Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOP GEAR SABINE DEAD AT JUST 51
Driver and host lost cancer fight
STARS of Top Gear have paid tribute to racing driver and co-host Sabine Schmitz, who has lost a four-year battle with cancer at the age of 51.
The German – nicknamed the Queen of the Nurburgring after her country’s famous racetrack – first appeared on the show in 2004, driving a transit van round the track, and joined the presenting team when Chris Evans took over in 2015.
Nurburgring bosses said she had “passed away far too early”, adding: “We will miss her and her cheerful nature.”
Former host Jeremy Clarkson, 60, said: “Terrible news about Sabine. Such a sunny person and so full of beans.”
Current host Paddy Mcguinness, 47, said: “She gave me pointers on how to drive a Ferrari very fast and hunted me down in a banger race. Brilliantly bonkers and an amazing human being.” Co-star Chris Harris tweeted: “Rest in peace, you wonderful, powerful, hilarious person.”
Sabine, who wed her second husband, German racer Klaus Abbelen in 2007, and had no children, was the only female winner of the 24 Hours Nurburgring, an annual endurance event.
She said last year that, after getting a little better, her cancer had “come back with full force”. Sunday’s Top Gear, on BBC1 at 8pm, will be dedicated to her.
HOME BLOW
A MAN was given community service for trying to bypass planning laws by declaring his land a sovereign state – and calling himself “King Steve”.
Steve Ogier wanted to build a small home on the plot but his application was refused.
He then declared the land “Everland”, named himself its ruler and campaigned to have it classified as its own state.
Steve took his battle to the Royal Court on Guernsey but his claims were rejected and he was convicted of five offences under The Land and Planning Law.
Now the dad of one has been given 120 hours of community service – but he maintains he has not broken the law.
Representing himself, Ogier told the court he was not appearing to be sentenced but to ask for all previous orders and judgments to be dismissed.
Prior to the court deliberating sentence, Deputy Bailiff Jessica Roland asked him what type of term he would respect.
Ogiers said he would do community service if it was a standalone penalty as he did not mind serving the public and he did not consider it a sentence.
If imposed along with anything else, however, he would refuse to do both. While the court could treat him as a man of previously good character, he was put at a high risk of reoffending on planning matters.
Sentences of 40 hours of community service were imposed for each offence, though some will be concurrent leaving a total of 120.
Ms Roland reminded him he still had to comply with planning legislation and said he could expect more severe penalties were he to come back before the court for further breaches.
THERE HE SLOWS The 8mph getaway
BIZARRE CCTV footage shows the moment a thief carried out a raid on a Grand Theft Auto scale on a disability shop showroom – before escaping on an 8mph mobility scooter.
Owners of the Modern Mobility store in Fosse Park, Leicester, believe he had “cased the joint” beforehand as he drove off in the top-of-the-range £10,000 scooter within 20 seconds of breaking in.
Police are keen to track down the culprit, who was spotted by a member of the public making a slow getaway at around 8.45pm last Saturday.