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Her offence was to unwittingly sell a goldfish to a 14-year-old boy taking part in a trading standards 'sting'. At most, pet shop owner Joan Higgins, 66, expected a slap on the wrist for breaking new animal welfare laws which ban the sale of pets to under-16s. Instead, the great-grandmother was taken to court, fined £1,000, placed under curfew - and ordered to wear an electronic tag for two months. The punishment is normally handed out to violent thugs and repeat offenders. The prosecution of Mrs Higgins and her son Mark is estimated to have cost taxpayers £20,000 and has...

A former pub landlord yesterday became the first person to be jailed in connection with the smoking ban. Nick Hogan, 43, was sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to pay a fine imposed for flouting the legislation. Two years ago Hogan, who ran two pubs in Bolton, became the first landlord convicted of breaking the law for allowing his customers to routinely light up in his bars. A judge fined Hogan, of Chorley, Lancashire, £3,000 and ordered him to pay £7,236 in costs after finding him guilty of four charges under the Health Act 2006. But the married...

A wealthy British businessman was jailed for more than two years on Monday for attacking an intruder who was part of a three-man masked gang that broke into his home. Munir Hussain, who was threatened at knifepoint and tied up in his living room last year, was told he must go to prison for 30 months to preserve "civilized society." The man he attacked, Walid Salem, was allowed to go free and has since returned to a life of crime. Salem, who has 50 convictions, was unable to stand trial on a charge of false imprisonment apparently because of the...

A dog owner whose border collie was found to be twice its ideal weight has been found guilty of neglect. Ronald West, of Donald Road, Brighton, was convicted in his absence after failing to appear before magistrates in the city and sentencing was adjourned. The court heard five-year-old Taz was found to weigh 88lb (40kg), after West ignored orders to improve his diet. Animal welfare officers who visited the 62-year-old's flat last December said they found dog faeces in every room. West told officers the dog was overweight because it had been given too many treats by him and his...

A group of golfers have been arrested on assault charges after allegedly fighting off a gang who attempted to steal their clubs. Eight people were arrested following the incident at Sundridge Park Golf Course on Sunday. Two youths, aged 17 and 13 were also taken to south London hospitals with head injuries. The 17-year-old is in stable condition in hospital while the 13-year-old was later discharged and subsequently arrested. According to reports, the players were about to tee off on the fourth hole of the course in Bromley, Kent, when they were confronted by a group of teenagers brandishing planks...

Taxes will need to rise to pay for the green revolution which is necessary to save the planet from global warming, MPs warn today In a report on the impact of the recession on attempts to transform the UK into a low-carbon economy, an influential Commons committee reveals that levels of green taxes are now falling while overall tax revenues increase. And the MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee warn that without tax rises or radical cuts in public spending elsewhere, the Government will not be able to afford to continue the "green stimulus package" announced in the pre-Budget report...

Householders who put 'the wrong sort of rubbish' in their bins are to face re-education visits from council officers at their homes. They will be told how they are failing to recycle properly and will be encouraged to 'do better'. Bureaucrats are using microchips placed in bins to measure the volume of rubbish thrown away - and the contents may also be analysed in a search for plastic, glass or other items that should have been recycled instead. Those who break strict rules will first be contacted in writing, but may be confronted by a council officer on their doorstep...

WINGERWORTH, England, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A Wingerworth, England, man has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after he repeatedly whistled the theme to "The Addams Family" TV show at his neighbors. Leopold Wrobel, 51, was convicted of violating an antisocial behavior order directing him to cease whistling the tune at neighbors Michael and Kathleen Sharpe. Magistrates at a Chesterfield, England, court also found him guilty of two counts of harassment, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday. Prosecutor Michael Treharne said Wrobel's behavior may seem silly "but if something happens on an on-going basis and goes on and on and...

A British man was jailed for five hours after he photographed a cop reversing the wrong way up a one-way street. After Andrew Carter snapped the cop van, officer Aqil Farooq leaped out, hit the camera to the ground, handcuffed him and bundled him into the back of the vehicle. The plumber, 44, was arrested for supposedly being drunk, resisting arrest and assaulting the officer with the camera. He was kept in cells before finally being released on police bail at midnight. Carter, of Bedminster, Bristol, said: “I was nearly knocked down there once so when the police van went...

Two police officers are on sick leave after being attacked by a mob in south London after they asked a 15-year-old girl to pick up her litter. One officer was dragged to the ground and kicked while the other was bitten by a girl who jumped on his back. Up to 30 people took part in the attack, which happened in North End, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon. Trouble flared when the 15-year-old threw her food wrapper back on to the ground and became aggressive. Hospital treatment A girl who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault has been...

Home owners and “have-a go-heroes” have for the first time been given the legal right to defend themselves against burglars and muggers free from fear of prosecution. They will be able to use force against criminals who break into their homes or attack them in the street without worrying that "heat of the moment” misjudgements could see them brought before the courts. Under new laws police and prosecutors will have to assess a person’s actions based on the person’s situation "as they saw it at the time” even if in hindsight it could be seen as unreasonable. For example, homeowners...

Great Britain is in the midst of a trash crisis, with dwindling landfill space and one of Europe\'s poorest recycling records. Threatened with steep fines if they dump too much trash, local governments around the country are imposing strict regimens to force residents to produce less and recycle more, says the New York Times. For example: Many local governments now collect trash only twice a month, instead of every week. They restrict households to a limited amount of garbage and refuse to pick up more. They require that garbage be put out only at specific times. They impose fines (often...