My blog will be updated daily, so make sure you come back! If you would like to add or reply to a comment on one of the articles below just send me your comment and, if it's reasonably decent and not libellous or anything like that, I'll add it to the article (don't forget to include the date and title of the article).
18.10.12
Boy tied to a tree and set on fire at 8 names 'attacker' on death-bed
A BOY who was tied to a tree, doused in petrol and set on fire on his eighth birthday has finally named his attacker. Robbie Middleton suffered third-degree burns to 99 per cent of his body in the horrific assault in April 1998.
He was not expected to survive but surprised doctors by clinging to life.
He would eventually go through over 200 agonising operations over 13 long years before dying in 2011 from skin cancer doctors blame on his injuries.
He would have turned 21 just weeks later.
Nobody was charged with the unthinkable atrocity - but Robbie, from Splendora, Texas, may yet have justice.
For he made a shocking 17-minute video statement from his hospital bed naming local boy Don Collins - then just 13 - as his attacker.
In a shocking twist, he also claimed that Collins had raped him two weeks earlier - and set him alight to silence him over the assault.
Robbie's death-bed accusations have paved the way for Collins, now a 27-year-old convicted sex offender, to be charged with felony murder in September.
Robert Ray 'Robbie' Middleton was enjoying his eighth birthday on 29 April 1998 when he met Collins - a neighbour - on a wooden path near their homes.
"Don grabbed me by my shoulder and threw gas in my face, after that I don't really remember anything," Robbie said in his video statement.
A fortnight earlier, according to Robbie's statement, Collins had overpowered and raped him at the same spot.
Robbie's mum Colleen was one of the first on the scene after the fire attack.
She said of her boy's ordeal: "It was so hard to take in what my eyes were seeing.
"All of his hair was scorched, and there was skin hanging around his ankles.
"A little while later, I walked down to the tree where it happened. There was a perfect outline of Robbie’s body scorched into the bark of the tree."
vicious.sid: What a shocking, terrible story. How can a human being do this to another human being? What a strong young man, his parents must be so proud of him. I have to think that he was put on this earth for such a short time to teach us all something. I am numb, I am struggling to come to terms with the amount of purely evil people in this world. I hope Collins is not executed, this piece of scum does not deserve a quick ending. But I hope and pray that the prison he goes to is not like an English prison. I hope he suffers every day. And this poor mite held on to this pain for 13 years thinking he was saving others when, in fact, the opposite was happening. All you doubters of the victims in the 'Savile' case who are wondering why it is all coming out now, years later - there is your example, people do this purely because of FEAR. Rest in peace, young man, you deserve it. I have never met you but I feel a great pride for you. I despair - whatever next?
Poland 1 England 1 - Roy's Boys Throw Away Victory
ROY HODGSON could only look on as his England troops blew the chance to take three points back from their delayed World Cup qualifier in Poland. Wayne Rooney had headed the Three Lions into a 31st-minute lead after the game finally went ahead following last night’s waterlogged pitch.
But when the same man fluffed a chance to double the scoreline midway through the second half, Hodgson’s men then immediately conceded at the other end.
Kamil Glik struck on 70 minutes, nodding the equaliser after Joe Hart flapped at a corner.
And while the England boss brought on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in search of a winner, it was Poland who finished the stronger.
But the draw at least sees the Three Lions top Group H on eight points, having played one game more than second-placed Montenegro who have seven.
They were as sluggish as the pitch itself.
vicious.sid: Normal service has been resumed. What was that you were saying, Roy, about this wonderful new England side with their intelligent passing game? Now we're not playing part-timers, everything is back to frustrating normal. The passing was atrocious (the main offenders for giving the ball away were Rooney and Carrick, surprise, surprise) and they had no idea what to do in the final third of the pitch. Who's idea was it to try to defend a 1-0 lead so early? Very, very bad idea - you just knew it wasn't going to happen. Sigh . . .
18.10.12
Load of Balkans
ENGLISH football was in uproar last night after the FA was charged over an Under-21s clash which saw our players subjected to racist taunts and an ugly post-match brawl. Amid sickening scenes at Serbia’s Mladost stadium, Three Lions stars were targeted by monkey chants from the crowd and goalie Jack Butland was peppered with missiles.
Violence then erupted after England snatched a last-gasp winner, with attacks on both visiting players and officials.
Goalkeeping coach Martin Thomas was sent reeling by a headbutt, midfielder Danny Rose said he was whacked, team coach Stuart Pearce had a seat thrown at him — and assistant Steve Wigley was mauled as he headed for the tunnel.
But yesterday Serb soccer chiefs DENIED any racism at Tuesday’s European Under-21 Championship play-off second leg in Krusevac — and accused Rose of “unsportsmanlike” behaviour.
And last night UEFA soccer bosses announced they had charged both the Serbian and English football associations over the night’s shocking events.
They said in a statement that disciplinary proceedings would be launched against the Balkans side’s association over “alleged racist chanting” and the Serb players’ after-match antics.
vicious.sid: "Whatever I did, it wasn't me". Enough is enough from the Serb barbarians. If they haven't learned how to be civilised by now, I don't think it will ever happen. This country has only ever settled disputes with violence and then blamed everybody else after. Nothing has changed. Ban them from all world tournaments for at least ten years. The only way people like this will ever learn is through their pockets - loss of revenue. In this day and age it is a disgraceful, embarrassing and downright sleazy way to act. These lads were pushed far beyond any limit of provocation but the idiotic wimps at the FA will just pay their fine without fighting it as usual and the Serbs will get a smack on the wrist and nothing will change as usual. Sigh . . .
18.10.12
Cop tasers blind man in street White stick mistaken for Samurai sword
A BUNGLING policeman tasered a blind man in the street after mistaking his white stick – for a Samurai SWORD. He struck Colin Farmer, 61, in the back with the 50,000-volt stun gun before handcuffing him.
The shocked man had been on his way to his local pub to meet friends.
Cops had earlier received reports of a man roaming Chorley town centre, Lancs, armed with a sword.
A patrolman spotted stoke victim Mr Farmer shuffling down the street with his white stick and wrongly assumed he was the swordsman.
Mr Farmer, who used to run an architect’s practice, has now made a formal complaint and is pursuing legal action against Lancashire Police, which has apologised and begun an investigation.
vicious.sid: Is it April already? I think this officer should be awarded with his own white stick! Unless Mr Farmer was swinging the white stick around his head and snarling at people I think maybe the officer should have first walked up to him, out of swinging distance, and took stock of the situation. Is this a mad swordsman frothing at the mouth or a blind man shuffling up the road with a white stick? I'm sure he could have worked it out if he had used his brain!!! And surely, once the white stick was knocked from his grasp someone would have noticed that it wasn't a razor-sharp sword before they knelt on him and slapped on the handcuffs! Surely nobody could be that stupid!!! Sigh . . .
rotten.jonny: This truly sums up our British police force, no doubt this will be swept under the carpet. It seems an IQ test isn't required to enter the police force. These people become police officers as they are attracted to power, when you then put a taser in their hand they see it as a way to dominate a situation. They think they can use it without any consequences as it's not a lethal weapon. This officer should not just be stripped of his taser, but his badge, his uniform and his dignity in the same way this poor innocent man was. This sort of incident happens nearly every day and the police are just allowed to carry on without punishment.
18.10.12
Dopes: Dozy FA gave England players sleeping tablets
ENGLAND players were given sleeping tablets before delivering a dozy performance in Poland. Roy Hodgson’s side scraped a draw when Wayne Rooney’s opener was cancelled out by Kamil Glik.
The World Cup qualifier was staged 20 hours after the match was initially postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
But SunSport understands players were handed the sleeping pills when returning to the team hotel in Warsaw on Tuesday evening.
This unusual step will come as an embarrassment as a number of players delivered poor displays in a game Poland could have won.
Hodgson admitted last night: “On Monday, after the training session on the pitch, the players were looking very sharp and lively. I didn’t get that impression today.”
The Three Lions squad slept on Tuesday afternoon and some players were given ProPlus caffeine tablets ahead of the original 8pm kick-off.
And the sleeping pills were dished out when the game was put back to 4pm the following day.
Skipper Steven Gerrard said: “When you’re fired-up, pumped-up, you’ve had your massages and you’re ready to go, a postponement is not ideal but we’re professionals.
“We’re playing at the top level and we had to get ourselves up for this but I didn’t think we were totally at the races.
“I slept fine. I won’t use the delay and conditions as an excuse.
“The reason we didn’t win was we didn’t pass it when we went in front.”
Amazingly, England had only one attempt on target during the match.
And that was the first-half goal which bounced off Rooney’s shoulder.
It was the fourth time in 11 games under Hodgson that England have mustered just one attempt on target.
Hodgson attempted to blame the turf and the day delay as factors for the poor showing.
He said: “The pitch was soggy — it was suited to a long-ball game not a passing game.
“And the extra 36 hours spent in a hotel waiting to play didn’t do us any favours.”
vicious.sid: What, they take sleeping pills for EVERY match???? When someone starts spouting excuse after excuse and can't be honest and just say "I got the tactics wrong" or "the team are absolute rubbish" then that person has to go. Some of his excuses are bordering on the ridiculous. His excuse about the pitch only being suitable for the long-ball game and then putting on DeFoe, the shortest man on the pitch instead of Carroll, a prolific header of the ball? Huh . . ?
18.10.12
Sweary, sweary quite contrary
SHAMED Andrew Mitchell was under renewed pressure to quit as Tory Chief Whip last night after dramatically changing his story in the Gategate row. He DENIED swearing at Downing Street cops — despite previously admitting he DID.
Some Tory backbenchers called for Mr Mitchell to consider his position. And Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was “toast” and in an “untenable” position.
Senior Tory sources also admitted Mr Mitchell was “weakened” after Mr Miliband taunted him at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons.
It was revealed last month that cops in Downing Street claimed Mr Mitchell called them “f****** plebs” when they refused to open the main gates for his bike.
At the time, he denied using the words attributed to him — but admitted he swore during the row.
Yesterday he contradicted that at PMQs by mouthing “I didn’t, I didn’t” as Mr Miliband said people who swear at police should expect to be arrested. The Labour leader retorted: “He says he didn’t. Maybe he will tell us what he actually did say.” Mr Miliband said a yob who swore at police would expect a night in the cells — but Mr Mitchell had enjoyed a night at a posh club.
vicious.sid: Lesson Number One for all would-be politicians. To be a politician you MUST be an accomplished liar. BUT to be an accomplished liar you MUST have a very good memory. Mitchell obviously does not have a very good memory. What a total bonehead!
18.10.12
Horse-in-house woman in bother for flushing pony poo down the loo
A HORSE lover who lives with her pony has ended up in deep water — for flushing her nag’s poo down the toilet. Stephanie Noble, 66, caused neighbours a mare after the animal’s manure clogged sewage pipes.
Scottish Water chiefs have now ordered her to stop dumping the dung in the loo to prevent more blockages.
An insider said: “They’ve told her she can’t do this.
“It’s not so much the manure but what’s in it — like hay — that clogs the pipes.
“Some are only four inches wide and it doesn’t take a lot to block them.”
In January Stephanie moved four-year-old Grey Lady Too into her home in Back on the Isle of Lewis after a dispute with the pony’s stable owners.
She last night insisted the blockage was a “one-off” and she had “no other option”. Scottish Water said: “Our sewers are designed for human waste and toilet paper only.”
vicious.sid: Now that is weird! Can you imagine the stench from just the horse's farting, let alone the pooing?? Would you go round her's for tea? Look at all the land around the house, just spread it on the plants. Very weird.
18.10.12
Dolphins stay awake 15 days
DOLPHINS can stay awake for 15 days or more by shutting down half their brain at a time, scientists revealed yesterday. The amazing trick allows the mammals to come to the surface when they need to breathe — and to stay vigilant for sharks.
Researchers kept two bottlenose dolphin — a male called Nay and a female called Say — hunting phantom “prey” over lengths of time that would have left other animals sleep deprived and exhausted.
The creatures, which find food by sonar, were bombarded with man-made echoes for five days at a time and found the targets with a success rate of up to 99 per cent. Say, who outperformed her male partner in San Diego, California, was then tested for 15 days and her performance hardly faltered.
Scans confirm dolphins are capable of “unihemispheric sleep” — snoozing with one side of the brain — while often keeping one eye open. Researcher Brian Branstetter said: “These majestic beasts are true unwavering sentinels of the sea.”
vicious.sid: That just shows how much further evolved humans are. Most of them are able to keep half their brains shut down permanently.
18.10.12
Rylan’s Grey-t mate
HYPERACTIVE X Factor wannabe Rylan Clark has bagged a new buddy... GANDALF THE GREY. Legendary actor Sir Ian McKellen met the Essex “singer” at a gay mag awards bash this week and the pair immediately hit it off.
Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian told Rylan he was backing him all the way.
And after swapping numbers, the stage and screen veteran told him he’ll help him navigate the choppy waters of the showbiz world.
vicious.sid: OMG! Just for a second I thought Sid James had been resurrected!!!