Headlines: Trams and ex-footballer jailed for drug smuggling
Here's our weekly round up of stories from across local websites in the West of England.We have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app.
What have been the big stories in the West this week?
Former Bristol City footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a £600,000 cannabis smuggling operation.Bristol Live said the 34-year-old was arrested after authorities intercepted 60 kilograms of cannabis at Stansted Airport, concealed in suitcases arriving from Thailand. Emmanuel-Thomas had recruited two women, including his girlfriend, to transport the drugs. While the women were cleared of charges due to lack of evidence, Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence.The Swindon Advertiser published an interview with Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, who has supported calls to make cannabis a class A drug, which would bring it into line with drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.The Stroud News and Journal reported on an equine therapy centre in Stroud that is looking for a new home as its current one is up for sale.Could Bristol finally get a tram system? The current Metro Mayor Helen Godwin believes so. Bristol Live reported on a new government investment into the West of England's transport system earlier this week.Weston-super-Mare's club chairman stepped down this week after an incredible 39 years at the helm. The club said it believed he was one of the longest serving chairmen in English football.And if you're feeling flush with money, Somerset Live has reported on the luxury Glastonbury accommodation which will set you back £28,000 - though it comes with its own helicopter landing pad.
Top five local stories for the BBC in the West
Something longer to read
Bristol historian Eugene Byrne has written an article for the Bristol Cable, exploring the Bristolians who profited from the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.When Union soldiers blockaded American ports, the Confederates sent agents to the UK to purchase muskets and other weapons, and Bristolian ships were used as 'blockade runners' to try and evade patrolling warships.
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Weston man found with thousands of indecent child images
A man who sexually assaulted a woman and was found with thousands of indecent photographs and videos of children has been Geoffrey Thompson, of Totterdown Road in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, pleaded guilty to a total of six charges, including making indecent images of children, taking indecent images of children and distributing indecent images of children as well as sexual and Somerset Police, said: "Thompson compiled indecent photographs involving children over a period of eight years and one of the category A moving images was estimated to be more than one hour long."The 61-year-old was handed a five-year sentence at Bristol Crown Court on 5 June. Police said Thompson's address was searched after they received information from another law enforcement mobile phone was seized and analysed to reveal the scale of his offending - which included making more than 4,200 category A indecent images of victim of the sexual assault, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said in an impact statement read out in court that she has "struggles" daily."My mental health has declined, which I didn't think was further possible knowing how low I have been feeling," she said."But I've been experiencing even more depression and anxiety, which affects me to the point I am not sleeping and constantly overthinking and continuing to not feel safe." Avon and Somerset Police said: "A huge amount of credit must be given to the victim for having the courage to come forward despite her ordeal."We hope any other victims of sexual offences are reassured that no matter how much time may have passed, it is never too late to report a crime to the police."Thompson was also handed 10-year-restraining order, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and has also signed the sex offenders register.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV
A WOMAN has been left terrified after returning home from holiday and discovering a "deadly" scorpion in her home. It is believed the scorpion hitched a ride back in her luggage when she returned from a holiday in Africa. 4 The deadly scorpion was discovered in a Swindon home earlier this month. It was reportedly spotted by the homeowner as she sat watching TV with the scorpion crawling across her carpet right under her nose. The terrified homeowner bravely trapped it under a wine glass before transferring it into a jar where it was safely kept until help arrived. The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was called and recommended the woman speak to a specialist. Jonathan Cleverly who provides educational workshops for schools featuring insects, reptiles and invertebrates was eventually scrambled to deal with the African scorpion. Jonathan took the creature away after identifying it as a member of the Buthidae family which several of the most deadly scorpion species in the world are also a part of. After getting the deadly creature home Jonathan made sure to keep it locked up safely before finding it a new home. Jonathan owns several scorpions himself and was well prepared with the proper equipment to transport the deadly animal. He dismissed the idea that the animal was an escaped pet, believing it snuck into the UK in the woman's luggage. The dangerous creatures are commonly found in Africa from where the homeowner had recently returned. The scorpion has since been taken to live with an expert who has a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animals) licence. Moment student finds deadly Chinese SCORPION inside her parcel It was estimated to be around 4cm long with Jonathan calling it the "most dangerous animal" he ever had. Speaking to the BBC Jonathan said: "She'd [the homeowner] done a brilliant job of moving it from a wine glass into a jam jar with a secure lid so it couldn't move and escape. "She put in some lettuce for a bit of moisture. She looked after it brilliantly well. "The scorpion, I would like to say, is absolutely gorgeous - even if it is potentially harmful to humans, it's a very rare thing for these sorts of scorpion to make their way into the UK." 4 4 The six legged creature boasts a pair of fearsome looking claws and a large, venomous stinger on its tail. Coming in at just 4cm the scorpion is small but deadly with the species occasionally causing human fatalities. When fully grown the scorpion can reach a terrifying 12cm, more than twice the size of the one found in Swindon. What are the most poisonous animals in the world? Here are seven of the most deadly creatures... The box jellyfish is widely regarded to be the most posionous animal in the world and contians a toxin that can cause heart attacks Cobras, typically found in the jungles of India and China, can spit a venom which can result in death in a very short space of time and just 7ml of their venom is enough to kill 20 humans The marbled cone snail is a sea creature that can release venom so toxic it can result in vision loss, respiratory failure, muscle paralysis and eventually death and, to make things worse, there is no anti-venom available Posion dart frogs are small and brightly coloured but have glands containing a toxin that blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death Puffer fish are considered to be a dangerous delicacy because some of their anatomy contains a hazardous toxin which, if ingested in a large quantity, can cause convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death The Brazillian wandering spider, also known as the 'banana spider', has venom that is so high in serotonin it can paralyse and kill Death stalker scorpions have a fitting name as enough venom from one can cause a lot of pain and respiratory failure
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Bristol Airport customers warned to avoid 'rogue' parking firms
Holidaymakers have been warned by police to only use official airport parking companies after vehicles suffered suspected criminal damage and were left with "unexplained additional mileage".Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) said it held a day of action targeting parking firms operating near Bristol customers' cars were involved in parking and driving offences while they were on holiday or were driven by people suspected of being uninsured, police were also given back to their owners in an "undriveable or unroadworthy" condition, police added. The operation was held on 3 June and involved North Somerset Council, the Immigration Enforcement Team and the Motor Insurance Bureau. ASP said officers involved found and returned 20 vehicles to their owners after unofficial meet-and-greet companies did not give them back straight away, leaving the families waiting "for hours" after landing."Not only were holidaymakers left abandoned, but one of the images from the operation shows a customer's vehicle was being used to drive around the area returning keys which were piled up on the front seat and in the footwell, which were effectively insecure and at risk of being stolen," a police statement said. Sgt Danielle Hardaway, one of the senior officers involved in the day of action, said: "We have had reports of cars being returned damaged or with excess mileage and, in some cases, have been driven by people who are uninsured as well as being involved in driving offences."In some cases, vehicles left in dangerous or obstructive positions in local villages had to be towed away."We ask people to always choose reputable parking operators, and to choose them carefully, and if the price seems too good to be true, then it often is."The force added people should look for approved businesses when choosing where to leave their Airport chief executive David Lees said he welcomed the operation targeting what he called "rogue operators"."They are a nuisance to local communities and cause distress to customers who use them – with many completely unaware of where their cars end up," he added.
