Body of man, 20, recovered from River Tees after search
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Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fury over newly installed 'killer kerb' causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars daily
Drivers are furious with a council over a new foot-high 'Killer Kerb' which has caused thousands of pounds of damage to cars. The new installation was designed to create a 'more welcoming environment for pedestrians' but has instead become so notorious that it has been listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps. It has caused so much damage that a Facebook page has been dedicated to the carnage it has caused. The Lib Dem-led Wiltshire Council was built in October 2024 as part of a £3.2 million project. It was 'renewed' last year under a scheme the county council said would 'create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians' when they walk towards the city centre from the railway station. One video of a car bumping over the kerb had been viewed more than one million times on social media. Since it was installed the council has faced a slew of compensation claims from motorists who have damaged their vehicles on the kerb. However, some locals say that the drivers are themselves to blame. The 'killer kerb 'sits around 100 metres from Salisbury train station in Wiltshire at a mini roundabout at the junction of two major roads. Since opening in October 2024 eight compensation claims relating to it have been made compared to zero in the three previous years. Tom Curtress, 34, from Berkshire, is one of several people who have damaged their cars on the kerb. He said: 'It will be two new doors and some panel work. It's not exactly a bit of varnish and some paint work. 'Other people will do the same thing; they will have a great weekend, drop someone off at the station and then prang their car.' After hitting the kerb in his Ford Focus in March he noticed a BMW do something similar 15 minutes later. He added: 'That BMW car door's going to cost more than a Ford Focus one. 'It was an identical issue, coming from the station. It's not just causing a little scuff. It's causing dents. 'If you drive from the station, you can't see the kerb from the driver's side. It's a tight turn and you don't want to go into the oncoming traffic. 'I took one video where around 50 percent of the cars, to avoid it, had their driver's side on the other side of the road.' Retired military pilot Anthony D'Arcy-Irvine, 82, caused £4,000 worth of damage after hitting his Volkswagen on the kerb in June. When he took his car to the garage he was told he was the 'third car that day'. Mr D'Arcy-Irvine, from Enford, Wilts, said of the incident that led to the damage: 'I was going to get crushed. If I had stayed where I was, I would have been hit by the vehicle coming the other way. 'I have lived in Salisbury for 50 years and I have used that roundabout regularly, I think it is very badly marked. 'When you pull out of the way of a truck coming the other way, there's not sign of where it is. You cannot see it. Other people have rung me and said the same thing. 'Wiltshire Council and Highways have a responsibility to make sure it is safe for driers as well, and it isn't. They have a duty of care for road users.' Heather Armstrong, who owns nearby Gullicks Florists, added: 'Literally everyday a vehicle will go into the kerb and people get stuck on it. 'If someone gets stuck on there it does cause problems with traffic building up. 'I know it's there, so I know to pull out further. For some people, it's not that visible. 'When there was a railing there it gave some more guidance. You have to swing out the other way, and sometimes with traffic coming the other way, that's not possible.' One Facebook page dedicated to the kerb has over 4,200 members, more than 10 percent of the historic city's population. However, viewers are split over who to blame for the damage. One commentator, Jo Earley, saying 'Can we stop blaming the kerb and start blaming the idiots behind the wheel?' Another user, Patrick Day, commented: 'This group isn't for 'victims'. It's for people to laugh at the ones who can't drive and mount it.' However Jonathan Hodgetts wrote: 'Installing a curb like this is crazy but I am amazed people get caught so often. Mind you we all make mistakes so must not be too critical.' One anonymous user said: 'You should have your licence taken away from you if you can't negotiate a corner, dumbass.' Samantha Stokes added: 'Far too much time is being spent on this bloody kerb. I can't wait for the traffic lights to come for the idiots can't turn a corner without smashing their car up.' One social media member even suggested setting up a viewing area on the other side of the road to mock road users. After months of complaints, a safety audit has now been completed by Wiltshire Council and work is due to start next week to improve the kerb. The gradient of the footpath is set to be reduced and a bollard put in place to guide people around the 90-degree corner. 'Deterrent paving' will also be insalled to assist drivers. Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways at Wiltshire Council, said: 'This is a key junction providing access to the railway station and city centre, with approximately 11,000 vehicles passing under the Fisherton Street railway bridge each day. 'It is important that the infrastructure installed at this location supports pedestrian safety, especially with the recent opening of Fisherton car park for SWR customers, which has increased footfall in the area.'
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Police chief labels people who don't stop shoplifters ‘part of the problem'
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber faced criticism for stating that individuals who do not challenge shoplifters are "part of the problem". Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson condemned Barber's remarks as "irresponsible" and "dangerous", advising the public against confronting thieves. The controversy arises amid record-high shoplifting offences in England and Wales, with a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Retailers, particularly pharmacies, report a surge in shoplifting and aggressive behaviour, with many feeling police responses are inadequate. Barber defended his comments, stressing social responsibility and the importance of reporting crime, while clarifying he does not advocate for physical intervention.
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trans Met Police volunteer, 27, told 12-year-old that he loved her before sexually assaulting her, court hears
A transgender Met Police volunteer had daily video chats with their alleged rape victim before sexually assaulting her at the age of 12, a court has heard. James Bubb, who now identifies as a woman named Gwyn Samuels, regularly spoke to the girl over text and video call before the alleged attack, Amersham Law Courts was told. The court heard the pair met on video chat site Omegle in 2018, when the complainant was 12 years old and the defendant was around 21. They then met in person for the first time at a Christian festival a few months later, jurors were told. Of their first encounter in person, Adrian Amer, defending, asked: 'At the time of meeting, did you believe you were in a relationship?' Giving evidence, the witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, replied: 'Yes I did, yes.' Mr Amer asked: 'What sort of relationship?' 'An emotional, romantic relationship,' the witness said, adding that she believed the defendant was her 'boyfriend'. The alleged victim said that at the time, the pair would speak every day, including on video call. 'He'd tell me that he loved me, "good night", every day,' she added. Of this first meeting, the witness said that although they did not tell the defendant their age, it would have been 'evident'. She said: 'I didn't sound or look like a 17-year-old, I looked probably younger than I was.' 'I was dressing as a child,' she continued, and added that she had sent the defendant a photo of herself wearing a My Little Pony t-shirt. 'I was acting like a child, I was a child,' she said. The witness said Bubb assaulted her on Shepherd's Bush Green while she was visiting London with her parents to celebrate her 13th birthday. Of this alleged incident in 2019, Mr Amer asked the witness why she did not leave if she was uncomfortable. 'He was my boyfriend,' she replied. 'But he wasn't your boyfriend, was he?' Mr Amer said. 'No, now I recognise him to be my abuser,' the witness said. 'I didn't feel that I had any autonomy,' she added. 'I didn't have an understanding of consent.' She continued: 'I firmly believed that James and I were in a mutual loving relationship and that's what girlfriends and boyfriends do. 'I was scared to speak out, I didn't realise I could,' she added. On another occasion at Shepherd's Bush, the witness said Bubb had 'scoped out the area' and told her there was 'no CCTV', before asking her to remove her tights and sexually assaulting her. The alleged victim said she was later raped by the defendant at Bubb's home in Harrow, London, when she was 13 years old. She told the jury the volunteer officer was 'choking' and 'restraining' her during the attack and that she had asked them to stop. 'It's safe to say I was scared,' she added. The defendant dabbed their eyes and shook their head at points while the witness was giving evidence. The 27-year-old has denied one count of rape in relation to one complainant, and two counts of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, one count of rape of a child under 13 and one count of assault by penetration in relation to the other complainant. A not guilty verdict on one of the rape charges in relation to the second complainant was returned on Wednesday after the prosecution offered no evidence. All accusations are alleged to have taken place between January 1, 2018 to April 2, 2024. The defendant, from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, denies all charges and the trial continues.
