A German court has dropped a fraud case against a young Dutchman who claimed to be a teenager with memory loss and had been living in the woods outside Berlin.
Robin van Helsum, now 21, was accused of wrongfully claiming help from Berlin youth services for months.
His situation fell apart in June 2012 when he admitted making up a story that his parents were dead and he did not know who he was or where he was from.
A Berlin court dropped the case against him on condition that he performs 150 hours of community work and receives counselling. (PA)
Liner helps Atlantic rower
Cunard liner Queen Mary 2 (QM2) has taken part in a mid-Atlantic mercy mission.
The vessel has assisted Canadian Mylene Paquette who is attempting to become the first North American to row solo across the North Atlantic.
Having been affected by the remnants of Atlantic Storm Humberto, Paquette requested help, which was supplied by the QM2 in a rendezvous in the mid-Atlantic yesterday. The liner, on a crossing to Southampton, supplied the rower with a new satellite phone and two drogue anchors – sea anchors which hold the boat’s position when it is not being rowed.
The QM2 also supplied her with various provisions including English tea and pastries.
The rower is 83 days into her adventure and still has about two months to go. (PA)
Toy gun sparks armed siege
A toy gun meant for computer game shoot-’em-ups has sparked an armed siege on a British residential street.
Armed police officers surrounded a house in Walton, Liverpool, after a passer-by dialled 999, claiming that a man was wielding a firearm from the window.
After a short stand-off, officers detained the suspect and discovered that his weapon was a plastic games console gun.
A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said that after a short investigation, the person with the gun was “given suitable advice” and no further criminal action was taken. (PA)
Lucan’s medical notes sold
The medical notes of Lord Lucan, which show that he had surgery on his nose prior to his disappearance, have sold at auction for £100.
The record contains details of the visit that he made to a hospital after he broke his nose in a speedboat accident in 1963.
His cousin Victor Bingham said the notes could be valuable for any investigation into the lord’s disappearance.
The medical note, made by Dr John Watson of Harley Street was sold at Duke’s Auctioneers, in Dorchester, Dorset.
Lord Lucan, whose real name was Richard John Bingham, disappeared in 1974 after his children’s nanny was found dead in Belgravia, London. (PA)
Hybrid plant launched in UK
A plant which produces both potatoes and tomatoes, described as a “veg plot in a pot”, has been launched in the UK.
The TomTato can grow more than 500 sweet cherry tomatoes while producing white potatoes.
Horticultural mail order company Thompson & Morgan said the hybrid plants were individually hand crafted and not a product of genetic engineering. (PA)