News Nuggets – 2 February 2016

Young drunk driver jailed for 9 years over fatal car crash

A 21-year-old drunk driver has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following a car crash in Leamington killing three friends, following a Coventry court hearing on Wednesday.

The driver, Jamie Riddick from Kenilworth, was twice over the legal limit, had no insurance, no MOT and only a provisional driving license.

Before driving to Leamington, Mr Riddick drank half a bottle of vodka and struck his girlfriend, giving her a black eye.

The car itself had worn brakes and three under-inflated tyres before it crashed into a tree and a wall on Radford Road, on the night of 20 June last year.

QC lawyer Recorder Mountford said: “The car was not fit to be driven, it was overloaded and you were upset and not fit to drive.”

“It was a tragic and pointless loss of three hopeful young lives.”

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Pensioner attacked and robbed in Leamington

An 84-year-old man was involved in a mugging in Leamington last Wednesday.

The victim, who walks with a crutch, was hit on the head from behind on Milverton Terrace at 11pm. He fell down, receiving cuts and bruises on his hands and knees.

The thief, a clean-shaven black man in his mid-to-late 20s, demanded money and ran off with the victim’s canvas briefcase.

Investigating officers are still searching for information.

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National bowling championships face closure

The national bowling championships, hosted by Bowls England in Leamington’s Victoria Park, may be facing closure over car-parking times.

The Warwickshire County Council recently revealed plans to limit free parking times on the nearby Archery Road to just 2 hours.

Elderly players parked at a further distance would then have difficulty accessing the bowling greens.

Bowls England chief executive Tony Allcock said: “If people can’t park they might move to a more user-friendly club; there are around 2,500 across the rest of the country.”

Some local residents have complained that visitors to the weekly bowling games park inconsiderately and that the free spaces may be exploited by nearby shoppers.

The national championships annually bring an estimated £2m to Warwick’s district economy. The council is expected to reach a decision within the next few weeks.

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Police investigates pornographic film shot outside a Warwickshire church

Following a recent complaint, police have launched investigations into a pornographic film shot on holy ground.

The fetish film, published by PornXN and starring Hungarian adult-movie actress Lyen Parker, also features scenes on a local high street and a bus.

In the film, Ms Parker dances in front of the church sign and is instructed by the camerawoman: “At the moment, we are in this churchyard, which is pretty naughty. There are people going past.”

“We’ll quickly run away before we get any vicars running after us, trying to shout at us.”

Water Orton’s resident vicar, Reverend Paul Tullet, outraged at the incident of public indecency and desecration, met with police on Tuesday to file a complaint.

He said: “We did not know it was taking place and we did not give permission. Clearly had permission been sought, it would never have been granted.

“People are appalled but it has not affected the day-to-day running of the church.”