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Express & Star, Saturday, February 13, 2010
Man, 30, admits assault on pals A man has been jailed for 20 weeks for assaulting two men because he thought they were laughing at him. Carl Swingle, aged 30, yesterday admitted in a hearing held via prison video link that he bit James McCann’s face and finger causing him to bleed, and admitted he punched another man, Mark Wilkes, during the incident in Deighton Road, Yew Tree, on October 31 last year. Mr Colin Heald, prosecuting, told Walsall magistrates that the defendant and his victims knew each other. He said the men were walking in Deighton Road at 6.30pm when Swingle cycled up and “asked them what they were laughing at”. Mr Heald said: “The defendant got off the bicycle and threw it on the ground. “He punched Mr Wilkes in the face. When Mr McCann tried to intervene the defendant bit his finger and face, and pushed something, the victim didn’t see what it was, in the left side of his face which drew blood.” Swingle, a serving prisoner, was jailed for unrelated matters. Mr Harmail Gill, defending, told the court his client said it was the other two men who made a move towards him first. Yesterday Swingle pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He must also pay £150 compensation.
Cheated wife Toni is defiant
DJ’s killer starts 16-year sentence A student who strangled a Wolverhampton DJ and hacked his body into a dozen pieces because he sold him the wrong computer was today starting a 16-year prison sentence. Dwayne Walker was jailed after admitting killing David Daly because the computer system did not have high enough specification The 28-year-old of Eastfield Grove, Wednesfield, garotted Mr Daly, aged 31, with a tea towel before dumping body parts in the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The head was put down a drain at Moorcroft Drive Industrial Park, in Wednesbury. The body was discovered three months after Mr Daly, an unemployed DJ, of Quatford Gardens, Park Village, Wolverhampton, went missing on December 8, 2007. Walker was brought to justice after police discovered he had used Mr Daly’s mobile phone Sim card.
Report by Colin Drury Sentencing him at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge John Warner said: “The deliberate and gruesome way in which you sought to dispose of the body of Mr Daly is undoubtedly an aggravating feature of this murder. It has added to the family’s inevitable stress and heartache over and above that of the murder itself.” Roger Smith, for Walker, said the murder was not pre-meditated. He said the sports science student would have pleaded guilty at an earlier opportunity, but he was seeking to protect Jenny Miah, his partner. Miah admitted perverting the course of justice and assisting in the concealment of evidence at after she helped redecorate the house she shared with Walker in a bid to get rid of all DNA evidence. The 37-year-old will be sentenced next month.
After the hearing, Mr Daly's family spoke of their horror at finding out he had been murdered. His sister Sam Darrell, a 29-year-old NVQ assessor from Tipton, said: “It was just numbing, just a shock. Nobody deserves what happened to him – it's horrifying. “When he went missing we weren't too worried because he'd disappeared before and turned up. He had friends in north Wales and he’d ‘ go there to get away for a while. But three months was a long time even for David. “I saw reports that a body had been found in the canal and I just remember thinking, ‘that's him’. I knew it, I just had a feeling.” Mr Daly, a former pupil at Hall Green High School, Bilston, was “a lovable rogue”, she said. His father Robert, 53, of Bilston, said: “David would never have hurt anyone and he certainly didn't deserve this. It's been a nightmare.”
Jailed – Dwayne Walker
Graduate given interview suit, shoes, shirt and tie for £180
Jobcentre cash for clothes shop spree EXCLUSIVE by Alex Campbell
Benefits claimants are being treated to a makeover at high street stores on taxpayers' cash thanks to Job Centres.
Valentine’s ball full of Promise
Around £1 million was given out in grants throughout the West Midlands county area in the last financial year – about a tenth of the national outlay – by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Shocked – Scott Williams
Claimants who have job interviews to attend can kit themselves out at stores, who then claim the cost from the Job Centre after it is approved by advisers. Among those given a grant was 21year-old Scott Williams, a geography and politics graduate from Landor Crescent, Rugeley.
Bogus callers prey on elderly in their homes
He signed on for job seekers’ allowance last year after leaving Nottingham Trent University. Scott was stunned when Job Centre consultants offered to pay for a brand new outfit after he landed an interview in January. Taxpayers picked up the bill for a new suit, a shirt, a jumper, a tie and a pair of shoes, totalling £180. Scott, who has now found temporary work at a call centre in Stone, said: “I found out about clothing allowances on the internet and decided to ask for a new outfit before an interview. I didn’t get that job, but I have got temporary work at the moment and a few other options.
Man charged over murder
Rooney says agent made him wealthy
Professor kills uni colleagues
Pensioner had £80k of cocaine
Burglars stole medals from pensioner’s home Police arrest 13 after Villa clash
Driver is hurt
Cannock Chase Council aims to save £380,000 a year from privatising management of its leisure facilities. The authority is spending £100,000 in 2010-2011 and £50,000 in 2011-2012 on a study of options for the privatisation. Council leader, Councillor Neil Stanley, said that if it went ahead they expected to then make savings of £380,000 on the budget for 2012-2013. One of the options the authority is looking at is creating a charitable trust to manage facilities like Chase Leisure Centre. “The costs are on legal work to investigate whether it would be beneficial to proceed with a private partner in managing of leisure facilities. To get to the position of being able to save money we have got to spend this,” he said. The district council has also been in talks with Stafford Borough Council about sharing the costs of privatising leisure management. Councillor Stanley said that this was still in the stage of negotiations. The council is to carry out a consultation over proposals to provide new indoor and outdoor sports facilities in the district. Councillor Stanley emphasised at a meeting of the cabinet that it was a “wish list”, not something the authority had funds for.
Widow is targeted by raiders
England star John Terry’s wife today insisted they were a “strong couple” despite the former England captain’s alleged affair. Terry flew to Dubai on Thursday for crunch talks with Toni, 28, who fled to the Emirates following allegations that her husband had Conmen plaguing the Black Country have struck an affair with lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the ex- again, targeting four pensioners in two days. The partner of England team- latest raids mean a dozen homes across the Dudley mate Wayne Bridge. borough have been hit by bogus callers in just over The 29-year-old, who was two months. sacked as England captain An 86-year-old woman last week, was pictured answered the door to a man kissing and cuddling his wife claiming to be from the as the couple relaxed with council at 9.20am on their two children by the Tuesday. He told her he pool of a five-star hotel. Helpful needed to look at the boiler The England player was before searching the flat, in “I was shocked at how allowed to miss Chelsea’s FA Poole Crescent, Coseley, and easy it was to claim for the Cup match against Cardiff stealing money. clothes. I just picked out today. Chelsea assistant Five hours later men everything I wanted. Burton manager Ray Wilkins said: Airport security workers posing as council staff called “He will not play this will play Cupid to passen- at the home of an 87-year- store staff sent a letter to the weekend. Carlo is giving him gers in the run-up to Valen- old woman in Maughan Job Centre and as soon as a bit of time off. He will come tine’s Day with a code Street, Quarry Bank. One the cost was invoiced I just back and prepare for our system to avoid uncovering said he was checking the flat had to collect the clothes.’ game against Wolves on the Scott added: “I think the engagement rings. as upstairs was flooding. But 20th.” Manchester Airport says his accomplice searched the system is open to abuse. In From left, Steve Bull, Jaki Graham, trustee Suresh Bawa and Andy Thompson at the Promise Dreams Valentine's Dinner at the Patshull Park Hotel romantic getaways have rest of the flat, making off my case it has been very helpful, but there is little Wolves legend Steve Bull and 80s pop senbeen almost ruined in the with a large sum of cash. Report by Laura Stuart-Cook means -testing. Youngsters sation Jaki Graham helped spread the love past few years as security At 7.40pm three teenagers living at home, supported by at a charity Valentine’s ball. I will do whatever I can raise a smile for famstaff revealed the rings struck at a house in Bridgparents, could pick up new Organisers of the Promise Dreams Valen- ilies who have a much tougher deal.” during routine searches. north Road, Wollaston. They More than 85 guests attended the ball and tine’s Dinner at Patshull Park Hotel, in The brother-in-law of a Travellers can whisper barged past the 83-year-old clothing for the sake of it.” The system has also been Burnhill Green, said the event raised about enjoyed a three course meal and disco, as man found dead at a Stafford the secret phase “be my householder into the propcriticised by the Taxpayers' £5,000 to help them fulfil the wishes of seri- well as a raffle and fundraising auction. house has been charged with Valentine” so they can be erty and escaped with cash. Alliance, which says the ously-ill children. Birmingham-born Jaki, who had hits with his murder. taken away for a private On Wednesday a house in handouts are excessive. Since the Wolverhampton-based charity Could It Be I’m Falling In Love and her cover Steven Robert Williams, search behind a screen. The Department for Work was founded in 2001 it has raised £1.9 version of Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody, aged 24, was kept in custody Mike Fazackerley, Man- Lower Gornal was raided overnight and was due to chester Airport’s director after a 79-year-old woman in and Pensions insists grants million and granted dreams such as holidays added: “I heard about Promise Dreams though Steve and I knew I wanted to get appear at Cannock Magisof security, said: “Our secu- Naylors Grove was duped by are strictly monitored and and celebrity visits. Bull, who is a patron of the charity, said: involved because it is such a great cause and trates’ Court today. He was rity staff are happy for pas- a bogus water board official. only awarded when it is clear Police believe the raids are that the interviews are “I have been incredibly fortunate that my it's making a real difference here in the Midarrested on Tuesday after sengers to use the phrase.” linked to eight burglaries. three children are all happy and healthy and lands.” genuine. Staffordshire Police were called to a house on Mapledene Close, Wildwood, at 8.30pm. Officers discovered the A biology professor at an body of newspaper delivery American university was worker Michael Smith, aged charged with murder over 33, who lived at the house the shooting deaths of three with his wife and three of his Footballer Wayne Rooney agreed in court that his agent had helped make fellow biology professors at Burglars stole First World War medals from a house in Halesowen. eight children. Williams him a “very wealthy young man”. The Manchester United and England the campus. Raiders struck at the home of Robert Hadley, smashing a window to get into lives at the same address. striker, being sued for £4.3 million in a dispute over contracts, confirmed Amy Bishop, an instruc- the property before stealing a Gallipoli silver medal, general service medal he trusted Paul Stretford and was grateful to him. The court has heard the tor and researcher at the and expeditionary force medal belonging to Mr Hadley’s great grandfather. A pearl necklace, white gold and footballer, then aged 17, was signed University of Alabama’s up by Mr Stretford in 2002. Huntsville campus, opened diamond earrings and a set of Mr Stretford, a founder and direc- fire during an afternoon Rosary beads were also snatched. Dc Charlotte Parkes from Haletor of the sports management firm faculty meeting, killing the A pensioner has admitted smug- Proactive, brokered multi-million three and injuring three sowen said: “The burglars are Violence erupted after an Aston believed to have had a fair amount of Villa youth team match against Millgling £80,000-worth of cocaine into pound deals with firms including other school employees. knowledge of this type of memoraNike and Coca-Cola for Rooney. the UK. Derek Orton, 76, was wall, leading to 13 arrests. The lucky numbers from arrested when he arrived at bilia as they took both the medals He also acted for Rooney’s wife Police were called at around last night’s draw, 05, 45, 01, Heathrow airport from Nairobi. and the ribbons to them which had 8.30pm last night to Aston Lane, Coleen. The deals agreed to pay 38 and 18. The Lucky Star A driver was hurt when been stored separately.” Two kilos of cocaine was found in Proactive 20 per cent commission Birmingham, at its junction with numbers are 6 and 4 and his baggage. Orton, who was born in but, since Mr Stretford left the firm his van crashed into a tree in Mr Hadley, aged 44, added: “These Wenlock Road, where two men in another UK millionaire won Essex but now lives in Kampala, in acrimony in October 2008, no Willenhall at the junction of medals are very sentimental.” their 40s had been injured. the Raffle Selection match- Uganda, pleaded guilty to attempt- further commission payments have Walsall Road and BirmingAnyone with information can call A minibus was stopped by officers 0845 113 5000. ing ZHR 111871. ham Street on Wednesday. ing to import a Class A drug. and 13 men were arrested. been made. The case continues.
Airport’s ready for romance
Leisure savings study by council
A widow was frogmarched around her Birmingham home by two men who stole jewellery given to her by her husband, it was revealed today. The 80-year-old victim answered the door of her home in Perry Barr and was barged into the living room and pushed onto a sofa. She pleaded with the masked men not to hurt her before being led upstairs as one ransacked her bedroom. The victim said: “I was very scared. I am devastated to have lost my jewellery. The wedding and engagement ring were constant reminders of my late husband and I am very sad I no longer have them.” The burglary in Foden Road happened less than two weeks after a break-in in nearby Turnberry Road when an 80-year-old lost her jewellery collection. Police are refusing to rule out links between the January 22 and February 8 break-ins.
Search for attack men A man needed hospital treatment after he was thrown to the ground by three attackers in Kidderminster. The men assaulted the victim, in his 40s, in Woodfield Crescent at around 9.45pm on Monday. He was treated at Kidderminster Minor Injuries Unit after his face struck the pavement when he fell. The attackers escaped on foot, running towards Castle Road. They were white, aged between 17 and 20 and of slim to medium build. One was around 6ft tall and the others about 5ft.
Two in court over cannabis Two Vietnamese nationals accused of growing cannabis in a factory unit have appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court. Hung Nguyen, aged 45, and Tuan Cong Truong, 46, both of no fixed address, faced a charge of being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis in Long Street. They were remanded in custody until March 12.