A grandfather-of-five has told how he collapsed with a heart attack and almost died on a shopping aisle in Aldi.
16.05.2023 - 20:07 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A dad has been spared jail after setting two vans alight close to their owner's properties after a drinks binge. Andrew Abbott drank a 'prodigious' amount of alcohol on the evening of April 22 last year before setting the vehicles on fire in a 'spontaneous' and 'ludicrous' hour.
Between 10 and 11pm on that evening police received reports of a vehicle being set alight on Longworth Road in Bolton. The first victim, Darren Smethurst, was at home with his family when he received a call from a neighbour telling him his van was on fire.
He ran from the home into an adjoining alleyway where he found his vehicle's wingmirror on fire, before running back inside to grab pans of water to put the blaze out with. A short time later a resident of the same road, Jason Kay, who was asleep in bed got a knock on the bedroom door saying their van was on fire in the driveway.
READ MORE: 'Laughing' killer brutally murdered rival by plunging sword into his back at Manchester's Caribbean Carnival
He looked out of his bedroom window to see the an area of the passenger side door ablaze. The fire service attended and told him that it was the second incident of that kind on the road that evening.
Prosecuting at Bolton Crown Court, Maria Brannan, said that door bell CCTV footage on Mr Smethurst's property showed a male walking past the property at that time wearing a distinctive high-vis work jacket. This footage was used to identify Abbott, 36, who was arrested by police days later.
Ms Brannan said that Abbott made full admissions to what he had done in police interview. He told police he had been drinking heavily that evening and did not know why he had started the fires. He also told police it made him feel "sick to his stomach".
A victim
A grandfather-of-five has told how he collapsed with a heart attack and almost died on a shopping aisle in Aldi.
Phillip Schofield has been vaping, drinking and hardly eating since he admitted to an extramarital affair with a 'much younger' ITV colleague, he claims.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane admits that he is "worried" for his old club ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley - but believes Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford will cause them problems.
An armed forces veteran has gone back into battle for a Wigan charity as he attempts to relive a real-life escape from Colditz.
Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has unpacked why he believes Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland is the best striker around.
Arctic Monkeys' biggest UK and Irish tour to date finally lands in Manchester this weekend as the four-piece head to Emirates Old Trafford for two massive gigs.
DWP benefits claimants and motorists are among those affected by key changes being rolled out next month. The moves could impact you financially, so they're well worth being aware of.
The trial of a boy and a girl accused of the murder of transgender 16-year-old Brianna Ghey has been put back until November.
Erling Haaland has set his sights on making history with Manchester City as they chase the treble. The striker says he's focused on City’s finals as he collected the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award in London last night.
The world has lost one of rock and roll's most famous voices as it was announced that Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. The legendary singer, who had hits including Proud Mary and The Best, passed away after a long illness, her publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed.
The Warehouse Project will be back in September, with the likes of Bicep, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna and Jamie Jones on the bill for its 2023 season. It’s also revealed that it will be opening up two new areas of its Depot Mayfield home, including the roof.
Adrian Sanderson looks almost unrecognisable after bidding farewell to the famous hairstyle that saw him dubbed 'Captain Curtain' by on-screen husband Thomas Hartley, during the former couple's time on Married At First Sight UK. The pair's tumultuous relationship saw Thomas say: "Captain Curtains can f**k off" after an argument on the reality show, even likening him to Ian "H" Watkins from Steps.
Lee Rigby's 12-year-old son has spoken for the first time on how he hopes to honour his hero dad.
Christine McGuinness was compared to Pamela Anderson as she rocked a red swimsuit during her getaway with ex-husband Paddy. The model ditched Cheshire, where the couple still live together, and jetted off to sunnier climes in her first holiday abroad with her children in four years.
Fans eager for the next instalment of BBC's The Traitors can expect a “different game” when the psychological reality TV show returns to the BBC, its production company has said.
Here are your Monday morning Manchester United headlines.
Bruno Fernandes has told his Manchester United teammates to forget what Liverpool are doing and focus on claiming the two wins they need to book a return to the Champions League.
A Scots Elvis die-hard has Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do after he and his family won more than £200,000 in the People's Postcode Lottery.
Bart Verbruggen interest
The only one of four people convicted of the killing of Suzanne Capper to still be behind bars is to be released. The torture and death of the 16-year-old schoolgirl shocked Britain and a consequent 22-day trial reduced jurors to tears.