Plymouth pensioner denies repeated sexual abuse of teenager

February 6, 2017, 10:33 am

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A pensioner has denied the repeated sexual abuse of a schoolgirl – saying she was telling "blatant lies" to a jury.Thomas Berry, aged 77, told a court he did not know why the teenager had made up things about her.He said he was shocked when police came to question him, which was the first he knew of the allegations.Berry admitted giving the schoolgirl money, but said it was because she asked him for cash two or three times a week.Prosecutors claim Berry had regularly given her...

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Government claim lessons have been learned over the murder of...

February 6, 2017, 10:00 pm

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A Government minister has claimed mistakes which left Donald Pemberton free to kill on New Year's Day have now been fixed - but his victim's family want proof. Following a series of articles in The Herald highlighting internal reports by both the Devon and Cornwall Police and the privatised arm of the Probation Service, Plymouth Moor View Conservative MP Johnny Mercer wrote a question to Justice Minister Liz Truss. The question highlighted the findings by a police investigator who discovered...

Police investigating after carpet company cancellation row

February 6, 2017, 11:00 pm

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Police are investigating claims against a carpet company after a couple say they cancelled an appointment due to losing their unborn baby. Dean and Charlotte Coutts, from Ernesettle, say they booked a session with Clean Carpets Plymouth in early January, but cancelled after Charlotte suffered a miscarriage and was taken into hospital. Two weeks later the pair say they were told they would be sent an invoice for £85. They refused to pay, and claim to have received dozens of text...

Three Plymouth teenagers face trial accused of affray

February 7, 2017, 1:42 am

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Three teenagers accused of affray are to face a judge and jury.Jake Hellyer, Michael Giles and Jordan Stubbs-Williams, all aged 18, all attended Plymouth Crown Court to deny the offence.They pleaded not guilty to using or threatening unlawful violence during an incident in Honicknowle on June 15 last year.Judge Ian Lawrie set down a trial of three to four days, starting on May 2.Hellyer, of Duncombe Avenue; and Giles, of Harewood Crescent, both in Honicknowle; and Stubbs-Williams, of Billington...

Brave dog walker fought off mugger on Plymouth Hoe

February 7, 2017, 3:41 am

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A brave dog walker is warning others to be alert after he fought off a would-be mugger on Plymouth Hoe.Retired Keith Tarrant, aged 61, was approached by a stranger near Smeaton's Tower between 8.30pm and 8.45pm on Sunday."I heard him running up behind me," Mr Tarrant said."He came past me, said 'Alright mate' and I said 'Alright'."He went to carry on down the steps towards the Dome, and I turned left towards the Liner Lookout cafe."Then he came back up and started...

Royal Marines cleared of racial abuse

February 7, 2017, 4:39 am

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Two Royal Marines have been cleared of racially abusing two men in the streets.Mark Butler, aged 47, and 45-year-old Barry O'Neill were due to face trial after they denied insulting the strangers leaving a community centre after a meeting.But the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against them at Plymouth Crown Court.Mike Brown, for the Crown, said there was "no realistic prospect of conviction" – partly because one of the key witnesses had unexpectedly left the...

This man is wanted by police after someone dropped their trousers...

February 7, 2017, 4:53 am

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Police are hunting for this man after someone dropped their trousers and exposed themselves at a city community centre.Shocked onlookers say a mystery man entered the St Budeaux Community Centre in St Budeaux Square via the car park.He then wandered into the bar area where they watched him drop his trousers and exposed himself.The man was then escorted out of the Wolseley Road building.READ NEXT: Brave dog walker fought off mugger on Plymouth HoePolice say they are treating the indent as an act...

Man charged after woman's body found in ditch in alleged hit and...

February 7, 2017, 7:35 am

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A London man has been charged with causing the death of a Cornish woman who died in an alleged hit and run case.Kate Bailey, from the Wadebridge area, died aged 45 after she was hit by a vehicle in Trewiston Lane, St Minver at around 4.45am on July 19 last year.Her body was found in a ditch by a member of the public. A vehicle matching a description provided to the police had been seized from the car park at Exeter St David's railway station the same day and was taken away for forensic...

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11 bizarre laws you never knew existed

February 7, 2017, 8:21 am

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The laws on child car seats are changing next month, making it illegal for small children to travel in backless booster seats until they reach a certain weight and size. Other changes being introduced include changes to car taxes, which will make most cars more expensive to tax, an increase for working parents of up to 30 hours free childcare from September and an increase in the minimum wage from April. But, while new law changes are introduced each year, there are still loads of...

Jury retires in trial of Plymouth pensioner accused of sex abuse...

February 7, 2017, 9:23 am

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The jury in the trial of a pensioner accused of repeatedly abusing a teenage girl has retired to consider its verdicts. The panel considering the fate of 77-year-old Thomas Berry started its deliberations at lunchtime, but could not reach any decisions in four hours. Judge Ian Lawrie sent the jury home from Plymouth Crown Court to continue its discussions tomorrow. Berry, of Union Street, has denied one count of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual...

Woman sold Ecstasy to an undercover cop at a music festival

February 7, 2017, 9:33 am

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A young woman sold an undercover police officer Ecstasy at the Boomtown music festival headlined by Madness and Leftfield, a court heard.Tegan Donovan, aged 20, sobbed in the dock as she confirmed she had dealt the drug at last summer's event near Winchester.A judge at Plymouth Crown Court ordered a probation report before she is sentenced on Friday. But Recorder Simon Levene warned: "I make no promises about the sentence."Donovan, of Notte Street, the Barbican, wiped away tears with...

Burglary charge is dropped against Plymouth man

February 7, 2017, 9:42 am

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The case against a man accused of taking a purse in a burglary has been dropped.Shane Webb, aged 34, had denied the offence in Keat Street in Devonport on March 18 last year.Mr Webb, of Dingle Road, North Prospect, was due to stand trial at Plymouth Crown Court on March 2.The Crown Prosecution Service has offered no evidence against him and Judge Ian Lawrie recorded a not guilty verdict.READ: TWO JAILED FOR REVENGE KIDNAP PLANMr Webb was in the same court building last week as the victim of a...

Plymouth woman accused of stealing thousands from pensioner to...

February 7, 2017, 9:56 am

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A WOMAN accused of stealing more than £20,000 from a pensioner is to face trial in June.Milene Delicata, aged 58, has pleaded not guilty to taking the money from a woman in her late 80s over three years.She was due for trial at Plymouth Crown Court at the end of January, but the case could not go ahead.Judge Ian Lawrie set a new hearing date for June 20.Delicata, of Melville Terrace Lane, Ford, is on unconditional bail.READ NEXT:Plymouth woman sold Ecstasy to undercover cop at Boomtown...

Horror crash teen Ruby-Tuesday is facing yet more surgery

February 7, 2017, 10:55 pm

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The grandmother of Ruby-Tuesday has thanked Plymouth people for their support – as it is revealed the teen faces yet more surgery.Angela Hobbs, the nan of the 18-year-old student left seriously injured after she was struck by a car on Christmas Eve, has written to The Herald to show her family's gratitude for the outpouring of support since the incident. Ruby-Tuesday was struck by a BMW 3-series coupe near Drake Circus leaving her with multiple fractures.In her letter Angela said that she...

Man charged with rape and sexual assault in Plymouth

February 8, 2017, 2:46 am

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A man has appeared at magistrates court charged with rape and sexual assault.Salar Mahmood, of Greenbank Road, Plymouth appeared via video link at court earlier this week regarding the two offences. The first count of rape is alleged to have taken place between September 1, 2016 and September 30, while the charge of sexual assault by touching is alleged to have taken place between January 1, 2016 and September 30, 2016. No plea was entered. Mahmood is also charged with conspiracy with others to...

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Man arrested over alleged Plymouth Hoe mugging attempt

February 8, 2017, 4:22 am

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted theft after an incident on Plymouth Hoe.Retired Keith Tarrant, aged 61, says he was approached by a stranger near Smeaton's Tower between 8.30pm and 8.45pm on Sunday, February 5.A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said: "A 23-year-old man from Plymouth was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft from a person and bailed until February 28 pending further enquiries."READ NEXT:Biggest council tax rise in Plymouth for years could cost...

Plymouth taxi driver cleared of racist assault and abuse

February 8, 2017, 5:35 am

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A taxi driver has been acquitted of assault and racial abuse against a fellow cabbie.William Dean, aged 53, was due to face trial at Plymouth Crown Court but prosecutors offered no evidence against him.Mr Dean had denied five counts of racially-aggravated assault and threatening behaviour – though some counts were alternatives.The charges follow complaints made about Mr Dean in the city centre in May last year.Nigel Hall, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the jury that there was no...

Plymouth's 'worst ever fly-tipper' is now a wanted man

February 8, 2017, 6:31 am

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A judge has ordered the arrest of a serial fly-tipper after he failed to show up at court.Martin McDonagh, aged 23, faces jail for dumping rubbish across Devon.He ran a business collecting domestic and commercial waste for disposal at tips – but instead he dumped it on leafy roads or secluded car parks from Plymouth to Shaldon.A judge has described it as one of the most serious cases he had seen.McDonagh, of Pemros Road, St Budeaux, was released on bail for a probation officer to prepare a...

Pensioner speaks out after he was accused of being a sex abuser

February 8, 2017, 8:09 am

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A pensioner cleared by a jury of sexually abusing a schoolgirl has described his 13-month ordeal as "murder".Thomas Berry, aged 77, has walked free from court at the end of a trial he said was "agony".Mr Berry was acquitted of repeatedly sexually abusing the teenager over two years.He has consistently denied indecently touching the youngster since he was first questioned by police in January last year.He told Plymouth Crown Court that the schoolgirl had told "blatant...

Drunk Plymouth woman caught with a knife in the street

February 8, 2017, 8:38 am

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A woman has admitted having a knife in the street while drunk.But a judge told Lisa Edwards that she would not be going to jail after hearing she had contacted counsellors for help with her drink habit.The 24-year-old has pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place on the night of January 16.She appeared at Plymouth Crown Court for sentence, but Judge Ian Lawrie adjourned the case for a probation report.He added: "You are not going to jail. I am told, to spare your...