You may imagine that being hit on the head by the rear wheel arch of my own car may have knocked some sense into me.
Apparently not as less than 24 hours later, with a bit of a headache and a fixed up race car, I was ready to do battle in the third Cat…
A man has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving after a man who man fell out of the back of a pick-up truck died.Scott Baisley, 28, fell from the rear of a Nissan Navara in King’s Drive, Bradwell, Norfolk, on 22 J…
Intwood Road in Cringleford. Pic: Google Street View.
Google Street View
Emergency services were called to Intwood Road in Cringleford at about 12.45pm today (Saturday, August 17).
There had been a crash between a car and a pick-up truck.
Police, firefighters and the ambulance service went to the scene.
Firefighters from Earlham and Carrow attended and cut a woman who was hurt free from one of the vehicles.
She was cut out of the vehicle as a precaution, but it is understood her injuries were not serious.
The road was blocked while emergency services carried out their work.
That led Konectbus to suspend its 50A service.
17 August, 2019 – 07:46
Tony Martin’s farm is still being broken into 20 years after he shot two burglars Picture: Matthew Usher
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A barn was broken into at Bleak House, Emneth Hungate, near Wisbech, in the latest attack on the home of the man who sparked a national debate over how much force householders could use to defend their properties.
Mr Martin opened fire on Fred Barras and Brendon Fearon with an illegally-held pump-action shotgun after they broke into his property on the night of Saturday, August 20, 1999.
Mr Barras, 16, from Newark, was found dead in undergrowth near the house the following day. Mr Fearon, then 29 and also from Newark, survived the shooting.
Mr Martin, now in his 70s, was jailed for life after a Norwich Crown Court jury found him guilty of murder in 2000. But the conviction was reduced to manslaughter on appeal in 2002 and he returned to his farm after being released the following year.
He says his property has been broken into on a number of occasions over the years since he was freed. The most recent was on Monday, August 5, when a barn was entered and a small fire lit.
A police officer attended after Mr Martin dialled 999. He said he was less than happy with their response.
“I don’t know what their job is supposed to be really,” he said. “I told him people had tried to break into the shed, I told him someone had started a fire in the shed. Then I started speaking freely, I said something to him he didn’t like. The next thing was: ‘Oh, we’ll log it.
“He said he’d ring me back, he never has. I’m angered at the way I’m treated considering the problems I’ve had.”
Mr Martin has CCTV images from 7.30pm on August 5, showing two men and a dark 4×4 pick-up truck. He says chain saws were also stolen from the shed that evening.
The same men and vehicle, with its number plate clearly visible, were caught on camera four nights earlier. The pictures have been passed to police.
A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating a burglary at a barn in Emneth Hungate on August 5. A suspect or suspects gained access to a barn and small fire was lit inside which was extinguished by the landowner.
“Officers attended the scene on the night and police have since been contacted about CCTV evidence which will be gathered and reviewed in due course.”
One friend of the farmer said: “Something happens at Bleak House two or three times a month. Tony rings the police, they come and it’s just by the by.
“As soon as it’s Tony Martin, it doesn’t matter. When he calls them, they’re not interested because it’s Tony Martin.
“If it was someone else it would be different altogether, it’s not good enough. It was arson, it was burglary.”
More people now live in the vicinity of Bleak House than at the time of the shootings.
New houses have been built on what were small holdings, orchards and gardens 20 years ago.
Mr Martin said a kitchen was recently stolen from a neighbouring property whilst it was being fitted.
A house nearby is surrounded by an 8ft high stockade like a fort. An Alsatian growls behind formidable iron gates at another property. Signs everywhere warn of concealed CCTV and dogs running loose.
“I’m not the only oddball around here,” said Mr Martin. “This generation don’t want to end up like I did so they’ve got this siege mentality, they build fences.
“This is Tony Martin country. This is Britain.”
READ MORE – Tony Martin says he has no regrets at shooting
Scott Baisley. Photo: Norfolk police
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Tyrone Clarke, 31, was giving Scott Baisley, 28, a lift from the pub in the open loading area of his Nissan Nivara, where there were no seatbelts or restraints, when he fell from the vehicle in what was described at Norwich Crown Court as an accident waiting to happen.
Mr Baisley, who was six foot five inches tall, struck his head on the ground after losing his footing and falling headfirst from the pick-up in King’s Drive, Bradwell, the court heard yesterday.
Mr Baisley, from St Olaves, near Great Yarmouth, suffered a “catastrophic” brain injury and was rushed to the James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston, and was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, for treatment.
He died four days later on June 26, 2017, without regaining consciousness.
Clarke, of Howard’s Way, Bradwell, has denied causing death by dangerous driving and an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving on June 22, 2017, while over the legal drug-drive limit.
Peter Gair, prosecuting, said the death was “rather unnecessary”, because, although seats were available in the pick-up, Clarke had allowed his friend to sit in the back with another friend. Mr Gair said: “We say this was an accident waiting to happen.”
He said that Mr Baisley had lost his balance and fallen from the pick-up, and Mr Gair said any competent and careful driver should have realised the dangers of allowing passengers to sit in the open loading area rather in a seat in his car.
He said: “It would have been obvious to any competent and careful driver that was dangerous. This is why the defendant is on trial.”
He said it was an unusual case as the prosecution was not alleging that Clarke had been speeding or swerving when the accident happened.
When interviewed by police, Clarke was found to have cocaine and cannabis in his system, the court heard.
Conor Edwards, who had been in the back of the pick-up with Mr Baisley, told how his friend had stood up and stumbled before falling from the vehicle.
The trial continues.
A group of binmen have been praised for their “huge, amazing act of bravery”. Pictured is driver Ashley Walker, and colleagues Ian Bell and Jack Cottenden. Picture: SERCO
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Driver Ashley Walker, and colleagues Ian Bell and Jack Cottenden, first noticed smoke coming from the container of their truck after loading it with recycling contents at Bramley Road in Dereham.
But what followed next saw a potentially serious disaster avoided, thanks to the quick-thinking actions of Mr Walker.
As soon as the Serco employee realised what was happening, he slammed the back plate of the lorry closed to keep the air out.
Risking his own safety, he then jumped behind the wheel and reversed out of the estate until he was near a field – allowing fire crews enough room to put out a potential fire.
His colleagues took on the role of banksmen and helped lead the vehicle to safety.
Once far enough away from residents, Mr Walker quickly reported the incident via an emergency call to the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.
A Breckland Council spokesperson said: “The Serco staff operating a Breckland Council bin lorry noticed some smouldering coming from the contents of their truck while they were working in Dereham.
“As a precaution, a fire crew was called and inspected the contents of the truck. They followed the truck to a local refuse centre where the contents of the bin lorry were emptied and hosed down.
“Although there were no visible flames, the staff’s quick and decisive action certainly helped ensure the incident didn’t become far more serious.”
Pauline Perrins, of Ashill, who heard about the incident from a friend, praised the efforts of the men and described their actions as a “huge, amazing act of bravery”.
“Quick actions saved the complete lorry going up in flames in the middle of houses.
“They all need a huge pat on the back.”
Ms Perrins voiced concerns over the dangers of householders disposing of batteries in recycling waste – which is a potential reason for how the smouldering broke out inside the bin lorry.
She said: “Batteries put into the recycling instead of being disposed of properly, together with the heat, plenty of paper and card make a good fire.”
Firefighters were called at around 10.50am on Tuesday July 23.
A crew from Dereham inspected the smouldering and used jets to put it out.
Emergency services at the scene of a serious accident in Diss town centre. Picture: Simon Parkin
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Emergency services were called to reports of the accident at the junction of Park Road and Mere Street at shortly after 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Ambulances crews and a number of paramedic response vehicles attended the scene of the crash that involved a Royal Mail delivery lorry that was pulling out of Mere Street.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance landed in the nearby park, next to Diss Mere, and remained at the scene until 4.15pm.
The accident occurred where Mere Street joins the main A1066 road though Diss. The junction is next to a busy roundabout which also includes the entrance to Morrisons supermarket.
Shortly after the collision people from a nearby charity shop could be seen using sheets to shield the scene beside the lorry from view as paramedics treated the casualty.
One local woman, who asked not to be named, said: “It is a really shocking thing to have happen. All my thoughts and prayers are with all those involved.”
Another bystander said: “This area is always really busy with people andf there is always a lot of traffic. It can be really difficult even using the pedestrian crossing to get to and from the supermarket.”
The junction remains cordoned off as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The A1066 through Diss is closed from Tesco in Victoria Road to the Park Hotel on Park Road. Traffic has also been stopped on Mere Street with local diversions in place.
A Norfolk police spokesman said: “Victoria Road Diss is currently closed due to a serious RTC and is expected to remain closed for some time. Emergency services are currently in attendance. Please find an alternative route.”
Police investigating the accident could later be seen speaking to people in Mere Street and a police drone was being used to get an aerial view of the scene.
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An eight wheeler lorry has got stuck between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
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The eight-wheeler lorry was lodged between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate, adjacent to the Church of St John Maddermarket.
It got wedged at around 9am on Tuesday.
It is believed the lorry was making a delivery to the Theatre Royal – but was misdirected by a taxi driver.
The streets are home to businesses The Little Hair Boutique, The Wax Bar, Factotum, Ali Bongo, Saints Coffee bar and upmarket brasserie The Iron House – which had to be cordoned off while recovery work was carried out.
Jeremy King, owner of The Iron House, said at the time: “It’s chaos. We had to call the police as soon as we saw it.
“We’ve now had to move the protective tape cordoning off the lorry so customers don’t have to limbo underneath it.”
Julia Holland, a photographer, said: “It looks like there has been damage to the buildings.”
A Norfolk Recovery vehicle and two police officers arrived on scene at 10.50am and the lorry left safely through St Johns Maddermarket
The scene was also attended by Sophia Bix, a conservation officer at Norwich City Council, to investigate potential damage to listed buildings.
Witness at the scene later spoke of their shock on seeing the lorry wedged on a narrow street.
Helen Harlow, 20, from Unthank Road, a recent illustration graduate from Norwich University of the Arts, said:”I was quite shocked. It was just so close.
“When you come into work you don’t expect that.”
Other witnesses saw the funny side.
Leah Hall, 28, a receptionist at Factotum, said: “I was laughing to be honest. The driver was trying so hard to get round the corner but a guy just kept shouting at him.
“The driver was taking it all in his stride though.”
Jim Hannah, from Hamilton, Scotland, a Big Issue seller, wasn’t surprised by the event and said the area was a hot spot for unusual activity.
He said: “If I’d been here earlier I would have stopped it. It nearly did the area in.”
Police investigations are continuing into the incident.
Fred Barras, 16, who died in the shootings at Bleak House Picture: PA
Brendon Fearon, 29, who survived the shootings Picture: PA
Farmer Tony Martin is escorted to a prison van as he leaves the High Court in central London in 2001 Picture: PA
Bleak House, Mr Martin’s overgrown farmhouse at Emneth Hungate Picture: Matthew Usher
Bleak House shortly after the shootings in August 1999 Picture: John Hocknell
Emergency services at the scene of a serious accident in Diss town centre. Picture: Simon Parkin
Emergency services at the scene of a serious accident in Diss town centre. Picture: Simon Parkin
Emergency services at the scene of a serious accident in Diss town centre. Picture: Simon Parkin
An eight wheeler lorry has got stuck between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
An eight wheeler lorry has got stuck between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
An eight wheeler lorry has got stuck between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
An eight wheeler lorry has got stuck between two listed buildings on the corner of St John’s Maddermarket and Pottergate. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
Jim Hannah saw the lorry an hour after it became wedged. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
Leah Hall saw the humour in the situation. Picture: Victoria Pertusa
Jeremy King owns The Iron House and was affected by the stuck lorry. Picture: Victoria Pertusa