k/J I Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 2 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, April 6th, 2006


ADVERTISER AND TIMES Valley M atters.................................... 6,7


NSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE


J Village N ew s ..............................11,12,13 Letters ...................................................16 Weekendplus.....................27.28 and 45 Weekend TV ..................................24,25


I Family Notices................................22,23 BReadersplus ..................... .................. 46 Propertyplus ..................................29-44 Motors Today ............................. .57-68 Sport.......................................... .69-72


AT A GLANCE...


Behind bars again - page 3 Assault man jailed - page 16


Ex-Mayor’s golden day - page 17 New Stony hurst head - page 48


INFORMATION


Duty chemist: Boots th e Chemist, 15-19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 0800 1954141. Gas: 0800 111999.


Water: 0845 462200. Councils: Kibble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe


425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722. Hospitals: Blackburn Royal Infirmary: 01254 263555. Queen's P a rk H o sp ita l, Black b u rn : 01254 263555. Airedale General Hospital, S te eton: 01535 652511. Clitheroe Community Hospital: 427311. Alcohol Information Centre: 01282 416655. Aidsline: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: Kibble Valley 01200 429346. Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Kibble Valley Talking Newspaper: 01200 428604. Samaritans: 01254 662424. Monthly Volunteer Helpline: 01200 422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation service): 01254 358095. Kibble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966.


CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


.Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, ext. 410 Fax: 01200 413467 editor e-mail: vivien.meath@castlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsnews.co.uk sport e-mail: cdward.lee@eastlancsnews.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING ■ ■ SLAIDBURN ----- IGISBURN ■ CHATBURN


CLITHEROE ■ , BWHALLEY


LANGHON " NREAD ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN ■


WEEKEND WEATHER: Saturday is likely to be dry, but cloudy, while Sunday is set to have sunny inter­ vals. SUNRISE: 6-30 a.m. SUNSET:7-51 p.m.


LIGHTING UP TIME: 8-21 p.m.


.Hji.o-.veboisaiedr'iia.wv.'v/ www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Sabden nurse says; was Sion Jenkins’ lover’


by Faiza Afzaal


A SABDEN woman has revealed how she became a secret pen-pal “lover” of Sion Jenkins after he was jailed for murdering his foster daughter


eight years ago. Alison Langridge (31), of Pendle


Street West, claims she supported the former deputy headmaster in his battle to clear his name. Earlier this year, Sion was


acquitted of bludgeoning his 13- year-old foster daughter, Billie-Jo, to death in Februapr 1997. In an exclusive interview with


“Reveal” magazine, Alison, who works as a veterinary nurse in Blackburn, has spoken of her heartache after he betrayed her and secretly married millionaire heiress Christina Ferneyhough while awaiting his first retrial last February. Alison was so convinced of Sion Jenkins’ innocence she wrote to


him in jail. Much to her surprise, he replied


straight away and soon the pair became much more than friends. In the two-page interview, Ali­


son, who was brought up in Padi- ham, has described how she would make the hour-long journey from her home in the scenic Kibble Val­ ley to a high-security Wakefield


Stables blaze


FIRE-FIGHTERS bat­ tled for several hours to control a blaze at Read- wood Stables. Six appliances were


called to the scene, two from Padiham, two from Burnley and one each from Nelson and Great Har­ wood. The fire, which occurred


just after midday on Tues­ day, was said to have start­ ed in the work shop at the Read property in Back Lane and spread into a small barn and into one of the stables. Part owner Mr Richard


Atkinson confirmed that the incident had caused superficial building damage and no one, including any horses was hurt. He added that the business had not been affected and was still running as normal.


Bridge club


WINNERS at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were; NS Chris Pollard and Peter Harg­ reaves, Deanna Atkinson and Robin Atkinson. EW Frances Porter and Jessie Telfer, B. Guha and Use Park. On Thursday win­ ners were: NS Stephen Higson and Tim Davies, Chris Pollard and George Pollard. EW Use Park and Kath Higson, John Ren­ ton and Brenda Wilson.


oG ; - ib o t^ s . H (kP lC € iTMGP.Oc


£ looo.cp inSL£ ^ ^


Table’s cash to a worthy cause


MEMBERS of Clitheroe Round Table voted to donate £1,000 to the East Lan­ cashire Hospice. More than £7,000 has been given to


good causes during an excellent year for fund-raising. Chairman Roger Spensley was keen


that the money raised be put to good use, rather than left in a bank account and tablers were in no doubt that the hospice was a worthy recipient. The East Lancashire Hospice is the


main specialist palliative care unit for patients from the Ribble Valley, Black­ burn, Darwen and Hyndburn, serving a population of some 385,000. Its function is to offer care to patients


CP


with advanced and progressive life- threatening diseases and give support to their relatives and carers in an atmos­ phere of calm with tenderness, care and


quiet efficiency. The Round Table’s donation to the hospice follows on the heels of substantial donations made to the Clitheroe First Responders, the North West Air Ambulance, Life Educa­ tion Centre, Crossroads, Rowland Pen­ nine Mountain Rescue, the Anthony Nolan Trust and many other worthy causes that have had a proven impact on local people. All applications received are given due


consideration and the public are encour­ aged to make applications whether they


■ are for large organisations or specific individuals. Pictured is Clitheroe Round Table


community service officer Richard Pal- lister (right) handing over the £1,000 cheque to hospice fund-raising manager Harry Grayson, (s)


was THE doubic-page colour spread in last week’s ‘Reveal’ magazine


prison in West Yorkshire each month. From May 2000 Alison was


loyal to Sion - but it was a loyalty which was clearly one-sided. She was left humiliated when


Sion was revealed as a serial postal love cheat, who had secretly mar­


ried the millionaire heiress. Alison started to follow Sion's


trial in 1998, having graduated from Bangor University. About 18 months after Sion was


imprisoned for life, she saw a news­ paper interview with his parents encouraging people to write to


m, n-j.i. S sr.» niM > <-< n « ........................ ,, S'. i J ' J ;biLlie-jo's foster dad,; FXCLUSiyElS^^


their son. They corresponded regu­ larly and after a couple of months, Sion invited Alison to visit him on her 26th birthday. After a visit in July 2000, it


became obvious the couple were becoming more than just pen pals. Alison says: "As I stood up to


leave, he told me he loved me. "I thought he loved only me."


she says. "He had three visiting orders a month, and his family took two of them. I was his only other visitor most months." Their visits, says Alison, were


always good fun. She added the pair had a "cooling-off period" in the months leading up to Sion's first retrial. So Alison was shocked when, in


February 2005, a friend told her to dash out and buy a paper where she saw photos of the newlyweds. "I felt numb," says Alison. "I


tried to call Sion, but his phone was off. Then I rang his parents, and they were as shocked as I was. "Sion called me the following


night, and that's when the tears came. I called him all sorts of names, but he remained cocky. “I do feel betrayed, but I am not


bitter. I'm not going to carry this hatred around in my heart forever. I hope I fall in love again." Contacted by the Clitheroe


Advertiser and Times this week, Alison declined to comment.


Whist winners


SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs A. Foster, Mrs D. Farnsworth, Mrs J. Thorn­ ton. New members wel­ come every Monday at 7 p.m. Bridge winners at the


Pendle Club were: Miss Pat Hargreaves, Mr Har­ vey Jackson, Mrs Jackie Pilling, Mr Cliff Brierley. New members welcome


every Monday at 1-30 p.m. Domino winners on Fri­


day were: H. Wolfenden, W. Cooke, joint 3rd, R. Kiddie, P. Metcahe and J. Thornber. Saturday domino win­


ners were: F. Giles, joint 2, M. Pye and J. Pye, joint 4, M. Smith and C. Wise­ man. Line-dancing is held every Thursday at 1-30 p.m. and sequence dancing every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m.


Lottery luck


A CLITHEROE resident scooped the first prize of £1,000 in the weekly East Lancashire Hospice lot­ tery. Mrs Knight of Clitheroe


took the jackpot, with Mr Smith, of Rishton, taking £250 and Mrs Todd, of Blackburn, winning £100.There were also 15 £10 winners. If you would like to sup­


port your local Hospice by joining the lottery, please call Gill on 01254 342847.


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, April 6th, 2006 3


Further attack by freed-early youth who ‘destroyed son’s life’


________ by Duncan Smith


a n ex-soldier previously jailed for attack­ ing his Clitheroe platoon leader with a pick­ axe is back behind bars after admitting a new offence of inflicting grievous bodily


harm. Lance Corporal Konrad Bisping, of Clitheroe,


suffered devastating injuries and was lucky to survive when Private Grant Kenyon struck him in the head with an Army-issue pickaxe during a military exercise in January 2003. The attack put an end to a promising career in


the Army for L/Cpl Bisping, who was a 26-year- old father-of-two at the time of the attack. He was hit from behind with the chisel point of the pickaxe, which was embedded in his skull. Kenyon, from Blackburn, was cleared of


manslaughter a t Bristol Crown Court, but admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was jailed for four-and-a-half years in December


2003. During his trial, the jury was told it was only


due to luck and the skill of surgeons that L/Cpl Bisping survived the attack, which had left him with serious ongoing health problems. Now, after early release from his jail sentence,


Kenyon has admitted a second offence of griev­ ous bodily harm, at Preston Crown Court. The court heard that before he was jailed,


Kenyon, now 21, had been seeing a young woman, Samantha Hoole, and on his release he was overjoyed that she still had feelings for him. But she was also seeing Mr Mohammed Patel and when Kenyon saw her getting into Mr Patel’s car, he launched a vicious attack, the court was


told. Kenyon, of Beaumaris Avenue, Blackburn,


was due to stand trial, but instead pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, in October last


year. Mr Rod Priestley (prosecuting) said about 9


p.m. on the night in question Miss Hoole got into Mr Patel’s car and he was about to drive off when his rear window was smashed. He stalled the car and then noticed Kenyon holding a trian­ gular road sign. He claimed his door was pulled open and he was hit in the face with the sign, but Kenyon disputed that. Mr Patel was then hit three or four times in the


face, dragged from the car and was punched, kicked, kneed and headbutted. Kenyon denied hitting Mr Patel with the sign, but admitted fracturing his cheekbone with a punch, which was the basis of his guilty plea and that the


cheekbone injury was caused by a punch. Kenyon had been recalled to prison by the


Home Office following the incident involving Mr Patel and his release date is now July next year. The court heard that Kenyon also had another conviction for wounding and had been dismissed


from the Army. Mr Joe Boyd (defending) said at the time of


the attack on L/Cpl Bisping, Kenyon was 17 and a very young boy soldier and had been bullied and punched. He told the court that Miss Hoole had been playing Kenyon and Mr Patel one against the other and on that particular day she lied to the defendant over where she was going


that night. Judge Edward Slinger adjourned sentence for


background reports and Kenyon will be sen­


tenced on May 2nd. • Konrad Bisping is now living in Wales,


where he continues to receive medical help for the devastating effects of the pickaxe attack which ended his Army career and almost ended his life. His mother, Mrs Kathleen Bisping, of Hen-


thorn Close, Clitheroe, yesterday told the Clitheroe Advertiser that Kenyon had ruined her


son’s life. She was not surprised he had struck again as


one of his Army officers had previously told her Behind bars - yet again


back behind bars after flouting her second Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) is Clitheroe’s “Miss Misery”, Rachael Louise Linford. The 19-year-old serial offender,


who has a string of convictions for assault and other offences, was jailed for six months by Blackburn magistrates, just weeks after her release from a young offenders’ institute. The magistrates heard that Lin­


ford, of Siddows Avenue, was found drinking in a public park, in breach of a curfew and in the com­ pany of individuals she was banned from associating with - all actions specifically precluded by an ASBO imposed in November. Furthermore, the court was told


that Linford was involved in an assault on a 17-year-old girl who was part of the same gang. She pleaded guilty to the assault and breaching the ASBO. Mr Neil White (prosecuting)


said Linford had breached many parts of the ASBO, which was imposed when she was sentenced for five offences of assault, two of criminal damage, resisting a police officer and a Bail Act offence. She had also been sent to prison for


four months. He said the 17-year-old girl had


been asked if she had slept with someone's brother and, when she said yes, she was attacked by Lin­ ford and another girl. She was punched to the ground and then kicked repeatedly about the head


and body. “This is not a technical breach of


an ASBO as is sometimes the case,” said Mr White. “She has behaved in exactly the way she was prohibited from behaving.” He said Linford was specifically


banned from associating with the people she was with, banned from consuming or being under the influence of alcohol in a public


place and subject to a curfew, which she was in breach of. “The order also prohibits her


from causing harassment, alarm or distress and clearly that would have been suffered by the girl who was assaulted,” said Mr White. He also revealed that Linford had breached the order three times when it was at the interim stage and had breached her first ASBO, imposed when she was 16, a total


of seven times. Mr Gareth Price (defending)


said Linford had been the youngest female in the country to be made subject to an ASBO when the first order was made and the stigma had stuck with her. He said tha t following her


release from prison in February, Linford had engaged with the Pro­ bation Service and had been referred to work with the Prince’s Trust and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. He said Linford was working at a riding for the dis­ abled centre on a voluntary basis.


Track record of a troublemaker • Linford, who has a daughter


of her own, was dubbed “Miss Misery” for the effect her continual anti-social behaviour had on the community. She was first made subject to an ASBO in May 2003 after two years of persistent com­ plaints to police about her behav­


iour. Magistrates took the unusual step of “naming and shaming” Linford, who was then just 16, after police said it would help them to enforce the order. • In September 2004, Linford


was sentenced to a four-month detention training order for three breaches of her ASBO and six offences including theft, assault and being drunk and disorderly. In November 2005, there was


a public outcry when Linford was spared jail after admitting a string of offences, including five unpro­ voked assaults on complete strangers. By now, her worsening behaviour had prompted police to apply, successfully, for a second ASBO against her. Instead of prison, she was made subject to a two-year supervision order. • Even Linford’s mother, Mrs


Ann Bowman, said the sentence made a mockery of the justice sys­ tem and was unfair to the innocent people Linford had assaulted. Mrs Bowman, of Hodder Grove, Clitheroe, contacted us to state publicly her belief that her daugh­ ter should have been jailed. • Just six weeks later, in Janu­


ary (his year, Linford was sentenced to four months in custody after breaching the terms of her new ASBO in three different ways. She was found in Clitheroe town centre under the influence of drink, in breach of her curfew and in the company of a man she was barred from associating with. Magistrates said she had shown “a total disre­ gard’’ for the order and they had no choice but to send her to a youth offending institute. • Just weeks after her release,


she is back behind bars for further breaches of her ASBO. • Camera crews have been fol­


lowing Linford, for a documentary on teenagers who have been given ASBOs.


he was “a ticking timebomb waiting to explode . Mrs Bisping said of Kenyon: “I don’t know him and I don’t want to know him. He destroyed


my son’s life.” The pickaxe attack caused serious damage to


the optic nerve and has left Mr Bisping 9^°’^ blind. He suffered significant memory loss arid has had to relearn many everyday tasks, includ- ing writing. He also takes medication to control fits and is unlikely to ever work again. Yet despite all this, Mrs Bisping said her son


remains remarkably cheerful: “He has a very pos­ itive attitude and never complains. He is always


laughing and joking.”


She also praised the Aimy for the high level of care it continues to provide for her son.


• ON page three of last week’s Clitheroe Advertiser and Times we reported the court case of Aaron Porter (23), who pleaded guilty to child abduction and possession of an inde­


cent photograph of a child. We have been asked to point out th a t


Porter no longer lives at Three Rivers Coun­ try Park, West Bradford, which was the address given to the court and reported in the


case. , , . , , , f


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