AN EYE ON... crime

Sunday 16 November 1997 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

France: Magistrate Bernard Lemaire said that stealing garden gnomes "would have been a good students' prank" if the thieves "had not violated private property and caused damage". The leader of the Garden Gnomes Liberation Front was sentenced to two months' jail suspended and a pounds 300 fine. He and his colleagues had left visiting cards after their thefts saying: "The Garden Gnomes Liberation Front has been here. Your gnomes are now free and can finally live in peace together deep in the forest."

Florida: Howard Fletcher, 65, has challenged the state of Florida to prosecute him for having oral sex in a hotel room with a woman who is not his wife. As executive secretary of the National Sexual Rights Council Inc, Mr Fletcher is campaigning against laws prohibiting open adultery, lewd and lascivious cohabitation, and performing unnatural and lascivious acts.

New Zealand: David Overend, 36, was remanded in custody for a psychiatric report after admitting using a miniature camera to film up the skirts of unsuspecting women. Police discovered e-mails in which he claimed between 2,000 and 4,000 victims filmed in this manner, mostly since 1995.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in