Truro City 1 Yeovil Town 2

Despite losing for the first time in pre-season,  City turned in a promising performance against the Sky Bet League One visitors in their final warm-up game before the start of their Southern League premier division campaign at home to Chesham United next Saturday.

And while disappointed that his side had lost, City boss Steve Tully was reasonably happy with his team's  performance.

He said: "I was pretty pleased overall, though both goals we conceded were poor.

"It was a good work out and we will now build up to Chesham on Saturday."

Before the game, Tully completed the signing of former Salisbury City midfielder Ryan Brett, though he will not be available for several weeks because of a foot injury and the City manager said he was now happy with his squad and knew the team he would start against Chesham.

In a lively first half, it was Yeovil who took the lead after 18 minutes when City failed to clear the ball and Simon Gillett beat Mike Searle with a low drive from the edge of the area.

But City were on level terms four minutes later, when Isaac Vassell headed home after Cody Cooke had been denied by Artur Krysiak in the Yeovil goal.

Not surprisingly, it was the visitors who continued to carry the greater goal threat and they regained the lead when former City player Kieffer Moore bundled Sam Foley's corner over the line.

Ajay Leitch-Smith was the denied a third for Yeovil by the offside flag, after netting when Moore's header came back off the bar.

At the other end, the livelyBarry  Hayles blazed over after outfoxing Jacob Sokolik.

In the second half, Yeovil continued to do most of the attacking with Foley heading over and Moore heading against the bar for the second time in the match.

The visitors should have had a third when Rob Farkins was adjudged to have bundled over Foley, but City substitute keeper Kyle Moore saved Leitch-Smith's spot kick with his legs.

City rarely threatened an equaliser, though Arran Pugh did head wide from a free-kick by substitute Les Afful.

CITY: Searle (Moore 52); White, Farkins, Pugh, Long (James 68); Ash; Lowry (Duff 52), Green (capt) (Ahern 87), Vassell (Smith 87), Hayles (Afful 61), Cooke (Watson 68).

YEOVIL TOWN: Krysiak; Maloney, Sokolik, Martin (Nugent 75), Davis; Dawson, Gillett, Edwards (Hoskins 75), Foley (Berrett 52); Moore (Hayter 75), Leitch-Smith

Goals: Gillett (18) 0-1, Vassell (22) 1-1; Moore (31) 1-2.

Referee: Steve Annis (Penzance).

Crowd: 324.

Police are appealing for help to trace a missing 17-year-old female from Gloucestershire who they believe may be in Cornwall.

Michaela Paige Cheesman was reported missing from her home in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, at about 6.30am yesterday morning police say they are concerned for her safety. It is believed she left sometime during the night.

Michaela is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches, thin, left handed, blue eyes, shoulder length brown hair, and of pale complexion. It is not known what she was wearing.

She is believed to be driving a silver Mini Cooper with the registration number of WR09 FUH which has two black stripes on the bonnet.

Police have information that the vehicle was recorded driving into Cornwall across the Tamar Bridge at 5.35am yesterday. There have been no other reports or sightings of this vehicle since.

It is not known why Michaela would be in Cornwall other than she has enjoyed family holidays at different resorts in Cornwall and North Devon.

Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of Michaela, and/or the vehicle she is believed to be travelling in, should contact the police on 101 and quote Devon and Cornwall Police reference 406 01/08/2014.

Anyone who has information and would prefer to speak to Gloucestershire Police should ring 101 and wait until the option for Gloucestershire Police.

A VOYEUR took photographs of a naked friend while she slept unaware.

At Truro Magistrates' Court Richard Michael Harvey, 29, giving an address in Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism at Helston on August 30, recording another person doing a private act, intending to obtain his sexual gratification by looking at it.

Anthony Eskander, for the prosecution, said the couple were close friends since their teens, and in August last year Harvey came to Cornwall to visit his parents.

After going out together, the pair returned to the female's home in Helston, and she told him he could sleep on the sofa.

During the night, he entered her room and she agreed to a cuddle, provided he remained fully clothed and on top of the bed.

However, she woke later to find him naked from the waist down. He told her: "You are a sexy bitch. There is no place on earth I would rather be right now."

She saw the light on his mobile phone and realised the covers were off the bed and she was only wearing a T-shirt. He had his mobile phone between her legs, taking photographs.

He apologised and she told him to leave the house, reported the incident to the police and he was arrested at his parents' address.

Images on his phone and computer showed an undressed female lying on the bed.

Harvey told officers he had taken the photographs as a memento.

In a statement, the victim said the incident left her upset and shocked that a person she trusted as a friend could do it.

Richard Cogar, for the defence, said there was no evidence the images were uploaded, transferred, circulated or shown to anyone else.

Harvey will be sentenced on August 14 at Truro Crown Court.

A GREAT GRANDFATHER is planning a one-man city centre protest over "bureaucratic red-tape" that could ban him from showing his lovingly-crafted model boats.

Model-maker John Wicks is taking his stand after he was pulled up by a PCSO on Saturday.

The former merchant seaman has been on Lemon Quay displaying the model boats he has lovingly built over the years. But he landed himself in hot water after he was spotted by the PCSO selling a leaflet detailing the history of one of the most prized of his 17 creations – a model of the Compton Castle, which has lain empty next to Lemon Quay for years.

Mr Wicks, 74, said: "I have been giving a bit of show for three years and I only come down when the sun shines. I tell the public a bit about the history and they love it.

"All I say to people is if they would like the history leaflets of the Compton Castle to give a £1 to cover the printing costs."

But Mr Wicks said the PCSO was going to report him because he said the pensioner was not on the square but an area classified as a highway and because he did not have a licence. He claimed Truro City Council gave him permission to be there and he was unaware he needed a licence. Now he has been told he will have to fork out £10 a day or £45 a month to continue showing his boats and offering the pamphlets.

"I am not doing anybody any harm, the public love me and I get people from all over the world coming up to me and saying you're doing a grand job," he said.

"I have even had a police officer and Truro City Hall councillors come to buy my history sheets on the Compton Castle.

"These bureaucrats are stopping me. It's just bureaucratic red-tape. I have asbestosis, I have had four major heart attacks and all I live for is my boats and if I don't have this then I don't have anything. If they stop me from doing this I will be stuck in my house and my models boats will stay in my house and no-one will see them."

Truro police's Inspector Mark Richardson said all traders must have permission from the city council and if selling goods they must have a peddler's or trade licence.

A spokesman for Truro City Council, which manages Lemon Quay on behalf of Cornwall Council, said: "We don't recall giving him written permission and if he is selling these sheets then he will need a licence and that would be up to Cornwall Council to enforce."

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "If items are being sold, a Street Trading Consent would be required, and there is a charge."

WORK has started on paving the way for a new village shop in Grampound thanks to fundraising efforts made by residents and grants.

The diggers rolled in as work started to prepare the site for the arrival of the village store and coffee shop.

Residents launched an ambitious fundraising effort when the Hollies store shut last year.

More than half of households in the village signed up to a community share in the store, amassing more than £20,500 in three months.

Margie Lundie, joint chairman of the steering group, said: "The full impact of losing a facility, which not only provided retail services but was also a place for informal and friendly social contact, was not apparent until the Hollies finally closed in June last year."

Since then, residents have had to drive a six-mile round trip to Probus or Sticker for a loaf of bread or newspaper.

Mrs Lundie added: "I have lived in the village for more than 40 years and I have been involved in lots of things where we have been raising money and I have never known support like this. We have been overwhelmed.

"The support has been across the board and from all ages. It touches your heart."

The store and coffee shop next to the village hall will be housed in two mobile buildings, due to be delivered by mid-August, provided by developer Wainhomes.

The group has received £7,500 from the Community Benefit Fund, as well as more than £4,700 from the parish council. A further £2,000 was given by the Plunkett Foundation, which supports rural communities tackling issues affecting them through community ownership.

Residents also raised more than £1,000 through donations and events but the award of almost £19,000 from the Prince's Countryside Fund, has been the icing on the cake.

The project was one of 15 successful applications out of 165 to the fund.

"Without it we would have had just about enough money for the store and coffee shop but now we can do it nicely," said Mrs Lundie. "Without the money we could not have put in the decking, and we're trying to make the units look pretty with wood-cladding."

Preparation work for the shop will be completed before the hall's car park is resurfaced, which has been made possible by another grant.

By October, the steering group hopes the store and coffee shop will be open, and plans to also set up a book-swap.

Drop-in sessions for people interested in volunteering in the store, the coffee shop or more generally are taking place in the Heritage Centre on Tuesday and August 20 between 6pm and 9pm.

A worried mother from Newquay is appealing for help to find her son's much loved African grey parrot.

Dylan the parrot went missing from Perranquay Touring Park at Rejarrah near Newquay on Saturday.

The talkative parrot is friendly and is a big lover of apple, banana and grapes.

He has never been outside before and escaped after a door was inadvertently opened while he was having his daily fly around the living room.

Gloria Cusens said: "I bought him for my son Matthew. He's never escaped before, he's never even been outside before, and I didn't sleep last night I'm so worried."

Gloria has left Dylan's open cage outside hoping he will return but is also hoping anyone who has seen him in the Newquay or Perranporth areas will call either her (on 07884 132248) or Matthew's partner Kirsty (on 07568 180175).

Last week Albert the African grey parrot from Newlyn was reunited with his owner after security guards from Penzance Job Centre spotted him on their roof and coaxed him down with pieces of apple.

Television star Caroline Quentin has been lending a bit of celebrity glamour to a local centre dedicated to saving animals.

The actress, who starred in Me Behaving Badly, Jonathan Creek and fronted her own travel series about the county, ITV's Cornwall with Caroline Quentin, Cornwall, visited the Flicka Foundation horse and donkey sanctuary.

She is the main patron of the charity near Penryn, home to donkeys, horses, cows, pigs cats and dogs.

Ms Quentin said: "I am thrilled to be a patron of The Flicka Foundation. The hours of hard work and dedication from Judy, Laurie and the team are visible the moment one sees the healthy, happy animals."

The Flicka Foundation started in 1995 and set up home in Mabe 11 years ago, running from Penty Noweth Farm, Trenoweth.

Judy Giles and Laurie Stephenson, who used to run an equestrian centre in the Midlands, collected elderly and rescued animals over the years and it later became a rescue centre.

The centre started out as The Golden Oldies, set up by Judy's mum Mary Berryman, who died in 2008.

The foundation became a charity in 2007, after running as a non-profit-making organisation, and each year it stages fundraising events to help keep the centre going.

It is based in 30 acres and has more than 70 horses and donkeys in its care.

Two of Cornwall's resident musical giants popped up to perform surprise DJ sets at festivals in the county last night.

While Thom Yorke, frontman for indie guitar legends Radiohead, was stepping out to wow crowds at Bude's Leopallooza, electronic music pioneer Richard James, aka Aphex Twin, was spinning the decks at Holifair in the Helford.

Neither appearance was publicised and both created a buzz in crowds attending the two festivals in changeable weather conditions.

James, now 42, was raised in Lanner and studied at Cornwall College before going on to become a ground breaking musician – at one point naming every song on an album in Cornish.

Although never a household name, he was described by The Guardian as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music."

He played at Holifair last night, a family friendly fundraising festival for the Holifield Farm Project in Gweek.

In its seventh year, the festival, this year headlined by Auction For The Promise Club and Backbeat Sound System, raises money for the day care centre for special needs at Holifield.

Yorke, who wrote and sang the now legendary Creep, among a wealth of other successful singles, was also a surprise performer when he took to the DJ decks at Leopallooza.

The Bude based festival, in its ninth year, is a more traditional concept – a party in a field – and was this year headlined by Fenech-Soler, Dry The River, Foxes and Falmouth band Brother & Bones.

The news of their impromptu appearances was broken by Cornishman, West Briton and Cornish Guardian What's On editor Lee Trewhela on Twitter.

People across Cornwall have been speaking out against Israel's actions in Gaza as the civilian death toll in the beleaguered territory continues to rise.

While world leaders debate who broke the latest ceasefire between the Israeli Defence Force and the militant group Hamas in the Palestinian territory, outrage at the impact on civilians grows.

On Friday West Cornwall MP Andrew George condemned Israel for "terrorising" the population in Gaza and urged Prime Minister David Cameron to show international leadership in the face of the Israeli "onslaught".

He described the assault by the IDF, one of the largest armies in the world, on Gaza, a territory roughly a tenth the size of Cornwall, as a "disproportionate act of cold blooded murder."

Elsewhere in Cornwall people have raised their voices in public and on social media to oppose the killing of civilians.

Yesterday in Truro members of the Socialist Party set up a stall next to the Garden Truro event campaigning against the attack on Gaza with the slogan "No More Carnage in Gaza."

On Facebook, a Cornwall based page has appeared urging the Government to send the Royal Navy hospital ship RFA Argus, currently based in Falmouth, to spearhead humanitarian relief in Gaza.

Veronica Vickery, from Penzance, who launched the petition, said: "The hospital ship RFA Argus is moored in Falmouth. She is uniquely designed for this type of necessity.

"Since Israel has abrogated its responsibility to the citizens of Gaza, we request that the British Government unilaterally and rapidly deploys RFA Argus to Gaza.

"We should be at the forefront of the humanitarian response, a pioneering lead from the UK in the face of traumatic world events."

Israel began Operation Protective Edge on July 8 as a response to rocket attacks by Palestinian group Hamas.

Since then at least 1,360 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, by aerial bombing and ground based artillery bombardment.

An estimated 59 Israelis have been killed, 57 of them soldiers.

Cornwall's Ben Price and  Emma Stepto were the respective men's and women's winners of  today's  32nd Indian Queens Half Marathon, round nine of the Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Cornwall Glass and Glazing, which attracted the usual huge field of 570 runners, writes Alan Rowling,

Truro's Price, who teaches in Cheltenham and does his club running for Cheltenham and County Harriers, cruised into an early lead on the wind assisted, slightly downhill opening mile, followed by Cornwall Athletic Club's Stepto,  who was seeking a seventh successive victory on this course.

By the four mile point the talented Price, who earlier this year represented Great Britain in the World Age Group Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run) Championships in Pontevildra Spain, finishing 18^th overall and 6^th in his 30-34 age group, had moved 100 metres clear of Stepto who in turn was 50 metres ahead of Ken Walker (Newquay Road Runners) and Jordan Morant (Hayle Runners).

Over the mid race section of Goss Moor trails, Price was in no mood to be denied a well deserved victory, building a commanding lead, winning by 1 minute 27 seconds despite slowing a little running into a stiff breeze over the final couple of miles.

Walker starting cautiously, had caught Stepto by halfway with the pair running together until the twelve mile mark, which proved to be a turning point in the race. The Cornwall AC Ladies team captain increased her pace marginally and in the final half mile, Walker finally began to fade, as Stepto accelerated home, 20 seconds ahead of the Newquay man.

Morant, who has not missed a Grand Prix race all year, deservedly achieved his first podium place of 2014, running strongly from start to finish, never quite able to get to Walker but well clear of his nearest pursuers.

The second and third podium places in the Ladies race produced went to  Emma Schuck (Hayle Runners and Eleanor Davis (Newquay Road Runners).

KEY FOR CLUBS

BAT Bere Alston Trekkers, BID Bideford AC, BJ Blackpear Joggers, BR Bude Rats, BRR Bodmin Road Runners, CAC Cornwall AC, CH Cheltenham Harriers, CR Carn Runners, ECH East Cornwall Harriers, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HON Honiton Running Club, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MBH Mounts Bay Harriers, MCTR Mud Crew Trail Runners, MH Mile High, NRR Newquay Road Runners, PH Plymouth Harriers, TAV Tavistock AC, TB Team Bath AC, TT Tamar Trotters, U Unattached.

RESULTS

Men: 1 Ben Price CH 1.14.19, 2 Ken Walker NRR 1.17.06, 3 Jordan Morant HR 1.17.30, 4 Jez Mancer STA 1.18.22, 5 Martin Colwill BID 1.18.58, 6 Alex Daniels NRR 1.20.16, 7 Andrew Martin MH 1.20.16, 8 Daniel Costello HR 1.20.18, 9 Simon Yeo TT 1.21.00, 10 Paul Smith CAC 1.21.37. Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Ben Price, 2 Jordan Morant, 3 Andrew Martin. 35-39: 1 Marcus Williams U 1.26.11, 2 Marc Bayly NRR 1.27.28, 3 Ross Portass U 1.28.36. 40-44: 1 Ken Walker, 2 Jez Mancer, 3 Alex Daniels. 45-49: 1 Martin Colwill, 2 Jason Webb CAC 1,23,32, 3 Rich Savage HR 1.23.49. 50-54: 1 Nick Martin MH 1.22.21, 2 Mark Hutcheson BR

1.27.57, 3 Robin Watson FRR 1.29.47. 55-59: 1 Martin Davis NRR 1.23.57, 2 Barrie Cardew CR 1.29.56, 3 Terry Leech ECH 1.33.59. 60-64: 1 Tom Polglase CR 1.33.48, 32 Mike Beattie PH 1.39.35, 3 Stephen Hutchinson BR 1.41.24. 65-69: 1 Peter Uren MBH 1.40.35, 2 Pat Lockett NRR 1.41.43, 3 Ian Ringer BRR 1.44.51. 70-74: 1 Stewart Townend HR 1.50.43, 2 Trevor Williams TAV 2.09.06, 3 Norris Kington CAC 2.10.52. Teams: 1 Hayle Runners 96 points, 2 Newquay Road Runners 132 points, 3 Cornwall AC 197 points, 4 St Austell Running Club 320, 5 Falmouth Road Runners 334.

Ladies: 1 Emma Stepto CAC 1.16.46, 2 Emma Schuck HR 1.23.43, 3 Eleanor Davis NRR 1.24.09, 4 Kay Nias TT 1.32.00, 5 Joanna Herd NRR 1.32.12, 6 Joanna Thompson TB 1.32.41, 7 Amy Sole MCTR 1.32.43, 8 Naomi Tier CAC 1.33.53, 9 Fiona Tideswell U 1.34.00, 10 Charlotte Bennett HR 1.34.40. Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Emma Schuck, 2 Eleanor Davis, 3 Kay Nias. 35-39: 1 Joanna Herd, 2 Faye Toms HR 1.40.11, 3 Julia Pearce CAC 1.41.57. 40-44: 1 Emma Stepto, 2 Fiona Tideswell, 3 Charlotte Bennett. 45-49: 1 Karen McClay MBH 1.40.32, 2 Karen Harrison CAC 1.41.31, 3 Karen Brookes U 1.44.58. 50-54: 1 Julie Payne HON 1.36.55, 2 Lisa Player STA 1.43.00, 3 Lynn Counter NRR 1.46.10. 55-59: 1 Joanna Thompson, 2 Pat Coates NRR 1.58.03, 3 Helen Burton BJ 2.03.10. 60-64: 1 Janet Watson FRR 1.51.51, 2 Susan Mellis STA 2.10.51, 3 Sandy Jamieson CR 2.15.32. 65-69: 1 Christine Le Flem BAT 1.59.20, 2 Cheryll Leach LRR 2.35.22, 3 Carole Drew CR 2.39.57. Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 103 points, 2 Hayle Runners 163 points, 3 Newquay Road Runners 165 points, 4 St Austell Running Club 222 points, 5 Tamar Trotters 307 points.

A TRADITIONAL Cornish baker has sent 6,000 pasties to represent the county's most famous export at a French festival.

Ian Trevethick has just finished a frantic two weeks of chopping, rolling and crimping in preparation for Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany, which will run until August 10.

For the second year running Trevethick's Pasties, which is based in Scorrier, has been asked to supply the Cornish fare for the festival celebrating multi-cultural Celtic nations including Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Galicia, Asturias and the Acadie region of North East Canada.

Mr Trevethick and his team of three have diced more than 150kg of swede to send the treats nearly 300 miles away.

He said: "We were approached by catering company Downright Delicious who came to our shop and tried our pasties and asked if we could supply for the festival.

"We supplied pasties last year, too, so it was nice to be asked back again, especially as we had a really good response from the last festival.

"We have made all of the 6,000 pasties by hand, as we always do, so we know that we are sending the very best product to the festival."

Trevethick's sources its ingredients from local producers, including meat from Etherington's Farm Shop in Scorrier and Greenacre Farm Produce in Redruth.

Mr Trevethick said: "We make sure we use the best ingredients to make sure the family recipe is given justice.

"The recipe originally came from my father's aunt, and we are talking 50 years ago now. When my father and my mother got married she took a particular shine to her and passed on the recipe and it has made its way down to me."

Richard Musgrave, from Downright Delicious, said: "Last year the Trevethick's Pasties were selling faster than hot cakes, right through until 3am.

"The festivalgoers were particularly taken with the pasty as a savoury pastry and were impressed with the quality of ingredients and distinctive seasoning."

Also at the festival will be beer and cider from Skinner's Brewery in Truro and ingredients for the classic Cornish cream tea from Roddas Creamery.

Mr Trevethick, who is a trained patissier and chocolatier, hopes to take fudge and confectionery to the festival in the future.

He said: "My father used to make confectionery and I hope to include his name and work in the business.

"I am hoping make a variety of confectionery including fudge and nougat for next year."

A PERRANPORTH father who breached a suspended sentence four times has been jailed after he bit his partner and pulled her hair. Michael Brown, for the prosecution, told Truro Crown Court that Darren Bown, 31, of Tregundy Road, had been in a relationship with his now former partner Sophie Harris for a number of years prior to the incident at her home in Truro on May 1. There was a verbal altercation between the pair and Bown tried to cuddle Ms Harris but that she pulled away and he then pulled her arm towards him and bit it. Mr Brown said Bown also scratched her face and grabbed her hair and pulled it. Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "There were three parts to this; it was not just a flash of temper." The court heard Bown was subject to a number of court orders at the time of the assault by beating, of which he was found guilty at magistrates' court last month after a trial in his absence. He admitted breaching a suspended sentence order imposed on him last December for punching Ms Harris' new partner during a period when she and Bown were not together. On that occasion Bown was told he had come "perilously" close to going to jail for punching Ms Harris' partner when she took their son to a birthday party at Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, St Columb, on September 14. The court heard Bown was also subject to a further suspended sentence imposed for possessing cannabis with intent to supply and a community order imposed for possessing valium. Jeremy Leaning, for the defence, said Bown's performance on his various community-based orders had been "nothing short of excellent". He said that he had been doing unpaid work at Schooner's in St Agnes well but said that this was the fourth breach of Bown's original suspended sentence. Bown was sentenced to ten months in prison in total and all previous orders were revoked.

THERE was little Pam Patten could do when her husband collapsed and died of a heart attack at their home.

When the paramedics arrived, Mr Patten had passed away.

The tragedy, however, inspired Mrs Patten to begin a fundraising campaign to get a defibrillator for her village of Coverack.

After months of hard work and with the backing of the community, the campaign has been a success and the machine is now in place at Coverack's information point.

The defibrillator, which can be used to restart people's hearts, was bought at a subsidised price with help from Paul Williams and the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity.

Mrs Patten said: "I think my story captured people's imagination. I said to them: 'You know, this could happen to you'. It's been quite humbling really because of the way people have taken it on board.

"The community has really pulled together and people have been so generous – I've had people posting donations through my door.

"I am proud something good has come from something so tragic."

Donations were received from residents and visitors as well as Lizard 2000, St Keverne Parish Council, Cober Valley Rotary, and Helston and Lizard Inner Wheel.

Almost £400 was raised from collection boxes in The Paris Hotel, Brenda's Shop and The Old Mill Shop.

Other fundraising events included a book swap, Body Shop evening and an evening where tea lights in bags were lit and placed on Coverack beach.

Many villagers have also been trained by former paramedic Vanessa Millar on how to use the kit. Co-ordinating the training was Caroline Beadle of Coverack Space 2000.

Twelve-year-old Dan Beadle was the first young person to complete the training course and he also organised a charity duck race in May for the appeal. The event raised £230.

To celebrate the successful installation and commissioning of the equipment, Mrs Patten organised a concert in Coverack Church, called Music For A Summer's Evening, on Saturday, July 19.

The evening's entertainment including The Manacle Singers and other local acts.

A collection of £223 was donated to the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity.

A FAMILY has spent weeks fighting bailiffs demanding cash for a parking fine from their son – who does not have a car or driving licence.

To make matters worse, the Smiths were told by the local authority that their son Darren was being pursued because his name was the closest match to a Darren Smith in Redruth, where the Citroen was registered.

Last month, a letter arrived from bailiffs Jacobs Enforcement Agents for Darren Smith, saying that the 22-year-old owed £129.04 for a fine for parking for longer than permitted in a Staffordshire street on November 20, 2012.

Dad Trevor, 73, of Lower Carniggey Farm, Greenbottom, said: "The first we heard was when we received the letter that the bailiffs were going to call.

"I was absolutely shocked and at first I didn't believe my son, I thought he had been hiding it."

But Darren only has a motorbike licence and has never been to Staffordshire nor owned a Citroen car.

Mr Smith and his wife Karen called the DVLA, which confirmed the car was not registered at their address, then called Jacobs Enforcement Agents to ask where they got their address from.

"We were told by the bailiffs that the address had come from the DVLA," he said.

Eventually the family spoke with Jacobs' client, Cannock Chase Council, which confirmed the car was registered to another Darren Smith, of Redruth.

"I asked how come the bailiffs keep saying the DVLA gave them our address and the council officer said the bailiffs didn't use the DVLA, they used a search agent, which looks up the closest people they can find.

"Our Darren came up because Redruth is only down the road. He came up in a database as a pure gamble."

Mr Smith said he then called Jacobs, which also confirmed it used a search agent.

"They admitted they had not got their information from the DVLA. They had got it from some database that traces people."

But after requesting the case be dropped, he said he was told the council had to await confirmation from the DVLA that his son did not have a driving licence.

Mr Smith said he was told Jacobs would hold off for a fortnight.

"It's like a nightmare, it's just unbelievable," he added. "We feel badly bullied; the thought of having the bailiffs turning up has put a lot of pressure on us all."

Jacobs refused to comment, despite several requests from the West Briton.

James Summerfield, from Cannock Chase Council, said: "The fines go on to a central system which is handled by Stoke On Trent City Council."

When the fine was unpaid it was handed to Jacobs, which serves 140 local authorities across the UK and Wales.

He added: "They have carried out a check and a mistake has happened.

"I have certainly never heard of this happening before."

The Smiths have now been contacted by the council to say the case had been dropped, said Mr Summerfield.

Since being contacted by the West Briton, the council has again confirmed to Mr Smith that there will be no further action.

A MISSING Gloucestershire teenager who had been seen heading into Cornwall has been found safe and well in the county.

Gloucestershire Constabulary has confirmed that Michaela Cheesman, aged 17, who was last seen at home in The Maples in Cirencester at 6.30am on Friday morning, was located in Cornwall in the early hours of yesterday morning.

She was unharmed.

Gloucestershire police said she was expected to be reunited with her family.

Michaela had previously enjoyed family holidays at resorts in Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall Police had put out an appeal for help locating her on Saturday, on behalf of their counterparts in Gloucestershire. She was believed to have been driving a silver Mini Cooper which police understood was recorded driving into Cornwall across the Tamar Bridge at 5.35am on Friday, but not sighted since.

FALMOUTH'S port authority has been ordered to fix three of the town's quayside ladders after a safety inspection found them in need of repair or replacement.

An inspector from the Health and Safety Executive, the UK's independent regulator, also found that there was no risk assessment in place for the ladders at North Quay, King Charles Quay and Custom House Quay.

An improvement notice was served on Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC), which is responsible for the safety of employees and public boat users who use the ladders.

In a letter to boat user Andrew Campbell, who said he tried to alert FHC about the danger, HSE inspector Georgina Speake wrote: "I can confirm that my inspection identified that FHC did not have any risk assessments in place.

"They did have an inspection regime, but this was not effective as some of the quayside ladders were in need of repair, repegging or replacing."

On the HSE web site, the improvement notice read: "You have not made a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of your employees and persons not in your employment arising out of or in connection with the inspection and use of quayside ladders at North Quay...King Charles Quay...and Custom House Quay.

"You have failed to ensure that the inspection regime that you have in place for quayside laddersat North Quay, King Charles Quay and Custom House Quay , that are exposed to conditions that cause deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is sufficient to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time."

Mr Campbell contacted the HSE after he claimed complaints made by him and other boat users about unsafe ladders had "fallen on deaf ears".

The notice was served on FHC on May 20. The port authority has until November to make the repairs.

Captain Mark Sansom, harbour master and FHC chief executive, said: "The notices relating to the management aspects have been complied with and we understand that the notices will be lifted when ladders with identified defects have been repaired or replaced.

"New ladders have been ordered and we are awaiting delivery and fitting which will take place well in advance of the November deadline set by the Health and Safety Executive.

"FHC has no plans to appeal against the notices, we have used the experience to make improvements in our management systems which will reduce the likelihood of similar problems occurring in the future.

"The HSE inspection did not identify any ladders that were unsafe for use although they noted some defects that we had previously identified. Improvements in our inspection and reporting regime have also been put in place."

A TROPICAL storm called Bertha, currently in the Bahamas, could be set to hit the UK on the weekend, according to the Met Office.

Currently the storm is raging in the Atlantic but weather forecasters fear it will upgrade to a hurricane soon before spreading to the UK.

Forecast trackers for the storm suggest it will head north, staying offshore from the eastern coast of the US before turning to track east across the Atlantic.

Although it is predicted to scale down from a hurricane, the Met Office said it could still create a summer storm for the UK.

A spokesman from the Met Office said: "While all forecast models suggest the storm will head in the general direction of UK and continental Europe, there remains a lot of uncertainty about exactly what it will do.

"One certainty is that as the storm heads north away from the very warm seas which drive its power, it will lose strength and become what's known as an extra-tropical storm – so we won't be seeing a 'hurricane in Europe', but there is a chance we could see a fairly active summer storm.

"In terms of timing, there's also a spread of possibilities – but it looks likely that the earliest Bertha would affect the UK would be on Sunday or into the start of next week.

"Given the time of year and the potential heavy rain, strong winds and large waves Bertha could bring if it does head to the UK, we'd advise everyone to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings from the Met Office over the next few days."

A 'dangerous and angry' father, who plotted to kill his estranged wife and mother-in-law after distracting police with home made bomb blasts, has had his sentence cut on appeal.

Christopher Hines-Randle planned to set off explosives in Truro and Penzance so resources would be diverted away from St Austell, leaving him to carry out his murderous plot against a number of people - including his former wife, her mother, a social worker and a doctor.

But his plan was foiled after a friend he had confided in reported him to police and officers found bomb-making equipment in a biscuit tin in his car.

The 55-year-old, of no fixed address, was handed an extended sentence of 17 years - made up of a 12-year jail term and five-year extended licence - at Truro Crown Court in March, after he admitted having an explosive substance with intent and making threats to kill.

He was also handed a restraining order to prevent him from contacting any of his intended victims or his two children.

But his jail term has now been cut to 10 years - resulting in an 15-year extended sentence - by judges sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court, who said he did not have all the elements needed to make a bomb and it was not clear whether he had the skills either.

The judges upheld the crown court's conclusion that Hines-Randle poses a 'danger' to the public and refused his request to vary the restraining order so that he can contact his children.

The court heard Hines-Randle became bitter and angry following the breakdown of his marriage in January 2011 and directed his resentment towards his ex-wife, her mother, a GP and a social worker who had been involved with the family.

In June last year, the former tin miner, who had experience with explosives, told a friend of his detailed plan to set off a series of bombs in Truro and Penzance so he could kill the people on his hit list while police were distracted.

He said his former wife and mother-in-law would have 'slow and painful' deaths because they had 'made him suffer' for the past two years.

The friend did not know whether the threats were serious or whether Hines-Randle was capable of building an explosive device, but was concerned about his deteriorating state of mind and contacted police.

Officers found him in his car, where he had been living, which was parked on the Threemilestone Industrial Estate, in Truro.

They found equipment in a biscuit tin which - although incomplete - included some of the components of an improvised explosive device.

Hines-Randle's lawyers argued his sentence was over the top, saying there was not enough evidence for the crown court judge to conclude he was dangerous, particularly as he had no criminal record.

Dismissing this part of the appeal, Mr Justice Openshaw said Hines-Randle was 'lucky' not to be handed a life sentence and deserved an extended term.

The judge said: "Despite his previous good character, in our judgment his mounting anger and alienation from society, his desire for revenge, the determined attempts to gather components necessary for an improvised explosive device and his deteriorating mental state plainly justified - indeed they required - a finding of dangerousness.

"He was perhaps lucky to avoid a life sentence; an extended sentence was entirely justified."

Sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Sir Richard Henriques, the judge also dismissed an appeal against the part of the restraining order which prevents contact with his children, saying it was a 'sensible measure' to protect them.

However, the court did reduce his extended sentence to 15 years - made up of a 10-year jail term and five-year extended licence - in light of the fact he didn't have all the equipment needed to make a bomb.

Mr Justice Openshaw added: "He had assembled many of the components which could have been used to make an improvised explosive device.

"However, some of the elements were missing and it isn't entirely clear that he had the skills to make a device, which we think does justify making some reduction in the 12-year custodial term."

A DETERMINED teenage sailor who controls her boat by breathing through a straw has stopped off in Falmouth on her ambitious journey around the south west coast.

Seventeen-year-old Natasha Lambert, who has cerebral palsy, completed the 22 miles from Fowey on Sunday, the eighth leg in a 12-part charity challenge to raise £15,000 for maritime-related causes.

Miss Lambert's coach Phil Devereux said: "The determined 'sip and puff' sailor arrived in Falmouth with a huge smile on her face after a day of champagne sailing in sunshine and good breeze.

"The whole journey was upwind today so we did zigzag and ended up sailing a few extra miles.

"However Tash was pleased to get back on the water after having lost a day yesterday due to bad weather conditions.

"We started off with light breeze but it picked up to a Force 5 at times this afternoon and Tash loves the speed. We had some nice waves too."

On Monday Miss Lambert left Falmouth on her way to Newlyn. She will then have a short rest period before taking on her sternest sailing test to date – the 60-mile leg which will take her around Lands End to Padstow.

During the month-long project she is sailing her specially-designed 21ft yacht, Miss Isle Too, single-handed around the south west coast of England to Wales – and controls her boat by breathing through a straw in a specially-engineered bicycle helmet.

When she completes the 430-mile journey the sailor will swap her boat for her special walking aid to climb Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain.

Through the Sea and Summit challenge Natasha is raising money for the RNLI, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the Royal Yachting Association Foundation.

Her target is to raise £15,000 by the end of her challenge – she is already two-thirds of the way there.