The court heard how he grabbed a recently boiled kettle and poured the scalding water over the officer

A 58-year-old Birmingham man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison after launching a violent assault on two police officers, which included throwing boiling water over one of them.

John Davies, of Talbot Street, Winson Green, was jailed for 14 years and six months at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (26 June). Due to the severity of the offence, the judge also imposed an extended license period of four years.

According to West Midlands Police, the incident unfolded after officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the garden of Davies’ home, where they discovered him cornering another man against a fence.

Click here to hear the latest from Manchester’s courts in our newsletter

After an officer separated the pair, Davies retreated inside his house. The second man then alerted police that Davies was armed with a knife.

According to police accounts, when confronted by officers about the weapon, Davies denied having it. He then suddenly threw the contents of a hot drink into the face of the man he had been arguing with.

As officers moved in to make an arrest, a violent struggle ensued. Davies punched one officer in the face before grabbing a recently boiled kettle and pouring the scalding water over a female officer.

The officer sustained severe blistering across her shoulders, back, and neck.

Advertisement

Davies was eventually restrained and arrested by responding backup units. He later pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding the scalded officer with intent to resist arrest, assaulting the officer he punched, and assaulting the civilian involved in the initial dispute.

Detectives noted the extreme nature of the encounter, which required multiple officers to bring Davies into custody.

“This was a horrendous attack on two officers going about their duties,” said Detective Constable Manpreet Sidhu, from the Bournville neighborhood crime team. “One of the officers involved suffered significant injuries and has only recently been able to return to work following this assault.

“No one should have to face this level of violence simply for doing their job.”

While officials acknowledged the attack will leave a lasting impact on the individuals involved, West Midlands Police confirmed that both officers have since returned to active duty.

Sara Cox revealed she got revenge on her biggest childhood bully when she called into Radio 1 to ask for a shoutout. 

Apparently unaware of the misery she had put upon Sara growing up, she was shocked to have received the request. 

She told the Sunday Times: ‘I was outraged that she thought she could do that like we were friends. Couldn’t she remember? 

‘That horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach, that cortisol bubbling around as you walk up the corridor wondering if you’re going to get tripped up or elbowed. 

‘The whispering in class. I was, like, “Sure, I’ll give you a shoutout.” And she did. It began with, “You were a big bully.”‘

Sara spent her early years living on a farm near Bolton. 

But when she was aged six, her parents divorced and she moved into a flat above a pub in Bolton.

She said: ‘I was outraged that she thought she could do that like we were friends. Couldn’t she remember? That horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach… wondering if you’re going to get tripped up or elbowed’  (pictured in 1997) 

Sara says she was bullied each time she moved schools because of her ‘height and her knobbly knees’ and found solace in reading Shakespeare. 

During the interview, Sara was asked if she had used humour as a form of defence but she said that’s not the case. 

She noted that bullying ‘didn’t change the course of her life’, rather ‘it just made school unpleasant.’

Elsewhere, Sara has announced her first Radio 2 Breakfast Show will launch on Monday July 6 as she replaces Scott Mills.

It was announced in April that the presenter would take over the Breakfast Show this summer, after Scott was sacked after it was discovered he had been the subject of allegations of ‘serious sexual offences’ against a teenage boy under 16. 

And on Monday morning Sara appeared on Vernon Kay‘s Radio 2 show to share the news as she took on fellow presenter Jeremy Vine in the programme’s popular quiz, Ten to the Top.

Sara also revealed that her first guest will be none other than Hollywood star Tom Hanks, who will be joining her to talk about his new film Toy Story 5.

Speaking to Vernon, Sara said: ‘OK, my big news is…god, I’ve gone all hot and excited. My big news is that…there’s been quite a lot of mystery about when the brand new Sara Cox Breakfast Show begins on BBC Radio 2. 

Elsewhere, Sara has announced her Radio 2 Breakfast Show will launch on Monday July 6

‘I’ve been quite mysterious and going, “it’s in the summer” and waggling my eyebrows mysteriously. 

‘But I can now announce, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and everyone in between, please do join me for my very first Breakfast Show on Radio 2 on 6th of July. Three weeks today! Very very excited. It is 6.30am. The date is the 6th of July.’

Jeremy asked Sara: ‘How many alarm clocks are you going to use?’

Laughing, Sara replied: ’42. And it’s the first-ever Sara Cox Breakfast Show. I can’t wait – it’s so exciting.’

Jeremy said: ‘We can’t wait. We’re so proud of you.’

Fellow Bolton-born presenter Vernon shared his delight, saying: ‘Amazing!’

Sara said: ‘And, you know, I mentioned the Toy Story news as well. I mean, I don’t know where we go from here because I think we’ve started almost too big. My very first guest on the Sara Cox Breakfast Show will be…Mr. Tom Hanks.’

Vernon said: ‘Awh legend. The nicest man in showbusiness.’

A pleased Sara said: ‘Woody at Breakfast. Yes, cannot wait!’

Excited for her breakfast debut, Sara told fans: ‘Roll on the 6th July! For generations to come people will (probably) say ‘”where were YOU when the Sara Cox Breakfast Show was launched on Radio 2 featuring the legendary Tom Hanks?” and hopefully they’ll reply ‘listening and laughing along with a nice brew’.

Three Americans have died in the Venezuela earthquakes and 12 remain missing, the State Department has said, as rescue teams continued to search for survivors in the rubble on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the State Department said officials were in contact with the family of three Americans killed when twin earthquakes devastated the country last Wednesday. Their identities have not been revealed.

The official death toll has surpassed 1,700 people, according to the government, which maintains tight control over news media.

Rescue teams from Ecuador ⁠and the US halted operations early on Tuesday in Macuto, a town in La Guaira state — the area hardest hit by the 24 June earthquakes — after more than 40 hours of work, when they stopped receiving responses from a mother and ⁠her three children trapped beneath a ​nine-storey building.

“In ⁠the end, we believe the days have already passed and that what we will find now is death,” said Major ⁠Jorge Montanero, leader of the EQ11 team from Guayaquil, located on Ecuador’s Pacific ​coast.

“Unfortunately, ⁠things haven’t developed favourably,” he ‌said as he stood amid rubble after cutting through four concrete slabs of the building in an effort to locate the four trapped victims.

Some 59,000 ‌buildings were damaged or destroyed by the ‌twin earthquakes — which hit just seconds apart with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24 — according to NASA estimates. The widespread devastation can be seen from space.

A State ‌Department task force has fielded more than 300 inquiries from Americans seeking advice. ​A second official said they estimate there are approximately 5,000 US citizens in Venezuela.

Not all collapsed ⁠buildings have had professional rescue teams on site, with relatives and neighbours working to remove debris to pull out survivors or bodies, according to survivors and residents from various areas.

“There is no doubt we are facing a figure higher than what has already been reported. I can offer an estimate: we are procuring — and this has been agreed with local authorities — 10,000 ‌body bags,” Gianluca Rampolla, the United Nations’ resident coordinator in ​Venezuela, said on Monday from his office in Venezuela’s capital, ‌Caracas.

The government of acting President Delcy ⁠Rodriguez says at least 1,750 people have died and thousands ⁠have been injured as a result of the earthquakes. About 16,000 people were left homeless.

A website ‌promoted by the country’s ​political opposition puts the number of ‌people still missing at around 43,000.

Limescale is a common problem in UK households, but cleaning enthusiast Lynsey has shared a simple trick to remove it from your kettle using just two cheap ingredients that you might already own

Limescale is a familiar problem in most British homes, commonly building up on taps, toilet bowls, showers and kettles. Given their constant exposure to water, these appliances are particularly susceptible, and if you happen to live in a hard water area, the build-up can occur even more rapidly due to the high concentration of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium.

Left untreated, limescale can eventually cause a host of problems, including reduced water flow, leaks and drips from taps, damage to kettle heating elements, and a knock-on effect on your dishwasher’s performance.

While taps and bathroom fixtures can be tackled with shop-bought chemical cleaners, you can also whip up your own effective cleaning solutions using just two ingredients that work equally as well.

To demonstrate just how powerful these homemade remedies can be, cleaning enthusiast and author Lynsey, who has previously appeared on ITV’s This Morning and Good Morning Britain, has shared her own experience with the two-ingredient solution.

In her video, Lynsey showed her pink kettle, which was covered in white limescale stains on the inside.

“The easiest way to descale your kettle,” she wrote in the on-screen text of the video, before revealing her straightforward cleaning technique.

How to descale a kettle

In the clip, Lynsey was filmed filling her kettle to the quarter mark with a mixture of white vinegar and water. The general recommendation is one part white vinegar to three parts water. She then left the solution to sit for about 30 minutes.

Should the spout of your kettle be particularly plagued by limescale, she also suggests soaking a piece of kitchen roll in white vinegar and wrapping it around the spout while the vinegar does its job.

“After 30 minutes, boil the kettle, empty it, then rinse thoroughly with fresh water,” she explained in the caption of her post. “Your kettle will be sparkling clean and ready for a well-earned cuppa!”.

Lynsey then revealed an impressive before-and-after shot of the kettle, with the unsightly white patches of limescale that had previously coated the inside nowhere to be found.

How does vinegar help remove limescale?

Vinegar is an affordable, natural and highly effective solution for dissolving limescale. As limescale is an alkaline mineral deposit, the mild acid found in white vinegar breaks it down on contact.

This makes the budget-friendly, natural ingredient ideal for reviving taps, showerheads, kettles and toilet bowls without the need for harsh chemicals.

If you find that your limescale build-up is particularly stubborn, warming the vinegar slightly before use can give its cleaning power a welcome boost.

Mollie King and Stuart Broad opted for matching cream suits as they attended day two of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club on Tuesday.

The radio presenter, 39, and the former professional cricketer, 40, led the star-studded arrivals before taking their place in the Royal Box on Centre Court.

Mollie looked lovely in her neutral skirt suit, which featured black detailing on the cuffs and collar, styled with a black quilted Chanel bag and shades.

Stuart was sporting pale double breasted-linen jacket with matching trousers, over a white shirt and orange tie with brown suede loafers for the occasion. 

The couple, who have two daughters Annabelle, three, and Liliana, 18 months, are regular attendees at the annual tennis event.

Jameela Jamil, who attended day one on her own, was today joined by her long-term partner James Blake for another day of tennis action.

The radio presenter, 39, and the former professional cricketer, 40, led the star-studded arrivals before taking their place in the Royal Box on Centre Court

Jameela Jamil, who attended day one on her own, was today joined by her long-term partner James Blake for another day of tennis action

Another returning guest of the club was Katherine Jenkins, who was spotted on Monday in the Royal Box, attending again with her husband Andrew Levitas

The actress cut a stylish figure in a tan and navy polka dot dress, which she accessorised with a pair of cream stilettos and a leather bag.

Another returning guest of the club was Katherine Jenkins, who was spotted on Monday in the Royal Box, attending again with her husband Andrew Levitas.

Katherine wore a white summer dress with gold buttons and strappy raffia wedges with a matching bag. 

Other notable names who were invited to sit in the prestigious box were actresses Celia Imrie and Fiona Shaw.

The veterans of TV and film were spotted catching up, joined by Fiona’s wife Sonali Deraniyagala.

Other guests included TV host and author Richard Osman and his actress wife Ingrid Oliver, who looked chic in a cream and navy pinstripe suit.

Day two is underway at the All England Club, with many first-round matches still taking place after the prestigious competition began yesterday.

The actress cut a stylish figure in a tan and navy polka dot dress, which she accessorised with a pair of cream stilettos and a leather bag

Katherine wore a white summer dress with gold buttons and strappy raffia wedges with a matching bag

Advertisement

Emma and Katherine posed in their matching white looks

Other notable names who were invited to sit in the prestigious box were actresses Celia Imrie and Fiona Shaw (pictured)

The veterans of TV and film were spotted catching up, joined by Fiona’s wife Sonali Deraniyagala

Celia looked lovely in a printed shirt dress and shades

Advertisement

Centre Court features defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek against Taylor Townsend, followed by Alexander Zverev.

The headline event of the day is the singles return of Serena Williams, who is playing her first Grand Slam singles match in four years against Maya Joint.

British interest centres on Katie Boulter and Jacob Fearnley after a difficult opening day for the home players.

Stuart and Molly took their place in the box

Advertisement

Fiona appeared to be very amused by something

Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, looked stunning in a sleeveless tweed jacket

Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer coordinated their looks, posing in their chic coords and cream accessories combos 

Lady Eliza was also spotted arriving with Misse Beqiri, who looked gorgeous in a yellow tweed mini dress and kitten heels 

Advertisement

Jameela caught up with Richard Gadd while at the match with her boyfriend James Blake

Richard sat alongside Taron Egerton, Christine Egerton and Noah Jupe (L-R) 

Noah looked trendy in utility-inspired shades 

He kept things cool as he reclined in his chair

Advertisement

Taron threw himself into the action as he jeered courtside

Nicky Hilton Rothschild was summery in a blue and white striped dress for her arrival at SW19 

Range Rover celebrated The Championships at Wimbledon with an exclusive event featuring a host of actors and creatives in partnership with Esquire and Noah was pictured there 

James and Jameela also popped inside the Range Rover event for a photo opp

Advertisement

Jameela looked stunning in her polka dot dress and heels 

Taron Egerton was suited and booted for the occasion

Paapa Essiedu kept things casual in cargo pants and a denim bomber 

Other Wimbledon guests included TV host and author Richard Osman and his actress wife Ingrid Oliver, who looked chic in a cream and navy pinstripe suit

Advertisement

Greg James looked smart in a navy jacket with camel trousers

Richard, who was sporting a pale plue suit, waved to fans as he passed by

Chris Robshaw and Camilla Kerslake were also seen arriving at the club

It wouldn’t be Wimbledon without an appearance from devout attendee Cliff Richard

Advertisement

Sir Cliff, 85, was in great spirits as he arrived arm in arm with a frriend and looking dapper in a blue printed blazer and striped tie

A smiling Dermot O’Leary dressed up in a suit and tie as he posed at the entrance

Jessica Gunning enjoyed the hospitality, looking chic in a navy and white coord

Traitors star Cat Burns enjoyed the Champagne Lanson suite with her makeup artist and influencer girlfriend Sarah New

Advertisement

(L to R) Chris Robshaw, Camilla Kerslake, Sarah New, Henry Holland, Cat Burns and Dermot O’Leary

Councillor Martin Tighe said he had been ‘silenced by the gavel’ with another member stating he’d ‘never known such rank bad manners at a town council meeting’

A council meeting was suspended after just seven minutes with members voting to ‘remove’ a councillor after a row about a town centre regeneration.

The Liberal Democrat group on Westhoughton Town Council said that for the first time in 40 years, a Westhoughton town council meeting had to be suspended, with members voting to exclude Conservative member Coun Martin Tighe after they alleged he was ‘verbally abusive’.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has spoken to Coun Tighe and other members present at the meeting, held on Monday, June 29.

Click here for our dedicated election newsletter with exclusive interviews and analysis

One said that following to a written question from the member of the public, Coun Tighe accused Liberal Democrat members of being ‘lying b*stards‘ over previous planning proposals for larger windows in town hall building.

Another member present alleged that Coun Tighe ‘refused to listen to the chair and spoke over other councillors’.

In a statement Coun Tighe said he was ‘kicked out for calling out the Lib Dem lies regarding Westhoughton Town Hall regeneration’.

He added that the chair of the meeting ‘used the gavel to silence me’.

It is understood that deputy town Mayor, Coun Linda Maher, who was chairing the meeting, unsuccessfully called for order several times during the short meeting.

A vote was then passed by a majority of 11-2 councillors to exclude Coun Tighe from the meeting.

Veteran councillor and former Mayor of Bolton, Labour’s David Chadwick, who was first elected to the town council in 1994, said: “The chair tried to stop any further discussion as it wasn’t relevant to agenda item.

“Eventually he (Coun Tighe) was asked to leave the meeting, because he wouldn’t accept the chair’s ruling.

“Again he was asked to leave and Coun Tighe then asked who would be forcing his removal.

“He was eventually persuaded to leave the meeting by which time the meeting had been adjourned for a later date.”

Coun Chadwick added: “I’ve never known such rank bad manners by anyone at any previous town council meeting.”

Liberal Democrat councillor David Wilkinson said: “Conservative councillor Martin Tighe refused to listen to the chair and spoke over other councillors.

“When asked to stop, he refused.

“Because of this, the council took the extremely rare step of formally naming him for disreputable conduct.

“When it was then moved that he leave the meeting, he again refused.

“It’s deeply disappointing to see this kind of conduct from an elected representative.”

Coun Tighe said: “I was kicked out of Westhoughton Town Council for calling out the Lib Dem lies regarding Westhoughton Town Hall regeneration.

“They voted to expel me from the meeting for highlighting that the town hall would have opened over two years ago if it was not for Lib Dem lies, and if I may speak frankly, their total bullsh*t.

“The Lib Dems use the gavel to silence anything that they don’t like and I’m sick of it.

“If someone says something they don’t like they just shut it down saying ‘you’re out of order’.

“They say point of order but don’t say which point of order and then bang the gavel.

“They gavel people into silence . “They’ve done it to me many, many times.

“By silencing me it’s not saying to people I’m lying, it’s saying to people they are scared of what I have to say.”

Westhoughton town council has 18 councillors.

Twelve are Liberal Democrats, three are Labour, there are two Conservatives and one Independent.

The suspension of the meeting meant agenda items about a new play area and crossing facilities, planning applications, and a road safety update from the youth council’s primary school children were not discussed.

The next meeting of the town council is scheduled for Monday, July 13.

John Davies, 58, admitted assaulting two police officers and a member of the public at his Winson Green home

This is the disturbing footage showing a brutal thug launching an attack on police officers – punching one before dousing another with scalding water as they attempted to arrest him at his Birmingham property.

Two constables responded to reports of a disturbance at John Davies’ residence in Winson Green, where they discovered him trapping another individual against his garden fence.

When the officers separated the pair, the second man alerted them that Davies was armed with a knife.

The 58 year old denied possessing a blade before hurling the contents of a hot beverage he had prepared into the face of his opponent.

Davies then struck one constable in the face before seizing his freshly-boiled kettle and emptying its contents over the other officer, reports Birmingham Live.

The female constable who was drenched with the boiling water sustained blistering across her shoulders, back and neck following the assault.

She could be heard informing her fellow officers: “I need an ambo. I’ve been scalded with a kettle.”

Davies was apprehended and charged with the offences.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding the PC he scalded with intent to resist arrest, assaulting the officer he struck, and assaulting the individual involved in the dispute.

Davies, of Talbot Street, Winson Green, received a 14-and-a-half-year sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, June 26.

An extended licence period of four years was also imposed.

Det Con Manpreet Sidhu, from West Midlands Police’s neighbourhood team in Bournville, said: “This was a horrendous attack on two officers going about their duties. You can see from the footage that Davies put up a struggle and it took many officers to restrain him so that he could be brought into custody.

“One of the officers involved suffered significant injuries and has only recently been able to return to work following this assault. No one should have to face this level of violence simply for doing their job.

“I hope the sentence delivered to Davies provides some justice for those involved. This will have a lasting impact on the officers but Davies is where he firmly belongs – in prison.”

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

One ice cream lover said that it was their ‘favourite new toy’ and that they’d been making “protein ice cream with Greek yoghurt’

Advertisement

Shoppers are snapping up a compact yet versatile ice-cream maker from Amazon ideal for the hot weather. The Cuisinart FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker is an Amazon’s Choice product, and it’s currently available for £99.99.

Verified buyers say that it makes wonderful creamy ice cream in minutes and that, thanks to its compact size, it fits neatly into cupboards when not in use. It’s one of a number of ice cream makers on the market that are available at a discount.

A much cheaper option is the this Lakeland 1.5-litre ice cream maker, which is currently reduced from £39.99 to £19.99 in the Lakeland sale. This gadget features a transparent lid and has a built-in motor. To reiterate, it looks to us like the most affordable option out there.

Towards the upper end of the ice cream maker market is the Ninja CREAMi deluxe 10-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Drink Maker. The product description says that it can ‘turn almost anything into ice cream and so much more’, including ice cream, sorbet, gelato, fruit slush coffee frappe, frozen yoghurt and drinks. It’s currently available for £249.99 in the SharkNinja sale.

Shoppers have left many positive reviews for the Amazon Cuisinart product, however. One said: “Chose this model over other brands because I wanted an ice cream maker but I don’t have space to store a big machine in my kitchen.

The Cuisinart FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker is available from Amazon

Advertisement

The ice cream maker has five different functions for different treats.

“The fact you can make three flavours at once is great for being able to make a flavour for me and a flavour for my hubby and an extra one, too. The freezer pots are super handy and don’t take up much space in my already very full freezer, so that’s a win.”

A second said: “Love this! Makes lovely creamy ice cream in a few minutes. You do have to freeze whatever mix you are using beforehand, but I make enough for all three tubs and leave them in the freezer till we need them. One tub is enough for two of us, so this may not work for larger families who eat a lot of ice cream, but if you just fancy a small treat occasionally, it’s perfect.”

A third added: “The slushie came out well and the ice cream is lovely! I love that I can make ice cream at home, quickly and easily, without any nasty artificial flavouring or any random additives like emulsifiers in my dessert! It makes super-creamy ice cream.”

One ice cream lover said that it was their “favourite new toy” and they’d been making “protein ice cream with Greek yoghurt”. They also added a few words of warning about portion size and operating the gadget, however: “Great little ice cream maker! Bought this over the Ninja Creami and am delighted with it.

“The three pots that come with this are ideally sized to stop me making and eating too much ice cream or sorbets at a time. Simple to use but definitely recommend you let them defrost for 10 minutes before churning, else the blades can become stuck requiring you to leave it for ages to thaw!”

The Cuisinart FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker can ‘whip up three different frozen treats one after the other’, the site says, and users can add fresh ingredients and mix-ins. With five functions – ice cream, slushie, milkshake, sorbet, and mix-ins – shoppers can ‘effortlessly create a variety of frozen delights in as little as five minutes’.

Advertisement

One of the standout features is its compact design, along with the stackable dessert cups, making storage quick and easy. Plus, with the dishwasher-safe dessert cups and lids, it’s easy to clean.

The Cuisinart FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker is available from Amazon.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a blade or pointed article in a public place and common assault.

A man has been arrested following a report of a male armed with scissors threatening a member of staff at a Belfast train station.

Police say the incident reprortedly occured at Grand Central Station at around 1pm on Tuesday, June 30.

Officers attended and arrested the 29-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a blade or pointed article in a public place and common assault. He currently remains in police custody.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Officers would ask anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have captured footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 741 30/06/26.

“A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”