Frank Hovis Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Also on the off-chance Mr P may have met him, these expat communities can be quite incestuous. I like the bank manager's "just sod off" attitude Brockworth hoax bomber jailed Friday, September 11, 2009, 09:45 A desperate 60-year-old man who could not afford to look after his Thai bride and child caused terror when he used a fake bomb to try to rob a bank, a court heard yesterday. Michael Metcalfe, a former steel company worker and fish and chip shop owner, was jailed for five years at Gloucester Crown Court. The court heard he used the last of his cash to fly back to the UK from his home in Thailand to stage the robbery bid at the Lloyds TSB branch in Brockworth. He left a holdall in the bank with a note claiming it contained 35lbs of high explosives which would detonate if his instructions were not followed. The note ordered the bank manager to put all the money in two bin bags and take them to a nearby British Legion car park. But brave manager Mark Strangward ignored the instructions, raised the alarm and had the bank and surrounding area evacuated. Shops and a playgroup full of young children all had to be evacuated in a major emergency operation which caused a day of chaos in the area, said prosecutor Lisa Hennessy. When Metcalfe, waiting nearby, realised that his plan had failed he drove back to his elderly mother's home in Devon where police tracked him down three days later and arrested him, Miss Hennessy said. Metcalfe admitted blackmail. Judge Martin Picton said: "The note you delivered with a bag and a mobile phone was chilling to read and would have been desperately frightening for those who faced it for real in the bank and would have believed it to be real. "It meant that the area had to be evacuated, children taken out of a nursery... people moved. The drama and tension will live on with them. "I am told some of the bank employees are still suffering nightmares in coming to terms with what they had to experience that day. Total chaos was created by this. "In Thailand I understand there were clearly desperate circumstances for you and you schemed and planned this exercise in terrorisation and travelled to this country with the last of your money with a view to engaging in a last desperate throw of the dice to get you out of the dreadful mess you were in. "I sympathise with the mess you were in but it was other people who paid the price of your actions and you are now going to pay the price for that." Miss Hennessy said: "On July 22 the defendant sparked one of the most serious emergencies in Gloucestershire for some years. "The manager of Lloyds bank in Brockworth Mark Strangward noticed a black holdall under a desk. He asked various customers who were in the bank if it was theirs but they said it was not. "He went to the bag and realised there was a brown envelope on top of the desk. Inside the envelope was a mobile phone, two bin liners and taped to it a note." Miss Hennessy told the court Metcalfe, who had lived in Thailand for the past three years, had no previous convictions. Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said Metcalfe had three children in their 30s from a marriage which ended in 2000. In 2006 he went to Thailand on holiday but fell ill and spent four months in hospital. He was befriended and taken in by a Thai family and later married a woman with whom he has a two-year-old child. It was because Metcalfe was financially desperate and unable to go on looking after his Thai family that he hatched the plan to come back to the UK and stage the robbery bid, he said. http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/glo...il/article.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Storm Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 It was because Metcalfe was financially desperate and unable to go on looking after his Thai family that he hatched the plan to come back to the UK and stage the robbery bid, he said. This is why we pay income tax really isnt it. To give people like this benefits so they dont try to steal. Just imagine if all the money stolen off him in taxes / national insurance throughout his working life had been put into a pension fund just for him. He would not have been in this position. But such is communist life. Now the rest of us tax payers can pay £30k a year to keep him in prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cogs Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 This is why we pay income tax really isnt it. To give people like this benefits so they dont try to steal. Just imagine if all the money stolen off him in taxes / national insurance throughout his working life had been put into a pension fund just for him.He would not have been in this position. But such is communist life. Now the rest of us tax payers can pay £30k a year to keep him in prison. Surely because Thailand is a low tax utopia he had no cause to steal given his Thai family would be incredibly wealthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffneck Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 inflation caused by western ex pats? surely if there is too much inflation there may be some kind of uprising against these rich westerners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Sure there is nice weather, but it's also the leading destination for anglo-saxon pervert tourists, getting it on with ladyboys and child prostitutes. There are other places in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHERWICK Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Surely because Thailand is a low tax utopia he had no cause to steal given his Thai family would be incredibly wealthy. I think you'll find that the majority of rich people living in low tax 'utopias' are there AFTER making their fortune in normal tax countries. Funny that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Nope! Had truck brakes and wheels fixed today. Add to that new number plate on back. 280 Baht / 55 = 5 quid. An hour of labour in that too. Three large trolleys filled at Makro today, sufficient for 6 - 8 weeks supplies, 8000 Baht / 55 = 145 quid New AIS internet USB stick, actually runs at 275 kbps, unlike the last one at 20 kbps, 4000 Baht / 55 = 72 quid, although can be got for around 54 quid. New HP Pavilion Quad Core Q8400 with everything plus XP and Office = 490 quid Executive coach, 11 hour journey, flat bed seats, like business class, 586 Baht / 55 = 11 quid Bills, Electric, 12-15 quid a month Gas, 1 quid a month Water, 1.50 quid a month Sewerage, 2.50 quid a month Internet, mobile, unlimited data/time, 18 quid a month Council tax, ZERO School fees, 8 quid a month Expensive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPC001 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Nope!Had truck brakes and wheels fixed today. Add to that new number plate on back. 280 Baht / 55 = 5 quid. An hour of labour in that too. Three large trolleys filled at Makro today, sufficient for 6 - 8 weeks supplies, 8000 Baht / 55 = 145 quid New AIS internet USB stick, actually runs at 275 kbps, unlike the last one at 20 kbps, 4000 Baht / 55 = 72 quid, although can be got for around 54 quid. New HP Pavilion Quad Core Q8400 with everything plus XP and Office = 490 quid Executive coach, 11 hour journey, flat bed seats, like business class, 586 Baht / 55 = 11 quid Bills, Electric, 12-15 quid a month Gas, 1 quid a month Water, 1.50 quid a month Sewerage, 2.50 quid a month Internet, mobile, unlimited data/time, 18 quid a month Council tax, ZERO School fees, 8 quid a month Expensive? Not quite a life of luxury either though, sir and you'd be ****ed if your income ever stopped for whatever reason. As for buying in bulk, that might be fine for you but I don't know any wholesalers who do that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Not quite a life of luxury either though, sir and you'd be ****ed if your income ever stopped for whatever reason. As for buying in bulk, that might be fine for you but I don't know any wholesalers who do that... One million times more luxurious than my life in the UK living around stockpiles of asbestos and pesticide contaminated soil, sleeping in a bunkabin or the site office, killing myself on cornershop or service station fast food because I had nowhere to cook and did a 14+ hour day. I'm not eligible for bailouts or welfare in the UK either, so I'd be more fvcked there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest theboltonfury Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 One million times more luxurious than my life in the UK living around stockpiles of asbestos and pesticide contaminated soil, sleeping in a bunkabin or the site office, killing myself on cornershop or service station fast food because I had nowhere to cook and did a 14+ hour day.I'm not eligible for bailouts or welfare in the UK either, so I'd be more fvcked there. Hello Parry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hello Parry. Hello mush, out the game for a while, laptop blew up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest theboltonfury Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hello mush, out the game for a while, laptop blew up. ladyboy porn overload? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 ladyboy porn overload? Dust I reckon. No viruses. Nothing on Windows check up. Hardware. Well, it's truly fvcked now after it smashed against the adjacent wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest theboltonfury Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Dust I reckon.No viruses. Nothing on Windows check up. Hardware. Well, it's truly fvcked now after it smashed against the adjacent wall. Nothing is built to last anymore. I remember when you used to be able to smash a laptop with a hammer and it was absolutely fine. Manufacturing quality has gone downhill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Nothing is built to last anymore. I remember when you used to be able to smash a laptop with a hammer and it was absolutely fine.Manufacturing quality has gone downhill. Had these indestructible ones once. Used to run 40 ton dumpers over them, no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Melchett Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Had these indestructible ones once. Used to run 40 ton dumpers over them, no problem. Just because they advertise that you CAN, that doesnt mean you SHOULD. When I were a lad I had a watch that said 'waterproof' on it. All that did was encourage my mates to prove it wasnt beer-proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Just because they advertise that you CAN, that doesnt mean you SHOULD.When I were a lad I had a watch that said 'waterproof' on it. All that did was encourage my mates to prove it wasnt beer-proof. I never tracked over one with an 80 tonne excavator mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPC001 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 One million times more luxurious than my life in the UK living around stockpiles of asbestos and pesticide contaminated soil, sleeping in a bunkabin or the site office, killing myself on cornershop or service station fast food because I had nowhere to cook and did a 14+ hour day.I'm not eligible for bailouts or welfare in the UK either, so I'd be more fvcked there. That's true for your work, yes. I meant the whole living off cheap Makro stuff in the back-end of Thailand...etc. Still, your point is well taken. The place I'm going to be living in soon is full of short-termism (as far as tenants go) so it deflates the overall property costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 That's true for your work, yes. I meant the whole living off cheap Makro stuff in the back-end of Thailand...etc. Still, your point is well taken. Always lived cheap (efficiently) dude, you know me. Why spend more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPC001 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Always lived cheap (efficiently) dude, you know me. Why spend more? Can't really compare as I don't live in Thailand myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Can't really compare as I don't live in Thailand myself. Well, I buy 9kgs of washing powder for 5 quid. 3.6L shampoo for 2.70. Got 5 gallons of fabric conditioner today, under orders from 'her', 5.90. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPC001 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Well, I buy 9kgs of washing powder for 5 quid. 3.6L shampoo for 2.70. Got 5 gallons of fabric conditioner today, under orders from 'her', 5.90. I can't find a wholesaler who will sell large quantities to a non-business customer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I can't find a wholesaler who will sell large quantities to a non-business customer... Try CostCo, although this 'membership card' thing can be an issue. Got it rapped up in the UK haven't they? It is difficult to get wholesale bulk items worth buying in bulk like non-perishables. If you can, it's the best way of saving money longer term. Have a look on the web, perhaps you can order stuff online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPC001 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Try CostCo, although this 'membership card' thing can be an issue. Got it rapped up in the UK haven't they? It is difficult to get wholesale bulk items worth buying in bulk like non-perishables.If you can, it's the best way of saving money longer term. Have a look on the web, perhaps you can order stuff online. Most of the goods I'm talking about are perishables, even if that means they last 6-12 months. Simply put, the organic components will break down eventually regardless of storage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Parry aka GOD Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Most of the goods I'm talking about are perishables, even if that means they last 6-12 months. Simply put, the organic components will break down eventually regardless of storage. Much of the costly stuff can last a year +++. Still saving 30% over normal shopping habits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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