Latest news with #Formby
BBC News
08-08-2025
- BBC News
Ex-headteacher jailed for sex attacks on three pupils in Lancashire
A former headteacher who sexually assaulted three girls at his school has been Bocker, 65, abused the teenagers between 2007 and 2016 at a school in the Oswaldtwistle of Gorse Lane, Formby, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Burnley Crown Court after he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life. Police Investigating Officer Amanda Gallery said: "First and foremost I would like to praise these girls for having the courage to come forward and report to us what happened to them. "I hope the guilty verdicts and sentence give them some sense that justice has been done." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Headteacher, 65, who sexually abused girls over a nine-year period is jailed
A disgraced headteacher who sexually assaulted three teenage girls while at school has been jailed. Mark Bocker, 65, assaulted the school girls over a nine-year period between 2007 and 2016 at a school in the Oswaldtwistle area. Bocker, of Gores Lane, Formby was convicted of three counts of sexual assault contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 following a trial last month. He was sentenced today at Burnley Crown Court to just 42 months behind bars. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. Police Investigating Officer Amanda Gallery said: 'First and foremost I would like to praise these girls for having the courage to come forward and report to us what happened to them. 'I hope the guilty verdicts and sentence give them some sense that justice has been done. 'I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual offending, no matter how long ago, to come and speak to us confident that we will investigate sensitively and professionally and will aim to put offenders before the courts.' Disgraced headteacher Mark Bocker, 65, who sexually assaulted three teenage girls while at school has been jailed Bocker also appeared before the courts in March 2022 after he admitted possession of indecent images. Police found the child abuse images on one of Smith's phones and said these included images of girls as young as eight being abused. As many as 13 images fell into Category A, the most serious, while 23 were in Category B and 46 were in Category C. Bocker was handed a six month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to complete rehabilitation courses.
BBC News
04-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Formby homes plan approved for greenbelt land despite protests
Plans to demolish a former nightclub and build up to 23 homes on green belt land have been approved, despite hundreds of Council has given the go ahead for the development on the Shorrock's Hill nightclub site in Formby, Merseyside, which closed down in petitions and more than 800 letters of objection were lodged, with Formby Parish Council saying developing the site amounted to a "land-grab" and raising concerns about the lack of an appropriate housing officers said the benefits from the development "outweigh the harm arising from the loss of existing trees and the absence of a housing mix". The residents said green spaces next to the site, which was also known as Falcon's Crest in the 1980s, would be "destroyed".A protest in November last year also questioned the need for more development in Formby generally, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The plot, off St Luke's Church Road, is owned by the Ascot were submitted to Sefton Council on their behalf by Baldwin Design Consultancy Limited, which said the site "has been designed to complement and respond to the surrounding area, create local identity and a cohesive sense of place".They said the scheme would provide "an essential contribution to the housing stock in the Sefton area as well as enhancing the local settlement".The application sought consent for a 100-space public car park with toilet council report noted that the local authority had received five petitions and more than 800 individual letters objecting to the also raised concerns about the "detrimental impacts on ecology, loss of amenity for existing Formby residents and insufficient infrastructure to support further housing development".The planning committee approved the application with conditions including a requirement for the developer to start work within the next three years. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Gun thug 'Lil S' continues to rap on Instagram and TikTok from his cell
A convicted criminal, Shaun Ventre, has gained notoriety on social media as he pursues a music career from behind bars. Serving a 16-year sentence since February 2023 for his role in a drug trafficking operation and possession of a firearm with a silencer and ammunition, Ventre has turned to rapping under the moniker "Lil S". Despite being jailed, videos began circulating on Instagram and TikTok, of him rapping from his cell following the shutdown of his original TikTok account. He often appears on camera in sportswear rapping about crime and his life. Ventre, 25, whose most recent address was listed as Cable Street in Formby, posted a number of the videos, filmed on illegally smuggled in smart phones, on his TikTok and Instagram pages. READ MORE: The 10 best mobile games you can play for free - and number 1 will surprise you READ MORE: 5 retro RPGs you can play right now guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again - you won't have heard of one of them After the Liverpool Echo alerted TikTok to his activity on their platform, his account was shut down for violating rules against filming within prison. Despite this, the Liverpool Echo understands Ventre created a new account within hours of the original being taken down. In a particular video shared online, Ventre can be heard rapping about a "Glock with all the features" and his upbringing in Huyton. With two Instagram accounts amassing over 30,000 followers, his profile suggests it is "run by management", yet numerous videos appear to have been illicitly recorded during his time in custody, reports the Liverpool Echo. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here A spokesperson for TikTok told the ECHO the company had taken action against the account used by Ventre following a review by its moderation teams. It also said it relies on prison staff and law enforcement to identify and notify the use of accounts from prison. Despite repeated attempts to contact Meta, the company did not reply to the ECHO, with one of Ventre's account bios reading: "Fire in the pad. Real rap no cap!! L36 on the map." An investigation has since been launched into Ventre and his social media activity by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), with disciplinary action to be taken if necessary. The MoJ explained the HMPPS Digital Media Investigation Unit (DMIU) has located the relevant social media accounts and submitted takedown requests, with all reported incidents of social media misuse being investigated by the DMIU, who identify and work with social media companies to take down such material. By the time the MoJ began investigating, TikTok had already removed the account without the need for a takedown request. Ventre has managed to gain more than 100,000 views on several of his videos on Instagram, with a prison spokesperson telling the ECHO: "We have launched an investigation into these videos and have requested their removal. 'Any prisoner found with contraband, such as a mobile phone or recording equipment, is breaking the law and could face extra time in prison.' The inmate, who will serve up to 50% of his 16 year sentence before he is released on licence, refers to his previous convictions in his song lyrics. Across various "freestyles", Ventre makes repeated references to his life as a drug dealer, with lyrics including "since I was a kid I pushed crack on the pavements, if I get nicked, no comment, no statement". Ventre also makes reference to his conviction for firearms offences. These include "where I'm from you have to learn how to shoot" and "Glock 19 with the extended clip". According to the wannabe musician, he is putting the life of crime behind him, stating "f**** up the trap, now it's onto the music game". Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE Ventre was jailed following two separate investigations, one run by Lancashire Constabulary which looked into a county lines plot in Blackpool and a second by Merseyside Police after a gun was found in a Merseyside home. The probe in Blackpool, carried out as part of Project Adder - the local response to disrupting drug gangs, followed reports that a county line was operating between Merseyside and the Lancashire seaside town. Officers received intelligence that class A drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine, were being dealt, while children and vulnerable people were being coerced into the gang's criminal activities. Ventre was one of 12 people charged in connection with the probe in the early months of 2022. However it wasn't the first time Ventre was involved in a county lines plot. As a 21-year-old he travelled between Liverpool and Macclesfield to distribute drugs to his network of dealers. Ventre, who was of no fixed abode at the time, was spotted leaving the house of a vulnerable man he had been using as a base of operations. Officers stopped Ventre in a Mercedes and was found in possession of nearly £1,200 in cash, while a quantity of designer clothing worth more than £700 and a graft phone was on a car seat. A woman Ventre was with was found with more than 100 street wraps of heroin, two wraps of crack cocaine and a bag of powder cocaine. Ventre denied any involvement in dealing and claimed all of the money and clothing had been given to him by other people - stating he lived on the generosity of others. He was jailed for four years at the time, meaning he fell straight back into a life of crime while out of prison on licence. He was also confirmed as a suspect in a gun probe after a self-loading Beretta pistol and bullets in a house on York Road in Huyton in November 2021. He was later charged with firearms offences and his cases were joined together when he was sentenced at Preston Crown Court two years later.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Boxer eyes expansion with 60 new stores and R1. 2 billion investment
As South Africa's fastest-growing discount supermarket chain, Boxer acknowledged the emerging challenges ahead. Image: Supplied In Boxer's first annual report since its listing on the JSE, the retailer revealed its ambitious plans for the 2026 financial year. The company aims to open 60 new stores (25 Superstores and 35 liquor stores), invest R1.2 billion in capital expenditure, and further expand and enhance the infrastructure that supports its growth and efficiency. As South Africa's fastest-growing discount supermarket chain, Boxer acknowledged the emerging challenges ahead, including low price inflation, rising cost inflation, annual listing-related expenses, and increased competition within the market. Board chairperson James Formby reflected on the milestone, stating, "The listing of Boxer Retail Limited on the JSE and A2X in November 2024 was a defining moment for the Boxer Group. It marked a point of pride, purpose, and the culmination of decades of hard work, consistent execution, and strong performance in a highly competitive market." While the primary motivation for Boxer's listing was to meet the recapitalisation needs of its largest shareholder, Pick n Pay Stores, Formby noted that the process also provided Boxer with a rare opportunity to emerge as a stand-alone entity, gain visibility in the retail industry, access capital markets, and accelerate its growth strategy. CEO Marek Masojada highlighted the company's strong momentum as it entered 2025, saying that Boxer had maintained its focus on business priorities despite the demands of preparing for its initial public offering (IPO). "Our first set of results demonstrates a business that is staying true to its strategy, fulfilling its promises, and, most importantly, delivering on what matters most to our customers," Masojada said. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Boxer posted consistent market share gains throughout the year, which contributed to strong sales growth and trading profit. The retailer exceeded IPO expectations, delivering a market-leading return on invested capital. The company expanded its footprint by a net 48 stores during the year, including converting eight Pick n Pay supermarkets and seven liquor stores to Boxer, bringing its total to 525 locations across South Africa and Eswatini. This expansion resulted in the creation of 2 900 new jobs, significantly contributing to economic inclusion. While the store rollout slightly missed the annual target of 60 stores due to delays in securing liquor licences, Masojada remained confident about Boxer's future, saying, "We have the infrastructure, financial capacity, and experience to deliver on our expansion plans in FY26 and beyond." Chief Finance Officer David Wayne reported a 13.2% increase in turnover, reaching R42.3 billion. On a comparable 52-week basis, turnover rose by 10.4%, with like-for-like sales growth of 5.6%. "This solid performance reflects consistent market share gains, supported by our disciplined execution of the customer value strategy," Wayne said. However, he noted that sales growth moderated in the second half of the year, from 12% in the first half (7.7% like-for-like) to 9% in the second half (3.7% like-for-like), as the business cycled against an exceptionally strong comparative base from the second half of 2024 (18.6% sales growth, 11.6% like-for-like). Wayne expects turnover growth to continue in the low teens in 2026, although this forecast accounts for lower food inflation and the potential for delays in liquor licence approvals, which could affect the timing of some store openings.
