David O’Neill won a race discrimination battle against the Ocean Dragon in Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter following a year-long fight for compensation.

The 19-year-old, from the Selly Oak area of the city, successfully sued the diner after his hours were drastically cut by a new Chinese manager who handed his shifts to workers from China.

David, a first-year law student at Staffordshire University, won his lengthy battle after representing himself at a Birmingham employment tribunal and was awarded total compensation of £5,322.89.

But he is yet to receive a penny from the restaurant owners – and a High Court appointed bailiff will now be sent in to recover compensation if the Ocean Dragon fails to comply.

David started working at the Ocean Dragon, an upmarket Arcadian Centre restaurant, in May 2010 as a part-time waiter under a white manager, his first-ever job.

“From the end of October 2010, a new Chinese manager was appointed as general manager who cut my hours dramatically and those of other white staff, until I was given no hours whatsoever after November 2010,” he said.

“Although I kept contacting the manager, she kept informing me that there were no hours available but she would be in touch.”

David said he realised he was being discriminated against on ethnic grounds after new Chinese staff were recruited to take over his hours – despite assurances from the manager that he would be given more work.

“I sent a letter of complaint to the company outlining my concerns and they denied all knowledge of me even working at the company.

“As the company seemed to completely disregard and push my grievances aside, I felt I had no option but to begin legal proceedings.”

In legal proceedings which lasted from last May until December, David sued for discrimination, unfair dismissal, failure to issue a contract of employment, and unauthorised deductions.

No comment was available from the restaurant.

Appearing at Northampton Crown Court today, the ex-Norwich star was handed a six month jail term by Judge Richard Bray and banned from driving for 18 months.

The court heard McKenzie, 33, who retired from professional football in December, sent  Northamptonshire police a series of bogus letters to avoid repeated speeding fines and the loss of his driving licence.

Claiming to be from a fictional garage in London, the letters, sent to dodge six speeding fines between February 2008 and January 2010, claimed the former footballer’s car was off the road when he was caught speeding.

Claire Howell, prosecuting, at a hearing last year, said that each time he received a notice of intended prosecution, McKenzie sent back a letter stating mechanics were working on his car when it was said to have been caught by speed cameras.

Sentencing McKenzie to six months in prison on Tuesday, Judge Bray said: ”These offences strike right at the heart of justice.

“It would send completely the wrong message not to pass a custodial sentence.”

The former Norwich City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic star was supported in court by his uncle, former world champion boxer Duke McKenzie, former So Solid Crew rapper MC Harvey and former Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle, chairman of the Professional Footballers Association.

In an emotional statement released after he was sentenced, McKenzie, who has suffered from depression in the past, says his behaviour was “totally unacceptable”.

“I was not in a good place and couldn’t always make sense of what was going on. Some things being personal and some being work related,” said McKenzie in the statement.

“Unfortunately at that time I fell deep into depression, which led me to try and take my life. Around that period I wasn’t thinking straight, and got caught up with the wrong people around me.

“My behaviour towards certain things like these speeding offences were totally unacceptable and very naive of me to allow a third party to take my points for me.

“I broke the law six times in that two year period which I am now very aware of. I am truly sorry for these offences that I committed.

“It took a lot to speak out publicly about trying to end my life and now turning it around with helping others with issues of depression and starting a new career in music.

“I am now leaving my wife and my beautiful four children along with some fantastic friends and family. God willing they will be okay.

“Anyone that knows me, knows my heart and more importantly knows the change in me from where I was compared to where I am now. I am a fighter and looks like now I don’t have a choice but to battle on which I will do.”

After being arrested and questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, the former Premier League player made a full confession on the understanding he would receive a caution.

But six months later, he was summoned to court to answer the charges again after a mix-up between Dc Simon Coles and Sgt Gez Jackson resulted in McKenzie being cautioned for the six offences without the case being referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

During a protracted series of hearings and legal argument, Judge Bray was asked to decide whether the caution should be quashed, allowing for McKenzie to be prosecuted – but the caution was subsequently withdrawn by Northamptonshire Police.

Last month the striker pleaded guilty to the six charges, which relate to separate occasions over a two-year period when he sought to avoid a driving ban.

The court heard McKenzie, who played his last game for non-league Kettering Town in December, committed the offences around the time he was suffering from depression, and has been working with the Professional Footballers’ Association helping others with the same condition.

A sombre mood gripped Alvechurch Middle School, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, as students arrived for morning classes.

A number of pupils gathered around a flagpole in the car park where candles and floral tributes to games and maths teacher Peter Rippington, 59, had been laid.  

Mr Rippington died on Sunday morning after the coach he was travelling in ran into a ditch in Northern France.

Today/yesterday (SUN), as the flag outside the school flew at half-mast, more pupils and parents left floral tributes at the scene.

Several pupils left apples, with which the popular teacher – known as ‘Mr Ripp’ – was associated.

By the end of the morning school run, dozens of bouquets, pictures and other tributes had been left.

Several pupils wept as they approached the school grounds, and had to be comforted by their parents.

Police stood guard at all three gates of the school complex, which also houses a junior school, as parents brought their children in.

Parents expressed shock at the death of Mr Rippington, described as a well-loved teacher who was known to many in the local area.

Parent Sharon McCann paid an emotional tribute to ‘Mr Ripp’ outside the school.

Fighting back tears as she praised the “inspirational” teacher, she said: “He could get the kids to do things that other teachers couldn’t.

“He was the best, he’s going to be missed so much, he was lovely.

“It’s a huge loss to the school.”

Mrs McCann, 40, added that Mr Rippington, who had been due to retire next month, was a well-known character in the small village.

She said: “He used to speak to everyone, he was so polite and friendly, he always had a good thing to say.

“He always rode his bike to school, he had a very healthy lifestyle.

“It’s so cruel, why does it always happen to the best?”

Mrs McCann said her son Cameron, 13, had been devastated when he heard news of the popular teacher’s death.

She said: “He always said when he had detention Mr Ripp would sit at the front of the class peeling his apple.

“When he heard he said he wanted to leave an apple with all the flowers as a tribute.”

Former pupil Rich Burnett, 22, said that Mr Rippington, who had been at the school for around 30 years, taught a great number of people in the village.

He said: “He was very well-known outside of the school and around the village.

“You couldn’t go through the school without being taught by him.

“He will be missed greatly – he was a funny guy who loved his job.

“It’s a real shock for the true villagers that this has happened.”

Staff at the school and the local Reverend also paid tribute to Mr Rippington.

Revd David Martin, Rector of Alvechurch, said Mr Rippington “gave his whole life to Alvechurch CE Middle School.”

He added: “Peter was very much part of the wider community in Alvechurch and will be missed by many.”

Rev Martin said that St Laurence’s Church in the village would be open all day for well-wishers to say prayers and light candles.

Chair of Governors Bryan Maybee also paid tribute to the “inspirational and dedicated” teacher.

He  said: “I am thankful to be able to confirm that the staff and children who were well enough to travel and are not staying in France, arrived back safely on Sunday night at around midnight.”

He added: “The headteacher’s focus at this time is, as I am sure you will understand, is being available to all who need her within the school.

“She joins me in praising Peter Rippington for all he has done for the school and local community over the years and her thoughts, as are mine, are with his family at this tragic time.”

Neighbour Pamela Wainwright, 28, came to pay her respects to her former teacher.

She said that Mr Rippington, who lived on the same street as her, would be remembered for the school trips he organised.

She said: “The main memory I’ll have is the ski trips and how he made it on those ski trips.

“He was just a fantastic man, he was a lovely man, very generous and supportive.

“It’s devastating really, especially for the family, it’s a tragic loss.”

Janette Smith, 28, was riding along a road in Overstone, Northants, with a friend who was also on horseback when the tragedy unfolded at about 11am on Saturday.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and today/yesterday (MON) police said they had never witnessed a death caused in this manner.

Villagers described how both horses started to canter and Janette’s horse whirled round and bucked, throwing her clean off.

The horse was believed to be owned by Janette, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and was taken to nearby Whistlefield Stables in Overstone Park.

Roland Smith, the owner of the stables, said: “She had been riding a good many years since she was a girl, so it’s likely she knew what she was doing.

“I knew her a bit as she would visit the stables from time to time.

“It’s just a really tragic story, a lot of people around here are stunned.

“I’ve heard from the other rider that both the horses were suddenly spooked and she doesn’t know why.

“The other rider got her horse under control but the victim’s horse bolted and bucked, throwing her off. Her helmet came off and she was thrown off the horse.”

He continued: “She always struck me as a very safety conscious person – she always had body protection on, correct clothing and a high visibility jacket so it’s just very unfortunate.

“Horses can be very dangerous and unpredictable at times.

“She died doing something she obviously loved.”

Jane Butt, who owns Jane Butt Equine Services in nearby Sywell, said high winds are well-known to sometimes make horses react fiercely.

She said: “It can happen after a sudden gust of wind. There are a lot of trees along that road that would make it even more noisy for the horse.

“They can rear up and unfortunately become unpredictable for the rider.”

Officers from Northamptonshire Police closed the road for an hour and a half while emergency services attended the scene.

Police are treating the incident as a tragic accident and have said no vehicles were involved.

Inspector Daemon Johnson said: “About 11am we took a call that a 28-year-old female was riding her horse on the Sywell Road when it became distressed by the wind.

“She was thrown from the horse, landing on the road, and as a result sustained fatal injuries.

“No vehicles were involved, and we are just treating it as a tragic accident.” It is thought the rider lost her helmet during the fall.

Henpecked Mike Jeffries, 25, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, always has to sit down when he goes to the toilet so his controlling other half Joanna Felicitas, 23, doesn’t have to put the seat down later.

Mike admits his missus, who he proposed to in 2009, carries out regular spot checks during his trips to the loo – and even PHONES him if he takes too long.

The sports coach, who owns his own football academy, was also banned from spending time with his best mate Keith – after Joanna became worried they were GAY together.

“I have to accept that I am truly under the thumb and changes need to be made,” he said.

“She’s a bit funny about the toilet seat. But I’d rather sit down because I can read the newspapers or my phone.

“She will check up on me and she will go mental if the seat is up. I will be in there and if I’m in there too long reading the sport on my phone, she will phone me and give me a cheeky call to ask what I’m doing.

“Another time she thought for a second that me and a mate were going out, she thought we were gay because there was too much bromance going on.

“I told her a story about us getting drunk once and waking up next to each other and she took it the wrong way.

“So she ordered me to spend less time with my best mate Keith.”

And as well as telling him what to do, Mike’s missus even controls what he wears – with the sports coach often forced to don well-style leather boots – just because Arg from infamous reality show The Only Way Is Essex owns a pair.

“She likes to try and dress me up,” added the 25-year-old, who lives with fiancee Joanna and their two-year-old son Mason.

“Recently she has been trying to get me to wear these skinny jeans but I haven’t got the physique for it.

“There was one time she brought these leather boots back. She had seen Arg on The Only Way Is Essex wearing them and thought I could pull them off.

“I think he looks like a idiot though, I’ve worn them out a few times but I don’t like them. I don’t think I could pull off the skinny jeans tucked into the boots look.”

After a six-week hunt for the most henpecked man in the country, organisers at lads mag Zoo and Brighton based The Stag Company were in no doubt that Mike should beat thousands of entries to land the dubious title.

Despite threatening to kill the mates who stitched him up, Mike has been forced to admit that their allegations were true – especially after revealing how he spent his Valentines Day.

“My initial reaction was to kill them, but I’d have to say the majority of what he said is pretty fair,” he said.

“Valentines night was a blinder. I have to admit I did not get a card till last minute. In the end I had a romantic meal with the missus, her sister and her partner.

“It was the full works: candles, rose; glasses and bucks fizz. To end the night we started to watch series 3 of Gossip Girl, which I bought for her.

“In my defence there is some real sorts in that programme. I did buy the other half one rose, but got told that wasn’t enough and a bunch is what she wanted. The Arg wellies were on, and possibly for the last time.”

As part of his prize, Mike and five friends will be treated to a weekend away in Newcastle – complete with a trip to a strip club and a casino.

And despite the usually strict regime, Mike revealed he would be allowed to go on the lads trip.

“She has calmed down a bit now and I am allowed to go,” he added.

“She ain’t happy about the trip, but the spa weekend softened the blow. Maybe one cheeky dance won’t harm, other than that I’ll be waiting outside as the boys have fun.”

The soppy bloke, who is the laughing stock of men all over the country, says he doesn’t regret how his relationship is – after revealing he proposed to her in the most romantic of ways.

“I proposed to her up the Eiffel Tower,” he said.

“I had the ring all ready but was thinking of backing out and doing it another time but then a man nearby proposed to his girlfriend and my other half gave me a look, so I did it there and then.

“I don’t regret it for a minute. Joking aside it is definitely worth putting up with everything.

“She really is great. She takes me for who I am and is my best friend as well.”

The search for Britain’s Most Under The Thumb Bloke was the brainchild of Mark Booth, Web copywriter at The Stag Company. He said: “This was just an idea I had one day, and thought it would be funny if we tried to find the most whiplashed guy in the UK.

“It’s mad to think that there was actually an unfortunate bloke who lives that very life.

“I’m proud to have outed Mike for what he is – truly under the thumb”

Agency medic Mariusz Klimczyk had a blazing row with colleagues after they complained he was being too cavalier with the patient on the operating table at the Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

Colleagues repeatedly warned the Polish locum, who was employed at the hospital between March and May 2009, about resting his elbows on the unconscious patient’s rib cage.

He hurled his surgical instruments down, and tore off his gown and gloves, before shouting “This is sh*t” at stunned nurses, then stormed out of the operating theatre in a rage.

Almost a year later he rowed with colleagues at Whipps Cross University in London, and rubbished the skills of British doctors within earshot of patients, claiming he was only in Britain because the pay was so good.

The shocking incidents were reported to the General Medical Council, who hauled Klimczyk before a disciplinary panel on misconduct charges.

He also faced a string of charges for being rude and aggressive towards colleagues, and the panel discussed a police caution he received for using threatening behaviour while drunk at Stanstead Airport.

The Polish citizen, who graduated from Uniwersytet Medyczny, in Lodz, in his home country, in 2001, did not attend the two week hearing where the GMC ruled he should be struck off.

Panel chairman Mr Bergmann, said: “Dr Klimczyk’s misconduct represents serious and repeated failures to uphold the proper standards of conduct and behaviour expected of a registered medical practitioner.

“He has shown a disregard of the regulatory process and his misconduct brings the profession into disrepute.

“We are of the view that Dr Klimczyk’s actions had the potential to damage public confidence in the medical profession. Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable.

“In the light of all the evidence presented, we are satisfied that erasure is a necessary and proportionate sanction in this case.”

While Klimczyk worked at Selly Oak Hospital, the GMC panel was told that he also put his hand in a nurse’s face while he counted on his fingers the number of pounds of traction pressure he wanted a nurse to apply.

Words The nurse said he then `spat’ the words `Got it?’ at her.

During the surgery he walked out of, a senior colleague had warned him to be more gentle with the patient. The doctor reacted by squaring up to his workmate and demanding: “What did you say?”.

The panel was told he paused between each word and his tone was “aggressive“. When Klimczyk was told to calm down or leave the operating theatre, he stormed off.

Last night University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said it was pleased the GMC had taken action.

“We welcome the finding of the GMC hearing,“ a spokesman told the Sunday Mercury. “Unprofessional conduct which impacts on patient care or members of our staff is wholly unacceptable. We are grateful to those who provided evidence to support the conclusion of this case.

“Dr Klimczyk was never employed by the Trust but did work within Selly Oak Hospital on a locum basis through an agency on the dates referred to. Since then he has had no involvement with the trust.”

Mr Klimczyk was unavailable for comment.

Meg Todd spent four months working on the exam piece – a dress made from hundreds of the contraceptive aid – after her art teacher told students to create a project based on the theme of ‘contagion’.

The teenager had been due to wear the dress at a fashion show for her class from Trinity School, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

But just a day before the show, headmaster Jim Ferguson told Meg that she could not strut her stuff up the catwalk in the dress because her work was ‘not in keeping’ with the school’s philosophy.

Until that point, teachers in the school’s art department had not told Meg that there would be a problem with her work, it was claimed.

Despite pleas from Meg’s mum Nicola for the school to reconsider its stance, Dr Ferguson refused to budge.

Nicola, 40, a mental health support worker, said: “My daughter is devastated.

“All this work has been building up to the show. She was going to walk up the catwalk. She has worked so hard on this piece and it’s relevant to the subject title.”

“The theme was ‘Contagion’ – it’s an art project, not a sexual awareness lesson.”

“It caused her to question herself and wonder whether she’d been stupid to do this – it left her feeling humiliated.”

She said she “begged” Dr Ferguson to reconsider and suggested that the school ban photographs  of Meg’s dress being taken instead.

But her pleas fell on deaf ears and Meg did not take part in the show.

The mother continued: “It’s a Catholic school but it is also a school. It’s so ridiculous. I don’t know if she is still able to submit her piece as exam work.”

The row comes just a month after the school hit the headlines when it was revealed that former school secretary Kerri Mallier moonlighted as a £150 per hour escort.

Mrs Todd said that the head reacted with fury when she brought up last month’s scandal, and accused her of being ‘vindictive’.

She said: “I questioned his judgement, and he said I was being vindictive.

“At that point I thanked him for his time and turned around to leave.

“As I walked out of his office he shouted after me that I was vindictive.

“I was very calm and for him to call me names is unnecessary.”

Furious Mrs Todd suggested that the head’s strict approach owed much to last month’s scandal, and that students were suffering because of his mistakes.

She said: “This is a man whose judgement led him to hire such a woman as his personal assistant and now he is making the students suffer.

“I feel like he is coming down on everybody because of that situation. It was his decision to hire her.”

Dr Ferguson admitted that he was behind the decision to prevent the dress from being shown.

He said: “I decided that the design was not in keeping with our ethos.

“I am aware that Meg put a lot of work into it and it was a very difficult decision to make, but I had to make it in the best interests of the school.”

Former jackpot winner Carroll, who scooped £9.7 million on the National Lottery in 2002, said he was in a drink-fuelled haze and forgot to pay for the cider and sarnie.

The 28-year-old is now surviving on benefits after famously squandering all of his winnings.

Carroll appeared at West Norfolk Magistrates’ Court, in King’s Lynn, on Wednesday.

He told magistrates: “I’d had a few drinks and picked up some Strongbow and something to eat and walked out. I just wasn’t thinking.

“I went back and paid for it later.”

The court heard Carroll had been caught on CCTV taking the items from Morrisons, in Downham Market, Norfolk, on January 20, but returned with the cash that night before police contacted him.

Father-of-two Carroll, of Downham Market, admitted theft and was given a nine-month conditional discharge.

Michael Gamble, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, said: “You realise it was foolish to take things in the first place and you are to be commended for going back.

“If you don’t come back to court in that nine-month period you will hear no more about it. Obviously if you do come back, this offence is liable to be re-sentenced.”

The self-styled ‘King of Chavs’ was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

The court heard Carroll, a former binman, still had £25 to pay on a fine for a previous offence, which is being deducted from benefits.

Chavy Carroll collected his Lottery win, aged 19, wearing an electronic tag fitted for an offence of being drunk and disorderly and has appeared before the courts dozens of times for anti social behaviour.

He was jailed in 2004 for failing to comply with a drug treatment order imposed for cocaine possession and in 2006 for affray.

In 2010 he was given a suspended sentence for drink-driving.

In August last year, it was reported Carroll had made two suicide attempts after losing his £9.7 million fortune.

He is reported to have frittered his fortune on wild parties, cocaine, prostitutes, luxury cars, chunky gold jewellery and hand-outs to relatives and hangers-on.

Carroll’s behaviour was so bad, the local council set up a hotline for neighbours to report disturbances.

He was forced to sell his Swaffham mansion in 2010 for £600,000 less than he paid for it after wrecking it.

Tragic Kate Boughton and son Sam, from Presteigne, Powys, died after the car they were travelling in collided with a tractor on the B4362 close to Ludlow, Shropshire, on Tuesday.

West Bromwich Albion fan Sam died at the scene while his mother was airlifted to hospital, where she later died of her injuries.

Mrs Boughton’s two other sons remained in hospital, one in a critical but stable condition and the other in a stable condition.

Emergency services said the crash in Lucton, Herefordshire, was one of the worst the county has seen in recent years.

Rescue crews worked for an hour to free the trapped four from the wreck of their Vauxhall Corsa.

Councillor Olwyn Barnett, chairman of Herefordshire Council, who lives in Kinsham, near Presteigne, on Thursday said the whole area was in shock.

She said: “It really is your worst nightmare and the whole of Presteigne and indeed Herefordshire is in shock at this awful tragedy.

“It is a stark warning of what can happen on the roads and my thoughts and best wishes are with the family.

“I did not know them well but I have been told they were a very popular family in Presteigne and they had many friends. Everyone who has spoken to me speaks very highly of them and everybody is devastated.”

Councillor John Kendall, Presteigne Mayor and chairman of governors at John Beddoes School, said his thoughts and prayers were with the family.

Neighbours Chris and Pat Watson, said: “It’s an absolute tragedy.”

Tributes have also been posted on Facebook.

Cameron Andrews, from Telford, said: “It only ever happens to the best of people. I still can’t believe this shocking tragedy has happened.”

Karen Phipps posted: “The reality of the saying, life is to short has been brought into perspective yesterday when my beautiful friend and her beautiful son where tragically taken away. Cherish every day with the ones you love. Rip Kate and Sam never forget you xxxxxxx”

Sophie Jones added: “Yesterday Did happen i woke up hoping it had all been a nightmare… R.I.P Auntie kate and Sam <3 xx”

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival at the scene, crews found a car which had been badly damaged after colliding with a tractor. All four occupants in the car were trapped.

“Sadly nothing could be done to save the front seat passenger, a boy, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“A second boy sustained serious multiple injuries. Crews and the medics worked with the fire service to carefully extricate him from the vehicle, which took around 45 minutes.

“He was immobilised with a neck collar and spinal board before being airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.  The air ambulance doctor travelled with the boy to continue emergency treatment and monitor his condition.

“A third boy sustained a serious leg injury. He was given pain relief and released from the car before being immobilised and airlifted to the same hospital for further emergency treatment.

“The driver, a woman, was unconscious when crews arrived.  The remaining doctor and ambulance crews assessed her condition and found she had suffered multiple injuries.

“Again, ambulance staff and firefighters worked as a team to extricate her from the car whilst she continued to receive emergency treatment. After around two hours, the woman was freed from the wreckage and she was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham; the MARS doctor travelled with her to hospital.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and hospital medics nothing could be done to save the woman and she was pronounced dead later in hospital.

“The tractor driver, a man, did not require hospital treatment.

Bungling Leanne Wheawall, 24, pocketed GBP640 from Stafford Post Office and made up errors to cover her tracks during the six-month crime spree.

The thefts were only spotted when errors in accounting came to light at the post office, which is located inside WHSmiths in Stafford, Staffordshire.

Wheawall, from Stafford, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft that took place at various times between May and November 2011 at Cannock Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Giles Rowden, prosecuting, said Wheawall was using the till during her employment at the post office inside WHSmith.

“Although she was employed by the post office she had authority to process items from WHSmith,” he said.

“The defendant was taking cash and placing it in her bra and then putting errors through to account for it.

“This came to the attention of WHSmith after some unusual computer information in relation to money that seems to have not been accounted for.

“She was confronted by WHSmith and admitted it to the manager.”

Robert Chadwick, defending, said his client worked at the post office in Stafford from February 2011 until she resigned in November.

“In a desperate measure she succumbed to temptation” he said.

“She has broken the relationship of trust between the employer and employees. She describes her actions as stupid and is ashamed and embarrassed.”

Wheawall, who has already paid back GBP213 to the store, was given a 12-month community order and told she must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs.