Latest news with #Rhyl
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bird lovers horrified by maimed seagull 'trend' as remains scattered across roads in North Wales
Bird lovers have been left horrified by a brutal new 'trend'. Campaigners claim they have mounting evidence people are deliberately throwing food onto roads and watching on as hungry seagulls swoop down, only to get hit by vehicles. Volunteers working for the Caernarfon-based Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) are reporting a rising number of apparent incidents on the North Wales coast. While some are said to involve youths, the charity claimed adults have also been seen enticing gulls onto busy roads, North Wales Live reports. FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces. 'We totally support the feeding of wild birds, especially gulls,' she said. 'Often they are emaciated when they arrive in coastal communities. But this is not the right way to do it. READ MORE: Benefit cheat mum must repay £22k after being caught out by innocuous Facebook post READ MORE: Lidl pulls popular product from shelves following urgent 'do not eat' warning 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars? We are aware that children will get up to all kinds of mischief – but adults doing this must have some kind of psychiatric issue. 'It's definitely a trend, we're seeing more and more instances of it happening. And it's us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.' According to Denise, volunteers have reported examples from Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno. Given the number of casualties being treated by North Wales Wild Bird Care, FFF's sister group, she believes it is probably happening elsewhere. In one instance, Denise claimed food had been carefully laid out on a street in Rhyl. She said three car-hit gulls were found lying dead 'equidistantly' near the food. A fourth was still alive but later died. 'One of our volunteers was driving through Llandudno when she saw a group of youths throwing food onto a road,' she said. 'They were laughing as they watched cars come towards the gulls. She wanted to go back and disperse the kids but her husband didn't want to get involved.' Wind-blown litter is another reason why gulls dice with death on busy roads – social media videos have highlighted the dangers of carelessly discarded food cartons. However there's little online evidence of gratuitous clips showing gulls being deliberately enticed onto roads. Denise claimed the practice has been witnessed outside schools and in retail car parks. When images were shared online, bird lovers were left 'sickened' by the claims. One person called the practice 'shameful and inhuman', another said it was 'utterly disgraceful'. A man claimed some motorists deliberately target gulls. He said: 'I've seen a few birds, mainly gulls, laying in the road that have been run over on purpose." Herring gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation. The RSPCA said people need to be careful when disposing of edible litter. A spokesperson said: 'Gulls can get a bad rap especially in seaside towns, and sadly are thought of by some as a pest. 'However, they are simply wild animals trying to survive in their surroundings, and deserve our kindness and respect. It's important for people to remember that they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally harm any wild bird, except under licence.' The RSPCA gives the following advice on living in harmony with gulls: In some seaside towns where people have fed gulls, they have learned to snatch food. Try to keep food to yourself but don't blame them if they can't tell the difference between scraps willingly offered and your bag of chips. Dispose of edible litter carefully – put it in gull-proof litter bins. Plastic bags left in the street are an open invitation for gulls to investigate. Gulls that swoop suddenly on people or pets are usually trying to protect chicks that have got out of the nest. If you see a gull chick leave it alone – its parents can look after it better than you. Gulls make the most noise between May and July when they are breeding. If gulls on your roof disturb you, or you are worried they may block a gas flue, you can prevent them from nesting there in future. Your local environmental health department or pest control company should be able to tell you about the devices available. It's illegal to disturb wild birds' nests and eggs, except under licence.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rhyl: 'Serious assault' in town centre as man arrested
A man has been taken to hospital with severe injuries following a "serious assault" in a town incident took place at 03:10 BST on Saturday outside the Tiki Room on Sussex Street in Rhyl, Denbighshire, North Wales Police man has been transferred to Stoke hospital and is in a critical man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding and remains in custody. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident."A number of people were socialising in the Tiki Room, and outside nearby the premises, at the time of the incident this morning," said Det Supt Rebecca added it appeared to be an "isolated incident" with no wider threat to the public.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Moment burglar smashes into nan's home before stomping her to death – as helpless daughter heard attack on doorbell cam
THIS is the horrifying moment a burglar smashed his way into a gran's home before stomping her to death in a brutal murder. Catherine "Queenie" Flynn, 69, was dragged from her bed by Dean Mears, who broke every bone in her face. 7 7 7 Her daughter Natasha Flynn-Farrell was forced to listen to her mum's final moments after the attack was caught on doorbell cam. Footage showed Mears ringing the bell at the home in Rhyl, North Wales, after he took cannabis and ketamine. The 34-year-old was then captured smashing a downstairs window to gain access to the house to burgle it. Once inside, Mears stomped on 4ft 10ins Catherine 15 times in a "senseless" attack. Tragically, the doorbell footage triggered a message on Natasha's phone - meaning she was forced to helplessly listen to her mum's killing. Brave Natasha kept the app open in order to record the video, which was the key evidence in the harrowing case. As a result, she told how she just "had to watch it play out' as her mum desperately begged "please don't". Mears could also be heard yelling "where are the keys?" as Catherine pleaded with him not to hurt her. The sickening sound of 15 thuds was also captured as the killer attacked Catherine. Natasha said: "It was horrendous, it was sickening.' Mears was then captured just two minutes later throwing himself through the broken window and fleeing. Frail Catherine, who used a Zimmer frame, suffered catastrophic injuries before dying the next day in hospital. Mears, who admitted manslaughter, has now been found guilty of murder following a trial. Caernarfon Crown Court heard after the horror last October, Mears returned to his pal's home and stripped off his trousers and underwear. He was then seen on CCTV walking semi-naked around the town. Mears admitted he had carried out the attack but claimed he had no recollection. Prosecutor Andrew Jones left Catherine "dying on the floor of her own bedroom". A post-mortem likened the injuries Catherine suffered to those seen in car crashes. A pathologist said the wounds were caused by "repeated, severe blunt force trauma that shattered all her facial bones". He added: "He inflicted such severe damage to the face of Mrs Flynn that she had no chance of surviving this vicious, unprovoked assault." Catherine's family described the gran as a "rock" and best friend to her three children and said "her house was so welcoming and warm". They said: "Catherine was a wonderful mum, nan, great nan, auntie, and sister, and also a second mother to many and a great friend. "She loved her family more than anything, she was a fantastic cook and was always wanting to feed anyone in her company. "Her pride and joy (after her family) was her love for her garden, she would sit for hours just watching the birds and the bees come in and out of her little wonderland, with every flower imaginable. "We often wondered how her garden was always so beautiful - now we know, it's because she was the ray of sunshine." Mears was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing in June. 7 7 7 7
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Chilling Ring doorbell footage shows moment murderer smashed into vulnerable pensioner's home before dragging her out of bed and beating her to death as she begged him to stop
This is the horrifying moment a convicted drug dealer is caught on a Ring doorbell camera smashing his way into a defenceless grandmother's home before beating her to death. Catherine Flynn's daughter could only watch in terror as Dean Mears - who was 'high on drugs' - forced his way into the 69-year-old's seaside home. Harrowing audio then captured the appalling sound of 15 thuds as the scaffolder dragged Mrs Flynn - who had mobility issues and used a Zimmer frame - out of bed and stamped repeatedly her face and neck. Heartbreakingly the terrified pensioner could be heard begging: 'Please don't!' Less than two minutes after breaking in, the 34-year-old dived out of the broken window before fleeing, leaving the pensioner dying. After the ketamine and cannabis user was today convicted of her murder, a judge said he had no doubt that drugs were the 'root cause' of his senseless crime. He said Mears had probably gone to the wrong address and targeted Mrs Flynn by mistake. Police have now released the heartbreaking clip, mercifully with audio from inside the house removed. Following her death, locals paid tribute to Catherine Flynn, saying: 'She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold.' Natasha Flynn had been at home when she received a notification and video from the smart doorbell that a man was outside her mother's house in Rhyl, north Wales last October. Horrifying footage shows an agitated-looking Mears kicking at the front door before smashing his way through a downstairs window. The doorbell captured him demanding to know where Mrs Flynn kept her keys as she begged him to leave her alone. By the time relatives had raised the alarm and police had rushed to the scene, he had already fled, leaving Mrs Flynn with injuries a pathologist likened to those seen in high impact crashes. Meanwhile callous Mears was disposing of his bloodstained clothes in a doomed bid to cover his tracks. Following the death of Mrs Flynn - known as Cathy - one local said: 'She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold.' The drug addict admitted Mrs Flynn's manslaughter but denied murder, saying he couldn't remember why he had attacked her. But a prosecution psychiatrist told his trial at Caernarfon Crown Court that he didn't suffer from a severe mental illness. Questioned by his KC Richard Pratt, Mears agreed he'd been jailed in 2021 for possessing drugs with intent to supply. In evidence Mears claimed he didn't know why he went to Mrs Flynn's home. She was a stranger and he had no reason to hurt her. 'Do you remember what you did in the house?' Mr Pratt asked him. 'I don't remember,' insisted Mears. The KC said he had subjected the pensioner to a 'terrible' attack in the house and caused the 'most horrific' injuries. Mears replied :'I accept that.' He added: 'I just know it was a terrible thing to happen. I wish I had answers.' Cross-examined by prosecuting KC Andrew Jones, Mears repeatedly answered: 'I don't remember.' Opening the case, Mr Jones said Mears 'inflicted such severe damage to the face of Mrs Flynn that she had no chance of surviving this vicious, unprovoked assault'. He added: 'His actions before and after the death of Mrs Flynn show clearly he knew what he was doing and what he had done. 'He set about trying to cover his tracks by disposing of clothing he knew was covered in Mrs Flynn's blood.' The jury today took four hours to find him guilty of murder. Mears, of Kinmel Bay, faces life in jail when he is sentenced next month. Judge Rhys Rowlands told him Mrs Flynn had been 'an extremely vulnerable 69-year- old lady' and he had murdered her 'in what should have been the safety of her own home'. 'In my judgement there's every reason to believe, high on drugs, you went to Mrs Flynn's home by mistake. 'You intended to go to someone else's address.' The judge added: 'Any loss of life is tragic, but your killing of Mrs Flynn that night wasn't only senseless but the circumstances surrounding it can only be viewed as truly horrific. 'You broke in, went up the stairs, passing the chair or stairlift on the stairs she used because she had only limited mobility. 'You dragged her out of bed, demanding repeatedly to know where the keys were, and repeatedly stamped on the victim on her face and neck, causing the most catastrophic of injuries. 'As to exactly why you behaved in that way, only you will know.' But the judge said drugs had ruined Mears' life and now the life of another family. 'I have no doubt the root cause was your long-standing addiction to harmful illicit drugs and association with the dealers at a higher level of these drugs.' Addressing Mrs Flynn's family, who cheered the guilty verdict from the public gallery, the judge added :'I can't for one moment put myself in their shoes. 'What a dreadful experience to have gone through:' He added that not many juries had to listen to somebody being killed. Afterwards Senior Investigating Officer Superintendent Lee Boycott of North Wales Police said: 'On 24th October 2024, Dean Mears broke into Cathy Flynn's home whilst she was sleeping and ferociously and repeatedly stamped on her in a brutal and violent unprovoked attack. 'The injuries Cathy sustained were not survivable and she tragically died the following day in hospital. 'His abhorrent actions that night was witnessed by Cathy's daughter on her doorbell footage, which will undoubtedly stay with her and her family forever. 'Despite Mears showing no remorse for his actions, Cathy's family have remained dignified and respectful throughout the judicial process. 'I commend them for their courage and my thoughts remain with them today. 'I welcome today's verdict and thank the jury, and the investigation team, for their diligent work in securing justice for Cathy's family.'
Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Times
My house burnt down — then the council taxed me because it was empty
Patricia Cash-Deakin was on a date when she got a frantic call from her daughter to tell her that their house was on fire in July 2022. It was an excruciating five-minute drive home expecting the worst. She arrived to neighbours crowded around her nine-bedroom home in Rhyl, north Wales, as the fire service rescued her four-year-old and 20-month-old grandchildren from the top-floor window. Her five children and four grandchildren escaped the property, but their two dogs, Harry and Bella, died in the blaze. 'It was so horrible seeing all of that, and the dogs were like family members,' said Cash-Deakin, 53. She had bought her property in 2009 with her husband, who she is now separated from. The fire — started by a faulty
