Police search for con man who failed to pay his bill

Police are searching for a 'Mr Carter' who stayed at a Saltash pub for l5 nights with his family over the festive season, and then left without paying his £1,120 bill.

He also made off with property from The Crooked Inn, at Trematon near Saltash, and left behind a damaged room. The police were alerted by the owners of The Crooked Inn earlier this month after the family disappeared without settling up. It was later discovered they had taken items such as a clock radio and lamp, and had left behind ripped sheets and other damage.

The 'Carter family' moved to The Crooked Inn after being flooded out at the Notter Bridge Holiday Park. Saltash police say they had arrived at Notter Bridge on December 10 and had intended to stay for two and a half weeks, but after the flooding were compensated and moved on to The Crooked Inn.

Mr Carter, who is described by staff at The Crooked Inn as being quite a well built, thick set man who is more tubby than muscular and stands around 5'8" tall, arrived with a woman he called his wife and four children. The eldest child was around 12 and the youngest about two.

Police say the family Mazda car, which had received water damage in the flood, was put in for repair at Saltash Auto Care garage - but has been discovered to be a vehicle stolen from New Romney in Kent in July last year. In return 'Mr Carter' had borrowed the garage loan car, a Metro, registration number B26 YYP, which has disappeared with him. The police have been able, however, to recover the Mazda, which had a Father Christmas outfit in the rear.

A police spokesman said: 'When they arrived at the inn they used the name Carter and filled in a card which was put behind the bar. The card has also disappeared.

'It may be a coincidence, but during the New Year weekend there were four burglaries at holiday homes in Notter Bridge and the daughter of the owner of The Crooked Inn had her car stolen.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crimestoppers number - 0800 555 111.

Ponies close road near Trago

The A38 between Trago Mills and Doublebois was temporarily closed by police on Sunday evening as eight officers battled for nearly an hour to round up a herd of straying moorland ponies.

It is believed this is the third time an incident of this nature has occurred in as many days prompting Inspector Ian Steed of Bodmin Traffic Police to request that Cornwall Council erect a cattle grid where an unclassified road meets the A38 at White Lodge. It has been established this is the route used by the animals to stray from Bodmin moor.

The owner of the animals has not been traced.

It's safe to talk to Crimestoppers

Crimestoppers the police line set up for information from the general public and offering anonymity, has reached a landmark 10 years, and in that time more than 1,000 offenders have been brought to justice.

On average the Devon and Cornwall constabulary receives 150 calls per week across both counties to tip off officers of criminal activity, and about half of them supply important information.

Co-ordinator WPc Sharon Newman has praised the local media for their backing in publicising Crimestoppers and said that although arrest figures have drOpped this year the quality of information has not and it is believed that the scheme will remain successful for many years to come.

CALL CRIMESTOPPERS FREE ANYTIME ON 0800 555111. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED.