POLICE5

Host jailed for trying to strangle wife A pub landlord has been jailed for a year by Worcester Crown Court for trying to strangle his wife. Alan Clarke, licensee at the Live and Let Live pub near Bromyard, carried out the attack after learning his wife, Susan, was planning a divorce. The court heard how an emotionally-distressed Clarke wrapped a rope around his wife's neck. The attack was foiled when Clarke's 17-year-old son intervened. Judge Andrew Geddes said: "This must have been a terrifying attack. Thanks to the intervention of one of your children, you didn't take it further." Clarke, 62, of Church Street, Ledbury, admitted causing actual bodily harm and making a threat to kill. He had told police that he never intended to hurt his wife and provided the court with 26 character references. Search for missing teenager North Wales police are searching for a missing teenager who was last seen at the Cross Keys pub in Buckley. Lee Sellars, 17, of Flintshire left the pub last Thursday at around 10.30pm. He walked several miles to the Penyffordd area where he asked police for directions to the Red Lion pub. He made a mobile phone call to a friend from near the Red Lion at 1.04am, but has not been heard from since. Supt Gwion Jones, said: "This is totally out of character for Lee. We are getting more concerned with time passing. He hasn't made contact, nobody has seen him and it's not like Lee not to contact his family." Acquitted landlord's year of hell' A Derbyshire pub landlord, who was cleared of raping a woman on a snooker table, has blasted the judicial system for putting him through "a year of hell". Duncan Waring, 47, licensee at the Royal Volunteer at Clay Cross had been accused of rape by a 22-year-old woman. He criticised Derby Crown Court for hearing the case. "My life was turned upside down and I'm angry because I don't know why the Crown Prosecution Service brought this case," he said. The prosecution alleged Waring raped the woman at Clay Cross Snooker centre in December 2002 and paid her off with cash. However, the defence successfully argued that Waring paid the woman £250 for consensual sex. Judge John Wait directed the jury to return a not-guilty verdict as the complainant failed to give evidence in court that indicated her lack of consent to the accused. Arsonists strike at disused pub A fire at a disused Surrey pub was started deliberately, police say. Firefighters spent all night trying to contain the flames at the derelict Crooked Billet in London Road, Staines, on 14 January. The interior was extensively damaged. The pub was bought last February by housing development firm Aitch Group which had submitted plans for 46 flats on the site. Witnesses are urged to call police on 0845 125 2222. Teenager cleared of murder A teenager accused of stabbing to death an 18-year-old in a pub has been cleared of murder after a witness withdrew his evidence. Andrew Ferrie, 19, was accused of knifing Lee Wright on 7 June 2002 at the White Hart in Corby, Northamptonshire, minutes after the final whistle in the England v Argentina World Cup match. Ferrie, from St John's Place, Corby, admitted wounding with intent but denied murder. He said his friend, Thomas McKinnon, had struck the fatal blow. McKinnon, 20, had earlier admitted murdering Wright and was set to be the prosecution's main witness. But last week he withdrew his witness statement and refused to testify. At Northampton Crown Court, Nicholas Brown, prosecuting, said: "The case against Andrew Ferrie, without the account of Thomas McKinnon, is fundamentally flawed and would be most unlikely to succeed in a court before a judge and jury. "The fatal stab wound was inflicted by the chef's knife held at all times by Mr McKinnon. "There is clear evidence that the fatal wound was caused before Andrew Ferrie inflicted such wounds on Lee Wright." Judge Charles Wide adjourned sentence on Ferrie and McKinnon until a later date.