Jail for seller of dying dogs

Tragic sailor’s whistle found in wood

A TREASURE hunter who found a whistle belonging to a sailor killed after the D-Day landings is trying to trace his family to give it back.

Darren Tremlett came across the silver antique while searching a wood with his metal detector.

It was engraved with the name R L Hogarth. Darren’s research found the initials stood for Richard Lane, a 25-year-old lieutenant whose Second World War torpedo boat was sunk on July 19, 1944.

He also found where he was buried and got a picture of his headstone.

Darren said: “It was very exciting finding out who it belonged

Darren

to. I have had a bit of help to find out his age and how he got killed on a boat in Normandy. “I even found a picture of his gravestone. It’s fantastic.” The 45-year-old, of Bristol, spotted the whistle at Churchill, Somerset. Richard was from the town but is buried at a military cemetery in Gosport, Hants. Builder Darren learnt the war hero’s parents were William Robert and Esther Hogarth, but he has struggled to find any other relatives.

The dad of four went to village of Churchill to ask locals if they could help, but drew a blank.

He has now started to contact people with the same surname on Facebook.

Darren said: “I just want to get it back to the family.” A MAN who sold sick and dying puppies has been jailed for 33 months, the longest sentence secured by the RSPCA in its history of bringing prosecutions.

Jamie Parvizi, 37, admitted 13 fraud and eight animal welfare offences after Pomeranian dogs he sold died or fell ill, leaving owners with huge vet bills.

A pup bought for £650 by Natasha Langmaid in 2014 has since needed £7,000 of veterinary treatment.

Ten dogs were rescued in a raid on Parvizi’s home in Scholar Green, Cheshire.