1.10.  You are going to read several texts. Choose the one that looks most interesting. Then write two or three sentences, explaining why you choose the text. Good Excuse For Speeding

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) – A driver who claimed he was driving too fast because he was trying to kill a bee has won an award for his arresting officer for offering the most creative excuse for speeding in Indiana.

The Police League of Indiana on Thursday awarded the prize to Marion County Sherriff’s Lt. Lee Hyland, who told of stopping the speeder.

Hyland, who heads Marion County's traffic control division, said the driver claimed he was allergic to bees and was afraid of the stinging insects.

The lieutenant said the driver even offered a dead bee as evidence – but Hyland noticed it had dust on its wings.

“The guy admitted he had been carrying that bee around in his pocket for months in case he ever got stopped”, Hyland said. The driver, who was not named, told Hyland the story had worked in the past. Hyland gave him a speeding ticket.

The league chose from more than 150 entries from across the state.

Robert Williams, league president and a Shelbyville police detective, awarded Hyland a police scanner for relating “the most humorous” excuse.

(The Mainichi Daily News, Tokyo)

Prisoner's Night Out Starts Ministry Inquiry

By Richard Ford

A Home Office inquiry has started into how a prisoner at Brixton prison, south London, was able to have a night out visiting public houses and clubs.

The prisoner was discovered so drunk that he could not climb a rope hanging over a low wall to get back in the prison after an evening out. He was caught when a prison officer living in a house nearby saw him attempting to scale the wall.

Thinking a prison escape might be imminent, the officer called the police, who found the prisoner trying to climb back over the wall.

An investigation will be held to discover if other prisoners have been out “on the town”. A Home Office Official said: “We are attempting to find out if this is more widespread and the prison governor is looking at security arrangements”.

The prisoner was one of several, who are considered “low risk” and work in the kitchens. They sleep in a dormitory which is near the main prison and is not surrounded by a high wall.

Since the prisoner was discovered, all others in the dormitory have been moved to a more secure part of the prison. Brixton holds more than 1,000 prisoners, of whom more than three quarters are on remand, with many of the rest serving sentences of less than 18 months.

(The Times)

Prison Cell Forgery Of Chequebooks

John Barclay, a prisoner in Maidstone jail, developed what his defence counsel described at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday as “a cottage industry devoted to the bespoke manufacture of cheque books and cheque cards”.

Mr Barclay, aged 35, Gordon Lewis, aged 33, of Aylesford, Kent, and Brian Marshall, aged 38, of Chelsea, all admitted conspiracy to defraud.

Mr Marshall also admitted stealing a cheque book, a driving licence and health insurance cards, and Mr Lewis admitted dishonestly handling them.

They were bound over for three years to come up for judgement if called on by the court. Mr Lewis and Mr Marshall were each ordered to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs.

Mr Terry Boston, for the prosecution, said a routine search uncovered photographic copies of cheque cards in Mr Barclay’s cell. Police officers later took away a printing outfit which he used to make cheque books. Mr Lewis, who visited Mr Barclay, suggested he could print the books on his equipment.

Mr Barclay told the police that he agreed to make the forgeries in return for new clothes when released. The still unused forgeries were found in Mr Marshall's possession.

The police have found that the printing set was posted to Mr Barclay at Maidstone prison, but do not know who sent it or why Mr Barclay was allowed to have it.

(The Times)