The True Face Of An Eco-Tycoon...

An eco-tycoon and his wife who were filmed destroying a community flowerbed amid a bitter row with his green-fingered neighbours over plans to build a gym at his home has finally settled the case and left the country.

Oh dear, how sad. But what sort of 'eco-tycoon' destroys nature?  

Oh, silly me, the ones that build the bird-choppers do. I suppose, Maybe this isn't as bizarre a story as I first thought when the headline caught my eye...

Michael Hodgson, 55, of Gwaenysgor, near Prestatyn, North Wales, was charged with criminal damage listed at a value of £178 over the incident in the village of around 230 residents in August last year. He and his wife Shirin Pootschi, 57, were caught on camera in a furious rage pulling up a bed of wildflowers outside his house just 24 hours after they were planted.

Insane! 

At the time locals said it was the culmination of a 10-year planning row between Hodgson and his neighbours, ongoing since he first moved to the village 11 years ago. Hodgson had put in three separate planning applications to build a home gym and office adjoined to his £500,000 home - but each time it faced fierce opposition from neighbours.

And he lost the argument: 

Hodgson has since donated an unspecified amount of money to a local church as part of an out of court community settlement order. Prosecutor Mrs Jackson told the court Hodgson has since moved out of the UK, although still maintains a property in the village. It is unclear where he and his wife are now living.

Beware if you've recently acquired neighbours! 

Defence lawyer Selina Woodward said: 'The community resolution was to pay a sum of money to the local church. That was paid.' She added: 'This gentleman and his wife have been through an absolute nightmare.'

 No, they caused one, they aren't the victims here, though I'm sure that's what they are paying you to say.

The lawyer said a PC in the case had stopped responding and she sought an adjournment. District judge Gwyn Jones adjourned the case until next month for North Wales police to liaise with Hodgson about the outstanding aspects of the community resolution.

Meaning they skipped town before fully complying? What lovely people... 

Animals Owning Animals

A man has been banned from owning animals for three years after being caught on camera mistreating his bulldog.

And for those who believed Englishmen were all dog lovers, this case should do nothing to change your mind: 

Ceetal Mattoo, of Woodhouse Close, Hayes, was filmed by a doorbell camera dragging and kicking his dog, Poppy, along Pinkwell Lane. The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the needs of the female bulldog were met, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He was sentenced on March 20 at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

As well as the disqualification, Mattoo was handed a 12-month community order under which he has to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.He also has to pay £400 court costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

No, despite the name, the £114 doesn't go to the actual victim, but into a pot. 

In mitigation, it was said that Mattoo, who signed the dog’s ownership over to the RSPCA, had been experiencing mental health issues.

That old chestnut... 

So Why Don't Social Services Take This View?

RSPCA actually do a proper job for once, attending a report of animal cruelty:

At a sentencing hearing earlier this month, Leeds magistrates were told that an RSPCA inspector visited Edward's house on February 5 last year after the charity was contacted by someone with concerns about the kitten's welfare.

She had a badly broken back leg, and had received no veterinary care.  

A police officer then attended the practice and took Evie into possession under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.Magistrates handed Edwards an indefinite ban on keeping animals and £400 in costs after he pleaded guilty to one animal welfare charge.

Good!  

In mitigation, the court heard Edwards, now of Barton Terrace, Leeds, had not been "malicious" or "vindictive" but he accepted he had caused Evie to suffer and should have done more, although his drug addiction meant he was unable to look after himself, let alone an animal.

Sensible outlook! But social services would happily let him look after children, if he were to have any. In what universe does that make sense? 

They Need To Find A New Legal Term...

Whiteman, of Cae Felin Parc, Hirwaun, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen. The court heard he was of previous good character.

It just means 'has no other offences on his record', but rarely can it be so misplaced a term as in this case: 

Following the collision, the defendant didn't stop and continued driving erratically at speed, narrowly avoiding a further collision with another car. Whiteman took the same loop and drove past the scene of the collision as Kaylan was being treated by members of the public. He was seen by a man who recognised him, but he revved his engine and sped off when the man attempted to take a picture of him. Whiteman then drove back to his home nearby and his two passengers got out of the car and returned to the scene of the collision, and he made his way there shortly after. A student nurse was performing CPR on Kaylan when the defendant tried to hinder her. He said: 'Do you think I give a f*** about this kid on the floor? Why the f*** don't you all just leave him and stop doing that.'

Bystanders tried to move Whiteman away as he became agitated and shouted at a man who asked him about his car. He responded: 'I don't know what you're talking about... I haven't got a car, I don't even drive.' The defendant also offered a man a fight as Kaylan lay dying in the road.Ms Cox said the defendant was abusive towards police and members of the public, and showed no remorse for his actions, saying: 'It was a f****** good show.'

All that being an aggravating factor, at least, that will attract a much harsher sentence?  

Whiteman was sentenced to six years and nine months detention in a young offenders' institute. He was disqualified from driving for a period of eight years and four months.

*sighs* 

This Is No Great 'Mystery' At All....

...there are probably pygmies in the Congo who could take a good guess at who's doing this. Why do we always pretend it's some sort of puzzle?

Mike Jelen, a conservation manager who works on estates in the area, said: ‘This is now happening twice a week.

'It’s total anarchy and the police are doing little about it. By dumping the bodies like this, the poachers are sticking two fingers up to farmers and rural communities.’

Just like the police are. 

I Wonder If She Clapped..?

An 89 year old man with a broken hip and shoulder:

...the firefighter, who lives in Pontypool, was left aghast after ringing 999 only to be told there were no ambulances available and none would come to help.

Instead the call handler reportedly told Nicole to ring an out-of-hours GP and book a taxi to transport the pensioner to hospital, before hanging up in order to 'answer other calls'.

*speechless* 

'I couldn't really believe what I was being told,' said Ms Lea, who's been Melvyn's principal carer since he lost his wife Maureen to Covid in 2020. 'I was expecting a long wait for paramedics but never thought I'd literally be told, "We have nothing to send, you'll have to find alternative transport".

Alternative transport that would have killed him, at that: 

'I ended up, with my partner and mum's help, getting him onto a plank of wood and into the back of the van we bought to transport our dogs.

'To make matters worse, when we did get him to hospital the staff there told me that had we followed the advice we'd been given over the phone, he could've died.

'They told us that had we sat him up in a taxi the break in his hip would've likely ruptured an artery and been catastrophic for him.'

And who is being sacked for this gross dereliction of suty, you ask? 

Lee Brooks, Executive Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: 'We are sorry to hear about Mr Ryan's experience, it is certainly below the level of service that we aim to offer. '

Really? Really...?

'Our business continuity plans are drawn up to enable us to attend to the sickest patients first, while patients whose condition is less serious may sadly have to wait longer for our help, or be advised to make their own way to hospital.'

He was an 89 year old with a broken hip and he could have died. What the hell is there to 'understand' about that? 

'We invite Mr Ryan and his family to get in touch with our Putting Things Right team so that we can investigate the situation and better understand their experience.'

How about we break your call handler's hip and leave them to the tender mercies of your 'service', so they can 'better understand the experience'..? 

"“They say these dogs are great around kids, but dogs that attack kids are great around them until they attack them. Then it’s too late.”"

“We dashed back and, when I got out, there were two people holding the dog back. As I looked around, I had chicken feathers everywhere. The guy said: ‘You're gonna have to get a vet out. It’s attacked one of your sheep.' When I looked, the sheep had one of its legs ripped off.”

Not another XL Bully, this time an Alaskan Malamute. Same useless type of owner, though... 

He said he plans to get a shotgun licence in case he needs to protect his children in future.

Better to get it and not need it, than need it and not have it. 

Shouldn't The Police Be Investigating The Gamekeeper's Whereabouts?

“I fully admit that I shot Herman, my gun dog. I shot him humanely and buried him with my gamekeeper,” it read. “I had to take the merciful route to end Herman’s suffering.”

Just in case the lunatic meant something other than 'with the help of my gamekeeper'..?

Temple Farm gamekeeper Phil Holborow said Herman was ill. He said: "He had lumps all over him and he was wobbly on his legs, his back end was going, that's how I'd describe it. He was ill, the poor old boy looked ill."

"In my words, he needed putting down, in my words. I think he was suffering. He [the Count] told me the dog crapped everywhere in the house, he said 'I think we need to deal with it'. He asked me to bury it, so that's what I did."

Whew! 

Chair of the bench, Beverly Payne, returned a verdict of guilty. She said: "We note the relationship was acrimonious and had been on that day. We are sure that you act unreasonably, you could have organised taking Herman to a vet to be euthanized like all the other pets. You must have known that would have upset your wife. Therefore we do find you guilty."

Describing the offence as having a "high degree of planning", Ms Payne imposed a £2,000 fine. He must also pay £620 costs and a £200 surcharge. The hearing took place on Friday.

Perhaps the surrendering of his English gun licence too might be a good idea? Given he's shown a proclivity for taking it into his own hands to dispose of something he's grown tired of?

The Animal Isn't Seen On Camera...

...oh wait, I was wrong, here it is:

After speaking to bosses at the delivery company, Mrs Ferraby has praised them for acting so quickly and sacking the driver the next day.

Good, let's hope every other delivery company has this image up on its wall to ensure this creature doesn't get hired by them. 

A spokesperson from Evri said: 'We have apologised to Mrs Ferraby and provided a gesture of goodwill.

'This was highly unacceptable behaviour and we can confirm the courier will no longer deliver on behalf of Evri.'

Let's hope he's named and shamed by the public. 

Strong Words...

Raimundas Pazdrazdis was convicted of 16 offences; Sigtas Pazdrazdis, who owned two of the dogs, was convicted of 12 and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a pitbull terrier and Edgaras Pazdrazdis was convicted of two offences.

Councillor Syed Ghani, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, called the convictions "a fantastic result".

He said: “We won’t stand for dogs or any other animal being treated in this despicable way and if we find out somebody is mistreating them, we will make sure that we go all out to take the strongest action.”

Wow, the strongest action, this will be good! 

The three men were each sentenced at Romford Magistrates Court to 12-month community orders of unpaid work and ordered to pay a total of £85,000 costs.

Oh. 

Raimundas Pazdrazdis was banned from keeping dogs for seven years, Sigtas Pazdrazdis for five years and Edgaras Pazdrazdis for three years.

Because after that time has elapsed, they'll be model pet owners..? 

How Long..?!?

...the prosecutor said: 'Her responsibility for what happened was for having left her 10-month-old son in the care of someone she had been in a relationship with for only four weeks and who was smoking cannabis at the time,' she added.

Case closed, m'lud? 

The court heard Crowther has already pleaded guilty to a count of perverting the course of justice relating to the lies she told to the emergency operator, a doctor and police.

The trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks, continues.

*blinks* 

No, She Didn't 'House Her'...

A mother has been jailed for causing the death of her 11-month-old baby daughter after she housed her in squalor and failed to seek medical treatment for her when she became ill.

...we did. The taxpayer.  

Detective Chief Inspector Madeline Ryder, the senior investigating officer, said: “This is an absolutely tragic case that resulted in the needless death of an innocent baby.

“For the vast majority of parents, to care for, protect and nurture their children is their main priority. However, Jamal was out partying just days before Nafahat’s death and had clearly placed her social life above that of the basic needs of her baby.”

Why not? She had no interest in her child because someone else was picking up the tab. Someone who had no choice but to do so. 

Me. And you. 

John Orrey: Bastard Of The Month

A man who killed protected birds because he believed they were a risk has avoided jail.

John Orrey, 63, was snared by undercover cameras that captured his crimes in Kneeton in January last year. Nottingham Magistrates' Court was shown footage of Orrey recovering two buzzards from a cage that he had beaten to death, with two other dove carcasses also being discovered.

Orrey's defence solicitor said: "What he [the defendant] says to me is that spring time, March and April, is time when eggs and young game birds start to be taken by birds including buzzards.

"I would suggest Orrey wasn't educated on those stats [because he killed the birds in January].

What the hell does that matter? 

"In weeks leading up to the matters, Mr Orrey said he had been bating (sic) the traps with a view to catching birds. The plan was to reduce the population to prevent less of risk to young birds.

"We all know what happened and he says the buzzards posed a risk and that's why he behaved as he did.

"He is remorseful and has no previous history. There has been no repeat behaviour since the January incidents.

"This isn't a case of deliberate causing of suffering, it was not prolonged."

The footage is here - it's utterly sickening, and I can only assume the magistrates, having seen it, must have been struggling not to laugh at the defence claims...

But then, of course, they didn't. Nor did they point out that the defence solicitor was clearly a bald-faced liar in claiming that. Nor did they give this vile individual the sentence he deserved.   

The presiding magistrate said Orrey's fear of going to prison at the age of 63 would surely deter him from crime in the future.

She sentenced him to 20 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. He must pay a fine of £1,000, costs of £700 and £180 compensation. Orrey also had his shotgun licence revoked.

It's no deterrent. But hopefully - though there's no mention of this - he's been summarily sacked and will never ever work as a gamekeeper again.  

This Is What You Were Clapping In 2020...

A teenager is recovering from life-changing surgery to stop her heart and lungs from being crushed after a stranger stepped forward to pay for it.

Some American city, where they have no 'safety net' I guess?  

Autumn Bradley, 15, was diagnosed with pectus excavatum, known as sunken chest syndrome, which caused her ribcage to bend inwards at the sternum. NHS surgery had been available in England but funding stopped in 2019.

*blinks* 

The operation, which cost several thousand pounds, took place at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough at the end of September. It was paid for by a private donor from the Isle of Man, who read about Autumn's plight.

"I just sat on that phone call and I just burst out crying when I found out," Mrs Grierson said."She is doing so much better and as much as we had gone through all of that, I do believe that if she had not had this surgery now we would have lost her."

And the NHS you all clapped for would have been fine with that. 'Make you into a facsimile of a woman, sir? Of course, step this way. Outta the way there, dying little girl, we've got important medical stuff to do...'' 

Mrs Grierson said she hoped data from her daughter's recovery would form part of an ongoing review into NHS funding for the surgery, which was stopped due to insufficient evidence of benefits.

Without it, she'd die. There's evidence of benefits if they'd only look. Far more than I suspect they'd find in liposuction, tattoo removal, gastric band surgery or 'gender reassignment'... 

Perhaps It's Wise, Mrs Moulds...

Mrs Moulds has declined to make any comment.

...after all, those speaking out for you aren't exactly helping, are they?

The neighbour added: 'I don't know what happened and in what context but what is now happening to Sarah is horrible. She's terrified of being in her own home in case someone targets her or her kids there.'

She's got children? I wonder how she reacts when they don't do as they are told? Her employer certainly isn't happy to take any more chances! 

'She's well known and respected in equestrian circles...

They should really be a different tense, shouldn't it? 

...and her social media was bombarded with comments from very angry people after the video went viral and she's now had to close it down.'

Oh, boo hoo!  

Her uncle David Kirkham from Bonsall, Derbyshire, insisted: 'She is a very upright person, a fantastic person who absolutely loves her horses.'

Odd way of showing it...

'I've seen the video but we don't know what the horse had been doing and if it was out of control.'

Does it mayyer? Does beating an animal help to get it under control, then? 

'But we know it ran out onto the road and she told it off.'

Errr, no, if she did that to a person, she'd be charged with assault, not 'telling off'. 

'She was reprimanding the horse. There was no malice intended. She is very well thought of and respected.'

Again, wrong tense. 

It's no wonder Moulds herself isn't commenting! 

For Fox Sake...

...never give the bloated, politically-correct, incompetent RSPCA any money. Ever!

If their begging letters come through the post, put them straight in the bin. 

If their adverts come on the TV, now's the time to compose tomorrow's shopping list. 

If one of their paid shills approaches you in the street, do what I did once in Southend high street, and tell them in depth and exactly why you won't be giving them any money.

And if granny's thinking about leaving them some money in her will, suggest she donates to ISIS instead. If you're going to hand money over to bloodthirsty nihilistic killers, might as well go with people who don't pretend to be anything else...

H/T: Community Action to Reform RSPCA via Twitter

Much Like The Children In Those Images Did, I Imagine...

John William Green, known as Will Green, was head of corporate communications at Cleveland Police when he accessed indecent pictures of youngsters.

He was spared jail at Teesside Magistrates' Court today but as he left the building an attacker grabbed his head and his mask then chased him up the court ramp as Green shouted 'help, help'.

It says a lot about why police public communications are so dire, doesn't it?

The assault came to an end when security guards pinned the assailant down.

Hope they didn't hurry...

Superintendent Paul Waugh, of the force’s Directorate of Standards and Ethics said: 'The public may be concerned that a Cleveland Police staff member has been found to have committed these offences, but I hope our actions to bring this person before the courts provides reassurance and highlights that we do everything in our power to seek justice for these crimes, without fear or favour, even when the suspect works for the same police force.”

Not really, no. It's your job. What do you want, a cookie? 

You Spelled 'Scummy Thugs' Wrong...

A commuter who stuck up for a woman after a plastic bottle was thrown at her on a train was set upon by a large group of...

Wait for it, wait for it... 

...college students.

*blinks* 

Mark Hosker was brutally punched and kicked by around nine teenagers on the platform of Nelson station after he had asked them to ‘stop being childish’ while on the train, which he had boarded in Blackburn.

The large group, who he described as being intimidating, started throwing around a plastic bottle, which ended up hitting another passenger. She did not say anything to the group, but Mr Hosker did.

Which, for a man with a prosthetic leg, was brave. And sadly futile. 

One man, Saif Ali, 21, was later identified following a police investigation and appeared in court for his role in the attack.

Boy, I can't wait for the mitigation... 

Defending Ali, of Lloyd Walk, Nelson, Joseph Allman started his mitigation by offering his client’s ‘most sincere apologies and remorse’ to Mr Hosker.

Mr Allman told the court that all of Ali’s closest friends and family were disgusted by his behaviour.

“His part in the assault was shortlived, he made the appalling decision to join in and he inflicted two kicks,” he said.

“He has held down a number of jobs. Education didn’t work out particularly well for him but he is a hard-working person. He is currently working for the track and trace programme. He has a supportive family.”

*sighs* 

Debating whether or not he should give Ali a chance, Recorder Mr Philip Grundy said it was ‘not difficult to lock up young men who have committed serious offences’. He added:

“What is difficult is; do I take a chance with you, for all the reasons put forward on your behalf?”

It can't be that difficult, can it? You bleeding hearts seem to manage it on a daily basis! 

“While the starting point is a custodial sentence, in the specific circumstances of your case, I will suspend that for two years.”

That'll teach him. 

Why Bother Beefing Up The DDA At All?

A bull terrier that savaged a six-year-old boy after pulling him from his bike has been saved from a death sentence by being adopted by a dog behaviour expert.

What..?!? 

A judge at Exeter Crown Court made a contingency destruction order which means the dog will be allowed to live but not with previous owner Dean Johns.

Johns, aged 51, of Midway Terrace Alphington, admitted owning a dog which was dangerously out of control and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid community work and pay £200 compensation by Recorder Mr Adam Feest, QC, who also banned him from owning a dog for two years.

Because after two years he'll be suitable to own another animal and risk the safety of the public? 

The judge said: ”This is not a case so much about this particular animal as about the defendant and his ability to control him. This is a case in which the owner is as much at fault as the dog.”

I'm happy to see him put down too, actually. 

He described the £200 compensation as in no way reflecting the suffering of the injured boy but said it was a token figure based on the fact that Johns is not currently in work.

But can afford to feed a dog? Of course...

Still, maybe he was shocked and totally remorseful after the att..

Johns arrived after the father had climbed a bank with his children to escape. He was dismissive and aggressive, claiming his dog was only playing. The father showed him the boy’s injuries but Johns asked him ‘do you want to make something of it?’

The boy was taken to hospital by ambulance with a severe bite wound to his leg.

Oh. No. Of course not. They rarely are, are they?  

Mr Warren Robinson, defending, said Johns’s main concern is for the welfare of Caesar and he would agree with any order that allowed the dog to live.

It's a measure of defence lawyers that they can say that of the perpetrator, rather than the victim, isn't it? 

He said Johns is an experienced dog owner who had previously looked after a spaniel for 13 years but did not realise how different it was owning a bull terrier. He had taken Caesar to puppy classes and thought he had him well trained and under control until this incident.

He reacted as he did at the scene because he had seen the attack and did not realise the seriousness of the situation.

Pull the other one, Warren. He's a vicious thug, which is why he wanted a vicious thug dog. 

H/T: i.r.jackson via email 

I Think This Might Be What You Call 'A Clue', Vicki...

A desperate hunt has been launched for a group of yobs that were seen beating a puppy to death in a car park.

A witness saw the terrier puppy being repeatedly thrown in the air and hit by a stick by about 15 people at the Oak Park Active Living Centre in Walsall.

The RSPCA is appealing to anyone who may be able to identify any of the individuals in the vile group.

A truly vile group. Who would do such a thing? 

Inspector Vicki Taylor, who is investigating for the animal welfare charity, said: "Witnesses reported seeing the yelping puppy being thrown in the air and hit with a stick a number of times while surrounded by a group of around 15 people.

"A member of the public removed the dog’s dead body and contacted us to report what they had seen. Veterinary examination of the young black and tan terrier’s body showed the dog had suffered a fractured skull and broken jaw before his death."

Not only 'who would do such a thing' but 'who would do such a thing without fearing intervention from a member of the public'..? 

She said a number of caravans were parked in the car park at the time are keen to speak to anyone who lives there to see if they saw anything.

Oh. 

H/T: TattyScouse via Twitter