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Happy Mondays star Bez handed fine for ‘driving carelessly’ at 90mph

He told police he sped up to "get away" as he thought he was being followed by "some kind of weirdo".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th September 2022

Happy Mondays star has been convicted and handed a fine after being caught driving carelessly on a motorway earlier this year.

Bez – real name Mark Berry, who is famed for being the maraca-shaking dancer in legendary Manc rock band Happy Mondays – appeared in court yesterday after he was caught cutting across an unmarked police car in his Bentley Continental on 3 January 2022.

The Crown Prosecution Service told the court that the 58-year-old was witnessed the dangerously undertaking other cars and driving at excessive speeds through speed restricted roadworks.

The Salford-born dancer then cut across all three lanes of the motorway, in front of a white van, to leave the motorway at junction five.

At this point, he was travelling at around 85 to 90mph.

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Magistrates in Warrington heard that police officers followed Mr Berry for 13 minutes, before he was arrested after leaving the M56 at Junction 5 near Manchester Airport.

He told police he had sped up to “get away” as he thought he was being followed by “some kind of weirdo”.

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Following the incident, Bez was found guilty of driving without due care and attention at Warrington Magistrates’ Court yesterday, and was subsequently fined £1,009 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £101, as well as costs of £400 – with three points also added to his licence.

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Following the hearing, senior district crown prosecutor Neil Colville, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Berry was driving recklessly on that night without any thought for the other drivers on the road and it is lucky that someone was not hurt as he was driving at speed and carelessly.

“The fact that he cut across a car that was being driven by a police officer is fortuitous. That led them to follow him and stop him before he could cause any more issues. He has denied his wrongdoing until the end, but has now been found guilty. Some people think the laws of the land do not apply to them.

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“Speed limits and road regulations are there to protect us all, and Mark Berry chose to ignore them.

“He has been found guilty and has only himself to blame.”

Featured Image – ITV

News

Tributes pour in for bar owner and ‘Prestwich legend’ after sudden death at 45

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The Prestwich community has been left shaken by the sudden death of visionary local figure Mike Price, who ran the Cuckoo bar and restaurant.

Cuckoo and his family announced yesterday that Mike had unexpectedly passed away at the age of just 45.

His passing has triggered a huge outpouring of grief and gratitude for the work he did for Prestwich, where he has been described as a ‘pioneer’ and ‘pivotal driver’ in the town’s development.

Mike has run Cuckoo since it first opened way back in 2013, when the town’s high street looked very different.

Since then, the neighbourhood has blossomed around it and was this year once again named one of the UK’s best places to live by The Times.

Many of those businesses that have sprung up over the last decade were first to issue tributes to ‘Prestwich legend’ Mike after Cuckoo broke the heartbreaking news.

The bar wrote: “The family and Cuckoo team are devastated to share our sadness that our beloved Mike unexpectedly passed away yesterday. We love you so much Mike.”

It later shared: “Mike would want Cuckoo to continue, so we will be open [today] from 3pm. We would love for anyone to pop in, speak to the team, have a drink and take time to reflect. This is what Mike would have wanted.”

Tributes have poured in for Mike Price, a 'Prestwich pioneer' and co-owner of local bar Cuckoo. Credit: The Manc Group
Prestwich bar in Cuckoo - tributes have poured in for Mike Price, a 'Prestwich pioneer'. Credit: The Manc Group
Tributes have poured in for Mike Price, a ‘Prestwich pioneer’ and co-owner of local bar Cuckoo. Credit: The Manc Group

Award-winning chippy Chips @ No 8 wrote: “Devastated and heartbroken to hear the news this morning. His legacy is all around us. Prestwich wouldn’t be what it is without his vision.”

The Goods In said: “A massive shock & a massive loss. Sending all our love to the team & his family” while its sister cafe All The Shapes shared: “We just can’t believe this heartbreaking news. Unbelievably sad. We are thinking of you all and are here if you need any support. Xxxx.”

Freehand artist Myro Doodles – whose work is visible in windows all across town – said: “Just can’t believe it. A Prestwich legend, how much joy have we all had from what he created eh. Love to his girls and the whole Cuckoo family. we’ve got you xxx.”

Indoor plant business Nonsense, which used to have a presence on the Prestwich high street, said: “Oh wow such a shock, thoughts go out to Mike’s family and friends. A pioneer of the Prestwich we see today! such sad news xx”

Artist Stanley Chow said: “OMg… so sorry to hear this devastating news…”

Another person wrote: “Lost for words… Mike was a key player in making Prestwich the vibrant town that it is today. I am absolutely heartbroken and shocked to see this. I can’t believe it. Sending so much love to you all at this time…”

Someone else shared: “Gutted seeing this and reading it over and over again. Mike inspired me, taught me, mentored me and guided me as a boss and as a friend in the early days of my career and I could never thank him enough for that. He also introduced me to music, shops, new artists and designers and talked nonstop about “amaaayzin’ paaarties with the best viiiiibe”, just because he wanted me to feel as happy in the discovery of new stuff as he did. A selfless man. Love you, Pricey. Thanks for everything.”

One tribute said: “Heartbroken. Mike has been a pivotal driver in making prestwich what it’s had become and is still becoming. Lost for words”

Similarly, one person wrote: “Lost for words really. Mike leaves such a legacy in what he’s done for Prestwich but most of all a big hole in our hearts. Sending lots of love to his family and to all at @cuckoo_prestwich.”

And finally, one tribute said: “Lost for words. What Mike did for my home town, I will never be able to thank him enough for. Mike brought Prestwich together as a community and made it what it is today. Big love.”

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Featured image: Cuckoo Prestwich

News

Jackass star Bam Margera cancels Manchester shows due to ‘injury’ after street fight video emerges

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bam Margera cancels Manchester shows at Gorilla

Former Jackass star Bam Margera has had to cancel both of his Manchester shows just hours before the first event was supposed to take place due to injury.

The skater, TV personality, filmmaker and former stunt performer is currently in the UK for his Q&A tour and live interview series with DJ and presenter Matt Stocks, having recently played in Glasgow and a pair of shows in the Republic of Ireland.

However, the 44-year-old has unexpectedly had to cancel both of his intimate conversation dates at Gorilla in the city centre, with the venue citing “unforeseen complications emerging from a recent injury”.

He was set to play this evening and again next week on Tuesday, 30 April, with the shows billed as somewhat of a meet and greet with Margera and him “talking from the heart”.

Gorilla Manchester has confirmed that they have had to cancel both Bam Margera shows this month.

The news comes less than 24 hours after Margera shared a clip of him on the phone complaining to police in the US after a video of him fighting on a street in LA surfaced online.

While details surrounding how the scrap arose and the identity of the other man in the video still remain scarce, Margera has officially claimed self-defence. He can be heard shouting several expletives in the man’s direction throughout the altercation.

Responding to what he called a ‘bum fight’ on his other Instagram page, he tells 911: “Get a police officer here. Los Angeles Police Department is fucking worthless…

“You should be ashamed of yourselves… It’s been two hours of us trying to sleep and, fucking, this dude’s throwing shit everywhere and nobody showed up.”

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Speaking to TMZ, a representative from his team reiterated that the unidentified male was the aggressor and eventually exited the situation with both parties leaving without injury at the time.

That being said, is still unclear as to whether the incident and the cancellation of his Gorilla shows in Manchester are linked.

Offering a separate statement directly, he added: “I’m not going to be threatened or attacked without defending myself and my friends or people trying to just walk by this idiot, I aimed only to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of my crew.”

Bam’s rep told the outlet that the altercation ended with no injuries and the aggressor eventually departed and he is still yet to issue a response after calling off the remainder of his dates.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Bam Margera (via Instagram)

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