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Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Inmate used garden work to smuggle drugs into prison
An inmate who had been given special privileges to work in the garden at the entrance of the Isle of Man Prison smuggled drugs and two SIM Cards into the jail. Scott Carbutt, 42, was randomly searched as he returned to the facility in Jurby on 8 May and officers found a jumper scrunched in the corner of his holding cell containing MDMA, cocaine and ketamine. Deemster Graeme Cook said it was an "abuse of trust" and he sentenced Carbutt to an additional five years and four months. Carbutt had been serving a seven-year sentence which was handed down to him in April 2023 for possession of heroin, money laundering, possession of an offensive weapon and wounding with intent. Douglas Courthouse heard that the jumper had concealed 26g of MDMA, 3g of cocaine and 14g of ketamine. When the 42-year-old was asked what it was, he said it was cocaine, ketamine and MDMA, which "all belongs to me", and added: "I'm looking at ten years or more for this." Carbutt pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply of MDMA, cocaine and ketamine and possession of a prohibited articles in an institution. His defence advocate said Carbutt had been addicted to drugs for a "significant period of time" and when he "came across" them in the garden he "lapsed" and had used some of the drugs himself before going back into the prison. Sentencing him, Deemster Cook said: "There must have been some planning involved and it seems you knew what you were looking for by your response to prison officers." Aggravating factors included that the offences took place in a custodial environment, which could cause harm to prison officers and other inmates, and it was an "abuse of trust" given to him, he said. "I am afraid you will be in prison for quite a few more years." Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Man told postal staff drugs cash parcel was Lego Isle of Man Courts of Justice
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Resort's bus services receive £4m cash boost
Bus passengers in Blackpool are set to benefit from a £4m investment designed to encourage more people to use public transport. Planned improvements include a major upgrade of bus shelters in the town, and installing more real-time information screens. The work will go ahead after the spending plans were approved by Blackpool Council's executive committee. Town hall bosses are keen for more people to use public transport following the recent announcement that 3,000 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff will be moving to Blackpool, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Blackpool Council, which owns Blackpool Transport, also hopes increased bus use will help the local authority meet its environmental targets. A report for the council said it would also "contribute to improved local air quality and to climate change objectives". Planned improvements include: Enhancements to the bus service Bus lanes on Talbot Road A deep clean and repairs to bus shelters, or replacing worn-out ones Providing more real-time information (RTI) screens at town-centre bus shelters The Bus Grant Delivery Plan is supported by funding from the Department for Transport, which in December handed out £955m to support bus services across England. The report stated: "Local bus services are a vital resource for less able people and children/young people in Blackpool's community. "Clearly the economic impact of having to use taxis and private hire to get around town has a disproportionate impact on partially sighted, less ambulant and poorer members of society. "Bus use, especially on newer cleaner buses and electric buses, is more sustainable than private car use." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. £4m plan to improve resort's bus services New £100m civil service hub opens in Blackpool Blackpool Transport Local Democracy Reporting Service Blackpool Council
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man had cannabis in rucksack and punched bouncer
A man who was found to be carrying cannabis in his rucksack, which he intended to sell, has been handed a suspended sentence. Luke Lord, 20, discarded the bag while running away from police in Douglas in August last year. Douglas Courthouse heard he had also punched a nightclub bouncer in the head and damaged a police cell while on bail for drugs offences. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, along with a two-year supervision order. The court heard Lord, of Brookfield Crescent in Ramsey, had been spotted by police on patrol acting suspiciously with another man near Woodbourne Square at about 21:40 BST on 28 August. He was holding a grey and black rucksack, while the other man had a yellow JD Sports bag. Both ran off when officers approached, but Lord was apprehended and told officers: "Get the weed out of my pocket already." Two green plastic wraps containing cannabis were found in the pocket of his jacket and he was arrested. A search of the route the two men had taken was subsequently carried out by the officers, and both bags were retrieved, along with a tin, the court was told. Officers found cannabis with a street value of £2,250 in the sports bag, £956-worth of the drug in the rucksack, and a further quantity valued at £320 in the tin. It was accepted that only the drugs found in his pocket and the rucksack belonged to Mr Lord, with the larger amounts belonging to another individual, the court was told. While on bail for those offences, prosecutors said Lord had assaulted one of the door staff at 1886 in Regent Street in the early hours of 31 August, as he was ejected from the nightclub. The court heard he swung at one of the staff three times, punching him once in the side of the head, which caused the victim to fall down the steps in front of the building. After being arrested, he went on to damage the police cell he was being held in. He later pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of cannabis, common assault and criminal damage. His defence advocate said Lord, who is autistic, had become friends with people that were "unsuitable" after moving out of home for the first time, but was now living back with his mother. The court heard he had accumulated a drug debt of £9,000. Handing down the 14-month jail term, Deemster Graeme Cook said while the offending had breached the custody threshold, there was cause to suspend the sentence. Lord was ordered to pay £250 in court costs. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Isle of Man Courts of Justice
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Wife's tribute to 'best husband' killed in crash
The family of a man killed when two vehicles collided at a junction have described him as "the most loyal and loving person". Jay Newby-Gallagher, 34, died when his Suzuki motorbike collided with a blue Renault Zoe car outside an Aldi store on Northway, at the junction of Dover Road in Maghull, in Sefton, on Wednesday at about 08:30 BST. Merseyside Police said a 34-year-old woman from South Tyneside, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, has since been released on conditional bail. His family paid tribute to Mr Newby-Gallagher as "the best" husband, son, brother, son-in-law and brother-in-law that anyone could wish for. "He was the kindest, most loyal, loving, and funny person you could ever meet," his family said, in a statement. "He would always light up any room with his smile and sense of humour, and he loved his family and our dog Bodie more than anything." His wife said: "It was truly an honour to be your wife, and life will never be the same without you. "You've taken a piece of me with you that I will never get back." "I've loved every second I got to spend with you, but it will never be enough time. I will love you forever, you will always be my home. "All your family and friends are so proud of the person you are, and we will all miss you forever." Det Sgt Kurt Timpson said police were continuing to appeal for information, and urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or events leading up to it, to contact the force. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Merseyside Police
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Daily closures on southern link to Manx capital
The Isle of Man's main route from the south to Douglas will be closed several times over two weeks. The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) plans to shut sections of the A5 route daily from 09:30 to 15:30 BST from 6 May. Centre line reflective road studs are being put in. A DOI spokesman said "redundant" cat's eyes, "most of which are now broken or compressed into the road surface", will be removed. The first stage of works will see the road closed between the roundabout at Glashen Hill and its junction with Orrisdale Road. Then the section between Blackboards to the Oatlands Road junction will close. That will be followed by the area between Mount Murray to Fort North Roundabout. The DOI said residents and bus services will be allowed special access. Diversion routes will be accessible through Old Castletown Road during the second and fourth stages, and the St Marks Road will be available throughout. All works are should be complete by Friday 16 May. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Delays expected while key road to south resurfaced Department of Infrastructure
