Latest news with #Gosforth
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Gosforth bar brawl sees two jailed after man's ear bitten off
Two men have been jailed over a late-night brawl which saw one of them tear the other's ear off with his was captured by CCTV footage inside the Kellbank Hotel and Restaurant, Gosforth, Cumbria, at about midnight on 8 July Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court that a drunk Christopher Hewer was "being the bar-room bore" and a fight involving several people ensued after he approached stranger Paul Connor, who initially tried to move away from his "incessant chat".The pair came to blows and Connor used both hands to grab Hewer's head, leaning towards him and biting his left ear completely off before spitting it on to the ground. A stunned female bystander collected the severed ear in a serviette, the court heard, as customers and the only member of staff attempted to stop the 33, of Fenton Close, Speke, Liverpool, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and also affray. He received a four-and-a-half year jail term from Judge Michael Fanning, who accepted he was provoked by Hewer and had not gone looking for trouble. "But I have to deal with you for what you have done," said the judge. "You have used a weapon to inflict this injury. Use of the teeth is a weapon."Hewer, 44, of West View Road in Distington, near Workington, admitted affray and was handed an 18-month prison sentence. "You provoked Mr Connor to the position he found himself in," said Judge Fanning. "You came out of this very much the loser with a very serious injury." The court heard Hewer's partner Antonia Holliday, 36, of Hinnings Road, Distington, also took part in the violence that footage shown during the hearing showed her punching out at another customer, and being punched. Connor kicked Holliday and was punched by her, before the physical altercation with was given a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with the judge noting she was the sole carer of two children. She must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and an alcohol judge considered background information on all three, hearing they were sorry for their a tree surgeon and dad-of-two, had acted out of character as "something snapped" when he was provoked, said his barrister Kim engineer Hewer, who wore a head bandage during the sentencing hearing, underwent a medical procedure earlier this week with a view to a prosthetic ear being available to him. "Even after two years he is feeling the effects," said Marion Weir, mitigating. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Postman follows in father's footsteps by celebrating 100th birthday
A WELL-known former serviceman and village postman is following in his father's footsteps as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Tommy Bell, of Gosforth, marked his milestone birthday on May 18 with a surprise pie and peas supper at the New Life Church in Whitehaven and a birthday cake made by his daughter, Janice. Tommy Bell received a card from the King for his 100th birthday (Image: Family handout) He was also presented with two shields from The Royal Border Regiment and The Duke of Lancaster Regiment and received a card from the King. It was a full circle moment for the centenarian, who in 1987 delivered a 100th birthday card from the Queen to his dad, James Bell, while working as a postman. A young Tommy Bell (right) pictured with his younger brother, Gordon, mum Maud and dad James (Image: Family handout) When asked how he felt about turning 100, Mr Bell said: 'Not too bad. I didn't expect all this and all these people coming to see us.' Mr Bell was born near Kendal on May 18,1925. When he was two, he moved to Scotland, where his dad worked as a gamekeeper. Tommy Bell celebrates his 100th birthday with daughter, Janice (Image: Newsquest) The family moved from Scotland to Muncaster in 1942 when Mr Bell was 17 and his dad was gamekeeper for the Muncaster estate. In December 1944, Mr Bell went to Windsor to enlist with the Royal Horse Guards. He was transferred to the Royal Welsh Guards for nine months and then went to Durranhill Barracks. He was in the Border Regiment and served in India for two years. He spent time in Bombay, Calcutta and Bengaluru and said it was 'very hot'. Mr Bell returned to England in 1947 and finished in the Second Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, based in Stockport. He left the army when he was 22 and then worked on the railways for 13 years. Tommy Bell, pictured in his younger years, has marked his 100th birthday (Image: Family handout) He married his first wife, Thelma, in Distington in 1960 and their first daughter Janice was born the same year. They had another daughter, Lorna in 1963. In 1975, he remarried to Janet, who passed away three years ago. Mr Bell has grandchildren Nicola, Sarah, Rory, Jack and Joanna and two great-grandchildren, Castiel and Chloe. Mr Bell is well-known in Gosforth, where he worked as a postman for 30 years and enjoyed 'having a good crack' with residents. He then worked as a bank guard at NatWest for five years in Seascale and later in Egremont. Tommy Bell celebrates his 100th birthday at the New Life Church in Whitehaven with a cake made by his daughter, Janice (Image: Family handout) He used to play the accordion, playing in bands and in church and he still enjoys playing the keyboard. He attends New Life Church in Whitehaven. Genetics have no doubt played a role in Mr Bell's longevity - his dad lived to be 106 - but when asked what the secret to a long life was, Mr Bell said it was 'staying active'. His dad could always be found on the moors, even in later life. Tommy Bell used to play the accordion and still enjoys playing the piano (Image: Family handout) Mr Bell still enjoys going for walks and says he 'used to walk for miles'.
