Beauty therapists win damages from Virgin
Two former beauty therapists who developed repetitive strain injuries through giving massages to air travellers have won a total of £300,430 damages from Virgin Atlantic. Jayne Evans and Michelle Hindmarch eventually were in so much pain they had to find other work. Virgin Atlantic Airways accepted liability but disputed the compensation. Mrs Evans, of northwest London, was awarded the majority, £230,972, by the High Court.
Royal wedding party stifled by red tape
Rochester A street party to celebrate Prince William’s wedding has been cancelled after organisers were told they would have to take out £5 million public liability insurance and complete a 30-point health and safety checklist. Hayley Mills contacted Medway Council but she says that she came face to face with a “wall of bureaucracy”. She cancelled the party after being told of the restrictions, which included setting the bunting at a minimum height and being forbidden to tie banners around the lampposts.
£100 million scam
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A fraudster is facing up to 20 years in a US jail after admitting that he cheated thousands of investors in Britain’s biggest “boiler room” scam. Richard Pope, 53, made more than £100 million mainly by targeting pensioners and pressuring them into buying fake shares. One victim lost £800,000 and many lost their life savings.
New Donmar chief
Josie Rourke has been named the new artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse. She will start at the theatre, in Covent Garden, Central London, on January 1 , taking over from Michael Grandage. Rourke, the artistic director at the Bush Theatre, West London, trained at the Donmar, and was “thrilled and honoured”.