Revellers in Gedling borough are being urged to stay safe while out drinking out over the festive period.

Nottinghamshire Police are reminding people heading out for a few drinks over the festive period to drink responsibly and also plan their journey home – using public transport or a taxi if you’ve had an alcoholic drink.

The Force are also asking people to take steps to ensure their drinks aren’t spiked.

Police are telling people not to leave their drink unattended – take it with you wherever you go.

They also say that if someone offers to buy you a festive drink, make sure you go to the bar with them and watch your drink the whole time and not to let them go to the bar on their own – although it might seem extreme, there are a lot of opportunities for someone to interfere with a drink whilst at the bar alone.

Police are also advising people to try to have drinks from bottles, as the necks make it difficult for someone to drop something in. You can also get ‘alcotops’ or ‘spikeys’ for bottles.

Also, If you’re unsure about your drink, don’t drink it and tell a friend or member of staff. Don’t leave it on the side – either take it back to the bar or pour it away yourself.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “We’d love to not have to put this advice out but, unfortunately, there are some people who see your big night out as an opportunity for crime. With that in mind, please take care with your drink to ensure it’s not spiked.

“Also, look after each other and make sure you and your friends get home safely.”

Police advice on spiked drinks

What is used to spike a drink?

There are several methods used to spike a drink – the most common is adding alcohol to a non-alcoholic drink or adding extra to an alcoholic drink. However certain drugs can also be used – these are added to alcohol and act as a powerful sedative. They can cause the person to become ill, fall unconscious and, in extreme cases, it can even lead to death.

What are the signs?

Depending on whether a drug was used, the signs that someone has been ‘spiked’ can appear in as little as 15 minutes and can, potentially, last for several hours. A number of the symptoms are similar to the effects of alcohol and that make it difficult to know if someone has had their drink ‘spiked’ – however, the main difference is how severe the symptoms are. While alcohol can severely affect someone, it often takes numerous drinks before that occurs. Drugs, on the other hand, can start affecting someone within a few minutes.

If someone is displaying the below symptoms and you’re concerned about them, make sure you stay with them, get them any medical attention they need and ensure they get home safely.

There are a range of things to look out for, which include:

• Confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Hallucinations
• Disorientation
• Loss of ability to communicate properly
• Paranoia
• Poor coordination
• Unconsciousness

What should you do if you think your drink has been spiked?

• Tell the people you’re with and make sure you’re someone where you feel safe.
• Alert a member of staff at the pub or club you are at. We’re currently rolling out a training programme to all bar staff, venue staff, door staff and taxi marshals in the city centre, to help them recognise when someone is vulnerable and provide them with appropriate support. We’re also working with McDonalds to help train their teams as well
• If you feel unwell you should seek medical attention immediately and tell them that you believe your drink has been spiked.
• Report it to the police as soon as possible. Drugs can leave the body in as little as 12 hours after consumption so it’s important you get tested quickly. We know that your memory can be affected by some of the drugs used to spike drinks, but we’ll need as much detail as possible to help us investigate. That might involve asking you to try and remember some of the below details:
• Do you know who spiked your drink?
• If you don’t know who spiked your drink, do you remember what they looked like, or any other details about them?
• What happened throughout the evening, and after your drink was spiked?
• Was anything taken from you?
• Were you physically attacked?

How to protect your drink

• Never leave your drink unattended – take it with you wherever you go and, if the club doesn’t allow drinks on the dancefloor, take time to finish your drink before you hit the dancefloor, rather than leaving it on a table for later.
• If someone offers to buy you’re a drink, make sure you go to the bar with them and watch your drink the whole time. Don’t let them go to the bar on their own, as there are far too many opportunities for someone to interfere with your drink. Similarly, keep an eye out for people trying to distract you from your drink.
• Wherever possible, have drinks from bottles – the necks make it more difficult to drop something into the bottle and you can also get ‘alcotops’ or ‘spikeys’ to fit bottles and protect your drink
• Let someone know where you are going and what time they can expect you back – plan your route home in advance
• If you are unsure about your drink, don’t drink it and tell a friend or member of staff. Don’t leave it on the side – either take it back to the bar or pour it away yourself.
• Keep an eye on your friends and ensure you all get home safely

A baby and toddler group in Woodthorpe has helped raise almost £7,000 to spread Christmas cheer to children spending the festive period at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre.

Little Lambs Baby & Toddler Group, which operates from The Church of the Good Shepherd on Thackeray’s Lane, teamed up with 20 Co-op stores to raise the cash, which will now be used to buy presents for sick children at the hospital in Nottingham.

The baby and toddler group launched the fundraising drive after hearing how the hospital had cared for three children known to them – Sophia Benedek, Poppy McGill and Aurora Pennacchia

Through a dedicated coffee morning and further generous donations, Little Lambs managed to raise £758.58. But several thousands of pounds were soon added to the total after 20 local Co-op stores got involved in the campaign.

The supermarket giant decided to help boost fundraising efforts after hearing about the campaign from Sarah Benedek, a member of the Little Lambs team who knew the manager at the local Co-op Gedling Road store and mentioned the group’s bid in passing.

Sarah, whose own daughter received treatment at the Children’s Ambulatory Care Unit at QMC earlier this year, said: “I knew Debs Bradley [the store manager] through joint fundraising work we do at Gedling Country Park.

“I happened to mention that it would be great if we could bring a little Christmas magic to the poorly children at QMC this year and she was an absolute star, certainly far exceeding any hopes we had.”

Debs Bradley, Store Manager of Co-op Gedling Road, took the idea to her area manager, Alastair Cook, who then persuaded all 20 stores in his care to join the campaign.

Mr Cook said: “When Debs raised the idea at the monthly regional meeting, it was a no-brainer. All of my 20 store managers agreed to help straight away. Just by simple actions such as putting buckets by till points for customers to drop in their loose change, our local stores collected £6,210.45 in six weeks.

“I am so proud of my team and the amazing customers who generously supported this campaign.”

Evaventually the Group and 20 Co-op stores managed to raise a combined total of £6969.03 to spend on items that the children needed. 

Earlier this week, Little Lambs representatives, including one-year-old Aurora Pennacchia who received cochlear implants at the QMC, along with store managers from the Co-op, delivered the Christmas gifts to the hospital.

Rebecca Burke, group leader for Little Lambs said: “We’re truly overwhelmed by how such a small idea has snowballed into something so amazing.

“We’re so grateful to the hospital for looking after our children so well and we wanted to give something back. We cannot thank those who attend Little Lambs and the Co-op enough for getting on board, especially all their customers for supporting this project.”

The money raised has been used to equip a new teenage room with the latest gaming gadgets including a PS4 and 32” TV plus games.                                                                               

More than 10 portable DVD players were also purchased, to distract children attending for day treatments and operations. Local families, Co-op customers and staff donated hundreds of DVDs to keep the children entertained while receiving treatment. 

There was enough money to refresh the toys in the treatment waiting areas and over £2,000 was spent on Christmas presents and gift cards for Santa to give out next week. A bag full of batteries and over 50 metres of gift wrap was also provided.

In addition, the generous volunteers at the Gedling Play Forum donated paints, paper and craft activities for the children to enjoy.

Claire Wright, Play Specialist at the Children’s Ambulatory Care Unit, QMC said: “We are just so overwhelmed by these generous donations. It’s been absolutely amazing. To us, this is the most amazing big deal.”

Finally, Co-op also donated food and treats to be enjoyed throughout the festive period by anyone on ward, including the doctors, nurses and support workers. 

“They might not be at home for Christmas but we’ve been able to bring a little bit of festive magic to the children, their families and the army of angels who look after them on ward this year,” concludes Deb Bradley, Store Manager of Co-op Gedling Road.

A criminal behind a major conspiracy to produce cannabis has been ordered to pay back more than £1m, including funds he had laundered by buying houses, land and a wind turbine.

Dale Richmond, who is currently serving a nine-and-a-half-year sentence, has been given just under three months to fork out the cash or serve a further six-and-a-half years in jail.

The Confiscation Order was made at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (14 December) following a complex investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.

The 56-year-old, of Mansfield Road, Ravenshead, was originally sentenced to eight years in prison on 15 October 2015 after being found guilty of conspiracy to produce cannabis and six counts of money laundering.

This was after Nottinghamshire Police launched Operation Nabit after finding a cannabis farm and large amounts of cash during a warrant at Richmond’s business, Ravenshead Plant Centre in Mansfield Road, in June 2013 – which led to the network of money laundering.

In March 2017, Richmond was also convicted at Nottingham Crown Court of two further offences of money laundering. He was sentenced to a further 18 months imprisonment, to run consecutively, making his total sentence now nine-and-a-half years.

In the Confiscation Order hearing last week, the court determined he had illegally made £1.05m which he must now hand over – and that he currently has £927,091 of recoverable assets.

Financial Investigator Ray Goddard said: “This has been a complex case to investigate and the Confiscation Orders granted in this case show our commitment to try and prevent individuals from benefitting from their criminal enterprises.”

Detective Inspector Robert Routledge said: “The £1m benefit figure determined against Richmond is a huge success and will remain on his criminal file until it is paid in full – the debt will not disappear even if he is to serve the prison sentence in default.　

“The Judge overseeing the proceedings, His Honour Judge Jeremy Lea, also saw fit to grant compliance orders against Richmond, which will help to recover the assets he owns.　This is a fantastic result for Nottinghamshire Police.”

Police are appealing for information after a 92-year old man was burgled while asleep at his home  in Carlton.

The man was sleeping on his sofa at his home in Greenwood Road when he awoke to find someone walking past him into his kitchen before leaving out of his back door.

When the victim checked his bedroom he found a quantity of cash had been taken.

The burglary happened at about 7.25pm on Saturday (December 15, 2018).

Detective Constable Sarah Stables said: “The victim was left very shaken by this incident and he is now being supported by officers and neighbours.

“Our enquiries are ongoing and we’re appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area around the time or the burglary or anyone who has any information would could help us with our enquiries to contact us.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 751 of 15 December 2018, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses and information after a pensioner was injured in a road collision in Daybrook.

The collision involving a car and the woman took place at the traffic light junction of A60 Mansfield Road with Thackerays Lane at about 9.50am on Friday (December 14, 2018).

The 75-year-old woman was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre with head injuries. She remains in a critical but stable condition.

Investigator Sophie Law said: “The collision happened at a very busy junction so there would have been a number of other vehicles travelling in the area at the time.

“We’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area atthe time of the collision who witnessed the collision to get in touch with us.We’d also like to hear from any motorists who may have recorded dashcam footage of the incident.”

Anyone who has any information is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 220 of 14 December 2018.

Alternatively if you have any information you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.