Sunday 1 August 2010

STREATHAM MAN ON TRIAL AFTER CALLING POLICE "BATTY BOYS"

20th May 2010

A Streatham man appeared in court yesterday for shouting and swearing at police officers as they tried to search him in KFC.

Jamaican-born Steve Thomas, who lives on Lime Road, was on trial at Camberwell Magistrates court on a public order charge after police accused him of calling them “batty boys, dickheads” in KFC on Brixton Road on March 5.

Mr Thomas, 34, was approached by two undercover policemen who believed he was involved in a drug exchange.

PC Durling said: “We entered KFC because we believed a drug exchange was taking place. “Upon entering I approached Mr Thomas with a well known drug dealer. I could smell cannabis on the defendant.”

Mr Thomas resisted police requests to search him and was arrested for swearing at the officers.

He was taken to Brixton Police Station where he was searched, yet was not found to be in possession of drugs.

PC Durling said: “The defendant’s demeanour was angry, his attitude towards the police was very aggressive.

“We attempted to conduct a search but Mr Thomas told us we were batty boys and dickheads and continued to use this language.”

PC Skinner, the officer on duty with PC Durling at the time, said: “My first instinct was to protect myself and my colleague. He was in handcuffs but he was screaming abuse at us.”

After his witness failed to show up for the trial, Mr Thomas was found guilty by magistrates of a Section Five Public Order Offence and was ordered to pay a fine of £250.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

Local and national news

Welcome to my cuttings file.

The links below are for articles published on work placements I have completed since starting the NCTJ Newspaper Journalism Course at Lambeth College in February 2010.

Please see the link 'Features and other' for good examples of articles I have produced outside work experience.

Local news

Israeli ambassador Ron Prosser visits Holocaust survivors centre in Hendon:
www.times-series.co.uk/news/8097928.Holocaust_survivors_remember_the_victims/

Lucky escape as cars crash into Subway sandwich shop in Fore Street Upper Edmonton:
www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/7988053.Lucky_escape_as_cars_crash_into_subway_sandwich_shop/

Yoga-loving great grandmother from Finchley celebrates 90th birthday:
www.times-series.co.uk/news/8097464.yoga_loving_great_grandmother_celebrates_90th_birthday/

Spurs manager kicks off Southgate college Football scheme:
Totteridge beauty therapist gets ready for London marathon:
Thomas the Tank Engine steams into The Spires shopping centre for charity:
www.times-series.co.uk/news/8091583.Thomas-the-tank-steams-into-town-for-charity/

London Recut competition celebrates film heritage in the capital:
www.haringeyindependent.co.uk/news/topstories/8098267.make_a_film_about_London_and_see_it_on_the_big_screen/

National
Interview with actress Tamsin Greig for The Independent:
www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/cultural-life-tamsin-greig-actress-1874746.html

Contact sourced (Adelin Choy) for article for The Independent (signed proof in cuttings file):
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/fall-in-official-unemployment-rate-masks-rise-in-the-hidden-jobless-1874210.html

Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins used to enjoy Twister:
www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/119231/Nirvana-and-smashing-pumpkins-used-to-enjoy-twister/

Police foil attempted prisoner escape:
www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/119229/Police-foil-attempted-prisoner-escape/

Microwave unleashes phone demon:
www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/119059/Microwave-unleashes-phone-demon/