Surrender guns plea
A TWO-WEEK UK-wide firearms surrender campaign is targeting unlawfully held trophies of war as well as guns in the hands of criminal gangs.
Officers hope the initiative, starting today, will emulate the success of a campaign across England and Wales in 2014, which saw more than 6,000 weapons handed in. National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Criminal Use of Firearms, Northumbria Police assistant chief constable Helen McMillan, said it was aimed at the “full spectrum” of society. A DOUBLE amputee is preparing to set sail on a global adventure after fearing he would never walk again.
Paul Johnson, 24, lost both of his legs in November 2014 when he suffered an electric shock as he crossed a railway line in Glasgow. It led to him spending months in hospital and rehabilitation as he was taught to walk again with prosthetics. But after charity help, he is preparing to spend a week at sea.
It is the latest phase of his recovery since working with the Finding Your Feet charity, who Mr Johnson credits with rebuilding his confidence after the horrific accident.
He said: “I was coming home late from a night out, and tried to take a shortcut over train tracks. I don’t remember much from then, but what I do remember is waking up about two hours later with my legs on fire.”
Finding Your Feet provides one-to-one and group support to amputees and families through a range of projects. Since it began working with Mr Johnson, he has passed his driving test, started playing guitar again and taken part in cooking and gardening classes.
Mr Johnson is now preparing to travel to Gran Canaria in January for a week-long trip at sea with the Jubilee Sailing Trust.