Cheryl Cole’s brother jailed over robbery
Andrew Tweedy, brother of the singer Cheryl Cole, has been jailed for six years after admitting his part in an armed robbery on a post office in which an imitation gun and a machete were used.
At Newcastle Crown Court Tweedy, 30, also known as Leighton, admitted conspiracy to rob and possessing a firearm with intent, in planning the robbery last May near his home in Longbenton, North Tyneside. Four other men were jailed last week over the robbery, which netted £2,000. Judge Roger Thorn was told that Tweedy had 30 previous convictions.
Fraud charge ‘lawyer’
A man nicknamed “the Devil’s Advocate” for representing clients including Saddam Hussein and Ronnie Biggs has appeared before Westminster magistrates accused of taking hundreds of thousands of pounds while falsely claiming to be a qualified lawyer. Giovanni di Stefano, 55, faces charges of fraud, money laundering and the theft of a BMW car. The case was adjourned until April 26.
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Prison for rock singer
A former lead singer of Iron Maiden was given a nine-month jail sentence after he admitted fraudlently claiming £45,000 in benefits. Paul Andrews, 52, known as Paul Di’Anno, was caught after he posted a video on YouTube of himself in concert. He had claimed that nerve damage to his back prevented him from working, but Salisbury Crown Court was told he had continued to perform.
Lampard banned
The Chelsea and England footballer Frank Lampard, 32, was banned from driving for 90 days and fined £850 after admitting driving at 91mph on a 50mph stretch of road. He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,333. Magistrates at Staines, Surrey, had adjourned the case so that he could attend and expressed annoyance that he chose not to, because of media attention.