Latest news with #SmartWater
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
'Relentless' Howden stalker given suspended jail term
A "relentless stalker" who was caught after a woman sprayed a traceable liquid on him has been given a 16-month jail term suspended for two Leddon, 54, of Mooney Place, Howden, East Yorkshire, previously pleaded guilty to stalking, careless driving and driving without a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, Leddon was also handed a five-year restraining order and disqualified from Police said Leddon followed his victim down her street in his vehicle before "purposefully" driving into her car. Det Insp Helen Collier, from the force's domestic abuse and investigation team, described Leddon as a "relentless stalker". She said he had taken photos of the woman and waited outside her home and workplace on "multiple occasions" in November last year."He was also seen multiple times on her CCTV walking past her address in a way to intimidate her by circling around somewhere she is supposed to feel safe and secure," she Insp Collier said Leddon's actions caused his victim "fear and alarm", but her use of SmartWater – which cannot be washed off – helped officers to "stack up the evidence" against liquid is invisible to the eye but shows up under ultraviolet light. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
SmartWater: Forensic spray helping women to 'feel safer'
Victims of domestic violence are being given a forensic spray that proves if a perpetrator has approached which has its own DNA, will remain on the suspect's skin for up to six weeks and can help lead to convictions. Perpetrators are told that victims are carrying the spray in a bid to deter them from contacting the Police has been trialling SmartWater since January, with early feedback suggesting it is Insp Ash Shingler said: "We're working with seven victims. None of the SmartWater has been deployed - that's a good sign because it means the preventative element seems to be working." The invisible fluid, traditionally used to forensically mark items such as bikes and valuables, is now being given to high-risk victims of domestic can use the spray to prove a perpetrator did approach them or break their bail conditions or banning deployed the substance can be used as evidence, forensic laboratories only need a "pin-prick".Chief Insp Shingler said: "The spray has individual codes, the substance shows up under UV light and the code itself is unique to the spray and registered to the victim. "Once it's sent to the lab, it can be viewed like a barcode – it's got it's own DNA." Clare Joynes, the rural domestic abuse coordinator for Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service, said the "psychological impact" for victims was often felt like they could not "trust the world anymore", said Ms Joynes, adding "anything like this [pilot] that makes people feel safer" is a good thing."That gives them that feeling that yes they can go out, they can safely answer their door is going to be massive in terms of the psychological impact and their ability to recover," she added.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman catches stalker with SmartWater spray
A stalker was caught after a woman sprayed a traceable liquid on him. Neil Leddon, 54, of Mooney Place, Howden, followed the woman down her street and drove into her car, breaching bail conditions, Humberside Police said. She used a canister of "SmartWater", given to her by police, to show he had been harassing her, as it cannot be washed off. Leddon pleaded guilty to stalking, careless driving and driving without insurance during a hearing at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday. He is due to be sentenced on 4 June. Det Insp Helen Collier, of Humberside Police, said Leddon was a "relentless stalker" who had taken photos of the woman and waited outside her home and workplace on "multiple occasions" in November last year. His actions caused her "fear and alarm", but her use of SmartWater helped officers to "stack up the evidence" against him. The liquid is invisible to the eye but shows up under ultraviolet light. Det Insp Collier said the force had been using the technology since June last year in order to deter perpetrators and protect victims of domestic abuse. "The brave actions taken by the woman to deploy her SmartWater cannister is admirable," she added. "We know that this technology makes a real difference to victims of domestic abuse and stalking, helping them feel safer and more in control." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Related internet links
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Woman catches Howden stalker with SmartWater spray
Woman catches stalker with SmartWater spray 7 minutes ago Share Save Share Save Humberside Police Neil Leddon, 54, has been described by police as a "relentless stalker" A stalker was caught after a woman sprayed a traceable liquid on him. Neil Leddon, 54, of Mooney Place, Howden, followed the woman down her street and drove into her car, breaching bail conditions, Humberside Police said. She used a canister of "SmartWater", given to her by police, to show he had been harassing her, as it cannot be washed off. Leddon pleaded guilty to stalking, careless driving and driving without insurance during a hearing at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday. He is due to be sentenced on 4 June. Det Insp Helen Collier, of Humberside Police, said Leddon was a "relentless stalker" who had taken photos of the woman and waited outside her home and workplace on "multiple occasions" in November last year. His actions caused her "fear and alarm", but her use of SmartWater helped officers to "stack up the evidence" against him. The liquid is invisible to the eye but shows up under ultraviolet light. Det Insp Collier said the force had been using the technology since June last year in order to deter perpetrators and protect victims of domestic abuse. "The brave actions taken by the woman to deploy her SmartWater cannister is admirable," she added. "We know that this technology makes a real difference to victims of domestic abuse and stalking, helping them feel safer and more in control."
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons 2025 NFL draft grades: What did ESPN, PFF and NFL.com say?
Falcons 2025 NFL draft grades: What did ESPN, PFF and say? What did NFL analysts say about the Falcons' 2025 draft class? The Atlanta Falcons are happy with their 2025 NFL draft haul, but analysts around the league seem to be split. Whenever a team makes a bold move, as the Falcons did by trading up for Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr., opinions are going to vary. General manager Terry Fontenot's approach reflected that of a man who knows he must win to keep his job beyond next season. Having a win-now approach didn't bother a Falcons fan base that's desperate to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. Let's take a look at what the top NFL analysts around the country had to say about the Falcons' 2025 draft class. Pro Football Focus draft grade: A- "Walker brings natural athleticism at off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, providing a versatile defender to a Falcons defense in need of impact playmakers," PFF writes. "Atlanta ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate (34.2%) and 29th in total quarterback pressures (230) in 2024, likely resulting in Walker finding a home on the edge." ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.) draft grade: C "The Falcons used their first four picks on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since 2009," wrote Kiper. "I just wish one of them went to the cornerback group and maybe one of them was directed at defensive tackle. But the real hit -- the key reason I gave Atlanta this "C" -- was trading away the 2026 first-rounder." draft grade: B- "The Falcons did not mess around when it came to addressing their pass rush need, getting good value in Walker at No. 15 and taking a chance on Pearce's upside later in Round 1," wrote Chad Reuter. "The risk of giving up a 2026 first-rounder to trade up for Pearce was somewhat mitigated by receiving a 2025 third-rounder in return. They met a huge need with the selection of the ballhawking Watts in Round 3." CBS Sports draft grade: B- "General manager Terry Fontenot has no chill -- he didn't just avoid picking an offensive skill-position player in Round 1; he doubled dipped at edge rusher that included a massive trade up for the uber-talented James Pearce Jr.," wrote CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso. "Watts is about as high floor as a deep safety prospect can get, and Bowman is boom or bust. He's a madman carrying out a variety of defensive back roles, but seemingly misses every other tackle attempt and has a tiny frame." Touchdown Wire draft grade: B- "Had the Falcons just traded back into the first round for James Pearce, fine," wrote Jarrett Bailey. "Unfortunately for them, they gave up their 2026 first-round pick to do so, which is like paying $37 for a bottle of Smart Water. Pearce may end up being a good NFL player, but needlessly giving up a future first-round pick knocks their grade down substantially, which is a shame because Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman were both good value picks, and Jalon Walker will likely be pretty good." College Football News draft rank: 4th "It's all about the pass rushers," wrote CFN's Pete Fiutak. "The Falcons needed them, they traded away next year's No. 1 to get Tennessee's James Pearce to go along with 15th overall pick Jalon Walker, and now the problem is solved ... maybe. There were only five picks, but between those two pass rushers, a whopper of a steal of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts in the third, Oklahoma safety Billy bowman in the fourth, and a wonderful under-the-radar grab of Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson in the seventh, every pick was a great idea." Make sure to check out our Falcons post-draft starting lineup projections on offense and defense!
