Three arrested on
suspicion of murder
by David Skentelbery
THREE people have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the month-long mystery death of reclusive Alan Bell at Lymm.
A man of 35 and a woman of 41, understood to be near neighbours of Mr Bell in Rushgreen Road, Lymm and a 21-year-old man, also from Lymm, are being questioned by police at Warrington.
A fourth person was also arrested but has since been released.
Mr Bell, 64, (pictured) was found dead at his home on February 21 and police had been carrying out a detailed examination of the house and garden ever since. A post mortem examination failed to reveal a cause of death.
It is believed he had been dead for several weeks prior to being found.
His brother, who lives in Lancashire, alerted police after becoming concerned because he could not contact Mr Bell by telephone.
Earlier police had appealed for information about a couple seen carrying ornaments and other property from the rear of Mr Bell’s home on Sunday January 2 and loading them into a dark coloured saloon car.
Mr Bell was something as a loner and received few visitors, so the incident is regarded as unusual.
But police stressed that Mr Bell had been seen alive and well several weeks after the incident.
Mr Bell had not worked for a number of years, but formerly had worked on a local farm. Although he kept himself to himself, he had lived in Lymm all his life and was well known.
Life sentences for
pair who left
victim to drown
by court reporter
FOUR people have been jailed in connection with the horrific death of a homeless man at Warrington.
Alan Hubbersty, 30, of Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington was jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering 39-year-old Malcolm Crompton, of no fixed address.
The judge at Chester Crown Court recommended he serve a minimum of 19 years.
Stephen Wood, 24, of no fixed address, was jailed for lift, with a recommendation of a minimum of 20 years, after pleading guilty to murder.
Alan Warburton, 46, formerly of Bewsey, Warrington, was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Hubbersty’s girlfriend, Lesley Murphy, 28, of Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, was jailed for 18 months after admitting assisting an offender.
The court was told that in the event of any applications for early release, the Review Panel should be told they must see pictures of the injuries caused to Mr Crompton before considering the application.
The sentences followed a two and-a-half week during which the jury was told how Mr Crompton was beaten up after spending an evening drinking with the four defendants in May last year.
He was punched, kicked, hit over the head with a blunt instrument and stabbed more than 100 times before being placed in a wheelie bin and pushed through the streets of Warrington to Sankey Brook in the early hours of the morning.
At a secluded, waterside spot an attempt was made to set fire to him before he was pushed into the brook and left to drown.
Subsequent tests showed he had died from drowning and the effects of his injuries.
College entertains high
school language pupils
by staff reporter
PUPILS with an interest in foreign languages from Sir Thomas Boteler High School, Warrington, spent time at Priestley College using a range of recently installed equipment on campus.
Last year, the college opened its doors to a brand new language centre, which makes use of modern Information Technology.
Priestley currently offers a range of language courses including full A-levels in French, German and Spanish plus an e-learning enrichment programme.
The college recently embarked on a borough-wide mission to bring secondary schools together in order to work on initiatives that involve the promotion of studying foreign languages. This event was just one example of the current links that are being forged within the educational community.
While on site, the high school pupils were able to use the language centre, take part in structured pair work with Priestley students in the Learning Resources Area and also listen to a presentation on the importance of foreign languages in the world of work.
Carol Mtitimila, head of languages at Priestley said: “It is always nice to welcome secondary school pupils onto the site and offer them the use of our facilities.
“It was superb to see such a lively bunch of teenagers who had a passion for languages and I look forward to working with some of them again in the future.”
Warning over
dangerous plugs
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Trading Standards have been notified by VIP Computer Centre Ltd, Hardwick Grange, Warrington of a potentially serious manufacturing defect on a batch of speakers for use with computers and portable music players.
The company distributes to computer assemblers, retailers and re-sellers in the UK and Ireland.
The plug on the Mercury MS380 speakers, sold between February 14 005 and March 14 has been wired incorrectly – with the live wire connected to the neutral pin and vice versa.
Products affected are those with VIP Order Code 3352 & 4299. The bar code for both products is 8886383621719.
Edwina Greenwood, principal trading standards officer at Warrington, said: “The company contacted Trading Standards to let us know about the problem. We are working closely with VIP Computer Centre and will be advising our colleagues across the country of the action that we are taking. All enquiries regarding the safety of consumers are treated as a priority.
“If you have purchased the product it should not be used and you should return it to the retailer for a full refund. Likewise, if you have any queries about the safety of these or other electrical products please contact Trading Standards on 01925 442678.”
Town’s gift to
Spanish students
by staff reporter
SPANISH students were presented with a painting as a momento of their visit to Warrington.
Students and staff from the Instituto Bernado de Balbuena, who are on an exchange visit at the Bishop Heber High School in Cheshire, visited Gatewarth Recycling and Household Waste Centre and Risley Landfill site.
The schools have been running the exchange visits for 11 years. Each exchange trip has an educational theme and this year’s is ‘Responsible Consumerism’ and students are looking at recycling schemes in both countries.
Organisers of the trip contacted the council to visit Warrington because of the good reputation of its recycling and refuse services.
Staff in the council’s Waste Minimisation and Recycling team were only too happy to help out and invite them to Warrington.
On the day Phil Woods, the council’s environmental protection and waste manager, presented the students with a watercolour of the Golden Gates as a memento of their trip.
Coun Terry O’Neill, the council executive member for environment and regeneration, said: “We are delighted that the students chose to visit Warrington because of the success of our recycling and waste management services and staff were only too happy to show them around the sites and help them with their studies.
“Recycling has really taken off in the town and it is a credit to everyone who has become involved, if we all do our bit then together we can make a big difference.”
Hospital drive to
fight “superbug”
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Hospital showed its commitment to fighting the hospital “superbug” MRSA by taking part in national Think Clean Day.
The initiative, involving North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, the Department of Health, UNISON, and other key partners including the Royal College of Nursing, was designed to raise the profile and importance of hygiene issues in hospitals.
Aim was to focus attention on cleaning and demonstrate what could be achieve
d in just one day.
Hospitals across England were asked to audit a ward or department and find solutions to any cleanliness problems they found. Everyone from cleaners to consultants was involved.
Clinical nurse specialist for infection control Andrew Sargent said: “My job is to ensure that infection control procedures are in place and highlight patients who have an infection and advise on their management.
“This begins with washing hands or using the alcohol hand rub every time a member of staff deals with a different patient. Visitors are also encouraged to clean their hands when they enter a ward.
“Think Clean Day is a great way of bringing the issue to public attention and we want everyone who is in Warrington Hospital to be aware of hygiene and how important it is in reducing hospital acquired infections.”
Chief nursing officer Christine Beasley said: “Think Clean Day is all about local NHS staff making a difference in their area. Everyone, no matter how junior or senior, can play a part.
“I hope all staff will take the opportunity to think about how they work, and whether there are any changes they could make that would improve the cleanliness of our hospitals. That way, Think Clean Day will leave a legacy that lasts well beyond today.”
Arsonists on
the rampage
by DAvid Skentelbery
ARSONISTS went on the rampage in Warrington again during the night – again using the technique of pushing wheelie bins up against buildings before setting them alight.
Fire crews were called to town centre Bridge Street when a bin was torched at a building at the rear of JD Sports.
The blaze spread to the building and firefighters had to break in to tackle the flames. Extensive damage was caused.
In a separate incident, vandals set fire to a car at the rear of Kingsway Flats in Grange Avenue, Latchford, Warrington.
The fire spread to two other cars before it could be extinguished. One car was burned out and the other two suffered serious damage.
