Ex-host murders his family
A former pub landlord murdered his ex-lover and two young daughters before committing suicide in Humberside last week. Richard Hicks and Joanne Catley ran the Green Man pub in Stallingborough until December 2003. However, Catley had recently relocated to Healing to escape Hicks, who had attacked her on several occasions. Local police found Catley and her two daughters, Phoebe, four, and Emma, two, dead at their home in Webster Mews, Healing. Police believe that Hicks, whose body was discovered in the River Humber, murdered the family. The couple's third child, 13-month-old Lily, was discovered unharmed in Hick's abandoned car. Jean Rungard, a friend and former employee of Catley said: "We knew he hit her. It got so bad she had to take out a restraining order. It's tragic it came to this." Humberside police revealed they had been called to the Green Man pub twice in recent weeks after Hicks had attacked Catley. Pair jailed for assault on barman Two men have been jailed for beating a bar worker with a heavy bladed instrument in Watford. Colin Clarke, 27, was jailed for four and a half years and Stephen Flowerdew 40, was jailed for three years. Both men, of Hemel Hempstead, were found guilty of the attack. Luton Crown Court heard how bar worker Matthew Henry was called into a dark room and subjected to an "extremely violent assault" by the men at the Jolly Friars pub. Judge Geoffrey Burke QC said Clarke beat Henry with a "heavy bladed instrument". Henry suffered a fractured ulna and radius during the attack, which happened on 29 December 2002 Clarke and Flowerdew denied grievous bodily harm with intent. The court heard how Clarke was on bail for a firearms offence when the attack occurred. His four-and-a-half-year sentence will be added to the seven years he is currently serving. Police probe gangland shooting Two men have been left fighting for their lives after what is believed to be a gangland attack in a Glasgow pub. John McCartney, 41, and Craig Devlin, 31, were shot in the Royal Oak pub on Nitshill Road in Pollock. Detective Chief Inspector Les Darling said: "We are keen to speak to two men who were seen to enter the Royal Oak around the time of the incident." McCartney's condition was described as critical in Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, while Devlin is stable. Man in court over pub quiz fight A man who punched bar staff and attempted to ruin a pub quiz has appeared before magistrates. Lancaster Crown Court heard how Simon Anderson of Long Marsh Lane started shouting out answers to a quiz at the city's Paddy Mulligan's pub. He became abusive after he was asked to leave by staff. He was removed from the venue, but returned and offered to fight the quizmaster. The invitation was refused and Anderson then struck barman Stephen Redmond in the face. David Batty, defending, said: "It was a prank at the start, but it disturbed a lot of people's enjoyment of the evening." Anderson was given a six-month community rehabilitation order and told to pay £50 compensation to Redmond. Police block bid for extra hour Police have blocked a Darlington bar from extending its opening hours. Stadia in Duke Street, Central Ward, wanted to stay open an extra hour at weekends. But Chief Inspector Graham Hall argued that an extension would lead to a rise in drink-related disorder in the town. "We have no objections to the running of the premises, but the extended licence would affect our ability to control crime and disorder," he told Darlington licensing committee. Police said statistics showed 74% of assaults in the Central Ward area of Darlington had been linked to alcohol. Councillor Brian Jones said: "I think we owe the police our support in this matter.
