Liam Sibbons Jailed Over Essex Acid Attack

A 16-year-old found guilty of throwing acid at a woman on her doorstep will serve six years in prison for the attack.

The teenager, who can now be named as Liam Robert Sibbons, was sentenced to eight years and three months but will serve six, with the remaining time served concurrently with a supervision order.

Sibbons' victim, Tara Quigley, 28, who did not know her attacker, suffered horrific injuries to her face and upper body when she was doused with acid at her home in Romford, Essex, on April 30.

Miss Quigley suffered burns to 7% of her body, including her right arm, forearm, shoulder, chest, neck and face and has been left permanently scarred.

She will need regular treatment over the next four years and is due to undergo another operation shortly.

Miss Quigley had been waiting for someone to deliver cannabis on the evening of the attack when she saw someone approaching the house, the court heard.

She opened the door to Sibbons, who asked to speak to "Michelle" at around 9pm.

The teen returned 10 minutes later and squirted an acidic substance into Miss Quigley's face, according to police.

Miss Quigley managed to shut the door after the assault and rinse her face with water while an ambulance was called.

Her pet dog - a long-haired Chihuahua - also required treatment but the animal is not thought to have suffered any long-term injuries.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Quigley, who was in court to see her attacker jailed and wept as details were read out, said: "The attack has left me feeling as though my life has been blown apart.

"I have been left both physically and emotional scarred, and am in constant pain and discomfort owing to burns on my face, chest and arms."

She said her life had been turned upside down and that she did not feel safe returning to her home.

"I have lost confidence in my physical appearance and feel that people will stare at me when they see the scars," she said in her statement, describing the aftermath of the attack as "crushingly stressful".

Sibbons received an acid burn to the left side of his chest in the attack, the court heard.

He has four previous convictions and was on bail at the time of the attack.

Judge David Radford said Sibbons was a drug user who was already known to the police before the events of April 30.

He said a large amount of money had been found after the teenager was arrested, adding: "Another view could be that he was paid to undertake this."

Sibbons, wearing a white shirt and dark tie, remained impassive and stared straight ahead as he was sentenced.

Prosecutor Martin Whitehouse told Snaresbrook Crown Court: "This was an horrific attack, involving a degree of brutality and callousness rarely encountered.

"Almost, one might say, beyond comprehension."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Recruitment Drive For 11,000 New Army Reserves

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

One of the largest military recruitment events of its kind will be held in London today to help the Ministry of Defence increase the number of Reserve forces.

Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen from London-based Reserve regiments will take part in the day at Horse Guards Parade. It will include a parachute jump from a Lynx helicopter by four Reservists.

As part of plans for 'Future Force 2020', the government is hoping to increase the number of the Army Reserve from its current size of 19,000 to 30,000.

The Air Force Auxiliary is to expand to 1,800 personnel and the Navy's Maritime Reserve to 3,100. These recruits will offset large redundancies for regular servicemen and women in all three services. The Army will shrink to 82,000 soldiers from 110,000.

It is a plan that has been widely criticised from a number of corners, and there is considerable doubt over the ability of the military to hit the recruitment targets.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery prepares to fire his light artillery gun

The most up-to-date figures will be released next month, but it's generally thought that only a few hundred new recruits have signed up this year, well short of the numbers needed.

As part of the plans, the name of the Territorial Army is changing to Reserve Force in keeping with the new image.

£1.8bn has been committed over 10 years to supplement training and equipment for Reserve soldiers in order that will receive the same level of kit as their regular counterparts.

The number of overseas training exercises will increase to 22 per year from seven last year. But this, and any operational deployments, would put increased strain on small businesses.

To compensate for that, the Ministry of Defence is offering a financial package to any companies losing staff to Reservist duty. This would allow them to recruit temporary replacement workers.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery carries a high explosive shell

Speaking ahead of the recruitment event, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond defended the controversial plans for the Reserve force.

"We are completely revitalising our Reserve Forces, growing their trained strength with fresh incentives, better pay and more opportunities for working and training alongside Regulars," he said.

"This exhibition highlights just how many fantastic opportunities there are for anyone looking for a rewarding, challenging and exciting second career."

Reservists will be expected to operate alongside their regular colleagues and perform the same role regardless of their part-time nature.

In an interview last month, Andrew Cameron, the Chief Executive of Combat Stress, warned that reservists are twice as likely to suffer mental health problems and predicted a growth in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases if the Reserve Force was expanded.

The Ministry of Defence references other countries, such as the United States, which has a large and successful Reserve element to its military.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fat-Fighting Strategy To Slim Down Nation

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

A dozen of the biggest food manufacturers and retailers have pledged to cut the amount of saturated fat in their products.

The Department of Health says the move will cut enough fat to fill one-and-a-half swimming pools from our diets and save thousands of people from heart disease.

Supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those who have signed up to the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal to help improve the nation's health.

Sainsbury's director of corporate affairs, Alex Cole, says what is good for our waistline is also good for the company's bottom-line.

"There's absolutely a business case for doing this. We know our customers want products that are healthier. If we can provide them with those options, an easy way for them to make a healthy choice, we do sell more."

With one in four adults obese and one in three children obese or overweight by primary school leaving age, Britain is regularly mocked as a nation of fatties.

But the Government is clear this is not diet by diktat, and health minister Jane Ellison insists this is not about the 'nanny state'.

"We're not trying to tell people, from Whitehall, exactly what they should be eating or manufacturing, this is about us working together with industry to actually try and give people more options to lead a healthier life," she said.

Sainsbury's 'traffic light' system has proved effective

According to NHS Choices, the maximum recommended daily amount of saturated fat for a man is 30g and for a woman it is 20g, yet most Britons eat 20% more than that.

A survey done by Sainsbury's to coincide with the latest phase of the Public Health Responsibility Deal says that most people are confused by which are good fats and which aren't and that one in five believes all fats are bad.

The trouble is saturated fat is the kind of fat found in some of our tastiest treats - pies, cakes, biscuits, sausages, bacon, cheese and chocolate.

But even chocolate firms are getting in on the low-fat act.

Nestle has signed up to cut down on saturates and come up with a new formula for the wafer inside KitKats, though the chocolate itself is unchanged.

But the unfortunate truth is that most of us not only eat too much, we eat too much of the wrong things and unless we start to change our eating habits we're still going to stay fat and probably die before our time.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Hurricane': UK Will Take Full Force Of Storm

A storm which could reach hurricane strengths of 80mph or more will definitely hit Britain on Monday, weather experts have warned.

There were hopes the huge storm brewing over the Atlantic Ocean would miss the UK, and sweep instead through the English Channel.

But meteorologists are now certain it will strike the south west of England and could leave a trail of destruction as it gusts north-east across the country, causing structural damage, and bringing down trees and power lines.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Severe weather alerts are in place for England and Wales, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

There is a lesser yellow warning, meaning "be aware", for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday - which takes in the rush hour when people are trying to get to work.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees.

"There's also the possibility of flooding with torrential downpours and leaves blocking drains. South Wales and southern England are most at risk.

"There is likely to be flash flooding on roads and the AA will be out in force."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm will develop on Saturday and intensify on Sunday fairly close to the coast before it strikes with full force.

The storm will intensify on Sunday and hit the UK on Monday morning

A strong jet stream and warm air close to the UK are contributing to its development and strength.

Winds could top 80mph as they hit seaside towns and villages before slowly losing power as they gust across the UK and out to the North Sea.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in south Wales in 1989.

It will strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Winds could top 80mph as the storm hits seaside towns and villages

This time he warned people to "batten down the hatches" and keep checking the forecasts as the powerful storm approaches.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads.

"If it's bad where you are, keep tuned to the weather and traffic reports - in case of road or bridge closures - and heed any local police advice about whether it's safe to travel.

"At a minimum, take a fully-charged mobile phone and warm, weatherproof clothing."

He said the AA's specialist flood rescue team, driving modified Land Rovers, have been working all week and are on stand-by.

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is reminding Londoners to dial 101 when contacting police when it's not an emergency with expected increases in demand brought about by high winds in the next few days."

Related Stories

Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Belfast Zoo Monkeys Spark Hunt

A search is continuing for two missing monkeys who escaped from Belfast Zoo on Monday.

The two are part of a group of six lion-tailed macaques who made the great escape from their enclosure, wrong-footing their keepers who remain in hot pursuit.

One of the escapees was brought down in a "rugby tackle" by a keeper that, a member of the public suggested, would make him a shoe-in for the Ireland rugby team.

Four of the animals have since been caught but the elusive duo are still at large.

A statement from zoo manager Mark Challis said: "Six lion-tailed macaques escaped from Belfast Zoo on Monday.

"Four of the macaques have since been returned to their enclosure, where they have rejoined the rest of the group.

The monkeys are not dangerous but should not be approached

"The other two animals have been sighted onsite or in close proximity to the zoo.

"We have been monitoring their movements over the past few days and we have a number of traps and staff located in the areas where they are frequently being spotted.

"We are confident that all of the macaques will soon be found and returned to their enclosure.

"If anyone sees the lion-tailed macaques we would ask them to contact the zoo immediately. 

"Although they pose no danger to the public, we would ask that you do not attempt to approach or catch the animal."

Lion-tailed macaques can reach up to two feet in length.

Sightings can be reported to the zoo on 028 9077 6277.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Grangemouth's Future Saved In Last-Minute Deal

Grangemouth petrochemicals plant has been saved following a last-minute deal.

The 800 workers who were due to lose their jobs at the Falkirk plant - Scotland's largest industrial site and its only refinery - were told the news at 11am today.

It came after the Unite union confirmed it would now "embrace" a survival plan in an effort to reverse a decision by Swiss-based owner Ineos to close the business.

Calum MacLeod, chairman of Ineos' petrochemicals division, told a news conference a "great cheer" went up from workers as he told them their jobs were safe.

But he said "very limited redundancies" would have to be made.

Asked by one reporter if he had held a gun to Scotland's head, he replied: "I don't think that's the case."

He pointed out that Ineos had invested £1bn in the business and would invest another £300m to secure its future for at least the next 15 years.

Another £300m will be invested at the site, Ineos says

He said it was "only right" that by making such a "huge investment" the company had to make sure it had a "long-term sustainable base".

The agreement will see fuel production resume at the company's oil refinery today after a shutdown of more than a week.

The closure would have been a major setback for the Scottish National Party, which is leading the campaign for Scotland's independence from the UK.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This news is a tremendous fillip for the workforce and the whole Grangemouth community, following what could have been a potential disaster."

Later, in an interview with Sky News, Mr MacLeod declined to say how many redundancies would be made. He said the £300m would be spent on building a new gas terminal at the site.

Asked what he thought of union tactics during the negotiations, he said it would have "saved a lot of traumatic effects" if union officials had begun the talks a week ago with the same attitude they had had over the past two days.

The closure would have been a huge blow for Alex Salmond

Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos Group, said: "This is a victory for common sense. Unite advised employees to reject change and vote for closure. Thank goodness people finally came to their senses. Grangemouth now has a great future."

Ineos said Unite had made a "dramatic U-turn" and had agreed to a three-year pay freeze, no strikes for three years, and moving to a "modern" pension scheme.

Earlier, Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey said shop stewards had decided to accept the company's survival plan "warts and all" in the wake of the closure decision.

Unite's Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty, said: "Grangemouth is the powerhouse of the Scottish economy - it now has a fighting chance of upholding this crucial role into the future.

"Obviously today's news is tinged with sadness - decent men and women are being asked to make sacrifices to hold on to their jobs, but the clear wish of our members is that we work with the company to implement its proposals."

Ineos caused shockwaves on Wednesday when it announced it could not continue to operate its loss-making petrochemicals division, leaving 800 jobs at risk and many more contractors facing the axe too.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

Severe weather alerts have been issued amid fears Britain is about to be hit by the most powerful storm in years.

A Met office image shows a forecast for the storm on Monday

A series of wind, rain and flood alerts are now in place as forecasters predict gales of more than 80mph - classed as hurricane strength. 

The Met Office warned people to "be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures".

The storm is currently developing over the Atlantic and will potentially hit UK land on Sunday night and into Monday.

Forecasts show how the storm might develop and move towards the UK

Today, forecasters urged people to prepare for the storm, with some comparing its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in Wales in 1989.

Sky weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Late October is notorious for strong storms, with a wind gust of 124mph recorded in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1989.

"Should this storm achieve its potential, it is likely to bring down trees and to cause damage to roads and buildings, possibly causing major transport disruption and power cuts."

The Met Office website shows amber and yellow alerts for Monday

Wheeler said the storm was due to develop over the Atlantic in the next 24 hours as a strong jet stream and warm air combine to create a deep low-pressure system.

While its trajectory is unclear, there are fears it may hit land, wreaking chaos over England and Wales.

If it does make land, it is likely to hit Wales and the South West first before sweeping east and touching most of the country.

Exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent are most likely to feel the brunt of the winds.

The storm could also miss land completely - sweeping instead through the English Channel.

Met Office senior forecaster Helen Chivers said: "Winds of that strength are damaging winds - there will be a risk of damage to homes and trees and disruption to travel.

"This is not a storm you see every winter. The storm of 1987 is one, and the Burns day storm in January 1990 is another."

Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But this one is unusual in that it is expected to appear much closer to land, potentially moving across the country while it is in its most powerful phase.

The storm is expected to strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

There are already fears the storm may compare to the Great Storm of 1987

It flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Forecasters at the time famously failed to predict the severity of the storm.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Economy: GDP Growth Accelerates To 0.8%

The Chancellor claims there is now "real momentum" in the UK's economic recovery after GDP growth of 0.8% was measured in the third quarter.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it marked the strongest period of growth in more than three years - with services, construction and manufacturing all expanding.

It was also the third successive period of improving output, in line with the expectations of economists, though some had forecast growth to have reached 1%.

The ONS said construction - a sector bolstered by Government initiatives such as Help to Buy - surged by 2.5%.

George Osborne said: "This shows that Britain's hard work is paying off & the country is on the path to prosperity."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Today's encouraging #GDP growth figures are another sign we are turning a corner."

Labour argued the growth was "long overdue".

Overall GDP was 1.5% ahead of the same period last year - a time when the economy was being boosted by the Olympics and Paralympics.

But the economy remains 2.5% off its pre-recession peak at the start of 2008.

During the third quarter, construction was boosted by new work on private housing and private commercial building as well as domestic home repair and maintenance but remained 12.5% off its 2008 high.

Housebuilders have been buoyed by the Government's Help to Buy scheme, which recently launched a new phase offering mortgage guarantees.

Production grew by 0.5%, though this remains 12.8% off its 2008 level, while within this manufacturing improved 0.9% in the third quarter.

The powerhouse services sector, which represents three-quarters of economic output, grew by 0.7% and is now 0.6% above its pre-crisis peak.

The largest contributions here came from business services and finance, followed by distribution, hotels and restaurants.

But the wider statistics highlighted one piece of bad news - in terms of UK growth.

The contribution from utilities - including gas and electricity - tumbled by 6.8% in the period, possibly a result of the warm summer compared to the same period last year which was largely a washout and cool.

The figure was seen as a potential factor behind the decision among energy suppliers to increase household bills - to make up for lower demand.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "Britain is booming again with the economy showing the most sustainable and robust-looking upturn since the financial crisis."

But Alan Clarke of Scotiabank said the figure was a "tad disappointing" - given survey data indicating growth nearer 1% - and "wasn't a home run".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "After three damaging years of flatlining, it's both welcome and long overdue that our economy is growing again.

"But for millions of people across the country still seeing prices rising faster than their wages this is no recovery at all."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said growth figures will "mean nothing to the vast majority of people in this country faced with mounting household bills and stagnant wages."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Serco Boss Quits Amid Contracts Scandal

Serco, the outsourcing firm at the centre of a Government contract scandal, has confirmed its chief executive has stepped down.

The company said Chris Hyman was leaving in a last-ditch bid to restore its reputation amid a wider restructuring - splitting the British central government work into a separate unit - to improve transparency.

It was told in September it could be investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) alongside rival G4S after an audit showed they charged for tagging criminals who were either dead, in prison or never tagged at all.

The study resulted in Serco's £285m prison escorting contract - which covers London and East Anglia - being placed under administrative supervision in August.

Serco then agreed to repay all past profits made on the prison escorting contract and forgo any future profits but insisted that no member of the board had knowledge of the alleged fraudulent practice.

Mr Hyman - who has run Serco since 2002 - said: "I have always put the interests of Serco first. At this time, nothing is more important to me than rebuilding the relationship with our UK government customer.

"In recent weeks it has become clear to me that the best way for the company to move forward is for me to step back.

"I have been fortunate enough to have had the privilege of working at a great company with extremely talented people.  I wish everyone at Serco the very best for the future."

An inquiry, requested by both the Ministry of Justice and Serco's directors, is currently being carried out by City of London police.

It is investigating the actions of the staff working on the prison escorting contract.

Serco said Ed Casey, who has led its Americas Division, will become acting group chief executive and its board would be strengthened as part of its efforts to bolster scrutiny.

A Government spokesman said: "The Government will take full account of all the changes Serco have made today.

"Whilst it is early days in their programme of renewal, this is a positive move by Serco and a step forward."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More