Man shot dead in pub
A man was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in a Liverpool pub as he celebrated the New Year. Danny McDonald, 20, was shot several times while standing at the bar of the Royal Oak in Norris Green on 1 January. Police found his body lying near the pub doorway. McDonald's friend, 19-year-old John Paul Cummins, also suffered a single gunshot wound to his abdomen in the attack, which took place at around 5pm. The gunman, whose face was concealed by a jacket and a hood, simply walked into the pub and opened fire. Detectives said they believe that the gunman had known his victim and it was a targeted attack. Officers have urged any witnesses, including an estimated 60 drinkers who were in thepub at the time, to contact Merseyside Police. A statement from McDonald's family said: "We want whoever did this to be caught as soon as possible. These shootings must be stopped." Host struck by hammer A Nottinghamshire host was knocked unconscious with a hammer and then his pub was vandalised in a Christmas Day attack. Wayne Pym, licensee of the Man of Trent in Clifton, was set upon by a gang who were drinking at his pub at about 10.30pm. Some of the group were asking for money from members of his staff as they were leaving to go home. Pym was hit with a hammer after he asked the group to leave. Paramedics rushed Pym, left unconscious and blood-soaked, to hospital. He was able to return to the pub the next day with cuts to his head and a black eye. But, in the meantime, the gang returned to smash most of the windows in the pub, while Pym's five-month-old daughter and staff members remained inside. The group also left a gash in a noticeboard using an axe. Police said they had made no arrests in connection with the incident and have urged witnesses to call Clifton Police on 0115 945 5999. Pub is hit by double blow A Cambridgeshire pub was burgled and had its award-winning festive display wrecked in two unrelated attacks just before Christmas. Vandals smashed the Santa's grotto outside the Cock at Kentford in the early hours of 22 December. The pub had just won a competition for best Christmas decorations by Greene King. Licensees Ann and Ron Beach woke the next morningto find Santa knocked over, the Christmas tree uprooted and fake presents scattered on the road. Local residents told them the decorations had been wrecked by drunken revellers. During the previous evening, thieves stole £75 from the staff Christmas fund. Police seek witnesses A man died after being found unconscious in the car park of a Surrey pub. The man was found by a passer-by at the rear of the Duke's Head in Hepworth Way, Walton-on-Thames, at about 6.30am. The passer-by called an ambulance and the man was taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, where he died last week. Police cordoned off the car park and have searched the area. The dead man, thought to be in his late 30s, has been identified, but police are not releasing his name. Anyone with information is urged to call DC Ben Wayment on 0845 125 2222. New Year's Day raid Raiders threatened staff with a gun, knife and sledgehammer during a New Year's Day robbery at Grimsby pub the Pestle & Mortar. Three men wearing balaclavas entered the pub in the Old Market Place at about 1.30am. They locked two male staff members in a room. One worker received minor injuries. The raiders fled with cash from the safe. Staff were later freed by armed police officers. A police spokesman said no descriptions of the raiders had been issued, but they believed that one was wearing a camouflaged jacket. Anyone with information is asked to call Grimsby Police on 01472 359171.
