Attack on Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, was assaulted at Euston station in London, police said. The 65-year-old and another person were attacked at about 4.15pm but did not need medical help. A man of 40 was charged and will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.

Courts lose details of offender surcharges

The courts have lost track of how many offenders have paid the new surcharge to victims of their crimes because its computer systems cannot cope (Frances Gibb writes).

The new £15 surcharge, to be paid by all offenders who are fined, came into force in April. But information obtained by the Law Society magazine, The Gazette, has shown that the Courts Service did not have computer systems capable of accounting for or keeping track of victim surcharges when the scheme took effect. The computer system still cannot calculate the rate of recovery or even how many people have been surcharged, its Freedom of Information requests disclose.

Cambridge bursaries

The University of Cambridge is expanding its bursary scheme to recruit more students from middle and low-income families. Students will qualify for a full bursary worth £3,150 a year if their parents earn less than £25,000, up from the present £18,000, the university’s head of admissions, Geoff Parks, said.

Boy, 14, alcoholic

A teenage boy has been sent for rehabilitation care after becoming an alcoholic at the age of 14. Police revealed that the boy, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is still battling with his drinking problem. The case was disclosed to highlight the growing problem of teenage binge-drinking in the area.

Divorce affects 20m

More than 20 million people, a third of the population, have had their lives affected by divorce or separation, research shows. The poll, commissioned by the Centre for Separated Families charity, found that only a minority get any outside help to cope with the aftermath, most of it coming from lawyers.

£50,000 gold coin

A rare “10 Doppie of Genoa” gold coin, only the third known to exist, which the original owner stipulated should not be disposed of “excepting in case of dire necessity”, is to be sold by Spink, the auctioneer. A spokesman said: “This is an outstanding rarity.” It is expected to fetch up to £50,000.

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