A would-be bike thief was caught in the act by an off-duty policeman as he tried to cut through a chain with a pair of bolt-cutters.

Nathan Page (22), of the YMCA, Belvoir Drive, Aylestone, Leicester, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates' Court to attempting to steal a £300 cycle which was chained to railings outside Street Record, Aylestone Road, Leicester, on October 15.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £15 compensation for damaging the cycle's lock.

Prosecutor Ian Johnson said the officer saw Page trying to break through the chain.

"He seized and detained Mr Page, who freely admitted what he intended to do," said Mr Johnson.

Shanaz Patel, for Page, told the court the frequency of his offending increased when he was going through periods of homelessness.

"It is linked to need, not greed."

She said Page had struggled with homelessness since he was 16. More recently, his benefits had been suspended for six months and he relied on his grandfather and his girlfriend for help with renting a hostel room.

"He admits trying to steal the push-bike – there was nothing sophisticated about the theft. It was committed in view of a police officer who was going to work."

A landmark Victorian shopping arcade will not be open in time for Christmas.

The relaunch of the Silver Arcade, in Silver Street, in the city centre, after a £3m refurbishment has been put back to Easter next year.

Developers had hoped the four-storey grade II-listed building would be open for the festive period but have now revealed a change of plan.

Caroline Simpson-Watkinson, director at Harborough London – an agent for the owners Lukegate, said the original plan had been to try to be open for Christmas. She said: "That was an ambitious plan and there is nothing wrong with that.

"Originally, we wanted to get the place open to catch the festive trade knowing that not all units would be up and running.

"After talks with potential tenants it became clear they were of the opinion that it would be better to delay the opening until the arcade was full.

"What they want and what we want is to relaunch this wonderful arcade when it is complete and looking its best.

"Nobody connected with this project wants to go at it in a half-hearted way."

The arcade is due to feature a restaurant and bar on the top floor.

Ms Simpson-Watkinson said the available space in the building, which closed in 2001, could provide room for between 12 and 30 shops.

She said: "The units are such that people may want to take more than one and we are flexible enough to accommodate that.

"There are still lots of negotiations going on and we are not sure just how the eventual look of the place will pan out. It is exciting."

Ms Simpson-Watkinson said the owners wanted to model the arcade on the Victorian Quarter, in Leeds, which houses Harvey Nichols.

She said: "The look and feel we are going for is very much upmarket, a place where people can feel spoiled. One idea is to have a uniformed doorperson welcoming customers in and out of the arcade.

"There are plans to have a manned lift taking people up to the fourth floor restaurant in style. We feel there is a gap in the market and this will be a great addition to the shopping experience in Leicester.''

In a bid to help the developers, the city council has brought forward works on Silver Street to avoid a clash with the re-opening of the arcade in Easter.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "The investment involved in bringing this unique shopping experience back into use is very important to us.

"I have decided to bring forward the work on Silver Street so that we can get it finished in time for the opening of the arcade."

The works is part of Connecting Leicester, a £19m project to pedestrianise routes between shopping, leisure and heritage sites.

Martyn Traynor, chief executive of Leicestershire chamber of Commerce, said: "I think this the arcade will perfectly complement the retail offering we have in Leicester."

It has been designed to pay tribute to the Leicestershire servicemen and women who have lost their lives around the world since 1945.

But it is the faces of the members of the next generation of the armed forces that grace a new war memorial at County Hall, in Glenfield.

Yesterday, the £75,000 sculpture of four life-size bronze comrades standing at ease was unveiled to war veterans, serving officers and trainee soldiers.

The four figures represent the Army, Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy and Royal Marines and a plaque reads: "They stand among us."

Seven students from Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, near Loughborough, were used as models for the sculpture and were present at its unveiling.

Ben Bolton, 17, said: "It was a real honour to be a part of something that is going to represent the sacrifices the forces have made.

"It gave me a sense of pride in my chosen career and I hope when people see the memorial they feel the same sense of pride in our armed services."

Fellow student Jenna Clark, 17, said: "Our faces were used to create moulds for the sculptures. It was done using a mix of seaweed and other things and it was really good fun to do – very relaxing, actually.

"I'm very proud to have been a part of it."

Blaby MP and armed forces minister Andrew Robathan led the unveiling yesterday, watched by dignitaries including Lord Lieutenant Jennifer, Lady Gretton, Bishop of Leicester the Rt Rev Tim Stevens and Chief Constable Simon Cole. The ceremony featured a parade by former and current service personnel and an Army bugler.

After the unveiling, the Bishop dedicated the memorial and Mr Robathan, Leicestershire County Council chairman Peter Lewis and Lady Gretton laid wreaths.

Korean War veteran Michael Outridge, 83, of Oadby, who was a staff sergeant in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the 1950s, said: "It think it's an excellent memorial, it really is.

"It's not just a block of stones – it shows people as they really are and it's a marvellous tribute."

Retired RAF bulldozer driver Paul Savage, 77, of Hinckley, who served in Cyprus, said: "They're very good statues.

"The location isn't very open to the public but I'm very happy they've done this."

After he unveiled the memorial, Mr Robathan, who is a former SAS officer, said: "It is right and fitting that we commemorate the valiant efforts of our armed forces and it is a great honour for me to launch this memorial."

Peter Roffey, the Royal British Legion county president, welcomed the new memorial, which was created by Scottish sculptor Kenny Hunter.

He said: "I'm delighted that the memorial project has now become a reality.

"Kenny Hunter has done a superb job translating his design concept into a memorial which will be as relevant to future generations as it is today.

"It is a fitting tribute to Leicestershire's heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice."

For more about Remembrance weekend events, see pages 15 and 16.

For more pictures of the unveiling of the sculpture, visit:

www.thisisleicestershire. co.uk

Two teenagers were each jailed for nine years after robbing a man in his own home.

Yahya Benkhelifa and Zakariya Etarghi had first assaulted the victim when he had refused to let his flat be used for drug dealing, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Eight days later the pair launched another vicious attack on the man before robbing him.

The first attack happened when the pair burst into the man's home in Highfields, Leicester, on May 1.

They punched him to his face and body and he fell to the ground. Etarghi then hit the man with a candlestick, before the spike from the candlestick was stuck into the victim's foot.

The pair returned on May 9, with two other men, and convinced the man, a drug user, to let them in again.

Prosecuting, James Bide-Thomas, said: "Mr Benkhelifa slapped him to the face and Mr Etarghi picked up a broom handle.

"Mr Etarghi picked up a large piece of wood which had been part of a cupboard and used it as a weapon."

Items were taken from the house, but no further details were given in court.

The victim crawled into a lift and was able to find a security guard.

He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he received nine stitches to his head and arms.

Benkhelifa was also caught dealing drugs to an undercover officer called "Tommy" in February, in Operation Nutmeg.

Mr Bide-Thomas said: "Tommy was standing in Granby Street pretending to use a public telephone when he was approached by someone called Danny, who he knew as a drug user."

Danny offered to put him in touch with a man he called Alfred – who was Benkhelifa – who supplied Danny with heroin to give to the officer.

The policeman, undercover as part of the police operation, bought heroin from Benkhelifa directly on three more occasions, and crack cocaine once, throughout February and March.

Mr Bide-Thomas said on March 13, the undercover officer tried to call Benkhelifa and got no answer, but later received a text message saying, "I'm on now," and the pair met in Derwent Street, Spinney Hills.

He said: "They had a conversation and it was effectively stated that were he to find other people that might be interested in purchasing heroin, then he could get a discount on future purchases."

Mr Bide-Thomas said Etarghi faced eight counts of possession with intent to supply, which were of a similar "street dealing" nature.

The court did not hear specific details of these exchanges.

Both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and robbery.

Benkhelifa (19), of Park Vale Road, Spinney Hills, Leicester pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply and Etarghi (18), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to eight counts.

In mitigation, Donald Lawler said Benkhelifa had no previous convictions, and had begun taking drugs, and then selling them to pay off debts.

"He was sucked into the offending pattern," he said.

Mr Lawler said Etarghi had since voluntarily enrolled on anger management courses and was studying in prison.

Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced the pair to nine years each for the robbery, and eight months each for the assault.

He sentenced Benkhelifa to two years for the drugs charges, and Etarghi to three years. The sentences will run concurrently.

Judge Pert said: "Robbery is a very serious offence. To attack someone in their home and rob them is a despicable thing."

Jesse Lingard wants to follow in the footsteps of Tom Cleverley and be a hit at Leicester City while on loan before returning to establish himself in the Manchester United first team.

The 19-year-old midfielder said the rise of Cleverley, who experienced his first loan spell with City during Nigel Pearson's first tenure as boss before becoming a first-team regular at United and playing for England, was an inspiration.

Lingard, who is an attacking midfielder, equally effective on the flank or behind the strikers, said he is relishing his one month with City and would even like to stay for the rest of the season, and contribute to a successful promotion push.

"I look at Tom Cleverley and what he has achieved, becoming part of the United first team, and he had his first loan move to Leicester," said Lingard. "He stepped up and it would be good to follow in his footsteps.

"He is someone to look up to because, when he was younger, he was one of the small guys, like me. He didn't get much playing time in the youth team.

"But he went out on loan, stuck at it and worked hard, and that is what I want to do.

"We are near the top of the table so it would be good if I could stay for the whole season and help in getting promoted."

Lingard was one of United's stars of the reserve team last season but he jumped at the chance to join City.

"I was told of Leicester's interest on Sunday night and I didn't have to think about it," he said.

"I wanted to come straight away and I came down on Sunday night to train on Monday.

"This is the chance I have been waiting for. I was one of the main players in the reserves last year and I wanted to get some first-team experience.

"I was asked if I fancied coming to Leicester because they play good football and it would suit my way of playing.

"I spoke to (assistant boss) Steve Walsh at first and Nigel rang me as well and said he couldn't wait for me to train on Monday."

Lingard has been joined by defender Michael Keane, who also made his debut in Tuesday's draw at Bolton, and there are plenty more United connections at City which have helped him settle in.

"It is great that Michael came as well because I would have been more nervous on my own," he added.

"But I know a few of the lads anyway, like Matty James, Danny Drinkwater and Ritchie De Laet. It's like a second home."

Nigel Pearson believes Martyn Waghorn is starting to look like the player he was when he first arrived at the club three years ago.

The young striker has been dogged by a problematic hamstring injury for the past year.

Even before his injury, which he picked up while on loan with Hull, he had endured a frustrating, fractured time at City following his permanent move from Sunderland.

The England Under-21 international has taken advantage of Jamie Vardy's injury in recent weeks and, on Tuesday night, he produced a performance at Bolton which was reminiscent of the form he showed while on loan at City from Sunderland in 2009-10.

Pearson said it had been a long road back for Waghorn but urged him to kick on and take his chance to cement himself in the City line-up.

"If you speak to him he will be very honest about how things have gone for himself," said Pearson.

"His performance the other night was more like the Martyn Waghorn I knew two or three years ago. He had good energy levels, was aggressive and very positive.

"It is a good opportunity for him now. He has had a difficult period of time in his career as a young man and has had to deal with disappointments.

"How you deal with disappointments, not just in football but in life in general, dictates how successful you can be.

"It is important he now builds on performances like he produced at Bolton. He is a talented player."

Waghorn admitted he struggled psychologically with his injury but said his confidence was growing.

"Playing games will help but I am feeling good," he said.

"It will take some time after the last couple of years I have had, but I am enjoying playing again. The more I play, the better I will get.

"It has taken a while to get back into the swing of it and, hopefully, I am finding my feet again. Another couple of games and I will be flying."

The 22-year-old said having the belief of Pearson and the help of all the backroom staff had been crucial in overcoming the injuries.

"Because it was my hamstring, every time you sprint it is in the back of your mind," he said. "That is disappearing now and I don't think as much about it.

"It is just a case of rebuilding your confidence. The backroom staff have been great, as have the gaffer and the coaching staff.

"They have shown belief in me and, hopefully, I can repay them."

A man was jailed for a minimum of 14 years yesterday for killing a dad-of-two with a broken bottle after a gig by pop star Jessie J.

Ashley Charles, 26, of Nevanthon Road, Western Park, Leicester, was found guilty of murdering Phillip Sherriff and given a life sentence at the Old Bailey in London.

Mr Sherriff, 37, died in hospital four days after being attacked at Pulse nightclub in central London. He suffered a cut to his carotid artery and jugular vein during the attack just after midnight on April 4.

Charles, a graphic designer, denied the charge, claiming he acted in self-defence, but judge Paul Worsley said he killed Mr Sherriff, of Preston, Lancashire, because he was annoyed.

Charles, a Loughborough University graduate, travelled to London with his brother, Callum, 19, from the house in Leicester they shared with their mother, Danni, and another younger brother.

Callum had won tickets to the party in a prize draw organised by Blackberry – the firm Mr Sherriff worked for.

The judge told Charles: "This is a tragic case. Mr Sherriff may have pushed you in a crowded bar and made inoffensive remarks to a girl talking to you.

"You clearly became annoyed at what you perceived was the conduct of Mr Sherriff and lost your temper when he may have pushed against you at the bar."

The court had heard how Charles took a beer bottle from Mr Sherriff's hand and swung it behind him, where it broke, and then plunged it into Mr Sherriff's neck.

Judge Worsley told him: "You did not deliberately smash the bottle you used. I am satisfied you did not intend to kill Mr Sherriff and you were immediately remorseful."

Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said Charles had been trying to get free beer at the bar at the promotional event.

CCTV showed Charles grabbing the bottle and plunging it into his victim's neck. Mr Penny said: "It happened very, very quickly indeed – perhaps one second, one second to take a life."

Mr Sherriff began to bleed profusely as vital blood vessels had been cut.

Mr Penny said the clash occurred just after midnight after Jessie J and other performers had left. As people tried to help Mr Sherriff, Charles was detained by staff.

Charles asked them: "Is he okay? I wish I had not done that. It was a stupid mistake."

After being arrested by police, he said: "Yeah, I know I bottled him. He kept pushing past me through the bar area."

Andrew Hall QC, for Charles, said his client had acted "in a split second of madness''.

Mr Sherriff's wife Jane said in a statement to the court she had launched a campaign to ban glass bottles and glasses from bars and clubs.

Addressing Charles, she said: "I will never let another person like you devastate another family. Your actions have devastated so many people's lives."

Mrs Sherriff said organ donations from her husband saved three other lives, but the lives of her family, including her two young daughters, had been ruined by Mr Sherriff's killing.

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Richard Beadle said: "Philip Sherriff died horrifically in a way that is almost too ghastly to describe.''

Leicester Tigers made a losing start to the defence of their LV= Cup crown with a heavy defeat at Saracens last night.

The home side picked up a bonus-point 38-21 win after running in four tries.

Their victory was based on a dominant first-half which saw them build up a 27-0 lead.

Tigers fought back in a more even second period and tries from lock Joe Cain, No.8 Michael Noone and a last-minute effort from replacement hooker Harry Thacker saw them win the period 21-11.

Leicester lost their opening game in the competition last season after shifting 31 points at Llanelli.

They went on to lift the trophy after winning their next five games but director of rugby, Richard Cockerill maintains this season's Anglo Welsh Cup is firmly in third place on their wanted list.

"We are going to try to win the Aviva Premiership and we are still in a good position in Europe," he said.

"This competition is a healthy distraction if the fringe payers do well. But, at this point, the LV= Cup is not a priority for us.

"We also have the Maori All Blacks on Tuesday so we chose not to pick some of our more experienced players and that showed at times. At hooker, we brought 18-year-old Harry Thacker on in the second half and they brought on World Cup winner John Smit.

"But Saracens played some good stuff and fair play to them.

"Being 13-0 down with the slope against us was not too bad but we tried to force it and they went the length of the field to score, then added another.

"In the second half, we got back into it and did some good things. We had to grit our teeth, roll up our sleeves and show some pride.

"We achieved that but the game was lost at 27-0. We didn't deserve to win."

Cockerill said of Mat Tait's first appearance in 13 months after coming on as a late substitute: "It was good to see Mat back out there and talk about him playing again. Hopefully, he will kick on from here."

A drug dealer was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of crack cocaine stashed inside a Kinder egg.

Jordan Williams was found carrying the wraps of drugs after he knocked on the back door of a friend's house while it was being raided for drugs by police.

An officer answered the door and searched Williams, uncovering a six-inch kitchen knife which had just been sharpened, as well as 11 wraps of crack cocaine, worth a total of £220.

He was sentenced to four years detention in a young offenders' institute after pleading guilty to possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply and carrying a knife.

Prosecuting, Alan Murphy said Williams (20) was caught when he climbed over a fence into a friend's house near Saffron Lane, Leicester, on April 27.

"He climbed into the garden and knocked on the door, which was answered by police," he said.

"The defendant was told he was going to be searched as well.

"He told the police at the scene he had a knife in his pocket which he was returning to his friend.

"The knife was found inside the waist band of his trousers.

"It was described as a six-inch blade, recently sharpened kitchen knife.

"He was arrested and the search also revealed the drugs. They found a Kinder egg containing 11 wraps of what turned out to be crack cocaine."

Officers found 2.91g of the drug, which was 31 per cent pure.

Mr Murphy said: "That's quite high for street-level dealing."

Officers searched his home in Marriott Road, Saffron Lane, where they found scales, the Kinder egg wrapper, and cling film.

Mobile phones analysed by officers uncovered pictures of Williams posing with around £700 of cash.

A text message which said 'I'm live' was recovered which Williams had sent to 38 contacts.

Mr Murphy said police officers suspected Williams was dealing at the "high end of that scale" due to the fact he was carrying a weapon, had a wide customer base, and was not using drugs himself.

Defending, Vasanti Vaitha said Williams had got involved with the wrong crowd.

"This is a young man who is associating with a group of friends, some of which are significantly older than he is," she said.

"He has adopted this lifestyle as one of a bravado, not only to fit in but also to be liked by the crowd."

She said he had an offer of employment and he had not brandished the knife.

Judge Lynn Tayton QC sentenced Williams to four years in a young offenders' institute for the drugs charge and 12 months for possession of a knife.

The sentences will run concurrently.

She said: "It's a long knife – I have seen a photograph of it. It appears to have been sharpened. Whether or not that is the case, it is clearly an extremely dangerous weapon.

"You and your family must understand you have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence.

"Possession of that knife is a serious aggravating factor."

Nottingham Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll believes Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has been shrewd in the transfer market.

The excesses of the Sven-Goran Eriksson reign at City has proved money cannot buy immediate success, but O'Driscoll, who brings his Forest side to the King Power Stadium today, believes Pearson has utilised the resources handed to him by City's Thai owners well and is building an impressive side.

"It is about getting the right players, the right blend, the right balance – and that does not always mean signing the most expensive player," said O'Driscoll.

"Nigel has had time to look at that. He has experience of putting sides together and he will have enjoyed spending a little bit of money.

"Spending money gives you more options, it can help you be consistent in an inconsistent division."

O'Driscoll has found himself in a position where he now has some financial backing, and he has also spent well on players such as Simon Cox and Billy Sharp. But he admits to finding the huge financial aspect of football baffling.

However, having cash is just the start of the process of building a promotion-challenging side.

"I try not to think about the money, because it frightens me to death," he said. "I just have to scratch my head and consider that we are in an industry that does not make sense.

"Why is one person worth this and another worth that? I don't understand it. But it is what it is. There is no logic to it. It is just the way things are.

"Having money to spend just gives you options. Like when we were looking for a striker, I always wanted to take Billy because I know him and because of his record at this level.

"His record stands up against anyone's in this division. He ticks all the boxes and we could afford him so, when I was asked for a name, his was the one I put forward.

"Whether he is worth the money, that is in the eye of the beholder. That is not a reflection on Billy, it is just the way football is.

"Whether you have billions to spend or whether you have nothing, the things that matter in football stay the same."

Veterans have been left appalled after vandals uprooted wooden crosses bearing the names of servicemen who died in the two world wars.

They also tore down a permanent wreath from a cenotaph in a garden of remembrance and threw it into a river.

It is believed the attack took place under the cover of darkness after 250 crosses had been laid out at the garden in Market Harborough.

John Standish, chairman of the local Royal British Legion branch, said: "I am absolutely appalled at this act of desecration against the memory of those soldiers from the area who laid down their lives for us.

"I am sure the people of Market Harborough, many of whom pay their respects in the garden of remembrance, will be horrified by this vandalism."

For the past dozen years, volunteers from the Royal British Legion have planted the crosses in neat rows in the town's Memorial Gardens in the week before Remembrance Sunday.

Each one bears the name of someone who was killed in the First or Second World War.

There are also wreaths on permanent display in the cenotaph in the gardens. Mr Standish said: "Crosses were pulled out of the ground and thrown about. A permanent wreath has also been ripped down.

"I can't understand the mentality of those who would do such a thing."

He urged anyone who saw the vandalism to contact the police.

The Rev John Morley, the county chaplain of the Royal British Legion, said: "It is the first time this has happened in the 12 years the garden has been created. It is very said some people should show such disrespect to those have given their lives.

"Each cross depicts the life of an individual from the area who sacrificed themselves for us. One of the crosses was broken but has been repaired. The other crosses have been replanted.

"Last year, each of the crosses was renovated by the prisoners at Gartree. The poppies were replaced and the names remarked. To have the garden attacked just hours after it was set out is deeply shocking."

Harborough District Council chairman John Everett said: "I was very saddened to hear about this vandalism, particularly in the run up to such an important weekend for remembrance.

"However, such a mindless act will not detract from Sunday's services or from the people demonstrating their respect for those who gave their lives during wartime."

The attack happened on Monday evening. Anyone who saw the vandals is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Music fans flocked to Leicestershire at the weekend for the chance to play some of the world's finest acoustic guitars and learn from the masters.

Acoustic Avalon, the UK's longest-running acoustic guitar show, was held at Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, on Saturday and Sunday.

Hundreds of people attended the event, which was organised by Sheehans music shop, in Leicester.

The show included a Saturday night gig by Jon Gomm and Clive Carroll, who have played for the likes of Madonna and chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Jason Spencer, who works in the guitar department at Sheehans, said: "We had a fantastic turnout as soon as the doors opened at 10am on Saturday.

"The concert was fantastic. We had 150-plus people there and we had to lay out extra seats.

"They put on a fantastic performance and everyone had a great time.

"We have had lots and lots of guitars for people to play and choose from – it has been a really good event.

"I would say we've probably had almost 400 people over the weekend.

"We started at the racecourse in 1998 and it's always a big event."

Pop star wannabes on a Far Eastern version of Pop Idol have been getting tips on how to avoid mangling English lyrics – though their pronunciation of the words may well have a tinge of East Midlands about it.

Leicestershire musician Michael Bones has been coaching contestants in the latest series of Vietnam Idol, after being called in to help them master English for an edition of the show with a "World Songs" theme.

The 21-year-old, from Market Harborough, teaches English in a college in Ho Chi Minh City, in the south of the country.

He was invited to help out on the show when representatives of the programme visited the college.

"Their version is a lot more friendly than Pop Idol here," said Michael. "The judges are more gentle – it reflects the characteristics of the people.

"Like all Vietnamese, the contestants were very kind and appreciative of my help.

"I spent two weeks on the programme and I was given VIP tickets to the live show and thanked live on air, which was a great feeling.

"They were all fantastic performers and I will be watching the remaining weeks of the competition closely."

Vietnam Idol is in its fourth season and is one of the country's most popular programmes.

"I took the contestants – some of whom did not have any grasp of English at all – and showed them how to pronounce the lyrics," said Michael.

The songs they worked on included Hello, by Lionel Ritchie, Unchained Melody, by the Righteous Brothers, and The Climb, by Miley Cyrus.

He said he also helped the contestants with their singing technique so they could emphasise the words properly and hit the right notes.

Michael's work with contestants was filmed and shown in the finished programme.

He picked up his love of music while at Robert Smyth School, in Market Harborough, where he was in a jazz band. He also played brass in Harborough Band.

"I used to work for Travelsphere, in Market Harborough, and I always wanted to go abroad. A contact said there was a job going in a language college in Vietnam," said Michael.

"I have been here for 10 months and I love it working at the Apollo English School."

Michael's involvement with Vietnam Idol has led to offers of other work in the past couple of weeks.

"Since I appeared on Vietnam Idol, I have also been contacted to do voice-overs for television," he said. "It's all very exciting."

Hundreds of people gathered in towns across the county yesterday to pay their respects to fallen servicemen and women.

In Hinckley, they included Eddy Campbell, 92.

He said: "Today and the service are very important to me as I lost quite a lot of friends in various campaigns.

"I was in the convoys that went to Russia, Sicily and Italy, in the aircraft carriers, and all three ships survived.

"I must have been a lucky mascot for them."

Those gathered at the Memorial Gardens in the town for a service included dignitaries, Scouts and armed forces representatives. They marched from the gardens to St Mary's Church.

Jonny Hamlet and wife Beryl Green have been involved with the town's poppy appeal for more than 50 years.

Jonny said: "When I laid down the wreath, I nearly broke down.

"I just find it so emotional every time."

In Melton, veterans were joined by cadets, Scouts, police officers and firefighters for a parade and service.

Peter Roffey, president of the Melton branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It went very well and we're extremely pleased with the turnout.

"At one stage, we had people standing at the back of the church and until the wreath bearers had sat down, we were overcrowded.

"It's nice to see that people are coming together – not to celebrate war, or anything like that, but to remember the sacrifices of the past. That's what it's all about."

Services were also held in Market Harborough, Loughborough, Melton, Oadby, Wigston, Whitwick and other locations across Leicestershire.

A weekend of tributes to the fallen started with silences observed at Leicester Market and King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Addressing the crowd that gathered in the market, Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, said: "It's an appropriate place to remember those who have died for our freedom – those who have died to make it possible for us to meet here."

Lee Bennett, 43, of vegetable stall Ju-Lee's, observed the two-minute silence at 11am with a salute to pay his respects.

"I think it's respectful, that's all, to the people who did what they did," he said.

Wife Julie, 42, said: "I think when you work somewhere that's really busy and it goes completely silent and people stand still, it's quite moving. It shows respect."

Before the Leicester City match against Nottingham Forest kicked off at 12.45pm on Saturday, players from both teams warmed up in T-shirts emblazoned with huge red poppies and the words: "Shoulder to shoulder with all who serve", before the match ball was delivered by RAF helicopter.

Flight Lieutenant Jim Porter landed the helicopter on the pitch, while the ball was delivered by Flight Lieutenant Gaz Carr, both of 60 Squadron, RAF Shawbury.

The ground observed a silence ahead of the game, which ended 2-2, while a parade featuring veteran standard bearers took to the pitch at half-time.

Most of the county's parades and services were held yesterday, on Remembrance Day itself.

They included a parade and service in locations including Ashby, Lutterworth, South Wigston and Syston.

Amazing bargains galore are within reach for 4,000 lucky Leicester Mercury readers. We have once again joined forces with Fenwick to put on two special nights when absolutely everything in the Market Street department store will be discounted by a whopping 20 per cent.

There are 2,000 invitations to each of the exclusive Christmas shopping nights available, and each one admits two people.

To be in with a chance of getting one of the invitations, you need to cut out two tokens – the first one is printed below – and an entry form, and take them to the Mercury News shop inside Fenwick.

The invitations will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't delay – cut out your first token today!

Everything from snacks to sofas, fashion to carpets and premium beauty to handbags will be slashed by 20 per cent during the two reader evenings. And there is no limit on how much you can buy!

Store director David Illingworth said staff were excited about the shopping evenings, which are always extremely popular and have a fun and festive atmosphere.

"It is a unique experience for a department store to put everything – and I mean absolutely everything – at 20 per cent off," he said.

"If you have a cup of tea, you get 20 per cent off, same as if you buy menswear, carpets, gloves – everything. The perfumes are a very popular purchase on the night – with 20 per cent off they are even cheaper than buying tax free in the airports.

"Handbags are really popular, too."

As always during the Mercury's Christmas shopping nights, there will be free mulled wine and mince pies in the store's Terrace Restaurant.

Shoppers in Leicester said they were looking forward to the opportunity to save cash while doing their Christmas shopping.

Kathy Pike, 26, of Syston, said; "It's really great. There's nice stuff in there and I would definitely go if it was 20 per cent off."

Reginald Waring, 31, of Evington, said: "I've seen the queues outside in previous years – it's mad!

"Twenty per cent off is a very good deal."

Michelle Thomas, 42, of West End, Leicester, said: "I'll definitely be trying to get an invitation.

"It's a really good opportunity to get discounted stuff."

The events will be held between 5.30pm and 9.30pm on Thursday, November 29, and Thursday, December 6.

For all the information about how to take part, see the panel below.

Candidates in the race to become police and crime commissioner have stepped up their campaigning ahead of this week's vote.

The election for the person who will oversee policing in Leicestershire and Rutland will take place on Thursday, with the winner expected to be announced the next day.

The three candidates were out and about this weekend, spelling out their policies and encouraging people to vote.

The Labour Party's candidate is assistant mayor of Leicester and Westcotes councillor Sarah Russell.

Leicester community worker and businessman Suleman Nagdi is standing as an independent, while the Conservatives are represented by recently-retired Air Chief Marshall Sir Clive Loader, a parish councillor in Wing, Rutland.

All three urged people to familiarise themselves with the voting system which will be used on Thursday. They also gave assessments of how their campaigns were faring.

Coun Russell said: "It feels as if it's going to be very close and I think the turnout will make all the difference.

"All of the candidates have been getting out, meeting as many people as possible and urging them to use their votes.

"But there are still a lot of people who are telling us they do not know about the election or what the role is about."

Mr Nagdi said: "Over the past week I've become more confident. The number of text messages and e-mails has been very encouraging.

"The media and the three candidates' efforts have brought the election to the forefront, in my opinion, more effectively than the Government's advertising campaign.

"I want people to make an informed decision when they vote on Thursday."

Sir Clive was not available for comment but has previously said: "When I go out on the streets I still meet people who know precious little about what the police and crime commissioner is going to do.

"Things are ramping up, though, as the election approaches."

The voting system being used on Thursday is that used in the city's mayoral election .

Voters will put a cross next to the name of their preferred candidate and then, if they wish, their second choice.

Initially, only the first preference votes are counted.

If a candidate has received more than 50 per cent of those votes he or she will be declared the winner. If no candidate has more than 50 per cent, the number of second preference votes for the first and second most popular candidates are counted.

The one with the most is declared the winner.

The police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will replace police authorities, which have set budgets, appointed senior officers and scrutinised force performance.

The Leicestershire and Rutland PCC will earn about £70,000 and will themselves be scrutinised by a panel of councillors.

The Home Office believes commissioners will be more accountable to the public because they are elected, whereas police authority members include appointed councillors, magistrates and independents.

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday.

Counts will take place in each local authority from noon on Friday.

The winner will be announced at the Hermitage leisure centre, in Whitwick, later on Friday.

Leicester Tigers fly-half Matt Cornwell believes the LV= Cup game at Saracens will hugely benefit the club's younger players.

The 27-year-old, who returned to Leicester this summer from Italian side Mogliano, speaks from experience.

Tigers endured a tough first half at Bedford's Goldington Road ground and went into the break 27-0 down.

But they won the second period 21-11 and, while that may have been too little, too late to make a difference to the result, Cornwell says it showed the levels of character and ability within the group,

"I remember being one of those players and looking for your opportunity to kick on in your development," he said.

"It says a lot for the guys that they kept going and that is the mould of a Leicester Tigers player.

"That is what is bred into you as soon as you come into the Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) at 13 or 14, or the Academy at 16 to 17.

"That comes with wearing the Tigers shirt and being associated with one of the best clubs in the world. The boys showed that today.

"We were gutted to lose the game, and to make those errors that gave Sarries a couple of soft scores just before half-time, but the players didn't stop when they were down on the scoreboard.

"They kept working and will all learn from the game, from how they played, how they conducted themselves in key parts of the game, how they got back into it and how they kept going in the second half."

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill gave game time to the likes of lock Joe Cain, hooker Harry Thacker and wingers Alex Lewington and Henry Purdy – all young men with bright futures ahead of them.

Some of those players could get another crack at first-team rugby when London Irish visitWelford Road on Sunday in the next round of the competition.

"There is a step-up in level and intensity in first-team rugby and those young players will learn a lot from it," said Cornwell.

"Some of those guys are not even 20 yet and playing against a good Saracens side, with some good experience on the bench and in the squad.

"All those guys have got to learn from this to progress in their Tigers careers."

A man kicked another man in the head during a scuffle in a takeaway.

The incident began when Gurvinder Kandola went to Chicken and Pizza Express, in Narborough Road, Leicester, to complain about food he had ordered earlier that night.

The 23-year-old had taken his Staffordshire bull terrier to the shop and, while he was arguing with staff, a female customer who was scared of dogs moved away from the defendant and his pet.

The woman's boyfriend asked Kandola, of Kirkland Road, Braunstone, to take the dog outside. He refused and an argument began.

The victim, who was being held back by his girlfriend, lunged towards Kandola and then fell to the floor.

CCTV played in court showed Kandola punch and kick the man in the body and head.

Prosecutor Alan Murphy told Leicester Crown Court: "He was argumentive with staff over what he had perceived to be an inadequate food order.

"The girlfriend is keeping her boyfriend away from the defendant.

"He then lunges forward towards the defendant and loses his footing.

"There are punches from the defendant to the victim while he's on the floor.

"There are kicks, there are more punches and the girlfriend at some stage is trying to protect her boyfriend. She is also on the floor.

"There is a kick to the head area and the victim is not moving at all."

Mr Murphy said that a witness said she saw Kandola kick the man "at least three times in the head" during the incident, which took place at about 1.30am on April 8.

He was taken to hospital and found to have a cut on his head, a lump and bruising above his right eye, bruising on his arm and cuts to his knuckles.

In mitigation, Dominic Benthall told the court that while the kicks were "unjustified" the man had been shouting and swearing at Kandola for some time before the fight.

He said that the CCTV footage showed him being held against the wall by his girlfriend, who was struggling to hold him back.

"It was not his doing that he was drawn into an altercation with other people in the shop," Mr Benthall said.

"Throughout this, he was shouting at him, saying that he was going to snap the dog's neck and 'snap your neck'."

He said Kandola, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was remorseful.

Judge Lynn Tayton QC gave Kandola an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. She ordered him to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work, pay £250 compensation to his victim and £250 towards the prosecution's costs.

"You kicked someone in the head and that could have had the most awful consequences," she said.