Young apprentices are focusing on a brighter future at Specsavers
JUDGE IS OFFERED MCDONALD’S MEAL AS THANKS FOR SPARING ‘LOVE OF MAN’S LIFE’ FROM JAIL
According to Waterstones, the Fosse Park branch will be a ‘full bookshop’, offering more than 20,000 books, set within the larger Next store
THREE young people are looking to a brighter future after starting an apprenticeship scheme at a local opticians.
Bradley Mallin, aged 22, and 17-year-old Caitlin Collins joined the team at Specsavers in Hinckley, Leicestershire, while Isabel Montgomery, aged 21, works at the Lutterworth store.
All have started their apprenticeships as optical assistants working in the stores and attending college virtually one day a week.
“I’d been working at a local cinema until it had to close due to the pandemic, so I took it as an opportunity to look around and think about what I wanted to do,” Bradley said.
“I was keen to have a job that enables me to work with the public and keep learning, so when the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship with my local Specsavers store came up, I had to apply.
“I started on January 4 this year, and although I’ve started a new job at a challenging time, having to wear PPE, follow social distancing guidelines and strict cleaning regimes have quickly become very normal day-to-day tasks.
“In fact, because of the precautions we have to take to ensure customers and colleagues are kept safe, the day has more structure which affords me more time to learn.
“It’s also been a good time to join the team when everyone has really had to pull together and support each other.
“I count myself really lucky to have found a job, and one I’m really enjoying, when the pandemic is making working difficult for so many.”
Abhijit Roy, store director at Specsavers in Hinckley and Lutterworth, said: “It’s really important to us that we do all we can to support young people, and hopefully through our apprenticeship scheme we can help them look to a bright future in optics.
“We’re fortunate to have Bradley, Caitlin and Isabel on board, it’s great to help them learn new skills and I’m pleased that they’re enjoying being part of the team.”
Under current government guidance, Specsavers stores remain open for all eye and hearing needs during lockdown.
In line with NHS recommendations, Specsavers colleagues use PPE throughout the stores, wear face masks and other PPE during tests, and all testing equipment and frames are thoroughly sanitised before and after each use.
Appointments need to be made in advance, and there are also restrictions on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time, strict social distancing rules and, where possible, card instead of cash payments.
For more information, or to book an appointment, call Specsavers Hinckley on 01455 233723 or visit
A boyfriend who was knifed in the bottom by his partner stood up for her in court, saying they were hoping to get back together.
Leicester Crown Court was told the victim rang 999 at 2am on Monday, December 28, saying his girlfriend had just stabbed his buttock.
“The caller also said he’d had his testicles grabbed and been punched,” said Jonathan Dunne, prosecuting.
“It was apparent that the defendant, Lorna Wiggall, was also present and was acknowledging the assault to the operator.”
The police and an ambulance crew attended the address in William Iliffe Street, Hinckley, where Wiggall, a carer, was arrested in a “distressed” state. She gave a “no comment” interview to officers.
The victim went to hospital with a 2cm wound to his buttock that was “typical of a knife injury”.
Wiggall’s boyfriend had a change of heart after calling the police, and did not want to press charges.
Mr Dunne said: “He attended the previous court hearing and told Your Honour she was the love of his life and he was supportive of her.”
The victim told the judge from the public gallery that he eventually wanted a reconciliation 25-year-old Wiggall.
He said: “I’ve not spoken to her at all, but I want this matter done and dusted.
“I want her to get her own place first and take it slowly. I’d like to sort it out. It was a drunken mistake – we don’t usually drink.”
The prosecutor said Wiggall had no previous convictions.
Gary Short, mitigating, said: “She’s a carer for vulnerable adults which is quite surprising given [this] conviction.”
He said Wiggall had been completely honest and upfront with her employer about the matter, and with could keep her job. Mr Short said: “She’s been living in a hotel and is trying to get the council to give her a flat.”
Sentencing Wiggall, Judge Timothy Spencer QC told her: “This is deeply shameful.
“I know you’ve had a number of problems since your early teens, in terms of mental health.
“Have you seen the photographs [of the scene], there are knives strewn all over, there are at least six?”
Wiggall explained that a block of knives was knocked over, which was why they were strewn about.
The judge said: “This court has far too many knife cases at the moment and the public is really worried, and rightly so, about knife crime. Your case is a cautionary tale: things get out of hand, things happen in drink which they would never do when sober and people get stabbed.
“Fortunately, there were no lasting or serious consequences.”
He said he was suspending her prison sentence.
Explaining his decision, the judge said: “I don’t think you were in your right mind; you have a long-established history of mental health problems.
“I have a letter [from the NHS] saying you’re responding well, taking appropriate medication and are more stable than you were then.
“You’ve pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and owned up.
“I’m suspending the sentence because of [your partner], to whom you owe a very great deal of thanks.”
Wiggall said:
I’m sorry.”
The judge added: “He’s been forgiving and supportive, he regards you as the love of his life and I think he’s wise you should live apart.
“But there may be a time when you live together again.
“Take it cautiously, step by and see if you can work it out.
“It’s very unusual I’m not locking you up today.
“Make this, your first appearance in court, your last.”
Wiggall was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
She thanked the judge as she was released from the dock.
Her partner also thanked the judge, adding: “I’ll buy you a McDonald’s if I see you again.”
The judge replied: “We don’t have good times in this court.”
“I’d just like to say step,