Legal eagles in Swansea have had to duck for cover because of angry seagulls, a judge has said.
A pair of the seaside birds have built a nest on top of the city’s crown court and regularly swoop on passersby.
Recorder John Philpotts warned jury members about the gulls - who he said were trying to protect their young. “They have already dive-bombed a couple of judges,” he said. “I hope none of you have had the same problem.” (PA)
Even-handed approach by police
Attempted break-ins at odd-numbered houses were not fully investigated by one police force as part of an experiment to look at ways of saving money.
Leicestershire Police said the three-month pilot was launched earlier this year to see whether only responding to half of attempted burglaries had any impact on victim satisfaction rates.
For the purposes of the pilot, attempted burglaries at even-numbered houses would be fully investigated with forensic teams sent and fingerprints taken but this would not happen if the victim lived in an odd-numbered house. (PA)
Facebook flyer to shop drug rivals
A sheriff’s office in the United States has posted a flyer on its Facebook page asking drug dealers to turn in their rivals.
The Sheriff’s Office in Franklin County, Kentucky, posted the flyer featuring an image of a marijuana leaf and says, “Is your drug dealing competition costing you money? We offer a free service to help you eliminate your drug competition!”
Sheriff Pat Melton says the post is funny, but authorities are not joking around. At the bottom of the letter, people are asked to fill out information about the drug dealer they are reporting, including the dealer’s name and vehicle. (PA)
Mayor wants chewing tobacco ban
Boston mayor Martin J Walsh wants to ban chewing tobacco in sports venues across the city.
The proposal would cover professional, collegiate, high school and organised amateur sporting events. It would be effective next April. Violators would be subject to a $250 fine.
San Francisco became the first US city to outlaw chewing tobacco from its playing fields in May. (PA)
US hotel loses bike rack battle
A landmark New York City hotel’s bid to get rid of a bicycle-sharing rack from a space across from its entrance has been rejected.
The Plaza hotel and condominium in Manhattan wants the bright blue Citi Bike rack removed from Grand Army Plaza, a landmark itself. It says the 147ft-long bike station is an advertising-laden, traffic-clogging eyesore.
But the state Supreme Court appellate division’s First Department said the city properly reviewed the location and judges upheld a lower court’s ruling dismissing The Plaza’s lawsuit. The city says the spot is ideal. (PA)
Chicken to get 3-D prosthetic leg
One Massachusetts chicken is about to get a costly leg up on life – a $2,500 prosthetic limb made on a 3-D printer.
The chicken, named Cicely, is headed into surgery on Wednesday for the start of a first-of-its-kind procedure to fit her with an artificial limb, her owner, Andrea Martin of Black Thistle Farm, said. (Reuters)