Strangle

A pub landlord has been jailed by Worcester Crown Court for trying to strangle his wife.

Alan Clarke, licensee at the Live and Let pub near Bromyard, carried out the attack after learning that his wife, Susan was planning a divorce.

The court heard how an emotionally distressed Clarke wrapped a rope around his wife's neck.

The attack was foiled when Mr Clarke's 17 year-old son intervened.

Judge Andrew Geddes said: "This must have been a terrifying attack.

Thanks to the intervention of one of your children, you didn't take it further."

Mr Clarke, 62, of Church Street, Ledbury pleaded guilty too causing actual bodily harm and making a threat to kill.

However, he told Police that he never intended to hurt his wife and provided the Court with 26 character references.

Bail North Wales Police are appealing for witnesses as they search for a missing teenager who was last seen at the Cross Keys pub in Buckley.

Lee Sellars, 17 of Flintshire left the pub last Thursday night at around 10.30pm.

He walked several miles to the Penyffordd area where he asked Police officers for directions to the Red Lion pub.

Sellars made a mobile phone call to a friend from near the Red Lion at 1.04am, the last time anyone heard from the 17-year-old.

Superintendent Gwion Jones, said: "This is totally out of character for Lee.

We are getting more concerned with time passing in that he hasn't made contact, nobody has seen him and it's not like Lee not to contact his family."

Underwater search teams and dog handlers have joined the Police hunt.

Snooker A furious pub landlord has blasted judges in Derby who cleared him of raping a women on a snooker table.

Duncan Waring, licensee at the Royal Volunteer at Clay Cross was claimed the judicial system put him through "a year of hell" after he was accused of rape by a 22-year-old women from Chesterfield.

The 47-year-old criticised Derby Crown Court for hearing the case which, if he was found guilty, could have seen Warring jailed for six years.

"My life was turned upside down and I'm angry because I don't know why the Crown Prosecution Service brought this case," he said.

The prosecution alleged Mr Waring raped the women at Clay Cross Snooker centre in December 2002 and paid her off with cash.

However, the defence successfully argued that Mr Waring paid the unnamed women £250 for consensual sex.

Judge John Wait directed the jury to return a non guilty verdict as the complainant failed to give evidence in court that indicated her lack of consent to the accused.

fire A fire that gutted a disused a Surrey pub was started on purpose, police say.

Officers are treating the blaze at the derelict Crooked Billet in London Road, Staines on 14 January as arson.

Firefighters spent all night trying to contain the flames.

The interior of the building suffered extensive damage, but it is not yet known how much.

The pub was bought by housing development company Aitch Group last February.

The company had submitted a plan to build 46 flats on the site of the pub.

Witnesses are urged to call Staines Police Station on 0845 125 2222.

stab

A teenager accused of stabbing to death an 18 year-old in a pub was cleared of murder after a witness withdrew his evidence.

Andrew Ferrie, 19, was accused of knifing Lee Wright on 7 June 2002 at the White Hart in Corby, Northamptonshire, minutes after the final whistle in the England versus Argentina World Cup match.

Ferrie, from St John's Place, Corby, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent but denied murder.

He said his friend, Thomas McKinnon, had struck the fatal blow.

McKinnon, 20, had earlier pleaded guilty to murdering Wright and was set to be the prosecution's main witness.

But last week he withdrew his witness statement and refused to testify.

Nicholas Brown, prosecuting, said: "The case against Andrew Ferrie, without the account of Thomas McKinnon, is fundementally flawed and would be most unlikely to succeed in a court before a judge and jury."

He added: "The fatal stab wound was inflicted by the chef's knife held at all times by Mr McKinnon.

There is clear evidence that the fatal wound was caused before Andrew Ferrie inflicted such wounds on Lee Wright."

Judge Charles Wide adjourned sentence on Ferrie and McKinnon until a later date.