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Poppy tin thief's appeal fails

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A man who stole poppy collection tins from shops has failed to convince appeal judges his jail term was too harsh.

Gareth Ellis Smith and two accomplices stole Royal British Legion collection boxes from several shops in the run-up to Remembrance Day last year.

The 29-year-old, of Waterside Close, Loughborough, was jailed for two years at Leicester Crown Court in December, after admitting six thefts.

He challenged his sentence at London's Criminal Appeal Court on Thursday, with his lawyers arguing it was "too long" for his crimes.

However, three of the country's most senior judges, who said the term was not excessive.

The court heard Smith, along with his accomplices, targeted poppy tins in shops and supermarkets across Leicestershire.

On one occasion, the gang used a child to hide what they were doing as one of them cut a security cord and Smith removed the box.

Their targets included the Co-op store in Ashby, a branch of Asda in Shepshed, Morrisons, in Melton, and Costcutter, in Loughborough.

The gang also stole alcohol and razors.

Smith separately also shoplifted £100 of suntan lotion from a branch of Boots in Loughborough.

The court heard Smith has a long history of substance abuse and has previous convictions relating to 78 offences, including theft, shoplifting and theft from dwellings.

Dismissing his appeal, Lord Justice Pitchford said there could be no criticism of the sentence, given Smith's history of offending and the serious nature of the thefts.

Sitting with Mr Justice Roderick Evans and Mr Justice Turner, he said: "The defendants committed a large number of thefts, including thefts of a number of charity boxes, which were displayed for Remembrance Sunday.

"In our judgment, the sentence was not excessive in all the circumstances of the offending."

Poppy tin thief's appeal fails


City mayor under fire over unspent regeneration cash

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Most of a £680,000 fund to spruce up shopping areas in Leicester remains unspent.

The Gateway Retail Area Improvement Scheme was part of city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby's 100 Day programme after he was elected in 2011.

However a report on the scheme, to be considered by city councillors next week, shows that so far only £67,014 has been spent, with a further £67,674 committed to schemes.

The initiative works largely through businesses being offered grants when they come up with match funding.

Opposition councillors say the lack of take-up indicates one of Sir Peter's flagship regeneration schemes has failed.

Liberal Democrat Nigel Porter said: "It really looks like this is not working.

"If businesses are not coming forward this is obviously not the scheme they want, so the mayor should have a rethink about how the money is used."

A total of £40,000 has been set aside for Church Gate, but only £4,000 of that has been spent so far, and £225,000 has been allocated for the Golden Mile, with £63,000 spent so far. Some £225,000 has been set aside for Braunstone Gate and Narborough Road, £50,000 for Belgrave Gate, £50,000 for the market area, £50,000 for Granby Street and £40,000 for Humberstone Gate East, but all of this cash remains untouched.

Tory councillor Ross Grant said: "A lot money has been set aside, but it is sitting in the bank not doing anything.

"I'd like to know why the Golden Mile has had £63,000 spent on it while other roads haven't had a penny. If it is because the mayor chairs a panel for the Golden Mile, that would be very unfair."

Sir Peter said: "What does Councillor Porter want me to do? Drive down Narborough Road throwing money out of the window?

"The purpose of match funding is to get the private sector investing in the city rather than handing out money.

"These schemes always pick up momentum."

The Mercury this week reported how £64,000, half from the council fund, has been earmarked for improvements to the appearance of the YMCA building in Granby Street.

A city council spokesman said: "This programme is set to run until 2015 and some phases are still in the planning stage. It can take a while for such schemes to take off, but once businesses see an improvement in surrounding shops, take-up of the grants usually increases.

"In recent months, we have seen an increased take-up to the extent we actually have more match-funding committed by businesses than we have put in ourselves.

"The scheme is not just dependent on the match-funding element.

"In the case of Belgrave Road, the council has paid for new signage and banners and general environmental improvements, as well as supporting the promotion of the area.

"We have been visiting premises door-to-door to raise awareness of the grants."

City mayor  under fire over    unspent regeneration  cash

Helmer says Tory should join UKIP

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UKIP's Roger Helmer has invited Conservative county council leader Nick Rushton to join his party after reading his election leaflet.

The East Midlands MEP said councillor Rushton's election material contained UKIP policies on the HS2 rail link, EU membership and immigration – and which are at odds with Government's stance.

The County Hall leader, who is seeking re-election in North West Leicestershire's Valley division, has been circulating leaflets with pledges should he win on May 2.

In them, Mr Rushton says he will "Say No To HS2", support an in/or referendum on EU membership and "do all he can to oppose uncontrolled immigration to the UK".

Mr Helmer, a Tory who defected to UKIP, said: "Every one of those is a UKIP policy and they are not what the Conservative Government is doing.

"The Government wants HS2 running through Leicestershire and UKIP is the only party opposed to it on a national level.

"Nick Rushton and the Tories say we can have an EU membership referendum but the leaflet doesn't say it would be in five years' time.

"We would have one as soon as it is possible.

"If he really feels that, why is his party opening up the country to another 29 million Romanians and Bulgarians next year?"

UKIP has been criticised for scaremongering on the issue of immigration in its own election material by inflating the number of people who will potentially arrive from Eastern Europe when restrictions on the jobs Bulgarians and Romanians can do here end in 2014.

But Mr Helmer said: "It looks like Nick Rushton feels his best chance of getting re-elected is to borrow our clothing.

"My message to him is if you agree with UKIP policies then do the honest thing and come across and join us.

"With what he claims to believe in, he should be a UKIP voter."

Coun Rushton politely but firmly rejected the suggestion he should follow former Tory County Hall colleagues David Sprason and Rob Fraser in defecting to UKIP.

He said: "I would say no thank you, Roger. I am perfectly happy with the party I have been a member of since I was 25 years old."

Coun Rushton, who has previously predicted UKIP will not win a single seat at County Hall, said he was not against the HS2 project in principal but was opposed to the proposed route.

He said: "It will come through my division and wreck it. We get all the pain and none of the gain.

"I am perfectly comfortable with an in/out EU membership referendum after the next General Election. If you were to ask my personal opinion, I would remain in Europe.

"I don't think 29 million Bulgarians and Romanians will be coming here next year.

"But I do think we need sensible policies on immigration."

Helmer says Tory  should join UKIP

Leicester 1 Watford 2: City's play-off hopes in tatters

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Leicester City's play-off hopes look in tatters after a 2-1 defeat to Watford at the King Power Stadium tonight. City are still a point off the play-offs with only one game to go - away at Nottingham Forest next Saturday. Victories tomorrow for Bolton and Crystal Palace will end those hopes altogether. Watford, however, kept alive their automatic promotion hopes and Gianfranco Zola's team put second-placed Hull under pressure ahead of their trip to relegation-threatened Barnsley tomorrow. Quickfire goals from Troy Deeney and Nathaniel Chalobah towards the end of the first half saw the Hornets move to within a point of the Tigers. Substitute Harry Kane pulled a goal back in the 61st minute for Leicester, who remain seventh. The Foxes were unchanged for the third successive match. Watford's only change saw the Championship player of the year Matej Vydra replace Fernando Forestieri in attack. Wes Morgan should really have put Leicester in front in the 12th minute after getting across Joel Ekstrand at the near post but the Foxes captain headed Matty James' corner over the bar from six yards out. It looked like an error by Kasper Schmeichel shortly afterwards had gifted the visitors the lead. Schmeichel spilled Ikechi Anya's low cross right into the path of Jonathan Hogg but the Leicester goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to redeem himself by deflecting Hogg's point-blank shot over the bar. Almen Abdi then twice failed to work Schmeichel from good positions down the left side of the box. At the other end, Andy King's volley dipped just wide after Hogg misjudged a bouncing ball on the edge of his box before Chris Wood was inches away from getting a touch to Lloyd Dyer's low cross into the six-yard box. Abdi found space down the left of the area again five minutes before half-time. This time he forced Schmeichel into a good save at his near post and proved to be vital. From the resulting corner Ekstrand headed the ball back into the danger area at the far post and Deeney reacted quickest to score from six yards out. Chalobah's bolt from the blue saw Watford quickly double their lead in the 43rd minute. Loose control from Adbi saw the ball roll into the path of the Chelsea man who silenced the King Power Stadium with a rocket of a right-foot shot from 25 yards that hit the back of the net via the underside of the bar, leaving Schmeichel stranded. The Hornets could have put the game beyond their hosts before the break with stunned Leicester all at sea. Vydra cut inside Michael Keane down the right side of the box but rather than shoot he tried to set up Deeney. A defender got a touch to the ball to cut out his pass but Hogg arrived on the follow up and his shot had to be cleared off the line by Ritchie De Laet. Leicester's leading scorer David Nugent was introduced for the second half, replacing Jeff Schlupp, and he made an immediate impact, hooking a volley narrowly wide just 45 seconds after the restart. Another of Nigel Pearson's substitutes, Kane, went one better shortly after his 58th-minute arrival when he halved the Foxes deficit. Paul Konchesky, attacking from left-back, cut back on to his right foot and his shot was deflected goalwards where Kane was on hand to head home after timing his movement to perfection to remain onside. Ben Marshall, Leicester's final sub, then forced Manuel Almunia to push his effort wide at the midway point of the second half. As the game became stretched both teams looked dangerous on the counter attack but just lacked that final decisive pass. Watford sub Cristian Battocchio forced Schmeichel into a parrying save with the last action of the game deep into injury time.

Leicester 1 Watford 2: City's  play-off hopes in tatters

'We shall fight all the way to be buried next to beloved son'

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A couple have vowed to fight all the way to have a stranger's body removed from the grave they bought to be next to their dead son.

Rose and Charles Dickson have been left devastated after someone was buried in the plot next to their son, Stewart, at St Andrew's Church, in Thringstone.

Rose, 63, her daughter, Yvonne McIlwraith, and son, Charles, met with the Reverend Alan Burgess, vicar at the church, and the Venerable David Newman, the Archdeacon of Loughborough, to try to resolve the matter.

At the meeting on Thursday, the church leaders offered Rose and Charles, who live in Thringstone, the plot next to the one they had reserved.

The family has turned down this offer.

Rose said: "I don't mind what it takes or who we have to talk to, but that is our grave. I am sorry, but the other body has to be moved. We cannot see any other way out of this situation.

"I have been separated from my son in life, so I bought this plot two years ago so I don't have to be separated from him in death."

Stewart died in 2011, aged 27.

"I feel terrible for the other family who have had their loved one buried in the wrong grave, but it is not our fault," said Rose.

"We paid £101 and specified the double grave plot we wanted – the one next to Stewart. That is the grave we wanted then and is still the one we want. I am sorry, but the body has to be moved out."

The Archdeacon has admitted a mistake was made and has apologised to both families.

He said: "The other family involved have said they do not want the body of their loved one moved. We shall continue to talk to both families in a bid to find a solution to this issue."

Rev Burgess also apologised for the mix-up.

He said: "This is an understandably distressing situation for all concerned.

"On behalf of myself and the local church, I apologise unreservedly to the two families who have been affected by what has happened.

"The church is here to bring hope and comfort at a time of bereavement and the last thing any of us would ever want to do is to cause upset to bereaved families.

"It arose out of a mistake made during an extremely busy period for burials in St Andrew's churchyard.

"It is an unprecedented situation and completely untypical of the standard of care for which so many have been thankful over many years."

If a solution is not found, the matter could be referred to the Chancellor of the Diocese, who would make a decision.

Liz Hudson, director of communications at the Diocese of Leicester, said if a body was to be moved it would involve an exhumation and reburial licence.

'We shall fight all the way to be buried next to beloved son'

Leicester 1 Watford 2 - how the City players rated

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1. Kasper Schmeichel

Made a couple of good saves, especially to deny Almen Abdi from close range while on the floor, but was left helpless just before half time. Rating: 7

2. Ritchie De Laet

A great goal-line clearance from Abdi stopped the Hornets taking a three-goal lead just before the break. Struggled to get forward until the second half. Rating: 6

5. Wes Morgan

Used his strength well but City were struggling to cope with midfield runners getting in behind their rearguard. Caught flat-footed for the first goal. Rating: 6

15. Michael Keane

Won some valuable headers and dealt with Deeney well for the majority of the game. Another experience in the bank. Rating: 7

6

3. Paul Konchesky

Squandered possession too often at the start of the game and struggled to contain Ikechi Anya, but delivered the cross to get City back in the game. Rating: 7

24. Anthony Knockaert

Looked really up for the game and was everywhere in the first half but, as his influence faded, he was replaced.

Rating: 6

16. Matty James

City were over-ran in midfield too often and James frankly struggled to cope, especially with the movement of Abdi.

Rating: 6

10. Andy King

The midfielder went close with a great half-volley in the first half and was the pick of City's midfield. Rating: 7

11. Lloyd Dyer

Had some bright moments in the first half but on the periphery of much of the game as City couldn't get enough possession to get him involved. Rating: 6

39. Chris Wood

The big striker couldn't get his legs sorted quickly enough to take a snatched chance in the first half. Did little else of note in the game. Rating: 6

18. Jeff Schlupp

After his bright performances of late, he struggled to get into the game and was replaced at half-time by David Nugent.

Rating: 5

Leicester 1 Watford 2 - how the City players rated

Court hears of horrific attack on Leicester curry house

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The actions of seven men involved in the ransacking of a Leicester curry house, in which several people were seriously injured, was "lawless anarchy", a judge has said.

Jailing each of the men for two years, Judge Simon Hammond said: "This was mob rule."

The owner and two members of staff suffered stab wounds, and customers were also attacked, when a group of 40 to 50 people burst into Moghul Durbar, in East Park Road, Spinney Hills, Leicester, at 9pm on January 14.

Leicester Crown Court was told the group had earlier met at a Sikh temple in Gipsy Lane, Northfields, in response to a text message claiming a member of their community was the victim of abuse.

They wrongly assumed the police were not taking action and, after being incorrectly informed that one or more of the suspected culprits would be at the restaurant, decided to take the law into their own hands.

"The owner and two members of staff were going about their lawful business and several members of the public, occupying four or five tables, including women and children, were eating there and enjoying themselves," said Gordon Aspden, prosecuting.

"The attack happened without warning, when the group began smashing the front windows of the restaurant.

"Armed men entered, from the front and rear. Many had their faces covered with scarves and hoods. Some were carrying ceremonial knives, metal bars, nunchucks and bricks.

"The sheer terror caused can't be over-emphasised. The premises were completely trashed, with furniture, glasses and plates smashed and carpets fouled with food and blood. It was wanton destruction.

"The owner was hit on the head by flying glass and forced into the kitchen, where he was stabbed in the chest and right arm and punched repeatedly.

"The waiter had hot water and chilli sauce thrown over him before suffering a life-threatening stab wound to his liver, while repeatedly being punched and kicked. The chef was stabbed in the back and hit over the head."

A husband and wife with their three children were finishing their ice creams when the mayhem broke out.

The husband was punched and retreated to the kitchen where a pan of hot curry was poured over him.

Mr Aspden said: "Two of his children followed him and saw what happened, and one was injured by a flying glass."

The man was the only witness willing to make a statement, as everyone else was too fearful.

People were seen fleeing in terror and covered in blood.

The emergency services were called and who arrived quickly, moments after the mob fled. Mr Aspden said Pc Jennifer Collins's actions at the scene were "exemplary".

He said: "Her uniform was covered in so much blood, through helping the injured, it was used as an exhibit."

Two witnesses gave the police a registration number of one of the vehicles at the scene, a VW Golf, which was stopped northbound on the M1.

Masking tape had been used to alter its registration number, to try to evade the police.

Six of the defendants, all from Derby, were in the car: Surjit Pandher (28), a former prison warden, of Northfield, who owned the car; Gurmukh Singh Cheema (25), of Harrington Street; Ranjit Singh (21), of Harrington Street; Sundeep Singh Sangha (25), a gas heating engineer, of Wordsworth Avenue; Rajveer Singh Sangha (24), a college student, of Wordsworth Avenue; and Ranvir Singh (21), of Harrington Street.

Mr Aspden said blood-stained gloves were found in the car.

The seventh defendant, Kahan Khalsa (26), of Oldbury, Birmingham, was later arrested in the West Midlands.

All seven men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit violent disorder, on the basis they played no part in the stabbings or beatings.

Mr Aspden said: "It's quite impossible, on the evidence, to say who did what."

In a moving statement read out in court, the restaurant owner's wife said her husband survived a near-fatal car crash in 2008, after which he suffered from depression.

When they bought the restaurant in 2012, she said it gave him and the whole family "a new lease of life".

Mr Aspden said: "They were proud to have built the restaurant up from nothing ."

The owner's wife said she received a phone call after the attack and went to the restaurant to see her husband, covered in blood, being put in an ambulance.

She stated: "Since the attack, he's back to how he was before the restaurant.

"We've lost over £45,000 and we now want to want to move from here."

Judge Simon Hammond said: "No-one at the restaurant, either staff or customers, had anything do to with any allegations and were totally innocent."

He added: "It was carefully orchestrated. This was mob rule and the restaurant was trashed. It was lawless anarchy."

The judge said it was "as bad a case of violent disorder as is possible to imagine".

"I accept all seven defendants are decent men of previous good character. It gives me great sadness to see them in the dock.

"They come from good homes and they've let themselves and their families down."

He said the dozens of testimonials handed into the court spoke highly of the defendants.

In mitigation, the court heard the defendants, including two sets of brothers, genuinely regretted their involvement.

Francis Laird QC, mitigating for Ranjit Singh, said that at the meeting in the temple emotions were "whipped into a frenzy".

He said: "They set off, many not knowing what would happen, unaware weapons other than ceremonial kirpans were involved. The men responsible for serious violence were never caught.

"These defendants were the minnows, who went along out of misguided support."

Other defence counsel said some of them were only expecting "a protest" at the restaurant and did not anticipate violence.

Court hears of horrific attack on Leicester curry house

Leicester City 1 Watford 2 - as it happened

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Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson kept the same starting line-up for this do-or-die clash with promotion rivals Watford.

There was one change, on the substitutes' bench, as Ben Marshall came in for Paul Gallagher from the squad that fought back twice to claim a point at Crystal Palace last week.

4 min: Andy King and Wes Morgan both have to make timely blocks as the visitors start strongly.

11 min: Morgan heads over from Matty James corner. Watford have had the majority of possession but City have the first effort on goal – and it was a good chance.

13 min: Matej Vydra plays a good pass in behind the City defence for Almen Abdi, but he shoots into the side-netting after losing his balance.

14 min: City take a short corner and it falls to Ritchie De Laet inside the area. His shot is deflected over the bar.

16 min: A fantastic save from Kasper Schmeichel on the ground to deny Abdi from close range after he had spilled Ikechi Anya's dangerous low cross.

17 min: Jonathan Hogg flashes a shot wide at the far post as Watford start to take command of the game.

28 min: Abdi breaks into the box to collect Troy Deeney's pass and is in a great position, but shoots wide.

29 min: King is inches away with a superb half-volley, which had Manuel Almunia beaten. He chested the ball down and turned superbly to create the chance. That was unlucky.

31 min: Lloyd Dyer delivers a teasing low cross which is on a plate for Chris Wood, but he miskicks and the ball goes through his legs. A great chance.

34 min: City hit Watford on the break and Dyer tries to pick out Anthony Knockaert. The pass is slightly behind him, which allows the Watford defenders to recover, and the Frenchman's shot is over the bar.

35 min: Daniel Pudil denies Wood and City with a brilliant sliding clearance at the far post. It would have been a simple tap-in for Wood without that intervention.

40 min: Anya again times his run in behind the City defence and Schmeichel has to make a good save.

41 min: GOAL (0-1) City fail to deal with the resulting corner and the ball is helped back into the six-yard box, where Deeney is waiting to score.

43 min: GOAL (0-2) Nathaniel Chalobah hits a screamer out of nothing from 25 yards which flies into the top corner with Schmeichel rooted to the spot.

44 min: Michael Keane gives the ball away and Watford break through Vydra. He squares the ball across the box and De Laet clears off the line from Abdi.

h-t: City 0 Watford 2

46 min: Substitute David Nugent, on at the start of the second-half for Jeff Schlupp, has a good chance almost immediately but he pulls his half- volley, from the edge of the area, wide of the far post. That's another chance that has gone begging.

49 min: A let off for City as Watford break from a corner and Deeney just over-ran the ball allowing the quick Schmeichel to save.

61 min: GOAL (1-2) City break well and Paul Konchesky delivers a good cross which is glanced in by substitute Harry Kane, on for Dyer, who beats the off-side trap. There are complaints from Watford, but TV replays show he was clearly on-side.

64 min: Kane forces Aluminia to make a save with a snap shot from the edge of the box. That second goal is just not coming.

69 min: Substitute Ben Marshall, who only minutes before replaced Knockaert, is denied by a wonderful save from Aluminia.

87 min: City are piling on the pressure to get back in the game but are not able to create that clear-cut chance they need to revive their hopes.

90+4min: Watford break and substitute Cristian Battocchio fires straight at Schmeichel.

90+5 min: Keane balloons a volley on the turn over the bar and City's last chance is gone – and their play-off hopes have almost gone as well.

f-t: City 1 Watford 2

Leicester City 1 Watford 2 - as it happened


Leicester City's play-off hopes hanging by a thread

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Leicester City's promotion dream could be over for another season after they lost their penultimate game of the season at home to Watford.

City must hope Bolton Wanderers do not win at champions Cardiff City this afternoon so City can take their play-off challenge to the last game, at Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

Two goals just before half- time, from Troy Deeney and Nathaniel Chalobah, left City with too much to do and, despite Harry Kane's strike after 61 minutes, they could not pull another game out of the fire and have now won just two of their last 17 games.

City were expected to have some say in the automatic promotion race, but not in the way that it transpired for Nigel Pearson's men.

City's hopes of finishing in the top two were ruined through their poor run of results in February and March and they were left needing to win their last two games just to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs.

By contrast, Watford needed a win to keep the pressure on Steve Bruce's Hull City for second spot.

Pearson said before the game that whoever grabbed second spot would do so on merit, but there were many questioning the merit of Watford's achievement after they found a loophole in the loan transfer rules to bring in a host of foreign temporary signings.

In fact, seven of their starting line-up belonged to other clubs.

Regardless of the debate over the ethics of their transfer policy, one thing not in dispute is that Zola's team are a very good side on their day, and they demonstrated that fact in the first half. As expected, with both sides desperate for the win, it was a barnstorming first period and City showed plenty of spirit, cheered on by a fantastic home crowd.

Wes Morgan headed over from a corner, Andy King went close with a half-volley and Chris Wood couldn't convert from close range as City had some bright moments.

But it was the visitors who looked more in control as their midfield five played some fluent attacking football, with City struggling to cope with Ikechi Anya down the right and Almen Abdi's ghosting runs beyond City's back line.

City were hanging on at times and some good defending, coupled with Watford's tendency to opt for one pass too many, kept the Hornets at bay.

But City finally yielded just before half time.

Kasper Schmeichel, who had produced some wonderful saves to deny Abdi, was left helpless as Troy Deeney scored from close range after City had failed to deal with a corner .

Two minutes later, they were hit by a thunderous strike from Nathaniel Chalobah, whose shot from 25 yards arrowed into the top corner.

City had to go for broke as Pearson threw on David Nugent and Harry Kane, and it was the latter who pulled City back into the game with a header in the 61st minute.

City were now the dominant force as Watford tried to hold on to what they had.

There was no lack of effort on City's part but they could not force the equaliser and the season could go down to a nervy encounter at the City Ground.

Leicester City's play-off  hopes hanging by a thread

Mother facing jail for murder of young lover

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A mother of two who stabbed her young lover 24 times after going into a rage during a drunken argument is facing life imprisonment after being convicted of murder today. Michelle Mills used so much force as she attacked Edward Miller, 20, that the knife penetrated nine inches into his body and the blade eventually broke away from the handle. She then waited 20 minutes before raising the alarm as her partner lay dying on the living room floor of their country cottage in the upmarket village of Scalford in the Vale of Belvoir. Mills claimed she feared her boyfriend was about to attack her. She told a jury at Lincoln Crown Court that moments before the stabbing voices in her head told her to "just do it" and then congratulated her afterwards telling her "job well done" But the jury rejected Mills' story and found her guilty of murder after deliberating for just over five hours. Flanked by two security guards, Mills burst in to tears as the foreman returned the guilty verdict. Judge Michael Heath warned Mills there was only one sentence he could pass but told her he wanted time to reflect on the length of her sentence. As she left the court Mills blew kisses to family members in the public gallery. Remanding her in custody to await sentence Judge Heath told her: "The jury have convicted you of murder and there is only one sentence I can pass in relation to that, that is of course life imprisonment. "I have to decide the minimum sentence you must serve before you can be released." The court heard how Mills had attacked previous partners with a knife and had also threatened Mr Miller with a blade during their tempestuous two year relationship. She was Mr Miller's first serious girlfriend whereas Mills had two children and admitted to the jury that she had over 70 previous sexual partners. Mills claimed she was the victim of domestic violence during the relationship but the jury heard that Mr Miller, who lived with his mum before moving in with Mills just two months before his death, had suffered assaults at her hands. The jury heard that Mr Mills , a management trainee at Scalford Hall hotel, died after the couple argued following a visit to a bonfire night party at the village pub. Miss Yvonne Coen QC, prosecuting, said "What happened to Eddie wasn't a one-off. It was part of a pattern of behaviour with her partners reaching for a knife when she was extremely angry with them. "She is a dangerous, manipulative, unpredictable and angry woman who reaches for a knife when she is angry." Miss Coen said that during the evening Mills texted one of her previous partners, saying she still loved him and wished she had never let him go. "After Eddie, on her account, had grabbed her and pushed her on the sofa she got away from him. It could have stopped," Miss Coen told the jury. "All he wanted to do, it seems, was to sit having a drink. It would seem that she wasn't going to leave it there. "She wasn't going to let him ignore her so she took it to the next level by taking a knife to him repeatedly perhaps to punish this young man for what may have happened between them before but clearly to hurt him very severely and during the course of it she actually broke the knife. " The attack left Mr Miller bleeding to death on the living room floor. Mills dialled 999 but despite the efforts of paramedics her partner was pronounced death after being taken to the Queens Medical Centre at Nottingham. He had knife wounds to his chest, back and abdomen. Miss Coen added: "Michelle Mills was considerably older than her boyfriend and obviously had a good deal more life experience. "She had two young children from earlier relationships. He would have been 18 years old when he met Ms Mills. She was Eddie Miller's first serious girlfriend. It seemed to outside observers they appeared to be completely smitten with each other. "They were coming to this relationship from very different positions. This was his first ever grown up relationship with a woman. She was an older woman and a mother of two." Mills, giving evidence, said "I have no memory of picking up the knife but I remember using it to stab Eddie. As I walked back into the living room he came towards me. "I thought he was going to attack me. I stabbed him because I thought he was going to kill me. I stabbed him a second time in the stomach. "I killed him but I didn't mean to kill him. I didn't want to kill him." She told the jury of the voices in her head and claimed that on four occasions she had been abducted by aliens being taken through the roof of her home to a spaceship before later being returned to earth. Mills claimed that the aliens inserted a probe inside her body which enabled them to continue to monitor her. Mills, 31, of King Street, Scalford, Leicestershire, denied murder on 6 November last year. She was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder. After the verdict Detective Inspector Lee Hill, from East Midland's special operations major crime unit, said: "Michelle Mills is a violent, self centred and manipulative woman who was happy to portray herself as the victim of domestic violence at the hands of a number of her partners, including Eddie Miller. "The court has heard how Mills was in fact the abusive partner in these relationships and the cause and catalyst of many of these incidents of violence. She allowed and promoted Eddie and others to be unfairly labelled and stigmatised as being solely responsible for the violence towards her. "Domestic violence is unacceptable and I hope that this tragic case gives the confidence to any victim of violent crime, men and women, to seek the help and support that is available to them." Mr Miller's parents, said: "It's been hard to learn and read in the press how some people have tried to misrepresent Eddie, but family, friends and anybody who knew him will know the true Eddie. "We would like to offer our thanks for all who have prayed and supported us throughout this traumatic time. Please respect our privacy as we try and move forward from this tragedy."

Mother facing jail for murder of young lover

Firefighters called out to rescue dog trapped in a gate in Rothley.

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Firefighters were called out to rescue a dog trapped in an electric gate. The incident happened in Loughborough Road, Rothley, shortly before 1pm yesterday. A crew from the Birstall fire station attended the scene. Firefighters used cutting equipment to release the dog.

Firefighters called out to rescue dog trapped in a gate in Rothley.

Man taken to hospital following crash near Loughborough

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A man was taken to hospital following a crash near Loughborough. The one-vehicle collision happened in Nanpantan Road, Nanpantan, at about 7.10am yesterday. Firefighters said they released one man from the vehicle. He was then taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, for treatment. Details of his injuries have not been released.

Man taken to hospital following crash near Loughborough

Car destroyed in fire started by arsonists in Shepshed

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Firefighters were called out to a car fire started by arsonists during the night. Crews were called to St James Road, Shepshed, shortly after midnight this morning. The car was completely destroyed in the fire.

Car destroyed in fire started by arsonists in Shepshed

Adventurer Sarah Outen sets off for second attempt at rowing across the North Pacific Ocean

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Intrepid adventurer Sarah Outen has started her second world record attempt to become the first person to row solo across the North Pacific Ocean. The 27-year-old began her 4,500-nautical mile trip from Japan to Canada in her rowing boat, Happy Socks, shortly before 8am UK time (3pm in Japan). It is the latest leg of her round-the-world trip by kayak, bike and rowing boat. Sarah, of Oakham, first attempted the row in May last year, but the challenge was cut short when she hit a typhoon several hundred miles off the coast of Japan. After days of being battered by 15 metre high waves and winds gusting at more than 80 miles an hour, her first boat, Gulliver, sustained irreparable damage and capsized more than 20 times. She was left with no choice but to call for a rescue - but was determined to try again. Before setting off today, Sarah said: "I am an ocean girl at heart. I love being so close to the water and living to the rhythms of the wild. The energy out there is magic and the dynamics are so exciting. "There are no guarantees of success out there and it will take every ounce of physical and mental strength and a good dollop of luck to make it across safely. But I believe I have the best possible chance - physically and mentally I am strong and determined to give this my best shot." The ocean row is set to be the most gruelling part of Sarah's London2London: Via the World expedition. If successful, she will become the first woman to row solo across the North Pacific Ocean, from west to east, and the first person to ever row solo from Japan to Canada. Just three boats have rowed west to wast across the North Pacific, and all of them rowed from Japan to America. Many attempts have failed. The journey will see Sarah spending between 150 and 200 days alone out at sea. She is rowing completely on her own and is self-sufficient, having taken all the food she will need with her today. She will use a desalination machine to convert seawater into drinking water. "The North Pacific has already proven itself to be the most gruelling part of my whole London2London expedition," she said. "Physically and mentally, I know I will be exhausted most of the time. The distance, the weather conditions and my complete isolation will make it hugely challenging. Even so, I am ready for it and keen to get out there once more. "There are so many beautiful things about being alone on the ocean - the wildlife is my favourite part." Sarah has a full suite of communications equipment onboard, allowing her to do interviews, blog and tweet while out on the ocean. She is tracked with a Yellowbrick GPS tracker and everything is charged using onboard solar panels. She will be sharing her stories from the row and the wider expedition through her website and social media. Her aim is to raise more than £100,000 in sponsorship for good causes - CoppaFeel!, The Jubilee Sailing Trust, MNDA and WaterAid.

Adventurer Sarah Outen sets off for second attempt at rowing across the North Pacific Ocean

Campaigners condemn £8 million spent on children's heart services review

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Campaigners have condemned the £8 million spent on a review into the future of children's heart surgery as "outrageous." Figures show the NHS spent just over £1.7 million on external communications consultants and more that £6 million on "other costs." A further £301,000 has been spent by the review team on legal costs for the judicial review brought by campaigners in Leeds. Leicester's Glenfield Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary are among four hospitals earmarked to lose children's heart surgery services. It follows a decision in July last year to cut the number of hospitals in England providing surgery for children born with heart problems from 11 to seven. The costs of the review, which was run by NHS Specialised Services and now comes under the umbrella of NHS England, were revealed in a Parliamentary answer from Health Minister Anna Soubry. Parliamentary colleague Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, said: "This is an awful lot of money and it really shows the need for this process to be concluded fairly and as soon as possible." Adam Tansey, from Burbage whose son Albert was born with half a heart, said: "This is an outrageous amount of money. "What could this have done - how many new surgeons could we have trained, how many lives could have been saved?" The Government's Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which has been asked to reassess the review decision, is due to send its findings to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday (April 30). NHS England has launched an appeal against a High Court ruling which ruled in favour of campaigners from Leeds and said consultation in the matter was "legally flawed". Mr Tansey added: "What's more worrying is that NHS England appears to want to continue spending on an appeal against the Leeds decision which will only hold up process. "We need to understand how this was split as the public relations spend is ridiculous. "We also need to understand how much the clinical advisors were paid, in particular people like Roger Boyle who recently stepped down from the process." Campaigner Robyn Lotto said: "I find it unbelievable that this huge sum of money has been spent on the review by the NHS, while families across the country continue to rely on charities to buy the basic provisions that the NHS is 'unable' to provide." Eric Charlesworth, from the former health watchdogs, the Leicester and Leicestershire local involvement networks, said: "How this review seems able to spend this amount of money is staggering. "I hope sense will prevail with the findings of the IRP, that there is no further expenditure of huge amounts and things do move forward." Zuffar Haq, a member of the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel which gave evidence to the IRP, said: "This whole process has been madness. The cost to the taxpayer and worry to parents is totally unacceptable." A spokesman for NHS England said: "Any significant proposals for change in health services must involve clinicians, patients and the public in a meaningful way. "The public consultation on Safe and Sustainable attracted over 75,000 responses making it the largest consultation in the history of the NHS."

Campaigners condemn £8 million spent on children's heart services review


£1.5m aim for tourist hotspot

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The National Trust has submitted its plans for a £1.5 million visitor attraction near Markfield to the borough council.

Planning officers at Charnwood will decide whether or not to grant permission to the organisation which wants to transform the 19th century Stoneywell Cottage into a tourist hotspot.

It hopes to convert stables at the site into an office, tearooms and toilet; build a 60-space car park and restore other degraded parts of the grade II- listed cottage.

A public consultation is now open and will run until May 14.

A residents' meeting is also taking place at Newtown Linford village hall at 7pm tonight for people to discuss the proposals.

Steve Perry, chairman of Ulverscroft Residents' Committee, said: "There's nothing surprising in the plans, it's exactly what we were expecting.

"It's a very emotive subject for people here and we're expecting a lot of people at the meeting."

Mr Perry is one of more than 170 who have signed an online petition, concerned about the level of extra traffic expected to be generated by the attraction.

The National Trust estimated the site would attract about 75 cars a day during peak times – which it said would be 20 to 30 days a year.

Mr Perry said: "The most contentious issue is the car park and the shuttle bus, which will encourage hundreds of visitors on to the roads and we will continue our efforts to make sure they don't get their way."

The National Trust has said it is aware of the concerns surrounding the scheme.

The cottage will also have some cosmetic repairs, decoration and rewiring before it opens to the public, possibly in 2014.

Plans are to employ one full-time and eight part-time members of staff.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said: "The trust is very aware of the potential impact that opening Stoneywell to the public may have.

"From the outset, we have tried to keep residents informed of our plans, listening to views and concerns and addressing these as far as reasonably possible.

"This included the opportunity for residents to attend a series of drop-in sessions in January and February 2013 to learn more about our plans for Stoneywell.

"Our aim is to maintain the tranquil setting of Stoneywell, while also allowing access on a limited level to those who wish to visit this special place."

To view the plans, visit the Charnwood Borough Council website and search its planning page for P/13/0607/2.

£1.5m aim for tourist hotspot

Meet the man with the answers on oral health issues

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The Leicester Mercury has teamed up with Leicestershire dentist Dr Adam Patel (pictured) to help readers with any dental and oral health problems they might have.

People are invited to send in any questions, and Dr Patel will answer a selection of them through a regular column on this page, the Leicester Mercury's Monday health section.

Dr Patel said: "I hope I will be able to help people with information and advice which they can put into practice. My experience in seeing patients is that there is quite a lack of dental and oral health information and education."

"Your mouth is the start of your digestive system and people often don't realise there is a distinct link between oral and general health.

"It can also have a big impact on a person's psychological and social wellbeing.

"Bad oral health is very visible and can impact on aspects of life, from a person's personal life to getting a job."

Dr Patel, who was educated at Leicester City School and Leicester College, added: "I hope I will be able to help readers with information I can provide."

Dr Patel's replies should only be used as a reference – he is not a replacement for your own dentist.

If you have a query you would like to raise please summarise it in about 200 words and e-mail it to te address below. Put "health questions" in the subject line.

Alternatively, send your 200-word summary to Cathy Buss, Health Questions, Leicester Mercury, St George Street, Leicester LE1 9FQ. Please note, an edited version of the information you send us might appear on this page.

Please include a contact name and phone number in case we have any queries about your submission. These details will not be published.

Dr Patel will not be able to send personal responses to letters.

catherinebuss@leicester mercury.co.uk

More drivers using park-and-ride site

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The city's latest park-and-ride site in Birstall is slowly catching up with the more established sites.

The Birstall depot opened in the summer of 2011 and was lagging way behind the sites in Enderby and Meynell's Gorse in terms of passenger numbers.

Between September and November 2011, Birstall had only about 188 people using it each day, compared with about 400 for Enderby and 500 for Meynell's Gorse.

According to the latest figures, from between December last year and February this year, about 300 people are now using Birstall each day, compared with 460 using Enderby and 530 using Meynell's Gorse.

Councillor Lesley Pendleton, the environment and transport spokeswoman for the county council, said she always knew the park-and-ride would take time to win over motorists.

She said: "I'm delighted with the latest figures and that Birstall is doing well. People get very comfy in their cars. But when they see how cheap and more convenient it is, they change their mind."

The park-and-ride service costs about half a million pounds a year to subsidise, with the costs split between Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council.

While the aim is for it to ultimately be self-funding, Conservative Coun Pendleton said the park-and-ride was benefiting both county and city people and was worth the money.

She said: "I really think creating these park-and-ride sites was a no-brainer.

"They reduce the congestion in Leicester and the carbon footprint of the county and really benefit people driving in to the city – particularly people who are nervous about driving in Leicester.''

However, Max Hunt, leader of the Labour group at the county council, said his party wanted a review of the system.

He said: "It needs to be doing the job it's there for, which is to reduce congestion in the city.

"It's not being used as well as was anticipated and the December to February figures include the extra passengers using it for the Christmas shopping and sales."

Simon Galton, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on the county council, said he would be in favour of raising the councils' expenditure to boost usage.

He said: "I welcome the increase, particularly at Birstall, but I think we can be more proactive in making it attractive with more offers and publicity, even if it means increasing our subsidy."

Eyes to the skies for tribute to famous plane

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More than 100 people gathered for the unveiling of a plaque to a Leicestershire-built aircraft which saw service in the Second World War.

The Auster Commemorative Plaque was unveiled at Rearsby Business Park – where the aircraft were once built.

The event was inspired by the business park's owner, Ivor Vaughan, who came up with the idea for a plaque to commemorate the aircraft and those who worked on it. Planes were built on the Rearsby site and flown from its grass airfield from 1938 to 68.

Mr Vaughan said: "We are here today so as not to forget the hard work, innovation and engineering expertise of the people who worked here, and to permanently commemorate and record what happened here, because The Auster was one of Leicestershire's best."

Gordon Hallam, chairman of the International Auster Club Heritage Group, said: "Exactly on time the faint, low hum of Gypsy Major engines were heard getting closer and closer.

"Every camera in the crowd swung skyward and two Auster aircraft came into view.

"They didn't roar like jet engines nor did they leave vapour trails, but elegantly moved across the brilliant blue sky over the crowd before turning gracefully for a final flypast."

Eyes to the skies for tribute to famous plane

Charlotte to fulfill dream of her dad

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A policeman's daughter will fulfill one of her dad's dreams when she scales Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro next year.

Charlotte Sparling, 15, will be fulfilling a wish still held by her police sergeant dad, Clive, who planned to emulate his late father's achievement during his national service in Kenya.

But the 45-year-old city-based officer was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer just before the planned climb in 2004.

Sgt Sparling, who had already successfully beaten skin cancer, went on to make a full recovery and has since raised money cycling for cancer charities.

But his dream of climbing Africa's highest mountain, in Tanzania, remains unfulfilled.

Next July, Charlotte will make the 19,341ft climb during a trip with her school, Melton's Long Field Academy, to the African country.

She will do the climb as one of her achievements towards gaining the Queen's Scout Award (QSA).

Clive said: "Climbing the mountain was of particular importance to me because my late dad, Alan, climbed it while stationed in Kenya during national service.

"It's great Charlotte will be following in her grandfather's footsteps.

"Charlotte is going on a world challenge trip to Tanzania in Africa with her school for a month. While there, she will do her expedition for her QSA, which is going up Kilimanjaro.

"I was due to go up it in 2004 when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, so she will be fulfilling a dream of mine.

"The proviso is that she is taking a picture of her grandad with her.

"I've got a picture of him at the top when he climbed it during his 18 months in Kenya with the RAF, as part of his national service.

"I am very proud and extremely jealous that she is getting out there to do it before me.

"She said she felt guilty because of that, but I will climb it at some point.

"My dad died, aged 50, in June 1988. It will be almost 26 years to the day he died when she climbs it.

"My dad was posted to Kenya for 18 months just after he got engaged to my mum.

"He carried on as a Scout leader while he was out there running the 53rd and 1st Nairobi groups.

"The 53rd was named after Birstall St James, where he was a Scout leader, before going out there."

Charlotte said: "I feel quite proud because, although I never met my grandad, I feel like I'll be doing something for him and for dad, as well.

"It's quite scary because I've never done anything like it before, but I'm doing it with some good friends from school. We're planning to go to the Lake District for some practice."

Charlotte has so far raised about £1,000 towards her trip through sponsored events and has a curry night planned at an Indian restaurant.

Anyone willing to help Charlotte fund her trip is asked to call Clive on 07940 453467. Clive, who is leader of the 4th Melton Pacesetter Explorers, has a double reason to be proud.

Charlotte and his elder daughter, Lucy, 17, have just achieved their Platinum Chief Scout Awards.

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