Life-saving search and rescue gear stolen in charity raid
Cathedral service marks 40 years since Ugandan exodus
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson talks about flying charity
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson found a quiet moment before the band's headline show to promote a charity helping disabled people take to the skies.
The heavy metal singer is also well-known for his former day job as a commercial airline pilot. Now CEO of airline maintenance and technical support firm, Cardiff Aviation Ltd, the rocker has also been vice-patron of the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) charity for the past three years.
Set up in memory of Second World War paraplegic flying ace Douglas Bader, its aim is to help disabled people realise their abilities through learning to fly.
The charity is currently looking to recruit flyers in Leicestershire.
Bruce, 54, met three of the scheme's recent graduates on Saturday in the peaceful surroundings of Castle Donington's Priest House Hotel.
"It's not just about teaching people with disabilities to fly, it's much more than that," he said. "It's about creating friendships, and there's a whole community around it and support system that comes with people encouraging each other.
"It's something I'm very proud to be involved in."
Mary Doyle, 43, from Hertfordshire, has cerebral palsy, while former soldiers Sean Allerton, 47, from Leeds, and Luke Delahunty, 44, from Buckinghamshire, were both badly injured in motorcycle crashes.
Sean, who was left wheelchair-bound after breaking his neck in 1993, said of the charity: "I would encourage anyone to give it a go."
www.fsfdp.org.uk
Download 2013: 90,000 rockers and metalheads enjoy the sounds of Rammstein, Slipknot, Iron maiden and loads more
Donington Park screamed into life at the weekend as 90,000 rock and metal fans flooded on to the near-sacred fields of north west Leicestershire for the 10th Download Festival.
Headliners Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein – supported by the likes of Alice in Chains, Mastodon, Korn and Queens of the Stone Age – made 2013's head-banging bash a highly-memorable outing for those who made it to rock music's spiritual home.
Among the faithful was Andie Bainger, who was having her hen party at Donington before marrying her fiance, Douglas Trainer, in Lake Como, in Italy, in September. "I'm here for Rammstein: industrial metal all the way," said Andie, from Hertfordshire.
"And I'm here because it rocks and I'm among my own people and among my best friends."
Friend Naomi Weight originally arranged for Andie just to see Berlin's cult metallers on the Sunday, but it soon escalated and the hens signed up for the whole weekend.
"Who would go anywhere else," said the bride-to-be, "when I can be here with 90,000 of my closest friends?"
With many of the festival-goers embracing fancy dress, the five-strong hen party added that the craziest sight they had seen was of a man staggering around dressed as a Nazi zombie.
"He was awesome," said Naomi, "but his poor girlfriend had to carry around his arm."
Among Donington's perennially healthy local turnout were relatives Shane, Steve and David Buckley, who had travelled from Leicester Forest East and Beaumont Leys to be there.
"Alice in Chains were absolutely brilliant," said Steve. "Slipknot were amazing, so were Korn."
"Black Stone Cherry, they were the band of the weekend," said David.
Shane, from Beaumont Leys, said: "We came last year as well, but compared to last year the music's been amazing. The one thing is the ridiculously priced beer. I've just paid £4.50 for a pint."
A spokeswoman for festival organiser Live Nation said Download 2013 had been a typically relaxed and good-natured event, although during Friday night's splintering headline set from Slipknot, crowd surges forced the band to stop their set twice.
Among the festival's international contingent were Lotta, Linda and Anna, from Hederfors, a town near Gothenburg, in Sweden. Lotta, a fire breather, said: "There are so many people. Although the English boys all seem pretty polite. Every time they squeeze past you, they're saying 'sorry'."
See the links below for more video/pictures and words from Download: • PICTURES: Download 2013 - bands and fans on Saturday • PICTURES: Download 2013 - more bands and fans on Saturday • PICTURES: Download 2013 - bands and fans on Friday • INTERVIEW:Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson ready to bring the noise • REVIEW: Download day one • PICTURES: Download 2013 - fans arrive at Donington Park • ALMOST READY TO ROCK: Campers rock 'n' roll up for the Download festival• PREVIEW: The top acts to see at Download FestivalNo Half measures as Leigh Halfpenny cashes in for Lions v New South Wales Waratahs
Leigh Halfpenny produced a command performance as the British & Irish Lions outclassed New South Wales Waratahs 47-17 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.
The unbeaten Lions delivered their best display Down Under just seven days before tackling Australia.
Wales full-back Halfpenny scored 30 points – two tries, four conversions and four penalties – while fly-half Jonathan Sexton, Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft and centre Jonathan Davies also added touchdowns to complete an outstanding team performance.
The Waratahs played their part – centre Tom Carter claimed two tries – but they were ultimately outclassed, with Halfpenny finishing just seven short of equalling the all-time individual Lions points record set by Alan Old in 1974.
There was, though, another injury scare for the Lions when centre Jamie Roberts limped off midway through the final quarter.
He appeared in considerable discomfort as he departed, adding his name to the Lions' injury list that is currently headed by juggernaut wing George North.
The watching Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans, though, would have been far more concerned by the Lions' quality of play, rather than any injury count.
There were outstanding displays by Halfpenny, Davies, Sexton, wing Simon Zebo – he enjoyed a high-class Lions debut just four days after arriving from America as injury cover – locks Paul O'Connell and Alun-Wyn Jones, plus Tigers hooker Tom Youngs.
At times, the Waratahs were blown away by the Lions' pace, intensity and support play, and they will arrive in Brisbane on Saturday as favourites to take the opening Test series rubber.
On last Saturday's evidence, Australia have got it all to do as the Lions target a first Test series triumph since they beat South Africa 2-1 in 1997.
The Lions made a blistering start against the Waratahs, moving 10-0 ahead after just six minutes – and it could have been even more.
Zebo thought he had scored with his first touch of the ball in a Lions shirt on 40 seconds, but Waratahs full-back Drew Mitchell completed a superb try-saving tackle.
Halfpenny, though, kicked a 50-metre penalty three minutes later, before superb approach work from the Wales full-back, Zebo and Davies created an opening for Sexton that he finished emphatically.
Halfpenny landed the touchline conversion, leaving the Waratahs with an early mountain to climb as they faced a Lions side that had moved up a gear in terms of intensity.
Sexton then took a huge tackle from Waratahs lock Will Skelton and, as he was receiving treatment, the Lions conceded a soft try, with Carter being freed in space and capitalising on some weak defensive work.
Scrum-half Bernard McKibbin added the extras from wide out before another successful Halfpenny penalty ended a fast and furious opening quarter with the Lions 13-7 in front.
The game was of a similar pace to the clash against Queensland Reds the week before, but the Lions looked more composed under pressure this time, and another Halfpenny penalty extended their advantage to nine points.
McKibbin then found his range from 45 metres, before Halfpenny converted his own try and the Lions trooped off well ahead at the halfway stage.
They began the second period in similar fashion to the first by posting an early try when Sexton, Roberts and Davies combined at pace to give Halfpenny an easy run-in.
Halfpenny's conversion gave him 25 points in the game, and even though Carter claimed his second touchdown shortly afterwards – converted by McKibbin – the Lions still enjoyed control.
Another Halfpenny penalty, his fourth, made him the highest points-scorer in one match for the Lions against New South Wales, and with the Waratahs tiring, more opportunities looked set to present themselves.
Lions head coach Warren Gatland made six substitutions in one go with 20 minutes left, which included a first tour appearance for Ireland full-back Rob Kearney following his recovery from hamstring trouble.
The Lions played the final 10 minutes with 14 men after Roberts departed, yet there was still time for Davies to sprint clear and claim try number five, with substitute Owen Farrell converting.
Nigel Pearson the 'right man' to take Leicester City up, says James Scowcroft
Former Leicester City striker James Scowcroft is backing his old club to be promotion contenders again this season.
Scowcroft believes City manager Nigel Pearson is the right man to mastermind another promotion challenge after last season's play-off disappointment.
But Scowcroft warned it would be another campaign of attrition, and he urged patience.
"Nigel Pearson is a good manager," said Scowcroft, who now combines coaching at the Ipswich Town academy with a busy media portfolio.
"He is experienced and he knows what it takes to get out of the division. Hopefully, they will stick with him and just find that consistency and stability, and eventually they will get there.
"I think they have to be up and around there. They have a board that have put a lot of money into the club and they want a return.
"I am not sure how they will adhere to Financial Fair Play, but they will adapt.
"They have the infrastructure on and off the pitch, and the support, to be up there.
"You would have to say they should be in the top six because anything outside of that will be disappointing."
Scowcroft, who was part of the last City side to win promotion to the Premier League in 2003, watched a lot of the Championship last season.
He believes City were lacking that extra ingredient that would have turned them into automatic-promotion contenders.
"I saw loads of games in the Championship," he said. "It is a very tough league. Cardiff deserved to go up and Hull were consistent.
"Crystal Palace had a big dip towards the end but I thought, up until February time, they were one of the best teams. But I think the three best teams went up.
"Leicester were very up and down. At key moments I thought they lacked consistency. They never seemed to be able to get a run going.
"I saw them a few times and they got beat at Ipswich, at home to Charlton and a few other times.
"I just don't think they had enough to get over the finishing line. They didn't have enough to turn draws or narrow defeats into wins.
"The games I saw they lacked pace up front. They just missed a key ingredient."
Concern for missing Leicester student
Girl, 16, in blackmail 'nightmare'
A frightened teenager was forced to hand over £15,000 of her mother's gold jewellery to prevent a blackmailer exposing a sexual encounter between them.
Defendant Aamir Khan (20) convinced the 16-year-old victim he had covertly filmed them during an intimate act in his car.
He then callously made demands for "money" and "gold", threatening to post the footage on Facebook and send a copy to her parents. The victim was so frightened of her parents finding out about the encounter she took jewellery, including irreplaceable family heirlooms, and handed them to Khan through her bedroom window on several occasions.
Such was her shame, the girl, who is Muslim, considered running away from home and killing herself, Leicester Crown Court was told.
Khan, of Redwood Walk, Spinney Hills, Leicester, admitted blackmail.
Sentencing him to three years and seven months' detention, Judge Michael Pert QC said Khan's actions were "wicked" and a "cynical betrayal".
He said: "The blackmail happened in 2009 when you were 18 and she was 16. It's of some significance you both come from a background where the shame of teenage sex would have more impact than perhaps it might in other circles.
"You made a number of demands over several weeks, cynically and brutally.
"She would have been mortified of photographs going on Facebook and her parents getting to know.
"There has to be a deterrent sentence.
"People must realise what an appalling crime this is and how members of society view it with disgust."
He said Khan only admitted his wrongdoing after a long delay, on the day of the trial.
Judge Pert said: "You hoped to get away with it and didn't plead guilty until the last minute, causing the victim more anguish about whether she'd have to say what had happened in court – and then be called a liar."
Jonathan Eley, prosecuting, said after the sexual encounter with the victim the defendant dropped her off in his car.
Khan casually remarked: "It's a good thing Blackberrys [phones] have cameras."
A few minutes later he phoned the girl, saying he had filmed what had happened.
"He told her to get money or he'd post a copy of the film through her letterbox and put it on Facebook so her family would see what kind of daughter they had," said Mr Eley.
"The family had high-value, high carat jewellery and she took rings, bangles and chains.
"The next night the defendant collected it from her window.
"He later falsely claimed half of it was fake and demanded more gold and made more threats about the video.
"A day or so later he took more bangles, chains and necklaces with family names on them."
He told her he needed the money to recompense someone for damage he caused to a car, and later demanded more gold because he needed to spend money on his own vehicle.
Mr Eley said: "She told him it was all gone.
"He then sent her a message saying he'd given the video to a colleague who knew where she lived and demanded £500."
There was a burglary a few weeks later at the house, by persons unknown.
The victim's sister suspected something was wrong, and found incriminating messages from Khan to her sister, demanding gold.
The girl confessed to her family, who have had rallied round to support her, said Mr Eley.
No video footage was ever recovered and it is believed no sexual encounter was ever recorded. None of the jewellery, worth £15,000, was found.
In a victim personal statement, the girl said she thought about running away and ending her life because of the "whole nightmare for me and my family".
A pre-sentence report on Khan described him as "controlling and manipulative".
Judge Pert made a restraining order banning Khan from any contact with the victim or her family.
Anthony Rimmer, mitigating, said: "It was an unsophisticated blackmail. He's shown genuine remorse and realises the shame and abhorrence it's caused to the girl's family.
"He wishes he could turn the clock back."
Motorcyclist in critical condition after crash with van
Leicester City to face Wycombe in Capital One Cup
REVIEW: Download day three
VIDEO: Reward on offer after gang smashes up shop
A shop owner has offered a reward after a gang of thieves smashed their way into his store and stole £30,000 worth of designer handbags and jeans.
Corry Cavell-Taylor, who opened Cavells, in Oakham, 30 years ago, said he had decided to offer the reward after watching CCTV footage which shows the thieves taking two hours to smash their way into his shop through a bricked-up air vent.
The gang got away with more than 50 Mulberry bags and a number of designer jeans, including makes such as Armani, when they targeted the Mill Street store in the early hours of last Wednesday.
Mr Cavell-Taylor, 50, said: "It shocked and sickened me to watch that CCTV.
"I am disgusted that these people think they can do what they did and just get away with it.
"I want them caught to be shown that they can't get away with it."
Mr Cavell-Taylor said the raid was the third break-in over a seven-month period in which stock worth £70,000 had been stolen – despite two upgrades in security.
He had bars put on the windows after thieves raided the shop in November 2012.
"During that break-in, the thieves smashed their way through a wall and took designer jeans worth £25,000," said Mr Cavell-Taylor.
The store was raided again at Christmas and thieves stole jeans and Mulberry bags worth £15,000.
"On that occasion, the thieves used hydraulic jacks to dislodge heavy metal bars we had put up at the windows," said the shop owner.
Following that raid, Mr Cavell-Taylor had infra-red CCTV cameras fitted.
He said the recent series of raids were the first the company had suffered since being set up three decades ago.
"We have been trading happily in Oakham for 30 years, then we get hit like this," he said.
"I have no doubt that we have been singled out by a gang who are deliberately targeting us.
"I am sure we are not the only shop being hit by these people because they are so professional.
"Once they had taken two hours to break in this time, they got way with the stock in a matter of minutes."
Mr Cavell-Taylor said his family had started an animal feed business in Mill Street in 1895.
He said: "I am the fourth generation of our family trading in Oakham and I want to carry on, but this is making life very difficult.
"Our insurance premiums are through the roof and losing this amount of stock is a real setback. It's sickening really.
"We have had professional security firms in and done exactly what they have told us to keep the thieves out but still they get in.
"It is very dispiriting, but we carry on."
After two hours of smashing away with crowbars, the raiders finally broke into the shop at 2.45am on Wednesday, triggering the alarm.
Mr Cavell-Taylor said: "One went in and passed the stock to the other two. They loaded up a getaway car in the car park across the road and left.
"I want anyone who has any information to come forward to help. I want these criminals brought to justice."
He is offering a reward of £1,000.
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: "The break-in is being investigated.
"If anyone has any information that could help us in our inquiries then we would like to hear from them."
The police can be contacted on 101.
Police seize £13,000 from three suspected crooks
Crack down on Clock Tower yobs
Police have broken up gangs of youths who have been causing trouble around Leicester's Clock Tower.
A number of different groups of 15 to 18-year-olds began gathering at the city centre landmark in the late afternoon and evening earlier this year.
The groups, which police say created an "intimidating" atmosphere, have fought among themselves and vandalised property, including stalls on nearby Leicester Market.
City centre police began a campaign – codenamed Operation Passenger – to deal with the main troublemakers at the beginning of May, in response to a series of complaints from businesses and members of the public.
Since then, they have arrested 10 people for a range of offences such as criminal damage and assault.
Inspector Chris Cockerill, commander of city centre police, said the number of complaints had now fallen but the operation would continue.
He said: "It's nice to see people meeting up with each other at the Clock Tower, it's an iconic location.
"But when you have groups hanging around causing the problems we have seen there it becomes intimidating for other people.
"In the main, it's 15 to 18-year-olds and the problems tend to be between 4pm and 9pm.
"It's centred on the Clock Tower but it has spread to the surrounding area, including the market.
"We've had incidents of vandalism on market stalls in the evening and some minor assaults, usually between members of these groups.
"Things have improved because we've been patrolling there regularly and dealing with the main sources of the trouble, but the operation will continue."
A shop manager, who asked not to be named, said: "The Clock Tower has always been a popular meeting place, but the sad thing is that some people can't behave themselves in public.
"Things have definitely been better over the past few weeks since the police started dealing with these particular groups.
"Kids gathering at the Clock Tower has been a problem in the past and will crop up again in the future, but I trust the police will deal with it then, too." Shopper Clare Thomas, 39, of Thurmaston, said: "Groups of youths hanging around in the evening causing trouble will make people feel unsafe.
"People want to come into the city centre in the evening and they don't want to feel intimidated by groups who have nothing better to do than cause trouble."
Another shopper, Barry Mace, 42, from the Narborough Road area of the city, said: "I feel sorry for the kids nowadays because everything they want to do is so expensive, but there's no excuse for bad behaviour."