Latest news with #GloucestershirePolice
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Pilot 'switched hands on controls' before crashing light aircraft on busy A road
The Grob 109B motorglider aircraft crashed on to a busy A road outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last summer with the AAIB blaming pilot error A pilot crashed a light aircraft injuring both men on board after confusing his left and right hands, an Air Accident Investigation Branch report has found. The Grob 109B motorglider aircraft crashed on to a busy A road outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last summer with the passenger suffering significant spinal injuries that left him in hospital for several days. The aircraft owner Christopher Tooze, 70, was flying with someone who according to the report had "a significant profile within the gliding world". Mr Tooze allowed him to take the controls. The AAIB report said "inappropriate control inputs" by the passenger that caused the crash. It read: "The passenger was in the right seat, so for this phase of flight had his right hand on the control column and his left hand on the engine controls." "The passenger stated that he had no intention of trying to land the aircraft. However, he continued to fly through the turn onto final approach with his right hand on the control column. "The intent was to make an approach in gliding mode, with engine at idle power and the rate of descent controlled by the airbrakes. "After the final turn he swapped his left hand to the control column and operated the airbrakes with his right hand. The approach was made at an airspeed of 60-70 kt." The report states that the passenger was sat in the right back seat and should have had his left hand on the control column and right hand on the airbrake. "The pilot made no effort to take control from the passenger nor did the passenger say to the pilot 'you have control'," the report states. The report added: "The pilot was able to get out of the aircraft, but the passenger was extracted by ambulance paramedics." There was no evidence of a technical problem in the Grob, the report confirmed. Although it concluded that "the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair". At the time of the incident in August last year, emergency services were scrambled to help the stricken pair and drivers who had seen the plane come down in front of them. An eyewitness said that it "looked like it stalled and nose dived into the main road". A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said at the time that: "Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance. There were two occupants on board who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved."
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
'Devious' Forest of Dean sex predator jailed for six years
A man described as a "devious, manipulative, sexual predator" has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a boy about 20 years April Wayne Harris, of Smithy Close in English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, was convicted of four counts of causing or inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a was sentenced on Monday and will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely when he is released, or a further order is Con Victoria Bygrave from Gloucestershire Police said Harris, 41, subjected his victim to "a catalogue of horrific sexual offences". During a four-day trial, the jury was told how Harris engaged in sexual activity with a woman while in the presence of the child for his own sexual who was in his early 20s at the time of the offence, said nothing of a sexual nature occurred with the child and instead told the court the victim had made up the story, but the jury found him guilty after less than an hour of deliberations.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Man befriended and raped woman with learning disabilities
A man who befriended a woman with significant learning difficulties before raping her multiple times has been Steele met the woman in 2023 and visited her regularly, telling her neighbours he was helping with chores and keeping her company. A neighbour later found the woman distressed and crying in her flat and she disclosed Steele had raped 60, from Tewkesbury, was found guilty four counts of rape by a jury at Gloucester Crown Court in June and sentenced to eight years in prison on 11 July. Det Con Jon Furse, from Gloucestershire Police, praised the victim for her bravery and encouraged anyone who had been assaulted to report it to police. "Our specially-trained officers will listen and you will be believed and supported every step of the way," Mr Furst added. A month after befriending the woman, Steele showed her pornography on his phone and a video of him masturbating, the court heard. The woman did not want to see it, did not like it, and told Steele to raped the woman in her bedroom a few days later. He went on to rape her in her home a further three times over the next 10 days. After being charged, Steele failed to appear at a court hearing and a judge had to issue a warrant for his denied any wrongdoing but after his trial a jury took just 34 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of all well as being sentenced to eight years in prison, Steele will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for Steele, Judge Rupert Lowe said: "You conceived that this vulnerable woman might be an outlet for your sexual frustrations."You showed her sexual video material on your phone but she didn't want to see it."You were not to be deterred by her lack of enthusiasm for this and you got her into her own bedroom... and had sexual intercourse without her consent which is an offence of rape."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Cheltenham e-scooter collision leaves child with head injury
A five-year-old girl required hospital treatment for a head injury after being hit by a man riding an e-scooter "at speed" on a foot Police said she had been walking along the Honeybourne Line, a former railway line in Cheltenham turned into a foot and cycle path, with two adults at about 12.30 BST on Monday when she was man was riding "at speed", the force added, and the the girl was knocked to the ground while the collision also caused the rider to fall off his an "exchange of words" with the adults, the rider left the scene without leaving his details. The force has issued a photo taken by a member of the public as the scooter ride headed in the direction of the train station, and is appealing to him to come who recognises him is asked to contact police.
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
Mother jailed for killing baby daughter during first Covid lockdown
Melissa Wilband, 28, caused traumatic brain injuries to Lexi Wilband as she bathed her at their home in Newent, Gloucestershire, on Easter Sunday 2020. Bristol Crown Court heard tests showed Lexi died following bleeding on her brain, likely caused by being violently shaken, both recently and on at least one earlier occasion. Four-month-old Lexi Wilband was killed by her mother Melissa Wilband (Gloucestershire Police/PA) She died at Bristol Children's Hospital, with a nurse holding her hand, on April 18 – six days after her collapse. Wilband was found guilty of manslaughter earlier this year following a trial. Her former partner, Jack Wheeler, 31, was acquitted of causing or allowing Lexi's death. Mr Wheeler had also been charged with Lexi's manslaughter but this was formally withdrawn during the trial after prosecutors offered no evidence against him. Jailing Wilband, Mr Justice Saini said he was satisfied she had caused the fatal injuries to Lexi by 'violently' shaking her. 'Lexi was about four-months-old when she died. She was a healthy baby. It is important that we recognise this is about her life being taken,' he said. 'Lexi was killed by you when the country was in the first national Covid-19 lockdown. 'Your shaking of Lexi led to severe bleeding in her brain. I am sure, on the evidence, that Lexi had been shaken by you in another, less violent incident before that Easter Sunday. 'Only you will know why you acted in the way you did. 'It is hard to imagine the pain that Lexi must have suffered both from the past violence and the violence that led to her death. She would have cried out in anguish.' The fake paternity test Melissa Wilband used to convince her then-partner Jack Wheeler that he was Lexi's father (Gloucestershire Police/PA) During the trial, jurors were told that Wilband and Mr Wheeler were in a relationship for about three years, but that Lexi was conceived with another man in early 2019. But Wilband told Mr Wheeler, of Ledbury, Herefordshire, that he was the baby's biological father and presented him with a fake DNA certificate that claimed he was '100%' the 'farther' of her then-unborn child. A genuine DNA test after Lexi's birth in November 2019 confirmed that Mr Wheeler was not biologically related to her, but he remained with Wilband and brought up Lexi as if she were his own child. Jurors heard how Wilband, who had a volatile relationship with Mr Wheeler, took cocaine six days after Lexi was born. After Lexi collapsed, Wilband made a 111 call from the new-build council house where she lived with Mr Wheeler and Lexi. She claimed Lexi had stopped breathing while in her bouncer chair. Lexi was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and was intubated, with Wilband asked if she would like to hold her baby before the procedure took place. She declined to do so. The infant was then transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital, where Wilband told medics that Mr Wheeler had been carrying Lexi in her bouncer chair and was swinging it. A decision was made to switch off Lexi's ventilator on April 17, following the results of an MRI scan. Jane Osborne KC, prosecuting, said Wilband was aware that her baby might die through the night but did not stay at her bedside. 'A staff nurse held Lexi's hand through the night and remained with her,' Ms Osborne said. 'She arrived just after Lexi had ceased to show any signs of life and had stopped breathing.' A post-mortem examination gave Lexi's cause of death as bleeding to the brain, caused by a non-accidental traumatic event such as shaking. Giving evidence, Wilband denied ever shaking Lexi and said she had a 'bad wrist' that meant she was physically unable to shake her, and sought to blame her partner. In a victim impact statement, Mr Wheeler's mother Donnah Davies and father Paul Wheeler said they knew Lexi was not their biological granddaughter 'but it made no difference to us'. 'She was a beautiful little baby girl and we loved her,' they said. 'I can say that Lexi's death is something that Paul and I will carry with us for the rest of our lives.' David Aubrey KC, defending, said Wilband was immature for her age and had been diagnosed with ADHD. 'The sentencing guidelines recognises that age and or lack of maturity can impact the offender's responsibility and can reduce the sentence,' he said. 'This happened at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and the defendant found that before she had the support of her family she was now in effect alone and had to cope with the stresses she was facing at the time. 'The lack of support that was taken from her and dealing with things alone is something for the court to have proper regard to.' Speaking afterwards, Ann Hampshire, from the CPS, said Wilband had not shown any remorse for her actions. 'Lexi's life was tragically cut short by someone who should have loved and cared for her – her own mother,' she said. 'Everyone who has been involved in this case has been deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of Lexi's death. 'Every professional she's spoken to – the Probation Service, the psychologist – she's maintained her denial and stated she wants to appeal.'
