Good morning, these are the latest headlines from the Liverpool ECHO.
Waiter given ‘killer blow diagnosis’ shares important message
Around the country, people are wearing a red ribbon to mark World AIDS Day.
Amongst those is 26-year-old Kyle Cook whose outlook on life took a turn for the worst after he received a “bombshell” diagnosis. The waiter, who is originally from Bootle, was told he had HIV when he was 20 years old. Six years on and Kyle takes one tablet a day to treat the virus.
The hospitality worker, who grew up in Thornton, told the ECHO : “My diagnosis is a really good lesson in getting tested because I never used to because I was always safe. I hadn’t used a condom just once. It was pure luck that I just happened to go with my friend because who knows how long I would have gone without knowing about it. So it is really important to get tested regularly."
Since then Kyle, who now lives in Leeds, has grown the confidence to be a voice for not only those living with HIV but the LGBTQ+ community. Working with Skyline, Leeds' answer to Liverpool’s Sahir House, Kyle wants to educate others that HIV and the treatment that comes along with it is no different to those with IBS and epilepsy.
'Sophisticated' conman searched for victims on Facebook Marketplace
A fraudster sought out his victims on Facebook Marketplace then purchased high value goods from them using fake money.
Babo Habiballa was whisked away by a getaway driver after purchasing the iPhones and PlayStation 5 with forged £50 notes. He then crashed into a tree following a high speed chase with police.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that the 20-year-old and unidentified accomplices set up decoy profiles on the social networking site to contact three separate sellers. Frank Dillon, prosecuting, described how Habiballa met up with them and used "good quality" false cash during transactions totalling nearly £2,000.
He then fled in a waiting getaway car on two dates a week apart in February and March this year. The fake accounts were subsequently deleted.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle used in the con a further seven days later at around 5pm on March 12. Habiballa, of Adcote Road in Dovecot, was behind the wheel of the silver Vauxhall Astra but drove off at "high speeds" through 20mph and 30mph zones on the streets of Toxteth.
During an ensuing pursuit, he ran two red lights and drove into oncoming traffic - forcing other motorists to take evasive action. But the swindler crashed into a tree on Princes Road after losing control while attempting to execute a turn.
Nine features lost from Liverpool city centre in past 25 years you've probably forgotten about
It's amazing the things we put away in the dusty vaults in our minds, only to be rediscovered when prompted by an old photograph or conversation with a friend.
Naturally, some of these memories stored away and gathering dust concern the place we live and grew up in. If you were born in Liverpool, there's no doubt you'll have your own particular memories of the city centre from years gone by.
Central Liverpool has seen considerable redevelopment over the past 25-years, not least when it comes to the largescale transformations of areas such as Liverpool ONE and Lime Street. But often it's the smaller things we perhaps took for granted that suddenly – once reminded of – are like the switching on of a light, reawakening long forgotten memories of people and places.
We've made a list of nine landmarks going back 25-years – they could be buildings, shops, or features of Liverpool city centre's streets that are no longer around. Of course, this isn't a comprehensive list, so if you think there's others that should be included, let us know in the comments .
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