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Court orders Wayne Rooney to do unpaid work at Ipswich Town

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Court orders Wayne Rooney to do unpaid work at Ipswich Town

Wayne Rooney Ipswich

By Hugh Dunnett, Crime Correspondent

Drink-driving Wayne Rooney will drop down a division to play for Ipswich Town after magistrates ordered him to do unpaid work for the needy.

Rooney, 31, admitted being nearly three times over the limit when he was stopped driving a woman’s VW Beetle early in the morning.

He was banned from driving for two years and fined £170 – but then ordered to do 100 hours work to help the vulnerable in society.

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Stockport magistrates agreed today that Ipswich were desperately needy and that Rooney could play for the club for nothing throughout October.

Rooney, who usually collects up to £100,000 a week for playing for Premier League side Everton, will not get a penny during his stint at Portman Road.

An Ipswich Town official said: “We could never afford Wayne’s wages, but playing for us is classed as work in the community, so we don’t have to pay.”

During his month-long stay in Suffolk, Rooney will experience playing in the famous East Anglian derby, as the home game against Norwich is on October 22.

He’ll also pull on the famous blue and white shirt in matches against Sheffield United, Burton Albion and Cardiff City.

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A pal of Rooney said: “Wayne has to do unpaid work for those in dire need, and we could not think of anywhere more fitting than Ipswich.

“He’s looking forward to linking up with Mick McCarthy and the rest of the team, and hopes there is a good local taxi service.”

Ipswich currently sit in a surprisingly high fifth position in the championship. Way ahead of Norwich.

Rooney has admitted his shame after police charged him with being a man driving a VW Beetle.

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Mum sues store after tripping over HER OWN daughter

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Mum sues store after tripping over HER OWN daughter

Mum sues store

A young mum is suing a shop for compensation after tripping over HER OWN toddler who was running around the aisles, it has emerged.

Charlotte Pleasance, 24, of Woodbridge in Suffolk, is claiming damages for a twisted ankle and bruised hip after falling in the frozen food section of her local supermarket.

She claims her life has been ruined because the store negligently allowed her daughter to run about while she got on with her weekly shop.

The case is expected to be heard in the High Court in London next week, with lawyers for Mrs Pleasance thought to be seeking a six-figure payout.

According to the writ, she was turning from the drinks aisle into the frozen food aisle when she fell over daughter Amy, who was running around screaming and not looking where she was going.

The writ says Mrs Pleasance tried to steady herself on her trolley, but fell, badly twisting her ankle and landing on her right hip.

It is claimed Mrs Pleasance has been unable to work since the incident in August last year, has suffered from clinical depression and lost her sexual appetite, leading to her husband divorcing her this year.

Lawyers for the independent supermarket, Tedbury, are denying responsibility for Mrs Pleasance’s accident.

“It is quite obvious she should have been keeping her own child under control in the first place,” a spokesman said.

He added: “We will be fighting this case all the way. It has already cost us £100,000 in legal fees, but it is a matter of principle.”

A member of staff at Tedbury, who asked not to be named, said: “Some mothers have no control over their children in here. They need to behave or stay outside – it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.

“It serves her right as it was her own daughter running amok.”

Prison chain gangs to clear roadside litter

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Prison chain gangs to clear roadside litter

By Rob Banks, Crime Editor

Prison chain gangs will become a familiar sight on Suffolk’s roads as the Government trials a tough new approach to crime, it has emerged.

We can reveal Ministers want prisoners to be used as forced labour to clear up litter from roads around the county.

And to ensure the controversial scheme acts as a deterrent to others, the prisoners will be shackled together with ball and chains, and endure the shame of wearing striped uniforms.

Officials have chosen now to unveil their plans to capitalise on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s unpopular softly softly, left-wing approach to “cushy prisoner reform programmes”.

The revelation – a throwback to the chain gangs of early 20th-century America – will boost Tory morale as members prepare to gather for the party conference.

A Home Office insider said: “We have chosen Suffolk to pioneer the scheme because there is so much rubbish discarded on the sides of your roads, especially the A14 and A12, and this does not create a good image for visitors.

“We’ll select the most hardened criminals from the region’s prisons, dress them in degrading black-and-white-striped uniforms, chain them together – and force them to clear little for eight hours a day with only a 20-minute break for bread and water.

“Motorists will delight in seeing prisoners actually being forced to do something good to repay society – and of course the roads will look so much nicer afterwards.”

The gangs – each consisting of ten men – will have a prison guard watching over them at all times, sitting on horseback.

But if any of the hardened criminals even thought about escaping, they would not get far because they would be chained together.

The scheme was met with fury from local Liberal Democrat and Labour leaders. One Labour Suffolk county councillor fumed: “This will be a disgusting affront to human rights, and is no way to reform a prisoner. If anything it will make them hate society and be more likely to re-offend if they got out.

“But I suppose at least the litter will be gone.”

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Blaarst me: iPhone X will recognise Suffolk accent

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Blaarst me: iPhone X will recognise Suffolk accent

iphone x

The launch of the new iPhone will finally allow Siri to recognise the Suffolk accent, it has emerged.

Ever since the talking personal assistant was introduced in 2011, it has been confused by the local dialect.

But now Apple has reprogrammed its speech recognition – and Siri will understand ‘Suffolk’ when the iPhone X is launched in November.

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The Suffolk Gazette was given a sneak preview of the new feature at this week’s glittering iPhone X unveiling in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s HQ in California.

We asked Siri several searching questions, and were surprised when it got each answer correct.

SG: What yew think abowt Naarwich?
Siri: Rubbish

SG: Moi shelf is sloightly on th’ huh
Siri: You need a spirit level

SG: Cood-a-hell, it’s blowin a hoolie
Siri: Storm Aileen is approaching Suffolk

SG: Um nowagorn dowen Portman Rowed, foind me sum paarken
Siri: Use the public car park opposite the Sir Bobby Robson stand

SG: Donald Trump, ee’s a rummin hint e?
Siri: Donald Trump is our President and is not strange

SG: Shew me sum wimmin
Siri: Here are some websites I have found – not safe for work

SG: What does uppa towen mean?
Siri: Come on, Ipswich, play well

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Apple software developers say they do not intend to extend the dialect recognition software to include Norfolk.

A spokesman said: “No one in Norfolk knows what they are talking about, so how can we expect Siri to understand them?”

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Workers pretend they know all about Jane Austen

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Workers pretend they know all about Jane Austen

Jane Austin ten pound note

Britain’s workers today pretended they knew all about Jane Austen as they played around with the new plastic £10 note.

The classic novelist appears on the new polymer tenner, which came into circulation today.

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There was excitement in offices up and down the country as workers took it in turns to try to rip and scrunch up the new notes.

Most wondered just how much of the boss’ time they could waste discussing features such as the woman’s portrait on the back.

Many covered up their ignorance by nodding sagely while making vague or general comments on who she was.

Such as Minnie Patterson, 29, who works in an Ipswich call centre. Without actually revealing anything at all, she told impressed colleagues: “Ah, a very sensible choice, it’s good to see a woman on a banknote other than the Queen.”

But others really cocked up when told by the office know-all that the lady on the new note was, in fact, Jane Austen.

“Ooh lovely. I’ve got all her records,” cooed Lydia Shaw, 23, from Bury St Edmunds.

Colleague Steve Kramer corrected her, explaining: “Don’t be daft. She is not a singer – she wrote that film, Pride and Prejudice.”

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In an effort to avoid looking completely stupid, some people rushed to the internet to gather a few facts about Austen.

According to Wikipedia, she was an English novelist “known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century”.

And now she’s on the ten pound note.

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Norfolk cycling star finishes Tour of Britain five days late

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Norfolk cycling star finishes Tour of Britain five days late

Norfolk cyclist

By Bernie Legg, Cycling Correspondent

Norfolk’s entry into the Tour of Britain cycle race has finally finished the Suffolk stage – five days late.

Monkey Alan Smith, 18, is the greatest ever cyclist to come out of Norfolk, but he found the tour stage tough going.

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Cycling enthusiasts said chimp Alan got lost on the route from Newmarket to Aldeburgh and spent days cycling aimlessly around the isolated country lanes.

Eventually he was given directions to Aldeburgh by a man trimming his hedge near Leiston, and he was able to cross the finish line, even though it had been taken down last week.

A Tour of Britain organiser said Alan’s time of five days, seven hours and 23 minutes would still be noted for the record books.

“After his efforts it would be unfair to disqualify Alan,” a Tour spokesman said.

“The people of Norfolk should be proud of him for trying, but we would suggest they come up with a slightly better entry for next year’s Tour of Britain.”

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After finishing the course, Alan went straight to the White Hart pub on Aldeburgh High Street.

Because he was so tired out from his efforts he sank six pints of Adnams and got through nine bananas in less than an hour.

After sleeping off the rest of the day on the beach, Alan returned to Norfolk and is now resting back at his home near Downham Market.

He has high hopes of entering next year’s Tour de France, which he understands has several testing stages in the mountainous French Apes.

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ET Returns filming in Suffolk this week

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ET Returns filming in Suffolk this week

ET Returns

Scenes from ET Returns, the long-awaited sequel to the blockbuster 1980s film, are being shot in Suffolk this week, it has emerged.

Walkers in Christchurch Park in Ipswich spotted film crews on a wooded track with the lovable alien in a familiar disguise.

Hollywood producers are remaining tight-lipped about the script for ET Returns, but insiders say ET – short for Extra Terrestrial – comes back to earth after 35 years to pay a visit to his old pal Elliott.

Elliott is now a father of three, aged 42, who is keen to show his kids that his stories of meeting and saving the life of an alien are true.

Observers at Christchurch Park yesterday say the film crew seemed to be filming scenes of Elliot wrapping ET in a blanket so no-one would recognise him, just as he did in the original film.

ET bike ride

It is believed that yet again Elliot saves the day by helping ET to escape the grown-ups and scientists who wanted to capture him for experiments.

Ipswich mum Drew Barrymore, who was walking her labrador in the park yesterday, said: “I was quite surprised to bump into ET – my dog was intrigued, that’s for sure.

“ET looks a little different now he is older – but you can tell it is him. I was so excited I had to phone home.

“I can’t wait to see the film now.”

A spokesman for the parks department at Ipswich Borough Council confirmed a Los Angeles-based production company had applied for a filming licence in Christchurch Park this week.

ET Returns is expected to be released next spring.

Portuguese Man-of-War sighting prompts Suffolk beach closures

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Portuguese Man-of-War sighting prompts Suffolk beach closures

man of war

By Doug Trench, Defence Editor

Three Suffolk beaches were evacuated today after several sightings of a dangerous Portuguese Man-of-War.

Bathers and fishermen were warned that the Portuguese Man-of-War can cause a nasty injury and victims should receive medical treatment.

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But if you are attacked by a 17th century warship from Portugal, and there is no medical help nearby, it is thought that urinating on your wound may help.

A spokesman for Suffolk Coast Watch said: “We received several reports that a 17th Century Portuguese Man-of-War was stalking the North Sea coast.

“It was seen off Southwold, Walberswick and Dunwich.

“These things are armed with cannon and some fearsome sailors with particularly bad breath.

“The weapons are not terribly accurate, but if you’re sitting on the beach reading the paper and get hit by a cannonball, you’re going to know about it.

“Should you lose an arm or a leg, remove the cannonball immediately and seek medical assistance.”

It is thought the rogue 400-year-old warship was attracted to Suffolk by unseasonably warm waters.

It presumably sailed unnoticed through the channel, disguised by yet another mystery chemical off the coast of Sussex.

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Beach walker Angus Young, 71, said: “I saw the tip of the mast coming over the horizon, followed by the distinctive sails.

“It managed to avoid crashing into the offshore windfarm and approached the coast menacingly before disappearing again.”

The sightings come as several beaches in Cornwall and Wales were closed because of a nasty purple jellyfish called a Portuguese Man of War.

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