Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a child was hit by a flare at a Bury football match over the weekend.
A group of male protestors gathered outside of the stadium were reportedly throwing flares into the ground at Neuven Stadium, according to GMP Bury Division, causing injury to a player and a 12-year-old girl.
Game 4 of the week and 1st of the day. Bought a programme, saw a goal, left half time. Didn't buy a pie though. Probably go to groundhopper hell for that. Bury v North Shields. pic.twitter.com/nIyzH709zp
The two individuals hit by the projectile in this instance are said to have only suffered minor injuries.
Citing FA Rule E20.1, they reiterated that the national footballing body and North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) have a ‘zero tolerance’ when it comes to pyros and that it is an offence to enter a football ground with ‘flares, smoke bombs or fireworks’.
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Fans of the phoenix club founded in December 2019 have been protesting in recent months over a potential merger with the original club, Bury FC.
Bury FC Supporters Society (BFCSS) and AFC’s Shaker’s Community Society groups revealed proposals to merge the two clubs after Bury FC were kicked out of the English Football League (EFL) for failing to pay off their debts and pay players’ wages back in August 2019.
Moreover, supporters of the ‘Vote No Merger’ movement are said to have marched on the nearby Redbank Playing Fields around 11am, resulting in the cancellation of youth team Radcliffe FC’s scheduled fixtures, as per Bury Press.
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The protests outside the ground began just over an hour later and while the group insisted they ‘were never going to be a threat’, Radcliffe FC’s chairman Paul Hilton said he was “appalled at the decision which has impacted children “who are absolutely innocent”.
The club itself shared a Facebook post detailing the local police statement, emphasising that “Bury AFC is a family-friendly club [and] we are committed to make it a safe environment for all that attend.”
Bury Division’s Chief Inspector Samantha Goldie said: “Whilst we anticipate protests taking place and facilitate them where possible, we absolutely do not tolerate violence.
“This is a public event and ultimately we want everyone to be safe and have an enjoyable time. Thankfully this reckless and dangerous action by a few did not result in serious injury”.
She is also urging people to come forward with any footage or information.
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Meanwhile, Bury’s administration is once asking fans to ‘Be loud and proud when supporting the team, but say #NoToFlares.’
If you have any information, you can contact the police on 0161 856 8181 quoting incident number 1415. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured image: Bury AFC
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Chorlton widower flooded with kindness after sending a letter to neighbours
Daisy Jackson
A pensioner in Chorlton has been flooded with kind messages after sending a heartwarmingly honest letter to his neighbours.
David Whitehead, 75, posted a letter to other homes on his street asking if they ‘might allow’ him to meet their dogs, writing that he ‘very much misses canine contact’.
David shared in his letter that he and his late wife had rescue dogs when they lived in Northern Ireland.
But since moving to Chorlton and into rented accommodation, he’s no longer allowed to have pets.
Since the widower’s touching appeal was shared in a local Facebook community group, he’s been flooded with kind offers of companionship – both human and four-legged.
One person shared that he has already ‘met five dogs in four days’, along with a photo of David holding two small dogs in a coffee shop.
David’s letter reads: “Do excuse this unsolicited letter from a well-meaning neighbour.
“Last month I came to live at Acres Rd. Because my house is rented I am prohibited from keeping a dog (or indeed any kind of pet). Which saddens me. In an earlier life – in County Down, Northern Ireland – my late wife and I homed a sequence of rescue-dogs, and I very much miss canine contact.
“I am writing to ask, therefore, whether you have a dog or dogs yourself and, if you do, whether you might allow me to meet him/her/them.
“Beyond that, occasionally joining you on a walk (not-too-strenuous: I am 75!) would mean a lot to me.
Chorlton widower flooded with kindness after sending a letter to neighbours. Credit: Facebook, Rory Michael
“Again: my apologies if you find this approach intrusive; it is certainly not meant to be. If you don’t, please consider texting me so that we can discuss how to proceed.
“Thank you and best wishes, (Prof) David Whitehead.”
One neighbour then shared the following update: “Hello everyone! David wanted to thank everyone for their kind comments and messages, he’s now met 5 dogs in 4 days including my own dogs.
“David was the loveliest coffee shop companion and if anyone with a dog wants to reach out to him I can vouch for him not being an internet weirdo.”
GMP detective jailed after sexually assaulting another police officer while on duty
Emily Sergeant
A police detective has been jailed after sexually assaulting another office and staff member while on duty.
Detective Sergeant Richard Mills, from Rochdale, was found guilty by jury verdict of two counts of sexual assault in December of last year, with the two counts in relation to incidents of forceful sexual touching in 2016 and 2020 while he was based in Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Oldham district, and then in the Crime Coordination Unit at Nexus House.
The 42-year-old was said to have been brought to justice for his “abhorrent behaviour towards his colleagues” after they bravely came forward and supported prosecutions during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court last week.
GMP says Mills first came onto the force’s internal investigation team’s radar in 2016 following a report from a member of staff.
Detectives began investigating allegations of sexual assault and gross misconduct, and DS Mills subsequently relocated from working in Chadderton Police Station to the Crime Coordination Unit in Nexus House.
But then, in March 2023, DS Mills made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature in an open working environment within the earshot of several colleagues, which again, sparked numerous complaints and eventually gained the attention of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate.
#JAILED | DS Richard Mills starts an 18-month jail term today after he was found guilty of sexual offences.
He abused his position of trust and authority within GMP and we are appealing for Mills to lose his right to a police pension.
Amid this offence, it was then that another police officer came forward to disclose DS Mills had sexually assaulted her in 2020.
In both cases, DS Mills was said to have grabbed his co-worker’s hand and forced them to touch his genitals over his trousers.
Mills was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court last Friday (7 February), and has also been placed on the sex offender registry for ten years.
Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, gross misconduct proceedings will take place.
“DS Mills gravely abused his position of trust and authority within the force when he assaulted his female colleagues for his own perverse gratification,” commented Detective Superintendent David Jones, from GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, following the sentencing.
“It was through their brave disclosure that we built a strong prosecution case.
Detective Superintendent Jones said Mills is “unfit to serve the public” and confirmed that he has been barred from policing.