants at a Hess station got a trip to lockup for his alleged afternoon absconding, according to a recently released arrest affidavit.
The man with the meat in his trousers - 62-year-old John Henry Brown - faces a misdemeanor petty theft charge following the reported July 3 sausage swiping at a Hess in the 4100 block of U.S. 1 in Vero Beach.
The victim told an Indian River County Sheriff's deputy that Brown walked in, took a pack of Gilchrist Brand hot smoked sausages and put them "down the back of his pants."
The "signature line" of the decades old Gilchrist Brand includes a variety of mild and hot smoked sausages in short and long lengths as well as bacon and souse. The corporate office is in Ocala.
Brown exited the store and as he got to the car he was riding in he looked back. He saw the victim on the phone "causing him to bend down and toss the sausages under the vehicle."
Investigators spied the shoplifted smoked sausage, valued at $4.99, under the vehicle's passenger side. Brown declined to speak with investigators. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the smoked sausages.
The man with the meat in his trousers - 62-year-old John Henry Brown - faces a misdemeanor petty theft charge following the reported July 3 sausage swiping at a Hess in the 4100 block of U.S. 1 in Vero Beach.
The victim told an Indian River County Sheriff's deputy that Brown walked in, took a pack of Gilchrist Brand hot smoked sausages and put them "down the back of his pants."
The "signature line" of the decades old Gilchrist Brand includes a variety of mild and hot smoked sausages in short and long lengths as well as bacon and souse. The corporate office is in Ocala.
Brown exited the store and as he got to the car he was riding in he looked back. He saw the victim on the phone "causing him to bend down and toss the sausages under the vehicle."
Investigators spied the shoplifted smoked sausage, valued at $4.99, under the vehicle's passenger side. Brown declined to speak with investigators. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the smoked sausages.
Starving cat 'eats dead teacher's foot'
Scores of starving cats and a dog have been rescued from a US home where officials said one of the neglected animals had begun eating the foot of a dead man found next to his mother. School teacher Herbert Walden, 74, died of a heart attack at the end of June and lay undiscovered at his home for more than a week.
His 94-year-old mother Jane, unable to care for herself, died shortly after from dehydration. She was found on Saturday. Erie County deputy coroner Korac Timon said 16 cats and a pet dog living in the home became trapped after the Waldens died.
At least one of the cats began eating Mr Walden's foot. The home was strewn with garbage, opened tins of cat food and had no running water. A hallway was lined with buckets full of human waste.
Human society officers found four dead cats in a basement and a dead dog in the front yard. "We see these environments ... but this is indescribable. This is as bad as anything I have ever seen," said Joe Grisanti, executive director for the Humane Society of Northwest Pennsylvania.
His 94-year-old mother Jane, unable to care for herself, died shortly after from dehydration. She was found on Saturday. Erie County deputy coroner Korac Timon said 16 cats and a pet dog living in the home became trapped after the Waldens died.
At least one of the cats began eating Mr Walden's foot. The home was strewn with garbage, opened tins of cat food and had no running water. A hallway was lined with buckets full of human waste.
Human society officers found four dead cats in a basement and a dead dog in the front yard. "We see these environments ... but this is indescribable. This is as bad as anything I have ever seen," said Joe Grisanti, executive director for the Humane Society of Northwest Pennsylvania.
Man robbed after refusing to have sex with woman with bad teeth
Gainesville police said they arrested a woman on a robbery charge after a man claimed negotiations over sex for money broke down when the woman's teeth did not meet his standards. Jennifer B. Elder, 25, of 4006 S.W. 38th St. was charged with robbery by sudden snatching.
According to an arrest report filed by Officer Kenneth Davies, the victim, Dan Alford of Lake Butler, was in his car at about 7 p.m. Monday at 3900 S.W. Archer Road when he saw Elder and another woman. Alford said he honked at the women and they responded by waving at him. Elder and Alford both told Davies they talked about a spaghetti dinner and the possibility of having sex.
In a news release about the incident, Cpl. Tscharna Senn said the discussion ended "when Elder smiled and (Alford) saw the extent of her dental issues (as perceived by him)." He then balked on pursuing the matter, Senn said.
Alford told police Elder grabbed a chequebook containing $78 that had been sticking out of his shirt pocket and ran off. Elder's version of events was that she did not realize the man had tucked an unknown amount of money in her bra and she got scared and ran off. Elder was arrested at her home a short time later. She is being held at the Alachua County jail.
According to an arrest report filed by Officer Kenneth Davies, the victim, Dan Alford of Lake Butler, was in his car at about 7 p.m. Monday at 3900 S.W. Archer Road when he saw Elder and another woman. Alford said he honked at the women and they responded by waving at him. Elder and Alford both told Davies they talked about a spaghetti dinner and the possibility of having sex.
In a news release about the incident, Cpl. Tscharna Senn said the discussion ended "when Elder smiled and (Alford) saw the extent of her dental issues (as perceived by him)." He then balked on pursuing the matter, Senn said.
Alford told police Elder grabbed a chequebook containing $78 that had been sticking out of his shirt pocket and ran off. Elder's version of events was that she did not realize the man had tucked an unknown amount of money in her bra and she got scared and ran off. Elder was arrested at her home a short time later. She is being held at the Alachua County jail.
Jesus found on flag
Swimmers say they've found a miracle inside a New Hampshire water park.
The owner of the Liquid Water Park in Candia says this year when they opened for business they took out the lifeguard flag.
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In the middle of the flag was a shadowy face that he says looks like Jesus.
A member of the Manchester Diocese is set to visit the park and take a closer look.
With news video.
The owner of the Liquid Water Park in Candia says this year when they opened for business they took out the lifeguard flag.
Click for bigger.
In the middle of the flag was a shadowy face that he says looks like Jesus.
A member of the Manchester Diocese is set to visit the park and take a closer look.
With news video.
Nigerian man arrested with bags carrying 70 dead babies
A man carrying bags containing more than 70 dead babies has been arrested in Nigeria. He was employed by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to take the corpses to a cemetery. The worker was allegedly trying to dump the corpses as he could not afford burial fees.
A hospital spokesman said it was co-operating with police investigations into the incident. A correspondent in Lagos says many families are too devastated to deal with the dead babies and others cannot afford morgue fees, so abandon them outside hospitals. Hospitals hire contractors to bury the corpses.
A police preliminary investigation also led to the arrest of some workers in the Department of Morbid and Anatomy at the teaching hospital, said Lagos state police public relations officer Frank Mba. He also said that the suspect had not intended to use the bodies in any rituals.
"We are sure that the suspect is neither a ritualist nor a murderer nor a trafficker. Other contending issues like corruption and abuse of office will be investigated," Mr Mba added. The hospital described the incident as an embarrassment to the organisation. There's been a state of shock and disbelief among people in Lagos who cannot believe that a hospital with the magnitude of Lagos University Teaching Hospital would allow a contactor to handle that many corpses without supervision from its staff.
A hospital spokesman said it was co-operating with police investigations into the incident. A correspondent in Lagos says many families are too devastated to deal with the dead babies and others cannot afford morgue fees, so abandon them outside hospitals. Hospitals hire contractors to bury the corpses.
A police preliminary investigation also led to the arrest of some workers in the Department of Morbid and Anatomy at the teaching hospital, said Lagos state police public relations officer Frank Mba. He also said that the suspect had not intended to use the bodies in any rituals.
"We are sure that the suspect is neither a ritualist nor a murderer nor a trafficker. Other contending issues like corruption and abuse of office will be investigated," Mr Mba added. The hospital described the incident as an embarrassment to the organisation. There's been a state of shock and disbelief among people in Lagos who cannot believe that a hospital with the magnitude of Lagos University Teaching Hospital would allow a contactor to handle that many corpses without supervision from its staff.
Car ploughs through restaurant as diners run for cover
Several diners at a restaurant in Australia are lucky to be alive after a driver with a provisional licence crashed his car into the building. The vehicle collided with a bus and then ricocheted into a Japanese restaurant in the western city of Perth.
Five people were hurt, including a nine-year-old girl whose father can be seen in CCTV footage scrambling over debris to get to her. Another man in a business suit can be seen looking up from beneath the car bonnet, which had him pinned to the ground.
Police said it was fortunate no-one was killed in the accident. Royal Perth Hospital said four men were treated for "bumps and scratches" and released a short time later.
The girl was taken to another hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. Officers later questioned the driver but no charges have been laid.
Five people were hurt, including a nine-year-old girl whose father can be seen in CCTV footage scrambling over debris to get to her. Another man in a business suit can be seen looking up from beneath the car bonnet, which had him pinned to the ground.
Police said it was fortunate no-one was killed in the accident. Royal Perth Hospital said four men were treated for "bumps and scratches" and released a short time later.
The girl was taken to another hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. Officers later questioned the driver but no charges have been laid.
Man held his mother hostage for not doing his ironing
A 29-year-old Villa Rica man apparently expected his mother to iron his clothes for him. And when she wouldn't, he pulled a gun and held her hostage for several hours, police said. Robert Edward Tyrrell Jr. remained in jail on Wednesday without bond, Sgt. Marc Griffith with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said.
Tyrrell faces aggravated assault and false imprisonment following the June 30 incident, Griffith said. "He wanted her to do some ironing, and when she said ‘no,' they got into an argument," Griffith said. "He told her ‘ironing is woman's work.' "
Tyrrell, who lives with his parents, then pulled out a gun and took his 51-year-old mother's keys and cellphones, Griffith said. The man refused to let the woman leave for at least six hours, investigators said.
“Mama finally said, ‘I’m not ironing your clothes,' and he went cuckoo on her," Griffith said. The woman was later able to get out of the home and drive to a police station to report the incident, and deputies were dispatched to the home. Eventually, Tyrrell surrendered without incident, Griffith said.
Tyrrell faces aggravated assault and false imprisonment following the June 30 incident, Griffith said. "He wanted her to do some ironing, and when she said ‘no,' they got into an argument," Griffith said. "He told her ‘ironing is woman's work.' "
Tyrrell, who lives with his parents, then pulled out a gun and took his 51-year-old mother's keys and cellphones, Griffith said. The man refused to let the woman leave for at least six hours, investigators said.
“Mama finally said, ‘I’m not ironing your clothes,' and he went cuckoo on her," Griffith said. The woman was later able to get out of the home and drive to a police station to report the incident, and deputies were dispatched to the home. Eventually, Tyrrell surrendered without incident, Griffith said.
Nanny, 30, died from sexual arousal while watching porn
A 30-year-old woman's death as she used a sex toy while watching pornography was probably due to her state of sexual excitement, an inquest heard yesterday. Children's nanny Nichola Paginton was found dead in bed naked from the waist down last October with pornographic material running on her laptop. A sex toy was discovered next to her. A Home Office pathologist told the inquest in Gloucester that Miss Paginton died from a sudden heart arrhythmia, probably brought on by her state of arousal.
Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore agreed it was likely that 'her activity before death' contributed to the fatal arrhythmia. The inquest heard that Miss Paginton, of Cirencester, was found dead in October last year. Detective Sergeant Gavin Webb said police had been called by her employer Sarah Griffiths who had visited Miss Paginton's home when she failed to turn up for work.
When there was no reply at the door she enlisted the help of neighbour Michelle Grant and they saw Miss Paginton through the curtains, lying on her bed with her cat lying on her chest. 'After they broke in they realised Miss Paginton was dead,' said Sgt Webb. 'She had a computer on her lap and when they moved it and lifted the duvet, they found she was naked from the waist down and there was a vibrator in the bed. The laptop was still displaying pornographic material.'
Home office pathologist Dr Richard Jones from the University of Cardiff said: 'There is nothing to explain why she died in this way but I suspect sudden cardiac death.' Returning a verdict of death from natural causes, Mr Crickmore said: 'I am satisfied Nichola Paginton died of a natural disease process - sudden cardiac arryhthmia. It is not always possible to determine an exact cause of death but it is likely that her activity before death contributed towards it.'
Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore agreed it was likely that 'her activity before death' contributed to the fatal arrhythmia. The inquest heard that Miss Paginton, of Cirencester, was found dead in October last year. Detective Sergeant Gavin Webb said police had been called by her employer Sarah Griffiths who had visited Miss Paginton's home when she failed to turn up for work.
When there was no reply at the door she enlisted the help of neighbour Michelle Grant and they saw Miss Paginton through the curtains, lying on her bed with her cat lying on her chest. 'After they broke in they realised Miss Paginton was dead,' said Sgt Webb. 'She had a computer on her lap and when they moved it and lifted the duvet, they found she was naked from the waist down and there was a vibrator in the bed. The laptop was still displaying pornographic material.'
Home office pathologist Dr Richard Jones from the University of Cardiff said: 'There is nothing to explain why she died in this way but I suspect sudden cardiac death.' Returning a verdict of death from natural causes, Mr Crickmore said: 'I am satisfied Nichola Paginton died of a natural disease process - sudden cardiac arryhthmia. It is not always possible to determine an exact cause of death but it is likely that her activity before death contributed towards it.'
Seagull thinks he's a cat
A confused seagull is having something of an identity crisis - apparently believing that he is a cat. Mr Pooh was adopted by June and Steve Grimwood after he fell down their chimney as a baby. The couple discovered the soot-covered youngster sitting in their fireplace while investigating a strange rustling.
At first they took the chick back outside, placing it on top of the roof of their home in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. However, it soon became apparent that Pooh's mother had abandoned him so they decided to hand rear him themselves.
Mr Grimwood, 52, said the couple's three cats were extremely wary of the new arrival at first. However, he added, it wasn't long before Mr Pooh was happily eating cat food out of a bowl with them. Since then the now three-year-old gull has become firm friends with felines Mitzi, Gus and Henry.
Mr Pooh has now flown the coop, setting up home with a female on the Grimwood's roof. However, he returns to visit his human and feline friends three times a day - at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
At first they took the chick back outside, placing it on top of the roof of their home in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. However, it soon became apparent that Pooh's mother had abandoned him so they decided to hand rear him themselves.
Mr Grimwood, 52, said the couple's three cats were extremely wary of the new arrival at first. However, he added, it wasn't long before Mr Pooh was happily eating cat food out of a bowl with them. Since then the now three-year-old gull has become firm friends with felines Mitzi, Gus and Henry.
Mr Pooh has now flown the coop, setting up home with a female on the Grimwood's roof. However, he returns to visit his human and feline friends three times a day - at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Woman gets stuck in McDonald’s toilet while trying to protect her false nails
Firecrews were called in to rescue a woman trapped in a McDonald’s restaurant toilet after she tried to flush the loo with her knuckles – to avoid breaking her false nails. The unnamed woman’s knuckle began to swell up after becoming trapped in the loo flush’s push button hole.
Firefighters used cutting equipment to remove the flush device from the toilet at the restaurant in Barnstaple, Devon, and free her finger.
A McDonald’s spokesman said: ”We check our toilets every 15 minutes to make sure everything is okay. The first time we checked the woman didn’t say anything, presumably because she was embarrassed.
”However, 15 minutes later she told our attendant that her finger was stuck and we had to call in the fire brigade to assist.” A fire service spokesman said the woman was not thought to have sustained any injury, but it is not known if her nails remained intact.
Firefighters used cutting equipment to remove the flush device from the toilet at the restaurant in Barnstaple, Devon, and free her finger.
A McDonald’s spokesman said: ”We check our toilets every 15 minutes to make sure everything is okay. The first time we checked the woman didn’t say anything, presumably because she was embarrassed.
”However, 15 minutes later she told our attendant that her finger was stuck and we had to call in the fire brigade to assist.” A fire service spokesman said the woman was not thought to have sustained any injury, but it is not known if her nails remained intact.
Cat burglar takes shine to washing-line underwear
He's not your average cat burglar. Standing just 12 inches tall and sporting a ginger and white fur coat, meet one of Southampton’s most prolific underwear thieves. Over the past few weeks Oscar the cheeky feline has stolen various’ ladies knickers, countless socks and more than his fair share of gardening gloves. The 13-year-old’s owners became so concerned about his habit they even phoned police in case neighbours thought they were stealing their clothes.
Now owners Peter and Birgitt, who are fostering Oscar, plan to adopt the kleptomaniac cat after falling in love with his habit of bringing them up to ten “presents” a day. Peter Weismantel, 72, of Gordon Avenue, Portswood, said: “He started bringing socks home a few months ago and then gardening gloves which we tracked to our neighbour. Then we had a situation in which he brought back young women’s underwear. Bear in mind we live in a student area we didn’t know what to do and thought it would go away. Then it began to escalate and I telephoned the police as people must have been missing clothes – especially with women’s underwear being taken. But he just doesn’t stop.
“He’s still doing it now. We are thinking of training him as Fagin.” Over the last three weeks Oscar has brought home dozens of socks, various ladies knickers, builder’s gloves, a knee-pad, a paint roller, rubber gloves and gardening gloves. Earlier this week he brought home, one by one, ten pairs of children’s underpants.
Birgitt Weismantel, 56, who has been fostering Oscar from the Southampton Cats Protection charity since Christmas, said: “He brings them back as presents. We can’t give him back now as he makes such an effort with all these gifts. He’s got a lovely personality and is a very loving cat. I think we fell in love with him before he started taking all these things. It was just so touching to see him come home every day with something for us. When he can’t find us anything decent he brings us back some newspaper or a J-cloth.” Birgitt added that the police now have a detailed description of Oscar and have logged his thefts, which are believed to total around 70.
With news video.
Many thanks Mike!
Now owners Peter and Birgitt, who are fostering Oscar, plan to adopt the kleptomaniac cat after falling in love with his habit of bringing them up to ten “presents” a day. Peter Weismantel, 72, of Gordon Avenue, Portswood, said: “He started bringing socks home a few months ago and then gardening gloves which we tracked to our neighbour. Then we had a situation in which he brought back young women’s underwear. Bear in mind we live in a student area we didn’t know what to do and thought it would go away. Then it began to escalate and I telephoned the police as people must have been missing clothes – especially with women’s underwear being taken. But he just doesn’t stop.
“He’s still doing it now. We are thinking of training him as Fagin.” Over the last three weeks Oscar has brought home dozens of socks, various ladies knickers, builder’s gloves, a knee-pad, a paint roller, rubber gloves and gardening gloves. Earlier this week he brought home, one by one, ten pairs of children’s underpants.
Birgitt Weismantel, 56, who has been fostering Oscar from the Southampton Cats Protection charity since Christmas, said: “He brings them back as presents. We can’t give him back now as he makes such an effort with all these gifts. He’s got a lovely personality and is a very loving cat. I think we fell in love with him before he started taking all these things. It was just so touching to see him come home every day with something for us. When he can’t find us anything decent he brings us back some newspaper or a J-cloth.” Birgitt added that the police now have a detailed description of Oscar and have logged his thefts, which are believed to total around 70.
With news video.
Many thanks Mike!
Twitter diagnosis saves man from paralysis
A businessman saved himself from permanent paralysis after getting his rare medical condition diagnosed – on Twitter. Website designer Patrick Johnson, 26, woke up to discover that half his face had gone numb and was drooping. But immediately tweeted his symptoms – and moments later received a message back identifying his condition. Marj Beattie, who runs an online secretarial business in Scotland, correctly diagnosed Bell’s palsy.
She urged Patrick to get to the hospital quickly and within 40 minutes he was being treated for the condition – saving his face from long term damage. Patrick noticed his face was drooping when he looked in the mirror at his home in Redruth, Cornwall, on Tuesday. He then tweeted to his 347 followers: ”I feel like I’ve had a stroke. Half of my face doesn’t work properly.” Marj then replied: ”If you are truly serious, get to the doc – Bells palsy facial symptoms mimic a stroke.” Patrick now expects to make a full recovery from the condition after receiving treatment.
He said: ”On Tuesday morning I woke up with a partially paralysed face. I didn’t notice for a few hours and by the time I did I was sitting in front of my computer with a coffee. I thought little of it and probably would have headed for the doctor after a few days if nothing had changed. But then I had a response from Marj. They say the first 72 hours is crucial in making a full recovery. Thankfully I took Marj’s advice.”
Ms Beattie, of Old Kilpatrick near Glasgow, said: ”I know about Bells palsy because one of my friends was diagnosed with it a few years ago. He thought he had had a stroke and it was very debilitating. I also knew that if you caught I early enough it could be treated but if you left it there was a permanent chance of disfigurement. A couple of hours later, I got a message from Patrick that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and he wouldn’t have even gone to the hospital had it not been for the info I gave him.” Bells palsy results in the inability to control muscles on the affected side of the face. It is characterised by facial drooping on the affected half due to malfunction of the nerve that controls the muscles. Treatment within three days of the onset is necessary for therapy to be effective.
She urged Patrick to get to the hospital quickly and within 40 minutes he was being treated for the condition – saving his face from long term damage. Patrick noticed his face was drooping when he looked in the mirror at his home in Redruth, Cornwall, on Tuesday. He then tweeted to his 347 followers: ”I feel like I’ve had a stroke. Half of my face doesn’t work properly.” Marj then replied: ”If you are truly serious, get to the doc – Bells palsy facial symptoms mimic a stroke.” Patrick now expects to make a full recovery from the condition after receiving treatment.
He said: ”On Tuesday morning I woke up with a partially paralysed face. I didn’t notice for a few hours and by the time I did I was sitting in front of my computer with a coffee. I thought little of it and probably would have headed for the doctor after a few days if nothing had changed. But then I had a response from Marj. They say the first 72 hours is crucial in making a full recovery. Thankfully I took Marj’s advice.”
Ms Beattie, of Old Kilpatrick near Glasgow, said: ”I know about Bells palsy because one of my friends was diagnosed with it a few years ago. He thought he had had a stroke and it was very debilitating. I also knew that if you caught I early enough it could be treated but if you left it there was a permanent chance of disfigurement. A couple of hours later, I got a message from Patrick that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and he wouldn’t have even gone to the hospital had it not been for the info I gave him.” Bells palsy results in the inability to control muscles on the affected side of the face. It is characterised by facial drooping on the affected half due to malfunction of the nerve that controls the muscles. Treatment within three days of the onset is necessary for therapy to be effective.
Raging businessman 'hung on to helicopter as it took off'
A businessman enraged that a helicopter blew debris on to his car and garden tried to cling to it as it took off, a court heard. Houshang Jafari, 59, lost his temper as the aircraft landed near his £1million flat, the jury was told. He kicked the helicopter, tried to open the pilot's door and hurled a carrier bag at the windscreen, it was alleged. Then he held on to the skid bar as terrified pilot Mark Blokland tried to take off, the prosecution claim.
The heavily built businessman caused the helicopter to pitch wildly but it eventually lifted off. Mr Jafari was allegedly angry after it blew debris at his Land Rover as it landed in gardens shared by flat owners in a converted manor house. Yesterday, accused of putting the pilot and passengers in " catastrophic danger", he denied endangering aircraft safety.
Private pilot Mr Blokland hired the helicopter for a lunch outing with wife Tammy and two friends who also had a £1.2million flat in Dower House at Frenchay, Bristol. James Patrick, prosecuting, said: "Mr Jafari was extremely angry, some would say livid. He had a carrier bag which he threw at the helicopter. Had it gone into the rotor it could have been catastrophic. Mr Blokland saw Mr Jafari's face twisted in anger. He kicked the aircraft and tried the door. "The people inside were terrified. The pilot had just about enough rotor speed to take off and so they began to rise.
"Mr Jafari was causing the helicopter to tilt to a hugely dangerous angle. Fortunately Mr Blokland managed to keep control and he took off." Mr Blokland told the court he could not power the helicopter down as the blades may have taken the man's head off. He went on: "He came storming to the helicopter and flung something at the bubble. The individual was now extremely aggressive. He came around the pilot's side door and I was really scared." He said he had not flown since that day. As a result his pilot's licence had lapsed. The Bristol crown court trial continues.
The heavily built businessman caused the helicopter to pitch wildly but it eventually lifted off. Mr Jafari was allegedly angry after it blew debris at his Land Rover as it landed in gardens shared by flat owners in a converted manor house. Yesterday, accused of putting the pilot and passengers in " catastrophic danger", he denied endangering aircraft safety.
Private pilot Mr Blokland hired the helicopter for a lunch outing with wife Tammy and two friends who also had a £1.2million flat in Dower House at Frenchay, Bristol. James Patrick, prosecuting, said: "Mr Jafari was extremely angry, some would say livid. He had a carrier bag which he threw at the helicopter. Had it gone into the rotor it could have been catastrophic. Mr Blokland saw Mr Jafari's face twisted in anger. He kicked the aircraft and tried the door. "The people inside were terrified. The pilot had just about enough rotor speed to take off and so they began to rise.
"Mr Jafari was causing the helicopter to tilt to a hugely dangerous angle. Fortunately Mr Blokland managed to keep control and he took off." Mr Blokland told the court he could not power the helicopter down as the blades may have taken the man's head off. He went on: "He came storming to the helicopter and flung something at the bubble. The individual was now extremely aggressive. He came around the pilot's side door and I was really scared." He said he had not flown since that day. As a result his pilot's licence had lapsed. The Bristol crown court trial continues.
Man praised for urinating on burning aircraft
A man who urinated on the burning wreckage of an aircraft in a bid to save the pilot's life has been praised by a coroner for his quick thinking. Colin Bright was told the light aircraft had come down behind his house and he instinctively ran to the crash site and relieved himself over the engine to stop it bursting into flames. After drenching the gyrocopter he then grabbed handfuls of wet grass and shoved it inside the smouldering engine before fighting in vain to pull pilot Brian Errington-Weddle from the cockpit.
He was unable to save the 57-year-old's life but Mr Bright, 30, won praise from coroner Michael Johnston for his actions at an inquest into his death. The coroner declared Mr Bright had shown "great common sense" adding: "I believe one of the queens of France did this when her lady in waiting's wig caught fire." The former army officer plummeted to the ground in his RAF 2000 in Kington Magna near Gillingham, Dorset, in October 2008. He was only a few miles away from Henstridge airfield, on the Somerset-Dorset Border.
In a written statement Mr Bright told the inquest: "There was a lot of smoke coming from the wreckage, from the right side of the pilot, who was in a sitting position but not moving. I was able to smell fuel and thought there might be a fire so I urinated on the wreckage and ripped wet grass and chucked it into the smoke and that seemed to work." He attempted to pull the experienced pilot free but his legs were trapped. Other locals raced to the scene and also tried unsuccessfully to free him.
The inquest heard the aircraft was "particularly challenging" to fly and the arrangement of the aircraft means it can be unstable and the rotors can drop down, striking the propeller. Accident Investigation Branch senior inspector Andrew Blackie told the Dorchester hearing the instability of the aircraft was part of the appeal for pilots. He said: "That is possibly why people like them. If everything was stable there wouldn't be such a challenge." Verdict: Accidental death.
He was unable to save the 57-year-old's life but Mr Bright, 30, won praise from coroner Michael Johnston for his actions at an inquest into his death. The coroner declared Mr Bright had shown "great common sense" adding: "I believe one of the queens of France did this when her lady in waiting's wig caught fire." The former army officer plummeted to the ground in his RAF 2000 in Kington Magna near Gillingham, Dorset, in October 2008. He was only a few miles away from Henstridge airfield, on the Somerset-Dorset Border.
In a written statement Mr Bright told the inquest: "There was a lot of smoke coming from the wreckage, from the right side of the pilot, who was in a sitting position but not moving. I was able to smell fuel and thought there might be a fire so I urinated on the wreckage and ripped wet grass and chucked it into the smoke and that seemed to work." He attempted to pull the experienced pilot free but his legs were trapped. Other locals raced to the scene and also tried unsuccessfully to free him.
The inquest heard the aircraft was "particularly challenging" to fly and the arrangement of the aircraft means it can be unstable and the rotors can drop down, striking the propeller. Accident Investigation Branch senior inspector Andrew Blackie told the Dorchester hearing the instability of the aircraft was part of the appeal for pilots. He said: "That is possibly why people like them. If everything was stable there wouldn't be such a challenge." Verdict: Accidental death.
‘Bold as brass’ trampoline romper put on sex offenders’ register - Update
A man who went out to bounce naked on a trampoline at 5am has been placed on the sex offenders' register. James Burden, who was performing a solo sex act as he jumped up and down, was spotted by chance when his neighbour got up to go to the bathroom. Looking out of her window in Falkirk’s Westquarter, she saw 55-year-old Burden with "a cigarette in one hand and his manhood in the other".
She called the police and Burden was arrested and charged. The witness told police Burden was "as bold brass...and purposeful" in carrying out his aerial solo sex act on March 25 this year. Asked why he did it, Burden told officers "just for the thrill of it", but added he did not intend on anyone seeing him. Burden faces a single charge of publicly exposing his person in a shameless and indecent manner, and approaching his neighbour's house and placing the occupant in a state of fear and alarm.
Gordon Addison, defending, said that his client claimed to have "only pled guilty to avoid the embarrassment of a trial". Mr Addison added that because of his intention to try to change his plea to "not guilty", Burden had not attended for a meeting with a social worker and a psychologist, as instructed by the court, for the preparation of background reports.
On Thursday, Sheriff Craig Caldwell refused to allow Burden to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he had confirmed it in court after months of legal advice. Burden’s sentence has now been deferred until July 29 for a social enquiry report, a community service suitability assessment, and an assessment by a psychologist of the risk Burden poses to others.
Previously.
She called the police and Burden was arrested and charged. The witness told police Burden was "as bold brass...and purposeful" in carrying out his aerial solo sex act on March 25 this year. Asked why he did it, Burden told officers "just for the thrill of it", but added he did not intend on anyone seeing him. Burden faces a single charge of publicly exposing his person in a shameless and indecent manner, and approaching his neighbour's house and placing the occupant in a state of fear and alarm.
Gordon Addison, defending, said that his client claimed to have "only pled guilty to avoid the embarrassment of a trial". Mr Addison added that because of his intention to try to change his plea to "not guilty", Burden had not attended for a meeting with a social worker and a psychologist, as instructed by the court, for the preparation of background reports.
On Thursday, Sheriff Craig Caldwell refused to allow Burden to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he had confirmed it in court after months of legal advice. Burden’s sentence has now been deferred until July 29 for a social enquiry report, a community service suitability assessment, and an assessment by a psychologist of the risk Burden poses to others.
Previously.
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