Cheshire

Public warned not to approach killer who’s escaped prison for SECOND time

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 25th March 2022

The public are being warned not to approach a convicted killer who has escaped prison for the second time.

Police are appealing for information as they trace the whereabouts of Shane Farrington.

The 39-year-old has absconded from HMP Thorn Cross in Appleton, Warrington.

He was last seen at the prison at around 6.45pm on Thursday 24 March, Cheshire Police say.

The 39-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter in 2009 after killing a prisoner in his cell at HMP Peterborough.

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HMP Thorn Cross, the prison Farrington escaped from. Credit: Google Maps

He has also escaped prison once before, running away from hospital treatment in Norfolk in 2018.

On that occasion the 39-year-old ran through car parks, a farmer’s field and Norwich City’s training ground before being caught by police around two hours later.

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He’s believed to have links in the Peterborough area but was last seen in the north west.

Farrington was wearing a dark top with white writing on the front, blue jeans, black shoes, a dark coat and a dark rucksack last time he was seen.

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Superintendent Mike Evans said: “We currently have numerous officers carrying out a variety of searches to locate Farrington. 

“While our enquiries are ongoing we’re urging anyone who sees Farrington to not approach him but to instead call Cheshire Constabulary immediately on 999 quoting IML 1230000.

“Officers will be maintaining a presence around the prison and in the local area to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns please do speak to one of them.”
 
Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured image: Cheshire Police

Cheshire

Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k to help ‘save endangered animals’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Chester Zoo is calling for thousands of runners to take on a charity 10k through the zoo’s grounds in a bid to help save one of its many endangered species.

The UK’s biggest charity zoo is looking for 2,500 runners of all abilities to sign up for its brand-new ‘Run for Nature‘ later this year – which begins inside the zoo’s 128-acre grounds, and sees participants race past the elephant, giant otter, and giraffe habitats, all before heading out and around the wider countryside estate.

As well as the 10k route, there’s also a special one-mile ‘zoom’ fun run around the zoo, which is perfect for energetic kids under 12.

All runners will get a medal when they cross the finish line, and there’ll even be some exciting prizes up for grabs for those who raise the most money.

Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k through its grounds and beyond / Credit: Chester Zoo

Taking place on Sunday 24 September, all funds raised from the run will go towards the Chester Zoo’s ongoing and extremely-important efforts to find a vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens endangered elephant populations all across the world – which is known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).

Scientists at the zoo are currently in the middle of the world’s first vaccine pilot study to fight the virus, and hope that proceeds raised from the upcoming events can help “create a future where Asian elephants survive and thrive.”

“We’re so excited to be able to offer places for 2,500 fundraisers to run our first ever 10k Run for Nature later this year,” explained Hannah Wright, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.

Runners will raise money to help the zoo’s efforts to save endangered Asian elephants / Credit: Chester Zoo

“As a charity, fundraising is at the core of this event, but we also hope that it’s a great fun event that the whole family can get involved in – whether running, supporting or sponsoring.

“All participants will be receive a sustainable medal and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, which include annual memberships, animal experiences, and meal vouchers for our gastro pub, The Oakfield, as well as a selection of animal adoptions.”

Read more:

Reckon you’re up to the challenge then? You can sign up to the 10k Race for Nature, or the one mile Zoom run for children, on the Chester Zoo website.

Stick your name down here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

Cheshire

Elderly dog found in ‘shocking’ state now unrecognisable after RSPCA shave 2kg of matted fur

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An elderly dog who was found by RSPCA officers in a “shocking” state is now completely unrecognisable after having 2kg of matted fur shaved off.

The “sweet and gentle” pup – who is named Larry, and is thought to be 13-years-old – had suffered from months of neglect after he was abandoned in the Bradfield Road area of Crewe, before being rescued by the RSPCA, and was found with fur so heavily matted that it left his face almost completely obscured so that he couldn’t see.

He was found earlier this month (2 May) caked in faeces and urine – which had formed thick and hardened dreadlocks around his head, tail and feet.

Larry is a Poodle/Maltese-type pooch, according to the RSPCA, but he was actually in such an “appalling” state when he was first found, that officers said it was hard to tell what breed he was.

Elderly dog found in ‘shocking’ state now unrecognisable after RSPCA shave 2kg of matted fur / Credit: RSPCA

After rescuing Larry, and discovering that he wasn’t microchipped, RSPCA officers transferred the elderly dog to the animal welfare charity’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital in Salford, so vets could give him the care he deserved and, most-importantly, get to work shaving off his fur.

Once their work was done, the vets revealed that they shaved almost 2kg of fur off Larry’s coat.

RSCPA centre manager Kay Hawthorn, who is actually currently fostering Larry, said he has been given “a new lease of life”.

“Under the huge matted clumps of fur, a sweet and gentle dog has emerged who’s been given a new lease of life,” she explained.

“He was struggling to get around properly and it must have been so uncomfortable for him, but now he’s enjoying running around again, which is something he’s probably not been able to do for a long time, and given his advancing years, he’s surprisingly sprightly.”

“Surprisingly sprightly” Larry is now enjoying a new lease of life / Credit: RSPCA

While “surprisingly sprightly” Larry may now be enjoying a second chance at living a worthy life, the RSPCA is still intent on investigating his case as they believe he was either abandoned or “deliberately left to stray, and so is appealing to anyone who recognises the dog to come forward.

RSPCA inspector Louise Showering said Larry was in an “appalling” condition, adding: “His coat looked like a pile of dirty old rags and it’s likely he’d been neglected for a prolonged period of time.”

Read more:

Anyone who recognises Larry is urged to call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018 quoting reference 1065689. 

Featured Image – RSPCA

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