Watercooler Stories

Man convicted in 'Freddy Krueger' attack

LEICESTER, England, April 5 (UPI) -- A British court has convicted a 37-year-old man of attacking his sleeping friend with a bladed glove like that of horror film character Freddy Krueger.

A crown court in the city of Leicester found Jason Moore guilty of attacking John-Paul Skamarski last August. The presiding judge chastised Moore for taking his obsession with the "Nightmare on Elm Street" killer too far, the BBC reported.

"What you were fascinated with was using that glove to kill someone," Judge Michael Pert said as he handed down a life sentence. "The person you chose was your friend who was asleep and had no reason to expect an attack."

Moore will have to serve at least 54 months of his sentence.

Detective Sgt. Gary Rogers of the Leicestershire Police told the BBC a "lot of skill" went into the creation of Moore's weapon.

"I have seen some horrific weapons in my life and that is probably the most horrific I have seen," he said.

State cops to smell good

AHMEDABAD, India, April 5 (UPI) -- In India's western coastal state of Gujarat, where oppressive humidity and heat can flare up tempers, cops will now smell good to make them more approachable.

Designers of police uniforms have come up with a way to infuse or impregnate the material with the fragrance of flowers and citrus. Because the scent will be embedded in the cotton during processing, the uniforms will retain the fragrance even after washing.

"They (police officers) are not the first person one would choose to meet but if they smell good and fresh one might as well approach them," designer Somesh Singh told Britain's Sky News.

In addition, the uniforms will glow at night so the police officers can be seen.

The response from officers has been good. Senior officer R.K. Patel said, "We're tired of wearing the thick cotton brown color uniform with a broad belt and plastic badges. If the new uniform makes us stand out in the crowd, keep us active with a pleasant aroma and yet is very formal, then we are all for it."

British law aims to protect pets

LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- A law aimed at forcing pet owners to care properly for their animals is taking effect in Britain.

The Animal Welfare Act increases protections for animals that are not properly cared for and increases penalties for owners who neglect or abuse their pets, The Telegraph reported Wednesday.

The law legally obligates owners to give their pets a proper diet, an appropriate environment and housing. Owners must also make certain that their animals are living free from pain and disease.

The law also illegalizes the sale of pets to children under the age of 16. Children under that age will also no longer be allowed to win pets as prizes.

"For the first time in history we have a law that enables our inspectors to prevent animals suffering by taking effective action earlier in cases of ongoing neglect," said Jackie Ballard, director general of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Disney film comes to life with animal duo

LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- Not only did a rescued British fox receive its name from the Disney film "The Fox and the Hound" but, like its film counterpart, it gained a canine friend.

After Samantha Johnson found the fox cub next to its dead mother in the county of Surrey, the British Wildlife Center worker named it Tod after the popular Disney film and took it home to meet her dog Molly, The Daily Mail said.

Johnson said the pair, like their movie counterparts, instantly bonded despite their differences and are inseparable.

"Molly took to him immediately and the pair has hit it off just like Tod and Copper in the Disney film," she told The Daily News.

"Tod is coming on in leaps and bounds," she added. "He is really full of fun and is totally besotted with Molly -- he follows her everywhere."

The rescue worker told the newspaper that she will continue to care for Tod for a few months at her home before eventually taking him to the rescue center to live among his own kind.