Deadly vodka, car crushers and Ronaldo loves Rooney: Thursday 10 January

A VODKA BOTTLE poison plot trial is underway at Manchester Crown Court. Wayne Cook, 45, of Tyldesley is accused of sending vodka bottles filled with caustic soda to a Lancashire councillor and a Scottish journalist in 2007. Sipping the potion could have led to serious facial disfigurement, causing the muscles in the cheek and tongue to shrink and ingesting the liquids would have caused damage to the gullet and oesophagus. Cook denies the charges.

A GUN was held to a man’s head in South Manchester as he was walking along Kingsway at around 9.30pm on Tuesday. The 23-year-old victim was approached by two men who asked for the time before dragging him into the alleyway between Kingsway and Kinburn Road, holding a handgun to his head and stealing his phone and cash. They then forced him to walk away.

POLICE have seized 30,000 unlicensed and uninsured cars in the last two years in Greater Manchester according to reports. Many of the cars have been handed back to their owners whilst the rest were either crushed or sold. Police say Operation Wolverine has helped to disrupt criminals who use many uninsured vehicles to commit crimes.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has spoken about his hopes for United following Wayne Rooney’s return. He told manutd.com: “Everyone knows Wayne is a good player. He does not have to do anything to prove that. We have a strong season ahead of us, so it is important Wayne is ready along with all the other players as well.”