Connect with us

Published

on

A nurse has been struck off after her secret lover patient died in a car.

Penelope Williams had been a registered nurse working at a renal haemodialysis unit in Wrexham since October 2019 when the incident happened.

On the evening of 8 January 2022, the patient was found partially clothed in the back of a car and subsequently died from heart failure and chronic kidney disease triggered by a medical episode, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was told.

Mrs Williams failed to call an ambulance when the patient became unwell, according to a report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s fitness to practice committee.

The patient, known as Patient A, was a renal patient on regular dialysis who also had heart problems.

Earlier, Mrs Williams had been to a colleague’s house and left later after an evening of socialising.

At 11.56pm, Mrs Williams called her colleague “crying and distressed” as she tried to explain someone had died.

More on Wales

The colleague advised Mrs Williams to call an ambulance and later arrived to meet Mrs Williams at the student nursing car park of the Spire Hospital in the northeast Wales city.

The colleague could see Patient A in the back of a car and she went to check on him.

After discovering he was unresponsive, the colleague called for an ambulance and the police as they had not already been called by Mrs Williams.

Mrs Williams’ colleague was advised by the 999 call handler to perform CPR.

When Patient A was taken out of the car, his trousers were down.

Read more:
Inverclyde nurse struck off for sexual relationship with patient
Dundee nurse struck off for sending inappropriate messages

After he subsequently died, Mrs Williams told the police and paramedic at the scene that the patient had sent her a message on Facebook telling her that he was unwell so she came to meet him.

Later on 9 January 2022, she told police she and the patient were in a sexual relationship and they had already arranged to meet that evening in the car park.

Mrs Williams gave a different account on 17 February 2022 when she denied any sexual relationship at a formal health board meeting.

She said she had met with Patient A and they sat at the back of his car talking for about 30-45 minutes.

Mrs Williams recalled the patient groaning and dying suddenly.

A local disciplinary hearing was held on 19 May 2022 where Mrs Williams admitted to having an intimate relationship with the patient which she did not disclose to her employer.

At a virtual hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council last week, Mrs William was given a striking off order and interim suspension order for 18 months.

The fitness to practise panel determined Mrs Williams’ failure to disclose the relationship, and her limited insight into the damage her relationship could cause to nursing’s reputation or its effect on public safety, amounted to serious misconduct.

As a result, she was ultimately struck off for bringing the profession into disrepute.

Continue Reading

UK

Three women charged under Terrorism Act after van driven into fence of defence factory

Published

on

By

Three women charged under Terrorism Act after van driven into fence of defence factory

Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into an external fence of a defence business in Edinburgh.

The incident happened at the Leonardo facility in Crewe Road North on Tuesday.

The three women – aged 31, 34 and 42 – who were earlier arrested under the Terrorism Act have been charged and are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday 21 July.

Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

UK

Man arrested on suspicion of double murder after elderly couple killed in St Helens fire

Published

on

By

Man arrested on suspicion of double murder after elderly couple killed in St Helens fire

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly couple died following a fire at their home in St Helens.

Peter Eric Greener, 77, known as Eric, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, were caught in the blaze at their home on South John Street in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Greener died on Wednesday, while Ms Jackson died on Thursday.

Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police
Image:
Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police

Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police
Image:
Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police

Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire.

On Sunday, the force said the suspect from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.

Read more from Sky News:
Man tells of dramatic escape from capsized tourist boat
Catching a ‘sadistic’ serial killer

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and not to comment or post in any way which jeopardises this ongoing work.”

More on Merseyside

DS Wilson said “extensive enquiries” continue.

She added: “And to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident.

“Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment.”

Continue Reading

UK

How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit – and many of them work for fast food delivery firms

Published

on

By

How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit - and many of them work for fast food delivery firms

It’s lunchtime on Birmingham’s New Street. 

Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes.

The area is packed with shoppers and workers.

PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She’s on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes – and she knows she’ll find them here.

“You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it’s generally going to be illegal – the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that’s on the back wheel,” she explains.

Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets.

PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She’s had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her.

More on Birmingham

Within minutes, she’s spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it – followed by plain-clothed officers.

PC Gartlan tests the bike – it’s showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer – just over 30mph.

PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike
Image:
PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike

The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance.

I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes – all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers.

The commotion is attracting a lot of attention.

“They are dangerous,” Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me.

Demoz had his bike taken by police
Image:
Demoz had his bike taken by police

She’s stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she’s had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children.

It’s not just West Midlands police officers here – immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They’re involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year – a 50% increase on last year.

Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they’ve already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully.

“He’s been detained,” he says, “to affect his removal from the UK.”

Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van – they’re destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz.

Read more:
Non-folding e-bikes banned on London Tube
E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

A e-bike that was seized by police in West Midlands
Image:
An e-bike seized by West Midlands Police

He’s on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it.

He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal.

“I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future,” he says.

I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.

Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they’re all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders.

As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he’s thinking of changing his job.

Continue Reading

Trending