New Milton Advertiser 20th Nov 2020

Friday 20th November 2020 · 9 News

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Blades found in bushes near town playing fields

Man attacked nurse and police

ATTACKING a police officer and a nurse landed a Holbury man with a suspended prison sentence when he appeared be- fore magistrates. Kieron McCullie (29) ad- mitted assaulting the officer by beating at an address in his home street of Beechwood Road, and targeting the nurse in the same manner at South- ampton General Hospital. McCullie also pleaded guilty to three counts of using threat- ening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at the hos- pital. The Southampton Bench ruled the offences on 24th May crossed the custody threshold

due to their nature and the fact they were committed while un- der the influence of drink and drugs. McCullie was handed a 26- week jail term suspended for 18 months, during which time he must carry out rehabilitation activity and complete 150 hours of unpaid community work. A 12-week curfew with elec- tronic monitoring was also is- sued for him to stay at home between 9.30pm and 6.30am. The defendant was ordered to pay £500 compensation to each of the assault victims, plus £150 to each of the two people he targeted with abusive behav- iour.

Transport Police in patrolling trains and railway stations. However, despite a number of searches, no blades were found. As well as cracking down on habitual knife carriers, Opera- tion Sceptre was set up to en- gage with youngsters and par- ents to educate them about the risks of carrying knives. Hampshire’s force lead for knife crime, Ch. Insp. John Hal- facre, said: “We are aware some young people carry a knife be- cause of the increasing accept- ance among their peers. For others they may carry a knife simply because they are afraid.

“We must ensure that young people know that carrying a knife, even if they have no in- tention of using it, is a crime and can increase the likelihood of suffering an injury or facing a criminal record.” The operation sought to as- sure the public that reducing knife crime remained a top policing priority nationwide throughout the Covid-19 pan- demic. Those concerned about some- one they know carrying a knife or weapon should contact po- lice on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police crackdown found the items in local weapons sweep

BY CHRIS MARCH

POLICE found a haul of dis- carded blades and tools near a New Milton playing field during a crackdown on knife crime. Sgt Kat Smith said the imple- ments discovered at Fawcett’s Field last Wednesday – includ- ing a set of bolt croppers, a pen- knife and a chisel – could have been used as weapons. Hampshire police joined with forces across the country in Op- eration Sceptre which intensi- fied efforts to tackle knife crime and associated serious violence. Sgt Smith said: “As part of Operation Sceptre this week my team has been out doing a knife and weapon sweep in open spaces. “The New Milton team searched Fawcett’s Field and

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The rusty blades and tools were found by officers at Fawc ett’s Field (Photo: Hampshire police)

area behind Lymington Town Hall, but nothing was found. Following the first day of the campaign, Sgt Smith reported officers joined forces with Dor- set counterparts and British

located the items in the under- growth. Although rusty, these could have been potentially used to cause injury.” She added a team of officers had also been searching the

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National park conservation manager Julie Melin-Stubbs at the God shill meadow

Forest meadow donated to NPA for conservation

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Suspicious act on child sees o cers boost school patrols POLICE increased patrols at Ringwood School this week af- ter a report of a man acting sus- piciously towards a 12-year-old pupil near the gates. Hampshire Constabulary told the A&T officers got involved after the unknown individual “touched the child’s school bag” as she crossed the Manor Road junction at around 8.15am on Wednesday 11th November. The force’s statement added: “The child, aged 12, was not in- jured in any way.” Ringwood School confirmed the incident involved an “older male”, adding: “This incident happened to coincide with the day that local police officers were at the school gates for an awareness-raising event. “The police presence was not related to the incident and the student arrived at school and, after disclosure of the incident, parents and the police were in- formed. “This incident is now being investigated by Hampshire Constabulary who will conduct reassurance patrols at the start and end of school this week.” Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 101 quoting reference number 44200436994. A NEW Forest meadow has been donated to the national park authority as an oasis of na- ture conservation by the grand- children of local commoners. The half-acre plot at Godshill, near Fordingbridge, borders the open Forest and features oak and ash trees, hazel hedg- es, scrub and a small brook. It will be used to teach coun- tryside skills and land man- agement, as well as to support commoners’ livestock. Three siblings, who wanted to remain anonymous and no longer live locally, donated the meadow to the NPA through the New Forest Land Advice Service (NFLAS) this year. Their grandparents were New Forest commoners and it had been in their family as

part of a smallholding since the early 20th century. It was orig- inally an apple orchard with bee hives, and was once used to grow food but has been grass- land for the last 20 years. The trio said: “It is only in lat- er life do we, who experienced life in this corner of the New Forest with our grandparents, uncle and parents, now appre- ciate what a unique privilege it was to be part of this culture for a brief period in our lives.” The NFLAS, an independent service for the local land man- aging community, plans hedge laying and coppicing to create thick wild hedgerows and in- crease wildflowers. Julie Melin-Stubbs, NPA wildlife and conservation man- ager and NFLAS manager, said:

‘We are proud and excited to become the guardians of this little piece of the New Forest. “Our plan is to manage it in a way which will enhance its value for nature, particularly hedge- row birds, wildflowers, butter- flies and other insects such as dragonflies, bees, crickets and grasshoppers. “The meadow has a lot to teach us about species and habitats and gives us a useful venue for some of the courses we run, such as hedgerow, soil and grassland management. “We are grateful to our do- nors who are trusting us to be- come custodians of this land, a significant part of their family heritage, and look forward to pursuing our shared vision of nature and education.”

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