Latest news with #DavidHopkins
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Former jet-sprint world champ jailed for assault
David Hopkins in 2014 after returning from the United States as Union Internationale Motionautique world jetsprint champion. PHOTO: ODT FILES A former world champion jet-sprinter has been jailed after dragging his partner by her hair and smashing her face into the floor. David Raymond Hopkins, 59, of Milton, appeared in the Dunedin District court this week after earlier admitting two charges of assault in a family relationship, breaching a protection order, intimidation and wilful damage. Hopkins won titles in World SuperBoat jetsprinting in the 2010s. The court heard that on November 9, 2023, the defendant's on-off partner of 10 years sent him a text saying she wanted to break up. At 7pm that day, an agitated Hopkins arrived at their shared family home where the woman accused him of cheating on her. A verbal argument turned physical when the defendant hit the woman in the face multiple times causing her mouth to bleed. She picked up her phone to call for help, but Hopkins snatched it from her and snapped it in half. He then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her from the kitchen to the spare room where he forced her head into the floor. While she was on the ground, he kicked her in the chest and back and said he was going to kill her, and he knew how to hide a body. Judge David Robinson said while the relationship was "toxic" on both sides, Hopkins still failed to accept he had done anything wrong. A pre-sentence report said he "fails to see any wrongdoing on his part" and "there is a lack of insight in terms of what happened". This was the third time Hopkins had been before the court in relation to the same victim and he had convictions dating back to 2006. The judge accepted there were indications the victim could be "manipulative" but said that did not excuse the defendant's behaviour. "Your position can't be characterised as anything but victim blaming," the judge said. In a statement to the court, the victim said she suffered pain in her muscles and bones as a result of the attack and thinking about it gave her anxiety. Judge Robinson sentenced Hopkins to 21 months' imprisonment and considered home detention "entirely inappropriate" as it was insufficient to denounce his behaviour or deter him from reoffending. , Court reporter
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Former world champ jailed for assault
David Hopkins in 2014 after returning from the United States as Union Internationale Motionautique world jetsprint champion. PHOTO: ODT FILES A former world champion jet-sprinter has been jailed after dragging his partner by her hair and smashing her face into the floor. David Raymond Hopkins, 59, of Milton, appeared in the Dunedin District court this week after earlier admitting two charges of assault in a family relationship, breaching a protection order, intimidation and wilful damage. Hopkins won titles in World SuperBoat jetsprinting in the 2010s. The court heard that on November 9, 2023, the defendant's on-off partner of 10 years sent him a text saying she wanted to break up. At 7pm that day, an agitated Hopkins arrived at their shared family home where the woman accused him of cheating on her. A verbal argument turned physical when the defendant hit the woman in the face multiple times causing her mouth to bleed. She picked up her phone to call for help, but Hopkins snatched it from her and snapped it in half. He then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her from the kitchen to the spare room where he forced her head into the floor. While she was on the ground, he kicked her in the chest and back and said he was going to kill her, and he knew how to hide a body. Judge David Robinson said while the relationship was "toxic" on both sides, Hopkins still failed to accept he had done anything wrong. A pre-sentence report said he "fails to see any wrongdoing on his part" and "there is a lack of insight in terms of what happened". This was the third time Hopkins had been before the court in relation to the same victim and he had convictions dating back to 2006. The judge accepted there were indications the victim could be "manipulative" but said that did not excuse the defendant's behaviour. "Your position can't be characterised as anything but victim blaming," the judge said. In a statement to the court, the victim said she suffered pain in her muscles and bones as a result of the attack and thinking about it gave her anxiety. Judge Robinson sentenced Hopkins to 21 months' imprisonment and considered home detention "entirely inappropriate" as it was insufficient to denounce his behaviour or deter him from reoffending. , Court reporter
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Big change to how people use taxis in Swansea put forward
Big change to how people use taxis in Swansea put forward It follows concerns about people being left stranded but taxi drivers, passengers and others are to be consulted before the changes are introduced Taxi drivers might have to carry card payment systems to provide easier payment for customers (Image: Richard Swingler ) A Welsh council is considering making it mandatory for taxi drivers to carry card payment equipment after concerns were raised that some passengers would be 'put at risk' through a cash only payment method. Swansea Council has launched a public consultation for taxi operators and the public about the introduction of new rules that would make it necessary for all taxi drivers to offer a card payment option to customers. It said the move came after 'concerns raised by the public' that passengers risked being 'stranded' if they were not carrying cash. The council added that though several taxi companies and individual drivers already used card readers or provided an option for people to pay via a smartphone app, there were several taxi drivers that provided cash only means of payment. This, it said, put people who didn't carry cash, relying on modern payment methods like google pay or contactless payments, at risk of being stranded as they could not pay their fare. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here There are 318 hackney carriages and 636 licensed private hire vehicles that are currently licensed by the city council. These figures exclude private hire vehicles. Article continues below The council will be consulting hackney carriage and private hire vehicle proprietors and drivers, representatives from the hackney carriage and private hire trades, Unite Union, representatives of equality groups and the public (through city council social media). The proposed rules are: The proprietor shall ensure that passengers are given the option to make payment for all journeys, via a debit card, credit card and contactless card payment. The proprietor shall ensure that all drivers of the vehicle are trained on how to use the card payment system and are aware that passengers must be able to have the option to make payment in this manner. Where a fault in the card payment system is identified, the proprietor must arrange repair/replacement within 48 hours. You can have your say through the Swansea council website by clicking here. David Hopkins, deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate service and performance, said: "As a council, we recognise that more and more people are using less cash these days to pay for services and are opting to use more modern methods such as contactless payment. "At the moment, there are no rules in place that state taxi drivers must carry card payment facilities as part of their licensing conditions. This can put some passengers at risk of being stranded if they only have card payment options and are not carrying cash." He added: "We are doing what we can to manage this issue at our busy city centre taxi ranks using our taxi marshals to identify passengers that are not carrying cash and require a taxi with card paying facilities. "These passengers are provided with a safe space to wait until a taxi is available. "We want to consult with taxi companies and individual licence holders to look at the benefits and implications of making it mandatory for proprietors of licensed vehicles to have card payment technology in their vehicles. We are also keen to hear from the public about the plans." Article continues below
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Game wardens urge safety as boating season begins
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — With boating season beginning at lakes and rivers across the Lone Star State, San Angelo's game wardens are urging boaters to exercise caution and take proper safety measures before they leave the shore in their wake. Game Warden David Hopkins said that among the most frustrating things wardens can encounter when patrolling the waters are children who are not outfitted with life jackets. 'What's frustrating is parents who don't have their kids in life jackets,' Hopkins said. He shared that Lake Nasworthy has had several boat accidents and deaths occur over the years that were 'preventable.' Concho River restocked ahead of Memorial Day weekend 'Unfortunately, over the years, Lake Nasworthy has had its share of boat accidents and fatalities, and most of those were preventable,' Hopkins said. 'So it breaks your heart when you see something that could've been prevented altogether just by simply wearing a life jacket.' Hopkins said wardens encourage those planning to enjoy the Concho Valley's water bodies during Memorial Day weekend to put on life jackets. 'It's what we ask, that you wear a life jacket this weekend,' Hopkins said. 'Be safe, be careful, have a good time!' Hopkins also shared that operating a personal watercraft, such as a jet ski, at night is illegal under Texas law. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's 2024 recreational boating incidents statistics report, 169 incidents, 78 injury incidents and 20 fatal incidents were recorded between Jan. 1., 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Wales Online
They spotted something wrong with toys on sale in a Welsh high street and uncovered a £10m haul
They spotted something wrong with toys on sale in a Welsh high street and uncovered a £10m haul Thousands of fake toys were tracked down to an industrial warehouse estate in Southall, London, in an investigation led by Swansea council Fake toys linked to cancer being sold in Swansea led police to a warehouse based in south London. Trading standards officers from Swansea council discovered the counterfeit Pokémon, Marvel, Peppa Pig, and Star Wars toys being sold at pop-up shops in Swansea city centre at Christmas last year. When some of the toys were seized it was discovered they contained banned chemicals known phthalates which if ingested can affect the body's hormone system and have been linked to certain types of cancer. After the toys were tracked down to a large industrial estate in Southall, London, staff at Swansea council were joined by dozens of Met Police officers in the raid. They were also joined by trading standards officers from Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Buckinghamshire, Kent, and Surrey councils as well as brand representatives from major toy firms. There they seized thousands more toys valued at up to £10m. It is thought the toys were sold across the UK. Rhys Harries, Swansea council's trading standards lead officer, said: 'The latest seizure is the result of detailed investigations around the sources of counterfeit toys that we discovered being sold in Swansea. Article continues below 'Christmas can be a popular time for businesses to quickly set up in vacant premises and distribute unsafe, counterfeit toys to families looking for a bargain. 'While we were able to seize a significant amount of toys being sold in Swansea city centre, our focus quickly switched to the source of the distribution into Swansea. 'We have spent a lot of time investigating these sources using external partners to gather intelligence about the traders in London. 'In terms of the large amount of dangerous and counterfeit goods we have seized I have no doubt that all of these were destined for the high streets of many of the UK's towns and cities. 'So it's great to know that we have had a positive impact and are able to not only protect families and young children from the possible dangers associated with these toys but also to protect established brands who have been affected by the sale of counterfeit products.' David Hopkins, cabinet member for corporate services and performance, added: 'This latest counterfeit seizure is significant in terms of the positive impact it has had not only in Swansea but around the UK. Article continues below 'Our own trading standards did not stop at simply dealing with counterfeit goods being sold on the street in Swansea – they showed a lot of professionalism and determination to tackle the wider distribution into other towns and cities. 'I'm extremely proud of everyone's efforts, along with the assistance of external partners who have provided support for this operation.' Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
