Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England) back issues from December 2008:
STUDENT'S ABORTION AFTER AFFAIR WITH PROF; EXCLUSIVE Anguish of girl who buried baby in his garden.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY JEANETTE OLDHAM A UNIVERSITY student had an abortion after falling pregnant following an affair with her lecturer - and buried the remains in his garden. The woman began a relationship with Human Rights professor Istvan Pogany, 57, while studying law at ...
RAPE VICTIM, 17 'WAS STALKED' EXCLUSIVE GRAN: ATTACKER BRAGGED OF FOLLOWING GIRL.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY BEN GOLDBY A TEENAGER who was kidnapped and raped in a terrifying 12-hour ordeal may have been previously stalked by her attacker, her devastated grandmother revealed last night. The 17 year-old was waiting for her father near a bus stop on Sedgeley Road ...
Brand wins gong at comedy awards.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... CONTROVERSIAL comedian Russell Brand won the award for the best live stand-up at the British Comedy Awards last night. Brand triumphed despite the huge criticism over prank calls he and TV host Jonathan Ross made to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. He dedicated his ...
India planned military strike.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A PAKISTANI diplomat has claimed British and American officials stopped India carrying out a swift retaliatory strike on Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attacks. Wajid Shamsul Hassan, the Pakistani High Commissioner in London, said he was told India was about to launch a ...
Santa sacked for grotto phone call; EXCLUSIVE.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ADAM ASPINALL SANTA has been sacked by his scrooge bosses - for answering his mobile phone in the grotto. Hapless Father Christmas, otherwise known as Mike O'Donagh, 53, was sacked from his jovial job at Chelmsley Wood shopping centre. Because ...
Probe into man's death.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... COPS in Coventry have launched a murder investigation after a man's body was found in a suburban house. The 30 year-old victim was found with serious head injuries in Violet Close, Wood End, on Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the ...
Hoodies give out cookies.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... HOODIES took to the streets yesterday in a bid to convince older people that they are not all uncaring yobs. Volunteers wearing the much-maligned garments handed out fortune cookies in cities throughout ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... FLORIDA, USA: A man has been charged with domestic violence against his girlfriend after he allegedly shoved a cheeseburger in her face. Vincent Gonzalez, 22, got into a heated row with his partner as ...
Council's dead kids blunder.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... THE parents of dead children have mistakenly been sent letters by education bosses about which school to send their child to. The parents of 19 deceased children have contacted ...
Latvala keeps nose in front.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... JARI-Matti Latvala maintained his lead at the end of the second day of the Wales Rally GB despite allowing world champion Sebastian Loeb to claw back valuable time over the closing stages. The Ford driver will be first on the roads today, which may prove troublesome depending on ...
Thief's cell suicide.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A CONVICTED thief is believed to have committed suicide in his Midland prison cell. Shane Michael Brewer, 21, was discovered at Leicester ...
Vinnie 'hurt in US bar brawl'.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... FOOTBALLER turned actor Vinnie Jones was treated in hospital in the United States after being hit with a glass in an alleged bar brawl. The star was taken to the Sanford USD Medical Centre in Sioux Falls, ...
Teacher gets last chance.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A MIDLAND teacher who ordered pupils to do press-ups if they turned up late to class will keep his job, a union has said. The unnamed member of staff was suspended from Derby Moor Community Sports College after he ordered students to do pressups as punishment for ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... ABKHAZIAN, GEORGIA: A rowdy wedding party nearly triggered a Russian missile attack after guests fired pistols and flare guns into the air on Georgia's disputed coast. A navy warship thought it was coming under fire from ...
'I fought the law, and the law won' TOUGH HOME SECRETARY REVEALS SECRET PASSION IT'S KARAOKE QUEEN JACQUI SMITH.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ROY BAYLISS BY day Midland MP Jacqui Smith is the sternly serious Home Secretary overseeing law and order across the land. But by night her best friend and Cabinet colleague Caroline Flint has revealed the former Redditch schoolteacher is a KARAOKE queen. ...
Moyles sorry for vice joke.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... CHRIS Moyles has apologised for seeming to suggest on his Radio 1 show that Polish people make good prostitutes. The 34-year-old DJ (pictured) prompted complaints after telling listeners last month: "I've always found in my experience prostitutes make very good cleaners, and ...
SHEER MAGIC; OUR VERDICT ON THE NEW JK ROWLING TALE Harry Potter fan HOLLY YOUNG, 11, reviews his creator's latest bestseller, The Tales of Beedle the Bard.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: HOLLY YOUNG JK ROWLING'S 'farewell tribute' to the much-loved Harry Potter series had many people like me queuing for hours to get their hands on it. But was it worth the wait? The Tales of Beedle the Bard are five unique, magical (wizard) ...
Lotto winner in drug raid.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... ONE of Britain's youngest lottery winners was arrested following a police drugs raid on her home. Cumbria police searched the Whitehaven home of Callie Rogers - who won almost pounds 1.9 million in 2003 - on Wednesday morning. She was arrested, along ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... ARIZONA, USA: An Italian reality TV star has been offered pounds 200,000 to father a child by a millionaire businesswoman. Heiress Alexis Genevieve, 32, fell for Claudio Paselli, 31, after spotting him on Italian show ...
Man quizzed on murder.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A FOURTH man has been arrested over the death of a part-time gamekeeper near a popular Midlands beauty spot. Nigel Bacon, aged 50, died after being found with stab wounds on the drive of his home in Normanton Larches, ...
OJ facing 33 years in jail.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... OJ SIMPSON was last night starting a jail term of up to 33 years for kidnapping and armed robbery. The former American football star (pictured) recruited five other men to help him rob sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel. Simpson, 61, made an ...
Binocular's primed to head 1-2-3; RELIANT WINDOWS LTD QUALITY SERVICE RELIABILITY.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY BOB DOWNING MICHAEL Dickinson and Paul Nicholls have done it in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - but could Nicky Henderson do the same in the Champion Hurdle? Dickinson saddled the first five home, Nicholls had the top three this year but the burning question ...
History favours baggies; BETRESUE.com.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY CHRIS HUTCHEON THE record books suggest that West Brom (9-5, Coral) are likely to record their third win of the campaign and defeat Pompey (7-4, Jaxx.com) this afternoon. Only twice in the last twelve meetings of the sides has the away team emerged ...
OFFER OF THE WEEK.(Features)
Dec 07, 2008 ... OFFER OF THE WEEK: Open an account with VictorChandler.com and claim ...
FAMILY AFFAIR; EXCLUSIVE Costello boys can be next fight game dynasty insists dad John.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ROBIN MARSHALL BIRMINGHAM'S John Costello is aiming to follow the lead of Enzo Calzaghe and Len Woodhall and guide one - if not both of his fighting sons - to a world title. Father and son partnerships certainly seem to work in boxing with Enzo being at ...
FROCH BEATS PASCAL FOR WBC TITLE.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Carl Froch won the vacant WBC super-middleweight title last night with a unanimous points victory over Canadian Jean Pascal in Nottingham. Froch was roared into his home ring in Nottingham as he got the chance to fight for the WBC supermiddleweight title against unbeaten ...
Vilas reveals Cup dream.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... ARGENTINA tennis legend Guillermo Vilas has revealed his desire to coach his country in the next Davis Cup. Reports in South America had suggested either Martin Jaite or Hernan Gumy would be the man to succeed Alberto Mancini, who stepped down from the post following this year's ...
Rutter linked with Suzuki.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... KINGSWINFORD'S Michael Rutter is set to join the Crescent Suzuki team for the 2009 British Superbikes Championship. Rutter revealed last week that he was looking for a new ride after losing his place with the North West 200 Ducati team. Rutter had been offered a ...
I'll repay Warriors gamble; EXCLUSIVE LUSCOMBE PLEDGE AS HE FINALLY NEARS SIXWAYS DEBUT...(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANDY WALKER FIGHTING fit Hal Luscombe is determined to repay the faith Worcester have shown in him - after he feared being axed from Sixways before he'd even played a game. The Wales international is tantalisingly close to finally making his Warriors bow ...
MOSELEY NEED A KILLER TOUCH TO AVOID DROP.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY MAT KENDRICK HEAD coach Ian Smith has challenged Moseley to add the "finishing touches" to their game to ensure they survive the RFU's revolution of rugby's second tier. Moseley are now midway through their National One campaign and occupy a top-11 spot ...
Win lifts injury-hit Everton.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... DESPITE an injury crisis which has reduced Everton to one striker, manager David Moyes insists his squad are in good spirits for their Barclays Premier League clash against Aston Villa. Ayegbeni Yakubu, James Vaughan and Louis Saha are all unavailable for the Goodison Park ...
DELFOUNESO'S ATTITUDE EARNS PLAUDITS FROM DEFENSIVE DUO.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY MAT KENDRICK DEFENSIVE duo Martin Laursen and Curtis Davies have saluted Nathan Delfouneso and backed Aston Villa's new kid on the block to fulfil his potential. The claret and blue centre-halves have witnessed the teenager striker's rapid rise at closer ...
IT'LL BE TOUGH TO BE A FAB SMASH; EXCLUSIVE DEFENDER CURTIS HOPES TO CATCH CAPELLO'S EYE BUT HAS TO ADMIT...(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY MAT KENDRICK CURTIS Davies has shattered Fabio Capello's fearsome headmaster reputation - and is now ready to bully two Everton rivals out of England's school of centre halves. When he was called up for duty last month, the Aston Villa defender feared that ...
STATES STOPPERS ARE NO1 - O'NEILL.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY MAT KENDRICK MARTIN O'Neill has hailed the impact of American goalkeepers in the Premier League - even though he thinks most of them are frustrated quarter-backs. Two of the best stoppers the States has produced will go head to head at Goodison Park today ...
Albion chase on-loan Vela.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... WEST Bromwich Albion want to sign Arsenal's teenage Mexican international striker Carlos Vela on loan next month. Albion manager Tony Mowbray is desperate to strengthen the attacking options of the bottom-placed Premiership side. He is also committed to making full ...
McSheffrey move likely.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... BIRMINGHAM City winger Gary McSheffrey is being lined up to re-join his former club, Coventry City, during next month's transfer window. McSheffrey, 26, has been sidelined for the last two months by a knee injury but is closing in on a return to action. McSheffrey ...
Swans keep eye on Ince.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... CLAYTON Ince, Walsall's Trinidad and Tobago international goalkeeper, has emerged as a target for Swansea City. The 36-year-old former Crewe Alexandra keeper is out of contract at the Banks's Stadium at the end of the season. He has yet to be offered a new deal by ...
A BUG'S LIFE NO WORRY - ALEX; Flu can't stop Blues.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANDY WALKER BLUES boss Alex McLeish last night hailed his threadbare squad for overcoming a flu bug to keep up the pressure on Championship leaders Wolves. Goals from Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent and Cameron Jerome saw Blues see off trickyWatford witha3-2 ...
Toffees are on slide - Davies.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY MAT KENDRICK CURTIS Davies has cranked up today's clash of the Champions League hopefuls by insisting Villa are better equipped than Everton to gatecrash the 'Big Four'. David Moyes' men claimed fifth place in the Premier League table last season after ...
Slow going on the trains; ONE IN SIX SERVICES AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES LATE.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ROY BAYLISS FRUSTRATED rail commuters in the Midlands are facing rocketing numbers of late-running trains. Punctuality figures on the regional network have slumped to the lowest level since the present train operating company took over the franchise more ...
Cops offered a comeback.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... HOMESICK Midland cops are being offered up to pounds 10,000 to quit working abroad and return to the UK, a force said today. Leicestershire Constabulary said it believed the offer is good value for money as they got a fully-trained police officer in return for the generous ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: A couple got a shock when they turned on their printer - and found a snake inside. Denis and Marie Matthews were having trouble printing from their home ...
Oprah says no to Obama.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... CHAT show host Oprah Winfrey (pictured) has turned down an offer to work in Barack Obama's administration. Although she worked hard on his presidential election campaign, Oprah said she was unable to take up a fulltime position. "I already have a few full-time jobs ...
Holy Elvis! He's the star of Bethlehem; BRUM'S INDIAN ELVIS TO LIVE THE KING'S DREAM Impersonator to play gigs in sacred town.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANUJI VARMA HE is Birmingham's very own Indian Elvis who is now set to become a star of Bethlehem. Because Billy Nashad, 50, has been booked to sing at three special Christmas gigs in the holy town this Christmas. The concerts are the first time ...
Star visitors on the menu.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... ENGLAND soccer star Peter Crouch has joined a growing list of celebrity visitors flocking to Birmingham's glitzy San Carlo restaurant. The Portsmouth player and former Aston Villa colleague Lee Hendrie held a claret and blue reunion at the Italian venue and happily posed for ...
Credit crunch hits couples.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... THE credit crunch is putting extra strain on people's relationships with a sharp rise in the number of Midland couples seeking help from a counselling service. Calls to Relate increased nationally from nearly 5,000 in October ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... FLORIDA, USA: A drunken dad was arrested by traffic cops when he got his nine-year-old son to drive him on a beer run ....
pounds 9m gem up for auction.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A RARE blue diamond boasting 300 years of royal connections and weighing 35.56 carats is set to smash records at auction after being estimated at pounds 9 MILLION. The Wittelsbach Diamond has come on to the ...
Honda begins its fight for survival.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY IAN PARKES HONDA Racing CEO Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn this weekend begin the process of attempting to keep the team on the grid for 2009. Honda Motor Co Ltd's decision to immediately pull the plug on their pounds 200 million-per-year F1 operation ...
STENSON SEES OFF LIGHTNING.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... HENRIK Stenson takes a commanding eightshot lead into the final round of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City after a superb third round. The Swede shrugged off a delay for lightning with a seven-under-par 65 for a 17-under 199 at the Gary Player Country Club. World ...
bob's brain teasers...(Features)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: Compiled by BOB BROWN THIS week we test your knowledge of goalkeepers down the years ... 1) Which 40 year old captained a World Cup-winning team? 2) Which Blues goalkeeper saved a penalty with his first touch in League football? 3) What ...
SWIFT NINJA POISED TO TAKE ST LEGER; GOING TO THE DOGS.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: Stephen Rea COVENTRY hosts the final of the Stadium Bookmakers St Leger tonight and it could be a great occasion for Michael Harris. The Monmore handler looks to have an outstanding chance of picking up the pounds 5,000 winner's purse with Swift Ninja, who is ...
Kandol's two some lift Lions; Coca Cola FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND-UP.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... MILLWALL climbed above MK Dons into second place with a 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers. Tresor Kandol's double (five and 18) set the Lions on their way but Rickie Lambert was again on the scoresheet as Rovers halved the deficit (19). Gary Alexander restored the two-goal ...
Grant holds nerve to seal Shrews win.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... SHREWSBURY 1 ROTHERHAM 0 PAUL SIMPSON praised his high-flying Shrewsbury side for their patience after they claimed three more points. After a sterile first-half at the Prostar Stadium the game exploded into life when Rotherham were reduced to nine men. ...
HEARTBREAK AT THE DEATH; Terriers nip in after Saddlers switch off.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BRIAN HALFORD at The Galpharm Stadium HUDDERSFIELD 2 Roberts (pen) 25 mins, Collins 93, WALSALL 1 Nicholls 48 mins, The Galpharm Stadium WALSALL were sunk by a heartbreaking goal deep into injury time at the end of a scrappy, joyless contest at the ...
Kolodynski is talk of the Town; SOUTHERN PREMIER.(Sport)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Rugby Town. 4 Clevedon Town.0 DAVID Kolodynski netted his second hat-trick in successive weeks to lift Rugby off the foot of the table. Kolodynski followed up his treble at Merthyr last week with another three as Rugby crushed fellow strugglers Clevedon at Butlin ...
India strike against Pakistan stopped.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A PAKISTANI diplomat has claimed British and American officials stopped India carrying out a swift retaliatory strike on Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attacks. Wajid Shamsul Hassan, the Pakistani High Commissioner in London, said he was told India was about to launch a ...
Coffee shop stunners.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... NEXT time you nip into your local coffee shop you may be forgiven for thinking you've wandered into a lapdancing club. Because Birmingham may be the next stop for racy burlesque act Vixens in Silk, which had customers choking on their muffins in Edinburgh yesterday. ...
COPS DUMP VITAL EVIDENCE; EXCLUSIVE MORE THAN 1,000 ITEMS DESTROYED.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY JEANETTE OLDHAM Crime Reporter MORE than 1,000 pieces of vital evidence relating to serious West Midlands crimes were mistakenly destroyed on the orders of managers, it has been claimed. The cases included unsolved murders, rapes and robberies - and ...
Beaten man fights for life.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A MAN who was set upon by a gang of youths in a Midland town was fighting for his life last night. The 35-year-old and his friend were assaulted by a dozen youths in Kidderminster's Horse fair at about 8.30pm on Thursday. He was taken to Worcestershire ...
crazy world.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... PENNSYLVANIA, USA: A drinker is suing a sports bar after she got stuck inside a toilet bowl for 20 minutes when the seat ...
Charged with murder.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... A SUSPECT has been charged with the murder of a man whose body parts were found in a Midland canal. Dwayne Walker, aged 27, of Eastfield Grove, Wolverhampton, was remanded in custody after a hearing at Walsall Magistrates' Court ....
Students on the rampage.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... POSH students from a top Midland college have been forced to foot a pounds 6,000 bill after drunken rampage through a Cotswold village Youths from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, Gloucestershire paid pounds 10 each to travel by ...
Eleanor had a breakdown after the abortion; EXCLUSIVE University to make new ruling on staff dating students.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... Byline: BY JEANETTE OLDHAM A TOP Midland university is reviewing its policy on staff dating students after an undergraduate had an abortion following an affair with a Human Rights lecturer. Warwick University professor Istvan Pogany, 57, began a relationship with the ...
Siamese twin clings to life.(News)
Dec 07, 2008 ... BRAVE little Faith Williams was still fighting for life last night but remained very sick in hospital. The daughter of Shrewsbury teenager Laura Williams continued to fight for her life five days after the operation to separate her from her twin Hope. Hope survived ...