Latest news with #MichaelRaynor
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Drug-driver jailed for causing death of woman, 89, in Nottingham
A drug-driver has been jailed for causing the death of an 89-year-old mobility scooter Raynor died in hospital after she was hit by an Audi driven by Rayner Middleton in Huntingdon Street, Nottingham, on 4 March 12 May, the first day of her scheduled trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Middleton admitted causing death by driving without due care while over the specified limit for a controlled 31-year-old was sentenced to four years at the same court on Thursday. The court heard Mrs Raynor had left her house to buy vegetables for an upcoming family meal, while Middleton was driving to pick up her son. Video footage was displayed in court of Middleton's Audi in the minutes before the crash, which showed an undertake described by the prosecution as "aggressive and inappropriate driving".Although the pedestrian light was red when Mrs Raynor was crossing, the court heard Middleton had been driving at about 44mph when her brake lights were Nicholas Bleaney said: "It is not part of this case that the lady was unfit to drive, the key feature was speed."Mrs Raynor's son Michael Raynor told the court in a victim impact statement that his mum's life was "needlessly taken"."The reckless and irresponsible actions of the driver has robbed me of my mum, shattered my family and left a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew her," he court heard Mrs Raynor had had 13 children in total, including an abandoned baby who she had taken in, and was a Raynor's daughter Melanie Frearson described her mother as "a pillar of the family and community"."As well as this, she was the strongest person we knew. She was our iron lady," she Frearson said the memory of her mother's last breath "still haunts" her, and added "the hurt and pain is still unbearable today as it was on the day she died". 'Grossly inappropriate' speed In mitigation, the court heard Middleton, of Nelson Road in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, "acknowledged the devastation she has caused, not only to the Raynor family, but her own"."She wishes she could undo the harm," her defence counsel Simon Eckersley Eckersley said when Middleton approached the junction, her light was green, but said "plainly, she was going too fast".She was found to have an excess of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in her system when the crash Steven Coupland said: "I accept you did not set out to cause a collision but the reality is you should not have been said Middleton "chose to drive in an aggressive way at a speed that was grossly inappropriate" for that particular street."Had you been driving within the speed limit the collision may not have happened at all," he Coupland also disqualified Middleton from driving for four years, noting her previous lack of custodial sentences and clean driving record.
Zawya
03-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
United expands Africa network with Dakar-Washington route
United Airlines has officially launched a nonstop, year-round service between Dakar, Senegal, and Washington DC, marking the airline's first direct route connecting Senegal and the United States. The service operates three times a week, making United the sole carrier offering direct flights between these two capitals. The addition of this route expands United's African network to six destinations, which also include Accra, Lagos, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Marrakesh. "We are excited to launch United's first-ever service from Senegal, further expanding our route network from Africa to the US," says Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of global network planning and alliances at United Airlines. "Travellers from Senegal will benefit from a direct service to the U.S. capital, as well as the possibility to connect seamlessly via our Washington Dulles hub to 65 destinations across the Americas." Boost for travel and trade links Askin Demir, general director of LAS, comments: 'By welcoming United Airlines to Blaise Diagne Airport, we are opening a new route for connections to America. "The arrival of United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the United States, will offer travellers from AIBD more connections to the United States and beyond, while also reinforcing our network in West Africa and Europe.' US Ambassador to Senegal Michael Raynor adds: "United Airlines is launching not simply a new air route, but new ways to bring our two nations closer together. "United's entry into Francophone West Africa, with Senegal as its first destination, speaks volumes about the boundless potential that the United States private sector and government see in this region, and in Senegal in particular as a dynamic and democratic hub with a fast-growing economy and a talented workforce." The route is operated with a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, featuring 30 United Polaris business suites with direct aisle access, 24 United Premium Plus seats, and 149 economy seats, including 32 United Economy Plus seats. Flight schedule (local times): Dakar (DSS) to Washington DC (IAD): UA460 departs at 9.05am, arriving at 2.05pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Washington DC (IAD) to Dakar (DSS): UA461 departs at 6.30pm, arriving at 7am the next day on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This service forms part of United's largest international expansion, adding new destinations and routes across the Atlantic for travellers this season. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
