A transsexual was punched and knocked unconscious within moments of walking into a Leicester pub.

Giovanna Del Nord was punched in the head by a stranger, without warning, as she waited to be served in the Market Tavern, in Hotel Street, Leicester city centre.

The 46-year-old, who has lived in the city for less than two months, believes she was targeted because she is transsexual.

Born male in Stockholm, she is a year into a four-and-a-half year therapy which will result in a sex change.

For the past two years, she has been "presenting" herself as a woman.

Speaking about the attack, she said: "I didn't speak to anyone or look at anyone.

"I went straight to the bar and before I'd even ordered a drink I saw a fist coming towards me.

"The next thing I knew I was waking up on the floor. It all happened so quickly that I did not get a chance to see the person who attacked me.

"I don't know how long I was out for, maybe a few minutes.

"I have a black eye and a scar on my nose, which I think will be there for life. I'm doing my best to conceal them with make-up.

"I've been presenting myself as a female more or less all the time for the past four years.

"I can't see any other reason why this person would attack me. I have been in Leicester such a short time I have no enemies.

"I have been in the bar before and there have been no problems. It's just that on this occasion somebody did not like the way I look.

"It's a great shame he should feel that way."

Dennis Bradley, project manager at Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre, in Wellington Street, in the city centre, said crimes against people because of their sexuality or "gender identity" were under-reported.

Mr Bradley said: "Progress has been made and things are getting better by the year.

"However, we still have some way to go before all people recognise that violence of this nature is unacceptable, full stop."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said detectives were investigating the assault and that CCTV footage had been obtained from the pub.

Information can be passed to Leicestershire Police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Leicestershire Police and other local organisations have created a website which contains details of how to report hate crimes against people because of their race, age, disability or sexual orientation.

For more, visit:

www.stamp-it-out.co.uk

Our match winning birthday parties are provided for a minimum of 10 children. Your party will kick off with an hour of action packed football on our new rubber crumb filled synthetic grass pitches.   Parties are booked every day and start from 11:00am onwards & are 2 hours long.

Package includes: -

1 hour of action packed football with qualified football coach. (£12.50)

Birthday card/Team photo

Goals certificates for each child

Food & drinks (pizza, hotdogs, Burger & squash)

Ice Cream (Vanilla) 

Party bag for each child (£15.75)    

Invitations  

Trophy for the birthday child   

Medal for each child (£5.25)

Size 4 football for the birthday child (£8.50)

Birthday cake (£10.50)

Complimentary tea & coffee for parents

The party will be overseen by the head Goals' coaching staff that can organise the chaos while the parents relax in our Lounge. The coaching session will include soccer skills and new tricks with a match at the end including the drama of a penalty shoot out to finish the days play. At the end of the football session all children attending the party will receive individual match medals & certificates to take home along with their party bags.

Price: £170.00 for 10 children  

Extras: £12.00 per child

Basic Package: £126, Pitch Hire, Party Food, Complimentary Tea & Coffee, Certificates, Birthday card/ Team Photo, Trophy for the Birthday Child.

Deposit: A £85.00 deposit is required when booking

Price of party can be reduced by removing some of the items or services from the package listed above, please call at anytime to discuss options available.

Book your party and Quote "THIS IS LEICESTER" and get £20 off your party

• Never overfill your karahi with oil. If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Never leave your karahi unattended with the heat switched on.
• Use only enough ghee for a diva to last your puja.
• If you do need to leave a diva, candle or nightlight unattended, ensure that it rests securely on a surface which will not melt or burn.
• At all times keep the flame at a safe distance from curtains, decorations or clothing.
• Be discreet with your valuables and money and when wearing jewellery ensure it is not on show, perhaps covering it with a scarf.
• Be aware of what is happening around you and trust your instincts – if you feel unsafe change your direction and go where you feel safer and are more visible to other people.
• When you go out, make sure you lock your doors and windows – even if you are going out for a short time.
• Consider using a timer switch for lights and a radio if you go out in the evening or overnight.

We are delighted to take this opportunity to offer you and your team mates the opportunity to take part in the 1st Annual Goals Movember & Sons Tournament.

All you need to do is enter a team into our heat on Sunday 25th November at 3pm and make playing for Movember your Goal. Entry is only £40 of which a large contribution goes directly to the MOvember charities to support UK prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.

You can also join in the fun on Facebook with our 'Mo of the Moment' updates! Through our Facebook competition you can also win a European adventure with a trip to see Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich for you and a friend.

This event is already extremely popular so make sure you and your team get involved with our Movember tournament!

Complimentary Gillette grooming kit for all teams worth £60 (Limited stock on a 1st come 1st served basis once entry has been paid)

Fantastic Movember Cup for the Winners of the Tournament

Tournament winners go into a special prize draw to win a trip to play against the Danish Movember 5's champions in Copenhagen on 2nd December! Ask for details.

BOOKING HOTLINE: 0116 2490555 (option 2)

Or book online @ www.goalsfootball.co.uk

It has been another intense fortnight in Westminster, as well as dealing with lots of correspondence from my constituents. In Westminster, we have had debates and statements about the proposed badger cull, the EU budget, the proposed levy for drivers of HGV vehicles, the sectioning of mental health patients, the police and many other issues.

In any week, I will receive about 150 e-mails from constituents, all of which I read.

Current hot topics include the badger cull, the desire for a crackdown on tax avoidance and energy bills and prices.

I have also been busy pursuing my focus on mental health by holding meetings with Young Minds, which recently launched a report about young people self-harming, the Mental Health Network and the Priory Group.

I attended a recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health, which was listening to evidence on crisis care.

It was also a pleasure to attend the Prime Minister's Eid reception at Number 10 Downing Street. It was a packed event with everyone in good cheer.

We had the opportunity to pose with the Rugby League World Cup in advance of the 2013 tournament.

I am hoping the England team will be based in Loughborough.

But now, for something different – the rest of this week's column is being handed over to a Loughborough University research associate, Dr Elaine Yolande Gosling.

Elaine has been work-shadowing me for part of this week, as she explains here:

I was delighted to be selected to participate in the Royal Society pairing scheme and to be paired with Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough.

The scheme has provided me and other scientists with the opportunity to see how my research can best help inform policy.

For the MPs and civil servants who participate, it is intended that they gain a greater awareness about the science in our research fields.

In the first half of the week, we were introduced to the different scientific committees in Parliament and Government and how these are used by MPs to help inform the policy decision-making process.

In groups, we were asked to assess what scientific information politicians would need when responding to natural disasters.

I met Sir John Beddington, who spoke of the importance of science and engineering advice in Government and how science underpins the UKs response to global issues.

For the second half of the week, I shadowed my MP, Nicky Morgan.

Just before Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) was a very interesting international development session, with MPs debating issues ranging from fish stocks in Gaza to pit latrines and the need for safe clean water.

During PMQs, I saw first-hand our MPs asking the questions that concern the electorates directly of the PM and his responses to these – along with a few cheers and roars.

The first item on Nicky's agenda after PMQs was an interview by My Time, a mental health awareness group.

Following this, she was busy responding to constituent inquiries.

During a late lunch, we discussed the importance of my research at Loughborough University.

Later, I attended a presentation about the National Apprenticeship Scheme.

To round the day off, I was invited to attend Eid celebrations at No 10, where I got to meet other constituents from across the UK and other MPs.

Nicky will be visiting Loughborough Design School, where I work. I will present my research and invite her to have a go with design outputs from our projects, as well as introducing her to the other great research within the school.

I hope I can take all of these experiences forward into my career.

A group of young people from Leicester who have triumphed over adversity are up for awards.

The five, who turned their lives around with help from the Prince's Trust, have been nominated for the Celebrate Success Awards.

The awards honour the achievements of disadvantaged young people who, with the charity's support, have succeeded against the odds, improved their lives and had a positive impact on their community.

The awards take place at The Roundhouse, in Derby, on Wednesday.

Among those hoping to win an award is mum Laura Jenner, of Beaumont Leys.

The 23-year-old is up for the Young Achiever of the Year Award, which recognises those who have overcome barriers to transform their lives.

As a teenager, Laura and her baby daughter ended up in supported accommodation, where she started to misuse drugs and alcohol due to the pressure of being a young mum.

Facing the possibility of having her daughter taken away, Laura enlisted on one of the Prince's Trust's 12-week courses.

She said: "I wasn't coping well as a mum, but the course helped turn my whole life around. I was on a downward spiral and it gave me confidence and self-belief."

Her support worker helped find her a 10-week voluntary programme supporting deprived children in Peru.

Laura said: "It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, especially as I had to leave my daughter back home with relatives, but I came back a totally different person and I knew youth work was for me."

Laura, who is now a support worker for the Prince's Trust, said: "I still can't believe I've been nominated for an award. It's great to be recognised."

Vishal Morjaria, 25, from Hamilton, has been nominated in the Enterprise category, which recognises young people who have achieved success in creating a sustainable business or social enterprise.

Vishal, who used to suffer from depression, received help from the Prince's Trust Enterprise programme.

He now has his own business, Journey To Fitness, which provides one-to-one training and education on health and general wellbeing.

Vishal said: "At my lowest point, I never imagined that it would be possible to turn my life around in such a way.

"I want to thank the Prince's Trust for enabling my journey of personal development."

The winners will go onto the national final in London early next year, with Prince Charles likely to attend the ceremony.

From cricketers in Charnwood to hockey players in Harborough, clubs across Leicestershire are represented and promoted by sports alliances.

Now, the county's nine sports alliances are joining forces to provide a boost to the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards.

Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport's local alliances, a collection of people who have a desire to develop and promote sport and physical activity, hold their own annual sports awards.

This year, they will be feeding their winning entries into the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards' nomination process for the first time.

"Celebrating the achievements of local sports stars, clubs and volunteers is vitally important to inspire more people to follow in their footsteps," said Andy Reed, chairman of Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport.

"They show what can be achieved through hard work, dedication and commitment."

Mr Reed said he believed it was vitally important for sports groups to feature in community life.

"Many sports clubs play key roles in their communities and they richly deserve to be rewarded for the work they do," he said.

"The vast majority of people who work in sport at a local level give up their time free.

"Without them volunteering, there simply wouldn't be the opportunities available that there are today.

"You only have to look at the impression made by the volunteers at London 2012 to see what a huge impact volunteers can have.

"The work that has been undertaken by the Local Sports Alliances in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland to hold recognition awards that feed into the Mercury Awards highlights just how important recognising their achievements is."

The dates for the individual sports alliance awards are: Rutland – November 14, at Greetham Valley Golf Club; Blaby – November 21, at Brockington College; Harborough – November 22, at The Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough; Hinckley and Bosworth – November 29, at Bosworth Academy; Oadby and Wigston – November 29, at Leicester Racecourse; Charnwood – December 10, at Loughborough College; Leicester – December 10, at The King Power Stadium; North West Leicestershire – December 13, at Hermitage leisure centre, Whitwick.

The Mercury Awards presentation night, organised by Champions UK, will be held at the Tigers' Welford Road stadium on January 17.

Nominations are open until December 4. Either complete the form on this page or go to:

www.thisisleicestershire. co.uk

Families are being urged to consider giving a loving home to vulnerable siblings.

The message is at the heart of a campaign being launched by Leicestershire County Council to coincide with National Adoption Week, beginning on Monday.

Four sets of brothers and sisters, aged between a few months and five years, are in short-term foster care and looking for a permanent home.

Alison and Craig Pearce adopted brothers aged four and two through the council last year.

Alison said: "My husband and I couldn't have children and decided we would go down the adoption route.

"We have close friends who had just been approved to adopt when we made our first inquiry and by the time we had our first home visit to assess whether we were suitable, they had been matched with sisters.

"This helped us to see first-hand how successful and rewarding – as well as hard work – adopting siblings could be.

"When our sons moved in with us, our life changed and within a week or so it was like the boys had always been with us. Now we can't remember what life was like before them.

"We have no regrets."

In Leicestershire, it takes on average 18 months to place a child with an adoptive family – better than the national average and six weeks quicker than last year.

Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "People who adopt transform a child's life.

"It is one of the most challenging but also rewarding things you can do and we're particularly keen to find people who can help brothers and sisters grow up together.

"Adoption is a lifelong commitment but our team is geared up to offer continual support.

"If you believe you have what it takes, I'd encourage you to pick up the phone."

The council adoption team will visit Lutterworth Market on Thursday, between 10am and 2pm, and Snibston Discovery Museum, Coalville, on Saturday, from 11am until 2pm.

To find out more call 0116 305 3051 or freephone 0800 587 7767 or visit:

www.spaceforachild.com

One of the biggest challenges facing our Government – and those of the rest of the world – over the coming years is going to be the one surrounding how to keep the lights on. There is a major energy crisis looming.

Much of this country's energy capacity is being decommissioned – because power stations have reached the end of their lifespans – and we need to decide where our future energy strategy lies.

This week, Japanese giant Hitachi announced plans for a £20 billion investment in nuclear energy in Britain. The firm will build six new reactors at two sites in the UK.

Although applauded by the Government, there is a huge irony in that the nuclear industry in Japan is slowly being shutdown following the Fukushima disaster.

It seems the Japanese believe the risk of nuclear power is just too great – and who would blame them.

Nuclear energy is no problem for Britain though, probably because we have escaped such a disaster!

The increasing costs and environmental affects of fossil fuels have, quite rightly, led a move towards renewable energy.

Wind turbines and solar farms have to play a major role in our energy requirements in the coming decade.

That is why it is good to see planning approval set to be granted for a £35 million solar farm on a 150-acre site at the old Wymeswold Airfield.

This impressive project will provide enough electricity each year to power more than 6,000 homes.

This was scheduled to be the first of a series of solar farms across the county, but others have now been scrapped after cuts in the Government subsidy.

Those cuts were a pity because most of us would prefer to see renewable energy, rather than an increased use of nuclear power.

It is a dilemma for the Government because the increasing cost of energy, as the average bill now hits £1,200 per year, is likely to be a major political issue.

There may not be an easy answer to the energy question, but finding that answer is going to be a growing priority for all governments.

Taxi drivers are furious after a student union banned them from picking up passengers on campus in the evening.

Last month, University of Leicester Students' Union banned all but one taxi firm – Street Cars – from driving on to the campus in the evening.

It is understood the firm paid about £10,000 for the privilege – a figure neither the union nor company would confirm.

A spokesman for the students' union said the move was designed to improve safety.

Cabbies said it could put them out of business.

Black cab driver Gurpal Singh Atwal, secretary of the RMT Union in Leicestershire, said: "We have been proud to pick up students and staff in the evenings for 40 years and this decision is unfair.

"Drivers who are not with this chosen firm are losing about £100 a night.

"We have families to feed and people will go out of business.

"The union is giving the work of 10 companies to one.

"It says it is safer to make this decision and cheaper for students, which suggests other firms are dangerous and expensive. That is not true."

Cabs used to drive on and off campus via Mayor's Walk, off University Road, even though the road was exit only.

It has now been blocked and Street Cars is allowed to enter the university via Wyggeston Drive, using a swipe card to open the barrier.

Drivers exit via Mayor's Walk, where they pick up fares.

Dan Flatt, academic affairs officer at the union, said: "This decision was solely taken to prevent a serious accident – and, from the evidence so far, is working very well."

He said the service involved fixed-price journeys, a voucher scheme for students short of cash and the vetting of drivers.

"This is a service tried and tested in other cities, notably Birmingham and Leeds," Mr Flatt said.

"We are obviously concerned that an important group of business people are distressed, but there have been many efforts to prevent cabs driving the wrong way on to the campus, to no avail, so the closure of this road was inevitable."

The union said Street Cars was chosen after a tendering process which saw four or five firms invited to bid for a one-year contract.

Kully Singh, owner of Street Cars, said his firm was chosen because of its low fares and in-car technology.

"We won the contract on the basis of our prices as well as the service we offer," he said.

Mr Atwal said: "Big firms said they were not contacted. If they had told us black cabs, I'm sure we would have clubbed together to offer more money."

The county's first solar farm is set to be granted planning permission next week.

Lark Energy wants to install a £35 million array of solar panels on a 150-acre site at Wymeswold Airfield, near Loughborough.

The company says it could generate enough electricity each year to power 6,000 homes.

The three-metre high panels would stand at an angle between the runways of the airport, which is used for driving events. The plan has been under discussion since July, when the application was made to Charnwood Borough Council.

On Thursday, members of Charnwood's planning committee will make a decision on the application, with council officers recommending they agree to it.

Charnwood case officer Peter Blitz wrote in his report to councillors: "The development is of a kind that receives very considerable support in national and local planning policy. There must be a strong presumption in favour of it.

"It would take some 48 to 49 wind turbines of the size that can be seen to the east of the site to generate the same amount of power that would be generated by the solar farm."

Several solar farms had been planned for Leicestershire, but most were scrapped after the Government reduced the amount of subsidy people were paid for generating solar power last summer.

Energy companies also planned to build solar farms at Kirby Bellars and Asfordby, near Melton, but those plans were withdrawn. Plans for a solar farm near Lutterworth have been scaled down following the policy change, which sees the rate paid for solar power slashed from 30p per kilowatt hour to 8.5p. Charnwood borough councillor Jenny Bokor, who represents the Wolds, said: "I think this is a really good idea. There are 1,500 homes in all the Wolds villages and this could more than meet their needs."

Sileby and The Wolds county councillor Richard Shepherd said: "I've heard presentations by the proposers and read the officer's report and I await the outcome of the committee.

"There has been some concern expressed by Burton Parish Council and I hope the committee listens to all arguments and addresses them."

Jonathan Selwyn, Lark Energy's managing director, said the farm, which would take four to five months to build, would convert daylight into electricity, which would then be sold to a power company and distributed through the national grid.

He said: "It is environmentally friendly to get our energy from daylight. Daylight is free, easily accessible and it is unlimited, unlike fuels such as gas and coal, which will become increasingly scarce and, therefore, more expensive."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says he is considering buying a building to house a Muslim community group which controversially plans to lease a Leicester Scout hut.

The As-Salaam Trust's plans to turn the disused council-owned property in Thurncourt Road, Thurnby Lodge, into a community centre and prayer room have met with opposition from people who live on the estate.

Residents have handed the mayor a 1,500-name petition against the plan, arguing the building should be made available to the wider community.

They have also staged a series of protests against the plan, gathering in groups outside a nearby community centre where Muslims have been meeting to pray for the past two-and-a-half years.

The worshippers have complained they feel intimidated by the protests, which have been subject to a long-running police operation to make sure they remain peaceful.

Sir Peter, who has been working with the trust to see if an alternative council-owned premises could be found, told the Mercury: "I have to think very carefully about buying something. I have not ruled out any possibility, but the council does already own a number of buildings in the area.

"There is an annexe at the back of the nearby community centre, which is operated on a key-holder basis, which could be a possibility."

Sir Peter said: "I want to meet the ambitions of all people involved but there is nothing settled yet. I am enormously grateful for the effective and sensible way the police have been involved with this.

"They have tried to maintain people's rights to express their views and avoid any escalation."

He said he was mindful of the burden the matter continued to be on both the police and the council and the need to resolve uncertainty in the local community.

Maxine Williams, landlady of the Stirrup Cup pub, next to the Scout hut, has helped organise the protests.

She said: "Our concerns have always been about the traffic this will cause.

"The protests have continued but the numbers are down a bit because it is winter. We will continue until this is resolved.

"We have put a fire outside the pub to keep people warm.

"I am not sure the annexe behind the community centre will be big enough because As- Salaam says it is growing."

The Mercury was unable to contact anyone from As- Salaam.

The police have powers to disperse protesters from the scene if they feel there will be public order issues.

A force spokeswoman said those powers had only been used "one or two times."

She also said that the policing operation, which has cost more than £200,000 so far, was now mainly being overseen by local beat officers with occasional reinforcements from other areas when required.

Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday visited Leicestershire to support his party's candidate in the forthcoming police and crime commissioner election.

Mr Cameron joined former Air Chief Marshall Sir Clive Loader on the campaign trail in Loughborough and urged people to "do their civic duty" and use their votes on Thursday, November 15.

The police commissioner – who will earn about £70,000 a year – will replace the police authority, which currently sets police budgets, appoints senior officers and scrutinises the force's performance.

The Electoral Reform Society has predicted just 18.5 per cent of people would vote. Those findings were mirrored in a poll by the Leicester Mercury.

Speaking at the Twenty Twenty young people's centre, Mr Cameron said he did not want to put a figure to what would be an "acceptable" turnout.

"There is no point speculating about something we don't know the answer to yet," he said.

"We must encourage people to do their civic duty and get out and vote.

"If we asked people on the streets of Loughborough 'who is on your police authority?' I would have a small bet they would not know the answer.

"Everyone in Leicestershire will know there is a go-to person if they are not happy with policing.

"It's not about telling the police what to do. We are guaranteeing through the law the independence of chief constables – they are the professionals.

"The British policing model is good. We are seeing crime fall across the country and here in Leicestershire and we are getting more police officers out on the streets. The missing link has been accountability."

Sir Clive said: "I'm delighted the Prime Minister came to support my campaign. It showed the Government's commitment to this important initiative.

"It was a month or so ago that the Electoral Commission predicted an 18.5 per cent turnout.

"A couple of months ago I would say two or three out of 10 people I spoke to knew about the election, now I would say it's two or three who do not know it is happening.

"So, things have improved, but the question remains whether people will use their votes.

"It is down to us as candidates to enthuse the public and my feeling is that is beginning to happen."

The Labour Party has selected Leicester's assistant mayor Sarah Russell.

Leicester community worker and businessman Suleman Nagdi is standing as an independent.

The Mercury is inviting readers to send us the questions they would like the three candidates to answer. We will print the responses next week.

Send your questions to: Ciaran Fagan, Crime Correspondent, Leicester Mercury, St George Street, Leicester, LE1 9FQ. Alternatively, e-mail:

ciaranfagan@ leicestermercury. co.uk