Man jailed for life after pub killing

A man has been jailed for life for stabbing to death an 18 year old in a pub toilet after England's World Cup victory over Argentina. Thomas McKinnon, 21, of Waverley Avenue, Corby, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to murdering Lee Wright in the White Hart in Corby in June 2002. Another man, Andrew Ferrie, 20, of St John's Place, Corby, admitted wounding with intent and was given six years. Northampton Crown Court heard that all three men had been watching the match at the pub. Jonathan Kirk, prosecuting, said McKinnon spotted Wright and went home at half time to collect a chef's knife and a bread knife. Kirk said there was "burgeoning enmity" between the two men after a fight they had in February 2002. After the game, McKinnon confronted Wright in the toilet and stabbed him with the chef's knife. Ferrie came in soon afterwards and joined in, the court heard. Wright was pronounced dead in hospital, having suffered 10 stab wounds to his neck and chest. Study into drug-assisted sex assaults Several police forces across Britain are taking part in a nationwide study into drug-assisted sexual assault. Officers will carry out urine tests one weekend next month, to check for signs of drugs, if anybody claims to have been raped or assaulted. The tests will be taken immediately. Police said this would make it easier to test for the "date rape" drug Rohypnol in particular, which leaves the blood stream after six hours and is not detectable in urine after 72 hours. Police in London, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Northumberland and Derbyshire will be involved. Detective chief superintendent Dave Gee, vice chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officer's rape investigation unit, said: "This test will provide a snap-shot of activity, because any victim that alleges rape or sexual assault will have a urine sample analysed to look for traces of drugs." Guernsey police bolster pub beats Police in Guernsey are stepping up their monitoring of pubs and clubs on the island. Officers are now making more visits to licensed premises to ensure licensees are upholding the law, and to offer support. Police chief George Le Page said: "Regrettably there is a very small minority [of licensees] that appear to have difficulty in determining what their responsibilities are. "In particular we are looking at underage drinking on premises. We'll also be looking to see that there is no drunkenness permitted on premises and they're being managed in an orderly fashion." Cars gutted in second pub car park fire Three cars were left gutted after arsonists set fire to a vehicle in a pub car park, the second such attack in six days. Firefighters spent an hour tackling the blaze at the Pig and Whistle in East Sheen, London, last Friday. The fire spread from a Ford Sierra and youths are believed to be responsible. Six days earlier, fire crews were called to the car park to find that four cars had been burnt out. It is believed the Sierra had been set alight then but was not removed. Football fans run riot at Shropshire pub Football fans caused up to £8,000 worth of damage to a Shropshire pub before a local derby. Sandra Price, licensee of Oddfellows in Wellington, Telford, allowed 30 Shrewsbury Town fans to drink in her pub last Tuesday night, after a request from police, before the team played Telford United in the FA Trophy. But trouble flared after just half an hour. Windows were broken and curtains were burnt at the pub, which now needed redecorating at a cost of between £5,000 and £8,000, Price said. Superintendent Peter Robinson from West Mercia Police said officers escorted the fans to Oddfellows because they wanted to get a drink. "We don't know what happened, but we cleared the pub fairly instantly.