Latest news with #KirkMichael
BBC News
08-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Admin worker stole £16k from family-run company
An admin worker who stole more than £16,000 from a family-run construction firm on the Isle of Man has been handed a suspended jail Townend stole the money on repeated occasions from Stephen Christian & Sons Ltd in Kirk Michael between December 2022 and March 2024, leaving the business "devastated".Douglas Courthouse heard the 50-year-old, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft, was the only person outside the family to have access to the company's business Graeme Cook handed her a 20-month sentence but agreed to suspend it for two years. The court heard she had made several unauthorised transactions to her own account and two to a family member's then concealed the imbalanced business accounts through the digital records and, as she was trusted, the account was not employers eventually noticed the missing money and confronted her via email, to which she replied with false explanations. She was arrested on 18 March 2024 and when interviewed admitted to officers she did it to "make ends meet". In a victim impact statement read to the court, company director Susan Christian said the theft had a "devastating impact" and had resulted in the operation downsizing and said Townend had been "afforded everything she needed", given a "good salary" and time off whenever she needed - but that was "thrown back into our faces".Townend's defence solicitor said the money had been used to support her son through university and she suffered from mental health issues, with the offending coinciding with periods where she was court heard she had previously been cautioned for stealing £7,769 from her former employer, a payroll firm, in is now in full-time employment with her current employers aware of the offences and she no longer handles finances, her defence Graeme Cook said he had agreed to suspend the sentence due to her chance of rehabilitation in the community. He also said she did not pose a threat to the public aside from handling finances, which she had stepped back from. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Man who launched 'bizarre' attack on flatmate jailed
A man who went into his flatmate's room while he was playing video games and launched a "bizarre" unprovoked attack on him has been Phillips was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he climbed on top of his friend, repeatedly punching his face and leaving him with severe injuries including a broken eye Courthouse heard the 29-year-old was on court bail at the time for punching another man outside the Marine Hotel in Peel on 7 April 2023. Jailing Phillips for four years and seven months, Deemster Graeme Cook said the latest attack in Kirk Michael was "thuggery". The court was told how Phillips had ordered pizza with his flatmate earlier in the evening, but when he entered his friend's room he began "ranting". 'Bizarre' The victim, who pleaded for an explanation as he tried to shield himself, was also left with blurred vision, restricted breathing and needed to have a metal plate installed in his a statement read to the court, he said the attack on 18 November 2023 had resulted in him not being able to work, having to move as he no longer felt safe and falling into court was told how, during the hotel incident in April, a disagreement had broken out between Phillips and another left the building with a friend but, as they were walking, he "suddenly" turned around and punched the man in the head. The man fell to the ground and hit his head on the floor, leaving him with two brain fled the scene and passers-by went to help the victim who later spent six days in man said he now struggled to speak, gets confused and broke up with his partner, who felt he had changed too much since the victim said he had resorted to drinking, adding: "I just feel stuck, like I can't get my life back to what it was".Phillips had admitted two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm and was sentenced for both the Cook said the attack on his flatmate was "bizarre" and while Phillips had "done something" to address his underlying problems, it was "too late for the two victims". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Three-day Manx Classic Hillclimbs event begins on Isle of Man
A three-day rally on closed public roads featuring more than 70 local and visiting classic, vintage and modern sports cars is set to Manx Classic Hillclimbs event will see stages held on the A36 Sloc Road, Creg Willey's Hill on the A3, and a section of the A18 Mountain taking part, who range in age from 18 to 81, include 52 visiting from other parts of the British Isles, and one from run in 1989 by the Manx Motor Racing Club, the organisation of the Manx Classic was passed to Longton & District Motor Club last year. The oldest car in this year's line up is a 1956 Triumph TR, driven by Kirk Michael's Les Beards, with the newest taking part in a 2023 John Cooper Works Mini, brought to the island to compete from Daventry in Northamptonshire by David competitors also include three generations of a Manx family, with 18-year-old Jack Mylchreest taking part in a 1968 Austin Cooper S alongside his father, James, in a 1966 Austin Healey 3000 and grandfather, David, in a 1963 MG MGB. The events are free to watch, but spectators must be in place prior to the roads closures coming into force and stay there until they reopen. Road closures Thursday: A36 Sloc Road, between the track to Scard Farm and its junction with Dalby Lhagg Road, from 09:00 to 17:30 BSTFriday: A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road, between the Poortown Road junction and Cronk Y Voddy, from 09:00 to 16:30Saturday: A18 Mountain Road, between Barrule Park and the Bungalow, from 09:00 to 18:00 Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
