birminghammail--2020-10-13--Crooked finance boss stole £700k and spent £114k on Amazon goods

A crooked finance boss stole £700,000 from her company to fund a luxury lifestyle - including spending £114,000 on Amazon products .
Lindsay Caldicott , 52 , fiddled the books for years at Lichfield -based SPA Technique Ltd , which supplies parts to Formula One racing teams .
But she was undone when the firm discovered fake invoices which allowed her to steal up to £12,000 per month for several years - losses which contributed to job cuts .
The crooked mum had splashed out on home improvements for her two homes and foreign holidays to places including Florida and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid off credit card debts and blew £114,000 on Amazon products on the company MBNA card , which were delivered to her home .
Caldicott , from Poplar Gardens , Burton upon Trent , was jailed for 16 months at Stafford Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to the theft of £692,000 .
Betrayed former boss Richard Barnes , 71 , is chairman of SPA Technique and had worked with the trusted financial controller for 24 years .
He said : `` I considered her a friend , I 'm God-parent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we discovered she was stealing at the rate of between £8,000 and £12,000 a month .
`` We can only go back to 2009 as the police could only prosecute from then .
But we can see losses that go far beyond that - losses in the million pound bracket .
`` On a personal level I trusted her with everything I had .
It 's been a wretched time , these last two and a half years . ''
Office manager and financial controller Caldicott had kept the astonishing thefts hidden from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habits did sometimes raise eyebrows .
Richard said : `` She changed her car almost annually which we could n't understand .
She was eating out four times , at the weekend , she was buying new clothes every week .
`` She was on £38,000 for a 30-hour week , she was well paid .
But she was spending money off the scale . ''
Yet it was only when a company accountant and compliance manager spotted the suspicious invoices and company credit card payments that police were called in .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book-keeping discovered the full scale of her thieving , including using company cash to pay off credit card debts .
Richard said : `` She became too brazen .
She was running two lots of books ( accounts ) .
`` She bought a holiday home in Filey in Yorkshire and she spent £450,000 on a Barclaycard credit card and £114,000 on the MBNA card , plus large amounts of cash into her account . ''
He added : `` She refurbished the house in Filey .
She put jacuzzi baths in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she built a large extension .
`` In the last transactions we discovered on the Barclaycard , we found out she 'd bought three Dyson hair dryers from Lewis ' on my company credit card for £940 . ''
The well-known company , which has a branch in America , had to bring in lawyers to seize Caldicott 's home and other assets to repay £450,000 of the stolen cash , although much of that was spent on legal fees .
Richard claimed the finance boss had never owned up to anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When we confronted her ( with the theft ) she said that there had been a mistake and offered to pay £15,000 back , '' he said .
`` But by that time the forensic accountant had already found £45,000 missing , and then it leapt to £450,000 when our lawyers obtained an order from the court to see all her visible assets .
`` The business suffered at the time and we had to make men redundant .
`` We 're up and running now fortunately but she 's left us with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been forced to repay back some of the stolen cash , but her former boss says he can not forgive the crimes .
Richard added : `` It 's been a trail of betrayal and deceit from end to end to be honest with you and we 're all very sad .
`` Many employees lost their jobs during the last five years , yet she showed no remorse . ''

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A crooked finance boss stole £700,000 from her company to fund a luxury lifestyle - including spending £114,000 on Amazon products.
Lindsay Caldicott, 52, fiddled the books for years at Lichfield -based SPA Technique Ltd, which supplies parts to Formula One racing teams.
But she was undone when the firm discovered fake invoices which allowed her to steal up to £12,000 per month for several years - losses which contributed to job cuts.
The crooked mum had splashed out on home improvements for her two homes and foreign holidays to places including Florida and Portugal.
Hidden records showed she also paid off credit card debts and blew £114,000 on Amazon products on the company MBNA card, which were delivered to her home.
Caldicott, from Poplar Gardens, Burton upon Trent, was jailed for 16 months at Stafford Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to the theft of £692,000.
Betrayed former boss Richard Barnes, 71, is chairman of SPA Technique and had worked with the trusted financial controller for 24 years.
He said: "I considered her a friend, I'm God-parent to one of her youngest daughters. Yet we discovered she was stealing at the rate of between £8,000 and £12,000 a month.
"We can only go back to 2009 as the police could only prosecute from then. But we can see losses that go far beyond that - losses in the million pound bracket.
"On a personal level I trusted her with everything I had. It's been a wretched time, these last two and a half years."
Office manager and financial controller Caldicott had kept the astonishing thefts hidden from the family firm, although her spending habits did sometimes raise eyebrows.
Richard said: "She changed her car almost annually which we couldn't understand. She was eating out four times, at the weekend, she was buying new clothes every week.
"She was on £38,000 for a 30-hour week, she was well paid. But she was spending money off the scale."
Yet it was only when a company accountant and compliance manager spotted the suspicious invoices and company credit card payments that police were called in.
It was then that forensic examination of her book-keeping discovered the full scale of her thieving, including using company cash to pay off credit card debts.
Richard said: "She became too brazen. She was running two lots of books (accounts).
"She bought a holiday home in Filey in Yorkshire and she spent £450,000 on a Barclaycard credit card and £114,000 on the MBNA card, plus large amounts of cash into her account."
He added: "She refurbished the house in Filey. She put jacuzzi baths in her own house, she fitted it out, she built a large extension.
"In the last transactions we discovered on the Barclaycard, we found out she'd bought three Dyson hair dryers from Lewis' on my company credit card for £940."
The well-known company, which has a branch in America, had to bring in lawyers to seize Caldicott's home and other assets to repay £450,000 of the stolen cash, although much of that was spent on legal fees.
Richard claimed the finance boss had never owned up to anything like the full amount stolen.
"When we confronted her (with the theft) she said that there had been a mistake and offered to pay £15,000 back," he said.
"But by that time the forensic accountant had already found £45,000 missing, and then it leapt to £450,000 when our lawyers obtained an order from the court to see all her visible assets.
"The business suffered at the time and we had to make men redundant.
"We're up and running now fortunately but she's left us with this huge hole."
Caldicott has been forced to repay back some of the stolen cash, but her former boss says he cannot forgive the crimes.
Richard added: "It's been a trail of betrayal and deceit from end to end to be honest with you and we're all very sad.
"Many employees lost their jobs during the last five years, yet she showed no remorse."


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Morrisons launch £50 Christmas dinner boxes

Morrisons is today announcing it will be offering customers the UK ’ s easiest-to-buy Christmas dinner .
Customers won ’ t need to beat the queues , select their items or even book a delivery slot .
Instead , with a touch of a button , customers will be able to order a Christmas Dinner Box online and it will be delivered direct to their door just in time for the big day .
With many families across the country self-isolating or avoiding supermarkets , Morrisons is launching the one stop shop 16-piece Christmas Dinner Box to take the stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinner contains festive favourites such as Turkey and all the trimmings , a cheese board and crackers , deep-filled mince pies and a festive yule log .
Priced at £50 including delivery , the Morrisons Christmas Dinner Box will go on presale on October 13 and will be delivered to customers ' doorsteps on December 22 and 23 .
It will arrive in a specially developed box so that items remain cold and fresh until they reach customers ’ fridge .
Aidan Buckley , Food to Order Director at Morrisons said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Christmas food shopping and give customers the ultimate hassle-free Christmas dinner to enjoy .
`` In a difficult year , this is the simplest way to get your Christmas meal.
” Morrisons The Best Pigs in Blankets Morrisons The Best Sprouts with lightly smoked gammon Morrisons The Best Heritage Carrots with butter The Morrisons Christmas Food box is available to order from today 13th October at https : //www.morrisons.com/food-boxes for £50 - with delivery on the 22nd or 23rd December this year .

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Morrisons is today announcing it will be offering customers the UK’s easiest-to-buy Christmas dinner.
Customers won’t need to beat the queues, select their items or even book a delivery slot.
Instead, with a touch of a button, customers will be able to order a Christmas Dinner Box online and it will be delivered direct to their door just in time for the big day.
With many families across the country self-isolating or avoiding supermarkets, Morrisons is launching the one stop shop 16-piece Christmas Dinner Box to take the stress out of festive food shopping.
The dinner contains festive favourites such as Turkey and all the trimmings, a cheese board and crackers, deep-filled mince pies and a festive yule log.
Priced at £50 including delivery, the Morrisons Christmas Dinner Box will go on presale on October 13 and will be delivered to customers' doorsteps on December 22 and 23.
It will arrive in a specially developed box so that items remain cold and fresh until they reach customers’ fridge.
Aidan Buckley, Food to Order Director at Morrisons said: “We want to take the stress out of Christmas food shopping and give customers the ultimate hassle-free Christmas dinner to enjoy.
"In a difficult year, this is the simplest way to get your Christmas meal.”
What's included:
Morrisons British Turkey Parcel (serves 4-7)
Morrisons The Best Goose Fat Potatoes
Morrisons The Best Pigs in Blankets
Morrisons The Best Deep Filled Mince Pies
Morrisons The Best Sage & Onion Stuffing Balls
Morrisons The Best Mature Blue Stilton
Morrisons The Best Cranberry Sauce
Morrisons The Best Brie De Meaux
Morrisons The Best Turkey Gravy
Morrisons The Best Caledonian Vintage Cheddar 300g
Morrisons The Best Sprouts with lightly smoked gammon
Morrisons The Best Festive Fruit Chutney
Morrisons The Best Heritage Carrots with butter
Morrisons The Best Rye Sourdough Crackers 130G
Morrisons The Best Honey & Mustard Baby Parsnips
Morrisons The Best Yule Log
The Morrisons Christmas Food box is available to order from today 13th October at https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes for £50 - with delivery on the 22nd or 23rd December this year.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Teenage boy, 16, killed in moped crash

Teenage boy, 16, killed in moped crash

The 16-year-old died at the scene after colliding with a car on Princes End High Street , Tipton , just before 8pm on Monday , October 12 .
Police said the driver stopped at the scene and was helping with enquiries .
An ambulance crew at a nearby nursing home heard the smash and found the rider lying in the road , before calling for more help .
The teenager 's family were being supported by specialist officers .
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said : `` We ’ re investigating a fatal collision on Princes End High Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night ( Monday , October 12 ) .
`` A 16-year-old motorcyclist sadly died at the scene following a collision with a car .
His family are now being supported by specialist officers .
`` The driver of the car stopped at the scene and is helping police with enquiries . ''
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said : “ The first ambulance crew commenced resuscitation efforts on the male , who was in a critical condition , whilst ambulance colleagues responded to the scene .
“ Once on scene , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together to administer advanced life support to the patient .
Sadly , despite their very best efforts , nothing could be done to save the moped rider and he was confirmed deceased a short time later.
” Anyone with information is asked to contact the police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight , or call 101 anytime .
Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111 .
Please quote log 4435 of 12 October .

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A teenage moped rider died after a crash with a car.
The 16-year-old died at the scene after colliding with a car on Princes End High Street, Tipton, just before 8pm on Monday, October 12.
Police said the driver stopped at the scene and was helping with enquiries.
An ambulance crew at a nearby nursing home heard the smash and found the rider lying in the road, before calling for more help.
The teenager's family were being supported by specialist officers.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "We’re investigating a fatal collision on Princes End High Street in Tipton, just before 8pm last night (Monday, October 12).
"A 16-year-old motorcyclist sadly died at the scene following a collision with a car. His family are now being supported by specialist officers.
"The driver of the car stopped at the scene and is helping police with enquiries."
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The first ambulance crew commenced resuscitation efforts on the male, who was in a critical condition, whilst ambulance colleagues responded to the scene.
“Once on scene, the team of ambulance staff and MERIT worked together to administer advanced life support to the patient. Sadly, despite their very best efforts, nothing could be done to save the moped rider and he was confirmed deceased a short time later.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime. Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote log 4435 of 12 October.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--The best and worst Amazon Prime Day deals on TV's

Amazon Prime Day is upon us and there are bargains to be had .
If you 're using the sales event as an excuse to upgrade your household tech items however , tread with caution .
While some of the tech deals on offer are impressive , others are n't quite as appealing as they may sound - and the disparity in the 'good versus bad ' scale is particularly apparent in Amazon 's selection of televisions .
In terms of percentage of reduction , the biggest saving you can currently get is on this 55-inch 4K Hisense TV .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's current price of £548.00 equates to a deduction of £351.99 .
However , Amazon advertising this as `` 39 % off '' is disingenuous .
Prior to the start of Amazon Prime Day , the 55-inch Hisense TV was n't listed at £899.99 ; it was listed at £599.99 .
While a saving of over £50 is not to be sniffed at , it 's an example of why consumers ought to be wary that sometimes deals are not all what they may seem .
With all of this said , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samsung , LG , Panasonic and more .
Check out all the Amazon Prime Day deals on TVs here and check out the offer below on how to save a further £15 on any Amazon purchases you make .
Topcashback currently have a £15 cashback offer that can be used across a number of popular online retailers - Amazon included .
To take advantage , all you have to do is sign up today , click through to the Amazon website and shop as normal .
Once you 've made your purchase , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Topcashback account which can then be transferred directly into your bank .
The £15 cashback is n't just exclusive to the 3rd Generation Amazon Echo Dot , of course .
Further savings can also be made across all of Amazon 's Prime Day deals including wireless headphones , kindles , smart bulbs and much more .

Amazon Prime Day is upon us and there are bargains to be had.
If you're using the sales event as an excuse to upgrade your household tech items however, tread with caution.
While some of the tech deals on offer are impressive, others aren't quite as appealing as they may sound - and the disparity in the 'good versus bad' scale is particularly apparent in Amazon's selection of televisions.
In terms of percentage of reduction, the biggest saving you can currently get is on this 55-inch 4K Hisense TV.
With an RRP of £899.99, it's current price of £548.00 equates to a deduction of £351.99.
However, Amazon advertising this as "39% off" is disingenuous.
Prior to the start of Amazon Prime Day, the 55-inch Hisense TV wasn't listed at £899.99; it was listed at £599.99.
While a saving of over £50 is not to be sniffed at, it's an example of why consumers ought to be wary that sometimes deals are not all what they may seem.
With all of this said, other offers are available on big-name brands including Samsung, LG, Panasonic and more.
Check out all the Amazon Prime Day deals on TVs here and check out the offer below on how to save a further £15 on any Amazon purchases you make.
Topcashback currently have a £15 cashback offer that can be used across a number of popular online retailers - Amazon included.
To take advantage, all you have to do is sign up today, click through to the Amazon website and shop as normal.
Once you've made your purchase, £15 will then be refunded into your Topcashback account which can then be transferred directly into your bank.
The £15 cashback isn't just exclusive to the 3rd Generation Amazon Echo Dot, of course.
Further savings can also be made across all of Amazon's Prime Day deals including wireless headphones, kindles, smart bulbs and much more.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Which lockdown tier is your area - check by typing in your postcode here

The lockdown rules change from today as the government 's new three tier , traffic light-style strategy takes effect .
The new rules , announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday , affect everywhere .
Birmingham will be in the second tier .
Alongside Birmingham , swathes of the West Midlands will also be ranked in the middle tier - including Walsall and Wolverhampton , and Solihull and Sandwell too .
But what about your part of the country ?
After all , some areas with sky-high rates - like Nottingham - remain in the second tier .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom tier .
The top tier is exclusively reserved for Liverpool City Region currently .
Thankfully , we have a postcode checker below - so just type in your postcode and you 'll be told the lockdown tier your area currently sits in .
Handy stuff .
We have also compiled the second tier areas below for you to see .
• High Peak - the wards of Tintwistle , Padfield , Dinting , St John 's , Old Glossop , Whitfield , Simmondley , Gamesley , Howard Town , Hadfield South and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'high alert level ' , and will apply to most of the areas that are currently under local lockdown restrictions , according to Mr Johnson .
Areas in 'high alert level ' will not be able to mix with other households indoors , however in outdoor settings - like private gardens and parks - the rule of six will be in force .

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The lockdown rules change from today as the government's new three tier, traffic light-style strategy takes effect.
The new rules, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, affect everywhere. Birmingham will be in the second tier.
Alongside Birmingham, swathes of the West Midlands will also be ranked in the middle tier - including Walsall and Wolverhampton, and Solihull and Sandwell too.
But what about your part of the country? After all, some areas with sky-high rates - like Nottingham - remain in the second tier. Other areas like London, are in the bottom tier.
The top tier is exclusively reserved for Liverpool City Region currently.
Thankfully, we have a postcode checker below - so just type in your postcode and you'll be told the lockdown tier your area currently sits in. Handy stuff.
We have also compiled the second tier areas below for you to see.
Cheshire
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire East
Greater Manchester
Manchester
Bolton
Bury
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
Wigan
Salford
Rochdale
Oldham
Warrington
Warrington
Derbyshire
High Peak - the wards of Tintwistle, Padfield, Dinting, St John's, Old Glossop, Whitfield, Simmondley, Gamesley, Howard Town, Hadfield South and Hadfield North
Lancashire
Lancashire
Blackpool
Preston
Blackburn with Darwen
Burnley
West Yorkshire
Leeds
Bradford
Kirklees
Calderdale
Wakefield
South Yorkshire
Barnsley
Rotherham
Doncaster
Sheffield
North East
Newcastle
South Tyneside
North Tyneside
Gateshead
Sunderland
Durham
Northumberland
Tees Valley
Middlesbrough
Redcar and Cleveland
Stockton-on-Tees
Darlington
Hartlepool
West Midlands
Birmingham
Sandwell
Solihull
Wolverhampton
Walsall
Leicester
Leicester
Oadby and Wigston
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Nottingham City
Tier two is classed as 'high alert level', and will apply to most of the areas that are currently under local lockdown restrictions, according to Mr Johnson.
Areas in 'high alert level' will not be able to mix with other households indoors, however in outdoor settings - like private gardens and parks - the rule of six will be in force.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Garry Monk has a 'glut' of concerns ahead of Blues return

Garry Monk has several Sheffield Wednesday injury concerns ahead of his return to St Andrew 's this weekend .
The former Birmingham City boss brings the Owls to his former stomping ground on Saturday as Championship football returns following the latest international break .
It will be the second time Monk has returned to Blues following his unceremonious departure from the club in June last year .
The first ended in a 3-3 draw in February , Scott Hogan grabbing an injury-time equaliser for Blues in a pulsating encounter with both sides throwing away leads .
This time around Monk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of his players .
YorkshireLive reports quintet Dominic Iorfa ( hamstring ) , Liam Palmer ( back ) , Tom Lees ( groin ) , Izzy Brown ( knee ) and Liam Shaw ( ankle ) are all doubts for the game .
Defender Osaze Urhoghide ( knee ) could return but centre-back Chey Dunkley remains a long-term absentee with a serious leg injury .
Meanwhile former Blues goalkeeper Lee Camp is training with Monk 's side as he continues his search for a new club .
Blues have enjoyed an unbeaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with six points from four Championship matches .
The head coach told Blues Talk : “ The main thing is they have to know that everybody is going to be important because it is impossible to achieve something in this league with just 13 , 14 or 16 players .
“ It is true now we have done well and I have played more or less with the same team but from Saturday everything is going to change – all of them are going to be important for us , Saturday-Tuesday , Saturday-Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be tough for everybody .
“ All them need to be ready and all of them need to understand they will play because at the end I will always try to find the best XI on the pitch .
”

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Garry Monk has several Sheffield Wednesday injury concerns ahead of his return to St Andrew's this weekend.
The former Birmingham City boss brings the Owls to his former stomping ground on Saturday as Championship football returns following the latest international break.
It will be the second time Monk has returned to Blues following his unceremonious departure from the club in June last year.
The first ended in a 3-3 draw in February, Scott Hogan grabbing an injury-time equaliser for Blues in a pulsating encounter with both sides throwing away leads.
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This time around Monk is sweating of the fitness of a number of his players. YorkshireLive reports quintet Dominic Iorfa (hamstring), Liam Palmer (back), Tom Lees (groin), Izzy Brown (knee) and Liam Shaw (ankle) are all doubts for the game.
Defender Osaze Urhoghide (knee) could return but centre-back Chey Dunkley remains a long-term absentee with a serious leg injury.
Meanwhile former Blues goalkeeper Lee Camp is training with Monk's side as he continues his search for a new club.
Blues have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season under Aitor Karanka with six points from four Championship matches.
The head coach told Blues Talk: “The main thing is they have to know that everybody is going to be important because it is impossible to achieve something in this league with just 13, 14 or 16 players.
“It is true now we have done well and I have played more or less with the same team but from Saturday everything is going to change – all of them are going to be important for us, Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday to travel to Norwich, to London is going to be tough for everybody.
“All them need to be ready and all of them need to understand they will play because at the end I will always try to find the best XI on the pitch.”


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Health boss urges residents to follow new corona rules

A health boss has urged residents to follow the new coronavirus rules - because HALF of those with symptoms ignore the demand to stay at home .
Walsall director of public health Stephen Gunther spoke as the borough faced tighter restrictions for the first time since the national lockdown was eased in the summer .
It is now in the new tier two category alongside Birmingham , Solihull and most of the rest of the Black Country .
That means households ca n't mix in private homes or hospitality venues from tomorrow , Wednesday , October 14 .
But , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Gunther quoted figures which said 50 per cent of people who showed symptoms were not staying at home .
“ The pandemic hasn ’ t gone away ; it is still very much with us .
It is very easily transmitted and , put simply , it kills people and leaves others struggling to recover months on .
`` I appreciate people may be tired of hearing the same messages over and over , however they are more important than ever now .
- keep washing your hands , wear a face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolate if you have COVID-19 symptoms .
“ Data suggests that up to 50 per cent of people with symptoms are not staying at home ; this could have a deadly impact on older and more vulnerable loved ones , so please keep them safe by following the guidelines .
`` Limiting our contact with our family and friends is hard , but it is important because the more contact we have , the more likely the virus will spread .
“ If you are contacted by test and trace , please self-isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , book a test as soon as you can.
” Coun Stephen Craddock , with responsibility for health , said : `` I would like to thank our communities for everything they have done to try to contain the virus – we have done well to come this far without intervention .
`` However , we have seen a rise in positive cases across the borough , and this has resulted in further restrictions being placed upon us , as announced by Government.
” “ These restrictions require us to limit social contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 .
`` For now , perhaps the most important messages are that households must not mix in homes and people must take self-isolation seriously .
`` Self-isolation means you must stay at home .
`` We must also continue to remember hands , face and space , and think twice about where we go and whether we really need to , in order to reduce our potential exposure to the virus .
”

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A health boss has urged residents to follow the new coronavirus rules - because HALF of those with symptoms ignore the demand to stay at home.
Walsall director of public health Stephen Gunther spoke as the borough faced tighter restrictions for the first time since the national lockdown was eased in the summer.
It is now in the new tier two category alongside Birmingham, Solihull and most of the rest of the Black Country.
That means households can't mix in private homes or hospitality venues from tomorrow, Wednesday, October 14.
But, urging everyone to follow the rules, Dr Gunther quoted figures which said 50 per cent of people who showed symptoms were not staying at home.
“The pandemic hasn’t gone away; it is still very much with us. It is very easily transmitted and, put simply, it kills people and leaves others struggling to recover months on.
"I appreciate people may be tired of hearing the same messages over and over, however they are more important than ever now. - keep washing your hands, wear a face covering, limit your social contact and self-isolate if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
“Data suggests that up to 50 per cent of people with symptoms are not staying at home; this could have a deadly impact on older and more vulnerable loved ones, so please keep them safe by following the guidelines.
"Limiting our contact with our family and friends is hard, but it is important because the more contact we have, the more likely the virus will spread.
“If you are contacted by test and trace, please self-isolate as directed and if you have symptoms, book a test as soon as you can.”
Coun Stephen Craddock, with responsibility for health, said: "I would like to thank our communities for everything they have done to try to contain the virus – we have done well to come this far without intervention.
"However, we have seen a rise in positive cases across the borough, and this has resulted in further restrictions being placed upon us, as announced by Government.”
“These restrictions require us to limit social contact outside of our households or support bubbles in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
"For now, perhaps the most important messages are that households must not mix in homes and people must take self-isolation seriously.
"Self-isolation means you must stay at home.
"We must also continue to remember hands, face and space, and think twice about where we go and whether we really need to, in order to reduce our potential exposure to the virus.”


birminghammail--2020-10-13--NHS doctor treating coronavirus patients crowned Miss England again

A hero NHS doctor fighting on the frontline against the coronavirus pandemic has been crowned the longest serving Miss England in the competition 's 92 year history .
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee , 24 , will continue her reign as Miss England for another year after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 beauty contest .
It means she will have retained the crown for 20 months by the time a new winner is announced - the longest anyone has held the title for since 1928 .
The junior doctor was originally named Miss England in July 2019 and began travelling the world to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her victory .
But she cut short her stay in India to answer the Government 's call for retired and junior doctors to return to the frontline in April .
She has since been working tirelessly to help save lives during the pandemic at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire and Derby Royal Hospital .
Bhasha , of Derby , admits working in accident and emergency during the pandemic has been a far cry from the glitz and glamour of beauty pageants .
She has still managed to fulfil her Miss England duties online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coronavirus ward and says she is delighted to continue her reign .
She said : “ It 's an honour to continue serving my country during the Covid pandemic as well as being able to do it as Miss England .
`` There 's no better time for me to be Miss England while helping England at this time of need .
`` It has been tough for everyone and while I was doing my charity work abroad I just wanted to be back home helping my colleagues .
`` I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remotely and being able to do that and serve the nation at the same time has been really special .
`` It 's a shame the Miss England contest was postponed again but I 'm delighted to be their longest serving winner .
`` It 's bitter-sweet in a way as the circumstances are n't ideal , it 's hard to celebrate when you 're seeing Covid numbers rising in your hospital .
`` We are right next to Nottingham which has the highest rate in the country so we have staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
“ In the summer we had far fewer positive Covid cases - but now suddenly it is a different story .
`` We 're seeing more asymptomatic patients testing positive and more people coming in for different problems who turn out to have the virus .
“ That can be quite concerning for the hospital because it was sudden and we were not prepared when the tests were coming back positive .
`` It means you have positive cases exposed to other patients while sitting in the waiting room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you always worry about your vulnerable patients being exposed to the virus .
“ This week there was a man who was immunocompromised and he was admitted at the same time as a woman who tested positive and they were in the same room - but the hospital struggles to find single rooms for people .
“ If cases grow as they did early this year it may be that surgery and even cancer treatment is cancelled and we all transfer to Covid wards .
`` So it has certainly been a challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery department as well as the Covid ward and I 've just finished a seven day week working 12 hours shifts .
`` Juggling that with Miss England duties can be tricky - but I think I 've managed to find the balance . ''
Bhasha was born in Kolkata but moved to England when she was nine and later graduated in medicine from the University of Nottingham .
This week , she has embarked on a fundraising campaign for the Hope Foundation to raise money for children living on the street in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting doctors and nurses to take part in daily fitness challenges and posting the results on social media .
Bhasha added : `` It ’ s great to do something fun if we only have a ten minute break just to give us respite from this horrible virus .
Sometimes we do n't even have time to eat .
`` As it comes to the end of summer and people are feeling depressed with another lockdown looming , we ’ re trying to have a nice time with the fitness challenges .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the homeless in India and as a South Asian Miss England this is very important to me . ''
Miss England organiser Angie Beasley recently postponed the finals of the prestigious contest due to take place in Birmingham the last week of October .
She said : `` “ Bhasha Mukherjee has already been an exceptional Miss England and I 'm delighted she will continue with her reign .
`` Not only has she served her country as an NHS doctor throughout the pandemic , she has also brought a diverse feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which truly reflects England today .
“ The Miss England final was initially planned for July 2020 but due to the pandemic it was then postponed to October .
`` After Miss World announced they are postponing the 70th final until at least Autumn 2021 we decided to reschedule again especially after the recent government announcements .
“ Hopefully the next date for the final will be third time lucky.
`` The Miss England final date is now planned for April 16-17 next year in Birmingham .
In total 24 finalists from across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their crowns by submitting videos during lockdown .
So far Miss England contestants have raised over £30,000 for the charities Beauty with a Purpose and Tree Planting Pledges .

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A hero NHS doctor fighting on the frontline against the coronavirus pandemic has been crowned the longest serving Miss England in the competition's 92 year history.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, will continue her reign as Miss England for another year after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 beauty contest.
It means she will have retained the crown for 20 months by the time a new winner is announced - the longest anyone has held the title for since 1928.
The junior doctor was originally named Miss England in July 2019 and began travelling the world to carry out charity work as part of her victory.
But she cut short her stay in India to answer the Government's call for retired and junior doctors to return to the frontline in April.
She has since been working tirelessly to help save lives during the pandemic at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire and Derby Royal Hospital.
(Image: SWNS)
Bhasha, of Derby, admits working in accident and emergency during the pandemic has been a far cry from the glitz and glamour of beauty pageants.
She has still managed to fulfil her Miss England duties online while fitting in 12 hour shifts on a coronavirus ward and says she is delighted to continue her reign.
She said: “It's an honour to continue serving my country during the Covid pandemic as well as being able to do it as Miss England.
"There's no better time for me to be Miss England while helping England at this time of need.
"It has been tough for everyone and while I was doing my charity work abroad I just wanted to be back home helping my colleagues.
"I've still been doing plenty of charity work remotely and being able to do that and serve the nation at the same time has been really special.
"It's a shame the Miss England contest was postponed again but I'm delighted to be their longest serving winner.
(Image: Tristan Potter / SWNS)
"It's bitter-sweet in a way as the circumstances aren't ideal, it's hard to celebrate when you're seeing Covid numbers rising in your hospital.
"We are right next to Nottingham which has the highest rate in the country so we have staff and patients coming between us and the hub of the virus.
“In the summer we had far fewer positive Covid cases - but now suddenly it is a different story.
"We're seeing more asymptomatic patients testing positive and more people coming in for different problems who turn out to have the virus.
“That can be quite concerning for the hospital because it was sudden and we were not prepared when the tests were coming back positive.
"It means you have positive cases exposed to other patients while sitting in the waiting room together.
“It is daunting because you always worry about your vulnerable patients being exposed to the virus.
“This week there was a man who was immunocompromised and he was admitted at the same time as a woman who tested positive and they were in the same room - but the hospital struggles to find single rooms for people.
“If cases grow as they did early this year it may be that surgery and even cancer treatment is cancelled and we all transfer to Covid wards.
"So it has certainly been a challenging time, I'm in the urological surgery department as well as the Covid ward and I've just finished a seven day week working 12 hours shifts.
"Juggling that with Miss England duties can be tricky - but I think I've managed to find the balance."
(Image: Tristan Potter / SWNS)
Bhasha was born in Kolkata but moved to England when she was nine and later graduated in medicine from the University of Nottingham.
This week, she has embarked on a fundraising campaign for the Hope Foundation to raise money for children living on the street in her home town.
She has been getting doctors and nurses to take part in daily fitness challenges and posting the results on social media.
Bhasha added: "It’s great to do something fun if we only have a ten minute break just to give us respite from this horrible virus. Sometimes we don't even have time to eat.
"As it comes to the end of summer and people are feeling depressed with another lockdown looming, we’re trying to have a nice time with the fitness challenges.
“The Hope Foundation operates to raise money for the homeless in India and as a South Asian Miss England this is very important to me."
Miss England organiser Angie Beasley recently postponed the finals of the prestigious contest due to take place in Birmingham the last week of October .
She said: "“Bhasha Mukherjee has already been an exceptional Miss England and I'm delighted she will continue with her reign.
(Image: Ziad Altaf Photography / SWNS)
"Not only has she served her country as an NHS doctor throughout the pandemic, she has also brought a diverse feel to the contest due to her heritage which truly reflects England today.
“The Miss England final was initially planned for July 2020 but due to the pandemic it was then postponed to October.
"After Miss World announced they are postponing the 70th final until at least Autumn 2021 we decided to reschedule again especially after the recent government announcements.
“Hopefully the next date for the final will be third time lucky. "
The Miss England final date is now planned for April 16-17 next year in Birmingham.
In total 24 finalists from across the country will compete - having won their crowns by submitting videos during lockdown.
So far Miss England contestants have raised over £30,000 for the charities Beauty with a Purpose and Tree Planting Pledges.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--You can get an Amazon Fire TV Stick for less than £15 on Prime Day

Amazon has kicked off its Prime Day sale with discounts on thousands of products .
This includes its own devices such as the Fire TV Stick , with the 4K Alexa Voice Remote edition priced at £29.99 .
But there 's a way to make even more of a saving on top of the Prime Day sale offer .
TopCashback currently have a £15 cashback offer that can be used across a number of popular online retailers and this includes Amazon .
To get £15 off any purchase on the site , just sign up to TopCashback here , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal .
Once you 've made your purchase , £15 will then be refunded into your Topcashback account which can then be transferred directly into your bank .
This can be used on the Fire TV Stick , which means you 'll pay £14.99 for it , but the £15 cashback is n't exclusive to the device , you can use it for any product in the Prime Day sale .
Further savings can also be made across all of Amazon 's Prime Day deals including wireless headphones , kindles , smart bulbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire TV Stick or other Amazon devices go to the Prime Day page here .

Amazon has kicked off its Prime Day sale with discounts on thousands of products.
This includes its own devices such as the Fire TV Stick, with the 4K Alexa Voice Remote edition priced at £29.99.
But there's a way to make even more of a saving on top of the Prime Day sale offer.
TopCashback currently have a £15 cashback offer that can be used across a number of popular online retailers and this includes Amazon.
To get £15 off any purchase on the site, just sign up to TopCashback here, then click through to Amazon and shop as normal.
Once you've made your purchase, £15 will then be refunded into your Topcashback account which can then be transferred directly into your bank.
This can be used on the Fire TV Stick, which means you'll pay £14.99 for it, but the £15 cashback isn't exclusive to the device, you can use it for any product in the Prime Day sale.
Further savings can also be made across all of Amazon's Prime Day deals including wireless headphones, kindles, smart bulbs and much more.
To get the Fire TV Stick or other Amazon devices go to the Prime Day page here.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--What are most people complaining about in Solihull?

Grumbles about rubbish and recycling made up more than a third of the corporate complaints received by Solihull Council last year .
266 out of the 709 incidents flagged up in 2019/20 were connected to the service which includes bin collections and running the borough 's tip .
Although the total number of complaints about the service was well down on the previous 12 months - when 421 were recorded .
The unusually high figure for 2018/19 was because the council had then been dogged by widespread problems involving recycling bins splitting .
As the number of containers cracking open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volume of residents venting their feelings has also receded .
Alan Brown , assistant director for highways and environment , said : `` We 've had a real decrease in the amount of bins that we now have a problem with and actually we 're well able to keep [ on top ] of replacing them . ''
He said that there were still intermittent issues with the brown bins breaking , which had been blamed on a manufacturing fault .
But the issue was no longer cause the lengthy delays for replacements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents seething during the height of the problem .
As a service covering the entire borough , waste and recycling always tends to top the pile when it comes to corporate complaints - although officers have said the overwhelming majority of cases were handled well .
Mr Brown said : `` I would never sit here in front of members and say it is perfect every day because it will never be so and when you look at the figures in the report of 11.2 million collections a year and 200,000 visits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size and scale of what we 're doing . ''
Several councillors paid tribute to the work done by both council staff and contractors during the peak of the pandemic earlier this year .
Cllr Kate Wild , who chairs the resources and delivering value scrutiny board , said she recognised `` how hard it must have been '' to keep services running .
However , with the report only covering the period up until the end of March , most complaints about a delayed start to garden waste collections and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will fall into next year 's data .
The document also revealed the areas where the most amount of complaints had been received .
Out of 17 wards , Elmdon residents were the least satisfied , with 51 complaints .
This was more than double the number sent from Castle Bromwich , which was at the bottom of the league table with just 20 .
As well as receiving more than 700 corporate complaints in 2019/20 , the local authority also got 1,273 compliments from residents who were pleased with the council 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizeable number of frontline services it does not include children 's services or social care - for which figures are collated separately .

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Grumbles about rubbish and recycling made up more than a third of the corporate complaints received by Solihull Council last year.
266 out of the 709 incidents flagged up in 2019/20 were connected to the service which includes bin collections and running the borough's tip.
Although the total number of complaints about the service was well down on the previous 12 months - when 421 were recorded.
The unusually high figure for 2018/19 was because the council had then been dogged by widespread problems involving recycling bins splitting.
As the number of containers cracking open has tailed off it has meant the volume of residents venting their feelings has also receded.
Alan Brown, assistant director for highways and environment, said: "We've had a real decrease in the amount of bins that we now have a problem with and actually we're well able to keep [on top] of replacing them."
He said that there were still intermittent issues with the brown bins breaking, which had been blamed on a manufacturing fault.
But the issue was no longer cause the lengthy delays for replacements to be delivered, which had left residents seething during the height of the problem.
(Image: Solihull Council)
As a service covering the entire borough, waste and recycling always tends to top the pile when it comes to corporate complaints - although officers have said the overwhelming majority of cases were handled well.
Mr Brown said: "I would never sit here in front of members and say it is perfect every day because it will never be so and when you look at the figures in the report of 11.2 million collections a year and 200,000 visits to Bickenhill [tip] you can see the size and scale of what we're doing."
Several councillors paid tribute to the work done by both council staff and contractors during the peak of the pandemic earlier this year.
Cllr Kate Wild, who chairs the resources and delivering value scrutiny board, said she recognised "how hard it must have been" to keep services running.
However, with the report only covering the period up until the end of March, most complaints about a delayed start to garden waste collections and the closure of the Household Waste Recycling Centre will fall into next year's data.
The document also revealed the areas where the most amount of complaints had been received.
Out of 17 wards, Elmdon residents were the least satisfied, with 51 complaints.
This was more than double the number sent from Castle Bromwich, which was at the bottom of the league table with just 20.
As well as receiving more than 700 corporate complaints in 2019/20, the local authority also got 1,273 compliments from residents who were pleased with the council's performance.
While the report covers a sizeable number of frontline services it does not include children's services or social care - for which figures are collated separately.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Government slammed over Birmingham job support amid tier 2 lockdown

The government is under pressure to produce job support and issue financial assistance to anybody affected by a second tier lockdown .
The TUC General Secretary Frances O ’ Grady and Lee Barron , TUC Midlands Regional Secretary have today written to local MPs urging them to demand answers from the government .
In the letter , the union body says the government has not gone far enough to save jobs and livelihoods , underlining the calls it set out last week for a three-pronged local furlough approach .
The local furlough scheme for businesses that are required to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TUC argues , saying it should mirror the original job retention scheme , reimbursing employers for 80 % of the wages of their workers .
Businesses based in local lockdown areas that are affected by low demand but not required to close should be eligible for an enhanced local Job Support Scheme , giving financial assistance over and above the national scheme , the body adds .
There should be no requirement to work a minimum number of hours , they also aruge , and the government should cover 60 % of wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering 20 % .
The government should also consider how to ensure self-employed workers do not miss out on necessary support , for example , by increasing the payments rate of the self-employment income support scheme round 3 from 20 % to 60 % of taxable monthly profits for those who can demonstrate renewed reductions in demand as a result of additional local restrictions .
The letter comes as MPs prepare to debate new local lockdown restrictions in the House of Commons today , including the chancellor ’ s proposed expansion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers ’ salaries where businesses are forced to close .
The TUC says these measures are “ inadequate ” and that ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship .
Lee Barron , TUC Midlands Regional Secretary said : “ The lockdown measures announced yesterday will have an enormous impact on the lives of working people in the West Midlands .
Yet the government ’ s job support package remains inadequate .
“ Ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship and local MPs need to take the government to task on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s needed to save jobs and livelihoods .
`` Wage replacement should be 80 % where businesses are forced to close .
`` Firms which are hit by stricter local restrictions but aren ’ t required to close need a more generous short-time working scheme .
`` And there needs to be extra help for the overlooked self-employed in local lockdown areas too .
“ And the government must get a grip on its chaotic test and trace system and pay a living wage sick pay to everyone self-isolating .
”

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The government is under pressure to produce job support and issue financial assistance to anybody affected by a second tier lockdown.
The TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady and Lee Barron, TUC Midlands Regional Secretary have today written to local MPs urging them to demand answers from the government.
In the letter, the union body says the government has not gone far enough to save jobs and livelihoods, underlining the calls it set out last week for a three-pronged local furlough approach.
The local furlough scheme for businesses that are required to close should be made more generous, the TUC argues, saying it should mirror the original job retention scheme, reimbursing employers for 80% of the wages of their workers.
Businesses based in local lockdown areas that are affected by low demand but not required to close should be eligible for an enhanced local Job Support Scheme, giving financial assistance over and above the national scheme, the body adds.
There should be no requirement to work a minimum number of hours, they also aruge, and the government should cover 60% of wages for non-working time, with the employer covering 20%.
The government should also consider how to ensure self-employed workers do not miss out on necessary support, for example, by increasing the payments rate of the self-employment income support scheme round 3 from 20% to 60% of taxable monthly profits for those who can demonstrate renewed reductions in demand as a result of additional local restrictions.
The letter comes as MPs prepare to debate new local lockdown restrictions in the House of Commons today, including the chancellor’s proposed expansion of the job support scheme to cover two-thirds of workers’ salaries where businesses are forced to close.
The TUC says these measures are “inadequate” and that ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship.
Lee Barron, TUC Midlands Regional Secretary said: “The lockdown measures announced yesterday will have an enormous impact on the lives of working people in the West Midlands . Yet the government’s job support package remains inadequate.
“Ministers must do more to prevent unnecessary hardship and local MPs need to take the government to task on this.
“We have been clear on what’s needed to save jobs and livelihoods.
"Wage replacement should be 80% where businesses are forced to close.
"Firms which are hit by stricter local restrictions but aren’t required to close need a more generous short-time working scheme.
"And there needs to be extra help for the overlooked self-employed in local lockdown areas too.
“And the government must get a grip on its chaotic test and trace system and pay a living wage sick pay to everyone self-isolating.”


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Which new Covid-19 lockdown tier is Tamworth in?

Areas of Staffordshire and north Warwickshire bordering Birmingham are in the lowest tier of coronavirus restrictions .
Both Tamworth and north Warwickshire are in the medium category - raising questions as to whether people in nearby areas with tighter rules may flood in to skirt the rules on households gathering .
Alan White , Staffordshire County Council ’ s leader , said : “ Covid-19 is tightening its grip everywhere , including in Staffordshire where cases are rising fast in parts of the county .
“ We have worked hard as a county to protect the vulnerable and we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help reduce the risk to both lives and livelihoods .
“ Complacency is Covid-19 ’ s biggest friend and the consequences of not sticking to the rules are now in our own hands.
” The national guidance for the Medium Tier includes : • Good hygiene and social distancing : Wash your hands regularly and keep your 2m distance .
• Meeting with friends and family : Limit your contact .
If you do need to meet up , limit this to no more than six from multiple households .
There are exceptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support bubble is larger than six .
• Going to work : You should work at home if possible .
• Leisure : Pubs , bars and restaurants must close at 10pm .
• Face coverings : Must be worn in shops and on public transport .
• Test and Trace : You must stay in and book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus if you have symptoms .
If positive you must stay in for ten days .
Anybody who you have been in close contact with must self-isolate for 14 days .
Tamworth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Yesterday the Prime Minister addressed both the House of Commons and the country directly as the Government laid out its new Covid-19 Three Tier Alert Level system .
`` This will further simplify and ensure that local rules are fair for all , with the three levels being Medium , High and Very High .
“ The Medium Alert Level , covering most of the country , consists of the current national measures and guidance .
This includes the Rule of Six restriction on gatherings , the closure of hospitality at 10pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they can .
“ Tamworth is in that medium alert level , the lowest tier , meaning we all must continue as we were before – follow the Rule of Six , being out of the pub by 10pm and ensure we continue to socially distance .
“ Our rate remains lower than the regional average and we must keep it that way , so we can keep shops and services open .
The latest data shows that Tamworth has the fourth highest rate in Staffordshire , and we can not let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends , families and neighbours at greater risk .
“ To keep our rate low and reduce the spread of infection to do that we all must play our part .
Wash your hands , cover your face and make space .
“ The High Alert Level aims to reduce household to household transmission by preventing all mixing between different households or support bubbles indoors .
In these areas , the Rule of Six will continue to apply outdoors , in public spaces and private gardens .
“ The Very High Alert Level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where the NHS would soon be under intolerable pressure .
`` Interactions beyond those within your household would be prohibited , including outdoor premises which are ticketed such as theme parks or zoos , as well as in private gardens on outdoor settings attached to a hospitality premises .
`` People will still be bale to meet under the Rule of Six in an open , outdoor place such as a park or outdoor sports court .
Wedding receptions sadly can no longer take place , and pubs and bars will close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meal with the alcoholic drink .
People will be asked to avoid non-essential travel and overnight stays .
How do you feel about the tier system ?
Let us know in the comments below “ The challenge ahead of us is not to be dismissed or played down .
Three weeks ago the number of people testing positive for the virus in the United Kingdom quadrupled in a month , since then it has quadrupled again .
“ We are testing more people , more often , than any other European country however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rapid rate.
” North Warwickshir MP Craig Tracey said : “ To confirm , following the PMs announcement today , North Warwickshire & Bedworth is in the “ Medium Risk ” category , which is where we want to stay - please continue to follow the national rules to help make this happen .
”

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Areas of Staffordshire and north Warwickshire bordering Birmingham are in the lowest tier of coronavirus restrictions.
Both Tamworth and north Warwickshire are in the medium category - raising questions as to whether people in nearby areas with tighter rules may flood in to skirt the rules on households gathering.
Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s leader, said: “Covid-19 is tightening its grip everywhere, including in Staffordshire where cases are rising fast in parts of the county.
(Image: PA)
“We have worked hard as a county to protect the vulnerable and we continue to act swiftly to contain outbreaks to help reduce the risk to both lives and livelihoods.
“Complacency is Covid-19’s biggest friend and the consequences of not sticking to the rules are now in our own hands.”
The national guidance for the Medium Tier includes:
(Image: Richard T Harris)
Good hygiene and social distancing: Wash your hands regularly and keep your 2m distance.
Meeting with friends and family: Limit your contact. If you do need to meet up, limit this to no more than six from multiple households. There are exceptions, for example if your household or support bubble is larger than six.
Going to work: You should work at home if possible.
Education: Schools, nurseries and universities are open.
Leisure: Pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm.
Face coverings: Must be worn in shops and on public transport.
Test and Trace: You must stay in and book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus if you have symptoms. If positive you must stay in for ten days. Anybody who you have been in close contact with must self-isolate for 14 days.
Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher said: “Yesterday the Prime Minister addressed both the House of Commons and the country directly as the Government laid out its new Covid-19 Three Tier Alert Level system.
"This will further simplify and ensure that local rules are fair for all, with the three levels being Medium, High and Very High.
“The Medium Alert Level, covering most of the country, consists of the current national measures and guidance. This includes the Rule of Six restriction on gatherings, the closure of hospitality at 10pm, and office workers working from home where they can.
“Tamworth is in that medium alert level, the lowest tier, meaning we all must continue as we were before – follow the Rule of Six, being out of the pub by 10pm and ensure we continue to socially distance.
“Our rate remains lower than the regional average and we must keep it that way, so we can keep shops and services open. The latest data shows that Tamworth has the fourth highest rate in Staffordshire, and we cannot let growing numbers go unchecked and put our friends, families and neighbours at greater risk.
“To keep our rate low and reduce the spread of infection to do that we all must play our part. Wash your hands, cover your face and make space.
“The High Alert Level aims to reduce household to household transmission by preventing all mixing between different households or support bubbles indoors. In these areas, the Rule of Six will continue to apply outdoors, in public spaces and private gardens.
“The Very High Alert Level will apply where transmission rates most rapidly and where the NHS would soon be under intolerable pressure.
"Interactions beyond those within your household would be prohibited, including outdoor premises which are ticketed such as theme parks or zoos, as well as in private gardens on outdoor settings attached to a hospitality premises.
"People will still be bale to meet under the Rule of Six in an open, outdoor place such as a park or outdoor sports court. Wedding receptions sadly can no longer take place, and pubs and bars will close unless they are serving a main substantial meal with the alcoholic drink. People will be asked to avoid non-essential travel and overnight stays.
How do you feel about the tier system ? Let us know in the comments below
“The challenge ahead of us is not to be dismissed or played down. Three weeks ago the number of people testing positive for the virus in the United Kingdom quadrupled in a month, since then it has quadrupled again.
“We are testing more people, more often, than any other European country however the numbers coming back positive are growing at a rapid rate.”
North Warwickshir MP Craig Tracey said: “To confirm, following the PMs announcement today, North Warwickshire & Bedworth is in the “Medium Risk” category, which is where we want to stay - please continue to follow the national rules to help make this happen.”


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Birmingham pubs and restaurants 'thrown under the bus' by tier two lockdown

Birmingham 's pubs and restaurants have been 'thrown under the bus ' by the new lockdown system , furious West Midlands leaders have said .
Leaders have expressed their anger at the Government ’ s handling of a new three-tier Covid-19 system – as tighter restrictions were placed on the region .
Birmingham , Solihull , Sandwell , Walsall and Wolverhampton have all been categorised as ‘ high risk ’ , the second of the three tiers .
Under new measures , residents will , from Wednesday , be banned from mixing with other households in any indoor setting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to debate and vote on the measures today .
While Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week announced a package of support for businesses forced to close due to tighter measures , no new support has been made available to firms in ‘ high risk ’ category areas .
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has joined West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward in criticising the Government ’ s handling of Covid restrictions .
Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said : “ We are incredibly disappointed and frustrated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current situation .
`` Despite having invested vast sums of money in Covid secure measures , the region ’ s hospitality sector is being thrown under the bus with no substantial evidence of significant transmission in hospitality settings .
“ Despite days of leaking potential measures to the press , yesterday ’ s announcement came with little detail and no government guidance for businesses .
“ And despite weeks of warning of the impact further restrictions on demand would have on the viability of the local hospitality sector , the government continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses in high alert areas .
“ Across the UK there are businesses struggling and - in the case of the major events sector and nightclubs - still forced to remain closed through no fault of their own .
`` At this rate , the government will throw away all that was invested in saving jobs and businesses over the spring and summer through its utter refusal to adapt to the current stark reality .
“ We need the Government to step up , fix the failing test & trace system , follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save businesses and jobs as we battle through the winter months .
”

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Birmingham's pubs and restaurants have been 'thrown under the bus' by the new lockdown system, furious West Midlands leaders have said.
Leaders have expressed their anger at the Government’s handling of a new three-tier Covid-19 system – as tighter restrictions were placed on the region.
Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton have all been categorised as ‘high risk’, the second of the three tiers.
Under new measures, residents will, from Wednesday, be banned from mixing with other households in any indoor setting, including hospitality venues.
MPs are expected to debate and vote on the measures today.
While Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week announced a package of support for businesses forced to close due to tighter measures, no new support has been made available to firms in ‘high risk’ category areas.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has joined West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward in criticising the Government’s handling of Covid restrictions.
Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “We are incredibly disappointed and frustrated at the Government’s handling of the current situation.
"Despite having invested vast sums of money in Covid secure measures, the region’s hospitality sector is being thrown under the bus with no substantial evidence of significant transmission in hospitality settings.
“Despite days of leaking potential measures to the press, yesterday’s announcement came with little detail and no government guidance for businesses.
“And despite weeks of warning of the impact further restrictions on demand would have on the viability of the local hospitality sector, the government continues to refuse to take meaningful steps to support businesses in high alert areas.
“Across the UK there are businesses struggling and - in the case of the major events sector and nightclubs - still forced to remain closed through no fault of their own.
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"At this rate, the government will throw away all that was invested in saving jobs and businesses over the spring and summer through its utter refusal to adapt to the current stark reality.
“We need the Government to step up, fix the failing test & trace system, follow the evidence and deliver meaningful support to save businesses and jobs as we battle through the winter months.”


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Wales could shut border to England as three tier lockdown system announced

Wales could shut its borders with England as the three tier lockdown system takes effect , First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned .
Speaking to BBC Wales on Monday evening , Mr Drakeford said : `` UK ministers were asking me today for the evidence that tells you that if people come from high areas to low areas , that spreads the virus .
`` We 've got that evidence , we 'll share that with the Prime Minister .
`` And I will set out in my letter the powers we have and , if he does n't act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But I want to offer him one final opportunity to do the right thing .
Because that would be fair to people in Wales and people across our border .
`` I do n't want it to be a border issue .
People in England in high incidence areas should not be going to low incidence areas in England , either . ''
There are currently tighter restrictions in 16 areas of Wales , including Cardiff , Swansea and parts of North Wales , affecting more than 2.3 million people .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area without a reasonable excuse such as work or education .
Under the more general lockdown rules in Wales , licensed premises have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm , face coverings are mandatory in indoor public spaces and public transport , and people can not gather in groups of more than 30 outdoors .
The rules also say people are not allowed to meet indoors with people they do not live with , unless they have formed an extended household .
People in Wales can meet indoors in a group of up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 not included in the number .
The country 's health minister Vaughan Gething has also said Wales could be placed under a new national lockdown in order to halt a sharp rise in coronavirus cases .
Mr Drakeford has been backed by Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price , who has said he is `` livid '' that Mr Johnson was refusing to issue to the travel restrictions .
Encouraging Mr Drakeford to use Welsh powers to ban travel into the country , Mr Price said on Twitter : `` Begging letters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Wales .
It 's time to stop waiting on Westminster and take action ourselves , instead . ''

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Wales could shut its borders with England as the three tier lockdown system takes effect, First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned.
Speaking to BBC Wales on Monday evening, Mr Drakeford said: "UK ministers were asking me today for the evidence that tells you that if people come from high areas to low areas, that spreads the virus.
"We've got that evidence, we'll share that with the Prime Minister.
"And I will set out in my letter the powers we have and, if he doesn't act then, we will use them.
"But I want to offer him one final opportunity to do the right thing. Because that would be fair to people in Wales and people across our border.
"I don't want it to be a border issue. People in England in high incidence areas should not be going to low incidence areas in England, either."
There are currently tighter restrictions in 16 areas of Wales, including Cardiff, Swansea and parts of North Wales, affecting more than 2.3 million people.
These prohibit people from entering or leaving an area without a reasonable excuse such as work or education.
Under the more general lockdown rules in Wales, licensed premises have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm, face coverings are mandatory in indoor public spaces and public transport, and people cannot gather in groups of more than 30 outdoors.
The rules also say people are not allowed to meet indoors with people they do not live with, unless they have formed an extended household.
People in Wales can meet indoors in a group of up to six people, with children under 11 not included in the number.
The country's health minister Vaughan Gething has also said Wales could be placed under a new national lockdown in order to halt a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.
Mr Drakeford has been backed by Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price, who has said he is "livid" that Mr Johnson was refusing to issue to the travel restrictions.
Encouraging Mr Drakeford to use Welsh powers to ban travel into the country, Mr Price said on Twitter: "Begging letters to Tory Prime Ministers have never really worked for Wales. It's time to stop waiting on Westminster and take action ourselves, instead."


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Amazon is giving students a £10 discount for Prime Day

Amazon is officially launching its annual Prime Day this month .
After a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic , the retail giant will kick off two days of deals and discounts on October 13-14 .
This includes £10 off for students on their next purchase , and all you need to do is enter the code 'STUDENT10 ' at checkout .
To be eligible for the discount you 'll need to be signed up to Amazon Prime student , which you can do on the website here .
You can set up your account which comes with a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £10 off .
So you can stock up some student essentials whether its stationary , home ware or you can treat yourself to electronics , gaming and more as there 's thousands of items available on the site .
The offer is only valid on items sold and dispatched by Amazon , and not Warehouse Deals or third-party sellers on the Marketplace .
To claim your £10 off , sign into your Prime Student account , start shopping and use the code 'STUDENT10 ' at checkout in the 'gift cards and promotional codes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial is finished you can continue it and enjoy Prime for half the price ( £3.99 ) or cancel your subscription and not pay a penny .
The £10 discount for students is valid until 23:59 on October 14 .
Go to Amazon Student Prime page here to find out more .

Amazon is officially launching its annual Prime Day this month.
After a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the retail giant will kick off two days of deals and discounts on October 13-14.
This includes £10 off for students on their next purchase, and all you need to do is enter the code 'STUDENT10' at checkout.
To be eligible for the discount you'll need to be signed up to Amazon Prime student, which you can do on the website here. You can set up your account which comes with a free six-month trial and make use of the £10 off.
So you can stock up some student essentials whether its stationary, home ware or you can treat yourself to electronics, gaming and more as there's thousands of items available on the site.
The offer is only valid on items sold and dispatched by Amazon, and not Warehouse Deals or third-party sellers on the Marketplace.
To claim your £10 off, sign into your Prime Student account, start shopping and use the code 'STUDENT10' at checkout in the 'gift cards and promotional codes' box.
Once you're free trial is finished you can continue it and enjoy Prime for half the price (£3.99) or cancel your subscription and not pay a penny.
The £10 discount for students is valid until 23:59 on October 14. Go to Amazon Student Prime page here to find out more.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Busy road closed after 'serious' late-night crash

A Black Country road has been closed off following a serious crash , police have said .
Dozens of emergency @ @ @ @ @ fire staff - have been spotted working in Bromley Lane , Kingswinford , after the @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , October 13 .
It is not known if anyone has been injured but @ @ @ @ @ it as 'serious ' .
Eyewitnesses told BlackCountryLive that up to 'twenty five ' police @ @ @ @ @ swarmed the road shortly after the drama .
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service @ @ @ @ @ the area .
They said : `` We ’ re currently dealing with a serious @ @ @ @ @ with colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance and West Midlands Police .
`` Road closures in @ @ @ @ @ area . ''
This is a live blog and will be updated .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Jordan Coussins, Charlotte Regen, Kelly Ashmore)

Three people were killed - including two teenagers - and two more were fighting for their lives after an horrific crash.
Two girls and a man in his 20s died when a Skoda Fabia smashed into a tree in Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, at around 8.50pm on Tuesday, October 13.
A teenage boy and girl from the same car were critically injured.
Dozens of emergency crews rushed to help but the three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said officers saw the car before the crash but there was no chase or contact with the occupants.
This is a live blog and will be updated.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Dad-of-five's fury after £700 worth of trainers lost by Hermes

An irate man is vowing never to use Hermes again after £700 worth of trainers got lost in transit en route to Birmingham .
Dad-of-five Michael Scott , from Somerset , has hit out at Hermes , saying the package of pricey footwear has vanished .
He says the packages were taken to a Hermes drop off point on September 1 , before being sent to the West Midlands , SomersetLive reports .
But the shoes never arrived .
Mr Scott reported the missing delivery to Hermes , but says he was told to contact the company that sent them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was the one who shipped them off .
He said : `` The parcel got picked up on September 2 , I know the lady in the shop and I know it was 100 per cent taken .
It cost around £13 to send them .
`` There were eight pairs in the box and they were around £80 -£95 per pair when I bought them , some were shop exclusives so they ca n't be bought again .
`` I 've been collecting the trainers for five years and they 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My favourite pair ca n't be replaced . ''
He added : `` They definitely were n't delivered the other end and it was lost in their network .
`` I 've done some research there 's a group on Facebook full of people complaining about Hermes , this sort of stuff happens all the time .
`` They are a joke - I 'd sooner drive to the top of Scotland myself and deliver the parcel than use Hermes again . ''
A spokesperson for Hermes said : `` We successfully deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasionally things go wrong and we apologise for this .
`` We do recommend that anyone sending high value items takes out extra cover which can be done extremely cost effectively at the point of order .
`` However it is important to note that this is to a maximum of £300 and we clearly state on our website that items valued over that figure are prohibited and should not be sent .
`` As a result of this we are unable to offer more than our standard £20 compensation plus refund the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compensation limit was not clear on the website and that his partner declared that the box was worth £700 when filling in the form to send it .
He claims nothing came up to say this a parcel of this value should not be sent .
He said the compensation offer of £20 and postage costs `` was n't going to cut it '' .
He added : `` I did everything my end correctly .
The fact they even offer it is ridiculous I should get the full £300 .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for eight pairs that were in there £20 just does n't cover it . ''
A police spokesperson confirmed the matter had been reported to them .
Police log 628 of October 6 can be used if anyone has any information .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson, James Rodger)

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An irate man is vowing never to use Hermes again after £700 worth of trainers got lost in transit en route to Birmingham.
Dad-of-five Michael Scott, from Somerset, has hit out at Hermes, saying the package of pricey footwear has vanished.
He says the packages were taken to a Hermes drop off point on September 1, before being sent to the West Midlands, SomersetLive reports.
But the shoes never arrived. Mr Scott reported the missing delivery to Hermes, but says he was told to contact the company that sent them, which he could not do as he was the one who shipped them off.
He said: "The parcel got picked up on September 2, I know the lady in the shop and I know it was 100 per cent taken. It cost around £13 to send them.
"There were eight pairs in the box and they were around £80 -£95 per pair when I bought them, some were shop exclusives so they can't be bought again.
"I've been collecting the trainers for five years and they've come from all over the country. My favourite pair can't be replaced."
He added: "They definitely weren't delivered the other end and it was lost in their network.
"I've done some research there's a group on Facebook full of people complaining about Hermes, this sort of stuff happens all the time.
"They are a joke - I'd sooner drive to the top of Scotland myself and deliver the parcel than use Hermes again."
A spokesperson for Hermes said: "We successfully deliver over 400 million parcels every year but occasionally things go wrong and we apologise for this.
"We do recommend that anyone sending high value items takes out extra cover which can be done extremely cost effectively at the point of order.
"However it is important to note that this is to a maximum of £300 and we clearly state on our website that items valued over that figure are prohibited and should not be sent.
"As a result of this we are unable to offer more than our standard £20 compensation plus refund the postage."
Mr Scott says the compensation limit was not clear on the website and that his partner declared that the box was worth £700 when filling in the form to send it. He claims nothing came up to say this a parcel of this value should not be sent.
He said the compensation offer of £20 and postage costs "wasn't going to cut it".
He added: "I did everything my end correctly. The fact they even offer it is ridiculous I should get the full £300. Even if they were basic £20 trainers from Asda, for eight pairs that were in there £20 just doesn't cover it."
A police spokesperson confirmed the matter had been reported to them.
Police log 628 of October 6 can be used if anyone has any information.


birminghammail--2020-10-13--Man who tried to buy grenades on dark web goes missing after trial

A man who skipped bail has been found guilty in his absence of attempting to buy two hand grenades and Semtex explosive from an undercover FBI agent on the dark web .
Mohammed Humza , 29 , of Watford , failed to turn up for his Old Bailey trial on Monday and was suspected of travelling to Kashmir in Pakistan .
The trial went ahead in his absence and Humza , who was represented by a lawyer , was found guilty of attempting to possess explosive substances for unlawful purposes between July 14 and September 5 2016 .
The jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes to reach their decision by a majority of 11 to one .
Mrs Justice McGowan said sentencing would be put off for more information about Humza 's reasons for wanting a grenade , and whether or not it for was terrorism .
She told jurors Humza 's current whereabouts was a `` mystery '' .
But he has links to Birmingham .
She said : `` He may have left the country .
On the other hand , he may be saying he has left the country in order to deter police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to consider before I pass sentence whether or not I can establish what purpose Mr Humza tried to get this grenade for .
`` At the moment I simply do n't know and it will come as no surprise for you to know if it is for a terrorist purpose that puts it into a different category for sentence . ''
Jurors were told how Humza , going by the username mh.nn243 , had approached an FBI agent posing as a seller on dark web trading site AlphaBay in summer 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been closed down , was popular for trading illegal items including drugs , firearms and other weapons .
In a message to the agent in July 2016 , mh.nn243 asked : `` What 's the best price you can do for 2 grenades with postage to the UK ? ''
The user haggled the agent down from 125 US dollars each to 115 US dollars by offering to buy four grenades .
In the exchange , the pair discussed the price of delivery to `` Watford '' and `` Hertfordshire '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the user went quiet and the deal was not completed , but he approached the officer again in early August .
He said he had been away for a while and using someone else 's laptop but asked to `` do 1 custom now '' on a fragmentation grenade .
The pair eventually agreed a deal for two grenades and mh.nn243 placed cryptocurrency funds on escrow ( via a third party ) at 9.03pm on August 6 .
Prosecutor Benjamin Holt said : `` This is not just idle chat - mh.nn243 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The court heard the grenades were to be sent to Humza 's address in Fuller Road , Watford , but under his neighbour 's name .
Mr Holt said : `` It is not a great disguise , I accept , but it is , we say , the user getting the product delivered to his home address , albeit with his neighbour 's name on the package . ''
After being told by the agent that he was out of stock of grenades and having his cryptocurrency refunded , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuse detonator .
It was not in dispute that the dark web deals took place , but Humza denied being the person in control of the mh.nn243 user name .
Mrs Justice McGowan did not explain the reasons for Humza 's absence during the trial , only telling the jury : `` Mr Humza has chosen not to attend his trial . ''
In legal argument before the trial got under way , Mr Holt described attempts to track Humza down .
Officers spoke to his estranged wife in Watford who said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday and he `` comes and goes as he pleases to see his children '' .
The mother of three said she did not have a contact number for him and was unaware he was facing a trial .
Further inquiries revealed Humza was in a relationship with another woman who suggested he was out of the country in Pakistan , possibly Kashmir .
His parents and in-laws in Birmingham said they had not seen him since June , the court heard .
The court heard that Humza had previous convictions for fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Davidson said : `` This has been a lengthy investigation which involved extensive work with international law enforcement colleagues to ensure Humza was convicted .
`` Our focus is now on ensuring Humza is located and faces the sentence he will be given , and I would urge anyone with information to contact police immediately if they see him or have any information on his whereabouts . ''
Humza is described as 5ft 8in , Asian and of medium build .
In addition to Watford , he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luton and Rochdale .

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A man who skipped bail has been found guilty in his absence of attempting to buy two hand grenades and Semtex explosive from an undercover FBI agent on the dark web.
Mohammed Humza, 29, of Watford, failed to turn up for his Old Bailey trial on Monday and was suspected of travelling to Kashmir in Pakistan.
The trial went ahead in his absence and Humza, who was represented by a lawyer, was found guilty of attempting to possess explosive substances for unlawful purposes between July 14 and September 5 2016.
The jury had deliberated for six hours and eight minutes to reach their decision by a majority of 11 to one.
Mrs Justice McGowan said sentencing would be put off for more information about Humza's reasons for wanting a grenade, and whether or not it for was terrorism.
She told jurors Humza's current whereabouts was a "mystery". But he has links to Birmingham.
She said: "He may have left the country. On the other hand, he may be saying he has left the country in order to deter police from trying to find him.
"I have to consider before I pass sentence whether or not I can establish what purpose Mr Humza tried to get this grenade for.
"At the moment I simply don't know and it will come as no surprise for you to know if it is for a terrorist purpose that puts it into a different category for sentence."
Jurors were told how Humza, going by the username mh.nn243, had approached an FBI agent posing as a seller on dark web trading site AlphaBay in summer 2016.
The site, which has since been closed down, was popular for trading illegal items including drugs, firearms and other weapons.
In a message to the agent in July 2016, mh.nn243 asked: "What's the best price you can do for 2 grenades with postage to the UK?"
The user haggled the agent down from 125 US dollars each to 115 US dollars by offering to buy four grenades.
In the exchange, the pair discussed the price of delivery to "Watford" and "Hertfordshire".
The court heard that after this conversation, the user went quiet and the deal was not completed, but he approached the officer again in early August.
He said he had been away for a while and using someone else's laptop but asked to "do 1 custom now" on a fragmentation grenade.
The pair eventually agreed a deal for two grenades and mh.nn243 placed cryptocurrency funds on escrow (via a third party) at 9.03pm on August 6.
Prosecutor Benjamin Holt said: "This is not just idle chat - mh.nn243 has actually made payment for the two grenades."
The court heard the grenades were to be sent to Humza's address in Fuller Road, Watford, but under his neighbour's name.
Mr Holt said: "It is not a great disguise, I accept, but it is, we say, the user getting the product delivered to his home address, albeit with his neighbour's name on the package."
After being told by the agent that he was out of stock of grenades and having his cryptocurrency refunded, the user attempted to buy Semtex and a fuse detonator.
It was not in dispute that the dark web deals took place, but Humza denied being the person in control of the mh.nn243 user name.
Mrs Justice McGowan did not explain the reasons for Humza's absence during the trial, only telling the jury: "Mr Humza has chosen not to attend his trial."
In legal argument before the trial got under way, Mr Holt described attempts to track Humza down.
Officers spoke to his estranged wife in Watford who said she had not spoken to him since last Saturday and he "comes and goes as he pleases to see his children".
The mother of three said she did not have a contact number for him and was unaware he was facing a trial.
Further inquiries revealed Humza was in a relationship with another woman who suggested he was out of the country in Pakistan, possibly Kashmir.
His parents and in-laws in Birmingham said they had not seen him since June, the court heard.
The court heard that Humza had previous convictions for fraud and theft, but no terror-related offences.
Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Davidson said: "This has been a lengthy investigation which involved extensive work with international law enforcement colleagues to ensure Humza was convicted.
"Our focus is now on ensuring Humza is located and faces the sentence he will be given, and I would urge anyone with information to contact police immediately if they see him or have any information on his whereabouts."
Humza is described as 5ft 8in, Asian and of medium build. In addition to Watford, he is known to have links to Birmingham, Luton and Rochdale.