Mum praises kind stranger who brought emotional son home after he lost his football bag - then gave family £100 to buy replacement kit
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
A mum-of-three was left in tears when a kind stranger brought her distraught son home after he lost his football bag - and then gave the family £100 to replace the lost kit.
Sarah Sims said her son, Ashton Cayton, nine, was left "sobbing his heart out" as he desperately ran around in the rain on Saturday, trying to find his bag with all his football kit in.
She said a kind stranger walking her dog in the park took pity on Ashton and brought him home - but then, unbeknownst to the family, went back to the park to carry on looking for the bag.
And when the woman could not find Ashton's lost belongings, she returned to Sarah's house and slipped a note through the door - with £100 enclosed for replacement kit.
Fitness instructor Sarah, from Barry, south Wales, says she was moved to tears by the kind gesture - and now wants to find the Good Samaritan and thank her properly.
The single mum said: "She turned up at my house like a fairy godmother.
"Not only did she bring my upset son home, she went back out to try to find his football stuff, then wrote that wonderful letter and gave money.
"Ashton said he was freezing, soaking wet, running round crying his eyes out, trying to find his bag.
"With me being a recently single mum, my kids know the value of money, and he was so upset and worried how we would replace his stuff, especially his new trainers.
"This was just a beautiful gesture and we are so grateful. Such a beautiful random act of kindness that was so selfless it had me in tears," Sarah added.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
The kind stranger's note was slipped through Sarah's letterbox as she was bathing her children Frazer Cayton, 11, Ashton, nine, and daughter Cali Cayton, six.
It read: "To the little boy who lost his bag - hi, I looked for your bag but could not find it (sorry!).
"I remember when I was little and I lost something. I was so upset and we had no money to replace it either. Mum and I looked everywhere.
"I hope that you get a new pair of football boots. Here is £100 for you and mum towards replacements.
"Work hard in school and do something nice for someone."
The note is signed from "The lady and her dog".
Sarah said: "Everything about it is simply beautiful. I am so grateful for this generous selfless act and for teaching my kids a wonderful lesson."
Ashton, who plays for Park Lions football club in Barry, now wants to put the money towards replacing his football bag, boots, and shin pads.
But Sarah added: "He also wants to do something for charity. He said he wants to help the homeless as it must be awful for them to be outdoors in this weather.
"Ashton is the most loyal boy, he is so kind and caring and will do anything for me and his siblings.
"This note deserves to be shared for this wonderful person to get the recognition she deserves."
When asked what he would say to the woman, Ashton said: "Thank you very much for that money, and thanks for searching for my bag."
BULL DOZER - Couple woke up to find a BULL had wandered into their garden - ramming their bin & pooing on the patio before laying down for a snooze
Image by: Joshua Bambridge
A couple woke up to find a massive BULL had wandered into their garden - ramming their bin, pooing on the patio then laying down and sleeping for an hour.
The bovine - weighing nearly a tonne - smashed through the garden fence from its adjoining field.
The weighty animal trampled all over the lawn, headbutted the wheelie bin, left "hoof shaped pot holes" on the grass and splattered poo over the patio.
The beast - named Arnold after US actor Arnold Schwarzenegger - eventually decided to lay down for a nap.
It left the homeowners, from Raunds, Northamptonshire, enough time to call the farmer and for him to be taken away.
The homeowner said: "I had just gone downstairs to make a hot drink.
"I looked out of the kitchen window and I just couldn't believe my eyes.
"My first thought was 'F*** Arnold's in the garden.
Image by: Joshua Bambridge
Image by: Joshua Bambridge
Image by: Joshua Bambridge
Image by: Joshua Bambridge
"I called my fiancée over and she told me to 'Shut up' because we had joked about it before.
"She was petrified. It was a moment of panic.
"I didn't think it was wise to go outside it as it was probably really distressed.
"I managed to get through to the farmer and he was 40 minutes away.
"So we just sat and watched as he tore up the garden basically.
"I had been doing up the garden over the summer but he's completely ruined my turf!
"There are hoof marks on the lawn now that look like pot holes.
"We've decided to call him Arnold because he's really big built just like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"As soon as the farmer arrived he calmed down a bit as he seemed pretty familiar with him.
"We've been living here 18 months and have seen the odd sheep outside the house.
"But needless to say, we've never had a surprise like that on a weekend."
NINE LIVES - A woman was left fighting for life in a coma after contracting a deadly flesh-eating bug - from a CAT SCRATCH
Image by: Shirley Hair
A woman was left fighting for her life in a coma after contracting a deadly flesh-eating bug - from a CAT SCRATCH.
Shirley Hair, 65, almost died after her 'spiteful' Siamese cat, Chan, scratched her hand and the wound became infected.
Grandmother-of-five Shirley initially put her symptoms down to a bad bout of flu as she also felt dizzy, had no appetite, was confused and her muscles ached.
But Shirley was rushed to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, when the inflamed gash on her knuckle turned bright red and spread from her hand up her arm.
She was diagnosed with sepsis, septic shock, organ failure, pneumonia and Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) - a flesh-eating disease which results in the death of parts of the body's soft tissue and which can prove fatal.
Medics performed emergency surgery to remove the infected tissue from her hand before Shirley was placed in a medically-induced coma - to allow her body to rest whilst she recovered.
Shirley spent five days in a coma, more than six weeks in hospital and underwent a series of operations and skin grafts.
Now back at home in Winterbourne, Bristol, Shirley, has re-homed her £400 pedigree cat, Chan.
Image by: Jake McPherson
Image by: Shirley Hair
Image by: Shirley Hair
Shirley, a retired carer, who lives with her husband, Bob, 69, a former betting shop manager, said: "'That cat had always been spiteful, he was very expensive though!
''The day he scratched me I'd been gardening, I tried to pick him up for a cuddle but he wasn't having it.
''The scratch was quite deep, but I didn't think much of it until I started to get flu-like symptoms and totally lost my appetite.
''A doctor came out to see me and prescribed antibiotics, but after a few days I was feeling worse than ever.
''Then my arm began to get red and started swelling up really fast. It was scary. I was rushed into hospital and I was terrified as by that point I'd realised this was something very serious.
''The medics were amazing, but even after the emergency surgery to remove the tissue, I just carried on deteriorating. I felt like I was going to die. I couldn't believe this could all happen from a simple scratch.''
Shirley bought Chan from a breeder in Frampton Cotterell, South Gloucestershire, in July, 2016, when she spotted an ad on Gumtree.
She brought him home as a 10-week-old kitten and he quickly settled into their household, alongside their Labrador, Finn.
At first the moggie was quite nervous and didn't like being handled, but as he got older he became 'quite savage' - regularly lashing out at his owners.
Shirley said: "Bob and I went to view a litter of kittens and we instantly fell in love with Chan.
"He was adorable and we thought he'd be the perfect addition to our family.
"We'd had Siamese cats before and knew they can be a bit cantankerous, but thought with some love and affection he would be the perfect family pet.
"But as Chan got older he only got more aggressive - often leaving us with bites and scratches."
After her hospital admission in April 2018, Shirley's devastated family were told to 'expect the worst' by doctors who formally identified the cat scratch as the cause of her illness.
Image by: Shirley Hair
Image by: Shirley Hair
Image by: Jake McPherson
She was placed in an induced coma on 11th April until 15th when she began to come around.
The worried relatives, including her husband of 32 years, Bob, decided to keep a diary of her progress on the advice of intensive care nurses.
In one particularly poignant entry on 19th April, her daughter Rosie, 34, care home manager, from Bristol wrote: ''Mum you've had a difficult night your heart stopped beating but then restarted - we are all so worried.
''We know you are strong but also tired, we are willing your recovery. If love could fix you, you'd be home already.''
In another husband Bob writes: ''It's Friday , my brown eyed girl, and after a soggy chilly start the sun is beating down.We miss you at home. When I awake in the dark of night I feel you around and then you are gone and I realise what has been happening.''
After a series of procedures, Shirley continued to deteriorate and she suffered two heart attacks after another operation to remove the infection on Wednesday 18th April 2018.
Medics were then forced to sedate and ventilate her in order to stabilise her condition.
She was kept in ICU for almost a month before she began to show signs of improvement.
Shirley explained: ''After coming out of the coma I was severely paranoid due to the combination of infection and medication. I became convinced that I was responsible for the whole thing.
''My son, James, told me that the cat did it but I didn't believe him, I thought they were all covering for me. It was so distressing.
''On top of that I'd been having dreadful nightmares - I was convinced I was in a video game, running from monsters. It was absolutely horrific.''
To combat Shirley's anxiety her loving family, including children, Zoe, 46, Jessica, 40, James, 38, and Rosie, 34, kept her calm by spending hours by her bedside.
Desperate to help her relax they tried talking and playing relaxing music, as the agitation was making her heart rate dangerously high.
Once she was well enough, doctors performed a skin graft from the top of her leg in order to cover the 'gaping wound' on her arm - which was so deep her tendons were exposed.
A vac pump - a machine which decreases air pressure on the wound - was fitted in order to help the skin tissue grow and she was given multiple physiotherapy sessions to regain movement.
After over eight operations and over two months in hospital the plucky gran is now home and well- with her hand 'almost as good as it was'.
She said: ''I can't thank my family and the NHS enough for getting me back to almost full health.
''It's really been quite an ordeal, but they've all supported me 100% every single step of the way.
''My memory isn't as good as it was, I can be quite absent minded nowadays and I'm definitely not as sharp as I was before I got ill. But I'm here and that's all that matters.
''I went back to visit the amazing nurses in ICU and they were speechless to see me looking so well.
''They said to me 'not everyone comes out of here as perky as you Shirley' and that's when it really hit home how lucky I am to be alive. Some people must not come out at all.
''I've even read through all the diary entries my family wrote, I can't get through them without weeping. The depth of love they have for me is just staggering.
''I feel like the luckiest woman alive! After all that happened I decided I really couldn't face Chan the cat anymore so my daughter Zoe volunteered to have him.
''She popped him in a basket and took him home to Wales on the train. She loves animals and isn't really fazed by much at all.
''Our lovely golden Labrador Finn is glad to see the back of Chan too, after having his ears bitten constantly, he can relax now.''
TIMELINE:
April 8th - Cat scratched her
April 11th- Admitted to hospital, placed in induced coma
April 12th- diagnosed with necrosis/sepsis etc had emergency op to remove infection
April 15th- began waking from coma
April 18th- Operation to remove infection and had two cardiac arrests, sedated again
April 20th- woke from being sedated
April 26th- first skin graft on her hand
May 2nd- transferred to plastic surgery ward
May 3rd- realised skin graft hadn't taken
May 7th - another unsuccessful attempt made to skin graft
May 18th- SENT HOME
May 29th- outpatient, back at the hospital for a vac pump to be fitted, no attempt at skin graft
July 21st- 3rd skin graft attempted, was successful!
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Poppy seller turns mobility scooter into a military tank ahead of Remembrance Sunday
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
A patriotic poppy seller has transformed his mobility scooter into a TANK ahead of Remembrance Sunday - complete with tracks, a gun and mini rockets.
Eddie Wadsworth, 85, spent "many hours" creating his own version of an armoured vehicle out of disused cardboard boxes and other recycled materials.
The grandfather-of-two has even added military music to the tank as he drives around his home town raising funds for the Royal British Legion.
Eddie also painted the wooden-framed vehicle in camouflage green and brown and it comes complete with a turret and working doors, costing just £7 in total to make.
Eddie, of Swadlincote, Derbys., said: “The reaction to my tank has been incredible.
“I was a bit reluctant at first to go out in it. I was a bit unsure of the reaction I would get but people have really liked it, which has been brilliant.
“I have been surprised by the number of young people who are interested and have bought poppies and got involved.
"I didn't think the younger people were still following it. I'm pleased its been able to help people take an interest in Remembrance Sunday."
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
His father, John, was killed in action during World War Two in 1944. He lost his life aged 34 at the Battle of Anzio, where there were more than 40,000 Allied casualties.
He added: “I can vaguely remember my Dad. I never had a lot of contact with him because he had been in the army from 1939 to 1944. I was only a toddler when he left.
“I'm really repaying the Royal British Legion in the best ways I can. I remember my mother was in a right state with her losing her husband that young.
“The Legion used to the look after the children whose fathers had been killed and I think probably also any others that were in the services, not just the orphans.
“Every year at Christmas there used to be a big party and trips out to the seaside and stuff like that. I think there is a bit of that missing now in the services.”
Eddie has been volunteering with the charity for the last seven years and says he always tries to do something different for them each year. .
He added: “Four or five years ago I made quite a big memorial with all the names of the local Swadlincote people who had lost their lives in the World Wars.
“They have got various plaques up in the library that I have made over the years. I've got stuff all the over the place to be honest.
“I don't know what gave me the idea for the tank though. The thing is, I'm always making something and it's just one of those things that has developed.
“Now it's done I hope it commemorates my father’s death and all the others who died in wars.
“I was a carpenter until I retired, then I moved into my flat. Obviously, I can't use woodworking tools in a flat, such as saws and drills.
“My neighbours wouldn't care for it and they don't much like me playing my trumpet now anyway.”
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
The tank is made out of recycled cardboard boxes, which Mr Wardsworth got from local shop Forever Mobility which is in Swadlincote town centre.
Eddie has also managing to waterproof the cardboard for the wet winter months ahead by covering it in plastic.
He said: “I started making things with cardboard simply because it is a good substitute material for wood.
“I covered it with the clear sticky back plastic to try and waterproof it. It was all recyclable stuff anyway.
“That plastic covering was the only cost, so it only cost me £7 altogether. To be quite honest, that's where the skill is in the whole project.
“You have to get the wrinkles out when applying it and make sure it is even all the way around. I made a good job of that because everyone I speak to thinks it is metal.
“I was thinking this morning, what could I do with it when I have finished this? What could I do next? I’ve always got to be doing something.
“It is a flat pack, basically. It all breaks down to small pieces. I call it my Ikea Tank.
“Forever Mobility have been good enough to store it for me because I can't store it here in my flat.
“I got all the cardboard from the shop because they have a lot of scooters coming from abroad and the cardboard is really good quality."
Lee Sherratt, 36, owner of Forever Mobility, said the tank is ‘absolutely marvellous’ and many hours have gone into its creation.
He added: “Eddie has spent so much time on it. We have saved him good bits of cardboard.
"He told us he has spent hours and hours on it, but he is so modest.
“The attention to detail is just brilliant, even the doors open. He’s thought of everything right down to how to actually be able to fix it onto the buggy.
"‘He takes it so seriously, even down to wearing a helmet."
Mr Wadsworth, who lost his wife Shirley in 2011, would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this year.
He will be out visiting shops and businesses ahead of Remembrance Sunday, hoping to raise as much money as he can for the Royal British Legion.
The Poppy Appeal has 40,000 volunteer collectors and sees more than 40 million paper poppies distributed each year.
Video by: Ashley Moran
THEY SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD! - Neighbours want no more than five "shrieking" children allowed in nursery playground
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
A nursery is locked in a planning battle with its neighbours - who want no more than five "shrieking" children allowed in the playground.
Winton House Day Nursery, in a leafy suburb of Cheltenham, Glos., has been the subject of stringent operating restrictions since it opened several years ago.
Following repeated complaints from a single neighbour, planners stipulated that no more than five children could play outside at any one time.
The windows must also remain shut at all times to avoid disturbing locals in the residential neighbourhood.
But nursery bosses say the restrictions have become impractical and have applied to have them relaxed to allow 12 children in the playground.
They have also requested permission to open nine windows in the six-room baby unit.
However three neighbours have submitted written objections to Cheltenham Borough Council, saying noisy play ruins the enjoyment of their gardens.
One complainant wrote: “Unfortunately when we sit in the garden our pleasure is greatly diminished by the noise of shrieking children.
“We appreciate that there is a need for nurseries but surely a business such as this would be better sited in an area of family homes.
“We feel that it is rather unfair that we cannot enjoy peace and quiet in our own garden.”
The property in Warden Hill Road was converted from a residential property into a nursery for 20 children aged from birth to five years in 2000.
It has a 300 square metre garden which is surrounded by laurel hedging and a cluster of mature trees, beyond which are neighbouring bungalows.
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
The business has now swelled to accommodate 40 children and says the restrictions are unfair on the children and staff.
The application submitted by the nursery says: "The children who attend Winton Day Nursery are, by virtue of their age and sociability, not excessively loud.
“Any potential noise source, ie babies crying, is not sustained, as it is the job of a nursery to retain a peaceful environment.
“Furthermore, by virtue of their age, the babies have scheduled nap times during the nursery’s opening hours.”
But neighbours fear more children in the playground will result in more noise disturbing their peace.
One objector pointed out that many people living in the bungalows surrounding the nursery are retired and spend a lot of time at home and in their gardens.
Another complainant who has lived on the street for 19 years said that whilst they have accepted the current level of noise, the idea of it getting louder was distressing.
The complainant wrote: "The proposal to more than double the number of children in the garden does however worry us.
“It must be that noise levels will increase substantially and we cannot see that it would possible or desirable to ask carers to quieten their children in any way.”
The letter also included: "The words quoted from the application, put in simple lay terms, are saying that expansion equals more children, equals more noise, equals the need to reduce residential amenity to accommodate the increased noise.
“The logic is one-sided and is unreasonable. The currently acceptable situation will deteriorate.
“Clearly 12 children will make far more noise than five."
However, a neighbour who lives directly next door to the nursery where they run their own business, wrote in support of the nursery's application.
The resident wrote: "Throughout the summer I have the windows open and so am as directly impacted by noise from the nursery and their gardens as anyone could be.
“The noise in the day from the garden is very light, there is a background sound of children playing which is nice and barely noticeable.
“This never disturbs me working in the office and I can't recall a single time when I have been inconvenienced or annoyed by the noise.”
A decision on the application is expected to be made next week.
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
British man claims new record for running a marathon in every nation on earth in 22 months
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A British endurance athlete has set a new world record after running 196 marathons in every nation on earth in just 22 months.
Ultra runner Nick Butter, 30, quit his banking job and embarked on his solo expedition in January 2018 after being inspired by a friend with terminal cancer.
He has since covered 5,130 miles in organised events across seven continents, overcoming the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert and bitter cold of Antarctica.
Nick has averaged three marathons in three new countries every week for the last 96 weeks - burning an estimated 1.5 million calories in 5.1 million steps.
During the 675-day adventure he has been hit by a car, bitten by a dog, broken his elbow and even been shot at.
Today he completed the final event - the Authentic Marathon in Athens, Greece - making him the first man in history to complete the feat of running a marathon in every nation.
He hopes to raise a total of £250,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Nick, of Dorset, said: "It's been the most incredible experience, I've seen things you wouldn't even imagine as I've run across the world.
"It took two years to plan which was really daunting, sorting out all the logistics and organising the flights and everything.
"Over the past 18 months, I've been through 10 passports and something like 120 Visas, I've lived in airports and hotel rooms, it's just been a total whirlwind.
"It's been such an eyeopening adventure.
"I thought the sights would be the best part of this experience but it's actually been the people - I've got around 2,000 new contacts in my phone from people I've met across the world.
"Sure, the views I've seen have been breathtaking - but it's the little kids running next to me wanting to hold my hand in some country I've never heard of before in Africa that has been the most amazing bit for me.
"It's gone so fast, yet at the same time feels like I've been doing it forever, it's a weird reality and I can't believe I'm at the finish line."
Nick has always been a keen runner, taking part in marathons across the globe, but his world changed in 2016 when he met fellow runner Kevin Webber during the Marathon Des Sables in Morocco.
He was immediately drawn towards Kevin's positive attitude and bubbly personality, but as he got to know him over the gruelling five-day event, Kevin dropped the bombshell that he had terminal cancer.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and told he had two years to live, Kevin had set off running marathons across the world to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Nick said: "I couldn't believe that this guy, who always seemed so happy and full of life, had just told me he had terminal cancer.
"I was shocked, and when Kevin told me 'Don't wait for the diagnosis' it really struck a chord with me and I just knew I had to do something to raise money for the charity.
"Kevin changed my life that day and in the months that followed, I quit my job at the bank and swapped my suit for running shorts forever.
"People wait so long to live their dreams tomorrow, but tomorrow might not come, and Kevin's words motivated me to get out there, see the world and do what I'm really passionate about whilst raising money for charity.
"I took my camera along on my journey as I'm a keen photographer as well, and I've got photos and souvenirs from across the globe - it's been incredible."
Nick raised an initial £46,000 in donations to cover his costs and started his adventure running in -25 degrees Celsius in snowy Toronto, Canada in January 2018.
During his travels he carried everything he needed to survive, camping wild or bedding down with supporters.
He took 201 flights covering 13,500 miles between countries, along with 45 train journeys, 15 buses and 280 taxis.
Since setting off he has raised a further £63,000 for Prostate Cancer UK on his Just Giving page as well as about £20,000 in external donations.
With two books planned to be released in 2020 and a 1,000 day running expedition in the pipeline for 2021, Nick has set himself up for a busy return to his home in Dorset.
Set to run the circumference of Iceland in July 2020, he's not hanging up his running shoes just yet and is embarking on a speaking tour to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Nick said: "I'm looking forward to going out to schools and sharing my experience with others to hopefully inspire them to pursue what their passionate about.
"I've learnt so much about other countries and cultures throughout my journey, and the idea of teaching kids about things like a Nepalese prayer wheel is just amazing to me.
"The average human lives for 29,747 days, and if you're British, you spend about 9 years watching television, so it's interesting to get people thinking about how much time you waste not doing something you're truly passionate about.
"You don't know when you're time is going to run out, so get out there and chase your dreams today - as Kevin said, don't wait for the diagnosis."
Nick is continuing to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and has a Just Giving page set up to help him reach his £250,000 target.
Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/runningtheworld
A man threatened his wife in a row over a large electricity bill - run up by his girlfriend who lives in a caravan on their farm, a court heard
Image by: Deborah Gingell
A man threatened his wife in a row over a large electricity bill - run up by his girlfriend who lives in a caravan on their farm, a court heard.
Arthur Grinter, 75, would visit Emma Ismay for ''kissing and cuddling'' in the mobile home every night after dinner - then go back to the house and family to watch TV.
During a row he complained the farmhouse's energy statement had reached hundreds of pounds - pointing the finger squarely at his wife and daughter.
But when his spouse Barbara pointed out the new woman was not contributing he flipped - raising a bread knife above his head.
He was found guilty of assault at Yeovil Magistrates Court and was given a restraining order banning him from the farmhouse.
It means Grinter, of South Petherton, Somerset, must now live permanently in the caravan with his lover.
Barbara told the court: ''I found out about a week later that they had been having an affair and we separated but still lived together at that point.
"On that day he came back to the house and was moaning that me and our daughter had a light on and saying that he had a big electric bill.
"He then helped me wash the dishes and was pushing my stomach up against the sink with his body and was still moaning about the electricity.
"I told him why should I have to pay for it when his girlfriend is not paying anything at all while staying on our land.
"He then turned violently and out of the corner of my eye I saw a bread knife and he said to me 'I’ve f***ing had enough of you lot'.'''
The court was told Barbara believes her husband was having an affair.
But he told the court they were “just good friends and did a bit of kissing and cuddling”.
He said: “I go to her caravan every evening because the atmosphere was better there than at home.
“I would come home after work, make a cup of tea and then go and see Emma before coming back to the house and putting my feet up to watch TV.”
He said: “I noticed the fan on and seven electric light bulbs and asked them why all this electricity was being burnt. It was ridiculous.''
He shouted "I've f***ing had enough of you lot" and advanced across the kitchen - before his daughter Natalie intervened and knocked the blade from his hand.
Barbara said: ''I could feel he was starting to get agitated and I then saw the knife in his hand and my daughter came rushing across and got it out of his hand and it fell to the floor.
"My daughter managed to get him off me and I picked up the knife and put it in the sink and I then picked up a saucepan but put it on the hob and didn’t touch anyone with it."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Deborah Gingell
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
The defendant’s daughter also gave evidence and said that she became aware of her father’s relationship with Miss Ismay in April this year.
On the day in question she said her father had been complaining about the electric bill.
She said: “When he picked up the knife he rose it above his head and I then knocked it out of his hand as I was worried abut what he was going to do.
“I was pushing him away and had one hand on his chest and another on his face and just pushed him out of the way and away from my mum.”
She denied an allegation from Grinter that she had punched him during the altercation.
When the defendant was interviewed by police he said there had been “a bit of a fight” and his daughter had been “a bit of a b*gger” for turning up the fans and putting the lights on.
Giving evidence, Grinter said he came over to the farmhouse for his tea, watched some TV and helped his wife wash the dishes.
He said that when he complained about the electric bill his wife called him a “tight c***” and said that Miss Ismay didn’t pay anything towards the bills.
He said he had not tried to push his wife against the sink but had just gently squeezed past her as he was drying the dishes and also denied picking up a knife.
He then said his daughter came and attacked him, giving him a punch, and he had no idea why.
He said his wife then picked up a saucepan and threatened to hit him over the head with it.
“She’s got a filthy temper and a filthy mouth to go with it, although she never actually hit me with the saucepan,” he said.
Miss Ismay also took to the stand briefly where Grinter asked if they were lovers and she replied “no”.
The defendant then became emotional and tearful and could not bring himself to answer any more questions.
Chair of the magistrates, Beverly Higgs, said that evidence provided by Mrs Grinter during the trial had been “calm, credible and consistent.”
Her daughter corroborated the sequence of events and both described an argument and said that Mr Grinter had shoved his wife and had picked up a knife.
They told the defendant his evidence had been “muddled and vague” and had seen no evidence of any injuries to him.
She said: “We are sure that the evidence provided by the Crown Prosecution Service was the more plausible and credible account and we therefore find you guilty of common assault.”
A victim impact statement made by the victim outlined that she was not well and she was scared this stress would affect her health further.
She said: "He has changed since Emma moved on the farm and am scared for me and my daughter’s safety.
"His actions have had a very big impact and I feel like I’ve been made a prisoner in my own home as they release their dog which is vicious and it stops me walking around the house and garden.
"I feel I am at my wits' end and have found it all too much and just want everything to stop and want to get on with my life."
The magistrates fined Grinter £300 and ordered him to pay £500 towards the costs of the trial and a £32 victim surcharge.
They also made a 12 month restraining order during which time he must not contact his wife or daughter directly or indirectly except through solicitors to sort out property matters and must not enter the farmhouse at Parkway Farm in South Petherton.
A dad who bought an eight inch snake has seen it grow into the world's biggest ever Burmese python measuring over 18FT - and still keeps it in his terrace home
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
A dad who bought an eight inch snake has seen it grow into the world's biggest ever Burmese python measuring over 18FT - and still keeps it in his three bed semi.
Marcus Hobbs, 31, purchased Hexxie from a pet shop eight years ago - and watched it become a 110kg (17 stone) whopper.
He feeds the massive snake rabbits, stillborn deer, calves, goats and pigs supplied by local farmers - and it's still growing.
The animal is expensive to keep and could be lethal if mishandled - squeezing a human to death in minutes and swallowing them whole.
But IT worker Marcus is confident Hexxie will never strike - although doesn't handle her when the his sons, aged four and one, are nearby.
The whopping reptile eats and produces a chalky poo once a month - large enough to fill a bin bag.
Experts say the biggest ever Burmese python was 18ft 8ins but Marcus think Hexxie is even bigger.
He says when he last measured his pet of eight years she was over 18ft - and has grown a lot since then.
But he's reluctant to anaesthetise her for the official measurement until she’s stopped growing.
Marcus, of Tewkesbury, Glos., said: “I knew she would be big but she has shocked everybody by how much she has grown.
"I am very passionate about snakes and I try to help people understand them.
"I think people are so scared of them because they think they are going to kill them but if people come around I can talk to them all day long about snakes to reassure them.
“[But] I would not get her out with the boys around. I would only do it while they were in bed or another room.
“I don’t think she’d be dangerous towards them but you have to use your common sense and I’m a responsible pet owner."
He added: "I’m friendly with a reptile specialist and when I first got in contact with him to try and get some piglets for food he said: ‘What have you got?’.
"When I sent him a picture he said she was the biggest Burmese python he had ever seen, and he's seen them in the wild.
“He said: 'You have got to measure her for the world record’. I measured her and she wasn’t quite there yet but she’s grown a lot since then.
"She could be there now. There is a possibility she’s already a record breaker but finding out is not that easy."
Hexxie lives alongside another smaller snake, Monty, and the family dog Shiloh, a Husky.
Marcus said both snakes have gone for him before - although not for a while.
He added that the nearest Hexxie has come to attacking him was when he had to apply iodene to a skin infection.
He said: "She went for me. Not properly - more of a back off, get away type of thing. She’s nipped but she’s never latched on.
"Her mouth is full of of hundreds of pin shaped teeth like fish hooks. If she gets hold of you, you cannot pull your hand out because all the teeth are going the wrong way.
"You would have to push your hand back into her mouth to unhook her teeth. If you pulled you would be pulling her teeth further into your skin."
Marcus said Hexxie is laid back because she has grown used to being touched by humans over the years.
He said: "I handled her every day and a lot of people will not do that.
"I know people who have had snake from small and because it struck them a couple of times they have not done it again. Now they will never be able to handle that snake.
"You can’t have a snake that big that’s trying to bite you because it would mean you would not be able to go near her. Especially as she’s in a confined space.
"You would not be able to anywhere near that tank without her trying to get you.
"You have to be regimented because the only way to stop her biting you is handle her every day when she is young until she gets used to it."
Marcus needs to enlist the help of other people if he needs to move Hexxie whole but added that he knows how to peel her off, tail first if she starts to coil around him.
He cannot say for certain he’d have the strength to do so but explains that she would let out a loud hissing noise followed by a foul smell as a warning to leave well alone if she was stressed or unhappy.
He added: "I would not let it get to that stage."
Under pet laws there is no requirement for a licence to keep non-poisonous snakes and Marcus is sceptical of tales of much smaller Burmese Pythons escaping or killing.
A ten-foot one has been blamed for the death of a zoo keeper in Caracas, Venezuela previously.
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
Marcus said: "A license would cost a lot of money and would not make any difference to people who are stupid or do not have any common sense.
"You couldn’t lose Hexxie. If I opened that tank door I don’t think she would even come out. She’s happy there, that’s her place.
"She’s nice and warm and doesn't want for much. Their brains are not like dogs. They don’t need excitement, they don’t suffer from boredom.
"That’s why they make such good pets. People think it’s cruel to keep them in the tank all time but they do not need or want to go far.
"If go to zoo they will have a bigger enclosure but you will not be able to see them because they will be curled up under a log.
''They don’t want to stretch out and they don’t like open spaces.
"They have simple brains. They want food water and heat. If they have all that they are happy."
Marcus paid £2,000 for the vivarium, £30 for each of the bulbs and the heating has to be constantly on full blast.
There’s also vet bills to consider and the stress of where to get food from.
Marcus caused stir when he put an appeal out on Facebook asking for farmers to donate any rabbits going to waste as food for Hexxie who can eat at least half a dozen at one sitting.
Marcus said: "Usually I have lab rabbits which are hard to get hold off and expensive but I know farmers shoot them as pests and a lot of times they get thrown away.
"People say they can’t believe I would ask such a thing but I wonder how many of them have cats or dogs. You don’t feed them carrots and broccoli, do you?
"I have never killed an animal and would never want to, but these things I have, they eat animals."
A local pet shop owner now puts him touch with farmers who can help.
Marcus had his first snake for his 13th birthday and believes it's down to watching Steve Irwin on the television.
He had royal python Monty for his 16th birthday and around a year later came home with George, a 7ft boa constrictor which later died, without telling his parents.
He said: “My family have always been into wildlife so I was always destined to get some sort of animal.
“But it’s snakes that just fascinate me. I can watch them all day long.
"When I was living on my own, years ago before I had children, if there was a power cut, I would put them in the bed with me to keep them warm.
"I would wake up in the morning and they would still be there."
Marcus met partner Amy, 31, while they both worked at a hotel in Cheltenham, Glos.
They eventually hooked up at a leaving do - and she quickly realised that it would be a case of "love me love my serpent".
She said: “I knew before we got together. We worked together five or six years before then and he always had that reputation.
“I was well aware they were part of his life...whether I liked it or not.”
Animal-lover Amy added that she was okay with reptiles, but said: "I’m more your fluffy, cute, type of animal person.”
Now the she understands her Marcus' emotional attachment to his slithering pets her main issued is how much household space they take up.
She said: “They carry a lot of stigma but they do grow on you.
"People don’t associate them with pets so they find it hard to make the comparison but you see them every day and get attached.
“If we didn’t have them I would miss them but I wouldn’t miss the space they take up.
"When we had our first it wasn’t too bad because we had a three-bedroomed, but when the second one came along we needed that third bedroom.
“Either the snakes went or we compromised the room downstairs. The snakes won and now I just accept that they are in our living room.”
The couple have bought their current house and are confident their neighbours realise they are responsible pet owners.
Marcus said: "We have not had a problem. If you think Hexxie's going to get out, get into your house, get into your bedroom and eat you while you sleep, then I think your imagination’s too strong.
"If door is closed there’s nowhere for her to go and she would not go upstairs. She just wouldn’t. It would not be worth her while. She wouldn’t need to, there’s no reason.
"If you knew anything about reptiles you would have a very different opinion.
"I would not lock a dog in cage. A dog needs exercise, a dog needs companionship, a dog needs its brain to be worked. A snake’s brain is not like that at all.”
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
Marcus said he spends about £12 to £15 every four to six weeks on food but is given much of it for free.
He said: "I get a lot of stillborn lambs and deers. It's a couple of quid for rabbits."
Marcus said he feeds the animals to Hexxie whole - "guts and everything".
He said: "I have a bit of fun with it. I dangle it in front of her and pull it back so she thinks it's trying to get away.
''She eats six or seven animals in one sitting which lasts for about a month."
The Burmese python is housed in a six foot by three foot by three foot wooden tank with a glass front. in his living room not far from the family television.
Marcus said he spends "five minutes a day" taking care of the serpent.
He added: "It doesn't take much looking after. As long as they have got food and heat they are fine. They're extremely easy [pets]."
When asked what he would say to people who might criticise him for keeping a potentially lethal snake in the same house as his kids, he said: "She's in a locked vivarium with reinforced glass. It's very hard for her to go anywhere. She's always out only when they are out of the room.
"She wouldn't see the children as something to eat. She wouldn't like the smell. She doesn't associate the smell of humans to food. If she did she wouldn't be safe to keep."
Marcus added that he was "fully prepared" for the snake to grow to the size it has.
He said: "I've had reptiles for years. I wouldn't buy not knowing."
Image by: TM Gloucestershire Live
Charles Thompson, snake expert and owner of a reptile shop in Sheffield, South Yorks., said: "If they [Burmese pythons] are handled regularly they can be puppy dog tame - but that isn't to say there's no risk.
"I have no issues with people keeping giant snakes as long as they are geared up and have the correct equipment. It's all that zoos are doing. Keeping the glass locked is common sense.
"But to get it to 18-foot he would have had to cosset, love and adore that snake. He's obviously put a lot of time into it. There's no more danger than having a family dog. They [snakes] just have a specific set of problems.
"He could even let the children in the room - although I'm not saying they should handle it."
When asked about the record-breaking claims, Mr Thompson said such matters were difficult to answer conclusively.
He said: "It's one of them where somebody would have to raise their own head above the parapet and say otherwise."
Video by: TM Gloucestershire Live
THE LAUGH JEDI – This is the adorable moment that the tiniest little Star Wars fan couldn’t contain his happiness at meeting his hero, Chewbacca in person.
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
The LAUGH Jedi – This is the adorable moment that the tiniest little Star Wars fan couldn’t contain his happiness at meeting his hero, Chewbacca in person.
The footage shows an 8-month-old babies’ priceless reaction as he giggles his head off after he meets a Disney World character actor dressed as everyone’s favourite Millennium Falcon Co-pilot, Chewbacca.
“Lil Chewie” the 8-month-old baby boy was visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World Resort, Florida with his grandparents Rachel and Eric Herrholz.
The lifelong force fanatics had taken their grandson to the ‘Star Wars launch bay’ section of the tour when the wholesome events were captured on film.
The actor dressed as Chewie begins investigating the baby completely in character, gently poking at him and tickling his belly.
The tickling and Wookie roar sound effects prompt ‘Lil Chewy’ to let out giggles and squeaks of the purest kind of joy.
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
The video has since been viewed more than 2 million times on Rachel’s Facebook page.
Rachel said: “This was Lil Chewie’s first visit with Chewbacca. We dressed him in a Chewbacca outfit, and Eric wore a Han Solo shirt.”
“We were not expecting him to react the way he did. Chewbacca came over to get us.”
“Next thing I know I heard him Laughing. I looked up and he was belly laughing.
Chewbacca was just as excited. I started to record. I was amazed and I wished his Mom and Dad were with us.”
“I am in awe with the reaction to the video. We originally shared it so friends and family can see it. Last Sunday all of a sudden, it took off.”
“I am blessed, that my grandson can make people smile and bring them happiness in this world we live in.”
Video by: Rachel Herrholz
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - A dog walker was left stunned after seeing this massive RHEA in a forest already known as the capital of Britain's booming wild boar population
Image by: Jason Burford
A dog walker was left stunned after seeing this massive RHEA bird - in a forest already known as the capital of Britain's booming wild boar population.
Shocked Jason Burford was out walking his dog Molly in the Forest of Dean when he stumbled upon the huge 6ft avian.
The 48-year-old was stopped in his tracks by the sight of the bird rounding a corner.
He then advanced towards creature and filmed it on his phone before it eventually ran off into the distance.
An animal expert has confirmed it is likely the bird escaped from a local collection.
Jason has already seen wild boar in the area which is currently one of the centres of the UK's booming population.
Boars there have attacked animals, people, dug up gardens and playing fields and have even learned when bin day is so they can rummage in them for food.
British woodlands are increasingly populated with exotics species - including parrots, wallabies and big cats.
Jason, who keeps chickens and bantams at home, said: "I hadn't been there for years but I went on a whim as I used to live there.
"I just rounded the corner and there it was. I'm used to it though, living in the forest. I wasn't worried.
"The dog is good around other animals. But, for someone else, it could have been a shock.
"It could have done an untrained dog some damage. Some don't even come back to their owners in the garden.
"It's a funny story but it could have been nasty. I was just trying to get it off the track."
Image by: Jason Burford
Image by: Jason Burford
Retired Jason, from Cinderford, Glos., said the bird was almost six feet tall from where he was standing - making for an imposing sight.
He added: "I stopped videoing but you want to see it with its feathers fully stretched out!"
Mr Burford claims that the bird escaped from a nearby field where some animals had been abandoned.
He said: "I've since discovered where it came from. It's been reported to the RSPCA."
Rheas are not the only large animals to be running free in the Forest of Dean.
The area has also suffered problems with aggressive wild boars in recent years - something Mr Burford has experienced firsthand.
He said: "I have had them run at me and chase the dog. You don't want that happening. They really frighten you.
"Once the dog ran off into the bushes and a huge boar suddenly appeared. Well the dog came straight at me - so the boar came too!
"I'd watched a film about bears the night before and it said what you have to do is make yourself big and scream 'AAAARGH' so I thought I'd do that.
"The boar just stopped in its tracks and left! They're a pain in the a**."
A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds confirmed the bird was a rhea yesterday (Tues).
She added that is had likely escaped from a local collection.
Jason spotted the bird on November 3 in the area of Drybrook, Glos. Molly is a cross between a Border Collie and a Labrador.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
