The Leicester accent and dialect is undergoing its biggest change for decades
Petition highlights the plight of disabled people
Campaigners wanting a better deal for disabled people have highlighted the case of a Leicester man who spent two nights sleeping outside after being evicted for allegedly abusing his neighbours.
A group called the War on Welfare campaign has launched an e-petition demanding a new look at rights for disabled people.
The group tweeted the Leicester Mercury story about wheelchair-user Vincent Tumulty, who was forcibly removed from his home in Clarendon Park, Leicester, on Monday, after the landlord obtained a court order to eject him.
The tweet about the plight of the 51-year multiple sclerosis sufferer was retweeted by controversial comedian Frankie Boyle.
Group spokesman Rick Burgess, who is himself disabled, said: "The horrifying case of Mr Tumulty is exactly what we are trying to prevent. His story highlights just what lots and lots of disabled people are having to put up with day in, day out these days. We want it changed, so we have launched a petition to get 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament."
Leicester City Council said Mr Tumulty had visited its housing options office and put in a bid for a property.
Former TV presenter David Icke also posted the story about Mr Tumulty on his website. By yesterday, the e-petition had been signed by more than 52,000 people.
To see it, go to:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ petitions/43154
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'We don't need another shop'
Plans to build homes and a convenience store on a former factory site are expected to be approved tomorrow.
Developer GS Property Holdings wants to build 28 houses and a small supermarket on a 2.1-acre site off Moat Street, Wigston.
The area has been disused for about five years since a factory has been demolished.
The scheme is being opposed by Wigston Civic Society and a number of residents.
GS Property said there was a "retail void" in the area, but opponents disagreed, saying there was no shortage of shops.
Colin Towell, secretary of the civic society, said: "We accept that some houses will be built there but it is the store that concerns us.
"There will be cars going in and out all day.
"The junction at Moat Street is already a dangerous one with all the traffic there and this is only going to make things worse as it is close to the Horsewell Lane junction.
"The congestion will be terrible and all for a store we do not need.
"There is a Co-op attached to a garage opposite and a number of stores in the town centre no more than 500 metres away.
"The houses are something we need, but the store is not."
Concerns have also been raised about the proposed opening hours, from 6am to 11pm daily.
Opponents said this would cause light pollution and noise.
The homes element of the scheme will have 55 parking spaces and the store 25. Residents said this would not be enough.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council's planning committee will discuss the scheme tomorrow evening. Officers have recommended the development be passed, subject to a string of conditions.
GS Properties said the store would create up to 25 full and part-time jobs, plus 40 to 45 construction jobs.
A company spokesman said: "Despite marketing for a number of years, no interest has been forthcoming for employment redevelopment.
"It is only residential and commercial developers that have shown interest."
The company insisted there access for traffic would be safe.
The spokesman said the housing would be attractive and provide some affordable homes with enough parking.
Man denies raping girl, 12
A 12-year-old schoolgirl took a pregnancy test after being twice raped by a man who invited her to his home, a jury was told.
The girl claimed Lee Brian Smith did not take any precautions during their sexual encounter one evening in July 2010. It left her wondering if she might be pregnant.
A school visit by police officers to promote their Say No campaign, then prompted her to speak out and make a complaint.
At Leicester Crown Court, Smith (27), of Grove Road, Blaby, denies twice raping a child under 13, when he was aged 24.
Jacqueline Matthew-Stroud, prosecuting, said the girl met the defendant socially in 2010. They allegedly exchanged text messages and had occasional phone calls over several weeks.
The girl would sneak out of her home to meet him for evening walks and conversations, when nothing physical occurred, it was claimed.
Ms Matthew-Stroud said: "After an argument with her mother, it was suggested she could stay at his house. It was agreed she would go to his home."
They went to his bedroom and talked for 15 to 20 minutes, when the defendant allegedly suggested they have sex.
Ms Matthew-Stroud said: "During the discussion, he said he loved her and the conversation continued about sex.
"She said no because he did not have a condom."
Smith allegedly promised to stop in time.
Ms Matthew-Stroud said: "He took off her clothes and they got into the bed under the covers."
In a video recorded police statement, played in court, the girl said of the sexual activity: "I hadn't done it before. I didn't know what I was doing.
"I told him it hurt and not to do it any more. I was waiting for it to be over."
Afterwards, Smith allegedly fell asleep and as she sat on his bed, she became concerned she might be pregnant.
She said: "I was worried afterwards what would happen if I was pregnant.
"I was thinking, who would I tell? What would happen if I was?"
The teenager, now aged 15, said she took a photograph of the defendant on her mobile phone while he slept, which was shown to the jury.
It was recorded as being taken at 5.01am.
She told the court that at about 7am "I woke him up and said I need to go home now".
The girl said apart from a few texts the next day, when she said she told him she did not want to do it again, they had no more contact.
She claimed Smith knew she was 12 years old when they had sex.
After confiding in a neighbour, she took a pregnancy test, which was negative.
She told her father about what had allegedly happened after the police's visit to her school to promote their campaign message. Smith was not arrested until May 2011.
Ms Matthew-Stroud said: "He denied knowing her (the alleged victim) or that he had had sex with anyone other than his girlfriend."
However, mobile phone analysis allegedly indicates there was telephone contact between him and the complainant during the relevant time.
The trial continues.
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Youngster is saved from drowning
Quick-thinking passersby pulled a young boy from a reservoir after he fell in and lost consciousness.
The youngster had been playing at Cropston reservoir, near Bradgate Park, when he fell from some rocks on the bank, slipped below the surface of the water and passed out.
Members of the public rushed to the youngster's aid and pulled him to dry land last Friday evening.
Witnesses described the dramatic scene as the boy began to go purple while his eyes rolled back in his head.
One of the passersby attempted CPR and tried to resuscitate the youngster after he could not find a pulse.
At this point, park ranger Matt Smith arrived after getting an emergency call on his radio.
He said the boy was awake and crying by the time he got there.
"I was patrolling in the park and got a call to say a boy had fallen into the lagoon about a third of a mile from the Newtown gate," said Matt.
"He had gone under and been under for some time because by the time they got him out he was unconscious and not breathing.
"When I got there someone had managed to get him out and get him breathing again so I drove him to the nearest gate for the waiting ambulances."
An air ambulance crew was waiting for the boy at the gate as the ranger drove him and his mother there.
Matt said: "The boy was awake and crying by this point which is a good sign, but his mother was verging on hysterical."
He was taken to Walsgrave Hospital, in Coventry, where doctors assessed his injuries and released him shortly after.
Police said he was recovering at home and "safe and doing well".
A police spokeswoman said officers were also called to the scene at about 7.20pm.
She said: "Officers were called to the reservoir after a child, who was playing on rocks near the waters's edge, slipped and fell into the water.
"He was taken to Coventry hospital and discharged the same day. He is safe and he's doing well."
If you were at the scene or know the youngster involved call the Leicester Mercury newsdesk on 0116 222 4243, or e-mail:
newsdesk@leicester mercury.co.uk
Leicester City's promotion hopes boosted by Miguel signing
Leicester City defender Zak Whitbread believes new signing Ignasi Miquel will boost the club's chances of promotion this season.
Miquel joined City on a season-long loan from Arsenal on Friday but did not feature in the match-day squad for the 0-0 draw against Leeds.
The 20-year-old Barcelona academy product made his first competitive appearance for City with 90 minutes in the development squad's 3-1 victory against Middlesbrough on Monday, the opening game of the U21 Premier League campaign.
The Spain Under-21 international is a left-sided centre-back, but can also play left-back, and will provide competition to the left-footed Whitbread for a place in City's starting line-up for Saturday's clash against Derby.
While it is unlikely that City boss Nigel Pearson will change a back-line that registered their first clean sheet of the season on Sunday, Whitbread said competition for places is only a good thing, especially with a player of the calibre of Miquel now in the squad.
"He's got great pedigree coming from Arsenal and playing for Spain U21s," said Whitbread, who made his return against Leeds after being stretchered off with a head injury against Middlesbrough.
"Any player like that coming in and challenging for a spot keeps everyone on their toes and it is a great addition.
"It's all about putting together a squad to be up there challenging, and the more players we can get in like that the better.
"We have a strong squad base here anyway, and it's good to get lads like this in to give these boys a hand."
City are still unbeaten this season, with four points from six in the Championship and a place in the second round of the Capital One Cup.
It may still be early days, but Whitbread believes City have made a confident start to the campaign, especially after such a heartbreaking end to last season.
"I think coming off the back of last season, people would think there would be a bit of a hangover and the lads would find it hard getting back into it," said Whitbread.
"But we've come back fresh and sharp, and we are taking it as any other start to any other season. We are confident we can give it a good go."
Leicester City's free spirit backed to be a Knock-out this season
Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes midfielder Anthony Knockaert will use the pain of his play-off heartbreak to come back even stronger this season.
The Frenchman made his first Championship appearance of the season on Sunday when he went on as a second-half substitute in City's 0-0 draw with Leeds.
It was his first appearance in the league since his penalty miss in the play-off defeat to Watford last season.
But he showed no signs of trepidation when he went on, and immediately began to create chances and trouble the Leeds defence.
Pearson said Knockaert's carefree nature will help him cope with such a tough experience, and will use it to his advantage.
"He's a bit of a free spirit, which is good," said Pearson. "It means he has probably coped better than a lot of people would have done with that experience.
"You've got to remember that he was the one who scored the goal to get us into the play-offs, so it's a bitter-sweet experience for him.
"It is tough for a young man to take, but I am sure he will use that to his advantage."
Pearson admitted that he had also found the experience difficult to take.
"I spent a long time thinking about the implications for other people and the bigger picture, how it might affect how the club moves forward," he said.
"The disappointment at the time was very tough to take, but you can't dwell too long on things.
"The important thing was when we came back for pre-season I was a little uncertain how the players would be, but I was pleasantly surprised how they coped with it. That is a good yardstick for being optimistic for the season. You have to draw on the negative experiences like that. Poring over the what ifs won't change anything.
"It is about getting some perspective and moving on as quickly as you can."
Knockaert has not yet started a game for City this season, with only substitute appearances against Leeds on Sunday and against Wycombe in the Capital One Cup.
In both games, the tricky Frenchman showed how much of a threat he can be to opposition defences, and there have been calls from the City fans for him to be in the starting line-up for Saturday's game against Derby.
Pearson rejected claims that the new system makes it difficult to find a place in the starting line-up for Knockaert.
"He's a player who gives us a different option, technically very, very good," said the City boss.
"He, along with one or two other players, have had questions asked about how they fit into this system.
"I think Lloyd Dyer has shown he can fit into that. He's an out-and-out winger but he played at wing-back against Leeds.
"I've got no worries about Anthony."