Children ‘so addicted to vapes they can’t last lesson without one’ – as mother of teenager who died issues warning
When vape sensors were fitted in the toilets at St Joseph’s High School in Horwich in Bolton, headteacher Tony McCabe never expected what they were about to reveal.
“On the very first day, they went off 112 times.”
In a school of 1,000 pupils, he said it was “beyond anything I imagined”.
Those caught included pupils as young as 11.
The school has been proactive in trying to educate its students and their parents about the risks of vaping and the extent of the problem.
“Some of our young people are so addicted to vapes that they can’t last a lesson – so an hour of time – without the need to pop out and use a vape,” said Mr McCabe.
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How does vaping affect long-term health?
The government is to carry out a consultation on restricting the flavours, descriptions, display and packaging of vapes so that they are no longer targeted at children. It will also look at restrictions on the sale of disposable vapes.
“I see young people as victims of the vape crisis because I think families and society has sleepwalked into this new habit without realising the impact,” said Mr McCabe.
It is estimated that five million disposable vapes are discarded every week in the UK.
That number has quadrupled in a year and doesn’t include devices recycled properly.
Increasing numbers of unregulated disposable vapes, some laced with traces of cannabis, have been seized in recent months and there are fears the growing black market will fill the void created by restrictions.
Vape pens
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“If you’re making it illegal, it’s just going to open darker routes into obtaining the vapes,” said student Venice Sison.
She is one of a number of students at St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Swinton in Greater Manchester who told us that vaping is now ubiquitous among teenagers.
“They’re going to get them, probably getting an adult to get it, they’re going to find ways around it if they’re that addicted that they can’t give it up,” said Kishan Ramnaught.
Rosey Christoffersen
Rachel Howe could not have a clearer message for those young people who do vape.
Her daughter Rosey Christoffersen died three days before her 19th birthday. Her lungs collapsed, and doctors suspect that chemicals in e-cigarettes could have been to blame.
“She started vaping in the August, and she was dead in the February,” she said.
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Ms Howe welcomes government action but wants it to go further.
“It will help, but I think there needs to be research.
“I think they’re under the impression that it is safe, they’re under the impression that it’s better than smoking, and it’s not.
“There’s nothing on paper to tell you that it is better for you than smoking.”
Her message to young vapers is simple: “Don’t do it.”
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
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‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
How the parade crash unfolded
Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
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