FIREBOMB ATTACK ON STORE
A terrified newsagent vaulted through a wall of flame to escape a race hate firebomb attack on his store.
Moments before, Nasir Choudhary, had been robbed at knifepoint by two masked men who then poured a bottle of petrol over newspaper bundles between him and the door.
When he begged them not to fire his business, one said, "Don't worry about your shop, you're going to burn as well," and lit the papaers.
His exit was blocked by the flames which shot to the ceiling, the 52 year-old had no choice but to jump through the fire. Neighbours helped to drag the blazing paper bundles outside and save the shop on Anderton Way, New Springs, from further damage.Mr Choudhary needed hospital treatment after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
As police launched an investigation itnto what they described as a "racially motivated attack" a tearful Mr Choudhary has still to decide wether he has the will to re-open his Top Lock convenience store.
The father of four pictured said, "I was frightened to death. I keep thinking of my children and the fact that they were almost without a dad because of what happened. I am still shaking now. I have not decided wether or not I should carry on here. The people of New Springs are good and nice people, but my family did not even want me to come back here to see the police and the insurance people today."
Det Insp Steve Crimmins of Wigan CID said, "We are treating the matter as a racially motivated attack. It must have been a terrifying ordeal. We would urge anyone with any knowledge of this crime to come forward."
Contact Wigan CID on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
FOUR YEARS IN JAIL FOR CHEATING ACCOUNTANT
An accountant who stole hundreds of thousands of pounds from clients was today behind bars.
Among Peter Wilson's victims
were a deaf and dumb woman, a pub landlord, a scout group and Aspull, haigh and Blackrod Agricultural Society.
He was a founding member of the society and was honorary treasurer but stole £17,500 from the accounts
leaving them just £1,089 and forcing them to cancel their annual event.
he used the money he embezzled from the society, clients and friends to help fund improvements to his luxury £330,000 home.
Agricultural
Society spokeswoman Judith MacFarlin, who had known Wilson for a decade said, "He was always totally plausible and professional and we were stunned when we needed to issue a cheque as a deposit for show marquees and
found out that the cash wasn't there. We had no idea this had gone on until this moment and our auditors had looked at the books only weeks before. So now we suspect that the bank statements provided must have been
doctored.
"There had been a few rumours that Peter wasn't everything he seemed and I remember complaints that the auditors could never nail him down to attending a meeting, but it was said that was because he was so busy
because his business was doing so well.
"At the end of the day having someone you like, trust and respect steal from you is worse in some respects than someone you don't know breaking in while you are out and stealing your
purse. There is a feeling of betrayal and being taken for a fool that will take some time to get over."
Bolton Crown Court handed down a sentence of four year's jail to Wilson of Bradshaw Hall Lane, Aspull, who took more
than a third of a million pounds from his clients over a 10 year period.
One man lost £75,000 when Wilson loaned the cash to another man who wanted to buy a pub and he even stole from the scout group where he was honorary
treasurer leaving them with just £188 in the bank.
A deaf and dumb woman was evicted from her £26,000 caravan when a cheque in payment bounced because Wilson had emptied her account.
Wilson, 51, admitted 16 charges of theft
from 12 complainants totalling £353,858. Nine other charges alleging false accounting and forgery were left to lie on the file.
Judge Gillian Ruaux said it was a tragedy for his victims and a tragedy for Wilson and his family
but such a gross breach of trust meant an inevitable jail sentence. The court heard that almost £220,000 has never been recovered.
Prosecutor Alaric Bassano said Wilson's victims were all his clients and in many cases his
friends. One woman even made him an executor and beneficiary of her will.
Defending, John Gibson said the thefts had been committed out of desperation. Wilson had used some of the money to pay off £30,000 he borrowed to renovate
his luxury home bought for £80,000 and now worth £330,000 . The house was now for sale.
COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO CLOSE
A row has broken out after Wigan's ruling Labour group agreed a Metro primary school should close.
Councillors made the recommendation despite a strong plea from Bryn member Alan Melling pictured that Perry Brook Community Primary School should be given another chance to beat the problem of falling classroom numbers.
Situated at the heart of Landgate Estate, the school has been under review for the past three years after it's pupil numbers dipped under a government approved minimum.
If the Labour group's recommendation is now approved by the town hall's lifelong learning panel and strategy committees, it's comparitively modern building will close for good at the end of the summer term next year.
Parent governor for the past two and a half years, Mrs Susan Brown, who has two children at the school, has vowed they are not yet ready to throw in the towel. She said, "Our children have a really good education and start in life because of the numbers in the classes and they have the right to be educated at the heart of their community, not be bussed out to elsewhere."
Education chiefs point out they started reviewing the school's position when there were just 72 pupils on the roll, which meant 38% of the school was unfilled. But the situation has now deteriorated to an even more uneconomic register of 68 youngsters. This is well outside the government's guidelines for what constitutes a viable school.
Metro cabinet lifelong learning member Coun Brian Wilson commented, "This is no reflection on the governors, staff and head teacher who have shown considerable dedication and commitment in the face of difficulties."
But ward councillor Alan Melling, chair of the board of governors, refused to concede defeat. "We accept we have a problem with falling rolls but we have been looking at ways to deal with it over the last three years," he said. Disappointed Perry Brook staff were visited by assistant director of education Avril Walton to discuss the problem.
One said, "With the national shortage of teachers at the moment I don't think there wil be a problem with redeployment but it is upsetting that after all this hard work that it may now come to nothing. We have heard rumours that the school may be sold off to become a private school of some sort. Considering the age of the building it would be unthinkable for it to be knocked down."
TREE PLANTED IN MEMORY OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS
A tree has been planted in Wigan in memory of those who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
For the first time, Britain remembered the millions of victims who were killed in the concentration camps of the Second World war.
An emotional ceremony was held in Mesnes Park on the eve of the 56th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.
Among those who read at the ceremony were David Arnold of the Jewish Council, who visits colleges, schools and universities across the country to talk about the Holocaust and Gosia Clarke a former Auschwitz guide who told of her experiences of the former concentration camp, now a museum.
She said,"This national memorial day is a poignant reminder- in Poland every school child at the age of 16 visits Auschwitz. I was a guide around Auschwitz for several years and I often heard people saying 'I never expected it to be like this.'
"Occasionally, I used to see survivors of Auschwitz walking around the camp and wondered what they were thinking. It is so important to never forget Auschwitz and it's victims."
Gosia, 24, studied English Theology in Poland, before she met and married an Englaish man. She now lives in Wigan with her husband Alistair.
Pupils from Lowton High School also compiled a variety of readings and poems about the Holocaust.
The mayor of Wigan Coun Joan Hurst planted a commemorative tree to mark the day and remember those who have suffered and are still suffering throughout the world.
DISUSED TOILETS PUT ON MARKET
The Metro announced it's intention to pull
down the Wigan Lane building last September, but the toilets have remained boarded up ever since without any sign of progress.
Swinley area residents complained about the toilets for a number of years expressing concerns that they were being used by
gay men.
The building will now be put up for sale because the land it occupies is a designated conservation area. Permission from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any alterations can be made.
A Metro spokesman said, "Our concern is that
it is no longer used as a toilet. Before very long it will go on the market and be advertised for sale. Suggestions for what it may be used for may be included in the advertisement.
"If no one shows an interest we may then go to the Secretary of State
for permission for it to be demolished."
Town Hall officials came under fire from gay rights groups who accused them of an 'outbreak of homophobia' when they decided to demolish the toilets.
Alan Horsfall, president of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality,
said, "We always urge gay men to behave discreetly and to avoid causing public offence.
"But it is rather difficult at a time when there are still considerable numbers of people who are offended by the very existence of gay men and whose fevered imaginations
visualise unspeakable orgies whenever a car stops outside a public toilet for 30 seconds longer than they consider to be necessary."
But council bosses hit back at the accusations, insisting "Local councillors have recieved anumber of complaints over many years
and have been keen to demolish the toilets as they are being used for the wrong purposes. It is clearly too much for residents to have to put up with, and was being used both during the day and all through the night. Obviously we want to have as many public
toilets as possible but this could not continue."
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