Someone Needs To Take Action, Though...

Paul Carton bought a ring in 2013 that had been owned by the socialite and listed it for sale online last year.

Police were convinced that the 57-year-old had been involved in Britain's biggest ever domestic burglary in December 2019 and undercover officers targeted the driver by posing as prospective buyers.

Why, exactly, were they convinced? 

He said he spent hours bound with handcuffs and plastic ties in his living room as officers bagged up and removed jewellery. Fighting back tears, Mr Carton recalled: 'It was agony, the handcuffs cutting into my hands while I could hear them moving around my house. I still didn't think they were police, I feared for my life. My house was a wreck. The experience has left me so shaken.'

Mr Carton was taken to Weymouth police station and arrested for handling stolen goods and assaulting an emergency worker. He admits that he struck an officer in the face when the group had burst into his home.

Mr Carton said he was told Miss Ecclestone had identified the ring as one stolen in the December 2019 raid on her mansion in Kensington, west London, in which cash and jewels were stolen. The chauffeur said he explained he had bought the ring six years before the burglary, but spent three hours in a cell before being released under investigation.

*sighs* 

Weymouth Police briefing room...

He has since been told no further action will be taken.

That's what they think! 

Mr Carton has made a formal complaint and plans legal action. He said he is yet to receive an apology. His claim for property damaged at his home was rejected as he was 'resisting arrest'.

I hope he wins.  

Not The Sort Of Cocktail I Aspired To At 19...

Remember this, back in May last year?

A teenager whose death sparked a riot in Swansea collapsed after an 'unintentional drug overdose', a coroner has found.

Gosh, what are the odds? 

Coroner Colin Phillips told an inquest into the youngster's death in Swansea Guildhall on Monday how Mr Powell's family had now lost 'two generations to drugs'. His mother Charmaine having died of a drugs overdose in 2017.

Oh. OK, Pretty good, it seems. So, what are we talking about here, one or two paracetemol over the safe limit? 

During a post-mortem examination, a toxicology report found Mr Powell had traces of cocaine and methadone in his blood. Synthetic cannabinoids, commonly referred to as 'spice', were also present in his system and therapeutic levels of codeine.

*boggle* 

Referring to the riot, Mr Phillips said: 'The family would like to reiterate that as a family they did not agree with it and in no way did they instigate the riot.

'It was extremely distressing from their point of view to see what happened and they are concerned about the publicity the inquest will generate.'

You'd think they'd be used to it... 

But Judge, Protecting The Public Is Your Job...

Remember this case from October?

Mitigating, Christopher Martin said: “He has vulnerabilities such as autism and language difficulties. He also suffered emotional harm at school and the training centre he’s been in.

“He has extremely complex needs and whilst prison may protect the public it will not help his difficulties”

Who cares? It'll protect the public, and that's the main thing here! 

Southend Crown Court heard on Friday how the attack lead to a family losing thousands of pounds in wages and even a school prom’s security had to be ramped up.

Does the judge take this into account? Reader, he does not: 

Sentencing the teenager, Judge Shane Collery said the youngster did not intend to cause harm and was probably reckless.

*rolls eyes* 

He said: “One of the victims is a community person and doesn’t want any vengeance. I do not accept this was excessive self defence.

“Another has a permanent face scar. He’s very self conscious about.

“I’ve heard about the absent father of the teenager. Another victim has been sitting in court crying. I can see nobody wants that at all.

“A training centre did no good but with bail and school he’s not reoffended.”

He's not going to see any jail time, is he? 

He was handed an 18 month youth rehabilitation order, with supervision, work for emotions and relationships and exploitation.

A curfew from 9pm and 7am was imposed with a three year restraining order.

Thought not.  

So, Pass It Once He's Recovered...

A man who used a high-powered hunting crossbow to shoot and injure two people in random and unprovoked attacks in west London has been given a hospital order.

He's 'mad', not bad, you see... 

On Friday, Ramdeen, of Green Lane, Northwood, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to a section 37 hospital order after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the attacks, according to the force.

The judge said he considered Ramdeen dangerous and that, had a hospital order not been an option, he would have passed a sentence of 14 years and nine months.

Seems to me, then, that once the headshrinkers have 'cured' him, he should then get the 14 years. Just in case they are wrong. Again.  

Detective Inspector Daniel McInerney said: 'It's no exaggeration to say that in both instances the difference between life and death was but a matter of millimetres.

'If the variation of the bolts had been ever so slightly different, two sets of families would have lost a loved one and we'd have been looking at two very different investigations.

'It's pure good fortune that the second victim was so close to a hospital. The doctors and nurses saved this man's life.'

He added: 'Though Ramdeen's motive has never been established, the judge has been clear that he is considered a danger to the public and he has been sentenced appropriately.'

Do you need this, Daniel?

Look under 'a'...

 

I Find These Immigrants Very Palatable...

They have scuttled through Scandinavian waters and muscled their way into Britain.

...which is something I don't often say about a threat to our native population, I'll admit! 

The species, which are native to North America, came to Russia in the 1960s after scientists aimed to introduce a new, lucrative market.

The king crabs then headed to Norway, spiking a fishing industry boom before finding their way to Britain.

Despite fears for the native population, the invaders have proved a winner with London restaurants so far with many snapping up the haul for their menus.

We will fight them on the dining table! Increase production of brown bread and butter. It's for the nation! 

Rewatchable TV February: Kindred The Embraced

Another short lived show - but sadly even shorter than last month, and for very different reasons - is one based on the 'Vampire: The Masquerade' RPG. 

It was called 'Kindred: The Embraced' and sadly it was cancelled abruptly following which any hope of a reprieve was cut short by the sad death of Mark Frankel, the lead actor, in a traffic accident. 

I have the DVD, so took the time to rewatch it, and it's stood the test of time very well; a great cast, and an interesting premise (described by one reviewer as 'Melrose Place' meets 'The Godfather') but sadly the fickle nature of US TV means it never really got a chance...

"Hannah? Who The **** Is Hannah?"

A developer told Bradford Council that a planned housing development would collapse if they were not allowed to...

Cram in people like rabbits in a hutch too small for them? 

...call it Hannahs Hill.

*blinks* 

Officers had said the name could be problematic, as current rules on road naming prevent streets being named after a living person, and "Hannahs Hill" could fall foul of this rule.

Officers had suggested that the scheme could instead be called Seam Close - named after a stone shaft on the site, which was once used for mining.

Street and road names can cause all sorts of aggravation, so it's unsurprising that councils would have guidelines and rules about this. 

A report to the area committee said: "The developer has commented that the five house buyers are going to insist on Hannas Hill (sic).

"The proposed property sales have been put in place with the street name ‘Hannah’ or a variation of, which was agreed with the potential buyers before the current developer took over the site.

"The developer has stated that if the name ‘Hannas Hill’ is not approved then the development will cease."

This is blackmail. Tell the developer to do one! There's plenty of other developers out there. 

At the meeting members said they had no issue with the name Hannahs Hill, and approved the request.

And now you've set a precedent. *sighs* 

There's Many Reasons Why This Is Cobblers...

...not least the fact that pumas and cougars (the same animal with different names) aren't big cats, because they can't roar. 

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.  

But What If They Don't Get Any..?

Drivers who catcall passers-by are being targeted by an undercover police operation.

Women officers wearing plain clothes have been walking in areas of a city where students have complained of being harassed from cars.

Drivers who shout ‘things from their vehicles’ risk being pulled over and handed a fixed penalty or, if taken to court, fined £1,000.

Risky in more ways than one! If you pass them but don't letch out of the window, presumably you'll get pulled over to ask why not? 

The crackdown on sexist and lewd comments by men is taking place in Bradford...

Hmmm, Bradford, eh? I wonder what demographic is most at fault here?