The University of Exeter has recently taken proactive measures in response to the establishment of a fraudulent online account impersonating one of its faculty members, Professor Jane Wittle. The situation arose on the Bedworth Community Forum Facebook page, where the fake account has been active, posting politically charged comments and directed trolling at local MP, Rachel Taylor. Notably, the university affirmed its commitment to addressing the issue by officially reporting the imitation profile to Meta, the parent company of Facebook.
A spokesperson for the university commented, stating, "The university has been made aware that a fake profile has been set up impersonating a member of its academic staff. The academic in question has no connection to the area, and the matter has been reported to Meta." The university's actions underline its determination to protect the integrity and reputation of its staff members, as such impersonation can lead to potential misinformation and detrimental consequences.
In a separate incident within North Staffordshire, Staffordshire Police have initiated an investigation into alleged voyeurism and blackmail occurring at St John Fisher Catholic College in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The incident reportedly involves two boys who have been suspended as a result of the ongoing inquiry. According to a police spokesman, the investigation stems from claims that one boy was coerced into capturing images of two girls. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, authorities have indicated that no evidence of voyeurism was found following their investigation.
"The police were called to St John Fisher Catholic College following a report of voyeurism and blackmail. It is understood a boy was reportedly blackmailed into taking images of two girls. No evidence of voyeurism was identified following an investigation. Two boys were suspended from the school. Enquiries are ongoing," the spokesperson noted. The school has opted not to comment further on both the police investigation and its own internal response to the matter.
In a third, unusual occurrence, a chimney sweep from South Warwickshire made a shocking discovery while preparing a disused fireplace for an upcoming period drama shoot. Andrew Crompton, from Crompton Chimney Sweeps, was called to ensure the fireplace could be made operational after lying unused for approximately four decades. Upon exploring the chimney, Crompton uncovered a grave scene—60 dead birds were found trapped within.
"The baffle plate, the barrier that stops things falling into the fireplace when not being used, was impossible to open," he explained. "Bit by bit, I got the baffle plate open and was pulling the odd bird through, I got to twenty and thought that would be it, but they just kept coming. In the end I counted 60 dead birds—a record for me, but it might be a Guinness World Record too."
Crompton expressed a sense of horror at the implications of the discovery, pondering the circumstances that led to such a tragic accumulation of the birds. "It's quite horrific—were they all in there alive at the same time? Was the noise they were making attracting others and getting them trapped too?" he reflected. He noted that an alarming number of birds, estimated at 50 million each year in the UK, die in chimneys, with his prior record being 17 dead jackdaws. The situation has not only highlighted the eerie aspects of his profession but also presented the possibility of a unique world record.
Overall, these events reflect disparate but notable occurrences in the regions of Exeter, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, involving issues ranging from digital impersonation and school investigations to morbid discoveries in historical architecture.
Source: Noah Wire Services