Latest news with #Tavistock
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Devon charity left 'picking up the pieces' from dog breeder
An animal charity in the south-west of England is urging people to be more careful when purchasing puppies from Ging, the Tavistock branch centre manager of Margaret Green Animal Rescue, said charities were often left "picking up the pieces" when dogs are no longer needed by said the charity recently spent more than £6,500 on veterinary bills for 10 dogs that were rehomed from an irresponsible breeder."No animal ever deserves to be used for money, and it's organisations like ours that are left to pick up the pieces when these animals are no longer required by their breeders," she said. Speaking about the 10 dogs who were taken into the care of the charity, she said all of them had been rehomed but some would need medical treatment for the rest of their Clarke adopted one of the animals, a spaniel named Moss, six months said Moss had taken a while to learn some behaviours after coming into her care."She couldn't even get up a pavement curb stone, she'd fall over, she couldn't walk a hundred yards without lying down and looking hopeless," she said."Now, she's a happy little dog, she loves her food, and when she sees my walking rucksack, she is ready to go." Tim Russell, who adopted a Labrador named Sophie, said people should not be worried about taking on a dog that had been through trauma but he warned they do require a commitment."I would say to anybody to do your homework, find out about the breed, and then you should be OK, but it is a long road," he said.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Uneven pavements causing injury and isolation in Tavistock
A church in Tavistock has said members of its congregation are being left "black and blue" after tripping over uneven pavements in the town. Elders from the United Reformed Church said some pensioners are now so scared of falling over that they are staying at home, leaving them lonely and isolated. The church called for repairs to be made to the heritage paving, providing a more even County Council said recent inspections had found a defect which has since been repaired. Christine Reid suffered cuts and bruising to her face when she tripped on a Reid said she has difficulty getting over the gullies with her walker because the wheels get caught. At a recent meeting at the church to discuss the pavement issue, Mrs Reid said: "These blooming pavements shake you up."She said she was lucky there was someone around to pick her up when she fell. Bob Stride, 66, said getting around Tavistock was "very hard work" and "bloody painful".He uses a wheelchair and said he has been "tipped" out of it twice because of the he added: "I wouldn't like to see all the heritage paving go, that would be awful."But perhaps we could do some grouting and fill in the gaps a little bit just so that my wheels can run over them a bit more smoothly."He said this would be a "dramatic help". Suzy Weston said a few people had been injured in falls."There's my dad, Brian Mico, there's our friend David, who was black and blue after he fell, there's Bob who's fallen out of his wheelchair - there's just so many people and it's not acceptable," she Weston said her father's mobility scooter fell on top of him in one said that as a result her father had ventured out less, becoming more called for the authorities to "do something about it.".A spokesperson for the council said: "We are sorry to hear that some users may have experienced trips and falls in this area of footway."We inspected the pavement and repaired the defect."
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Man who sexually abused vulnerable women jailed
A "sexual predator" who abused five vulnerable women over a 12-year period has been Wilkinson, 53, of Drake Gardens in Tavistock, Devon, was found guilty of 21 separate offences against the women and was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years on licence during a hearing at Plymouth Crown was charged with multiple counts of rape, serious sexual assault, physical assault and strangulation on five women, four of whom were described as "especially vulnerable", between 2012 and Robert Linford said Wilkinson's offences, which were carried out in the Tavistock area, "dredged the depths of depravity". The judge added: "You were a sexual predator who selected and abused women."Wilkinson must also sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life. 'Vulnerable, frightened and exhausted' Devon and Cornwall Police said Wilkinson was arrested in October 2023 following a report he had sexually abused a woman on numerous force said after extensive investigative work, officers identified four more of Wilkinson's court heard victim impact statements from some of the women Wilkinson abused, with one saying she never wanted to see his face said: "He hurt me, he frightened me and he forced me to do things I did not want to do."Another said she suffered repeated nightmares and flashbacks of her abuser and said she felt "vulnerable, frightened and exhausted".In mitigation, the court heard Wilkinson had an intellectual disability which results in him living a "basic" sentencing, Judge Linford said Wilkinson knew right from wrong despite his disability."It does not need me to say that these offences dredge the depths of depravity," the judge said. Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer DC Craig Ferguson paid tribute to the victims, recognising the bravery they had shown during the "lengthy, complex and difficult" said: "The offences in this case were harrowing with vulnerable people being targeted and abused in their homes where they should have been able to feel safe and secure."He added that the offending had been "some of the worst and most disturbing" he had dealt with in his 21-year police career.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Men arrested in Devon modern slavery investigation bailed
Six men arrested on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences in Devon have been bailed, police group was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police after a crash involving a van and lorry on Dolvin Road in Tavistock on 19 May led to the discovery of eight potential modern-day slavery said the suspected victims, who had all been receiving support, were identified in the van involved in the crash and at an address in the Gulworthy force added an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Car crash investigation leads police to eight victims of slavery
A car crash in Devon has led police to discover eight potential victims of modern day and Cornwall police said it attended a collision involving a van and a lorry on Dolvin Road, in Tavistock, at 07:30 BST on the investigation potential victims of exploitation offences were identified in the van and at an address in the Gulworthy force said the victims were receiving specialist support and being safeguarded, while six men were arrested on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences. 'Confusion and concern' Local policing sergeant Tom Ottley said: "As part of our response to the initial incident, we identified several of the occupants of the van as being potential victims of exploitation offences. "Shortly after, officers carried out a search at an address in the Gulworthy area which led to the identification of further potential victims."He added: "We appreciate the activity yesterday may have caused some confusion and concern amongst the local community."Our officers will be out and about today so please do come and discuss any concerns with us."Devon and Cornwall Police advised people to visit the modern slavery website for advice on how to spot signs of the crime.
