Fourth man charged
A FOURTH man, 18-year-old Adam Swellings, of Crewe has been charged with murder following the death of 47-year-old Garry Newlove, of Padgate, Warrington. He was appearing at Runcorn Magistrates? Court today.
Police chief was
patrolling streets on
night of the murder
by David Skentelbery
CHESHIRE?S Chief Constable Peter Fahy was himself out on patrol on the streets of Warrington on the night father of three Garry Newlove was murdered.
Now he has spoken out on anti-social behaviour and young people in the light of what he saw.
He stresses that he cannot discuss the details of the investigation into Mr Newlove?s death, because people have been charged with murder.
But he says his tragic death has re-opened an important debate on the cause of anti-social behaviour and the need to address the problems caused by a minority of young people.
He said: ?Every night of the week Cheshire officers and our PCSOs are engaged in a constant battle against anti social behaviour and alcohol induced violence.
?I was out on patrol in Warrington for part of Friday evening – the night that Garry Newlove was attacked – and saw the way PCSOs, Special Constables, and neighbourhood beat officers were working together to try and control disorder and street drinking.
?More officers on the streets working with the local council has significantly reduced criminal damage and anti-social behaviour. But, by any measure, there is still a long way to go. Across the force area, on estates and in villages, groups of young people gather, sometimes in large numbers and officers constantly break the groups up, seize alcohol, take names and send letters home to parents. When we have evidence, we prosecute.?
Mr Fahy said parents should be key to tackling the problem. They are responsible for their children ? and need to promote an understanding of what is right and wrong, a sense of social responsibility, and guidance through these key years.
?Most of the bad behaviour is fuelled by alcohol – much of it supplied by adults – including some parents.
?I know that a hard core of parents turn a blind eye to the fact that their youngsters are out there, drinking under age and congregating in places where they cause nuisance to others. Young males in particular are far more aggressive and prone to use violence when they have been drinking.?
Alcohol is too cheap and too easy to obtain, the Chief Constable says. Young people can easily get more after police have confiscated it.
?I would support a power for police officers to order groups of young people home when they are causing a nuisance without having to designate a whole area a dispersal zone. I would like to see the price of alcohol raised, particularly higher strength beers. I would like it to be easier for the whole of a town or city to be designated as a no drinking area and more joint work with schools and other agencies to target those young people regularly on the streets drinking and their families.
?There is a hard core of young men not in work, education, or training and at great risk of being drawn into criminality and disorder that are causing concern to the police, and those agencies who work with us.
?We cannot have a society where adults feel scared to go out and challenge youngsters up to no good as this just breeds fear and isolation. All parents have a responsibility to make sure that we eradicate the problems caused by groups of youths, who intimidate and threaten local people going about their lawful business. The police cannot do it alone. We are doing everything we can, within our resources and powers, but it is not enough.
?To see the issue of anti-social behaviour by teenagers as a problem for the police to resolve is naive – as a nation I believe we need those who sell the alcohol to young people, those who price strong alcohol so cheaply, those who promote alcohol as glamorous, those parents who turn a blind eye to where their children are, those teenagers who ignore the rights of others to live without intimidation or abuse – we need all these elements of our society to rack their conscience and consider what duty they have to beat the scourge of anti-social behaviour by young people.”
Three teenagers
remanded in custody
by court reporter
THREE teenage boys have appeared in court charged with the murder of 47-year-old Warrington father Garry Newlove.
Two 15-year-olds, both from Wigan, and a 16-year-old from Orford, Warrington, were remanded in custody until next Monday, August 20, when they will appear again at Warrington Youth Court.
All three are too young to be named.
The hearing was at Runcorn Youth Court and all three youths were denied bail.
Mr Newlove, (pictured) father of three daughters and sales manager at a plastics factory, died in Warrington Hospital at the weekend.
He suffered head injuries after going out of his home in Station Road North, Padgate, Warrington, to remonstrate with a group of youths who had been vandalising vehicles. A post mortem examination has revealed a preliminary cause of death of traumatic haemorrhage.
Mr Newlove was married to Helen and the couple have three daughters – Zoe, aged about 19, Danielle, 16, and Amy, aged 12.
Three other youths arrested in connection with the incident have been released without charge.
Another youth, aged 18, who was arrested on Monday, is still being held for questioning.
The court heard that Mr Newlove, aged 47, died of a traumatic haemorrhage as a result of a blow to the head.
He died at Warrington Hospital on Sunday.
Meanwhile, police have revealed that three more youths have been arrested at Warrington and are being questioned in connection with Mr Newlove’s death. Two are 18 and one is 16 and all are from the Warrington area.
Scouts celebrate world
jamboree by planting a tree
JAPANESE Scouts planted a Sakura Tree at the 25th Warrington East Scout Centre, Grappenhall during a barbecue and karoke evening held by their host Warrington Scouts.
They were in this country for the 21st World Scout Jamboree held in Essex.
Pictured, centre right, Takahide Uno plants the tree with Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington Coun Graham Welborn and Elaine Welborn, watched by Japanese Scouts and Warrington East and West Scouts.
Benefit cheat obtained
nearly ?20,000
by court reporter
A BENEFIT cheat from Warrington who was overpaid ?1,9749.92 was fined ?75 and ordered to do 225 hours unpaid work.
Sharon Metcalfe, 36, of Sandalwood Close, pleated guilty at Halton Magistrates Court to falsely claiming benefits by failing to declare that her partner was living with her.
The court was told she was overpaid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between May 25 2002 and May 28 2005 by ?1,4886.30. She was also overpaid by Warrington Borough Council between April 7 2003 and May 3 2005 by ?4,863.62.
After the hearing, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves.
“Benefit thieves must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the Government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.”
Fraud operations manager for the DWP Roy Paul said: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Smoking shelter plan
for public footpath
by David Skentelbery
A PUB has applied for permission to erect a shelter for smokers on a public footpath at Lymm.
The application by Sadler?s Bar, at the co
rner of Bridgewater Street and Legh Street, is to be considered by Warrington?s development control committee.
Lymm Parish Council and local councillor Sheila Woodyatt have objected.
The proposal is for an awning to provide smoking shelter situated to the side of the public house and spanning the footpath which leads to Lymm Royal British Legion Club and also a car park.
Planning officers say the awning would not detract from the appearance of the building. There are many others in Lymm village and they do not damage the character of the village centre.
They do not believe the awning would have any implications for pedestrians using the footpath.
But the parish council say the path has been a public right of way for many years. They are concerned about the free passage of pedestrians ? particularly as some patrons of the British Legion club have mobility problems.
Coun Woodyatt says the awning, and people congregating under it, would hinder access to the club and the car park.
Officers say it is reasonable to assume that smokers will gather under the awning but argue that only limited weight can be given to this concern.
Aiming to improve
business performance
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEW training centre in Warrington is aiming to improve the performance of businesses in the region.
MCP Langcet, a national consultancy and training provider, has opened the training facility.
The company specialises in bespoke technical and people development training, and already works with companies based in the North West such as Astra Zenecca, Scottish and Newcastle and Royal Mail.
Business development manager John Saysell said: “The new venue will provide us with further opportunities to improve performance within businesses in Warrington and the North West.”
Eileen Fisher, who is based in Warrington, has recently joined the company to develop business. She previously worked as an advisor and skills broker for Cheshire and Warrington Business Link and has extensive knowledge of potential funding, including Train to Gain.
The company is involved in funded courses throughout the country under the European Social Fund.
It offers a wide range of courses and businesses interested should contact Eileen on 07875 457544 or email [email protected]
Two hurt as
car overturns
by staff reporter
TWO people suffered minor injuries when a car overturned in Lovely Lane, Warrington.
The 20-year-old woman driver and her male passenger, also 20, were taken to hospital by ambulance after the crash near the Mad Hatter pub.
Fire crews went to the scene to help release the pair from the car.
It appeared the car, a Vauxhall Corsa, had gone out of control, swerved and overturned on the pavement.
No other vehicle was involved.
Bungalow demolition
causes a storm
by David Skentelbery
A PLAN to demolish a 50-year-old bungalow and replaced it with a detached, four-bedroom house has caused a storm of protest at Stockton Heath, Warrington.
Stockton Heath Parish Council and residents of Whitefield Road have lodged strong objections to the scheme in adjoining Carlton Street..
The parish council says the development will result in increased use of the site which will breach council guidelines on separation distances between dwellings. In addition, neighbouring properties would suffer a loss of privacy.
Four neighbours claim they will be robbed of privacy and suffer a reduction in quality of life. They believe the property will be out of character with existing Victorian terraced houses and that there will be insufficient garden around the new house.
There will be overshadowing and loss of light.
One objector says he owns the freehold of the property to be demolished and would not allow it to be replaced by a two-storey property.
But officers say this is a private matter between the parties ? not a planning issue.
