Latest news with #MarkWatson
The Courier
21 hours ago
- General
- The Courier
Extended prison sentence after Dundee murder bid 'like a horror film'
A violent brute who left a woman with a four-inch throat wound after a vodka-fuelled murder bid in her Dundee home has been hit with an extended prison sentence. Mark Watson, 56, subjected the vulnerable woman to a terrifying attack with a kitchen knife in the Charleston area over the 2022 festive period. His victim told police: 'He stabbed me everywhere, like in the movies.' The High Court in Dundee heard how the woman turned up at her shocked neighbour's house, clutching her neck. Watson denied attempted murder but jurors convicted him by a unanimous verdict. The trial heard how Watson and the woman had planned to spend Christmas together at her house on Craigowan Road. It was claimed the attack happened at around 7.30am on December 28, with Watson having been in and out of her bedroom during the night after drinking vodka. The woman had said everything between them was 'good' and Watson's help for her had previously been 'brilliant'. Ambulance technician Alexander Bourke treated the woman for a three-inch cut to her thumb and first finger, as well as a four-inch laceration across her throat. The woman's t-shirt was 'dark-stained' with blood from the neck down and she was holding her throat when emergency services arrived. Mr Bourke said under questioning from advocate depute Lindsey Dalziel: 'She said her male friend was intoxicated. 'She said it was like something out of a horror film. She thought she was going to die. 'She said she was surprised she was still alive and went downstairs to seek help to a neighbour who called us.' Sergeant Kirsten Kiddie met the woman in the back of the ambulance where she named Watson as the man responsible. The officer said: 'She said 'he stabbed me everywhere like in the movies. I was in my bed and bleeding everywhere'.' The woman's evidence was pre-recorded and played to jurors at the start of the trial. Blood was found in various parts of the flat, including Watson's own blood which the court heard was due to him self-harming. Watson denied he was even there when the woman was hurt. Formerly of Adamson Court, Watson had been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing for a social work report to be prepared. At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Renucci sentenced Watson to an 11-year sentence comprised of nine years in custody and an extended sentence in the community of two years. A lifetime non-harassment order was also imposed.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Norfolk Island police say nothing untoward suspected after package washes ashore
A package with barnacles growing on it, believed to hold about 40 kilograms worth of cocaine, has washed up on a Norfolk Island beach Photo: Supplied Norfolk Island locals are shocked after a 40-kilogram package - believed to contain cocaine - washed up on one of their beaches. It was found by tourists on Tuesday afternoon at Anson Bay. Sergeant Mark Watson, the officer in charge of Norfolk Island Police Force, said the barnacle-covered package has generated quite a bit of community interest. "It appeared to contain smaller packages - so about 40 packages inside, which we believe to be cocaine and we believe it's about 40 kilograms' worth," he said. Norfolk is home to just over 2000 people, sitting between New Zealand and Australia in the South Pacific. Watson had been living on the island for years and said it's the first time he had seen anything like this. "We believe it's washed up. We don't believe there's anything untoward from Norfolk Island but investigations are continuing." He said he hadn't heard of Norfolk being used to traffic drugs to Australia. Local resident Rael Donde was just as surprised. "As far as I'm aware this has never happened before, so we're pretty shocked about this," he said. Like Sergeant Watson, she did not think Norfolk is being used as a drug transit point. "There's barnacles growing on the netting around the drugs so it seems like this was a random situation - it just happened to wash up on Norfolk Island as opposed to Australia or the New Zealand mainland." Another local, Brett Sanderson said the community is shocked. "This is stuff you see on TV that happens somewhere else, or you know maybe there's a drug bust in Australia's waters, a trawler or something is intercepted, but it always happens somewhere else." He also doesn't think the island is being used for transhipping drugs. "We're eight by five kilometres, so there are not a lot of secrets here." Sanderson, who owns a jewellery store on the island, said he first heard of the possibility of drugs on the island through tourists who visited his shop. "When these things happen, you're never quite sure whether it's just some crazy rumour that's spreading the island like Chinese whispers, or whether it's actually true." A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police said investigations into the source of the drugs are continuing, including liaising with international partners. The Norfolk Island Police Force are asking the community to report any further sightings of suspicious packages but not to handle them.
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Iconic soft drink brand launches new flavour & zero sugar drink leaving shoppers saying ‘I need this'
Only certain shops are selling the new drink so far FRESH KICK Iconic soft drink brand launches new flavour & zero sugar drink leaving shoppers saying 'I need this' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC soft drink brand has launched a whole new flavour - and shoppers are going mad for it. And good news - the fresh flavour is a healthier alternative to the original, because the recipe is sugar-free. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 7UP has launched a new pink lemonade flavour Credit: Facebook 4 The new flavour is available at Sainsbury's and other selected shops Credit: Alamy The new drink is from 7UP - the iconic American fizzy lemonade brand. A pink lemonade alternative is now also available on shelves, and is zero sugar. The flavour is a combination between lemon, lime and raspberry, and is bright pink in colour. It hit shelves at selected stores on April 28, and will soon be rolled out more widely. 7UP Pink Lemonade is available in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles, two-litre bottles and multipacks of eight 330ml cans. A shopper noticed the pink drink at a Sainsbury's shop and couldn't contain his excitement. Daniel Christopher Chubb took to Facebook to share his discovery. He wrote: "NEW Pink Lemonade 7UP Cans and Bottles at Sainsbury's". Hundreds of users tagged their friends in the comments and vowed to try the new flavour. But not everybody was so excited by the new recipe. Mark Watson wrote: "Not for me needs full sugar." Stuart Cardoo felt the same, saying: "You need sugar for these to have any taste." And Liam Wilson thinks that no-sugar fizzy drinks "taste like stomach acid". Ben Parker from Carlsberg Britvic, the parent company of 7UP, said: '7UP Pink Lemonade represents a fresh twist for what is such a popular brand. 4 There is already a sugar-free version of the original lemon and lime flavour 4 The new pink lemonade flavour will be sold in both cans and bottles Credit: Getty "As one of the largest brands in the fruit-flavoured carbonates retail space, bringing in £77m in Retail Sales Value5, it presents an exciting opportunity for consumers and retailers. "We want to continue growing the category with exciting innovation, offering a drink that not only delivers on taste but also visually stands out on shelves to catch the eye of shoppers. "We really look forward to seeing consumers trying the product and retailers and stockists benefiting from a launch that creates a buzz in the soft drinks space.' Meanwhile, the alcoholic variety of carbonated drinks are having a moment in the sun. The Sun tested out the best of the supermarket summer canned cocktails and rated them.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Iconic soft drink brand launches new flavour & zero sugar drink leaving shoppers saying ‘I need this'
AN ICONIC soft drink brand has launched a whole new flavour - and shoppers are going mad for it. And good news - the fresh flavour is a healthier alternative to the original, because the recipe is sugar-free. 4 4 The new drink is from 7UP - the iconic American fizzy lemonade brand. A pink lemonade alternative is now also available on shelves, and is zero sugar. The flavour is a combination between lemon, lime and raspberry, and is bright pink in colour. It hit shelves at selected stores on April 28, and will soon be rolled out more widely. 7UP Pink Lemonade is available in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles, two-litre bottles and multipacks of eight 330ml cans. A shopper noticed the pink drink at a Sainsbury's shop and couldn't contain his excitement. Daniel Christopher Chubb took to Facebook to share his discovery. He wrote: "NEW Pink Lemonade 7UP Cans and Bottles at Sainsbury's". Hundreds of users tagged their friends in the comments and vowed to try the new flavour. But not everybody was so excited by the new recipe. Mark Watson wrote: "Not for me needs full sugar." Stuart Cardoo felt the same, saying: "You need sugar for these to have any taste." And Liam Wilson thinks that no-sugar fizzy drinks "taste like stomach acid". Ben Parker from Carlsberg Britvic, the parent company of 7UP, said: '7UP Pink Lemonade represents a fresh twist for what is such a popular brand. 4 4 "As one of the largest brands in the fruit-flavoured carbonates retail space, bringing in £77m in Retail Sales Value5, it presents an exciting opportunity for consumers and retailers. "We want to continue growing the category with exciting innovation, offering a drink that not only delivers on taste but also visually stands out on shelves to catch the eye of shoppers. "We really look forward to seeing consumers trying the product and retailers and stockists benefiting from a launch that creates a buzz in the soft drinks space.' Meanwhile, the alcoholic variety of carbonated drinks are having a moment in the sun. The Sun tested out the best of the supermarket summer canned cocktails and rated them. How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Litter Wombles to launch deposit return scheme
A litter-picking group is to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) that will offer rewards to people who recycle their cans and bottles. The Northants Litter Wombles has teamed up with the University of Northampton and machine installer Trovr to put a reverse-vending machine on campus. It will be in the Market Restaurant at the Waterside Campus and available for use by the general public as well as students. Mark Watson, committee member for the Wombles, said bottles and cans account for up to 60% of the rubbish collected by the volunteer group. "The amount of litter on the streets of the UK is a national disgrace," he said. "If a DRS machine takes 90% of bottles and cans off the streets then that's going to have a huge effect on the litter we see thrown in hedges, rivers and on the street. "It [the scheme] might be one small step for Wombles, but a giant leap for Womble-kind." Trovr will lend the machine on a long-term basis as part of trial for the UK's national DRS rollout. Users deposit empty bottles and cans into the machine and are given points on the Trovr app to be exchanged for rewards and discounts. The national scheme was first announced by then-Environment Secretary Michael Gove in 2018, but has faced numerous delays since. It was meant to launch in August 2023, before being pushed back to 2024, and now is not due until 2027. Under the nationwide initiative, a redeemable deposit is placed on drinks containers that can be claimed back when the item is returned to a collection point. But the pilot machine that will be launched by the Wombles group will be slightly different. Chris Rockall, commercial services and catering manager at the university, said people would instead earn points which can be converted into prizes. "When the national scheme rolls out the idea is that there will be a cash incentive for everyone that recycles," he said. "We are not in that phase yet so what we're going to do is incentivise it with local prizes, so you might get a free cup of coffee or discount off a meal." There are also plans to get local businesses involved with the project so that points can be redeemed for prizes in and around the town centre. Nick Yeatman, chief executive at Trovr, said the trial meant the company could "test the technology" while educating the public and retailers about what to expect when the national rollout begins. "Pollution is apocalyptic. DRS schemes that run across Europe and other places get their recycling rate up to 85-90% quite quickly," he said. "It's massively beneficial from a pollution perspective; we need to clean up plastic pollution and it's down to us to make it happen." There is not yet a confirmed date for the arrival of the new recycling machine but it is expected to be delivered and installed this month. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Six waste tips to open seven days a week Residents trade in used cans and bottles for cash Northants Litter Wombles University of Northampton Trovr
