Around the islands: BMW thief mocked and Alton Towers ride victim claims she was denied access to Guernsey

The bungling crook stole the car outside owner Paul Staples’ pub the Fermain Tavern – before crashing it just 300 yards away.

And when Mr Staples’ son Duncan found out, his anger quickly turned into bemusement over why someone would target such a wreck of a car.

‘The more I thought about it, the more idiotic it seemed,’ said the Guernseyman. He later expressed his contempt on Facebook, stating that the inside of the vehicle had never been cleaned and that it was once home to a family of seagulls.

The 39-year-old pointed out that the thief could have stolen three full dustbins and still had less rubbish to dispose of, and added: ‘Come on thief, whoever you are, up your game.

‘You could have had any car on the island that night and you chose that?’

Mr Staples – a former Guernsey States Member – said he had hoped the dirt had rendered the car thief-proof, and lamented that the theft ‘said a lot about the thief’s taste’.

He urged anyone who knew the perpetrator to make sure he was made a laughing stock for such immense stupidity.

The car suffered damage to its wheels, tyres and suspension in the crash, but Mr Staples later had the car fixed by a mechanic friend.

‘I suppose we only have ourselves to blame as the keys were left in it, but we do that because we both drive it and it saves us from having to run around looking for them,’ he added.

GUERNSEY Harbours has hit back at claims that an Alton Towers ride crash victim would not be able to come ashore when she visited the island on a cruise because the island lacked wheelchair access.

Leah Washington and Joe Pugh

An article on the Daily Mail’s website claimed that Leah Washington (18), who had her left leg amputated above the knee, would not be able to visit Guernsey during her P&O cruise with fellow crash victim Joe Pugh because there was no wheelchair access for cruise visitors.

‘The P&O liner will take them to Guernsey, Lisbon and Oporto. But even this will be a poignant reminder to Leah of how her life has changed – Guernsey is one of just a handful of European ports which is not wheelchair- accessible, so she will have to remain on board while other tourists go off to explore,’ the article said.

The story sparked outrage on Twitter and led to a number of locals offering the couple tours of the island and assistance with getting around Guernsey.

But the island’s Public Services Department rubbished the claims, and said that if cruise ship tenders could accommodate wheelchair users, then the they would be welcomed onto the island.

Sarah McGreevy, Guernsey Harbour director, added: ‘The dedicated cruise tender facilities that we provide can accommodate wheelchair users and many users come ashore during the cruise liner season, where they are assured of a warm and friendly welcome to the island.’

Operators have their own policies and procedures for embarking and disembarking tenders, and P&O say that passengers do need sufficient personal mobility to get onto the tender.

The firm said that anyone with mobility issues would be asked to undertake a tender safety assessment before trying to leave the ship.

Peacock noise

THE high-pitched mating calls of wandering peacocks is annoying islanders in Guernsey. Several residents in the parish of St Sampson’s have recently complained about the noise, which is at its worst early morning and late evening. Guernsey’s Environmental Health Department said that it has the power to investigate noise nuisance related to animals being kept on a property. ‘In the event of a complaint being received, we endeavour to deal with noise nuisance on an informal basis by providing advice and guidance to the person responsible for the problem,’ said a spokeswoman.

Brotherly love

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