Other News In Brief

Man Guilty Of Raping Two Boys

A 49-year-old man has been convicted of raping two young boys. William McDonald, 49, abused the boys over a seven-year period at addresses in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire and Lochgoilhead, Argyll and Bute. The High Court in Glasgow heard how he was caught after one of the boys told police about the abuse last year. Judge Lord Pentland placed McDonald on the sex offenders' register and deferred sentence until next month. The court heard how he began the abuse when each boy was aged five. One of the boys, now aged 17, described how the abused happened on various occasions between April 1996 and February 2003. The younger boy, now 15, said his abuse began in November 1998 and continued until February 2003.

Man Jailed For 'Shaken Baby' Killing

A man has been imprisoned for five years for shaking his 17-week-old daughter to death. Liam Heyes, 21, inflicted a series of severe injuries on Layla Pike on 18 October 2007 at the home he shared with her mother, Joanna Pike, 32. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Heyes, of Bray Road, Speke, Liverpool, then created a story to cover his tracks. Heyes denied manslaughter but a jury found him guilty on Tuesday after almost six hours of deliberations. After the verdict, Mr Justice Stuart McKinnon told the court that it was clear from the evidence that Layla's injuries were caused by Heyes. The judge said he would be released on licence after half of his five-year sentence. The court heard that Layla suffered severe damage to her brain and spinal cord due to a lack of blood and oxygen. She also had severe bleeding in both eyes and nerve fibre damage to her neck.

Minister Spends Day In The Life Of Social Care Worker

Care Services Minister Phil Hope today underlined the benefits of a career in social work while promoting a nationwide recruitment campaign. To highlight the need for people to retrain for the social care sector, the Minister today swapped his Whitehall office to spend the morning working in a care home for people with learning disabilities. He rolled up his sleeves to help staff at Angela House in Hammersmith with their daily routine. Angela House is run by Yarrow, a specialist provider of learning disability and acquired brain injury services in London." Despite the current economic climate, there is an increasing demand for social care workers due to our expanding ageing population. The Department of Health is currently running a series of events across the country, giving advice to people who may be interested in a career in social care.

Man In Court Over Stabbing

A 34-year-old man has been charged with murder after a man was stabbed to death in south-east London. Sunny Eze, 35, was found dead at a flat in Campbell Close, Greenwich, on 4 March. Police said he had been stabbed a number of times. Mr Eze was a Nigerian national who had lived in the UK for about a year. Mark Anthony Brown, of no fixed address, will appear in Greenwich Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and will also face firearms charges.

(JM/BMcC)