E & K Solicitors, Latest News

20/03/25

A man who kept an unlicensed alligator in his backyard has been ordered to pay nearly £1,000 in fines and costs. Ashley Betts, 32, housed Cliff, an American alligator, in a custom-built outhouse and tank for over a year before it was discovered and seized by police.

The 4ft-long reptile was found on July 11 of last year when officers visited Betts' home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, for an unrelated matter and asked to see his licence for the animal. At Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Betts claimed he was unaware that a licence was required to keep an alligator, which is native to the US and Mexico.

27/02/25

An NHS nurse who quit her job after being excluded from a tea round has been awarded £41,000 in compensation.

Susan Hamilton claimed that dietitian Abdool Nayeck deliberately made hot drinks for everyone except her after she had questioned his competency, an employment tribunal heard. She also alleged that he ignored her greetings, turned away when she spoke in meetings, and engaged in bullying behaviour.

27/01/25

A Lancashire taxi driver has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after inciting violent disorder in Southport through social media. Andrew McIntyre, 39, admitted to encouraging riots last summer via a Telegram channel he created, which called on "English lads" to "rise up" following the stabbing of three girls at a dance class.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that McIntyre's "Southport Wake Up" channel became a key trigger for the violence, with Judge Neil Flewitt KC describing him as "motivated by racial hatred" and a "prominent" figure in the unrest. "Your actions encouraged many to plan and commit offences of violent disorder and criminal damage," the judge said.

18/12/24

The UK's largest-ever drug smuggling operation, led by a gangster known as "The Big Fella," was responsible for trafficking up to £7 billion worth of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis into the UK.

Paul Green, 59, acted as the key point of contact for several criminal gangs, charging them to ship drugs into Britain over a two-and-a-half-year period. The drugs were concealed within pallets of fresh produce, including onions, garlic, and ginger, to evade detection.

26/11/24

As part of a new initiative to make drink spiking a standalone criminal offense, at least 10,000 bar and door staff will undergo training to detect and respond to this crime.

The training, funded by the Home Office and set to begin next month, aims to equip staff with the skills needed to identify and address spiking incidents, with the goal of completing the program by spring. This effort responds to increasing reports of spiking, with surveys indicating that up to one in ten women have been victims.