Other UK News In Brief

Pete Doherty Jailed

Today at Snaresbrook Crown Court musician Pete Doherty, 32, of Marlborough in Wiltshire, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for possessing cocaine. Peter Wolfe, 42, of Bury in St Edmunds was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for supply of cocaine to Robin Whitehead and four months for possession of cocaine, to run concurrently. Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 8.10pm on 24 January 2010 where a woman was found dead at an address in Clapton, east London. She was named as Robyn Whitehead, 27, from the Northampton area. An inquest was opened and adjourned on 28 January at Poplar Coroner's Court.

A definitive cause of death has yet to be established by the Coroner. Alan Wass, 29, of Bramley Rd, west London, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine and will stand trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 11 July 2011.

Live Terrapins Found In Passenger's Bags At Airport

Six live terrapins have been discovered by UK Border Agency officers at Cardiff Airport after a passenger tried to smuggle them into the country in her baggage. Earlier this month, a 54-year-old woman from Tonypandy in Rhondda was stopped when she returned from China on a flight via Amsterdam. A search of her bags was carried out and 4 adult terrapins were found in her hand luggage. Two more baby terrapins were found loose in her suitcase, without food or water.

The woman told officers that she had intended to bring the creatures into the country as a gift for her niece. The terrapins were seized and the woman was issued with a warning by officers. After being given water, the animals - later confirmed as red eared terrapins - were handed into the care of a local animal sanctuary. Alex Lawther, UK Border Agency assistant director in Wales, said: “The UK Border Agency is cracking down on all types of smuggling, including live animals. There is a complete ban on bringing live animals into the UK unless you have the necessary permit.”

Brands Hatch Named As London 2012 Cycling venue

Brands Hatch, near Sevenoaks in Kent, will host the Paralympic Road Cycling events, incorporating the Road Race and Time Trial, from 5-8 September 2012. The riders will race round a course that passes through the county of Kent and the district of Sevenoaks in Kent. The former F1 Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch will be the base for approximately half of the course including the start and finish. The remaining race will take place on local roads nearby. The announcement marks the final venue to be confirmed for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and pays homage to Brands Hatch’s cycling routes, as it first developed in the 1920s as a grass track cycle racing venue.

(BMcN)