People who lost it in 2021
Jailing him for 18 weeks, suspended for a year, District Judge Andrew Meachin said: “Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is a serious offence for whatever reason you are carrying it.”
The offence happened in
Derby Street, where then defendant was then living, at 10.30pm on May 31. The court heard Wodzynski hit a car with the hammer and shouted, with neighbours coming outside to see what was happening.
The defendant, who had moved to Oakenfield, Lichfield, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in public and to a second charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. Helen Bennett, his solicitor, told the hearing her client worked
Above left: the flatbed truck reportedly abandoned on the pavement for four months. Above: Geoff and Lucinda Cooper. Above right: the snapping turtle that surprised a man walking with his children nights as a delivery driver and at the time of the offence was struggling to sleep.
MUM STUCK IN TRAFFIC DAILY
BURTON mum Olga Glass joined motorists in the town in her anger over roadworks making the town centre a “no-go” zone around rush hour.
She was among the drivers sitting in half-hour tailbacks delays on St Peter’s Bridge due to roadworks.
The 48-year-old said in August Burton was in a state of “perpetual standstill”, with temporary lights near the Shell garage on the Burton side of the bridge and Cadent gasworks at the Stapenhill end.
A water leak in Branston Road added to the problems, bringing the town to a standstill.
Cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council David Williams said at the time more than £20 million was being invested in repairing roads.
ANGRY SNAPPING TURTLE ON BANKS OF RIVER TRENT
IT was not just humans put in a foul mood by some of the events of 2021, with a violent North American snapping turtle roaming the banks of the River Trent in Burton in October.
The reptile, which measured 51cm by 37cm and weighed 4kg, jumped out on a man who was walking with his children.
The dad realised it would be a danger to others when he saw its ferocious bite, and bravely took it home before calling the RSPCA. Animal rescue officer Karen Brannan was sent to the man’s house and collected the feisty creature, which she named Hagar after feisty film character Hagar Shipley - the main protagonist of The Stone Angel.
He was found a new home at the National Turtle Sanctuary at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park.
GENEROUS LANDLADY ANGRY OVER PENSIONER’S PLIGHT
IN November, a Burton pub landlady was so angered by the plight of a disabled man stuck in his own home she offered to pay for a ramp to help him get out and about.
Former mechanic Maurice Reed had been waiting two years for South Derbyshire District Council to build a ramp at his Swadlincote home.
Council chiefs said since workman would be sent out to fit a new ramp but two people have come forward to offer to build the vital fitting that would allow the 84-year-old to get out of his bungalow.
One was the stepson of Sam Rice, landlady of the Loaf and Cheese, in Waterloo Street. She said: “When I read the story, I was just fuming. It’s just completely wrong that this elderly gentleman has been waiting so long.
“The cost of building the ramp wouldn’t be that much. I just don’t understand why they haven’t been out and done it. I was so angry, I got straight on the phone to my stepson, Kyle, who’s in the construction trade.
“Straight away, he said ‘yes - I’ll do it’ and asked for the dimensions he’d need to start work.”
Gordon Rhind, chairman of the council’s housing and community services committee, said: “The welfare of our tenants is important to us and I can confirm that our contractors will begin work next week.
“We have contacted Mr Reed’s family to apologise for the delay to the work to improve his accessibility to his home and for the inconvenience that this has caused.”
The ramp was later installed by the council.
RESIDENTS PLAGUED BY BAD PARKING
AN angry note was pinned to a car parked so badly a supermarket delivery driver could not get down a Burton street.
The offending vehicle was parked in St Matthew’s Street in September and reportedly left an Asda driver having to park up and carry the delivery all the way to their customer’s door.
It came after several years of parking problems in the street, which had seen bin collections missed because a lorry could not get through.
The note, left by someone living on the street, read: “Please think before leaving your car parked like this down this street. If an emergency vehicle needed to get through, it couldn’t. Please think of others!!!”
Police and county council chiefs said they would be liaising to discuss whether to install double yellow lines on St Matthew’s Street.