Tuesday 8th October

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A mother has pleaded not guilty to murdering her two-week-old baby son at Yeovil Hospital. A Yeovil man with two previous drink driving offences has escaped being sent to prison after refusing to take a breath test. Somerset gymnast Laura Gallagher has announced her retirement after 20 years in the sport...and more.

A mother has pleaded not guilty to murdering her two-week-old baby son at Yeovil Hospital. Brendon Staddon was born prematurely at thirty-three weeks in February and died in March. His mother, Sophie Staddon, aged 20, was appearing at Bristol Crown Court where she pleaded not guilty to murder and to causing or allowing the death of a child. This story is courtesy of BBC.

A Yeovil man with two previous drink driving offences has escaped being sent to prison after refusing to take a breath test. Appearing at Yeovil Magistrates Court, Jordan Maggs of St Michael’s Avenue pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath when stopped by Police while driving in Crewkerne. Maggs was sentenced to a 12-month community order with an Alcohol Abstinence programme and banned from driving for 18 months with a £200 fine. This story is courtesy of Chard and Ilminster News.

An organisation representing water users in Somerset says a new way of charging households isn't likely to make a difference to what people pay for water. Bristol Water will lower prices in the winter but increase them in the summer to persuade people to use less water. Head of Engagement at the Consumer Council for Water, Cath Jones, says it’s doubtful the new charging scheme will have much impact.

The Somerset gymnast Laura Gallagher has announced her retirement after 20 years in the sport. Laura, who represented Team GB on the trampoline at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and is a World and European Medalist, says she wants to spend more time with her family.

St Margaret's Hospice is asking people to put on an item of yellow clothing this week to help raise awareness of the work of the hospice. The Wear It Yellow campaign is part of Hospice Care Week with money raised supporting the charity's hospices in Taunton and Yeovil.

A new volunteer-run community café has opened in Chard. The CommuniTEA Waffle in Holyrood Street is described as a free space for people of all ages to meet, offering a family room and community bookshelf.

More from News

Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more
Friday 11th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Yeovil in which a man riding an e-bike was injured and later died in hospital. Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says the number of false alarm calls it receives is on the increase. A new micro-pub opens in Chard next week...and more
Thursday 10th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for more targeted support for schools in Somerset. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident near Wells in which a cyclist died. Plans have been approved to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a house of multiple occupation...and more
Wednesday 9th April

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for stabbing another man in a pub in the town. Work is underway to help minimize the flood risk at Chard Reservoir. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-six new homes at Sparkford. A new Town Crier is needed in Glastonbury...and more
Tuesday 8th April

Work is underway to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with drink driving for a third time. Somerset Council has paid £35,000 in compensation for failing to deliver the right support to children with special educational needs. Another shop in Yeovil town centre is closing for good today...and more