Woman is seriously sexually assaulted

June 19, 2013, 9:52 am

≫ Next: Bicycles stolen from station

≪ Previous: Fears grow as hunt for missing Adil continues

$

0

0

Two men pulled a woman off the street and sexually assaulted her. The woman, who is in her 50s, was targeted in Ravenstone Road, Coalville. The men approached her and dragged her from the pavement to an area behind an advertising hoarding, where what police described as a "serious" sexual assault took place. The attack happened at 10.15pm on Friday, June 7. The woman reported it to police a week later. The attackers are black, approximately 6ft, aged 30 to 40 and are of muscular build. They were both wearing dark clothing. Detective Sergeant Neil Holden said: "Attacks such as this one are very rare, and this appears to be an isolated case. "We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area that evening. "There are bus stops on either side of Ravenstone Road near the location, so we would like to speak to bus users as well as pedestrians and motorists. "We have already carried out extensive inquiries with people who live close to the area." Contact Det Sgt Holden on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

---

Bicycles stolen from station

June 19, 2013, 11:50 pm

≫ Next: Police praised for dealing fairly with mentally ill

≪ Previous: Woman is seriously sexually assaulted

$

0

0

Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for information after two bikes were stolen from Loughborough railway station. Investigators have released images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with the thefts, which both took place on Wednesday, June 6. PC Nick Fowler the investigating officer, said: "Two men entered the station at around 4.50pm, they walked around for a short period of time before stealing two Carrera bikes, which had been secured in the station cycle racks, and riding off on them. "I would ask anyone who recognises the men pictured, or knows their whereabouts, to please get in touch. "Sadly bicycles are a popular target for thieves. "It's important to remember to register your bike and ensure a solid lock is used to secure it. "If a bike is adequately marked, it makes it much easier to identify and therefore helps reduce the risk of becoming a victim of bike theft." Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or via text on 61016, quoting B4/NEA of 19/06/2013. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Police praised for dealing fairly with mentally ill

June 19, 2013, 11:57 pm

≫ Next: Dion Dublin predicts big things from Leicester City next season

≪ Previous: Bicycles stolen from station

$

0

0

An official inspection report has praised Leicestershire Police for the way it uses its powers under the Mental Health Act. The Act gives police the power to detain people in police cells for an assessment where it is necessary to protect them or the public from harm,without a crime being committed. The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Care Quality Commission stated that people should only be detained in this way in exceptional cases. In Leicestershire and Rutland, 420 out of 451 people detained under the act last year were taken to Glenfield Hospital site or to an emergency department and looked after by the NHS. The remainder - less than seven per cent - were taken to police cells either because they were violent or extremely drunk. Nationally the inspectors found that up to 76 per cent of people detained under the act ended up in police cells. Chief Inspector Pete Jackson from Leicestershire Police said: "We are pleased that this report recognises the work that is taking place in Leicestershire. "It is an important contribution in the debate about how best to deal with people in crisis, and that is a debate we are keen to play our part in. "As a force we have prioritised the way we deal with people with mental health issues for several years. "We have been working constructively with our partners in Leicestershire Partnership Trust, the Probation Trust and University Hospitals of Leicestershire, and some of those results have been recognised in the report." To see the full report, visit: www.hmic.gov.uk

Dion Dublin predicts big things from Leicester City next season

June 20, 2013, 12:59 am

≫ Next: Five Leicester Tigers in British Lions Test squad

≪ Previous: Police praised for dealing fairly with mentally ill

$

0

0

Leicester City will be contenders for promotion again next season, believes former striker Dion Dublin.

Dublin, who was born in Leicester and played for the club between 2004 and 2006, said Nigel Pearson's men should draw confidence from how close they went to reaching the play-off final last season.

Dublin also thinks City can do even better in the coming campaign.

They kick off the new season with a trip to Middlesbrough on August 3, followed by the visit of Leeds to the King Power Stadium a week later, and Dublin believes City must make a good start

"I am certainly confident that Leicester can continue on their good form from the back-end of last season," he said.

"It can take a whole summer to recover from the heartache that Leicester suffered at the end of last season.

"The players will be disappointed but, when you get so close to achieving, you know you are good enough.

"The players will still have that belief and they will go into the season thinking that, if they don't drop their standards, they will at least get to where they were last time.

"If they can up their game early on, they will find themselves doing even better.

"Really, they should have gone up automatically, they were in a situation in the middle of the season when they were doing fantastic and they fell away."

Sandwiched between the opening two league games is a first trip to Adams Park to face Wycombe in the first round of the Capital One Cup, and Dublin believes a good cup run will help City's cause.

"It is nice that the Capital One Cup is so open and that everybody has got a chance," said Dublin, who was speaking on behalf of credit card company Capital One, sponsors of the League Cup.

"All you need to do is put a run together, get the players clicking at the right time and you get your best players performing at the right weekend and anything can happen."

Meanwhile, Hull's interest in Kasper Schmeichel is over after City refused to budge in their insistence that the 26-year-old goalkeeper was not for sale.

A final bid did not come in from the Tigers, but it is understood they did make one final approach to see if City were willing to negotiate.

City refused and insist it is the end of the matter.

Soured relations between the two clubs since Pearson's departure to join City for a second time more than 18 months ago have made any deals between the two clubs incredibly difficult.

Five Leicester Tigers in British Lions Test squad

June 20, 2013, 1:18 am

≫ Next: Panorama: Care home hits back

≪ Previous: Dion Dublin predicts big things from Leicester City next season

$

0

0

Five Leicester Tigers players have been handed the honour of representing the British & Irish Lions in the first Test against Australia on Saturday. Only Manu Tuilagi misses out on the 23-man squad for Brisbane after being ruled out with a shoulder injury. That means hooker Tom Youngs and flanker Tom Croft will start the match with scrum-half Ben Youngs, prop Dan Cole and second-row Geoff Parling on the bench. Tom Youngs will be making his debut start while Croft is a veteran of the last tour to South Africa. Head coach Warren Gatland has picked a starting XV containing eight Welshmen, four Irishman and three Englishmen. Winger Sean Maitland is the only Scot in the 23 and he starts from the bench.

Panorama: Care home hits back

June 20, 2013, 1:31 am

≫ Next: Mum plans to take the MoD to court

≪ Previous: Five Leicester Tigers in British Lions Test squad

$

0

0

A care home has issued a statement following a BBC Panorama programme, entitled Elderly Care: Condition Critical.

The programme included concerns about the care of Kathleen Reid, who went to The Poplars, Mountsorrel, in 2008

Mrs Reid, 88, suffered from dementia and in 2010 her family said they became increasingly concerned about her.

Her daughter Joyce Zannoni told the BBC: "Every time I went, there was something not quite right. For example, her bed was wet, the floor was wet. Then finding medication in her drawers and in her clothing, so she wasn't having her medication, obviously."

Mrs Reid died 14 days after being moved to hospital, in October 2011.

In a statement, the home said: "In the programme, interviews with Kathleen's daughter and daughter-in-law, as well as a whistleblower, highlighted concerns regarding the nature and quality of the care given to Kathleen during her final months at the Poplars.

"The BBC invited us to take part in the programme but, as it would not give us sufficient details of the proposed content, we were advised to make written representations instead – some of which (but by no means all) were referred to during the programme.

"In October, there will be a full inquest into Kathleen's death.

"In our view it is in that forum, not on TV, where the allegations and evidence in the matter should be explored.

"Although we take issue with the allegations made in the programme and the context in which they were set, in view of the forthcoming inquest we do not think it is appropriate to detail those at this time.

"However, there are some points that we wish to make.

"First, at no point did the whistleblower tell us of the reason for her resignation, which is strange given that in the programme she attributed this to her concerns about the care being provided.

"Many of our current care staff worked at the Poplars during Kathleen's time with us and they find the criticisms unmerited, unfounded and hurtful to them.

"Secondly, it was said on the programme that half of the residents at the Poplars in 2011-12 died and a statistician said that was at the high end of (although not above) the scale.

"In fact, the total number of residents at the Poplars in the year in question was 30.

"There were 10 resident deaths – one third – which is about the mid-point of the scale. This was higher than in previous years, but of the 10 who died five were terminally-ill residents specifically placed in the home for end-of-life care.

"Thirdly, we do report the deaths of all residents.

"In some cases we even report deaths of former residents, which we are not required to do.

"This explains why we reported 11 deaths in 2011-12 rather than the 10 which we were obliged to report."

The statement said a new care manager had been appointed since Mrs Reid's death and that the most recent Care Quality Commission report acknowledged improvements in care. A spokesman for the Panorama programme said: "We stand by our investigation into the death rates of care homes." And he said The Poplars was "properly informed about the findings featured in the programme. "They were invited to comment and their views were represented appropriately."

Mum plans to take the MoD to court

June 20, 2013, 1:36 am

≫ Next: Police search for train thug

≪ Previous: Panorama: Care home hits back

$

0

0

The mother of a serviceman killed in Afghanistan will try to take the Ministry of Defence to court in her campaign for better equipment for the armed forces.

Teresa Woods said she would contact lawyers after yesterday's Supreme Court ruling the families of people killed in action could pursue negligence cases against the Government.

The case was brought by relatives of three men killed by roadside bombs while in lightly-armoured Snatch Land Rovers in Iraq, despite years of criticism of the vulnerability of the vehicles.

Mrs Woods's 24-year-old son, Corporal Marcin Wojtak, died when the lightly-armoured Vector vehicle he was commanding – which was supposed to have been withdrawn from frontline service – was blown up in Helmand province.

He was serving with 34 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment.

The tougher Mastiff vehicles demanded by Cpl Wojtak's commanding officer arrived the day after his death, in October 2009.

Supreme Court judges ruled the MoD owes soldiers a duty of care under the law of negligence.

They backed a ruling by the Court of Appeal that the MoD could be liable if it "failed to provide sufficient protection while on active service".

Mrs Woods, 56, of Croxton Kerrial, said: "It is clear to me the MoD was negligent in sending my son out in a Vector vehicle when he was due to go out in a Mastiff.

"If he had been in the Mastiff, the bomb that killed him would have just given him a headache.

"We shall be contacting the law firm Hodge, Jones and Allen to see if we can join a class action against the MoD.

"There are many other mothers out there who now have the opportunity to pursue their cases in the courts.

"Our service personnel have the right to expect to be given the correct equipment."

Jocelyn Cockburn, of Hodge, Jones and Allen, said: "It is clearly in the public interest that the authorities are legally required to consider the safety of soldiers in times of conflict.

"It is right our soldiers should expect to be properly equipped."

After the ruling, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The most important priority is the protection of our troops and since this litigation started, a wide range of protected vehicles including Mastiff, Ridgeback, Husky, Wolfhound, Jackal and Foxhound, have been available to commanders to match the most appropriate available vehicle to specific tasks based on the assessment of the operational risk.

"I welcome the fact the court has upheld the principle of the doctrine of combat immunity, albeit suggesting it should be interpreted narrowly.

"However, I am very concerned at the wider implications of this judgment, which could ultimately make it more difficult for our troops to carry out operations and potentially throws open a wide range of military decisions to the uncertainty of litigation."

Police search for train thug

June 20, 2013, 2:52 am

≫ Next: Leicester City to play big-spending Monaco

≪ Previous: Mum plans to take the MoD to court

$

0

0

A man punched a fellow train passenger who tried to stop him abusing a man and a woman. The thug accused a passenger who was sitting behind him on a London to Market Harborough service of pushing his chair. He also shouted at a woman who was with the man after her mobile phone began ringing. Pc Graham Sheer, of British Transport Police, said: "At this point, another passenger, a man from Market Harborough, interjected in a bid to stop the incident. "The suspect then approached the man, pinned him back in his chair by grabbing the base of his neck and shoulder, and shouted at him before punching him in the face." The victim got off the train at Market Harborough. He suffered bruises and scratches to his neck, shoulder and top lip. The attack happened on a London St Pancras to Market Harborough service on Thursday, June 6, shortly after the train left the capital. Pc Sheer added: "This was a frightening attack that left the victim feeling very shaken. "All staff and customers have the right to travel on the rail network without fear of attack and we take these offences very seriously on the rare occasions when they occur." The suspect is thought to be Irish and is white and in his 50s. He is described as large, has balding grey hair and was wearing glasses and Lycra cycling clothes. Contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting reference B7/LNA of 19/06/2013. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

---

Leicester City to play big-spending Monaco

June 20, 2013, 2:57 am

≫ Next: That was summer! Rain to return...

≪ Previous: Police search for train thug

$

0

0

Leicester City will host big-spending AS Monaco in a pre-season friendly. The French Ligue 2 champions, who recently signed striker Radamel Falcao for a reported 60m euros (£51million), will take on Nigel Pearson's men at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, July 27. This marquee fixture in City's build-up to the new Championship campaign that kicks off on August 3 comes between rather less inspiring trips to League Two sides York City and Northampton Town. Falcao, who cost more on his own that the whole City squad put together, is not the only expensive name among the Monaco ranks. They have also signed Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a combined fee of 70 million euros (£60million) and also Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho from Real Madrid. It will not be the first time that Carvalho has set foot inside the King Power Stadium – the Portuguese defender was an unused substitute in City's memorable pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in 2011

That was summer! Rain to return...

June 20, 2013, 2:59 am

≫ Next: Sex attack on woman in alleyway

≪ Previous: Leicester City to play big-spending Monaco

$

0

0

Sun-lovers soaked up the rays in temperatures of up to 26C yesterday, but there was misery for hay fever sufferers as pollen levels soared.

However, the sneezes and streaming eyes may not last long – Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton warned the outlook for the next few weeks was unsettled.

Dave said: "We are going to be in for a prolonged spell of very unsettled weather, although hopefully not a repeat of last year."

The Met Office has said Britain could face a decade of wet summers as we are in a rare cyclical warming of the Atlantic Ocean, which increases the prospect of summer rain and can last for two decades.

Since the cycle began in 2007, six of the seven summers have been wetter than average.

Dave said UK weather patterns were becoming more unusual because of a shift in the jet streams – high level strong winds which move weather systems around the globe.

He said: "The problem is, no-one knows what caused the shift.

"If it has happened before we can at least be assured it is nothing man created.

"It just goes to prove if there's one thing man cannot control, it's the weather."

Sex attack on woman in alleyway

June 20, 2013, 4:09 am

≫ Next: 'Incident' closes Highcross car park

≪ Previous: That was summer! Rain to return...

$

0

0

Police are hunting a man who pulled a woman into an alleyway and sexually assaulted her. The 23-year-old victim was attacked in Ashby Road, near to Roseberry Way, Loughborough. A man approached her and pushed her into an alleyway where he carried out the assault. The woman's screams alerted a group of men who came to her aid. The attack happened between 2.30am and 3.30am on Thursday, June 13. Police released details today and urged witnesses, particularly the group of four men – who said they were students – to come forward. Detective Constable Nick Evans, who is investigating the incident said: "This was an incredibly distressing incident for the victim which has left her understandably very shaken. "Incidents like this are incredibly rare and I would like to reassure members of the public that we are carrying out extensive inquiries to try to locate the offender. "I am particularly keen to speak to the four men who came to help the victim during the incident. "I believe this group could have vital information which will help with our inquiries. "I would like to stress that they are by no means suspects in the investigation – I want to speak to them to see if they can pass on any information which will help us trace the offender. "If you know who this group was, or indeed if it was you, please contact me as soon as you can." The attacker was described as white, 5ft 10ins to 6ft, with a neatly trimmed full beard and of a "fat, muscular but fleshy" build. Contact Det Con Evans on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

'Incident' closes Highcross car park

June 20, 2013, 4:22 am

≫ Next: County braced for a weekend of wild weather

≪ Previous: Sex attack on woman in alleyway

$

0

0

Roads were closed around Leicester city centre after an incident in a car park. The Highcross car park was shut on Tuesday evening and police closed off roads in the area after an incident involving a man. No further details have been released by the police and no arrests were made. A police spokeswoman said: "We received a call at 6.17pm and when officers arrived at the scene they were concerned for the welfare of a man in the car park. "There were several road closures while the incident was dealt with. "Officers spoke to the man and shortly after 8pm the man left the car park."

County braced for a weekend of wild weather

June 20, 2013, 6:02 am

≫ Next: Cannabis worth £7,000 is seized

≪ Previous: 'Incident' closes Highcross car park

$

0

0

The county could see a repeat of last year's tornado and hail storm this weekend. The Leicester Mercury's weatherman Dave Mutton said the weekend of wet weather could throw up some serious storms, causing flooding and other damage. He said it could be similar to the wild weather on June 28 last year, which saw a tornado cause widespread damage in the north west of the county while roofs in the Hinckley and Earl Shilton area were smashed by large hail stones. Dave said: "There are thunderstorms on their way this weekend and with this sort of hot weather when there's so much moisture in the air the storms can be severe. "We could easily see a couple of inches of rain fall over the weekend and there could be hail as well. "It will be very unsettled until the middle of next week and it could be similar to what we had a year ago. There's always a chance of a tornado when it's this unsettled." He said that the weather over the weekend would also be cooler, with maximums of about 16C (61F), compared to the highs of 25C (77F) on Wednesday. By the middle of next week he said the temperatures would be back up to about 22C (72F) once the storms had passed.

Cannabis worth £7,000 is seized

June 20, 2013, 6:39 am

≫ Next: Leicester City's first home game moved for Sky

≪ Previous: County braced for a weekend of wild weather

$

0

0

Police seized cannabis with an estimated street value of £7,000 from a house in Wigston yesterday. The plants and cultivation equipment were discovered in the rented property in Waterloo Crescent following a tip-off to Crimestoppers. Police said the 14 plants had dried and processed and were ready for sale. No arrests were made at the empty rented house and police were today continuing their investigation. Pc Lee Robinson and Pc Anna Thorpe of Wigston police station led the raid. Pc Thorpe said: "This seizure could not have been achieved without the anonymous intelligence provided to us via Crimestoppers. "We are committed to tackling drugs misuse and those involved in the production and supply of drugs. "I would urge anyone with any suspicions about drugs misuse in their neighbourhood to call us." Information about drugs crime can be passed to Leicestershire Police on 101 or, anonymously, to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Leicester City's first home game moved for Sky

June 20, 2013, 6:48 am

≫ Next: Teenage girl missing for more than a week

≪ Previous: Cannabis worth £7,000 is seized

$

0

0

Leicester City have already had their first home game moved for television - only 24 hours after the fixtures were announced. Their first home game of the season has been moved to a Sunday for Sky Sports television coverage. Their first home clash of the new Championship season against Leeds United at King Power Stadium was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 10 at 3pm. It will now kick-off at 4.30pm on Sunday, August 11. The decision to move City's first home game will not please City fans who were so frustrated last season at having eight home games moved from Saturday at 3pm for television coverage. After complaints from fans, the club agreed after releasing this year's season tickets that if six or more home league games are moved for live television coverage this campaign, season ticket holders will be able to claim a refund for the pro-rata value of one fixture.

---

Teenage girl missing for more than a week

June 20, 2013, 8:38 am

≫ Next: Man in wheelchair labelled 'fire hazard'

≪ Previous: Leicester City's first home game moved for Sky

$

0

0

Police today released a photograph of a teenage girl who has been missing from home for more than a week. Paige Hurst, 15, was reported missing from the Cossington Road area of Sileby at 2pm on Wednesday, June 12. Police are investigating a possible sighting of the youngster in High Street, Coalville at 2pm on Monday June 17. Pc Penny Smith, of police's missing from home team, said: "We are asking the public to take a moment to look at the picture of Paige and if you think you have seen her or know where she might be to contact us." Paige is white, 5ft 7ins, slim and has long black hair. She was wearing a black jacket, white top, black leggings and baby blue Nike trainers. Contact Leicestershire Police on 101

Man in wheelchair labelled 'fire hazard'

June 20, 2013, 8:43 am

≫ Next: Car transporter crash closes road

≪ Previous: Teenage girl missing for more than a week

$

0

0

A man has claimed he was turned away and labelled a fire hazard after attending a disability benefit assessment in a wheelchair. Charles Foreman said he was asked to leave the building as he presented a health and safety risk at the medical examination. Mr Foreman, who suffers from a degenerative bone disease in his spine and claims incapacity benefit, said he felt humiliated after being turned away by Atos Healthcare from the Rutland Centre in Halford Street on Tuesday. The 52-year-old former foundry worker of Market Harborough, said: "I just could not believe my ears. "I was there in the building as instructed and ready for my medical but they just would not see me." His wife Karen, 52, a shop manager, said she was asked to take her husband out of the building after she checked in at reception. She said: "We were in bit of a hurry so I took Charles up in the lift and left him on the first floor as that was where the examination was to take place. "I went down to check in properly and the woman there told me we had to leave as my husband was in a wheelchair. "She said that the building was not equipped for people in wheelchairs and that he was a fire risk and a health and safety hazard." Mrs Forman said she offered to take the wheelchair away as her husband can walk short distances. She said: "I told her I had used the wheelchair for speed as we had to park in a car park nearby. "The woman was unmoved and just kept saying they could not see him as he was a fire risk. "Nowhere in the letter to us about the appointment did it say we could not use a wheelchair. "It is a waste of my time and tax payers money as they will have to pay our petrol and parking expenses and come out to see us when they could have seen him there and then."" The Foreman's local MP Edward Garnier has stepped in and sent a letter to Atos Healthcare complaining about the matter. He said: "I can accept that there are certain places where, with the best will in the world, it is not possible to allow access to people on wheel chairs but I find it extraordinary that an agency whose very purpose is to assess people with disability benefits claims does not have facilities to allow wheelchair access." A spokeswoman for Atos, who carry out medical assessments for disability benefit claims, said: "We let people know about access prior to scheduling appointments to try to ensure no one goes to a centre that is not appropriate for them. "We have a thorough complaints process for anyone who feels that our service does not meet their needs." A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions, who own the building, said: "Where an assessment centre isn't on the ground floor we endeavour to make this clear to people before they arrive for their appointment. "If people have mobility problems, which may make evacuation in the event of a fire difficult, a home visit or an appointment at an alternative assessment centre is arranged."

Car transporter crash closes road

June 20, 2013, 8:53 am

≫ Next: Crash closes northbound A46

≪ Previous: Man in wheelchair labelled 'fire hazard'

$

0

0

A crash involving a car transporter has closed the A47 Hinckley Road in both directions in Leicester Forest East. The collision occurred near the Kirby Lane junction shortly after 4.20pm. Traffic is being diverted down Ratby Lane. A spokesman for Area Traffic Control said: "The road is still blocked in both directions. We do not have further details as yet."

Crash closes northbound A46

June 20, 2013, 9:15 am

≫ Next: Cockerill disciplinary hearing date is set

≪ Previous: Car transporter crash closes road

$

0

0

The northbound A46 near Upper Broughton is blocked between A6006 and A606 Melton Road junctions. Traffic is at a standstill northbound because of an accident.

Cockerill disciplinary hearing date is set

June 20, 2013, 9:40 am

≫ Next: Three Rutland county councillors join UKIP

≪ Previous: Crash closes northbound A46

$

0

0

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Monday, July 1, it was announced today. The hearing will take place at the Coventry M6 Holiday Inn hotel at 6.30pm. Cockerill has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game, contrary to RFU Rule 5.12, following the Aviva Premiership final match between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints at Twickenham Stadium on May 25. It is alleged that he used obscene and/or inappropriate and/or unprofessional language or behaviour in an exchange with Stuart Terheege, the fourth official. The panel will be chaired by Antony Davies and will include His Honour Judge Sean Enright and Daniel White.