Shock report warns thousands of poor people are dying early because of a 'pandemic' of inactivity

1EmailThe study found that in the 15 most inactive local authorities, there are an average of 342 premature deaths per 100,000 people every year -  compared with 242 in those where people exercise the most.           

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Great-grandmother, 76, shoplifted because she was 'bored of being old'

The mother-of-seven later claimed she only carried out the thefts to relieve her boredom as she was fed up of living on her own Photo: Alamy By News agencies

8:47AM GMT 28 Jan 2014

A great-grandmother suffering from arthritis embarked on a four year shoplifting spree because she was ''bored'' of being old.

June Humphreys, 76, used her bus pass to travel to town centres before hiding consumer commodities in her shopping trolley then sneaking out of stores without paying.

The OAP from Crewe, Cheshire was being treated for breast cancer and osteoarthritis but would strike at high streets across two counties.

Store detectives would catch her red handed, however she went back out shoplifting again.

The mother-of-seven later claimed she only carried out the thefts to relieve her boredom as she was fed up of living on her own.

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A probation officer said the old lady had as many shoplifting convictions as a teenage heroin addict.

Details of the offending OAP emerged at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court where Humphreys was warned she will go to jail if she shoplifts again.

Probation officer Darren Vernon told the hearing: "She has travelled around Staffordshire and Cheshire on public transport and committed offences.

"She knows what she is doing is wrong, she says she is bored and needs to fill her time.

"The main reason for her doing this is boredom. She lives alone. She has seven children but the only one she has contact with lives above her.

"She has acquired the record of a heroin addict in his late teens."

Earlier the court heard Humphreys' offending took her to high streets in Stoke, Leek, Macclesfield, Stafford and Whitchurch and had convictions for shop theft in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and on January 14 this year.

In the latest bout of thefts, she pleaded guilty to stealing confectionery worth £2 from Iceland, theft of baby clothes worth £69 from BHS, stealing baby clothes worth £24.98 from B & M, and theft of a breast pump from Boots, all on January 6.

The pensioner also admitted stealing alcohol, coffee and confectionery worth £30.42 from an Aldi store and stealing two pairs of boots worth £94.50 from a shoe shop in Hanley, Staffs , a week before Christmas.

She was sentenced to one-month in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £45 costs and an £80 victim surcharge. Magistrates revoked a community order which had previously been imposed on her for theft.

Her lawyer Andrew Bennett said: "My client does not want to go to prison. She wants to stop doing this. She wants to stop stealing from shops."

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Lee Rigby trial: 'I went for jugular because it's more humane way to kill' - murder accused told police

5 Dec 2013 19:12The jury heard Michael Adebolajo say in interview: ''He may be my enemy but he is a man so I struck at the neck and attempted to remove his head to be sure. Why prolong it?''

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Chief Constable: police manipulate crime figures because of pressure from senior figures

The head of the Derbyshire force, said "inadvertent" pressure from senior officers meant statistics did not depict the true level of crime in Britain

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War hero soldier banned from Remembrance Day role because he's too old for insurance cover

"Royal British Legion parade Marshal for 40yrs Albert Miller has been told he can no longer do it due to his age and insurance costs. Albert as a young man in the Royal NavyPhoto by Gavin Trafford"class

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Town's yellow lines cause uproar in community because they are TOO BRIGHT

Bright: The lines are having to be repaintedBBC News

A town is in uproar after new yellow lines were painted too wide and bright in their main street.

The road markings along Upgate in Louth, Lincolnshire, should have been thin and painted a subtle primrose colour, because it is a conservation area.

But instead of fitting into the town's "unique character", the garish yellow lines now stand out for miles - causing an outcry from residents and traders.

Dean Myhill, area highways manager at Lincolnshire County Council apologised for the mistake, and the council is reportedly calculating how much it will cost to re-do them.

He told the BBC: "In a conservation area such as Upgate in Louth, we use a more subtle colour for our yellow lines and paint them about half as wide.

"This is to make sure our road markings help to protect the town's unique character.

"In this case, we have made a mistake and painted our standard yellow lines. We apologise for this error and will look to paint the correct lines."

It comes after a bakery in the town was reportedly told to repaint its shop front in September because it was not in keeping with the area.

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Oprah 'refused to help the President promote Obamacare because she feels burned by the White House'

10shares The President asked Oprah to help him promote Obamacare 'but she refused because she feels burned by the White House'

By Meghan Keneally

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