A man who killed his crying baby by throwing him into his cot has been jailed at Exeter Crown Court yesterday. Matthew Wickens, 24, was jailed for six years and five months after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his son, Riley Gardener.
Matthew Wickens, from Newton Abbot, admitted that he had shook Riley and slammed him down in his cot when he could not get the crying baby to settle , in November 2012.
Post-mortem examinations on Riley's body showed that he suffered massive head injuries associated with non-accidental shaking injuries.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Devon and Cornwall Police have joined with other agencies to form a new group aimed at combating the rise in rural crime.
The increase in deer poaching has been a particular concern in Exmoor National Park and the National Park Authority is already in regular contact with both forces on this and other issues.
In addition to the police, there are many other agencies with an interest in the natural environment and these have joined up to create the Exmoor Rural Crime Initiative (ERCI) and will be working together to prevent illegal practices...
A 27-year-old man who died following an assault on Saturday night has been named by Police as Exeter man Joseph Wake.
Earlier today two men from Exeter were charged with manslaughter in connection to Mr Wake's death
Craig Melhuish, aged 38, and Colin Smith, aged 34, have both been charged with manslaughter and were due to appear at Exeter Magistrates Court this morning (12 May).
Two others a 34 year-old woman from Exeter and a 41 year-old man, also from Exeter have both been released on police bail until August.
Police are appealing for information following a robbery in Tiverton yesterday (7th May). Just before 1.00pm at the entrance to People’s Park, the offender threatened an 18-year-old victim with a knife before stealing money and a mobile phone. The suspect is also believed to have approached another man in the walk way between Morrison’s supermarket and Market Carpets shortly before this incident but nothing was stolen. Police are keen to trace 5 school children who may have witnessed this incident.
No person has been injured as a result of either incident. The suspect is described...
Police are investigating following the shooting of a peregrine falcon. The peregrine falcon was found on Monday (5th May) in the Seaton area of East Devon with injuries were consistent with the peregrine having been shot.
The peregrine was found with an injury to its wing and unfortunately could not be saved.
Birds of prey such as the peregrine are a protected species which means it is illegal to harm or kill them.
Anyone convicted of harming a falcon can be fined up to £5,000 and jailed for up to six months.
It is unknown what type of firearm was used and...
Police in Barnstaple have released a picture of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an alleged arson attack at Fishleigh Rock Service Station, Umberleigh, north Devon, in the early hours of Monday 21 April. Police need help from the public to identify the man shown in CCTV footage in order to assist with ongoing enquiries. Anyone who knows the identity of the man pictured is asked call police on 101, quoting crime reference number CS/14/194, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Researchers at the National Marine Aquarium are set to benefit an after unusual donation from Devon & Cornwall Police. A range of powerful lights, growing trays and other equipment seized from illegal cannabis farms in Devon will now be put to use for growing seagrass, as part of the Community Seagrass Initiative. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), this three-year project aims to help conserve native seagrass and seahorses, getting the human communities that live around seagrass beds involved with the communities of marine life that thrive on the beds themselves. Mark Parry...
Police are urging householders to be on their guard following further reported incidents of a phone fraud where unsuspecting victims are duped by people posing as police. Reports of this scam have now been recorded in the South Hams area with four incidents recorded in Paignton yesterday, Thursday, 24 April, with two victims alone having parted with more than £12,000 each. This follows an incident last week when an elderly man from Paignton was duped out of £12,000 by someone posing to be a police officer from the Metropolitan Police who claimed that someone had been arrested in possession...
