lep.co.
uk
COLDPLAYTICKETSDEAL
Shock at
racist Stolen heirloom a
shock for widow
jokes sent
by text
● From Page 1
The company respond-
ed that it “does not send
jokes of this kind”.
Kameron said that he in-
tends to talk to his solicitor
about the matter.
A spokesman for 118
118 promised to investigate
the incident.
He said: “This is a
breach of our standards.
We don’t do jokes like that.
“This is a disciplinary
issue and we would like to
apologise. He should not
have received it.”
Preston MP and racial
equality campaigner Mark
Hendrick said: “Clearly
this is racist material and
would be found offensive
by sections of the commu-
nity.
“I think it’s only right
and proper that 118 118
correct the material they
send out because it should
be seen as a responsible
business.
“I commend the fact
they have apologised for
this and hope that no ma-
terial of this nature will go
out in the future.”
The 118 118 brand is op-
erated by The Number
from three call centres
based in Cardiff, Plymouth
and Manila in the Philip-
pines.
Launched in 2002, it pro-
vides a range of services in-
cluding directory inquiries,
cinema listings, train times,
and a question and answer
service.
Its new joke service has
been featured in a series of
televised advertisements
featuring a pair of runners
sporting headbands and
moustaches.
When the Evening Post
requested a joke from 118
118, the following was re-
ceived:
“Mother: ‘Did you enjoy
your first day at school?’
“Girl: ‘First day? Do you
mean I have to go back to-
morrow?’”
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HEARTBROKEN: A gold
insignia worn by Joan
Jolly's great great grand-
father Thomas Howarth
(left), a former mayor of
Chorley, was stolen
No jail for drunk knife man
A MAN who held a knife to the head
of his former partner has been given
a suspended jail sentence.
Although the couple had split up,
Jay Thompson returned to the prop-
erty they once shared in Ribbleton
for a birthday celebration, Preston
Crown Court heard.
After drinking, his mood suddenly
became aggressive, said prosecutor
Catherine Ellis.
Thompson picked up a kitchen
knife with a six-inch blade and held it
to the head of ex-partner Rebecca
Tilford, the court heard.
She struggled to disarm him and
A PENSIONER today
spoke of her heartache
after raiders broke into
her home and stole a
family heirloom.
Joan Jolly, 85, of Croft
Bank, Penwortham, came
home from her line dancing
class to find thieves had
smashed through glass doors
to ransack her bungalow.
Five months after husband of
58 years David died of cancer she
had been trying to fill the “hole”
in her life with the weekly class.
But at around 2pm last Wednes-
day burglars used a rock to
smash a conserva-
tory and patio
door then rifled
through her be-
longings.
Among items
stolen was a gold insignia which
had been worn by her great-
grandad. The insignia, gold with
a ribbon on one side, is inscribed
with her great-grandad’s name -
Thomas Howarth – who served
as mayor of Chorley from 1894
to 1896.
The shocked grandmother-of-
three says the loss of the in-
signia has “put her back”
She said: “They had been in
the sitting room where I have a
display cabinet. It is full of all
these bits of silver, but they only
selected certain pieces.
“I was absolutely stunned. It
has come as a terrible shock.
“I am glad it did not happen
when he (David) was here. It
has put me back. When you
have been together 58 years
there is a hole in your life.
“We did everything together
but I am battling through it. You
suffered a slight cut to her hand, ex-
plained Miss Ellis. Thompson, 29,
formerly of Burholme Close, Preston,
pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.
His barrister, Jenny Ashworth,
said the defendant had no previous
convictions, adding: “This was total-
ly out of character.”
Judge Pamela Badley told Thomp-
son his behaviour had been unac-
ceptable. She handed down a 20-
week sentence, suspended for a year.
In addition he was told to under-
take 80 hours unpaid work, with £400
to be paid in compensation to his vic-
tim and £200 costs.
Evening Post, Wednesday, November 26, 2008
by Ben Robinson
ben.robinson@lep.co.uk
have got to keep cracking on.”
Among other items stolen
were two silver candlesticks and
a sapphire ring Joan inherited
from her mother.
The insignia had been passed
to her son Philip, who lives in
Leyland, but he decided to leave
it with his mother.
She said: “He thought it was
safer here, but it was his by
rights. It has no intrinsic value
to anybody else.”
Elsewhere in the county, po-
lice have warned residents in the
Lancaster area to be
vigilant after three
bogus caller reports
on November 17.
At 4.28pm a man
struck at a house on
Ennerdale Avenue
Morecambe, saying he was from
the Gas Board. He was white,
40, 5ft 5in with dark curly hair. He
wore a long dark green jacket.
Between 4.40pm and 4.50pm
two men knocked at a house on
Grange View, Warton, claiming
to be from the Water Board.
The first was white, 40 to 50, 5ft
10in to 6ft 4in, of stocky build,
with grey curly hair. He had a
Dublin Irish accent and wore a
black beanie hat, black jumper
and trousers. The second was of
slight build with black clothes.
At 5pm on Ash Tree Grove,
Bolton Le Sands, another white
man, aged 30 to 40 and 5ft 11in,
called at a house.
He was clean shaven with a
quiet voice. He wore a woolly
hat and long dark coloured coat.
Anyone with information can
call police on 01524 63333 or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
5
NEWSBRIEF
Accused of
burglaries
A MAN has been charged
with four offences of bur-
glary.
David Castell, 32, of
Hampstead Road in Rib-
bleton, Preston, will also
face two charges of theft
and one of handling stolen
goods when he appears at
Preston Magistrates
Court next month.
He has been bailed until
December 2.
Dinner marks
a milestone
DIGNITARIES will at-
tend a dinner to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of
the opening of the Preston
bypass, now the M6.
The event will be held at
County Hall in Preston on
Thursday December 4.
The Evening Post will
run a special supplement
to mark the anniversary.
Cigar man
is burned
A 70-YEAR-OLD smok-
er has been taken to hos-
pital with burns after a
bedroom fire.
Nurses rushed to the
sheltered accommodation
at Beckview, Scotforth,
near Lancaster, where
they found the elderly
man’s bed on fire as he
was lying in it. He is
thought to have been
smoking a small cigar.
Quiz police
THE next Police and
Communities Together
meeting for Leyland is at
Balshaws High School,
Church Road, on Decem-
ber 2. It starts at 5pm and
will be attended by PC
Steve Gallery and PCSO
Tony Wojnarowski.