The bedroom of a house was badly damaged by fire after a blaze broke out.
Firefighters were called out at 7.13pm yesterday to a house in Fisher Close, off Smithy Farm Road, Stoney Stanton.
A first floor rear bedroom was well ablaze when firefighters arrived at the scene. Two crews from Hinckley and one from Central station in Leicester put out the flames.
A fire service spokeswoman said the bedroom and part of the attic were severely damaged by fire.
It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
No-one was hurt in the incident.
Firefighters had to release a woman who got her finger stuck in a ironing board.
A crew from Hinckley was called out to the woman's home in Brookside, Burbage, at 8.38am yesterday.
The firefighters released the woman's finger and she received first aid from the ambulance service.
No further details about the incident have been released.
Firefighters had to release a woman after she was trapped following a two-car crash.
Fire crews were called out at 5.22pm yesterday after the incident in Ashby Road, Moira.
Firefighters from Moira, Ashby and the Leicester Southern station helped release the female passenger.
She was treated at the scene by the ambulance service.
No further details about the incident have been released.
A driver was taken to hospital after a car overturned.
Firefighters from Southern station were called out at 7.45pm yesterday after the incident in Lutterworth Road, Whetstone.
The driver was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary.
No other vehicle was involved in the incident.
No further details about the incident or the driver's condition have been released.
Firefighters were called out after a fire broke out under the bonnet of a car today.
A crew from the Leicester Southern station was called to the blue Renault Clio in Main Street, Huncote, at 2.10pm.
A fire service spokeswoman said the blaze was out by the time the crew arrived.
Leicestershire is putting Barcelona, Ibiza and Cannes in the shade today, with glorious sunshine and temperatures hitting the mid-20s.
The Met Office showed the thermometer hitting an average of 22C (72F) in the city, while the Leicester Mercury thermometer recorded a high of 27C (81F) earlier this afternoon.
The sunshine and blue skies are expected to stick around tomorrow, but will only be here for the weekend.
Rain is forecast for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Met Office said it would stay dry overnight, while tomorrow will be "dry and very warm once again, with further sunny spells."
Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:
Hayden Lowe (26), of Russell Street, Loughborough, admitted two charges of stealing from shops in December.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 compensation, £40 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Alex Reid (36), of Waterside Close, Loughborough, admitted stealing a watch from a shop on April 2.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £14 compensation and £85 court costs.
Adam Smeeton (28), of Walcot Road, Market Harborough, admitted three charges of stealing from shops in December and January.
He was given a 12-month supervision order and made to pay £12 compensation and £255 court costs.
Craig Smith (38), of Dorchester Close, Wigston, admitted assaulting a woman on March 21.
He was given a 16-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Andrew Andreou (36), of Willow Park Drive, Wigston, was found guilty in his absence of failing to give police information about himself after an alleged speeding offence on November 15.
He was fined £600, ordered to pay £85 courts and a £60 victim surcharge and had six points put on his licence.
Holly Bartram (27), of West Walk, Leicester, was found guilty in her absence of failing to give police information about herself after an alleged speeding offence on November 11.
She was fined £600, ordered to pay £85 courts and a £60 victim surcharge and had six points put on her licence.
Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft will be glad to see the back of another season plagued by injury.
The explosive flanker spent eight months on the sidelines after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage at the start of the campaign.
But a quality pre-season, as he works himself back to full fitness, would see him right back in the England reckoning in time for to the World Cup next year, according to former Red Rose skipper Lewis Moody, pictured.
The 28-year-old Croft – a veteran of two tours with the British & Irish Lions – made his return from a second long-term injury in as many seasons in Tigers' final regular season Premiership fixture with Saracens.
In Croft's absence, Northampton's Tom Wood has gone about building an outstanding résumé to become Stuart Lancaster's first-choice No.6 in what is a well-balanced England back-row.
Lancaster opted not to take Croft on England's summer tour of New Zealand – a decision Moody believes suits both parties – but given his game-changing attributes, the former Tigers skipper sees no reason why Croft cannot force his way back into the side.
"I think there is absolutely a place for Tom Croft in the England side," said Moody.
"He has just come back from two seasons of rugby where he has played very little and had two horrific injuries, so to come back from that alone and to be able to play is a huge achievement.
"I would just like to see him when he gets back from his knee injury, focus on playing for Leicester and not to have the pressure of going on an England tour and trying to get back into that squad.
"Allow him to play a handful of games, go away and have a good pre-season and get really fit and strong, and then allow him to have the whole of next year to really compete for his place back.
"It would have been unfair on him to have been selected for the summer tour."
Wood is most likely to play his part against the world champions in their own back yard, while Harlequins' Luke Wallace, Gloucester's Matt Kvesic or another Tiger in Jamie Gibson could play back-up.
But Moody believes if Croft can get back to the form that has seen him be so successful with club and country, he will give Lancaster a huge selection dilemma.
"Having Tom Wood and Tom Croft battling out for that No.6 jersey would be brilliant and there is no doubt about Croft's qualities having been on two Lions tours," said Moody.
"He is a very different player to Wood, they are similar in their shape and size, but he is more athletic and quicker and a better eye for a gap and more of a game changer.
"When Wood is playing he gets through an incredible amount of work, makes a lot of tackles.
"But he won't be that game breaker that Croft will be, so there are two really different styles there.
"They are both really good line-out competitors, defensively and in attack, and it will be a difficult conundrum for Stuart and that will be a great battle next season."
Lewis Moody is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover supports grassroots rugby and provides the opportunity for 7,000 youngsters to take part in the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup.
Nigel Pearson is interested in bringing former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt back to the club.
City are understood to be one of six teams interested in signing the Hull frontman, pictured, on a free transfer when his current deal at the KC Stadium runs out in a couple of weeks.
Fellow promoted side Burnley have also made inquiries, while Championship clubs Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan and Brighton are also said to be interested.
The striker has yet to agree terms with Hull on a contract extension after an initial offer last week fell short of his expectations, although it is believed Fryatt's preference would be to sign a new deal with the Tigers.
However, he is a player Pearson knows well, having managed Fryatt in his first term with City before signing him for £1.2million in January 2011, while in charge at Hull.
Fryatt was Hull's leading scorer last term with six goals in 16 appearances in all competitions, ahead of big signings Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long. It is no secret Pearson is looking to bolster his striking options as he improves his squad for next season's Premier League campaign.
City have already had three substantial bids for Brighton striker Leonardo Ulloa rejected, thought to be in the region of £5m.
The Seagulls are standing firm over the Argentinian, asking for nearer to £10m.
Cardiff striker Fraizer Campbell is also on City's radar, with the club believed to have made a bid of about £1m.
Leicester are also said to be interested in Tours striker Andy Delort. Reports in France have linked City with the 22-year-old, who scored 24 goals in 36 games for the Ligue 2 side last term.
City have a strong scouting network in France, led by head of recruitment Steve Walsh, with Anthony Knockaert and Riyad Mahrez both being plucked from the French second tier.
Delort has been linked with German sides VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach, as well as Premier League outfit Southampton.
But it is understood recruitment at Saints is on hold until they appoint a new manager following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.
Meanwhile, City striker Tom Hopper has signed a new two-year contract. The 20-year-old has put pen to paper on the deal, which will keep him at the club until 2016.
He said: "I'm delighted to be a part of this club, and to have signed a new contract is a wonderful feeling.
"Last season started with a lot of promise for me but, unfortunately, I got injured, which meant I didn't play as much as I could have. I'm fully fit now and I can't wait to get started again in pre-season by showing what I can do."
City will travel to Rotherham in a pre-season friendly on August 5 (7.45pm). Pearson's men make the trip to the New York Stadium to face Steve Evans' side, who will play in the Championship next season after winning the League One play-offs.
Work to rejuvenate the Victoria Park cenotaph is under way as preparations begin for the city's First World War centenary commemorations.
Leicester City Council is spending £84,000 on repairing the 89-year-old memorial's roof, repointing its stonework and bringing the sheen back to the plaques and brasswork.
The memorial arch was designed by architect Edwin Lutyens, who also designed the cenotaph in London, and was last cleaned in 2006.
The council also wants to carry out extensive repairs in Peace Walk at the gates, which form the entrance to the memorial.
A bid for £300,000 has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out the work. If successful, work would begin early next year.
The clean-up comes as the council embarks on a summer of events to mark the centenary of the Great War, which broke out on July 28, 1914.
About 8,000 servicemen from Leicestershire lost their lives in the four-year conflict, which included the horrors of trench warfare in France and Flanders.
Deputy city mayor Rory Palmer said of the cenotaph: "It's profoundly important and commands quite a dominating presence on the city skyline, as it should, given all that it signifies of the sacrifices made during the two world conflicts.
"It's a profoundly important part of the city and we want to make sure it's kept in the best condition possible – especially in this centenary year."
Huge crowds are expected to turn out at Leicester Cathedral on August 4 for a Lights Out vigil marking the day Britain joined the Great War. The city will also remember two local heroes who were awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War, by laying down commemorative paving stones as part of the centenary programme.
The events will continue throughout the year and include the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, which takes place at De Montfort Hall, on Saturday, October 25.
Hundreds are expected to gather to pay tribute to the war dead.
David Atterbury, chairman of the Royal British Legion in Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "The legion is known as the custodian of remembrance and we're at the forefront of pushing remembrance out to the county.
"We want to make sure the sacrifices made are never forgotten by future generations.
"The event at De Montfort Hall has been built up over the past 60 years and will be a fitting memorial to servicemen and women everywhere – but will have a special Great War theme this year."
£19,000 to be spent cleaning Evington war memorial and landscaping the area
As well as the main cenotaph being cleaned, a further £19,000 will be spent cleaning Evington war memorial and landscaping the area around it.
The Bridge Road School memorial, carrying the names of 133 of the former school's pupils lost in the 1914-18 conflict, will also be cleaned at a cost of £4,000.
The wooden memorial at St George's Church, in the Cultural Quarter, will also receive some attention.
The city council is also planning a £1.5 million project to create a processional route linking the cenotaph and Victoria Park's main gatehouse.
The grade-I-listed quadrifronic (four-faced) arch does not have any of the names of the fallen servicemen from Leicester inscribed on it.
Instead, the 8,000 men who died during the conflict are held in a book of remembrance in the city.
"Leaving off the names would have been a deliberate device to show the fallen were so numerous, almost incalculable," said Professor Steven Brown, of the University of Leicester school of management. "This is a very powerful statement in that it generates a common sense of loss without putting a name on it."
The university itself is a unique memorial to the Great War. Its motto, Ut Vitam Habeant – "so that they may have life" – honours the war dead.
Prof Brown's colleague and PhD researcher Elizabeth Blood said: "War memorials, are as old as conflict itself.
"It was an important part of the mourning process to be able to bury your loved ones. All of a sudden, with the scale of the First World War, everybody knew somebody who was killed but many had no bodies to bury."
Film fan Art Zarb loves cinemas so much he built one in his garden shed.
The 76-year-old former projectionist has spent thousands of pounds converting a humble wooden shed into a fully operational 12-seater cinema in his garden in Oadby.
The 30ft-long, 12ft-high cinema has surround sound, three rows of tiered original cinema seats, a moving screen curtain, a projector and a part-time usherette who serves ice creams during the interval.
Art said: "I fell in love with the cinema at a very early age and left school to take up a job as a projectionist at a cinema.
"I promised myself that one day I would have my own cinema.
"When I got the chance 20 years ago, I had a shed built so that I could recreate a cinema from the 1960s.
"I spent so much time at the cinema it made sense in every way to have my own in my garden."
He said the 10ft screen could accommodate wide screen CinemaScope movies, but he can also watch television on it if he wishes.
Art, who has a library of more than 1,000 films, said: "The system is wired up to the TV so I can watch any programme I want in there, so if we want to see Coronation Street we can pop in there.
"My wife, Anne, is not that keen but I often wander in and pop on a film, although I get more enjoyment from showing films to others." Over the years, Art has used his shed cinema to entertain friends and his three children and four grandchildren.
He said: "On special occasions, my wife has been known to don a uniform and act as chief usherette and hand out the ice creams during the interval."
Anne said: "We used it quite a lot when the kids were little and then the grandchildren but they're all a bit old for it now.
"I made all the curtains in the cinema as I love sewing. I also made my own usherette outfit which I wore on occasions to hand out ice creams just like in a real cinema."
Art has entered his shed into the Cuprinol Shed of the Year contest.
He is up against some unusual sheds from across the country, including 308 "pubs" and 17 inspired by The Tardis in Doctor Who.
Also in the hunt for the first prize is Garry Wells-Lareter, of Thurmaston, whose shed is a party venue called Bar Code.
Garry said his shed "comes into its own in summertime, with the music on".
He said: "Everybody loves Bar Code. We're known locally as the party house."
Whoever wins the Cuprinol contest will get £1,000 in cash, £100 worth of Cuprinol products and a plaque and crown for the shed.
There is to be a three-part Channel 4 show about the contest.
The public vote closes on June 9.
To see Art's and Garry's sheds and to vote for your favourite, go to:
A music teacher who sexually abused three 15-year-old pupils has been jailed for eight years.
Judge Simon Hammond said Christopher Dunn (39) was a "sexual predator" who had groomed two of his victims and used them for his own gratification.
Dunn met the girls while working at Soar Valley Music Centre, in Claremont Street, Belgrave, Leicester.
He was convicted by a jury of seven sex offences following a recent six-day trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Sentencing Dunn yesterday, Judge Hammond said: "There's a golden rule that teachers don't get involved in sexual relations with pupils.
"The defendant understood the risks to his career but it didn't stop him.
"It's clear he preferred young girls, whom he targeted, groomed and sexually abused.
"The courts have a duty to protect young, vulnerable girls from themselves and sexual predators like this defendant.
"Giving evidence he was arrogant and overbearing in the witness box, as well as in the police interviews."
The judge said the pre-sentence report stated Dunn had described the police investigation into his conduct as a "witch hunt".
Dunn, of Pulford Drive, Thurnby, will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life.
He was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, which includes not having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16.
Dunn denied the allegations during his trial, claiming he had done nothing illegal.
Defence barrister Andrew Lewis said at yesterday's sentencing hearing: "He's not reconciled himself to the verdicts of the jury, but on his behalf I concede there's a background of a breach of trust."
The trial jury heard on several occasions Dunn collected one of his 15-year-old music centre students from school and drove her into the countryside, or to his boat in Thurmaston Marina, for kissing and sexual touching.
Similar sexual touching occurred with another 15-year-old who, after her 16th birthday, lost her virginity in his car.
The third victim was inappropriately touched by Dunn.
The defendant was convicted of three counts of indecent assault against one 15-year-old, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one of sexual activity with her when she was 16, by a person in a position of trust, and sexually assaulting a third girl, by touching her inappropriately, between 2000 and 2008, when he was in his late 20s to mid 30s.
Dunn, who qualified as a music teacher in 1999, later became the music centre's development manager, but was suspended from working there in July 2010 due to concerns about his conduct towards the victims.
He also taught music, played in the centre's orchestra and, on occasions, conducted it.
Dunn was an organiser of the Glastonbudget tribute band music festival from 2007 to 2009.
Mr Lewis said: "All the offending falls short of full sexual intercourse with anyone under 16.
"It has been four years since the police investigation began and he's behaved impeccably during that time.
"He's rebuilt his life away from children and has gone into business.
Compensation claims from injured staff members have cost Leicester City Council nearly £2 million over the past five years.
Figures released by the authority show it has settled 151 claims from employees who have been hurt while on duty since 2009, paying out just over £700,000.
The council has also had to pay £1.23 million in legal fees dealing with the cases.
Payments have been made to people injured in trips and slips, as well as employees who have been hurt by faulty equipment, assaulted, injured their back lifting, suffered repetitive strain injuries, been hit by falling objects or suffered noise exposure.
One member of staff was paid £700 after being bitten by an animal and another worker, from the housing department, was paid £40,000 after suffering stress.
The council said it investigated all claims from employees and paid out when it has been negligent.
Since 2009, 63 claims by city council employees have failed.
The authority's insurance and claims manager, Brian Brookes, said: "It's the legal fees that have really hit us.
"In one case, there was an award of £10,000 but the legal fees were £44,000, another ended with a £15,000 settlement for the victim but £47,000 went into the solicitors' pockets.
"We and other councils have been saying for years the fees have been spiralling out of control and last year the Government recognised this and capped them.
"We should see the sums paid to lawyers falling in the next few years."
The Government reforms banned referral fees in personal injury cases and in conditional fee agreements – better known as no win, no fee arrangements.
The amounts paid to successful lawyers is now capped at 25 per cent of the damages recovered.
Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "The scale of the claims and the legal costs are fairly typical of a large organisation such as the city council.
"It has been clear that the amount paid to the lawyers is way, way out of proportion.
"It has been a source of consternation to councils across the country.
"These cases have been very useful money spinners for the lawyers at public expense.
"I don't for a second want to suggest people who have suffered from negligence should not be entitled to appropriate compensation – and we have to make the council a safe workplace.
"The pattern should now start to tail off after the measures taken by the Government, which I very much welcome."
In one case an employee in a city council care home won a £25,000 payout after suffering an electric shock from a faulty piece of equipment.
Another employee slipped on a wooden ramp in a playground.
Insurers thought it should have been better maintained and carried a warning sign.
A £16,000 payout was made to an employee hurt after tripping over a bag hanging on the back of a chair.
City council Unison representative Gary Garner said: "Where there is negligence it is right injured employees should get compensation.
"There are a lot of members I know who have been hurt and could have claimed but didn't."
A 34-year-old man has been charged with kidnap and sexual offences against children in Spinney Hills, Leicester.
The man has been charged with one charge of kidnap, two counts of sexual assault against two separate victims and one count of attempt sexual assault against a third victim.
The alleged offences are against a 12-year-old boy in Mornington Street, between February and March, a 12-year-old boy in Constance Road, on March 30, and against an eight-year-old boy in Mere Road on May 3.
He is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court today.
A 49-year-man has been charged with fraud and blackmail.
The charges relate to an ongoing investigation in connection with a healing and astrology service offered to assist with various issues including business success, marital matching, poor health and relationship issues, said Leicestershire Police.
The man is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court today.
A 24-year-old woman arrested in connection with the investigation has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
3.15pm: The A1 at Ingthorpe, Rutland, is closed northbound at the Empingham turn following an accident overnight.
It will be closed until this evening, with diversions through Melton causing some delays in and around the town.For more local and national travel information and weather updates see the links below:MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - CLICK HERE.LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - CLICK HERE.NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - CLICK HERE. FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: CLICK HERE.WEATHER: See the latest five-day weather report for Leicester and LeicestershireCONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk
Mohmed Bajiwala has appeared in court today charged with kidnap and sexual offences against young boys.
He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, in separate incidents, against two boys under the age of 13.
The 34-year-old, of King Edward Road, off Uppingham Road, Leicester, has also been charged with one count of kidnap in relation to one of the alleged victims.
Bajiwala has further been charged with one count of attempted sexual assault against a third alleged victim.
The accused, who appeared in court dressed in a black, hooded zip-up jacket, a red jumper and jeans, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. Bajiwala spoke to the court through a Gujarati interpreter.
No pleas were entered.
Prosecutor Julie Facer told Leicester Magistrates' Court that the alleged offences related to three separate incidents and three different boys, the youngest of whom was aged eight.
The two sexual assault charges relate to incidents on May 3 this year, in Mere Road, and March 30 this year, in Constance Road, both in Spinney Hills, Leicester.
The attempted sexual assault was alleged to have occurred in Mornington Street, also Spinney Hills, between February 15 and March 15, this year.
Mrs Facer said the alleged attempted sexual assault involved a 12-year-old boy.
The first sexual assault charge also relates to a 12-year-old boy, while the second sexual assault charge relates to a boy aged eight.
Magistrate Rick Moore remanded Bajiwala into custody.
The defendant will appear at Leicester Crown Court later this month.
A "spiritual healer" appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court today charged with blackmail and fraud.
Mohammed Ashrafi (49) has been charged with one count of blackmail, and one charge of fraud by false representation in relation to "facilitating a £60 million Euro lottery win".
Ashrafi is alleged to have defrauded a woman out of £10,000 through a healing and astrology service advertised in Leicester, and to have obtained £50,000 through blackmail.
The Indian national, in the UK on a six-month working visa, spoke through a Hindi interpreter to confirm his name, age and address, which he gave as Pannier Place, Milton Keynes.
Prosecutor Julie Facer said the alleged offences occurred between January 1 and February 28 this year.
Magistrate Rick Moore remanded Ashrafi into custody.
Ashrafi's next court appearance will be at Leicester Crown Court later this month.
5.29pm: An lane closure and 50mph speed limit on the northbound M1, between Lutterworth and Leicester, due to recovery work following an accident, have now been lifted.12.30pm: Belton Road, Meadow Lane and Ratcliffe Road junction, Loughborough, has reopened following accident investigation into fatal collision. 10.51am: The junction of Belton Road, Meadow Lane and Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, is closed while police carry out accident investigation into fatal motorbike crash shortly before 5am today.8.47am: No reports of any major incidents or congestion on city and county roads.MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - CLICK HERE.LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - CLICK HERE.NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - CLICK HERE. FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: CLICK HERE.WEATHER: See the latest five-day weather report for Leicester and LeicestershireCONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk
