Latest news with #Penrith
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police issue statement after Paddington Bear statue vandal convicted
CUMBRIA Police have said that they 'will not tolerate' anti-social behaviour and violence after a vandal who damaged a popular Paddington bear statue in Penrith was convicted. Anil Puri, aged 56, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after causing criminal damage to a Paddington Bear Statue in Little Dockray in December. Magistrates fined Puri, of Stanstead Road, Lewisham, London, £50. He must also pay £290 compensation to Penrith Business Improvement District (BID), along with £85 costs and a £20 mandatory surcharge. After Puri's conviction, community beat officer PC Stewart Green highlighted the force's commitment to tackling 'anti-social behaviour and violence' in hotspot areas such as Penrith town centre. READ MORE: Vandal dumped shrub over statue of beloved Paddington bear, causing outcry He said: "Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) will continue to target those who seek to commit offences such as this within our local community, including through Operation Enhance - our operation dedicated to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence in hotspot areas including in Penrith town centre." "I hope this conviction serves as a reminder to other offenders that 'this type of behaviour will not be tolerated by Cumbria Police." Operation Enhance is funded after Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured an additional £1million of extra funding from the Government's Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county. There are increased patrols in Penrith Town Centre area as part of Operation Enhance.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Vandal dumped shrub over statue of beloved Paddington bear, causing outcry
A VANDAL who sparked a public outcry by damaging a popular Paddington Bear statue in Penrith town centre has been punished by magistrates. Anil Puri, aged 56, was caught by CCTV as he committed the crime in Little Dockray on December 2 last year. The Paddington Bear figure has become a huge hit with town residents and visitors alike since it was unveiled in October, 2024. It was one of around two dozen similar statues installed on benches in locations across the UK prior to the release of the film Paddington in Peru, and the only one in Cumbria. Prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates' Court this morning (Tuesday) the Paddington Bear figure, belonging to a film company, was maintained by the Penrith BID (business improvement district) group, which also owned surrounding planters. CCTV captured Puri causing the damage. 'He pulls a shrub from the planter and dumps it on to the figure's head,' said Mr Shelley. Puri then shoved a shrub between Paddington's arms, which are clasped around his trademark marmalade sandwich. There were scratches caused to the figure, which was damaged to the tune of £40. Around £250 damage was caused to the planters. 'The next day there was a public outcry on social media,' said Mr Shelley. Puri, of Stanstead Road, Lewisham, London, said in the aftermath he had been suffering from mental health issues. Appearing in court remotely today over a video link, Puri admitted causing criminal damage to the statue and planter. A man with no previous convictions, he apologised to all concerned for what he had done. Magistrates fined Puri £50. He must also pay £290 compensation to Penrith BID, along with £85 costs and a £20 mandatory surcharge. Penrith mayor Doug Lawson said in response to Puri's vandalism: 'Since Paddington arrived in Penrith, he has been a constant source of entertainment and joy for young and old alike. At one stage my Facebook feed was full of pictures of friends and family with the statue. 'I said at his unveiling that he was a symbol of the welcoming and generous culture of Penrith. 'With all that in mind, I am deeply saddened to hear that someone would attempt to damage the statue; obviously, any vandalism is wrong, but this act seems particularly heartless. 'I can only hope that having been caught, the person responsible reflects on their actions and the upset they have caused.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cumbrian dad 'saw there was a market' for cannabis and 'went for it'
A DETERMINED Penrith cannabis dealer caught twice in a year told police of the illegal activity: 'I saw there was a market and I went for it.' Officers first executed a warrant at Aron Underwood's Crocus Avenue home on June 19, 2024. On that occasion cannabis, digital scales and £1,035 cash were recovered. Underwood, now 49, was released by police under investigation pending forensic examination of the items seized. Less than 12 months later, on May 14 this year, officers were back at his door with another warrant. 'The same was found again: cannabis, phones, digital scales,' prosecutor Brendan Burke told Carlisle Crown Court. 'So he had just returned to business with what was probably less than a 24-hour interruption back in June '24.' During one of the police visits, an incoming message flashed up on a phone at Underwood's address. It read: 'Could I also get another 10 bag?' A drugs expert reported that the weight of cannabis found on the two dates totalled just over 4.5 kilos. This was potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds. Underwood told police he was a former heroin addict, didn't drink alcohol and said of his latter day cannabis dealing: 'I'm not going to lie to you. I saw there was a market and I went for it. I would have been on your radar for a while, have I?' When brought to court, Underwood admitted two charges of possessing class B cannabis with intent to supply. Defence solicitor Jeff Smith spoke of Underwood's difficult childhood and transition from cannabis to heroin use. The court heard he had two past convictions for class A drug-dealing — receiving, most recently, a four-and-a-half year jail term — before a gap in his offending. He continued to use cannabis. Latterly he worked as a self-employed labourer, and was keen to retain his liberty to support his wife and two children. But Mr Smith accepted: 'He knows the continued supply of cannabis and the offending whilst on bail are matters that this court will take very seriously. "He doesn't want to go to prison. He wants to make a more positive contribution to the community.' Judge Michael Fanning imposed an immediate 27-month jail term. 'You should have learned your lesson when there was that raid in June last year. You should have learned your lesson when you last went to prison for drug-dealing. It is obvious that you didn't,' the judge told Underwood. 'It was a warning shot across your bows in June 2024, and you didn't take the warning shot to heart.'
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Last Rabbit standing: Lewis Dodd to finally wear South Sydney's No. 7
In what can be likened to rugby league's own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey – because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturday's clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekend's loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. Teammate Jai Arrow, who remains the only player to have featured in every game this year, especially now Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) is sidelined, said Dodd welcomed the news when told by Bennett he would be starting at halfback on Monday. 'It's amazing what an opportunity can do for someone, Lewis has that opportunity now to start at halfback, and to make this team his own,' Arrow said. 'It's exactly what happened with Jamie at the start of the year, he got that opportunity and took it with both hands. 'Now 'Doddy' gets to do that, I'm excited for him, we're all excited for him, and I know when Wayne told him at the review, he clapped to himself and knew he was ready. He was pretty pumped.'
