Wednesday 21 January 2009

Court Report

Heavily pregnant Julie Dorothy Huntley, was found guilty of attempting to supply and supplying heroin. The drug addict sold small doses of the class A drug in cellophane plastic bags to an undercover police officer.
Judge John Harrow sentenced Julie Huntley to 18 months, describing this as lenient due to her unborn child and said his decision was due to: ‘common compassion.’ Julie has already served 83 days on remand which will go towards her sentence at East Wood Park.
Miss Huntley blames the addiction on falling out with her father whilst young and making friends with the wrong crowd. Julie’s boyfriend a drug dealer was also arrested and imprisoned for 24 months. The defence barrister, Jonathan Simpson said she was: “cohered by the influential and experienced and had power over her.”
Nearly 40 this woman has six children aged from 2 – 21 all of which had to be put into adoption due to their mother’s drug addiction. Two other children aged 7 and 12 live with Miss Huntleys mother. Julie has taken contraceptive methods and when asked why she had so many children she said: ‘accidents do happen.’
Due to give birth in March with her 9th child, the sentence will allow the mother and baby to bond in the specialised unit for pregnant women. The prison will allow security and routine which will be best in the immediate short term. Miss Huntley will only have to serve half of her sentence to be released on license if her behaviour is acceptable.

09/12/08 news story

Crossbow and arrow bring terror to streets.

Whilst alone at home, Mr. Pascal killed his own mother with a machete. Mrs Pascal also known as ‘Lu Lu’ was brutally decapitated and covered in petrol. The not so loving son then covered her and the family dog ‘Laughing Gravy a German shepherd with petrol and set them alight. The 21-year-old set fire to his own home in an attempt to cover his tracks. As 19 fire engines battled with flames this heart - wrenching discovery was made.
Police killed Mr. Pascal as he tried to shoot his crossbow. The killing occurred as Mr. Pascal was leaving Talbot Combined School in Wallisdown. Assistant Chief Constable, Barry Lindon said: ‘Our main priority was to look after staff.’ The mentally ill man was thought to be behind a series of events today.
A crossbow and bolts were stolen from a sports centre at Chapel Gate, North Bournemouth at 8am. The prime suspect is Mr. Pascal who used these weapons in the killing’s today. A Dorset Police man explains a JCB was used to ‘open a hole’ in the Kieran Verdon Artery Range. Senior police officer Alan Rose said ‘Investigations are ongoing.’
Mr. Pascal is thought to have killed Mels Ratue. The man was left dead as an arrow was shot into his eye, as he left the bus coming from Tilburg, Netherlands. A Bonsai tree professional he had two children aged 3 and 7. Dennis Lendsbert, 52, a close friend said: ‘We are going to hold the convention in memory of Mr. Ratue.’ The two men grew up together planting Bonsai trees as children.
A shooting also occurred in Horseshoe Common. Bounce Back Ability was shot with an arrow as his owner Pippa Shufflebottom was walking her Shih Tzu dog in Canford Heath. The 20 year old said: ‘This person is just sick.’ Bouncey is only a month old and is fortunately still alive, recovering in an animal hospital. It was clear the person aimed for the dog, laughing hysterically as he shot, wearing a brown fur coat and a baseball cap.

Wednesday 7 January 2009

Bournemouth local news



‘IM ON FIRE’ has been graffitied on street names in Winton, in an artistic act of vandalism.
The culprits not yet known, stencilled with black spray iconic phrases on to the back streets of Winton. The sign Heathwood Road now bared the message ‘facebook ITS COOL.’ This is an unusual case of vandalism, unlike ‘tags’ a popular form of graffiti, this artistic style has not been used maliciously. The work slyly hidden within the names acts as a test. It tests how observant we are as a society.
The work has obviously taken time to produce. It was well thought out, with each individual letter perfect in size and shape. Remarkably it is not just letters that have been produced. The sign for Edgehill Road may look normal but on closer inspection you see a slight spray of black ink coming off the dinosaur figure next to the crest of Bournemouth. Extreme care has been taken to blend this figure, with accuracy and precision into the road name.
Just metres away from these roads are Bournemouth University and Bournemouth University of the Creative Arts. It would be no surprise to find that the individual may attend either one of these. The artwork is contemporary and conveys Bournemouth to be accepting of various forms of art and people, but for how much longer will the artwork stay before it is destroyed?




Dinosaur stencilled neatly on Edgehill Road sign.


'Facebook ITS COOL' has been stencilled on to all of the Heathwood Road signs.

Vox Pop

Debbie Purdy, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, has lost the case to change the law on assisted suicide.
Mrs. Purdy challenged the high courts, and after much deliberation the result gained found her husband may still be prosecuted if he assists her to Switzerland to a euthanasia clinic. This could mean he could face up to 14 years in prison, if he accompanies her.



Buckinghamshire GP, Caron Grimes, 48, from Cherry Tree Road, said ‘I can understand her pain, but the court’s decision on not changing the law was right.’




















Tobi Chatfield an 18 year old studying Industrial Design, from Ripon Road, Winton, said ‘I feel the law should have been changed, you should be able to choose when you want to die.’

Tobi keeping it real at Bournemouth University.



Billy McCarthy, 21, a painter and decorator from Sundew Avenue, Shepherds Bush said: 'If you are physically ill, you should be allowed to have help in ending your life.'



















Dorris Sumner, 74, from Drappers Way, Bermondsey, said ‘the poor woman should be allowed to make her own decisions and the law should respect that.’

Pensioner Mrs Sumner on her day trip to Bournemouth Pier.


Adrian Jones, 46, a security guard living in Milton Road, Bournemouth said, ‘Changing the law, would have opened up the floodgates to all sorts of monstrosities.’






















Graham Sweetapple, 35, lives in Southwood Avenue in Poole. ‘I am pro - euthanasia. The courts do not have the right to make someone’s choices.’
Mr. Sweetapple, catching a train to Southampton.









A 53 - year - old secretary from Coates Hill Road, Bromley, Carolyn Martin said, ‘The law should not change, otherwise the boundary between murder and assisted suicide will become unclear.’

Mrs Martin, tucking into her favourite fish and chips!

















Matt Holland, 46 said: ‘Assisted suicide is a crime.’ The subject Librarian, is from Lornepark Road, Bournemouth.

Mr. Holland giving advice in the library.

















Miss Kassam revising at the park. Zara, 18, a medical student lives in Alma Road, Bournemouth. ‘I am against suicide, only God should have the right to take someone’s life.’





















Jamie Duncan, 24, a promoter from Wimborne Road said ‘It’s human nature, in the end people do what they want to.’

Promoting the latest Halloween party at Dylan’s Bar. Jamie Duncan.

News Story

Four people have died after explosions rigged through a chemical plant in Dorset. In just two hours a fire swept over the chemical plant, and a leukaemia cure went up in flames.

Three motorists and an elderly lady were killed, all hit by chemical drums. These are not the only victims to today’s events, the long term effect on society is much more serious.
The leukaemia drug cured the disease in children by half. It was in the process of being distributed, after Mr Verdon devoted his life to this discovery. This man who is head of the British Drug Houses said ‘people will die.’ The fire has set back pioneering work to cure the disease by three years.

Thick black smoke covered the air in Alder Crescent where Terry Chapman, 48, was hiding in his basement, whilst chemical drums the size of baby elephants blasted into the air at heights of 800ft. Unbeknown to the disastrous effects Mr Chapman claimed he had no fear for his own life, and said today’s events were ‘exciting.’

Eleven fire engines were sent to the burning building but more were needed to control this devastating fire. Chief fire officer, known as ‘Rocky,’ 52 said ‘our main objective is containing the fire within the building.’ The cause is not yet known but is under investigation.

There was slight confusion as to where the fire was, at 9.25am it was originally thought it was on the Nelson Stanley Scrap yard on Alder Road. The firemen and crews quickly relocated to the BDH. Phill Dring, Dorset’s emergency planning officer was brought in to help the evacuation process.

What makes a good reporter?

Living on the edge, surviving missile attacks in Israel and narrowly avoiding deathly situations Alexandra Williams, forty three said to be a good reporter, ‘a nose for a good story is important.’ Reporting from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank at the height of the Palestinian-Israeli troubles, this dynamic lady tells us of the secrets behind reporting successfully.

‘First and foremost a good reporter is someone who is accurate and very particular about facts. This is the most important element of any news story.’

Having worked for The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent and The Daily Mirror, Alexandra has obtained diverse knowledge of the media industry and claims personality is significant. ‘Be tenacious, confident and persistent.’

Mrs Williams explains difficult situations are addressed as a reporter. ‘One day I was reporting in the West Bank and the Israelis launched a missile attack. Luckily I was given refuge in someone’s cellar.’ Experience is vital as a reporter, the more experience, the better you are in dealing with different situations and gaining breaking news.

To be well respected, shorthand is essential to make accurate and fast notes. ‘A good reporter must abide by the law.’ If a reporter is doing a story where their sources have asked to remain anonymous it is imperative that their identity is never revealed.

Now freelancing after leaving The Daily Mirror after seven years as their senior news and foreign correspondent, Alexandra Williams now lives in France. ‘The most profitable story would be one that I break myself and one that involves celebrity or royalty.’ The money this extraordinary woman earns is per story and the figures vary wildly, due to freelancing.
Alexandra Williams continues to embrace remarkable experiences as a dedicated reporter.

Alexandra Williams doing an "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here" challenge. Covering for The Daily Mirror in Australia.

Monday 20 October 2008


A memory in the life of… Sylvia Keen


Sylvia Keen a 75-year-old woman moved house at the age of three and remembers it to this day.


Retired Sylvia recalls her mother “kneeling down, face to face, with a sympathetic look in her eyes” telling her they were moving house.


“It was a chaotic day and I remember it to this very moment, there were boxes everywhere.”


The move came as a shock to Sylvia. “My father had little money, he worked in the metropolitan police and we could not afford much. We were living with my grandparents.”


The vulnerable girl of three was uprooted from Greenwich the place she had known as home, ripped away from her grandparents to settle in Welling due to her grandmother’s endowment of £25. This generous amount of money allowed Mrs Keen's parents to secure a house of their own.


“It’s a lot different from now a days you see, the whole house cost £450, you could have several houses for that money now."


Sweet - hearted Sylvia laughs at what she has just proposed, but it becomes clear she is reminiscing on her earlier years.


“I lived in that house for a long time, I even got married there when I was 25.” With a glint in her eyes and a warm smile she moves closer to her husband sitting next to her on the wall. Sylvia’s love for her husband for over 40 years is as cherished as her earliest memory.