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.
HERO DAD - A dad who died after a bleed on the brain has been dubbed a hero after he saved the lives of FIVE people by donating his organs
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
A dad who died after a bleed on the brain has been dubbed a hero after he saved the lives of FIVE people by donating his organs.
Jonathan Ashdown, 27, donated his heart, pancreas, kidney and his liver - after it was split in two - following his death.
The dad-of-three suffered from a tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which caused a bleed on the brain.
He was diagnosed just five days after the birth of daughter Willow, and despite two brain operations died just two months later.
Devastated wife Gemma, from Tonbridge, Kent, made the brave decision to donate his organs to help others.
She has now been told in a moving letter from the Blood and Transplant Service how his organs saved the lives of four men and a young boy.
Full time mum Gemma said: "We are absolutely heartbroken at Jono's death.
"He was so young and had so much to live for. It's hard to imagine how we're going to go on without him, but it brings us so much comfort to know how many people he's gone on to save.
"When I saw the letter from the donation organisation it filled me with pride.
"I'm so happy Jono has such an incredible legacy - as such an amazing dad, I'm especially thrilled about the fact that he helped a little boy."
Tree surgeon Jono - dad to Emily-Jasmine, eight, Oscar-John, 17 months, and Willow, 14 weeks - started getting splitting headaches in July.
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
He sought the advice of his doctor and went for a scan at Tunbridge Wells Hospital that same month.
Medics revealed he was suffering from a bleed on the brain which had been caused by a tangle of poorly formed blood vessels known as arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
He was diagnosed on July 14th – just five days after the birth of baby Willow.
The former Tonbridge Juddian's rugby player had just celebrated his second wedding anniversary with his wife, Gemma.
Gemma said: "He had so much to live for.
"He was such a good dad - and so hands on with our newborn.
"We were looking forward to being back at home, as the family that we had always imagined, with our three lovely kids."
In the two months after his diagnosis, Jono had two serious brain operations to try and stop the bleed.
But the operations weren't a success, and he passed away on September 2.
Jono had discussed the possibility of donating his organs with Gemma - who initially wasn't sure if it was a good idea.
But after visiting a chapel with Jono’s father and discussing donation, Gemma went outside for some air and bumped into a group of people promoting organ donation.
She felt it was a sign and agreed.
Gemma said: "The only part of Jono that I didn’t want to donate were his beautiful, bright blue eyes.
"I saw a child in hospital once who had scolded himself and needed a skin graft. This really made me think.
"I don’t think anybody should have to suffer without the organs they need and my Jono has helped with that."
She received a letter from the NHS on 14 October saying a kidney and his pancreas went to a man in his 40s who had been waiting for three years.
Another kidney went to a man in his 50s waiting for a decade, and his liver was split between a young boy and a gent in his 50s.
The "very precious and especially rare gift" of his heart went to a man in his 60s.
His family also donated his soft tissues, yet to be donated, and currently being stored for future patients.
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Image by: Gemma Ashdown
Gemma shared the letter on October 14 on Facebook - on what would have been Jono's 28th birthday, and it went viral, attracting 65,000 shares.
Gemma said: "He was truly amazing.
"Our lives are never going to be the same. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this has all been a nightmare.
"The children and I have gone away for a little holiday. I need to think and get things sorted out.
"But I want to give Jono the recognition he deserves.
"It's devastating that he won't be there to watch our children grow up.
"Mine and my children's lives have been turned upside down, but one thing I have learned from this is to live every day like it's your last.
"Cherish what you have got, never go to sleep on an argument.
"Cuddle your loved ones and tell them that you love them.
"You don't always need money, go out and jump in puddles with the children because things can change in the blink of an eye. I should know."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Mischievous puppy sparks fire warning after turning on a microwave
Image by: Josh Hill
A pet owner today described how his mischievous puppy Bear sparked a fire scare after accidentally turning on a microwave cooker while he was out.
Josh Hill, 25, only discovered his pups antics when he checked a camera feed on his phone during work.
To his horror he saw his kitchen full of smoke and he rushed home to see if his six-month-old husky mastiff puppy was okay.
He arrived home to find a guilty-looking Bear and a room full of smoke pouring in from the kitchen.
To his astonishment, he realised cheeky Bear had managed to switch on a microwave which was on a kitchen worktop.
A packet of bread rolls which were left in the microwave began to burn causing plumes of thick smoke to billow out of the appliance.
Josh, who works in logistics, said: "He must have just jumped up and it has a knob on the microwave which he must have just brushed past and set off.
"I couldn't believe it.
"I bought a cheap camera on Amazon because Bear has the run of the whole of downstairs and I just like to keep an eye on him. We usually take him with us wherever we go but he was left for a few hours yesterday.
"I thought I'll check the camera before I leave and I saw some smoke in the corner so I rushed home and called the fire brigade.
"I walked in and saw smoke coming out of the kitchen. As soon as I came in Bear ran over to me with his ears down and head down.
"I grabbed him and put him in the garden, shut the back door, opened the windows and waited outside the front for the fire brigade."
Image by: Josh Hill
Image by: Josh Hill
With Bear safely away from the smoke, Josh waited for the fire brigade and thought about how he'd tell them about his peculiar scenario.
Josh from Essex said: "I didn't care about the house I just wanted to get him out of there. It wasn't as serious as it first looked, I was just happy that Bear was okay.
"I had put some bread buns in the microwave just to put them off the surface away from Bear and just forgot about them. I usually switch everything off but obviously we don't live in a perfect world.
"I normally take Bear to work with me or I'll take him to my mum's or doggy day car but yesterday was only a short day."
On arrival the fire brigade ventilated the house opening all the windows and using a huge fan to clear out the smoke.
Thankfully Bear was not harmed in the incident and he was back to his usual self in no time.
Josh added: "I can't really explain him. He's got a lovely temperament, every Gsingle person who sees him loves him because he is so chilled out.
"He loves sleeping- we have to get him out for a walk because he's always so chill!"
'I'm A Celeb' star and aristocrat Lady C has been sacked from turning on the Christmas lights in Prince Charles' home town - after comments about Prince Andrew
Image by: Jon Mills
'I'm A Celeb' star and aristocrat Lady C has been sacked from turning on the Christmas lights in Prince Charles' home town - after comments about Prince Andrew.
Lady Colin Campbell had been set to appear at the switch-on in Tetbury, Glos., on December 6.
The posh market town is located right on the doorstep of Prince Charles' Highgrove House estate.
But the 70-year-old's appearance has now been pulled by furious organisers after she said 'soliciting sex was not the same as paedophilia'.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain yesterday (Tues), Lady C made the comment when discussing the scandal-hit Duke of York and disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
She said: "You all seem to have forgotten that Jeffrey Epstein, the offence with which he was charged and for which he was imprisoned, was for soliciting prostitution from minors.
"That is not the same thing as paedophilia."
A statement from Tetbury Town Council said: "The Town Council has been advised by the organisers of the Christmas Lights Switch on Event that, in view of the recent controversy, they have decided to ask the Mayor to turn on the Christmas Lights, with a pupil from St Mary’s Primary School."
The posh personality appeared on the fifteenth series of 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!', quitting the show on 'medical grounds'.
She is no stranger to controversy, having claimed earlier this year that the #MeToo movement has "prevented men from being men".
Highgrove House, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, is located just two miles from the centre of the town.
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
GREATEST SHOWMAN - This is the moment superstar Hugh Jackman went 'full Wolverine' for one of his biggest fans during a show
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
This is the moment Hugh Jackman delighted a front row fan during a concert by grabbing his phone and recording an epic Wolverine tribute.
Taylor Van Engen, 29, was standing in front of the stage during Hugh Jackman's singing and dancing tour and screamed in delight as the showman did a Wolverine pose.
His reaction caught the attention of the X-Men actor who walked over and went "full Wolverine" - growling and shouting into Taylor's phone.
Taylor can be seen jumping up and down uncontrollably before Jackman hugs him and says: "You've waited one-and-a-half hours for that moment!
"For that moment! I love you brother!"
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Image by: Taylor Van Engen
Postman Taylor said: "I lost sleep because I was too excited. For a week, I watched the videos we took and videos from other people's perspectives over and over again.
"During the intermission, I told my wife that I knew the Wolverine pose was coming - and I was gonna be ready for it.
"Hugh was going to do his tap routine, finish with the drums, then kick it out of the way.
"I was going to walk up to the security guard in front of us, stop there so they knew I wasn't going to be trouble - and Hugh did the rest.
"After the show, a few people shared their videos and pictures with us, and several others congratulated me.
"Even more would point me out and go - 'that's him, that's the guy!'
"I still like the fact that someone even referred to me as Wolverine to get my attention."
Taylor, from Rock Valley, Iowa, has taken his wife Sarah, a social worker, to see Jackman's show 'The Man. The Music. The Show.' twice this year.
He's has been a massive Hugh Jackman fan since he was 10, and has gone to the cinema to watch every X-Men film made.
His close encounter with the actor came when he went to see the show at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 13.
He said he wanted to get close enough to give Hugh a 'high five'.
As the lights went down, Hugh posed as mutant Wolverine from his X-Men movies - leading to cheers from the crowd.
Taylor went wild, shouting at the top of his lungs to attract Jackman's attention.
Taylor said: "One security guard came up to me and said that Hugh didn't do all of that for every show.
"He said it was special and really awesome. I totally agree."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Family run hardware store creates tear-jerking Christmas advert to rival big budget John Lewis' for under £100
Image by: Thomas Jones
A family-run hardware shop is giving John Lewis and M&S a run for their money after creating their own tear-jerking Christmas advert - for less than £100.
Hafod Hardware in Rhayader, Powys, Wales, has launched its own emotive commercial with many claiming it is already the best festive advert of 2019.
The independent store's DIY efforts have been met with rave reviews online and the video has notched up over 100,000 views in just a day.
The adorable two minute advert, which took just one day to film, features cute two-year-old Arthur Jones stealing the show.
Arthur's proud dad Tom Jones, whose family owns the shop, and film-maker friend Josh Holdaway incredibly filmed and edited the video for less than £100.
The heart-melting clip has already won over the hearts of customers in the small town and has also grabbed a nationwide audience since being uploaded online.
The video begins with little Arthur getting out of bed before donning his apron and carrying out a day's 'work' at the family-run hardware store.
Sweeping the floors, polishing the counter and replacing stocks on the shelves are all part of his duties as the busy boy is also on hand to deal with customers - all with a friendly smile and big thumbs up.
The commercial - which features four generations of Tom's family - has a special twist at the end when Arthur shutting up shop before carrying home a Christmas tree.
It features a cover of Alphaville's 1984 hit 'Forever Young', performed by American singer-songwriter Andrea von Kampen.
It is the third year in a row that Hafod Hardware, which opened in 1895 and is one of the oldest businesses in the town, have released a Christmas advert.
The previous commercials have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times to huge acclaim and Tom is again hoping to once again put a smile on people's faces.
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Image by: Thomas Jones
Tom, 30, said: “The aim is to make it the best Christmas advert of the year. The comments we've had so far have been amazing.
“Making this video with my son has been an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. They say never work with animals or children but he was a joy.
“He's such a bright boy and I would be lying if I said it was difficult to get him to perform on screen.
“He often comes to visit me in the shop, so weren't really asking him to do anything he hadn't done before.
“Whenever I watch the advert, it makes me well up with pride.
“Forever Young was the song I really wanted. I asked Andrea if she could do a cover and she was happy to do it.
“She recorded it in a studio and paid $100 for a sound engineer. I said we'd pay - so that's all the advert has cost us. She's got an incredible voice, it's perfect for the advert.
“All three adverts touch upon the significance of family at Christmas and so it was extremely important to me that Arthur had a role in each one.
“Showing the transition of him as a young baby in the first advert, through to the young man he is today, really does capture the essence of what we have been trying to create.
“We are told every year that Christmas is for kids, but there's nothing stopping us all from being big kids at Christmas.
“All the time, people are coming into the shop and asking us about our Christmas adverts. Even strangers pop in to say they've seen them.
“People are always asking whether we were doing another one this year. It's hard to say no, we feel obliged to do it.
“The locals love them. It's nice to think we can put a lot of smiles on people's faces in the community. It's always nice to do something for the town.
"People always compare our videos to the likes of John Lewis and we try to get the same message across as the mutli-million pound adverts do.
“But there is an underlying message. We are just a small independent shop in Mid Wales trying to compete with the big boys like John Lewis and M&S.
“We've shown that it can be done on a very small budget.”
Jo Lowe wrote on the firm's Facebook page: "Absolutely fabulous, well done another great Christmas advertisement who needs John Lewis when you got Hafod."
Angela F added: "Beautiful, made me cry. Well done for making such a lovely advert."
Sophie Walters wrote: "Best Christmas advert of 2019, hands down. Absolutely beautiful."
Video by: Thomas Jones
This inspiring dog with dwarfism is stuck in perpetual puppy-hood
Image by: Steve Chatterley
These pictures show an inspiring dog with dwarfism - that is stuck in perpetual puppy-hood.
Ranger is two-year-old purebred AKC German Shepherd who has ‘Pituitary Dwarfism’.
It means he retains his puppy-like appearance much longer than is normal for his breed.
Ranger was diagnosed with the rare condition - which German Shepherds are predisposed to - after he contracted a parasite called Giardia.
After recovering from the infection his owners noticed Ranger wasn’t growing at the same rate a German Shepherd should.
They took him to their vet who surmised that little ranger may have the Pituitary Dwarfism mutation.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
As a side effect of his dwarfism the poor pup has contended with various health issues including shedding fur and flaky skin caused by hypothyroidism.
With the unconditional love of his owners and some help from his legion of online followers Ranger was able to get all the treatment he needed and has now made a full recovery from all his health issues.
Despite all the adversity this under-dog has never let any of it hold him back.
Ranger is happy and healthy and can be found playing the day away with his family and sisters or enjoying online fame and adoration as the star of his own Instagram page.
Ranger has been filmed performing his ‘signature’ head tilt and playing with his sisters Hazel the Labrador and fellow German Shepherd, Jessie.
Shelby Mayo who is Rangers guardian, said: “When we originally got Ranger from the breeder, he was smaller than all his other littermates, but we figured that was because he had a parasite called Coccidia.
“In the weeks following we took him home and he was parasite free but later on ended up getting a parasite called Giardia.
''At the same time, we also discovered that Ranger had a large infection on his neck.
“We were eventually able to get the infection under control, fast forward a few months later we were finally able to get rid of Giardia.
''During this time Ranger remained very small, the vet had suspected that he may have Pituitary Dwarfism, a genetic mutation
“But we were still sceptical as this condition is very rare.
''Over time Ranger still did not get much bigger, and at this point we are certain he does have this condition.
“After a few more months we got him neutered and that’s when we started to see big changes.
“He lost his appetite, started to lose weight, lost almost all of his fur, and had extremely dry and flaky skin.
''Many people on our Instagram page warned us that Pituitary Dwarfs can have many medical issues, but up until that point we hadn’t experienced any.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
One of our followers ‘Guardians Farm’ are a small company that makes handmade soaps, lotions, etc and they sent us goat milk soap, which ended up helping Rangers skin immensely.
“At the same time another one of our followers who also has a Dwarf German Shepard told us to get his thyroid levels checked as many dwarfs suffer from hypothyroidism.
“So our vet checked his thyroid levels and sure enough he was low, this can cause hair loss and a loss of appetite.
“After getting Ranger on Levothyroxine and using this soap his fur grew back and the dryness went away.
Rangers litter was the first litter that our breeder had bred those to specific dogs together.”
“We believe this was the cause of the genetic defect. And as a responsible breeder will not breed the two dogs together again.
''He healthy and happy as can be as of now and loves jumping around and playing with his ball and squeaky toys with his two sisters Hazel and Jessie”
You can keep up with the adventures of Ranger and his family by visiting his Instagram page @ranger_thegshepherd.
Video by: Ellis Wylam
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
DELIVERY SUITE DISASTER - Young mum left in agony as her epidural 'stopped working' during her emergency c-section
Image by: Jodie Marsden
A mum has told how she was in utter agony after her epidural wore off midway through her c-section - and she could feel EVERYTHING.
Jodie Marsden, 27, had no idea of the nightmare that lay ahead when she arrived at hospital to be induced - but it left her vowing to never get pregnant again.
After two days of very slow labour, Jodie's unborn baby's heart started to dip with every contraction and doctors rushed her into theatre for an emergency c-section.
They gave her an epidural - an anaesthetic around the spinal cord - and while it worked at first, Jodie said she began to feel pain.
By the time she realised what was going on, she was in so much pain she could barely whisper - despite being able to feel the clamp, suction, "jiggling" and shoving inside her.
Thankfully baby Arthur was healthy but the whole experience - which happened on Friday the 13th - has put Jodie off having any more kids.
Jodie from Wakefield said: ""I could feel them juggling about inside my stomach - one person was shoving down on the top of my stomach whilst another was pulling the baby out.
"It was agony. I could feel the clamp inside me and the suction going around and I was really struggling to breathe."
"The whole experience was absolutely terrifying and I am totally traumatised from the birth.
"We said ourselves that he would wait until Friday the 13th to make an appearance, and then we noticed it was a full moon, but it never crossed our mind what would happen.
"I could feel them actually pulling my stomach apart as they were ripping the muscles and I was in extreme pain.
"It felt like I was screaming in pain, but my partner said it was only coming out as a whisper, but luckily they could see I was uncomfortable.
"I'm never having another baby ever again, that's for sure."
Dog groomer Jodie was in no rush to start a family after tying the knot with husband Matt, 34, in September 2018.
She fell pregnant unexpectedly but weeks later, but sadly miscarried at just seven weeks.
The miscarriage changed Jodie's thoughts on motherhood, and after celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, the pair found out Josie was pregnant again.
Jodie said: "We didn't actually plan on having children so soon after the wedding, as I'm a very career driven person and wanted to focus on my dog grooming business.
"I've never really been a maternal person, it was never something I had in a plan and I could never see myself with children, but the miscarriage changed my way of thinking.
"After the miscarriage, I was convinced that there was something wrong with me.
"We had no plans to try again, we just went with the flow and said if it happens, then it happens, and if it doesn't, then it wasn't supposed to be.
"I found out I was pregnant again just after Christmas, and although I was happy, it was a tough set of emotions to deal with as I was convinced it was all going to happen again."
She developed pregnancy hypertension in the last six weeks of her pregnancy so was induced on her due date, 11 September 2019, at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.
Image by: Jodie Marsden
Image by: Jodie Marsden
Image by: Jodie Marsden
Image by: Jodie Marsden
Doctors administered an epidural, but two days later, she had only dilated 6cm and was given a hormone drip as well to encourage her baby to arrive.
As the contractions started, doctors grew concerned when Jodie's unborn child's blood pressure dropped dangerously and prepped the young mum for an emergency c-section.
Once in theatre, doctors upped the dose of Jodie's epidural, but despite checks to ensure she was numb, all hell broke loose when she could suddenly feel everything.
Jodie said: "They did multiple checks to make sure I was numb, with an ice cold spray on several areas of my stomach, followed by jabbing me with a needle, and all was fine, I was numb.
"For the incision, I just felt slight pressure, but then I felt them actually pulling my stomach apart as they were ripping the muscles and I was in so much pain.
"The anaesthetist was asking me if it was pain or pressure, and I was saying pain, but Matt said it was just like a whisper coming out of me.
"They could see I was uncomfortable, so they gave me more medication to try and get the pain under control but I was still in pain."
Jodie's pain relief from the epidural had stopped working in the middle of her c-section, and the first time mum was able to feel the entire procedure.
Her blood pressure rose dangerously and after her baby Arthur was born, doctors were forced to put her under general anaesthetic, fearing she might suffer a stroke or heart attack.
The young mum lost 2.5 pints of blood and stayed in theatre for another hour and a half before being monitored in recovery for 16 hours.
Jodie said: "When they finally pulled Arthur out, all I remember was hearing this little scream which suddenly stopped.
"I can't remember seeing him, and I turned to Matt and repeatedly asked him 'Where is my baby?'
"Then it was like an out of body experience, I could hear things but it was like I was just watching from above.
"I could hear them saying they needed to get the bleeding under control, and then the anaesthetist said 'We're going to have to send you to sleep'.
"They escorted Matt out and then took Arthur to see him and my mum, but I had to stay in theatre for another hour and a half without holding my baby.
"Before the c-section, the anaesthetist told me that general anaesthetic is literally the last resort because it's best for mums to have skin to skin contact straight away, but nothing was working for me so they had to do it."
Jodie finally got to hold her baby boy Arthur the next day, and thankfully the young mum is now doing well and is back home with her family.
Traumatised by the experience, Jodie has decided not to have any more children and is focusing on raising her only son.
Jodie said: "It definitely wasn't what we expected - it's not like you see on One Born Every Minute where they're laid all calm and comfortable.
"It was like living in a nightmare, and I'm definitely not having any more children.
"I love Arthur and am enjoying being a mum, but there's no way I'm going through that all ever again."
Clinical background information released by Pinderfields Hospital states that when a woman has an epidural for labour, it can be topped up for a c-section, which means a stronger solution of analgesia would be administered to the patient.
During a c-section under local anaesthetic, the hospital advises women that they will feel some pressure during the surgery, and if a woman complains of pain, the surgery is stopped and analgesia is given.
Anaesthetists can not administer a spinal block during a c-section but they can top up the epidural and if an epidural is not effective then a woman will be given analgesia (such as morphine or diamorphine) through an intravenous drip.
The hospital states that if a woman is still not comfortable at this point they will be given a general anaesthetic, however the priority is to get the baby delivered if the uterus is open and cord exposed.
Where mothers have raised blood pressure, it is normal that they would be monitored closely for 12 or more hours following surgery.
