Latest news with #Berlingo
Press and Journal
08-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Deeside dangerous driver jailed after causing drunken head-on crash
A drink-driver has been jailed for two years after causing a head-on smash in rural Deeside. Daniel Glazewski fled the scene of the crash, near Torphins, and was eventually found hiding in woodland by a police dog, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told. The crash, on the afternoon of June 23 2023, happened after other road users spotted Glazewski, 42, driving dangerously in his Audi A4 convertible. Fiscal depute David Ballock told the court one witness saw Glazewski at around 2.30pm as she was driving out of Torphins on the road approaching the junction with Woodside Road. He said: 'They observed the blue Audi pass through the junction, failing to slow in order to give way or stop for the junction. '[The witness] had to take evasive action in order to avoid colliding with the vehicle.' The other driver continued to follow Glazewski's car, which was 'driving erratically'. Mr Ballock added: 'The blue Audi was then observed being driven in the middle of both lanes and on the opposing side of the carriageway, for a distance of approximately two miles.' Meanwhile, the court was told, another female driver was travelling south on the Torphins to Tornasheen B993 road. 'Having negotiated a blind left-hand bend, she suddenly became aware of a blue Audi being driven towards her, on the opposing side of the carriageway,' Mr Ballock said. 'She took evasive action and attempted to swerve her vehicle out of the path of the blue Audi, however, both vehicles collided, coming to rest across both carriageways.' The car following behind Glazewski stopped to help at the scene. Glazewski, the court heard, got out of his car and tried to walk away. Mr Ballock explained that all the witnesses thought he had been drinking and the police were called after they confiscated his car keys. Glazewski then walked into a wooded area near to the smash and was lost to view. Police officers with a dog team later traced Glazewski, at around 4pm, hiding in the woods and he was said to be shoeless. The female driver from the other car involved in the collision, a silver Berlingo, was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and treated for a broken breastbone and bruising. The court heard she was unable to drive for four months. Glazewski, once traced by the police dog called Kane, was placed in handcuffs. Mr Ballock said: 'The officers noticed that he smelled strongly of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had glazed eyes. They formed the impression that the accused was under the influence of alcohol. 'A roadside breath test was then carried out, which gave a positive indication for the presence of alcohol.' He was also taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and whilst waiting for treatment, he stated to officers: 'I f****d up' and 'I was drinking, and I was driving'. Officers later found CCTV footage from the Scotmid in Torphins, shortly before the crash. It showed Glazewski buying two bottles of white wine 'whilst clearly unsteady on his feet'. Glazewski pled guilty to causing injury by dangerous driving, drink-driving and failing to give a specimen of urine. His defence agent Neil McRobert urged the court not to jail his client, who had recently become a father for a second time. 'He is in full-time employment,' Mr McRobert said. 'And has no other cases outstanding. 'During June 2023, his alcohol consumption had increased. He acknowledges responsibility and has grave regrets.' However, Sheriff William Summers said Glazewski bore a high level of culpability, saying: 'You drove deliberately while under the influence, for long periods. 'You caused a head-on collision, that caused injury. It is fortunate the injuries were not more serious, or you would be facing a far more serious charge.' Talking to the dangerous driving charge, Sheriff Summers said: 'The charge is so serious, there is no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.' He jailed Glazewski, formerly of Torphins, now of Nether Turin Farm Cottage, Forfar, for two years, and disqualified him from driving for five years, adding that he must sit an extended driving test to get his licence returned
Sunday World
07-05-2025
- Sunday World
‘Have money in two days, or you're dead' – Intruders threaten to kill couple and unborn child
Before the court were John English (37) and Patrick O'Connell (35) 'Have the money in two days, or you're dead.' That was the chilling message delivered to a couple in Campile when two men broke into their house. The incident at St James's Villas was the subject of a case dealt with at a sentencing hearing in the Circuit Court by Judge James McCourt. Before the court were John English (37) from Ramsgrange, now living in New Ross, and Patrick O'Connell (35) with an address of Abbey View, Campile. They admitted burglary, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage to the back door of a home in St James's Villas. Also in the dock was Dermot O'Connell who pleaded guilty when charged with trespass on July 21, 2021. That was the date on which English and Patrick O'Connell forced the door of the home of Matthew Cullen and his pregnant partner Shannon Power. They were armed with a crowbar and a small baseball bat and they came looking for payment of a debt. The court heard from plain clothes Garda Conor Walsh that a dispute over a van may have inspired the terrifying episode. Mr Cullen found himself struck repeatedly about the head, arm and chest with the crowbar and O'Connell also tried to bite his ear. The garda estimate that the household was hit about 20 times in all during this ordeal before he managed to wrestle the weapon from his attacker. Meanwhile English pushed Ms Power against a wall, telling her that he would kill her and her unborn baby. Wexford Courthouse The News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, 7th of May The two intruders made off on foot with a dog and with Dermot O'Connell who was waiting outside. The third man told Mr Cullen and Ms Power that they had two days to pay before 'lads from Dublin' arrived to collect the sum claimed. A blue Berlingo van later found parked near an Aldi supermarket was believed to have been the trio's getaway vehicle. They had been recognised and were arrested for questioning in the weeks and months following the incident. The court was told that English was foreman on a building site while the younger O'Connell worked as a fisherman. In a victim impact statement, Sharon Power asked the judge to show no mercy to the defendants. She wrote that she feared for her life and described the lasting effect of the break-in: 'My safe place is no longer my safe place. I became scared of my own shadow.' She was checked out at the time in hospital and found to be physically unharmed while her partner sustained a large number of superficial injuries. The judge learned that English is a father of two, described by his barrister Ronan Kennedy as a well regarded tradesman. Counsel said that his client was suffering from addiction problems at the time of the offences and had since gone to rehab at Aisirí. English's memory of the night of the break in was limited. He remembered being asked to help collect some money and next he remembered waking up with blood on his hands. 'This offence is very much rooted in addiction,' suggested Mr Kennedy. Dermot O'Connell was given a suspended six month sentence. John English and Patrick O'Connell were handed two year terms, the final 18 months to be suspended.
Glasgow Times
28-04-2025
- Glasgow Times
Drug dealer 'Big Poppa' forced to handover more than half a million
Darren Collin was ordered to hand over a total of £537,725.00 by Judge Lady Ross at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday. Collin was given an eight-year jail term in August 2020 for his role in selling narcotics in Scotland. He was snared after police cracked an encrypted phone full of incriminating messages and was jailed for eight years. READ MORE: Footage released of man with 'two large dogs' after incident in Glasgow Collin was held before £1.3m of heroin and cocaine, as well as £517,000 of cash was seized. Detectives had also discovered a white V-Smart mobile in the 29-year-old's Citroen Berlingo van. It was found to be an encrypted device with Collin having the user name "Big Poppa'. On Monday, prosecutors brought Collin to the High Court in Edinburgh. Defence advocate Allan Macleod told Lady Ross that he and prosecutors had agreed to settle the matter. Mr Macleod said his client would agree to hand over the sum in order to bring the proceeds of crime action to an end. At previous proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow, the court heard how the phone seized by police had messages linking him to the delivery of drugs and money, as well as photos of illegal hauls. READ MORE: Teen, 14, nicked after derelict Glasgow building burst into flames It also revealed Collins had texted an associate seconds after being stopped by police, stating: "Been caught". Collin had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine. Lord Armstrong said Collin's level of involvement showed the drug operation was "organised and planned'. The judge said the jail term would have been 12 years, but for the guilty plea. The court heard how police began surveillance on Collin in late April this year. He was initially spotted driving an expensive Audi SQ7 before going into the Berlingo van. Police clocked him involved in what appeared to be drug transactions, including collecting three large tubs in the Dawsholm Road Industrial Estate near Glasgow's Anniesland. Collin was soon stopped in neighbouring Fulton Street on April 29. The V-Smart phone was one of a number of mobiles seized. The encrypted device revealed Collin was regularly in touch with 10 contacts. They had nicknames including 'icecream', 'blackhorse', 'magicstopper' and ' Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: 'There are further significant messages relating to what is assessed to be criminality such as images of white blocks. 'These are potentially cocaine with different logos embossed as well as large sums of money and tick lists.' The court heard there were also 'detailed instructions' given to Collin by a contact on how to package cash and where to drop it off. A purpose-built secret compartment was also found in the van where items could be stashed. A flat in Anniesland linked to Collin was then raided. Police found large consignments of heroin, cocaine, cash and substances used to bulk out drugs there and in the van. Other related equipment, including a hydraulic press, was also seized. The heroin was valued at £820,500, with the cocaine at £505,580. The court that Collin had earlier been hit with "financial difficulties" after a back injury affected his work as a lift engineer. His lawyer on that occasion, advocate Frances Connor, said: "His father is a successful businessman, but he was too embarrassed to approach him for help. "He does accept the foolishness of that." Collin was also hit with a three-year Serious Crime Prevention Order designed to tackle and monitor criminals on their release from jail. On Monday, prosecutor Bryan Heaney confirmed that the Crown were content to settle the action for payment of the sum.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Citroen e-C3 to gain £15k van variant with 200-mile range
ë-C3 van will have its rear seats and seatbelt points removed and a mesh bulkhead added Citroën hopes to spark a revival of the small car-based van segment by launching a £15,000 ë-C3 electric van. The commercial variant of its new entry-level electric car is due in April, with a likely starting price of £15,035 excluding VAT but inclusive of the UK's Plug-in Van Grant. It will be built to N1 classification. Only the Dacia Spring Cargo will be cheaper, at £14,995 excluding VAT, yet the ë-C3 van will have a longer range. It will be based on the larger-battery (44kWh) version of the ë-C3 with 200-miles of range (one mile more than the car, due to a marginally lower weight) and charging speeds of up to 100kW. Power comes from a 111bhp electric motor. Citroën UK boss Greg Taylor told Autocar that the brand 'can see a niche' for the appeal of such a model. 'Ford used to sell thousands of Fiesta vans,' he said. 'Part of our goal is to reinvigorate that segment, and we're excited to start with this.' The ë-C3 van is designed to appeal for last-mile deliveries and short-distance journeys and for businesses that don't need a larger van. 'It's gone to tenders and there are use cases," said Taylor. "There are people who don't need a Berlingo and it can give something that the market can't offer at the moment.' The new van will have the rear seats and seatbelt points removed and have a mesh bulkhead installed. It will have 1.3 square metres of load space. Otherwise, it will come with all of the features of the car on which it is based, including the Advanced Comfort front seats and suspension. It's part of a wider push from Citroën to launch a range of affordable EVs. The firm already has five EVs available for less than £30,000, including the ë-C4 and ë-C4 X, which have had their prices cut to coincide with their facelifts to start from £26,295 and £27,360 respectively. The Ami, ë-C3 and upcoming ë-C3 Aircross complete the five. Citroën is also in the process of developing an eight-year warranty to roll out across its entire model range. Taylor said the finer details and launch date were still being worked on but the brand sees it as a way of retaining aftersales and servicing within its network; and keeping in touch with buyers of new vehicles for longer and with people buying its cars used. Taylor said it isn't a reactionary move but rather one to allow Citroën to maintain its 'upward trajectory', particularly at the moment, when it's in the process of refreshing its entire model range. ]]>
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Inquest jury out over couple found dead in van
The jury at an inquest trying to establish how a young couple died on a rural road in Cumbria has retired to consider its conclusions. Ryan Duffy, 24, and Ellie Marsden, 20, from Greater Manchester, were found dead in their crashed van near Drybeck in September 2021. The hearing was told they had been followed by a police car for several miles beforehand, but may have been unaware of the fact. Giving legal directions, the coroner told jurors it was not a trial, but a fact-finding inquiry to find out how and in what circumstances they had died. The inquest has previously heard the couple had booked into a hotel at Appleby Castle on the night of Friday, 4 September and then spent some time in a pub. Just after midnight, they got into a white Citroen Berlingo van which was spotted going the wrong way along a one-way street by a police officer on mobile patrol. The PC repeatedly drove above speed limits in Appleby and then rural roads as he attempted to follow, the inquest jury heard. A standard response driver, he was trained to stop vehicles but not to pursue them, and did not activate emergency blue lights or sirens during a four-minute journey, the hearing was told. Still not having caught up with the van, he logged the vehicle's registration and make and returned to Appleby. The next morning, the Berlingo was found crashed into a tree about 173m (567ft) beyond where the PC had turned back, the jurors heard. Mr Duffy, who was in the driving seat, and Ms Marsden were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither were wearing seatbelts. Giving evidence, the police officer repeatedly denied suggestions he was involved in a pursuit of the van. He told the inquest he was "not certain" whether the van driver was aware of him, but his presence might have been a distraction for the van driver. A senior police forensic examiner concluded that at the time of the crash the van was travelling at about 40mph, which was under the national speed limit for that stretch of road. Steering marks on the road suggested the driver may have misjudged a bend on which the collision occurred due to being impaired in some way, or distracted, or both. Toxicology tests showed the amount of alcohol in Mr Duffy's bloodstream was between two and three times the legal driving limit, and the couple had taken both cocaine and ketamine. Assistant coroner Joseph Hart told jurors they must not speculate or guess and put aside sympathy and any disapproval. They were to answer four key questions: who the deceased were; when, where and how they died. He said: "Your duty is to find the facts and a conclusion from the evidence and only from the evidence. "Adopt a cool, clinical and, above all, independent approach." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Couple found dead in van were followed by police HM Courts Service
