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Leicester benefits claimant failed to declare £44,000 in bank

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A benefits cheat failed to declare she had £44,000 in the bank.

Inderjit Kaur pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming housing and council tax benefits.

She pocketed £17,908 to which she was not entitled between 2007 and June last year.

Kaur (45) lived in Fieldhouse Road, Belgrave, when she defrauded the city council.

At Leicester Crown Court yesterday, she was given a 12-month community order with supervision and a requirement to attend a probation service-run course to address her offending. She was also ordered to pay £1,200 costs.

Elizabeth Power, prosecuting, said: "When she began claiming she stated she lived alone and her only income was jobseekers' allowance.

"She stated she had £278 in an Alliance and Leicester account and just under £1,000 in a Nationwide account. She failed to declare a sum of £44,000."

Kaur has since repaid all the money and now lives in Seven Star Road, Solihull, Birmingham.

Judge Michael Pert QC said: "I don't accept your excuse for not notifying the authorities.

"It was straightforward dishonesty from the start.

"Benefit fraud is you stealing from the rest of us, and stealing from the people who are actually deserving of it."

Sukhdev Garcha, mitigating, said: "She is of previous good character. She fully accepts her actions and shows regret and remorse and doesn't try to diminish culpability.

"She had just come out of a difficult marriage. She used the capital for the benefit of her children.

"The benefit money was repaid by her second husband's business.

"She is an intelligent woman and has worked within the mental health sector, although not currently because she is suffering from depression."

Leicester benefits claimant  failed to declare £44,000 in  bank


Jewellery thieves snatch necklace from woman's neck in Leicester street

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Police are appealing for information after a woman had her necklace pulled from around her neck.

It is one of a series of similar incidents in which men and women have been targeted for their jewellery.

The 25-year-old woman was targeted at about 4.15pm on Friday, September 28, in Canon Street, Belgrave, Leicester, near to the junction with Melton Road.

A man approached the victim, pulled her yellow gold chain from her neck and pushed her to the ground.

The suspect then ran away towards Portman Road.

Appealing for witnesses yesterday, Detective Constable Peter Bown, the investigating officer, said: "Thankfully the victim was not hurt, but she was shaken and upset.

"It would have still been light when the robbery occurred, so I am hopeful witnesses will have seen what happened.

"If you think you know the suspect, or witnessed the offence, please call us immediately, it isn't too late to help."

Police this week said they were stepping up patrols in the Belgrave area to coincide with the festivals of Navratri and Diwali, both of which are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the area.

Officers have urged people to, where possible, store expensive items of jewellery in bank or securely at home and only to wear it out when necessary.

Det Con Brown said: "If you wear jewellery out and about, or carry anything of value, we would always suggest you try to keep it concealed from potential thieves."

The suspect is black, slim, about 6ft 3ins, with a narrow or pointed shaped face.

He was clean shaven with a clear complexion, and had black untidy hair which could be seen under his hood.

He was wearing a light grey hooded tracksuit top with a zip down the front.

The Mercury reported earlier this week two friends, women aged 40 and 42, had gold jewellery snatched from them as they walked in Sutton Avenue, Rushey Mead, Leicester, on Saturday, October 13.

The women, who were targeted as they walked to a shop with their children at 9.30pm, were not injured.

Two men on bikes threatened them before taking a necklace, bracelet, ring and a watch.

Anyone with any information about the Belgrave incident is asked to contact Det Con Bown on 101.

To report information about the Rushey Mead incident, call Detective Constable Amanda Thwaites on 101, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Jewellery thieves snatch necklace from woman's neck in Leicester street

Education Secretary Michael Gove asks Leicester's MPs to back his academy plans

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Education Secretary Michael Gove has written to Leicester's MPs asking them to support plans to turn under-performing primary schools into academies.

In a speech yesterday, Mr Gove said there were a number of communities where "local forces of conservatism" had worked against reform.

He said he was starting to address this by writing to MPs in Leicester and Derby, where too many primaries had been judged unsatisfactory by Ofsted.

Mr Gove said: "I want to invite MPs in those communities to work with me to open up the education system in their areas to the new providers who can raise standards."

Academies are semi-independent state schools which receive funding directly and have more powers over areas such as the curriculum and staff pay.

Last year, Mr Gove said the Government planned to turn 200 of the worst primaries in England – seven of them in Leicester – into academies.

Under-performing schools are those where under 60 per cent of pupils are reaching level four – the expected standard for the age group – in reading, writing and maths.

So far, only Queensmead Community Primary, in Braunstone, has made the decision to convert to an academy.

It will make the move on November 1, with the help of sponsor Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust, a not-for-profit charity.

However, provisional Sats results for 11-year-olds at Beaumont Lodge and Heatherbrook primaries, in Beaumont Leys, Rushey Mead Primary and Northfield House, in Northfields, reveal they have not made the Government's benchmark.

Mr Gove's letter to MPs said there was strong evidence that sponsored academies have "transformed the lives of children" by raising standards.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was surprised Mr Gove had chosen to write to the city's MPs and not him.

He said: "There's no evidence to show academies help schools achieve better results.

"The overwhelming majority of our schools have made it clear they want to remain part of a family under the local authority."

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth and Leicester West MP Liz Kendall were unavailable for comment, but Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said he was happy to meet Mr Gove to discuss his proposals.

He said: "Leicester schools have strengthened enormously in the past five years."

Four city primaries are judged inadequate by Ofsted: Avenue Primary, in Clarendon Park; Braunstone Frith Juniors and Queensmead Primary, in Braunstone; and Merrydale Junior, in Humberstone.

Education Secretary  Michael Gove asks  Leicester's MPs  to back his academy plans

Leicester Tigers are 'close to hitting their top form', insists Tom Youngs

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Leicester Tigers head to Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday knowing that if they have not quite hit top form, they are close to it.

Hooker Tom Youngs believes Tigers demonstrated that in seeing off the Ospreys 39-22 in Sunday's Heineken Cup tie at Welford Road.

"That sort of game has been coming for a while," he said. "Things that we have been working on haven't quite happened for us but we showed we could do it against the Ospreys.

"It was an awesome win. To get those five points and the way we did it was tremendous.

"We just told ourselves to keep going and not take our foot off the gas when we started scoring, and we didn't."

Strength in depth was one of the keys to Tigers' success and the players who went on in the second half helped build the pressure against the Welsh side.

"Our bench was outstanding and it was great to have Louis Deacon back out there," added Youngs. "When you hear him speak, you think, 'Right, okay then!'

"The bench injected that pace that we wanted to finish them off.

"Everyone is knackered but everyone is happy after last week's performance (in Toulouse). It releases the pressure.

"We are in a good place. Treviso are not easy any more and you have to work for whatever you get. Ospreys away and Toulouse at home will be close and they are the games you want to play in."

Youngs only made his Heineken Cup debut against Toulouse 10 days ago but he is revelling in the European action and the atmosphere.

"I have loved the last two weeks and it has been another notch up and something that I want to keep experiencing," he said.

"I have taken a couple of steps forward in everything, I think. It's hard when you come off the bench and then begin starting matches. It took a while to get used to that and I am getting used to it now and getting near to where I need to be.

"The atmosphere against Ospreys was awesome, especially when Toby Flood scored his try, and that makes a difference.

"When we get into their 22 and the crowd at Welford Road get to their feet, it lifts you off the ground a bit."

Leicester Tigers are 'close to hitting their top form', insists Tom Youngs

Match verdict: Leicester City 1 Brighton 0 - Foxes march on at top of table

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Andy King's 10th minute strike saw Leicester City cement their lead at the top of the Championship table with a 1-0 win against Brighton at the King Power Stadium last night.

City boss Nigel Pearson went with the same side that grabbed the point that took them to the top of the division at Birmingham on Saturday, which meant there was no recall for Ben Marshall, who scored the equaliser at St Andrew's.

7 mins: A Martyn Waghorn free-kick from 25 yards is tipped around the post by Tomasz Kuszczak. The Seagulls keeper seemed to see it late. City have started brightly and force four consecutive corners.

10 mins: GOAL 1-0 David Nugent does superbly to hold the ball up and pick out the trademark run of Andy King, whose first shot is blocked but tucks away the rebound for his fourth goal of the season. It did not take long to breach the tightest defence in the league, which is now reeling under the City onslaught.

13 mins: Ritchie De Laet embarks on a powerful surging run from full-back and crosses low for Waghorn, but he sidefoots his effort over the bar. It was a great chance for the second.

23 mins: Anthony Knockaert jinks to the by-line and hooks a cross over which Lloyd Dyer is inches away from connecting with. It is all City so far.

27 mins: Waghorn chests the ball down to Knockaert who runs at the Brighton defence and tests Kuszczak with a strike from the edge of the area. The former Manchester United keeper had to palm it away as the ball moved in the air.

41 mins: A let-off for City as De Laet gifts Craig Mackail-Smith the ball 30 yards out with a sloppy pass, but he does not take advantage with a tame effort. City have allowed Brighton back into the game in the last 15 minutes. The visitors are having much more possession now, but are not doing too much with it to really worry City.

h-t: City 1 Brighton 0

50 mins: Nugent forces a good save from Kuszczak with a curling effort from an acute angle. Brighton had started the second half brightly but City create the first real opportunity.

53 mins: Penalty to Brighton. Will Buckley skips past Paul Konchesky and races into the box. He takes on Zak Whitbread, who blocks his run. The referee did not seem to give the penalty until the linesman flags. The ref is closer but he takes the linesman's advice.

54 mins: BOOKING De Laet for encroaching inside the penalty box.

55 mins: Ashley Barnes takes the kick and sends it to Kasper Schmeichel's left but the City keeper guesses the right way and produces a great stop. Barnes fires the rebound over the bar. Kasper's dad, Peter, who was watching from the stands, would have appreciated that save.

56 mins: SUBSTITUTION Liam Moore on for De Laet, who limps off. City now down to their last four fit defenders.

57 mins: Waghorn picks out Lloyd Dyer's run with a pinpoint cross but Dyer can only head wide. The game has sprung to life.

67 mins: BOOKING Liam Bridcutt for cynical foul on Waghorn to stop City on a promising break.

68 mins: SUBSTITUTION Jamie Vardy on for Nugent.

71 mins: SUBSTITUTION Ben Marshall on for Waghorn.

74 mins: City look likely to get a second and King drags a shot just wide of the far post.

79 mins: Marshall forces Kuszczak into a smart stop with a low cross from an acute angle, with Vardy waiting to pounce.

84 mins: A let-off for City as Barnes heads over from a corner. City need to stay alert to protect their lead.

86 mins: Marshall again forces the Seagulls keeper into action with a low drive at the near post.

90+4 mins: The final whistle blows and the biggest crowd of the season salutes a sixth consecutive City home victory during this campaign.

f-t: City 1 Brighton 0

Match verdict: Leicester City 1 Brighton 0 - Foxes march on at top of table

Poppy Appeal fun run comes to Leicestershire

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Families and fundraisers alike will mark the first Sunday of the Poppy Appeal by donning their running shoes and embarking on a 5k fun run in Leicestershire. Taking place in New Hicks Lodge, participants will run, jog or walk around the woodland, enjoying the variety of trails and pausing for refreshments at Hick's Lodge Café. The run, which is non-competitive and family-friendly, aims to raise money for the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal. The team behind the Leicestershire run expects around 100 people to attend. Online entry closes at midnight today. Organisers will post an announcement on the 'Event Entry' section of the Poppy Run website tomorrow morning if 'entry on the day' places are available. Now in their second year, Poppy Runs are being held at 12 locations across the country on Sunday, including Birmingham, Hastings, Nottingham and London. A Poppy Run will also take place at Camp Bastion on Remembrance Sunday. Last year the runs nationwide raised £7,200. Organisers hope to this year pull in £10,000. The Poppy Run is organised and managed by Cowan Global Events in partnership with the Royal British Legion, who run the annual Poppy Appeal. All proceeds from the event will go to the Poppy Appeal. Cowan Global Events is part of Cowan Global, and exists with the sole intention of staging events to raise funds for and awareness of good causes. The Race for Life is the brainchild of company founder Jim Cowan. Mr Cowan told This is Leicestershire: "We are very pleased and very proud to be able to organise this event with the help of our fantastic volunteers around the country, to help raise awareness of the work of the Poppy Appeal not just now but the whole year round". Poppy Run organisers say the aim is to increase the number of venues at which runs are held each year. They have a target of more than 100 Poppy Runs each year by 2016, with participant numbers totalling as many as 100,000, raising more than £1 million annually by 2020. The New Hicks Lodge Poppy Run kicks off on Sunday at 11am. To find out more, visit www.poppy-run.com.

Poppy Appeal fun run comes to Leicestershire

CCTV appeal after tax driver assaulted in Coalville

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Leicestershire police want to trace two men after a taxi driver was assaulted in Coalville. The attack happened between 12.15am and 12.30am on Friday, September 23, in Broom Leys Road and the taxi driver received minor injuries to his face. Pc Rhys Warner said:" We are keen to trace these men as we believe they could have information which will help with our enquiries. "I would also encourage anyone who recognises them, who knows who or where they are to get in touch. Likewise, if this is you please contact us as soon as possible." Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Warner on 101.

CCTV appeal after tax driver assaulted in Coalville

McCann's case against lawyer to be heard soon

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The parents of Madeleine McCann have won their latest court spat with a retired lawyer who they say has mounted a libelous harassment campaign against them.
Gerry and Kate McCann, of Rothley, are asking the High Court to jail 65-year-old Tony Bennett who they say has persisted in spreading false allegations against them, both on-line and in print.
Mr Bennett, of Harlow, Essex, in November 2009 promised to stop making wounding allegations that the couple were guilty, or suspected of, causing their daughter's death, disposing of her body and trying to cover up what they had done.
But Mr and Mrs McCann's lawyers claim he has since breached that formal undertaking more than 150 times and are seeking his imprisonment, or other punishment, for alleged contempt of court.
At the High Court today, Mr Justice Tugendhat underlined the vital importance of court orders and undertakings being obeyed and directed that the couple's case against Mr Bennett be heard "as soon as practicable".
Madeleine went missing in May 2007 from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where her parents had been holidaying with friends.

McCann's case against lawyer to be heard soon


Legal executive, from Hinckley, stole £205,000 from her employer

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A legal executive has been jailed after confessing to stealing £205,000 from her employer. Ruth Turner, of Hinckley, used the money to pay for home improvements and "buy friends" with expensive shopping sprees, meals and concert trips, Coventry Crown Court heard. She secretly carried out a sophisticated scheme to deprive Kundert Solicitors, of Coventry, of the funds. Using the completion of house sales as a cover, she transferred sums of about £10,000 into her bank accounts at a time. The most taken at once was £21,000. The elaborate fraud went undetected by colleagues but came to light when she confessed to police last year. Turner, of Sunnydale Road, started work at the company as a secretary in 2006, progressing to the role of conveyancing executive on an annual salary of £36,000. The 46-year-old was jailed for three years after admitting abusing her position as a company executive to syphon funds, between February 2009 and September 2011. Prosecutor Ian Ball told the court Turner committed the crime because she found it a struggle to pay spiralling debts and had felt like a social outcast for most of her life. "She found that by taking friends to lavish events, shopping, meals, that she was suddenly popular," he said. "The money was going out as quickly as it was coming in, spending some on the house, taking friends out and going to concerts, including Neil Diamond twice in one week." Mr Ball said Turner fled Kundert Solicitors' offices in September after an outburst colleagues assumed was due to personal problems. Turner returned to work the next day as normal but turned herself in at a police station the following Monday to confess – taking with her bank statements. Mr Ball said she told police she had stolen about £400,000, but due to lack of evidence could only be charged over £205,000. Turner, who has an adult son and was the primary carer for her 75-year-old mother, admitted the charge. Graham Russell, for Turner, painted a picture of a woman "driven to desperation" against a background of an abusive relationship, financial problems and mental health issues, including depression and compulsive behaviours. He said his client felt so ashamed of what she had done, she had attempted suicide before handing herself in to police. Mr Russell said: "I would suggest, having in mind the abusive relationship she was in and that she was having difficulty with compulsive eating and drinking, that would go some way to explaining the compulsive stealing and spending." The court was told Kundert faced doubled insurance premiums and a £100,000 investigation bill. Sentencing Turner, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones described the defendant's actions as a "serious abuse of trust" which risked the company in a tough economic climate and put colleagues' jobs in jeopardy. He said: "You were doing it out of greed, and you weren't really being as generous as you felt when you were treating friends with this extravagant lifestyle because it wasn't your money." A Kundert Solicitors official who attended the hearing declined to comment.

Legal executive, from Hinckley,  stole £205,000 from her employer

Andy King crowns win as Leicester City stay on top of Championship

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Leicester City maintained their lead at the top of the Championship and preserved their 100 per cent home record, but they needed an excellent penalty save from Kasper Schmeichel to do it.

Schmeichel pulled off a great save to deny Ashley Barnes from the penalty spot in the 55th minute to maintain City's slender advantage, which was given to them in the 10th minute by Andy King.

The Dane, who was watched from the stands by his famous goalkeeping father Peter, guessed the right way and parried Barnes' effort away.

Schmeichel was then was up in a flash to force Barnes to hammer the rebound over the bar.

Schmeichel had not had much to do until Zak Whitbread was adjudged to have fouled Will Buckley inside the area, and City really should have been further ahead after dominating the first half hour.

They created numerous chances and had 12 shots on target as they exuded the confidence of a side that is now unbeaten in seven games.

City had started superbly and King fired them into the lead with his fourth goal of the season, having breached the meanest defence in the Championship.

Other chances slipped away but King's goal was enough to ensure that City recorded their sixth consecutive home victory this season, and they can boast one of only two 100 per cent home records in the division, after Cardiff's late winner against Watford.

It is City's best run at home since they notched eight on the bounce in January 2009.

The only sour note for City was an injury to Ritchie De Laet which, if serious, will leave manager Nigel Pearson's defensive options further depleted as Sean St Ledger remains out of action with a hamstring injury.

City will be looking to make it seven on the spin on Saturday when they entertain high-flying Crystal Palace, who lost manager Dougie Freedman to Bolton yesterday morning.

Andy King crowns win as Leicester City stay on top of Championship

Apply now to complete your Dance Arts Award!

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Love to dance? Want a qualification suited to you?!

Apply now to achieve your Arts Award Qualification with acclaimed dance company Movin'2gether!

Movin'2gether are working with De Montfort University's Square Mile Project to provide young people with an opportunity to achieve their Bronze and Silver Arts Award!!


The Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification managed by Trinity College London in association with Arts Council England. It's a fantastic opportunity for young people to develop their creativity and explore further their interest in dance in a qualification that's suited to them. Movin'2gether are trained Arts Award advisors that provide an opportunity for participants to engage with dance in a practical and theoretical way. 

We still have places on the Movin'2Silver and Movin'Bronze Arts Award programme. These will both be starting in November and will take place on a Wednesday evening with a few extra intensive days! Participants will also have the chance to take part in a final showcase of their work!

CONTACT US NOW TO RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION FORM!

Or for more information email movin'2gether@gmail.com or call 07926004915

You can also tweet us! @movin_2gether

Faulty car light led to drugs find

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A defective brake light on a businessman's car led to him being caught with more than £11,000 worth of cocaine.

Depesh Ravalia (24) was stopped in St George's Way, Leicester, because of the faulty light.

Officers were suspicious and looked inside the vehicle, and found a small amount of the class C drug BZP in a hat.

The discovery, on December 29, resulted in Ravalia's home in Huggett Close, Rushey Mead, Leicester, being searched.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, told a jury at Leicester Crown Court that three wraps, with a total of 68 grams of cocaine, were found in his wardrobe.

Ravalia, who runs a hairdressing business in the city, denied possession with intent to supply, but was convicted by a jury yesterday after a trial.

He was remanded into custody and told to expect a substantial prison sentence.

Ravalia claimed he bought the cocaine for £60 as a "treat" to have over Christmas. He got it from a dealer on a street.

He said he was not addicted to the drug and it was for his personal use.

Mr Murphy said the cocaine was "high grade" – mostly about 75 per cent pure.

The average purity of street deals were said to be between 10 and 15 per cent.

Detective Constable Iain Hollis said the 68 grams were worth £3,750 wholesale but could be cut to achieve a street value of £11,920.

He said the amount Ravalia was found with was "beyond realistic personal use".

Ravalia admitted possessing the BZP in his car and possessing the cocaine for his own use.

After being convicted unanimously of intending to supply the cocaine, Judge Simon Hammond said: "There's only one person in this court who knows what the real purpose was and he's chosen not to tell us."

He told the defendant: "Your defence of buying 68 grams of high-grade cocaine for a mere £60 with a street value of over £11,000 was ridiculous.

"It's serious because it involved a significant amount and could have been cut to make more than 200 deals.

"You told the jury you weren't addicted to cocaine so that means you were in it for money.

"You can expect a significant custodial sentence because of the damage cocaine does to people's lives."

The case was adjourned until November 19, for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court

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Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Peter Mawby, (25) of Nithsdale Avenue, Market Harborough, pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in Leicester on January 25.

He also admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour against six people, and assaulting a man by beating him, on the same date, also in Leicester.

Mawby was ordered to pay two of his victims a total of £200 compensation.

He was given a 12-week prison term, suspended for a year, and placed under an eight-week curfew.

He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community and to pay £150 costs.

Duane Fox, (42) of Northdene Road, West Knighton, Leicester pleaded guilty to driving without a valid licence in Leicester on April 29. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £60 and ordered to pay £60 costs.

Bozena Skowronska, (46) of Hamilton Street, Evington, Leicester, pleaded guilty to driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone, namely King Richard's Road, Leicester, on April 8. She was fined £65 with £60 costs and had three points endorsed on her licence.

Billy Pratt, (25) of Harlaxton Road, off Narborough Road, Leicester pleaded guilty to destroying clothes worth £1,500 belonging to someone else between June 1 and 15.

He was ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation and placed under a restraining order not to contact the victim in any way for two years. He was also fined £200.

Woman confessed to £205,000 theft

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A legal executive used £205,000 stolen from her employer to improve her home and treat friends – including going to Neil Diamond concerts.

Ruth Turner, of Hinckley, confessed to using the money to pay for home improvements and to "buy friends" with shopping sprees, meals and concerts, Coventry Crown Court heard.

She carried out a sophisticated scheme to deprive Kundert Solicitors, of Coventry, of the money.

Using the completion of house sales as a cover, she transferred sums of about £10,000 into her bank accounts at a time. The most taken at once was £21,000.

The elaborate fraud went undetected by colleagues but came to light when she confessed to police last year.

Turner, of Sunnydale Road, started work at the company as a secretary in 2006, progressing to the role of conveyancing executive on an annual salary of £36,000.

The 46-year-old was jailed for three years after admitting abusing her position as a company executive to syphon funds, between February 2009 and September 2011.

Prosecutor Ian Ball told the court Turner committed the crime because she struggled to pay spiralling debts and felt like a social outcast.

"She found that by taking friends to lavish events, shopping, meals, she was suddenly popular," he said.

"The money was going out as quickly as it was coming in, spending on the house, taking friends out and going to concerts, including Neil Diamond twice in a week."

Mr Ball said Turner fled Kundert Solicitors' offices in September after an outburst colleagues assumed was due to personal problems.

Turner returned to work the next day as normal but turned herself in at a police station the following Monday to confess – taking with her bank statements.

Mr Ball said she told police she had stolen about £400,000, but due to lack of evidence could only be charged over £205,000.

Turner, who has an adult son and was the primary carer for her 75-year-old mother, admitted the charge.

Graham Russell, for Turner, painted a picture of a woman "driven to desperation" against a background of an abusive relationship, financial problems and mental health issues, including depression and compulsive behaviours.

He said his client felt so ashamed of what she had done, she had attempted suicide before handing herself in to police.

Mr Russell said: "I would suggest, having in mind the abusive relationship she was in and that she was having difficulty with compulsive eating and drinking, that would go some way to explaining the compulsive stealing and spending."

The court was told Kundert faced doubled insurance premiums and a £100,000 investigation bill.

Sentencing Turner, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones described the defendant's actions as a "serious abuse of trust" which risked the company in a tough economic climate and put colleagues' jobs in jeopardy.

He said: "You were doing it out of greed and you weren't really being as generous as you felt when you were treating friends with this extravagant lifestyle because it wasn't your money."

A Kundert Solicitors official who attended the hearing declined to comment.

McCanns get ruling on alleged 'harassment'

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The parents of Madeleine McCann have successfully argued for a speedy hearing in their dispute with a retired lawyer they say has mounted a libelous harassment campaign against them.

Gerry and Kate McCann, of Rothley, are asking the High Court to jail 65-year-old Tony Bennett, who they say has persisted in spreading false allegations against them, both on-line and in print.

Mr Bennett, of Harlow, Essex, promised in November 2009 to stop making allegations that the couple were guilty of, or suspected of, causing their daughter's death, disposing of her body and trying to cover up what they had done.

Mr and Mrs McCann's lawyers claim he has since breached that formal undertaking more than 150 times and are seeking his imprisonment, or other punishment, for alleged contempt of court.

At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Tugendhat underlined the vital importance of court orders and undertakings being obeyed and directed that the couple's case against Mr Bennett be heard "as soon as practicable".

Mr Bennett is asking the court to vary the undertakings he gave in 2009 so that he can publish to the world at large what he claims is "credible evidence" that Madeleine died in her parents' holiday apartment, that her parents have covered this up and have, on occasions, lied about matters connected to her reported disappearance.

The McCanns "deny that there is any truth in any of the allegations which Mr Bennett wishes to be free to make" and argue that his continued publication of "numerous grave and actionable libels" against them amounts to harassment.

Madeleine went missing in May 2007 from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where her parents – both doctors from Rothley – had been holidaying with a group of friends.


18-year-old who could not drive took and crashed step-mum's car

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A depressed teenager smashed up his disabled step-mum's £26,000 car after taking it for a night-time spin without permission.

James Winkinins (18), who could not drive, crashed the Vauxhall Insignia into an Astra, damaging both beyond repair, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said the Insignia belonged to the defendant's step-mother, Mabel, a wheelchair user who had acquired it under the Mobility scheme.

She left the vehicle at the family home in Derby on September 8.

The police were called to the scene of the crash in Stonehill, Castle Donington, at 4am the next day.

Miss Rose said: "Witnesses saw a male running from the scene."

The defendant returned soon afterwards to admit he was the driver.

Miss Rose said: "He told officers the car was his step-mother's and he'd never driven before."

Winkinins, of Brighton Road, Alvaston, Derby, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and driving without a licence or insurance.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Philip Gibbs, mitigating, said: "His step-mother and father are in court and are supportive.

"There's been a good deal of soul searching within the family.

"His parents believe the effect of being prosecuted will have a lasting effect on the defendant. He knows he's been incredibly stupid."

Mr Gibbs said Winkinins went on holiday with his father and step-mother, returning to find his mother had moved away with her boyfriend and he was not allowed to join them.

Mr Gibbs said: "He was devastated and has been receiving treatment and counselling for depression, although it doesn't excuse what he did.

"He had paid the excess on her insurance.

"He's now got a job and is doing well."

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "If coming to court has put you in fear, it's no bad thing."

MPs dismiss academy call

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MPs have hit out at calls by the Education Secretary to support the conversion of city primary schools to academies.

Michael Gove wrote to Leicester's Labour MPs, Jon Ashworth, Keith Vaz and Liz Kendall, asking them to support plans to convert under-performing primaries into sponsored academies.

In what is being seen as a dig at the Labour-run city council, Mr Gove said in a speech this week that "local forces of conservatism" were working against reform.

Leicester has one of the lowest numbers of academy schools in the country.

Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, said Mr Gove was "oblivious" to the progress being made in the city's schools.

"There's not one ounce of complacency in the city as we all work hard to raise the achievements of every child, in every school," she said.

"That means doing even more to improve early years services, getting the best teachers in place, engaging with parents and building effective partnerships so schools learn from each other.

"Unlike Mr Gove, who has never been to Leicester West, I visit a different primary here each week.

"I'm happy to meet him to discuss what our schools really need, rather than simply have him issue instructions from on high."

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth said he would support schools and parents in favour of the change, but said: "I don't want to support Mr Gove sitting in Whitehall attempting to railroad his preferred structure on to Leicester.

"If he was really committed to raising standards he wouldn't be imposing the biggest cut to school budgets since the 1950s."

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said he was happy to meet the Education Secretary to discuss proposals, but said the city's schools had improved enormously over the past five years.

In his letter, Mr Gove said there were compelling arguments for conversion.

He said: "A transformative drive has not taken root in Leicester, where too many schools under-perform.

"This is particularly the case for primaries."

Provisional test results from the summer showed 90 per cent of children in the city made the expected level of progress at English – compared with 89 per cent nationally.

In maths, 87 per cent of youngsters in Leicester made the expected level of progress – on a par with those nationally.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said: "The data shows our strong partnership is improving standards without changing a school's governance.

"Why would we want to waste time changing this when we know what we're doing works?"

Peter Flack, assistant secretary for Leicester's branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Leicester has no more under-performing schools than anywhere else.

"What's different is that we have very few academies.

"Mr Gove is intent on forcing his privatisation agenda and isn't interested in learning or pupil progress."

Last year, Mr Gove said the Government planned to turn 200 of the worst primaries in England – seven of them in Leicester – into academies.

Since then, one – Queensmead, in Braunstone – has made the decision to convert.

Festival celebrating defeat of evil king draws crowds

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Hundreds gathered to watch a villain from Hindu writings being burned as part of a religious celebration.

The Dashera festival, held at Cossington Road recreation ground, in Belgrave, Leicester, last night, marked the defeat of the evil King Ravana by Lord Rama, a form of the god Vishnu.

Each year, the spectacle of the towering effigy being set alight draws masses of people to the park.

The event also included fireworks, fairground rides, music and stage performances.

Mahul Visram, from Oadby, who was there with his daughter Esha and son Mahir, said: "It's been a bit cold this year but it was great fireworks.

"It's a religious celebration, with the burning of the big effigy, but it's also fun."

Esha, 10, said: "I like it because it's a celebration of what our God did to protect us."

Mahir, nine, said: "I really enjoyed it. It's a good celebration and I loved the fireworks."

Rashmi Meghani, from Belgrave, who was there with her husband and son, said: "We don't come every year but it's a nice event for the kids and everyone.

"They celebrate this everywhere in India and here and it's a nice chance to get together and enjoy the dancing, and nice for the dancing groups.

"It's cold but when the fireworks started everyone was really enjoying themselves."

Transport service 'must do better'

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A company which has a £31.3 million contract to ferry patients to and from hospital appointments has been told to improve its service.

The order came after Government health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Ambuline often picked up patients late, did not have a proper plan in place for cleaning ambulances and allowed new staff to start work before Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks were complete.

Inspectors, who spent two days talking to staff and patients in September, said in a report: "People using the service told us they were regularly late for hospital appointments.

"One person who used the service told us, 'we've tried to complain about being picked up late but they don't want to know'."

Inspectors said that, although company bosses assured them all staff were CRB checked before beginning work, they "did not find this to be the case".

There was also concern at the amount and quality of staff training.

One member of staff told inspectors: "I don't feel the new starter process is adequate. We would get people who were good at their job if they got the proper training."

The CQC team was also concerned there did not appear to be "effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection" and said Ambuline "could not provide evidence of any cleaning regimes in place".

Inspectors also found a lack of auditing to monitor the service being given to patients and said patients had told them the vehicles used by Ambuline were "not big enough for three people to sit in the back".

The inspectors did, however, see staff treating patients with dignity and respect and using "good moving and handling practices".

Ambuline has been given until tomorrow to inform the CQC about its plans for improvement.

Inspectors will then check that those improvements have taken place.

Ambuline Ltd is part of Arriva Transport Solutions, which has a five-year contract worth £31.3 million to transport patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. It took over the service on July 1 from East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Brian Drury, programme director for Ambuline in this region, said: "We welcome the CQC inspection. It provides us with an independent perspective on the service we provide and areas in which we can improve the patient experience.

"The inspection did not find any areas where enforceable action was required.

"There were five areas of operations that the CQC highlighted as having a possible minor to moderate affect.

"Action plans have been put in place to address these areas of concern, some of which have already been delivered, such as the better recording of the deep cleaning of vehicles which was taking place."

Mr Drury said the company provided 8,500 journeys per week and received about 30 complaints per week.

Zuffar Haq, of the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel, said: "Action needs to be taken swiftly and, if not, action taken to withdraw the contract from Arriva."

Transport    service  'must  do better'

Parking fine vicar in wait to find out if ticket is quashed

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A priest who was given a parking fine on his church ambulance is waiting to find out if an independent adjudicator will quash the ticket.

Father Frank Daly, of St Peter's Church, in Hinckley, is refusing to pay the fine, which was issued at the annual Churches Together Good Friday event.

The church ambulance was parked in a loading bay in Market Place, Hinckley, so it could take worshippers home from a lunchtime service.

Leicestershire County Council bosses have refused to rescind the ticket, and an independent adjudication hearing was held at the Holiday Inn, in Leicester, yesterday.

Adjudicator Gill Ekins reserved the decision after hearing evidence from Fr Daly and from Denise Hough, who works in the council's notice processing unit.

Fr Daly said: "I'm just sad it has come to this."

During the hearing, Fr Daly argued he thought the blue badge on the vehicle allowed him to park in the loading bay – and the council should show discretion.

The Good Friday event was "enormously important" to the people who attended, "many of whom are elderly and disabled," he said.

Adjudicator Mrs Ekins asked Mrs Hough how officers decided that discretion should not be used in the case of Fr Daly's ticket.

Mrs Hough said it was applied on a case-by-case basis.

A final decision will be made in the coming weeks.

The hearing was organised by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which decides whether to uphold or cancel parking penalties issued by councils.

It is understood there is no direct cost to the council associated with an individual adjudication hearing, and the service is funded by a levy of 65p placed on each ticket issued in England.

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