A van driver who killed a retired Derby City Council worker when he ploughed into his bike had been at the wheel for 17 hours when the crash happened. Father-of-two John Barnes was also speeding and had been on his mobile phone for over 30 minutes when he sent John Stewart flying into a hedgerow on the A50 near Derby. The 28-year-old, who had previously been banned from the roads, had 11 points on his licence at the time of the fatal collision. He put in long hours because he was working on a zero-hours contact, a court heard. Now he has been jailed for three years at Derby Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving. James Moore, prosecuting, said Mr Stewart was one of 16 members of South Pennine Road Club taking part in a time trial when the tragedy occurred at 7.50pm on June 15 last year between Hilton and Hatton. He said Barnes had started work that day at 3am and had driven 600 miles. Mr Moore said that, at the time of the crash, Barnes had been on the phone to a friend for … [Read more...] about Speeding driver on mobile phone killed cyclist after 17 HOURS at the wheel
Mobile phone
Great debate: Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
Should children be allowed use of their mobile phones during school hours or should they be banned? Here are two side to the debate...Children actually talking, face-to-face, with their families, kicking a ball outside, engaging in ‘old-school’ activities — whatever could have prompted such a seismic shift in behaviour?Why, a smartphone ban, silly.Hats off to Blennerville NS, outside Tralee, the first school in the country to impose a ban on smartphone use outside of school (and for any wise-ass kid who tried to maintain their Fortnite addiction on their tablet, the ban covers that device too).Now, hopefully, other schools will show equal degrees of courage and common sense, and follow suit.Blennerville principal Terry O’Sullivan is to be commended, but so too are all the parents because, as he explains, the ban would not be possible without their support.Inappropriate instant messaging between sixth-class pupils first prompted an 11-week pilot ban, and while … [Read more...] about Great debate: Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
Children carry knives like they are mobile phones, judge warns
Children are carrying knives “like they are mobile phones”, a judge has warned, after he sentenced a gang for killing a teenager. Liam Hunt, 17, was stabbed four times and left to die in a pool of blood in an alleyway after being attacked on February 14 last year. He was kicked, punched and suffered a 2.7 inch-deep wound from being knifed in the neck opposite a primary school in Northampton, in a killing that the judge described as being “just short of an execution”. The court previously heard that the victim had been in a fight with one of the defendants two days before the fatal attack. The jury was exposed to a culture where kids carry knives like they were mobile phonesJudge Rupert Mayo After the stabbing, CCTV showed the gang running away through residential streets where they buried a knife in a planter, while other footage showed one of those involved re-enacting the attack in a McDonald’s restaurant. Another mimicked … [Read more...] about Children carry knives like they are mobile phones, judge warns
Man wanted in connection to Fylde Coast mobile phone thefts
Fylde Police are looking to speak a man in connection to a series of mobile phone thefts on the Fylde Coast. The man, pictured above, has been targeting small shops by asking for directions or try to sell art while holding a piece of paper.He is described as being in his mid 20's and approximately 6ft 1in and has an eastern European accent.A police spokesman said: "We would like to speak with him in connection with a number of thefts of several mobile phones in the St Annes, Lytham, Ansdell, Freckleton, Warton and possibly Wesham areas."The above photo was taken from CCTV taken on The Crescent, St Annes on June 14.The spokesman added: "If you have any information please report to us via our email address [email protected] or you can report online https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ please quote crime number WA1813315."Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online. … [Read more...] about Man wanted in connection to Fylde Coast mobile phone thefts
Partial ban on mobile phones at Castle Rushen High School
1 Read comments Wednesday, 27 June 2018 - Education Some pupils will be banned from using their mobile phones in the classroom at Castle Rushen High School. The total ban will affect pupils aged 11 to 14, in the first three years of high school.Those aged 14 to 16 (school years 10 and 11) will be able to use them at the discretion of teachers.Sixth-formers will be allowed their phones but the school says ’responsible use’ is expected.The school’s governors made the decision this week.Keith Winstanley, the headteacher, said: ’This is not a decision which is against technology or one which is trying to be overly controlling.’However, when we are faced with an increasing number of interruptions to learning and, in more extreme cases, real upset caused by social media, we have decided to act.’Seeing many of our younger students sitting statically, staring at a phone screen during their social time, isn’t what we are aiming for as a … [Read more...] about Partial ban on mobile phones at Castle Rushen High School