Latest news with #StokeonTrentLive
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dad 'lucky to be alive' after stay at 4-star Turkey hotel
A dad-of-two claimed a holiday to Turkey 'cost him his dream job, health and very nearly his life'. Richard Moore allegedly contracted a rare disease from a 'dirty' four-star hotel. The 55-year-old chef returned from a five-day break with his partner Julie, 50, when he began suffering from a fever and chest pains. Richard was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma as doctors confirmed he was suffering from potentially deadly Legionnaires' disease. READ MORE: Arson attack probe after church torched in broad daylight "This holiday was meant to be a short break before I started a new job as an executive chef," Richard said. "Instead, it cost me my dream job, my health and very nearly my life." He continued: "As a result of the memory loss, I can't recall much of my time in hospital, but when I was admitted, I remember the fear and not knowing what was wrong. "I'm lucky to be alive but it's so upsetting to think my family were told I might not live. "I never realised Legionnaires' disease was so serious and I want to tell my story to make other people aware of the symptoms and the dangers. "I feel fortunate to have pulled through, however, I do worry that someone else might not be as lucky as I was." Richard's £2,000 stay at the hotel in Kemer began on August 18 last year, StokeonTrentLive reports. Although it was a four-star hotel, Richard thought it looked 'dirty, old and dated', and claimed his room 'felt damp' and had a 'grim fusty smell'. He said: "I can't specifically pinpoint one thing, but the water temperature fluctuated a lot in the shower. "The bathroom and hotel generally looked run down, and the sofa in the hotel room beneath the air con felt damp throughout the holiday, which made me think it was leaking." Richard, from Northumberland, began suffering from flu-like symptoms just days after returning to the UK, and was admitted to hospital on August 30 when he developed chest pains, shortness of breath and a fever. He spent a month in hospital and was unable to start his new job as he continues to struggle with lethargy, weakness and mobility issues linked to Legionnaires' disease. Travel illness lawyers Irwin Mitchell has now been instructed to investigate the cause of Richard's Legionnaires' disease. Jennifer Hodgson, representing Richard, said: "Richard's first-hand account of his experience at the hotel and contracting his illness is deeply disturbing. "Legionnaires' disease is an incredibly serious condition, and it can take several days from coming into contact with Legionella bacteria before symptoms of the illness start to appear. As Richard has since discovered, the effects of the disease can be long-term. "Nothing can make up for the impact the illness has had and continues to have on Richard, but we're determined to provide him with the answers and specialist support he deserves. "Public buildings, such as hotels and offices, can have complex water systems, so it's vital that all precautions are taken to prevent the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease developing."
The Irish Sun
02-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Benefits cheat mum who lied about MS battle to swindle £22k exposed by OWN running posts on Facebook
A BENEFITS cheat mum who lied about her MS fight to swindle more than £20,000 was caught out by her own running posts on Facebook. Sara Morris, 50, was diagnosed with 3 Sara Morris' swindling was exposed by her own Facebook posts Credit: Instagram/Stone Master Marathoners 3 She has been ordered to pay back more than £20,000 Credit: StokeonTrentLive/BPM The mum-of-three said she was unable to stand at her cooker or get out of a bath unassisted in order to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Morris also claimed she was so anxious to leave the house that even a trip to the pharmacy would leave her in tears. She raked in £2,292.63 in PIP a month but failed to mention to the DWP that she was a member of the Stone Master Marathoners and regularly ran 5km and 10km races. Her web of lies was exposed by her own Facebook posts that showed her competing in difficult races, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard. Read more news A probe was launched and investigators found Morris had taken part in 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022. She previously was jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit. The court found she was overpaid £20,528.83 between October 20, 2020, and April 25, 2023. Morris now been ordered to pay back £22,386.02 within 28 days or serve nine months in prison in default. Most read in The Sun The court heard investigators carried out surveillance on Morris from February 5 to February 20, 2023. Prosecutor Regan Walters said: "On February 5 she took part in a five-mile race and was seen running without assistance and showed no signs of balance problems. "On February 11 she was seen running with the Stone Master Marathoners and showed no signs of discomfort." Morris was interviewed in May 2023 and claimed her MS had worsened and she was suffering from fatigue. But she admitted being a member of Stone Master Marathoners running club prior to making her claim. Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Morris was diagnosed with MS 19 years ago and the "severity of its impact ebbs and flows to a degree". He told the court she did not use the money for a lavish lifestyle but instead to "keep her head above water financially" when her marriage broke down. Mr Morris added: "The application did not give the full picture. She did say running was one of the ways she tried to manage her MS. "She has found it difficult to come to terms with her dishonesty." As well as the £22,000 the judge ordered her to pay, Morris must hand over a £187 surcharge. 3 Morris exaggerated her MS battle Credit: Sara Morris/Instagram
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Women caught performing sex act in shop doorway during school run
Sarah Crawford and Rosalind Fitzgerald had been at an all-night party and were under the influence of alcohol when they started touching each other in a shop doorway Two women left onlookers aghast when they engaged in a sexual act in a shop doorway - as children walked to school. Sarah Crawford and Rosalind Fitzgerald had been partying all night and were under the influence when they began fondling each other outside the store. A court was told bystanders were shocked as the pair then participated in a sex act at 8.45am. One witness was so repulsed they phoned police, Stoke on Trent Live reports. Crawford, 39, and Fitzgerald, 42, were subsequently arrested and charged with outraging public decency, to which they both pleaded guilty at a previous hearing. The duo appeared in the dock at Newcastle Magistrates' Court this week for sentencing. Prosecutor Paul Anderson stated the women had been partying until the morning of December 11 last year. Mr Anderson said: "Essentially, both parties had been to an all-night party, drinking into the early hours. They then engaged in the conduct you have heard about outside a shop at 8.45am to the disgust of passers-by "Also, at that time of day, there would have been children going to school." Magistrates were informed Fitzgerald, who already owes £12,000 to the courts, had several difficulties in her life and pled guilty at the first opportunity. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Alanna Wesencraft, representing Fitzgerald from Gateshead, expressed her client's remorse: "She's incredibly disgusted in herself. She's lightly convicted and was last before the courts in 2019." The magistrates responded by handing a 12-month community order and £120 fine. Andy O'Hanlon, acting for Crawford of North Shields, requested a postponement to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be compiled. Magistrates consented and granted Crawford bail until the next court appearance on July 4.
Wales Online
09-05-2025
- Wales Online
Mum's warning to all women after abusive 'predator' ex freed from jail early
A mum-of-three has issued a warning to women in the Midlands after her abusive ex-boyfriend was freed from jail early. Matthew Kowal was jailed for three years last November after being convicted of three counts of assault and one count of common assault. He had been remanded in custody ahead of his trial which means that time spent on remand would have counted towards his sentence. It is understood Kowal has since been moved from prison to a property in Stoke-on-Trent just eight weeks into his sentence. Victim Hayley Johns, who suffered four years of abuse at the hands of Kowal, has now slammed the criminal justice system. The 38-year-old said: "I want to bring attention to the people residing in the area what kind of man he is. READ MORE: DWP PIP warning over changes that could see some UK households lose out on £12k "He is an absolute predator. People don't need to believe me. "Don't take my word for it - just make sure you do a Clare's Law search on him and go from there. "Please trust your gut based on what you see. "I'm very, very lucky that he didn't kill me. "There were a number of occasions where it was very close. "I don't want someone to lose their life because I didn't speak up." Nail technician Hayley said her relationship with Kowal began in May 2020 and was initially 'magical', StokeonTrentLive reports. Issues began for the couple when they moved in together, she said. Hayley said: "We met working as couriers during the first Covid lockdown. "When it ended, we started a relationship. "As the second lockdown started, we decided to form a bubble together. "He moved in with me - and by the end of the year the attacks had started. "I was with him for four years. During that time, multiple attacks were happening. "He was very controlling and coercive. He had me isolated from my friends and family. "He just wasn't a nice person at all. I never felt I could say anything." Hayley told how her friend encouraged her to raise the alarm with police and 'saved her life'. She said: "It took the help of a friend to get me out of it. "Last March, he attacked me and ended up putting me in hospital. "I was that bad that they couldn't even take my blood pressure. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here. "Every single part of me was bruised, I couldn't stand being touched. "My friend had a feeling something was wrong at home so she came to see me. "After one look at me she said "you're going to the police station and I'm not taking no for an answer". She saved my life." Hayley described how she contemplated suicide when she was told her attacker was being released from prison. She added: "My prison liaison officer has told me he's been released to Stoke-on-Trent because his Nottingham prison was full. "I nearly killed myself when I found out he was getting released. "People need to watch out for him. He's so good at manipulation. "At the start of the relationship, you won't see it. It's magical to begin with. "Even better than the usual honeymoon period because he's already employing the little underhanded tactics that you won't recognise until it's too late. "He'll portray himself as the most charismatic, perfect person. "By the time the first blow of physical or emotional abuse comes from him, he's got you right where he wants you. "Then that's it - you're trapped." The Ministry of Justice did not comment on the case of Kowal, formerly of of Mackworth. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Anyone released into Home Detention Curfew faces strict licence conditions and must be tagged. "Those who break the rules face being returned to custody."
