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Football: Seven Leicester City players report for international duty

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Seven of Leicester City's first team squad will be on international duty this week, while several development squad and youth team players are also in action.

Andy King and Tom Lawrence have linked up with the Wales squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Cyprus.

City skipper Wes Morgan has flown with the Jamaica squad to Japan, while Liam Moore remains closer to home as he is with Gareth Southgate's England under-21 squad for their crucial European Championship play-off double-header against Croatia on Friday and next Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and Denmark are in action in Albania on Saturday before entertaining Portugal on Tuesday.

Riyad Mahrez will also feature on Saturday for Algeria in Malawi, before the return game in Algeria on Wednesday, while Jeff Schlupp has linked up with the Ghana squad for their game in Guinea on Saturday, followed by the return game on Wednesday.

Neither Mahrez nor Schlupp is expected to be back with their City team-mates again until next Friday, 24 hours before the Premier League clash at Newcastle United on Saturday, October 18.

Some of City's promising young players have also received international recognition.

Harry Panayiotou is with the St Kitts and Nevis squad for their game against Barbados tomorrow night. They also play against French Guiana on Friday and then travel to Haiti on Sunday.

Striker Simonas Stankevicius is in the Lithuania squad for their match in Estonia on Thursday night and they entertain Slovenia on Sunday.

Ben Chilwell is with the England under-19s who take on Belarus on Friday night, before travelling to face Luxembourg on Sunday. England then entertain Belgium on Wednesday. Defender Alie Sesay has been called up by Sierra Leone for the first time for their double-header against Cameroon.

Tomas Dombrauskis is away with the Lithuania under-19s squad while under-18s player Conor Anderson has been called into the Northern Ireland under-19s squad.

Football: Seven Leicester City players report for international duty


Rugby: Martin Crowson's five things from the Aviva Premiership weekend

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Martin Crowson picks his five talking points from the weekend's rugby action.

1 Leicester Tigers are acting to bolster their squad with Jersey full-back Tommy Bell and Cardiff lock Lou Reed set to join the club this week. Reed comes in to fill a desperate situation in the second row with Geoff Parling, Louis Deacon and Ed Slater all out. Bell, meanwhile, is likely to tie up some loose ends before arriving at Oval Park in time for the visit of Harlequins on Friday night. The 21-year-old former Wasp joined Jersey in the summer and has shown good form in the opening weeks of his side's Championship campaign, earning a place on the shortlist for the September Player of the Month award. His departure from Jersey comes after a clause in his contract allowed him to leave if any interest from a Premiership club came in.

2 Leicester are not the only former Heineken Cup winners at the wrong end of a league table at the minute. French giants Toulouse – now home of former Tigers fly-half Toby Flood – are 11th in the Top 14, having been bottom the previous week, after five defeats in their opening eight games. Amidst some bizarre results in the northern hemisphere last weekend, Clermont conceded a half-century in a 51-21 defeat by Bordeaux-Begles and Leinster lost heavily at home to Munster.

3 Like most Englishmen, I like to think the national side has a decent chance of getting somewhere near the World Cup, on home soil, next year. Stuart Lancaster and his coaches, who include former Tigers prop Graham Rowntree, have instilled a good work ethic and sense of togetherness. They have a strong player pool to choose from, too. But the South Africa and New Zealand game, won by the Springboks as the curtain came down on the Rugby Championship, was a clear sign England will have to get past both of those sides if they are going to achieve the ultimate goal. It was a wonderful contest full of physicality, commitment and skill.

4 Bath began a huge media offensive last week, bigging-up the arrival of rugby league superstar Sam Burgess. Their video release likened Burgess to a modern-day gladiator with rousing music and graphics to accompany clips of Burgess in action. The 25-year-old then promptly broke his cheekbone in the NRL Grand Final playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The fact he played on until the final whistle after getting the injury will not have pleased the Bath medical team. Burgess is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.

5 The Champions Cup has been heralded as a bright new dawn for European rugby. So guess which company has been announced as one of the major sponsors of the tournament that replaces the Heineken Cup this year? Yes, Heineken. You couldn't make it up.

Cricket: Angus Robson and Niall O'Brien share honours at Leicestershire's end-of-season presentation evening

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Angus Robson and Niall O'Brien shared five awards at Leicestershire's presentation evening.

The pair were the side's leading batsmen in the County Championship and, even if it was another year of toil, both performed well.

O'Brien made 971 first-class runs and also maintained good standards behind the stumps in all forms of the game and he was named Cricketer of the Year. O'Brien also picked up the John Josephs Award for the outstanding first-team performance following his brilliant match-winning RL50 century against Hampshire. In his first full championship season, Robson topped 1,000 runs and won the Players' Player of the Year trophy.

The 22-year-old opening batsman also landed the Livingston Award for being the most improved uncapped player and won the Roger Goadby Fielding Award.

The Livingston Cup for first-team batting went to Greg Smith, who made 862 championship runs as well as being the Foxes' leading scorer in the NatWest T20 Blast competition, where he lashed a stunning 54-ball century against Nottinghamshire.

Charlie Shreck won the Frank S Smith Cup for Bowling in the first XI. The seamer was the team's joint leading championship wicket-taker with 42 and also forced his way into both white ball teams.

The Livingston Cup, awarded for the outstanding individual batting performance in the second XI, went to Ben Raine for his magnificent double-century in the Championship title win at Essex. Raine smashed 208 off 166 deliveries with 31 fours and five sixes. Tom Wells was named as Player of the Year for the second team.

Awards: Most improved uncapped player: Angus Robson; Best individual performance in a first XI match: Niall O'Brien; Outstanding batting performance in the second XI: Ben Raine; Batting in the first XI: Greg Smith; Bowling in the first XI: Charlie Shreck; Outstanding fielding performance in the first XI: Angus Robson; Best Second XI player: Tom Wells; Cricketer of the Year: Niall O'Brien; Players' player: Angus Robson

Cricket: Angus Robson and Niall O'Brien share honours at Leicestershire's end-of-season presentation evening

Human cost of a trial by Twitter era

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Let's get things straight. The death of Brenda Leyland in a hotel room in Leicester is a tragedy in every sense of the word. A needless, avoidable tragedy which has shocked and disturbed in equal measure.

How the 63-year-old died is at this stage a matter of conjecture. What is certain is that she died alone, 10 miles from home, amid the kind of furore that normally surrounds the hunt for a wanted fugitive.

In Brenda Leyland's case, her "crime" was taking to social media to post some fairly harsh and uncharitable words about Gerry and Kate McCann, parents of missing Madeleine.

When her alleged role in a sustained abuse campaign against the McCanns was exposed and the woman who called herself "Sweepyface" on Twitter was confronted by a Sky TV newsman, the public backlash was immense.

Two days after her unmasking on television, Brenda Leyland was dead.

What this whole sorry story does is spark fresh debate over cyber abuse, particularly trials by Twitter, and what sort of punishment online bullies deserve.

In a world of online anonymity, has public identification and the naming and shaming of culprits become the greatest deterrent of all?

The grand jury of the internet operates with few of the decencies afforded to people elsewhere. There's a familiarity to online conversation which encourages strangers to publish random thoughts and observations they would never dream of otherwise repeating.

In an ironic twist, Brenda Leyland is in some quarters now a victim of the same vitriol she is accused of aiming at the McCanns through her "Sweepyface" account. On many platforms, she is vilified for her posts about Kate and Gerry.

A coroner's inquiry and police investigation will establish what went on in the final hours of her life. Until then, anything else is speculation.

But for the rest of us, the inquest needs to be about social media and how a middle-class 63-year-old like Brenda Leyland allowed herself to be dragged into the depressing world of trial-by-Twitter. Her death is a lesson to us all.

Cases at Leicester Magistrates' Court

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Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Joseph O'Beirne (58), of Bentinghouse Gardens, Eyres Monsell, pleaded guilty to keeping an unlicensed vehicle on a public road, Tovey Crescent, Leicester, on March 26. He was fined £40 and told to pay £18.75 back duty.

Jason Burton (no age given) of Oakham Drive, Coalville, was proven guilty in absence of using a large goods or passenger-carrying vehicle at Red House Gardens, Leicester on March 26 after having made a declaration that it would not be used during a specified period. He was fined £200 with £43.75 back duty and £90 costs.

Fairway Self Drive Ltd, Peter McCaig Way, Quorn, were proven guilty in absence of failing to deliver up a vehicle licence paid for by a dishonoured cheque on April 4. The company was fined £600 with £130 back duty and £90 costs.

Ilyas Patel, of East Park Road, North Evington, was proven guilty in absence of keeping an unlicensed vehicle on a public road, Orson Street, Leicester, on February 19. They were fined £200 with £20.84 back duty and £90 costs. Patel was also fined £200 with £10.42 back duty and £90 costs for a similar offence committed on March 24.

Mehran Falsafi (54), of Carter Close, Enderby, was proven guilty after denying exceeding the 30mph limit at Tigers Way, Leicester, on December 17. He was fined £110 with £200 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and his driving licence was endorsed with five penalty points.

Imran Patel, of Brightside Road, Evington, was proven guilty in absence of keeping an unlicensed vehicle on a public road, Ethel Road, Leicester, on March 25.

He was fined £600 with £131.25 back duty and £90 costs.

Samuel Benner (no age given) of Dovecote Road, Croft, was proven guilty in absence of using an unlicensed large goods or passenger-carrying vehicle on the A34, Kidlington, Oxford, on March 6.

Live: Traffic and travel updates from Leicester and Leicestershire

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8.05pm: There is heavy traffic in Loughborough on Epinal Way and Soar Valley Way (A563). 

7.55pm:  M6 and A14 towards the M1 and M42 is busy.

7.55pm: The M1 junction 21a to 21 (M69) and 20 to 19 (Catthorpe) is busy. 

7.15am: There are no incidents to report. 

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 http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk.co.uk/weather" five-day weather report for Leicester and Leicestershire

CONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us http://twitter.com/Leicester_Merc" @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

Live: Traffic and travel updates from Leicester and Leicestershire

Leicester and Leicestershire weather forecast

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Today:  Rather cloudy at first with locally heavy, showery rain slowly moving northwards. It should become drier and brighter from the south during the afternoon with some sunshine, but a few isolated showers still possible. Light winds initially, then breezier later. Maximum Temperature 14C.

Tonight: Any showers will die away quickly leaving a dry and mostly clear night. Becoming quite cool in places. Cloud will start thickening from the south by dawn. Minimum Temperature 5C.

Wednesday: Occasionally cloudy with bands of heavy showers arriving from the south, some prolonged with a risk of thunder. Sunny periods are likely in between. Becoming breezy. Maximum Temperature 15C.

Leicester and Leicestershire weather forecast

Firefighters called after car crashes into house in West Knighton

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Firefighters were called to an accident where a car crashed into a porch in West Knighton.

The incident happened after 7.30pm yesterday in Shrewsbury Avenue, Leicester.

Three fire engines attended from Central Station.

No-one was trapped and the porch was made safe by emergency services.

Firefighters called after car crashes into house in West Knighton


'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland had posted more than 4,000 messages about Kate and Gerry McCann before being outed

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The woman accused of abusing Kate and Gerry McCann on social media had posted more than 4,000 messages about the Rothley couple before being outed as a troll.

Brenda Leyland, 63, from Burton Overy, who was found dead at the Leicester Marriott Hotel on Saturday, had Tweeted thousands of times over an 11 month period under the name @Sweepyface.

Her abusive messages blamed the parents of missing Madeleine for her disappearance from a Portuguese holiday apartment in 2007.

They included: "How long must the McCanns suffer? For the rest of their miserable lives."

The messages were all posted between November last year and September 25.

She was outed after being approached by Sky News reporter Martin Brunt on Friday.

On Saturday, police were called to the Leicester Marriott Hotel, in Enderby, after a body had been discovered in one of the rooms.

Officers officially identified the body as that of Brenda Leyland yesterday.

'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland had posted more than 4,000 messages about Kate and Gerry McCann before being outed

Firefighters called after car collides with telegraph pole

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Fire crews were called after a car collided with a telegraph pole.

The incident happened at about 2.30pm in Langton Road, Kibworth yesterday.

No-one was trapped, but following the accident the driver was checked over by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Firefighters called after car collides with telegraph pole

Car crash in Dunton Bassett leaves driver in critical condition

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A motorist is in a critical condition after a crash in Dunton Bassett.

The male driver of a Vauxhall Corsa was taken to University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire following a collision on the A426, about half-a-mile south of the junction with Gilmorton Road.

The incident happened at about 8.35am.

Police said the man remains in a critical condition.

The driver of a black Suzuki Swift was also treated for minor injuries in hospital, but has since been discharged.

DC Seamus Burns, who is investigating, said: "We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision between the two vehicles who has not spoken to police officers at the scene.

"We would also like to speak with anyone who saw either of these two vehicles shortly before the incident."

Anyone with information can call police on: 101

Car crash in Dunton Bassett leaves driver in critical condition

Appeal after Labrador attacks another dog in park

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Police have appealed for help tracing the owner of a black Labrador which is said to have attacked another dog in a park. Officers want to speak to the owner after his dog, which is thought to be called Badger, turned on the other dog, Frodo, in Hinckley's Swallows Green. Badger is said to have jumped on Frodo's back, pinned him down and injured his back. Frodo's owner, who is a wheelchair-user, asked the dog's owner to call the dog away. She has told police the owner is a white, grey-haired man. She took Frodo to see a vet where he was given painkillers and antibiotics for an injury to his back. The incident happened shortly before 10am on Monday, September 19. Police community support officer Rob Wallace said today: "We would really like to speak to the owner of the dog regarding this incident and urge them to come forward. "We would also like to hear from anyone who knows who may know who the man might be." Contact Pcso Wallace on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Appeal after Labrador attacks another dog in park

Two men, aged 40 and 41, charged with child sex offences

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Two men have appeared in court charged with child sexual offences. The men were arrested by officers from Leicestershire Police's child sexual exploitation team last Thursday. Officers said the arrests were part of an "ongoing investigation". A 41-year-old man, from the Coalville area, has been charged with supplying Class B drugs, sexual activity with a child and sexual touching of a female without her consent. A second man, aged 40, was arrested in the Swadlincote area of South Derbyshire. He has been charged with causing or inciting sexual activity with a child. Both men appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court last Friday. The 41-year-old was remanded in custody and the 40-year-old man was released on conditional bail. Both men are due to appear for a further hearing at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, October 17.

Two men, aged 40 and 41, charged with child sex offences

Beat bobby gets 2,000th Twitter follower

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A beat bobby is celebrating getting his 2,000th follower on Twitter.

PC Joe Lloyd runs the @OakhamPolice account, which has one of the largest number of followers for all neighbourhood officer accounts.

He said: "Social media, in particular Twitter, has become an effective tool to help communicate with the local community.

"About two years ago we had about 500 followers and it has been great to see it grow to where it is now.

"Twitter does not replace conventional policing out on the streets, and I am often able to provide updates as I go about my day to day work."

Leicestershire Police has a growing social media presence with 25 Facebook accounts, and more than 90 Twitter accounts with a combined following of more than 170,000.

The police in Rutland have a Facebook page and four twitter accounts.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/rutlandpolice

Police issue descriptions of thugs who robbed jeweller

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Detectives investigating a robbery outside a jewellery shop have urged witnesses to come forward. A 51-year-old man was attacked and beaten with a metal bar as he arrived to visit Arti Jewellers, in Leicester's Narborough Road at 1.45pm on Friday. His two attackers stole a large amount of 22-carat Asian gold jewellery from the man, who was later treated in hospital for head injuries. The man's wife, who was present during the attack, suffered bruising and went to hospital but did not require treatment. One of the suspects is white, slim and 5ft 8ins. He was wearing black clothes. A second man is also described as being of slim build, 5' 11" and also wearing black clothing. The pair are believed to have fled in a car driven by a third man. Detective Constable Jenny Tattersall said: "This was a nasty attack and the victim and his wife have been extremely traumatised. "There were numerous members of the public in the area at the time of the incident and we would particularly like to speak to a black male who came out of the nearby internet café in order to eliminate him from our inquiries. "We would also like to speak to anyone who may have seen a Black Skoda Fabia, a sporty version with alloy wheels and tinted windows, in the area at the time of the incident."

Police issue descriptions of thugs who robbed jeweller


Leicester Tigers' Richard Cockerill sees Jersey boy Tommy Bell as long-term signing

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Leicester Tigers beat two other Aviva Premiership clubs to secure the signature of full-back Tommy Bell.

The 21-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in the game and he arrived at Oval Park to meet his new team-mates yesterday after flying in from Jersey.

The full-back could be in the frame for a club debut this Friday under the lights at Welford Road against Harlequins.

Niall Morris has had surgery on his torn ankle ligaments and Mat Tait will not have recovered from a bang on the neck he picked up against Gloucester.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill said he was delighted to have former Sale and Wasps player Bell at the club and revealed a tip-off from chief scout Ged Glynn played a big part in his signing.

"Tommy has signed for us and has been in outstanding form in the Championship," said Cockerill.

"He is 21 and is a good young English player who has played fly-half and full-back.

"We see him as a full-back and think he may be a long-term option for us.

"We decided to sign him before anyone else does, as he has been on such good form.

"Tommy is really good at counter-attacking and he understands the playing of the game because he has played at fly-half and full-back.

"He sees the game from both sides as a play-maker and someone who has time to make decisions and come into the line.

"He kicks the ball very well. He is a good goal-kicker and has played exceptionally well for Jersey this season.

"Ged Glynn came back from a Nottingham and Jersey game – where he had gone to watch another player – and he said: 'You have got to get this kid'.

"There were two other clubs in for him and we just got in there first.

"With Niall's injury, it looks like a short-term thing but we see Tommy as a long-term signing.

"He has already played in the Premiership and he gets it.

"It's the chance to get a good young English player in and hope he develops into a fantastic player for the club."

Jersey chairman Bill Dempsey was sorry to see Bell go after Tigers activated a clause in his contract which allowed him to leave if a Premiership club came in for him.

"We are very sorry to lose Tommy. He has been one of our stand-out players," said Dempsey. "I think we knew he would probably end up returning to the Premiership, although we'd hoped this wouldn't be until the end of this season."

Tigers Development XV lost 35-15 to Gloucester in the A League.

Leicester Tigers’ Richard Cockerill sees Jersey boy Tommy Bell as long-term signing

Counter Culture: Kiki & Fleur bring new shoes to Stoneygate, Leicester

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Here at Counter Culture, we're firm believers a gorgeous pair of shoes can truly make an outfit. So, it gladdened our hearts to hear that a new shoe boutique has opened in Leicester, and in lovely Stoneygate, too.

Ah, lovely Stoneygate. We're always happy to rev up the Counter Culture mobile and head over to Allandale Road and Francis Street, check out all the fab little shops and treat ourselves to a bagel from Deli Flavour. All in the name of work. It's a hard life, eh?

Anyway, that was our mission this week, with new shoe boutique Kiki & Fleur at the heart of it all. The shop has been open since the end of July and is doing pretty well, which is good to hear. Got to support our independents, haven't we?

Opened by friends Michelle and Hema, it's a sister store to Abiti, just down the road in Francis Street, which Michelle opened about 18 months ago.

They had footwear over there, she says, but there just wasn't enough room for it all, so now there's a sparkling new space filled with shoes. And boots. Oh, and jewellery. And scarves.

It's a luxury store, so think high-end brands you won't find just anywhere.

Take Sam Edelman, for example; a brand that's a hit with celebs all over the world. From Kate Bosworth and her laidback style to Kim Kardashian and her not-laidback-in-the-slightest style, their shoes have graced some famous feet.

Similarly, the Ash range is a fave with lots of celebs and a pair of the buckled trainers will set you back about £150.

Our favourite range is Elia B, which includes a flat, knee-length rider boot with a stretch panel at the back, to fit any size calf; a Chelsea boot and the cutest pair of leopard print pumps we have ever come across. The designer previously worked for Russell and Bromley, so knows his stuff.

Brands including Alpe and Vic Matie are due to make their debut at Kiki and Fleur soon, and they also do Bensimon plimsolls, "the most comfortable plimsoll you will find," we're told. And, priced at £39, they don't cost much more than you'd pay on the high street.

As well as making your feet look pretty, Kiki & Fleur can also take care of your jewellery needs. They stock Tutti and Co and Stan and Frankie; the latter makes some gorgeous personalised bracelets which would make a great gift, if you're after something a bit different.

If you're looking for shoes that take a bit of a step up from your usual high street fare, put your best foot forward and get down to Kiki & Fleur pronto. Your feet will thank you for it.

Info: Find Kiki & Fleur in Francis Street, Stoneygate, Leicester. Call 0116 270 5260.

The website is under construction but should be ready by November.

Click here

Counter Culture: Kiki & Fleur bring new shoes to Stoneygate, Leicester

Is he back? 'Monk' distributes anti-gay leaflets in Leicester

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A man dressed in a monk's habit reportedly posted homophobic leaflets through people's front doors today. A number of residents in Clarendon Park, Leicester said today they were offended by the leaflet, which was posted to homes in several streets. It echoes a similar incident in Market Harborough in August. Towns including Cambridge and Brighton have also been targeted. It was unclear tonight whether the leaflet distributed in Clarendon Park was the same one which was passed to the Leicester Mercury after the incident in Market Harborough at the end of August. Some residents reported that the man was arrested. Residents on the Clarendon Park Online Community Facebook page reported several sightings of a "bald man in a sort of black monk's robe" this afternoon. Lorna White posted: "It's just come through my door! Not impressed." Diane Conchie said: "It's like putting a firework through a door. He doesn't care about the potential harm he could cause." A spokesman for Leicester LGBT Centre, told the Leicester Mercury at the time of the Market Harborough incident: "Leicester LGBT Centre is and always has been a supporter of freedom of speech. "However, this material goes beyond the scope of fair, impartial speech intended to encourage debate. "This editorial filth does nothing more than instil a sense of intolerance and fear. "These words are an example of what a civilised society turns its back on. "This pamphlet is patently made to inflame irrationality and encourage divisiveness and hatred against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. "This judgemental critic uses phrases to reduce LGBT people to no more than sexual predators. "The use of words associating LGBT people with paedophilia and pederasty is deliberately done to slander."

Is he back? 'Monk' distributes anti-gay leaflets in Leicester

Why do people troll? Professor Brian Brown of De Montfort University discusses the issue after McCann abuse and Brenda Leyland death

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Sending abusive messages to people over the internet - or 'trolling', as it is known - has made headlines over the past few days following reports of vitriolic abuse aimed at the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.

It was revealed last week that police are investigating people using the anonymity of the web to target the Rothley family, whose three-year-old daughter went missing in Portugal in 2007.

As reported in the Mercury, another tragic twist came on Sunday when Brenda Leyland, of Burton Overy, who is alleged to have tweeted 4,220 offensive messages to the McCanns, was found dead in a Leicestershire hotel room.

Professor Brian Brown, of De Montfort University, specialises in interpreting "human experience" across a variety of different disciplines, including education and the mass media.

The Mercury asked him why some internet users chose to troll others online.

"I think the subject of internet trolling, particularly with the extraordinary growth in the everyday use of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook is an interesting but complex one," he said.

"There has been very little research into trolling, but a recent Canadian study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, the journal of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID), makes interesting reading.

"What they did was to survey a few thousand internet users asking them about their behaviour and interactions while online.

"It discovered that many people who troll, which they define as the practice of behaving in a 'destructive, or disruptive manner in a social setting on the internet with no apparent instrumental purpose' share similar characteristics.

"Many show traits of narcissism, Machiavelli-like manipulation, psychopathy, sadism and other antisocial personality disorders.

"Although these were essentially self-reporting questionnaires, the answers can be very revealing.

"It seems a lot of people who troll take great pleasure in manipulating others and have a very well developed sense of their own importance.

"But often, in reality, they are quite vulnerable individuals themselves, probably very isolated who don't have much positive interaction with people in the real world, and who spend most of their time online.

"The cloak of anonymity afforded by the internet can be quite empowering for these people.

"Real life is difficult – finding a good job and keeping it is hard; raising a family is hard; relationships are difficult, especially romantic ones that quite often don't go the way we would want.

"However, on the internet people can create their own identity anew, often several ones, where they can compensate for their feelings of inadequacy. And whilst they wouldn't say boo to a goose, face-to-face, they can indulge their alternative persona online.

"The anonymity of the web means that, more often than not, they will not be exposed.

"We can see this extreme behaviour in other forums, for example, when someone enters a football stadium or wrestling arena, the rules of engagement are different, and some of the interaction between fans, and performers, can be viewed as extremely abusive.

"Similarly, with incidents where someone is threatening to commit suicide from a building or bridge and crowds gather, you sometimes hear reports of them shouting, 'jump! jump!', to the individual.

"Research has suggested that this is more likely if it is dark and the crowd is large.

"As far as targeting celebrities, many people feel they are fair game, as does the tabloid media.

"And when you hear of famous people shutting down their Twitter accounts, for example, after just a few days, due to abuse, those responsible realise how their cruel behaviour can have a powerful effect.

"They can make someone cry, make them upset, get them to react.

"This almost instantaneous result feeds and reinforces the antisocial behaviour and there is instant gratification.

"They say, 'Hey, I am powerful, look what I've done'."

Why do people troll? Professor Brian Brown of De Montfort University discusses the issue  after McCann abuse and Brenda Leyland death

WATCH: The cat which went up on the roof but couldn't get down - for 48 hours

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At first it was a case of finding Nemo – then it was a case of getting him down off a house roof.

The adventurous cat spent nearly 48 hours on the roof and chimney stack of a house in Leicester's West End, before he was finally persuaded to end his lofty self-imposed exile – with a packet of Whiskas.

Owner Marie Love used a trail of the chicken flavoured food to tempt the two-year-old through a neighbour's open skylight.

The 30-year-old said she became worried after Nemo went missing from her home in Luther Street on Sunday.

"We heard him miaowing at about 1pm but couldn't find him," she said.

"We searched about but couldn't see him anywhere. We thought he was probably keeping warm in a neighbour's shed and would come home when he was bored."

But when Nemo did not return that night, the family began to become really concerned.

"On Monday we looked again for him and could still hear his loud cries," said Marie.

"Then my four-year-old son, Samuel, said, 'Look mummy, there he is – up in the sky'.

"He was on a neighbour's chimney stack on the roof."

Marie eventually succeeded in getting her pet down from the roof after a crew of firefighters, an RSPCA officer and a host of neighbours had failed.

A fire service spokesman said a crew from Western station had tried to get Nemo down, but he was having none if it.

"A firefighter went up on a ladder but every time he got near, the cat moved, so he could not get it and bring it down," said the spokesman.

"We usually get the cat down in such circumstances, but this time the pet just refused to be saved."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said one of its officers was sent to the scene and, along with Marie, tried to coax Nemo down, also to no avail.

"After a number of the attempts the RSPCA left the location, but would return if needed," she said.

Yesterday afternoon, after two days stuck on the roof, Marie opened a pouch of cat food and poked through a neighbour's skylight.

The ruse finally worked and Nemo carefully walked towards the window and into Marie's arms.

"I think he was so hungry," she said. "He came to me and wanted more food.

"It's great to have him back. We shall keep him in for a few days now, and hope he has learned his lesson and stays off the roof."

WATCH: The cat which went up on the roof but couldn't get down - for 48 hours

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