A benefits cheat changed his name at least 17 times to claim £47,000 in benefits – while earning thousands as a lorry driver.

Finn Harvey Schneider, whose other names included Rai River Croft and Zachary Caleb Maxillian, was said to live in a "fantasy world".

He also amended the names on his driving licence more than a dozen times to commit the "sophisticated" frauds.

The 47-year-old would claim benefits in one name, but work full-time for a variety of businesses in Leicestershire in other names.

Leicester Crown Court was told Schneider was suffering from mental problems, including a personality disorder, which could have contributed to his criminal behaviour.

Schneider's original name is believed to have been Raymond Fairclough.

The defendant, of Dawsons Road, Osgathorpe, pleaded guilty to cheating the public revenue out of £42,042 by fraudulently claiming a variety of benefits by using false names, between March 2007 and October 2012.

The benefits included a carer's allowance, job seekers' allowance, disability living allowance, social fund payments and incapacity benefit.

Schneider also admitted failing to notify Oadby and Wigston Borough Council of a change in circumstances, when claiming housing and council tax benefits, totalling £5,088, between April 2009 and October 2012.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision.

The court heard that since his arrest, Schneider had changed his name yet again, to Rai River Croft.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "It seems to some extent you live in a fantasy world relating to your identity.

"I don't know if you're pulling the wool over everyone's eyes or not, or whether in truth you suffered abuse in childhood, or suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, or other disorders, as referred to in the psychiatric report, such as depression and anxiety.

"It would be inappropriate for me to make a finding that the psychiatric report is wrong.

"You were a persistent and rather sophisticated fraudster who managed to obtain over £40,000 in benefits you weren't entitled to.

"It may be part of your offending is a product of your personality disorder; a product of the person you are, rather than calculated criminality – it's very hard to say."

Simon Worlock, prosecuting, said: "The Crown traced 17 names having been used, but not all of those were done during the period of offending.

"He obtained changes in names on driving licences and got new National Insurance numbers."

An example of Schneider's duplicity was in 2009, when he claimed disability living allowance on the basis he was suffering from depression, was awaiting a hip operation, was liable to self-harm, suffered panic attacks and needed a full-time carer – but was also working.

In 2010, he was earning various amounts, from a few hundred pounds up to more than £1,000 a week, in short-term jobs.

Olwen Davies, mitigating, said Schneider's mental health issues "go back a long time", prior to the offending.

"His change of names is accounted for by his psychiatric illness," she said.

"He's suffered poetic justice as officials will only deal with him in his original name of Fairclough, and he no longer has those papers and can't claim benefits."

She said he was subject to a "refund system" which means he would be repaying the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) until 2050.

The judge also placed Schneider on a Financial Reporting Order, under the 2005 Serious Organised Crime Police Act, for 10 years.

It means he must report annually to an officer of the DWP with full details of his income, current P45 or P60 and evidence of his name and address.

X Factor star Sam Bailey is set to line up for the Soccer Sellebrity match at the King Power Stadium on Sunday only a few weeks after giving birth to her daughter Miley Beau.

A team of City Legends will take on a team of celebrities for charity.

Sam is no stranger to the game having played for five London clubs before turning out for Leicester City, her final team.

She'll be joining stars including county based actor Stephen Graham best known for his roles in Boardwalk Empire, as Al Capone, Combo in This Is England and Tommy, in Snatch.

Money raised will go to the LCFC Foxes Foundation.

Sam said: "Not a lot of people know I've actually played football for 14 years.

"I played for Millwall, Charlton, QPR, Crystal Palace and West Ham so I've played for quite a few clubs. Leicester City was one of them – my last club in fact."

She then settled down and have children so she didn't really get to play after that.

But Sam said: "When I found out there was a charity match I wanted to play.

"My husband said to me I think you'll be a little bit out of your depth because I'm obviously running around on the pitch with men.

"I don't play for a club anymore but if you give me a football I'll want to have a kick about."

She added: "When I did Birch's run, every time the ball got kicked to me, I tried to kick it.

"The fact I'm going to get to run out on to Leicester City's pitch. I mean come on, who doesn't dream of doing that?

"I've never played at the ground so it's a dream come true to me.

"The adrenaline is going to be running through me when I step on to the pitch even though I'm going to be absolutely shattered running around that pitch."

She said: "Come down and watch me make a complete fool of myself!

"I'm bringing my family, even my little baby – she'll be there watching so it'll be a great day.

"I'm really looking forward to it – hopefully the weather holds out but then again, if it's wet then that's even more reason to slide."

The match, at 3pm on Sunday will be the second time a Sellebrity Soccer game has taken place in Leicester.

Other celebrities confirmed to take part include Eastenders actors Adam Woodyatt and Jamie Borthwick, X-factor star Shayne Ward, Soccer AM's Franky Fryer, rapper MC Harvey and reality TV star Jeff Brazier.

The tickets will cost between £3 and £10 and the event is expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

A woman soldier who waited for her son to grow up before joining the Army reserves says her confidence has soared and she's never felt fitter.

Private Adele Marson, from Leicester, has just returned from exercises in Germany which included defending a mock harbour which came under indirect fire.

Post Office worker Adele, 39, was one of 19 soldiers from Loughborough-based 203 Transport Squadron,158 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps in Sennelager for their annual training camp on Exercise Leopard Star.

She took part in training designed to test her and her fellow reservists, providing logistic support and essential supplies.

Adele said: "I always wanted to join the regular Army when I was younger but personal circumstances prevented it.

"However, I saw the advert for the reserves and as my son is older now I thought I would give it a go.

"I have been a reservist for 18 months now and I am really enjoying the challenge. My confidence levels have soared and I have never felt fitter.

"I have never been on an exercise like this before but it is a brilliant experience. "

Adele has already gained extra driving qualifications which she hopes to use in her career with the Post Office, which Adele says has supported her as a reservist.

The soldiers from 158 Regiment are paired with 7 Regiment, RLC - based at Kendrew Barracks, in Cottesmore, Rutland.

Under Future Army 2020 reforms, which will see a rise in reserve numbers, they will be undertaking joint training objectives designed to demonstrate their operational credibility.

Commanding Officer of 158 Regt, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Hughes said: "The aim of this exercise is for us to ensure that our soldiers are properly prepared and trained to a standard confident in the knowledge that we can hand them to our paired regiment knowing they will be able to undertake any task asked of them.

"Early signs are promising this will be achieved as everyone is committed, enthusiastic, reliable and determined to succeed – characteristics I would say are attractive and advantageous to any employer."

Concerns have been raised about plans to sell two Leicester City Council-run cares homes.

City council bosses have revealed they are considering selling Abbey House, off Groby Road, and Cooper House, in Eyres Monsell, to a Leicestershire County Care Ltd. (LCCL)

The company was one of just two that expressed a serious interest the homes which the city council is seeking to offload to cut its adult social care costs.

However LCCL still owes neighbouring Leicestershire County Council £1.62 million for nine homes it purchased in 2012.

County Hall agreed to sell its homes for £3.2 million, saying it could no longer afford to run them.

The Tory-run council agreed to take a down-payment of £100,000 on them but has twice had to extend the deadline for the debt to be cleared because the company was unable to raise the finance.

It has now agreed a payment schedule which will should clear the debt cleared by the end off 2016.

The Labour-led city council has not revealed how much it will sell the homes, which have 62 staff and 55 full time residents.

However it has said it hopes to complete the deal in February and will allow LCCL to pay in installments.

Councillor Vijay Singh Riyait said he had contacted assistant mayor Rita Patel, who is responsible for adult social care, to express his concerns about LCCL.

Coun Riyait, vice-chairman of the authority's adult social care scrutiny committee, said: "The trouble the company has had paying the county council has been well documented and there have been issues with its CQC inspection reports.

"My concern is around the financial aspects and the long-term viability of the company.

"They seem to be financing the deal with borrowing.

"That's fine and lots of businesses do it but there are risks.

"I think we should be asking for the money up front. There's no other argument to defer payment unless we are desperate to get rid of the homes.

"There were only two serious bidders but that doesn't mean we should do any old deal which might leave us in the situation the county council is in."

LCCL is owned by parent company Southend Care.

Southend's managing director Dr Davie Vive-Kananda said: "We have nine care homes in Leicestershire and we have been running those well and consolidating. Our standard of care is good.

"Now we would like to move into Leicester."

Of concerns raised by the CQC over LCCL homes he said: "Any organisation always has one or two problems.

"Our current reports are excellent."

Dr Vive-Kananda said the company was keeping up with its agreed county council repayments as well as paying interest which has topped £250,000.

He said LCCL was "a quarter" of the way through a promised £4 million investment in its existing Leicestershire homes and said the city deal would see £1.4 million ploughed into Abbey House and Cooper House.

He said: "I am delighted the city council has chosen us as the preferred bidder. They have gone through stringent due diligence and they are happy with the quality of our care."

A city council spokeswoman said: "This sale will provide continuity of care, which we know was a main priority for existing residents and their families. Current staff will be transferred as part of the terms of the sale.

"LCCL has a stable base of employment in the county, where it now operates nine homes previously run by the county council.

"There has been significant investment in each of these homes, and there is a clear track record of continuous improvements in relation to Care Quality Commission standard across all these homes.

Coun Patel was unavailable for comment but said in a statement: "Residents of these homes and their families wanted us to try to sell the homes as going concerns, and we have worked very hard, going through an extensive procurement process, to try and achieve this.

"The financial viability of the company has been assessed as part of this procurement process, and we have also taken up references from the county council.

"The sale we have negotiated will ensure the residents and families get their wish to stay in the homes with the same staff caring for them, and at the same time will save the council £1.1 million in running costs each year."

A Rutland-based regiment with a proud Polish connection gathered to commemorate a Catholic priest who offered his own life to save another prisoner's at Auschwitz in 1941.

Around 250 personnel from 7 Regiment, Royal Logistic(c)Corps gathered at Kendrew Barracks, in Cottesmore to celebrate the life of St Maximilian Kolbe at their Regimental Day.

On Thursday (9) a church service led by the regimental padre, the Rev Roy Burley, remembered the Polish Conventual Franciscan Friar who was canonized in1982.

The regiment has a proud Polish connections which began when civilian guard units named Mixed Service Organisations (MSOs) were established in 1945.

The MSOs, which became 7 Transport Column Royal Army Service Corps (Tank Transporter), consisted of ex-prisoners of war, many of whom were Polish who were liberated from German concentration camps.

The regiment continues to raise the Polish crest at reveille and lower it at the end of the day. A Polish eagle is also worn on the mess dress.

Although great care was taken to preserve the original standard it deteriorated over time and has now been framed and placed on display in the Officers' Mess.

The new Standard was presented during the church service by Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Laurence Howard.

Adjutant, Captain Tony Brazier said: "Events such as this are important as we look to preserve our unique ethos.

"The attendance of the Lord Lieutenant at the presentation of the standard was a key part in our regimental history and one which we hold with pride."

A man helped by a charity to overcome his alcohol addiction committed a 'shocking and appalling' breach of trust when he stole from two men he was supposed to be helping.

A court heard Alan Spiby was given a job at a residential unit run by the Open Hands, the charity which had helped him.

But Spiby (33) of St Martin's Drive, Desford, stole from two of the alcoholics he was helping.

One of the victims, who has since died, entrusted Spiby with his bank card and he withdrew a total of £900 and only handed on £600.

But Spiby escaped jail after he pleaded guilty to two theft charges .

He was given nine months in prison suspended for 18 months, with 12 months' supervision, and was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

At the hearing at Coventry Crown Court, Recorder Robert Spencer-Bernard also ordered Spiby to pay £300 compensation to the estate of one the man who died and £600 costs.

Recorder Spencer-Bernard said: "I regard this as the most appalling breach of trust directed at two patients for whose care you were entrusted.

"They (the offences) are shocking and appalling."

Prosecutor Jonathan Veasey-Pugh said Open Hands provided residential care and support for alcoholics in Coventry city centre.

Spiby had been a resident and overcame his own alcohol problem and had turned his life around.

He was working for the charity, earning £300 a week, when he stole from two men who were receiving residential care between August and December last year,

One of the residents entrusted Spiby with bank debit card and his pin number to withdraw cash for him.

Spiby admitted stealing £300 from the man who said

the theft had left him without the funds he needed to re-start his life after leaving the charity's accommodation.

Spiby also stole a mobile phone from another resident who said it had left him feeling 'really angry' that Spiby had abused his trust in that way.

Ian Speed, mitigating, said Spiby "had been dependant on alcohol from a very early age. It was only after he addressed that issue while at the establishment himself that he became a carer.

"But he lodged with a man who took drugs, and he became addicted to those drugs and ran up a bill, and did drastic things to pay it off. He is totally ashamed."

Mr Speed said Spiby's life was now back on track, and he was living with his sister and had a new job which was originally on a temporary basis but has become permanent."

A "greedy" woman who pocketed almost £35,000 in benefits while living with her lorry driver lover was jailed for 12 months.

Mandy Henton, 50, hobbled into the dock at the city's crown court clutching a walking stick and wearing a neck brace yesterday 

She admitted three counts of making false representations to obtain the jobseeker's allowance, which later became the employment allowance, as well as housing and council tax benefits, and one count of fraud, between March 2009 and August 2012.

Faye Mellor, prosecuting, said: "She said she was single and living on her own with no source of income."

It was a "fraud from the outset" because she had been living with her partner, Kevin Johnston, for 10 years, since 2000.

Henton repeatedly falsely claimed to the authorities to be living alone in Hopyard Close, Gilmorton estate, Leicester.

Miss Mellor said: "The total dishonestly obtained over a three-and-half year period was £34,744.

"The DWP became aware Mr Johnston was living there in September 2011, with bank accounts at that address and his vehicle registered there.

"He stated she was his common law wife on his car insurance and she was named as a driver of the vehicle - and the policy was at that address."

Miss Mellor said Mr Johnston changed his address two days after Henton became aware of this investigation.

When interviewed in August 2012, Henton denied he was her partner or they ever lived together.

She claimed they met in 2008 and he was a long distance lorry driver who occasionally stayed in the spare room and used her home as a postal address.

"All of which were clear lies," said Miss Mellor.

When re-interviewed in December 2012, Henton accepted knowing him for 14 years, but did not accept he lived there, although he "helped with some bills."

Judge Simon Hammond said: "She was bluffing it out."

Sentencing he said: "It must be clearly understood, if people fiddle the benefits system, it's theft.

"It's cheating the public.

"This was done for pure greed."

He said new stricter sentencing guidelines for judges, in relation to benefit fraud, were recently introduced, on October 1.

James Adcock, mitigating, said Henton had recently had an operation on her neck, hence the neck brace, and has been repaying the money at £28 a week.

He said: "She has less money to spend on alcohol, which has been featuring in her life due to difficulties.

"She now lives alone in her council property, as the relationship ended at the time of the investigation.

"She accepts exactly what she's done and knows she could go to prison."

The impressive spectacle of rutting deer is luring photographers to Bradgate Park.

Yesterday morning Mercury snapper Chris Gordon got an early start to catch the stags at the medieval deer park in their annual battle for dominance, which usually lasts two or three weeks.

Chris said: "It's quite spectacular really.

"If you're prepared to get up early while the day is still cold you can get great shots with the stags' breath visible when they bray.

"On Thursday morning it was raining pretty heavily so it wasn't perfect for taking pictures but the stags didn't seem to notice the rain."

Bradgate Park is home to herds of red deer and fallow deer.

During the rutting period, males lock horns, bellow and put on other displays of dominance in an attempt to win females.

Fights can last for hours and involve serious injuries as the stags battle to win the females.

For information about Bradgate Park visit http://bradgatepark.org/

A council has been attacked for blocking a new out-of-town shopping area in Hinckley just to protect the taxpayer-funded Crescent scheme.

Westmoreland Investments wants to build a new out-of-town shopping area in Hawley Road, Hinckley, with tenants lined up including Pets At Home and Poundstretcher.

The proposal is for three shops and a car park in front of them with 135 spaces to be built on the site of old warehouses.

But the planning application - which will be decided on Tuesday next week - has been recommended for refusal by council planning officers because it could hurt the town centre regeneration.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council is in the middle of redeveloping the bus station into the Crescent shopping area, using £11.5 million of taxpayers' money in a joint development with private investors called the Tin Hat Regeneration Partnership.

Council papers show that the partnership has objected to the out-of-town plan, stating "The Crescent scheme will be compromised by this development" and that "retail activity should be concentrated in the town centre".

In their briefing paper to the planning committee meeting on Tuesday, the planning officers conclude that while the out-of-town development would not starve the town centre of shoppers, the Hawley Road site could lure potential shops that might otherwise have moved into the Crescent.

The planning officers' report states: "It is considered that there would be direct competition for the same occupiers in a number of units in The Crescent."

Councillor Peter Batty, the Conservative group leader on the Liberal Democrat-led borough council, described the "disgraceful" move as "protectionism at its worst" and said the council was clearly worried about the Crescent plan failing.

He said: "Why should the council need to abuse their position as the local planning authority to stop healthy competition?

"It sounds to me to be about desperate measures to stop competition because in reality they are struggling to get enough businesses to actually commit to the Crescent."

Councillor Batty said he thought Westmoreland Investments would be likely to win an appeal, which would cost the council in legal expenses in the long-run.

He added: "What a way to regenerate the economy of Hinckley when the council is hell bent on stifling competition.

"If the bus station redevelopment was a viable scheme in the first place then surely the healthy competition of bringing well known High Street names to Hinckley could and should stimulate even more interest in the town as a retail centre."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The application has been recommended for refusal by our planning officers and the decision will be made by the councillors on the planning committee."

Leicester Tigers (16) 22

Tries: Scully. Conv: Williams. Pens: Williams (5)

Harlequins (6) 16

Try: Dickson. Conv: Evans. Pens: Evans (3)

Leicester Tigers finally ended their three-game losing run with a painfully tense 22-16 win over Harlequins at Welford Road.

Blaine Scully's fourth-minute try got them off to the ideal start but, from then on, the game degenerated into a scrappy kicking fest dominated by the referee's whistle.

Tigers were the better side against a very limited Quins attack but Owen Williams missed four penalties on the night to keep it tight.

And even when the job seemed completed with a 22-9 lead just nine minutes from time, Karl Dickson's converted try created a tense finish for a crowd.

Tigers got a big boost before the game when talismanic England scrum-half Danny Care pulled out of the visitors' line-up after the birth of his child.

And it only took four minutes for a boost on the pitch too as they ran in the game's opening – and only– try.

From broken play in midfield, Fraser Balmain flicked the ball up and Manu Tuilagi and Jamie Gibson were both involved in putting Blaine Scully into space down the right.

The American international still had plenty of work to do from half-way though, but he scampered through one tackle and in for the score. Owen Williams converted.

Referee Tim Wigglesworth's whistle dominated the opening quarter as Williams and Nick Evans shared four penalties to take the score up to 13-6 after 20 minutes.

But Leicester had their tails up. Gibson was in inspired form stealing ball in midfield before Niki Goneva nearly slid in to score.

And then a 40-metre kick chase from fellow flanker Julian Salvi really got the crowd going as they looked to lift their team after a three-game losing streak.

There were plenty more penalties in the second quarter too, but Evans and Williams lost their range for a while as the Welshman missed two kicks and Evans one.

Williams got back on track five minutes before the break following good work by Tuilagi and Scully and his kick put Leicester 16-6 ahead at the interval.

Quins needed to score first in the second half and they did just that as Evans landed a penalty following a scrum offence by Tigers.

Leicester hit back immediately from the kick-off and Williams made it a 10-point lead again.

As evening rain began, an already scrappy game got scrappier.

Every time a side looked like building a score, they would either get penalised or knock on.

And that was typified when the home side were pinged twice for early engagements at scrums deep in the Quins half, with a great chance to build pressure.

Williams finally landed what looked like a crucial kick on 66 minutes to put Leicester 22-9 ahead.

On Quins only attack of the half, they suddenly turned it into a game as Karl Dickson sniped around the corner of a ruck to run in from close range. Evans' conversion made it 22-16 and the visitors were a converted try away.

Williams had the chance to calm the nerves of a tense Welford Road with a penalty four minutes from time but he missed a fourth kick of the night.

It mattered little though and Leicester hung on to the relief of a crowd of over 21,000.

TEAMS

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Williams, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs (c), 1 Michele Rizzo, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Brad Thorn, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Jordan Crane

Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Marcos Ayerza (for Rizzo, 45min), 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 David Mele (for Youngs, 72min), 22 Sam Harrison, 23 Miles Benjamin

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 1 Joe Marler (c), 2 Joe Gray, 3 Will Collier, 4 Charlie Matthews, 5 George Robson, 6 Luke Wallace, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Nick Easter

Replacements: 16 Dave Ward (for Gray, 16 min) , 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Kyle Sinckler (for Collier, 66min), 19 Sam Twomey, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 George Lowe (for Casson, 70min), 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague

Att: 21,510

Ref: Tim Wigglesworth

The youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize has said the award has made her feel "more powerful and courageous".
Schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, 17, was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012, for campaigning for girls' education in her home country of Pakistan.
The teen, who now lives in Birmingham, revealed that she was called out of a science class at school to be told she had jointly won the prestigious prize alongside Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satarthi.
Speaking at a press conference, Malala said she was happy to sharing the award from a person from India.
The Nobel committee, which decides the winners, said it had chosen the pair, "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".
A spokesman added: "Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzay has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations. This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances.
"Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls' rights to education."

A horse walks into a police station… you'd be forgiven for thinking it is the start of a bad joke but this was neigh laughing matter for officers at Cheshire Constabulary headquarters.
The brown and white steed was captured on CCTV, on Monday, wandering into the building in Winsford of his own accord despite attempts to usher it out.
The animal was only in the station for a short time - trotting around the lobby - before leaving the same way it came in and then heading back to its field, which was only a short distance away.
A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said the animal was escorted safely back to its home and, "at neigh point did the horse pose a risk to security".

Two people have been cut free from a car in Thrussington after a one-car collision on a country road.
Firefighters were called to Seagrave Road, at about 7.15pm today, after receiving reports of a car on its side and "multiple people trapped".
Crews from Birstall, eastern and southern stations were able to cut the injured people free and they were treated by members of East Midlands Ambulance Service.
Police were also at the site, near East Goscote, and cordoned off the area while the rescue took place.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said that the pair's injuries were not known and it is not clear whether they were taken to hospital.
Emergency service left the scene at about 7.50pm

Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft will miss the next six weeks of action after having surgery on his knee.

The 28-year-old blindside flanker had an operation yesterday to remove a screw that had been inserted during the knee reconstruction which led to him missing nearly the whole of last season.

Croft had a strong pre-season and played in two friendlies as well as the defeat at Bath. But he has missed the last three games with the problem and went to hospital to finally have it corrected.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said he was "disappointed" for him.

"Tom Croft will not be fit. He has had a screw taken out of his knee that was irritating the joint. He is probably six weeks away from playing now," said Cockerill.

"He has had some work done in there and when you get back to playing, sometimes the metalwork can irritate the joint. It's is one of those things.

"That was done yesterday and that is clearly disappointing for him and us."

Croft will miss the club's opening two games in the Champions Cup against Ulster and Llanelli. The operation also rules him out of what was a slim chance of returning to the England squad for the forthcoming autumn internationals.

Tigers now have England quartet Croft, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole and Tom Youngs all out of action with long-term injuries.

Saturday: Cloudy during the morning with some showery rain in places. Brightening up during the afternoon but with further scattered heavy showers developing, some with thunder. Light winds. Foggy overnight. Maximum temperature 16C.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday: Sunday will be mainly dry but with sunny spells. Monday is cloudier and windier with occasional rain likely. Tuesday will be mainly dry with some sunshine after any rain clears. Chilly nights with fog possible.

A fake movie trailer has been getting Friends fans hot under the collar after becoming a YouTube sensation and announcing a film of the show would be released next year.

Last month, the cult television show celebrated 20 years since its pilot episode, but a despite its massive popularity it remains consigned to television history and producers have not attempted to resurrect it.

However, a new trailer purporting to be a preview of an upcoming Friends film, due out in 2015, has surfaced and has been shared on Facebook, Twitter and a number of other social media platforms.

The YouTube video has achieved huge viewing figures reaching more than 1.5 million people online.

But fans of the US show are having none of it and have taken to Twitter to have their say.

People who are sharing "Friends Movie: Trailer", are one of those who still believe that Titanic 2 will release pretty soon.

— Shraddha Shetty (@HelenOfAhoy) October 8, 2014

How could anybody possibly be fooled by that Friends movie trailer?

— Dan Cooper (@MrDanCooper) October 7, 2014

People thinking that friends movie trailer is real �� it's faker than Ross's English accent

— Natalie Wright (@wrighty_x) October 6, 2014

There will be a series of six open tournaments for professionals and amateurs at The Leicestershire for the second successive winter.

Following the popularity and success of a similar programme last winter, dates have been announced for half-a-dozen events between October and March, 2015.

The first competition is on October 31, with the other five also scheduled for Fridays.

The dates are November 28, December 19, January 30 and February 27, with the climax on March 27 next year.

Organiser Steve Whittle, the club's assistant PGA professional, is taking bookings for the tournaments and can be contacted at the Pro Shop, by telephone or e-mail.

Whittle said: "We are delighted to be able to hold this series again after the success last season and give pros and amateurs an opportunity to compete in a friendly, enjoyable atmosphere throughout the winter on a very dry course.

"The format and prize fund will be exactly the same as last season.

"We are all looking forward to the new series getting under way very shortly now.

"We are happy to take bookings or provide more information to anyone yet to book, who would like to play in these monthly competitions."

There will be professional and amateur orders of merit again too.

Last season Kirby Muxloe playing pro Jason Palmer and David Mitchell, an amateur from the same club, both with 137 points, led the way.

Mitchell edged to the top overall on count-back to lift the trophy, awarded for the best four scores aggregate over the six events.

Luffenham Heath will host the finals of two County Golf Union season-long inter-club foursomes championships – the men's and the pro/am.

Kirby Muxloe and Cosby will meet in the climax of the men's competiton.

Kirby Muxloe were five-up on aggregate in their semi-final against Whetstone at Cosby, and Cosby were three-up against Hinckley at Kirby Muxloe.

Cosby are also in the final of the pro/am after their B team's 6&4 success against Kibworth at Rothley Park. They take on Park Hill B at Luffenham Heath, who won 4&2 against Rothley Park C at Kibworth.

A total of 64 top anglers took part in the Soar Championships.

With the river very clear and low plus the cold night before, it was a tough competition with bonus tench, perch and skimmers the target.

Nick West (Long Eaton Federation) managed to find some large perch and a bonus tench for a weight of 6kg 450g to take the title of Soar Champion.

He fished pole and feeder with worm and caster being his best bait.

An overnight frost kept the weights down in the open match at Lake View Fishery, but regular Bronson Arme took first place catching mainly F1s, carp and skimmers for 63-01, on bread and maggot at the Holwell venue.

Sean Huggins was the winner in the latest open match fished at Shearsby Valley Lakes.

He landed 105-06oz on peg nine, well clear of Luke James, who caught 76-10 from unfancied peg three.

Oxford angler Ian McCulloch, on form peg B17, had a slow start to the Nisa Open at Wolvey taking a single fish on bomb and pellet.

But a switch to the margins saw his day take off, and in the latter half of the match, he regularly netted good carp to end a clear winner with 132lb.

Sean Huggins, on Snake peg eight, took the Thursday open ending a worthy winner with 68-08.

Soar Valley Winter League starts on Sunday with nine teams involved.

Wreake canal championship is to be held on Sunday, October 19, on the canal around Market Harborough. Contact Bobby Grycuk on 07746171667.

After back-to-back promotions, Rawlins A basketball team made a winning start to life in Division One of the Leicestershire & Rutland Basketball League.

With the addition of a few new players to strengthen the team, along with a new kit thanks to YourSight Opticians in Syston, Rawlins took on Gateway A and edged the game in the final minutes.

Rawlins showed signs of nerves in the first quarter finishing four points down.

However, some strong defence drove an extremely strong second-quarter performance and Rawlins forged ahead by half-time.

Gateway came out fighting in the second half and cut down the perimeter shooting that Rawlins had found success from in the first half.

Rawlins struggled to move the ball, but maintained their lead into the fourth quarter.

Gateway found their second wind and fought for the victory in the last five minutes of the game narrowing the gap to just one point with a minute left. Rawlins, though, showed the composure required this season by converting key free-throws in the dying seconds to clinch the win by two points.