Leicester City are expecting a bumper crowd for tonight's visit of Brighton (7.45) after thousands of fans snapped up discounted tickets.

The attendance is set to be the biggest of the season, topping the 23,863 for the opening-day victory against Peterborough.

The game has been designated the Fans' Fixture and tickets are priced from just £15 for adults.

City boss Nigel Pearson said it was important for clubs to ease the financial burden on supporters during the current tough economic circumstances, and to appreciate their unwavering support.

"It has been noticeable this year that there has been a drop-off in attendances," he said.

"The finances are going to have quite a big impact on that. That is why I think it is important for clubs to try to make games attractive for our fans to remain with us.

"Ultimately, you have to be playing winning football, but if you are not then the fans want to see that their club cares about them. It is important to show that.

"These are difficult times for people in this country in financial terms, and have been for a while now. So it is no surprise that there has been a drop-off."

Tickets for tonight's game are priced from £15 for adults, £10 for under-22s and £5 for under-12s. Admission for under-eights will be free in the Family Stand and £1 in all other public areas.

City have asked fans to arrive early tonight due to the number of people collecting tickets.

Nigel Pearson has challenged his table-topping Leicester City side to kick on this week and cement their status as the Championship leaders.

City hit the division's summit on goal difference after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Birmingham and now face back-to-back home games, against Brighton tonight and Crystal Palace on Saturday.

City's 100 per cent record will be tested by both the Seagulls, who have lost once on the road this season, and Palace, who are the division's surprise package.

But Pearson said it was a great opportunity for his side to extend their advantage.

"I am really pleased with how we have made progress, but it is about how we do from here on," he said.

"It is not a time to pat ourselves on the back, we are not quite a quarter of the way into the season. It is important we build on what we have done so far.

"It is about staying there but, more importantly, it is about where we are at the end of the season.

"We are 11 games in now but our return has been good. We could be a bit greedy and say we could be better off. It is a tough league to be consistent in and be successful.

"We are a team that is developing but the players take an awful lot of credit for the way they have gone about their football this season.

"We could set a marker in the next six days and we will be trying to do that."

Pearson said his players deserve credit for getting into top spot, and that they are an ambitious and driven group, which he added was a big improvement from a year ago when he first arrived back at the club.

"I trust my players implicitly," he said.

"We have a very good spirit within the group and, on top of that, the work ethic is there.

"I would hope the fans would recognise that the players who are currently at the club want to be here, and they want to be a success for themselves and the club.

"That is progress in itself. When you cast your mind back 12 months, the change within the club is exceptional in that respect. As their manager, I enjoy working with this group."

Campaigners have won a breakthrough in the fight to save children's heart surgery at Glenfield Hospital.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday ordered a full review of the decision after an independent panel told him there were grounds for a rethink.

It is a significant step in the battle to keep children's cardiac surgery in Leicester after an NHS review earlier this year concluded Glenfield's unit should be one of four to be axed in England.

The decision meant children born with heart problems would have to go to Birmingham for their operations. The lifesaving children's specialist Ecmo (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) service would also move.

The decision sparked fury, with more than 100,000 people signing an e-petition against the closure – which led to a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday. The number of people who have now signed the petition is about 104, 400.

Adam Tansey, from Burbage, whose son, Albert, was born with half a heart, said: "This review is what we have been fighting for all along."

Mr Tansey, founder of the charity Keep the Beat and who set up the e-petition, said: "Ecmo is part and parcel of cardiac surgery and the review will no doubt include this."

The decision to close Glenfield was part of a wider review of children's heart services which saw the number of hospitals that provide the service cut from 11 to seven.

A body called the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which reviews controversial health service decisions, has been studying the outcome of that review on behalf of Mr Hunt.

The Health Secretary asked the panel to look at the decision after being lobbied by health scrutiny committees in Leicestershire and nationwide.

The panel's conclusion, that there was a case for a rethink, was published yesterday.

Health campaigners' concerns that were looked at by the panel included the impact on patients, the effect on other services provided by the affected hospitals, such as Ecmo at Glenfield, and the effect on medical research.

The panel concluded the "issues raised merit further consideration".

Gill Smart, from county charity Heart Link, said: "We are pleased about the review. It does mean dragging the matter out longer, but we have to get it right."

The panel – made up of clinicians, NHS managers and lay members – has until February 28 next year to carry out its review.

The findings will go to Mr Hunt for a final decision.

Mr Hunt has said the decision to move the children's Ecmo service from Glenfield, which was taken by his predecessor, Andrew Lansley, will not be included in the review.

However, campaigners hope to demonstrate to the panel that Ecmo and children's heart surgery are dependent on one another.

City councillor Michael Cooke, chairman of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: "Clearly it would make no sense for the Ecmo service to move if the heart surgery was to remain at Glenfield."

County councillor Ruth Camamile, committee vice chairman, said: "We remain concerned about the capacity of Birmingham Children's hospital to take on heart surgery for all children in the Midlands area."

During the Westminster Hall debate yesterday, Health Minister Anna Soubry said the panel would look again at whether "the proposals will enable safe, sustainable and accessible services".

Harborough MP Sir Edward Garnier, who secured the debate, said: "I don't care who made the decision. We know the current decision is frankly wrong and it needs to be dealt with."

He said Mr Hunt must "exercise his levers of power" to change the decision.

MPs across Leicestershire, including Jon Ashworth, member for Leicester South, expressed concern about the ability of Birmingham Children's Hospital to cope with more patients, and about the loss of the children's Ecmo service.

Bosworth MP David Tredinnick said the review was "a huge relief".

Liz Kendall, Leicester West MP and Shadow Health Minister, said: "It is very important that the very best clinical evidence is considered."

Leicester East member Keith Vaz praised the Glenfield campaigners.

Leicester's deputy mayor is calling for 16 and 17-year-olds to be given the vote.

Councillor Rory Palmer thinks dropping the voting age from 18 to 16 could turn around flagging interest in politics.

Coun Palmer, who, at the age of 30 is one of the youngest Leicester city councillors, says the Government and the Electoral Commission should test the idea at the 2014 European elections.

The European polls traditionally fail to move the British electorate. If the experiment resulted in more votes being cast, it could then be expanded to other elections, including local ones, said Coun Palmer.

Earlier this month, the Scottish National Party won the right for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Scotland's upcoming independence referendum.

Coun Palmer would also like to see 16 and 17-year-olds participate in next month's police and crime commissioner elections to boost what experts predict will be a poor turn-out. However, it is unlikely that any changes would be made at such short notice.

Opponents say the voting age should remain at 18 because younger people are not yet ready for the responsibility.

Coun Palmer said: "I have always been fairly ambivalent about lowering the voting age, but I have been swayed by young people I have met in schools and colleges in Leicester.

"Anyone who thinks they can't understand the issues or don't care about them is wrong. They are articulate and capable of making calculations on political issues.

"I say we should give it a try at the next available national election, which is the European one in 2014 – get a Royal Commission to properly look at what happens and then see whether we need to franchise more people.

"I'm not for a second saying it would be a magic solution to falling interest in politics, but it's got to be worth a go."

Conservative city councillor Ross Grant disagrees with lowering the voting age.

"I don't think it is a good idea," he said. "I think we'd be better served by putting efforts into getting the 18 to 24-year-old age group voting.

"They can, but a lot of them don't. That is a big worry and we need to deal with that.

"Also, if you are going down this route, why stop at 16? It seems arbitrary. Would a 16 year old be better informed than a 15-year-old? I'm not so sure."

College student Sean Syrett, 16, of Thurnby Lodge, is a member of the city's Young People's Council.

He said: "I do and I don't think it's a good idea. Some of us know what we want and would like the vote. It would give us the opportunity to put our views across and give us a bit more responsibility.

"But I think some younger people would use their vote as a chance to mess around and wouldn't treat it as seriously as they should."

 Anyone with a love of singing is invited to be part of the new Mile2 Choir which launches next month. The Mile2 Project at De Montfort University would like to offer anyone locally the chance to join forces with students to form the new Mile2 Choir. The Mile2 Project aims to create opportunities for residents in the Fosse, Woodgate, Newfoundpool and Tudor Road area of Leicester which face social challenges by using the skills and expertise of De Montfort staff and students.

The choir is led by conductor Hannah Brine.

Rehearsals will be at the Newfoundpool Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday November 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th from 11am-1pm. The project will culminate in a lunch time performance with De Montfort University students at St Mary de Castro Church, Leicester on Thursday December 6th.

The choir is open to the community and you don't need to have any previous experience or be able to read music to take part. Mile2 Manager Mark Charlton said: "We are really keen to make the choir a success and we hope that people will want to take part."

DMU intends to continue the choir into the New Year and make it a permanent choir which meets weekly and performs during term time. There is no cost to be part of the choir as the project is funded by DMU.

Friends and family are also invited to the performance on December 6th. More details will be available shortly.

Conductor of the Choir Hannah said: "I'm really looking forward to working with the singers to put on this winter concert at the beautiful St Mary De Castro. It doesn't matter if you've never sung in a choir before, so long as you're enthusiastic. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll be making a brilliant sound."

To register your interest contact Bethany Alston at DMU on 0116 257 7560 or email mile2@dmu.ac.uk

For more information on Hannah Brine visit www.hannahbrine.co.uk

An Afghan man who was wounded in a Taliban bomb attack while working as an interpreter for British forces has won the right to settle in Leicester after a U-turn by the UK Border Agency.

Mohammad, as he wishes to be known, has been granted refugee status despite initially being told he could not stay in this country.

The 25-year-old is still scarred by shrapnel wounds five years after he was caught in a bomb attack which killed a British captain.

He fled to Britain in July 2011 after receiving death threats from the Taliban, but his application to stay in this country was turned down.

Border agency investigators said they did not have evidence of how Mohammad was injured, that he was an Afghan or that his life was under threat if he had stayed in his country.

Following publicity about his case, which "led to new and significant information", the agency withdrew its decision and agreed to review Mohammad's application.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, who supported Mohammad in his bid for refugee status, said this evening that the border agency had "admitted that the most basic checks had not been carried out by case officers".

Mr Vaz said he was "delighted" Mohammad could now stay in the UK.

"He should never have had to go through such a lengthy process with the UKBA bureaucracy," he said. "No-one should have to wait for so long.

"We owe asylum to interpreters who have risked their lives for our forces.

"This sets a very important precedent for future decisions, and I hope it will allow others in his position to be shown the same compassion."

Leicester held on to top spot in the npower Championship but they were made to work for a narrow 1-0 win against Brighton.

Andy King stabbed home the only goal of the game in the 10th minute, but they had goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to thank for preserving the points as he denied Ashley Barnes from the penalty spot.

Leicester, who had moved to the summit on goal difference following a 1-1 draw at Birmingham on Saturday, named an unchanged starting line-up.

Brighton, who went into the game on the back of a four-match winless run, made two changes from the side beaten at home by Middlesbrough last weekend.

Will Buckley replaced David Lopez and Gary Dicker came in for Dean Hammond.

Leicester started brightly, with Martyn Waghorn's skidding 30-yard free-kick forcing goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into an early save.

The Foxes took the lead after a spell of early pressure. Some fine work from David Nugent down the left saw him beat Liam Bridcutt and cut inside before laying the ball to King.

King's initial shot was blocked by Kuszczak but the ball rebounded kindly to him and the midfielder stabbed home from close in.

The home side were rampant and almost added a second shortly afterwards when Ritchie De Laet broke away and crossed into the path of Waghorn but he could not keep his shot down.

Brighton responded through a Bridcutt free-kick which was pushed wide by Schmeichel, with Barnes heading over from the resulting corner.

But Leicester were quickly back on the attack as Anthony Knockaert neatly controlled a pass from Waghorn and drove in a shot which was palmed away by the keeper.

The Seagulls, who had scored just one goal in their previous four matches, were dominating possession as the first half drew to a close but struggled for an end product as Buckley's volley flew well wide.

Kuszczak pulled off a superb save to keep out Nugent's curling effort at the start of the second half, but from the quick break, Brighton were awarded a penalty.

Zak Whitbread was adjudged to have fouled Buckley, but Brighton's profligacy continued as Barnes' penalty was saved low by Schmeichel.

De Laet left the action through injury shortly afterwards with Liam Moore coming on, while Nugent made way for Jamie Vardy moments later.

And after Vardy had glanced a header wide from Lloyd Dyer's cross, Foxes manager Nigel Pearson made his third change, with Ben Marshall replacing Waghorn.

Craig Mackail-Smith, who had been quiet, was inches away from connecting with a cross from Bruno Saltor, while at the other end Marshall had Kuszczak scrambling to keep out a low drive.

Barnes had the chance to make amends for his penalty miss at the death but he fired wide and the Foxes held on.

Residents were told to close their windows and stay indoors after a gas leak at a food factory yesterday.

The warning came as the Kettleby Foods factory, in Leicester Road, near Melton, was evacuated when a pipe carrying ammonia ruptured.

Police closed the A607 Melton to Leicester road at 3.10pm after staff at the factory, in Samworth Way, raised the alarm at 3pm.

A 30m protection zone was established while two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus turned off the external valve on the fractured pipe. The firefighters worked with specialist -site engineers to try to stop the leak. As the Mercury went to press, safety teams were still working on this.

The A607 was reopened at 5.10pm.

Nobody was hurt in the incident.

A tutor is making a big noise in the online music world with a track that is wowing clubbers around the globe.

Claire Spooner has now spent six weeks at number one on the Beatport.com chart with Gone Too Long, and the YouTube video for the tune has already received more than 27,000 hits.

The Loughborough College music lecturer and DJ recorded the track at her home studio and then added vocals sung by Kieran Fowkes, one her students from last year.

"Beatport is the biggest underground electronic music chart in the world, which DJs look at regularly," said Claire.

"As we can't look at any commercial chart for the sort of music we want to produce, DJs all look at this site and people around the world are hearing our track.

"We're number one in the new disco genre within the Beatport set-up and we're 36 in the overall chart, combining all of the 16 genres it covers.

"The track has been downloaded and listened to around the world.

"It's just gone crazy. The YouTube stuff has been amazing, I've never had anything like this sort of exposure before.

"There are now DJs playing it in some of the biggest clubs in the world.

"To hear your own track in a club is really weird but really gratifying at the same time."

Claire has been a DJ for 12 years and has been part of a duo called Him_Self_Her with Leon Baggott for the past 12 months.

As well as being behind the decks, she now teaches DJ-ing at the college.

Claire originally taught sport but switched to music after doing the foundation degree course at the college.

It was through that she discovered Beatport and opened the door to gaining worldwide interest in her music.

"By being with the college, it has allowed me to take tracks that we've worked on in my studio at home and bring them to the studio at the college and add aspects, mainly vocals with my students singing on them," said Claire.

The success of Gone Too Soon is opening new doors for Him_Self_Her.

"We've now been taken on by a management agency and they are getting us gigs all over the place," said Claire. "We're going to be playing in Greece, London and Spain in the next few months. We've now got labels approaching us to work with us.

"Instead of us sending tracks out to people, they are coming to us and asking us to work on projects with them.

"From now until Christmas, we've got work lined up and the labels involved are getting bigger and bigger each time, so it's continuing to snowball."

Fans have taken to YouTube to say how much they love the track.

One, Steve Lambert, wrote: "So, so good."

Another, Matas Bernotas, wrote: "Explosive!

The parents of a boy who died of cancer can finally start searching for a plot to build a holiday home for poorly youngsters after receiving a £250,000 cheque through the post.

The money saw Katherine and Jamie Staples hit their £500,000 fund-raising target ahead of schedule.

The couple had last month won a house in Hampshire for their charity – The Harley Staples Cancer Trust – after entering a national competition.

They intended to sell the home to boost their fund-raising from £250,000 to their £500,000 target, but when Persimmon Homes – the company that ran the contest – heard of their plans, it decided to save the couple the hassle and sent them a cheque.

Katherine and Jamie, from Blaby, went to view the house two weeks ago and told the company of their plans to sell it to fund the building of a holiday home in Leicestershire.

But bosses at the firm said they would sell the home on behalf of the trust and instead sent Katherine and Jamie a £250,000 cheque.

The couple set up the charity following the death of eight-year-old Harley from a rare form of leukaemia in November 2009.

Katherine said: "When I saw the envelope come in the post, I knew what it was, but it was a very strange feeling to see all those zeros staring up at me.

"No matter how many zeros were on that cheque, it wasn't going to bring Harley back to us, and that is tough.

"But for the children who are still here, who we are trying to help through the charity, it is an amazing thing to be given all this money.

"We went to look at the house and it was lovely, but we always said we would have the home in Leicestershire.

"When we told Persimmon that we were going to sell it, it told us it would take care of it all, otherwise we would have to worry about paying taxes and charges and the rest of it.

"We are so grateful to have all that taken off our plate."

Katherine and Jamie set up the charity and set themselves a target of raising £500,000 to build Harley's House.

The aim is to give young cancer patients time away from hospitals and treatment.

The competition saw them whittled down from 3,000 entries to the final 24, when it was all down to a public vote.

Well-wishers voted in their thousands, making Harley's charity the clear winner.

Before they entered the competition, the couple had already raised £250,000 though events and donations.

They are now looking for empty plots or buildings to redevelop in the Market Bosworth area.

"The options are endless now," said Katherine. "It could be contemporary, or a big barn conversion with wood and beams. I have spoken to an architect who is going to get something visual together so we can show all the people who helped us get to this point.

"It will really depend on the plot, but I imagine it to be somewhere bright and light, with high ceilings.

"We are keeping our ears to the ground about sites in the Market Bosworth area and if anyone knows of any, then please get in touch with the charity."

www.harleystaples.co.uk

The city council is looking to save nearly £600,000 a year by making cuts to school transport.

Education bosses are proposing to scrap free transport to children travelling to faith schools which are further away than their nearest school.

It is also considering axing subsidised transport for post-16 students living further than three miles from their school or college.

About 230 children are expected to be affected by the changes if they are given the go-ahead for next September.

Trevor Pringle, director of children's services at Leicester City Council, said: "Children's services need to save about £11 million by 2014 because of cuts to public funding.

"This is one way of making savings. We will make sure we continue to meet our statutory duties and it's important to remember that no decisions have been taken yet."

An eight-week consultation will be launched in November and the final decision will be made by the council's cabinet.

The council has to provide free school transport for children if the school is the nearest one with a place available and the walking distance is more than three miles for pupils aged eight and over, or two miles for pupils under eight years old.

Parents who choose a school further away than their nearest are usually expected to meet the cost of transport.

Families where children are entitled to free school meals or in receipt of working tax credits receive transport assistance for post-16 pupils. However, this may not be taken into account in the future.

Mr Pringle said: "The council has to decide if it wants to continue helping those aged 16 or over from low-income families or if it can no longer afford to provide any assistance at all.

"These are tough decisions and that's why we're asking for the views of others. Many local authorities have already removed these discretionary services altogether."

Parents applying for school places for next academic year are being told of the proposals.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for children, young people and schools, said: "We spend about £4.5 million on home-to-school transport.

"Over a fifth of this pays for support that the city council provides over and above its statutory obligations."

"However, our budgets are under increasing pressure.

"We'll continue to meet our statutory duties but need to think very carefully about any discretionary services.

"In the event we decide to reduce our discretionary provision, we hope to be able to continue to offer some assistance to families on low income.

"This will depend on whether we are required to make more cuts in the immediate future."

Final decisions are likely to be made in February.

For questionnaires, visit:

www.leicester.gov.uk

The Leicester Mercury is today launching a campaign to celebrate the achievements and outstanding work of thousands of unsung heroes in the care sector.

For the next 10 weeks, we are asking people to nominate carers – individuals and organisations – worthy of recognition.

Our Carer of The Year Awards are being launched in conjunction with Woods Coaches, of Wigston, and are being supported by Leicester West MP Liz Kendall, shadow minister for care and older people.

Ms Kendall said: "These awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the huge contribution carers make.

"Hundreds of older and disabled people depend on unpaid care and support from their family and friends.

"The dedication and selflessness of these carers is nothing short of inspirational. They are unsung heroes and deserve our full recognition and support.

"There are also hundreds of paid care staff who are just as committed to their work.

"Many go the extra mile to look after some of the most vulnerable people in our society, yet too often we don't see or champion their work.

"Let's give them the recognition they have rightly earned."

Kevin Brown, managing director of Woods Coaches, said: "Our company is thrilled to be involved in the awards as it recognises the achievements of remarkable individuals.

"As a company which serves the people of Leicestershire, we feel excited to be part of giving these people the appreciation they deserve.

"Most people know someone who has experienced the care profession.

"I have had a relative who needed constant care at my home, then in a care home.

"This is why we look forward to recognising these people's efforts."

The awards will also raise the profile of The Carers Centre (Leicestershire & Rutland).

The charity, which was started 21 years ago in Leicester, was formerly known as Clasp (Carers of Leicestershire Advocacy and Support Project).

Charles Huddlestone, manager at The Carers Centre, in Constitution Hill, Leicester, said: "This is wonderful.

"It gives us the chance to pay tribute to people who give an awful lot to others but do not receive a lot back.

"We exist to provide care to carers. Often, they do not know where to turn. That is where we come in."

Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth said: "In our topsy-turvy world, minor celebrities receive acres of publicity, while those who make a real difference to people's lives often go unsung.

"That is why we have joined with Woods Coaches to launch the Carer of the Year Awards.

"We want to celebrate all those whose kindness and commitment helps improve the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.

"Over the coming weeks we will be featuring their stories and we will be inviting the winners to afternoon tea at St Martin's House on January 31.

"What we need now is your nominations. If you have been moved by the kindness of a carer, please let us know. It's time to celebrate real heroes."

She started out in the business world by selling free-range eggs laid by the chickens on her family's farm.

Now 17-year-old Alice Smith, from Lutterworth, is hoping her entrepreneurial skills will impress Sir Alan Sugar when she appears on the new series of the Young Apprentice.

The farmer's daughter is one of 12 hopefuls who will battle it out to win £25,000 from Lord Sugar to kick-start their business career.

Alice, whose other money-making exploits include working as a waitress and in a golf shop, said: "I wouldn't say I'm arrogant, but I'm sure I'm always right."

The A-level student believes enjoyment is key to good teamwork, considers herself a natural leader and thinks making money does not necessarily equate to success.

Alice, who is junior captain of her golf club and a fan of Leicester Tigers, said: "I keep my eyes on the prize and don't get swept up in all the nonsense."

In her audition tape for the show, she spoke with the typical bravado often seen by contestants on the show.

She said: "I come at things from a different angle.

"It makes life interesting to see things from a different side and I think that's crucial in business. So far in the show, I haven't seen someone with the same range of skills I believe I have.

"I'm very compassionate, open and honest, outspoken, demanding. I like to think I'm a natural leader but I don't necessarily go in and rule with an iron fist and put people's backs up.

"I would keep them onside, but I wouldn't do it for popularity. I'd do it so everyone enjoyed working. I think if you enjoy something, you work much better.

"I'm really ambitious, very hungry, not necessarily for making money.

"I'm not obsessed by money, but to be successful – which I think is probably more key in business because I will work and work and work until it's a success, not start to slack off when it makes money.

"I'd like to prove I've got that little spark that you can't see."

She said her passions were performing arts and she enjoyed debating and travelling.

Her aim is to promote awareness of the medical condition endometriosis, from which she suffers.

This year's tasks include designing a cookbook, sourcing props for the opera, branding a hair product and selling goods at Womad festival.

The first episode is on BBC One on Thursday, November 1.

A teenager who confessed to burgling hundreds of homes in a criminal career which began when he was 12 has been jailed for five years.

Adam Crampton, who recently turned 19, was already in prison for burglary and robbery when he admitted to detectives that he had burgled a further 278 Leicestershire and Rutland homes and, on 60 occasions, stolen his victims' cars or mopeds to make his escape.

He appeared at Leicester Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for three specimen offences of burglary – with 335 burglaries and vehicle thefts taken into consideration.

The court heard that the teenager, of no fixed address, confessed to the offences because he wanted to "clear his slate" and make a fresh start in life.

Crampton is expected to serve half of the five-year sentence before being freed on licence.

James Varley, for Crampton, told the court his client had had a difficult childhood and had spent some time in social services care, and had used cannabis, cocaine and alcohol at an early age.

"At that time, he had been led astray by more sophisticated, older people," Mr Varley said.

"His moral compass was set at the age of 12."

He said the teenager had overcome those problems and made great progress in his employment training while in prison.

Mr Varley said "each and every one" of Crampton's admissions has been scrutinised to ensure they were genuine.

"At last, the best part of 300 families can be told by the police that these matters have been dealt with," he said.

Sentencing Crampton, Judge Simon Hammond said he had been "a persistent and remorseless burglar".

The judge said: "He says he wants to make a fresh start with no other offences pending, hence this full and frank confession which has been helpful to the police and his victims.

"I just want the defendant to reflect on the impact of burglary. For many people, their homes are never the same again."

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Simon Cure, who led the investigation, said: "Today's result is a great success for the victims, who now know who committed the crimes against them and can see that justice has been done.

"This case also sends a message to offenders that we will persist with our criminal investigations until we have located the offender and brought them to justice.

"Adam has made it clear that he wants to take a new path in life and this is a path we would encourage any criminal to take."

Crampton appeared in court yesterday to be sentenced after admitting the crimes at a hearing last month. After that earlier hearing, one of his victims, 60-year-old Sylvia Hammond, said she was relieved to finally know the intruder's identity.

Crampton crept into Mrs Hammond's Oakham home in July 2007 and stole a laptop computer and a digital camera.

She said last month: "You hear that a lot of people in prison go back to their old ways when they are released.

"I just hope he doesn't, now that he has admitted all of these crimes."

Leicestershire Police is running a force-wide campaign, Operation Dynamo, to track down burglars and encourage people to take basic crime-prevention steps to protect their homes.

A total of 230 suspects have been arrested since it was launched at the beginning of August.

A suspended police chief who was "under severe pressure" stepped to his death in front of a passenger train, an inquest was told.

Leicestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Fraser was killed in Aston Magna, Gloucestershire, shortly after noon on Friday.

Deputy Gloucestershire coroner David Dooley heard that 49-year-old Mr Fraser walked on to the line and then turned his back to the train just before it hit him.

Mr Fraser and his wife Teresa had been due in court in St Alban's yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over an alleged speeding offence.

He was also suspended from duty over allegations of fraud and gross misconduct involving an overseas property business.

After hearing the circumstances of Mr Fraser's death, the deputy coroner said: "There was a gentleman here under severe pressure, especially given his occupation and position."

Detective Inspector Paul Langley, of British Transport Police, who gave evidence at the inquest opening at Gloucester Coroner's court, agreed.

Coroner's officer Terry Onions told the inquest: "The circumstances were that at about 12.17pm, the Paddington to Hereford train was doing 55mph to 60mph when it reached this location.

"A male person was seen to walk from bushes on the left-hand side and step on to the railway track.

"As the train approached, the person turned his back towards it and he was struck."

Mr Onions said the cause of Mr Fraser's death was multiple injuries.

The deputy coroner formally opened and adjourned the inquest to resume on a date to be fixed.

He gave permission for the body to be released for cremation.