19/12/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

all from us. Now we join our news teams where

The parents of a Jersey teenager who died at the weekend have issued a

stark warning about so`called legal highs, which they believe had a huge

impact on his mental state. 16`year`old Max Blandin's death was

confirmed this weekend. It's believed he was using the drugs

which aren't prohibited by drugs laws.

Max's heart was bigger than he was. He touched everyone he met, he had a

real charm and a fantastic smile. The words of this teenager's

parents, less than a week after his death was confirmed. Max was a keen

skateboarder, and we've been told was experimenting with so`called

legal highs. Now, his mum and dad want to warn others. Sharon and Ian

Blandin have taken the brave step of speaking out about their son's

death, because they don't want that to happen to anybody else. They said

in a statement, please, please don't be the next youngster to leave your

family heartbroken. Max did ask for help in the end, but unfortunately

left it too late. Please don't make that same mistake. Health providers

here echo that call, they have seen a spike in the number of young

people using psychoactive substances and think people do not understand

the risks. These drugs actually have more of an adverse effect on mental

health, such as paranoia, confusion, psychosis and self`harming

behaviours. Other drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, have physical

effects. Jersey Police hope the courage of Max's parents telling

their story will really make young people think about the huge risks

these powders pose. You couldn't get a more powerful message at an

incredibly difficult time for them, when they're trying to contend with

their grief. I'm hoping that those hearing the message from Sharon and

Ian today will really take note That message is clear. These are not

legal, they are not safe, and if you think you have a problem, the time

to ask for help is now. Jersey Police are urging young

people or their parents to get in touch if they have any concerns

about drugs, or legal highs. A helpline number has been set up

01534 610 681. Two Jersey politicians have had

their application for bankruptcy refused by the Royal Court. It comes

after a libel case bought by Deputies Trevor and Shona Pitman

against the Jersey Evening Post and a local estate agents. The Deputies

will keep their seats in the States for now.

The couple applied for the older form of bankruptcy, as opposed to

the more modern version. This meant, if granted, there has could

be sold to pay off their debts. This was brought about by the libel case

they brought against the Jersey evening Post and the estate agents

over a cartoon featuring them. The court heard they owe at least a

quarter of ?1 million. Advocates representing the Jersey evening Post

and the estate agents said the couple were asking the court to

indulge them by releasing them from debt. They said this followed Trevor

Pitt and criticising the court, saying it was corrupt. The estate

agent lawyer said it would make a mockery of the legal system. It is

likely the lawyers will apply to the court for the couple to be made

bankrupt. Well, shortly afterwards, Deputies

Trevor and Shona Pitman spoke to the media.

You know though `` you know the Justice reasons, or the injustice

reasons, why we went down this route. You have not reported those

reasons, as we feel you should. For that reason, we are giving an

exclusive to citizens media, and one of the world's biggest current

affairs magazines will be featuring our story, Newsweek. Guernsey Police

have named the two men charged in connection with defrauding the

States of ?2.6 million. The money was paid out in July 012

to someone who successfully posed as the contractor working on the

airport runway. 56`year`old John Anthony Woodhatch from Essex and

44`year`old Adrian Taylor, from Knightsbridge in London, will appear

in court in London on ninth January. The biggest event in the Channel

Islands' sporting calendar is edging closer, as athletes prepare for the

Commonwealth Games. The global event will be taking place in Glasgow in

the summer. But while some of those competing are paid professionals,

others have to hold down day jobs to pay their way.

While some Commonwealth Games competitors are being paid to train,

others have to work a nine to five to keep their dreams alive. Amateur

badminton player Gayle Lloyd will be representing Guernsey at the

Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. And being based on a tiny island with a

small population means she has to regularly travel abroad just to keep

up with the pace of international competition. You do not really get

as much over here, you get the matches against Jersey, which can

keep your competitive edge, because they are very tight, but the

standard is going to be better in the UK. With no sponsors, the work

Gayle does with her calculator as an actuary helps pay for her

competitions on court. It is hard for them, you have got to love your

sport and what you are trying to achieve, had your goals and aim at

them. In order to keep up their skills, Gayle and her badminton

partner Elena Johnson have to frequently travel to the UK, and

further afield. To qualify, we have to get a certain national ranking,

so we have had to go to loads of tournaments in the UK. It is our

weekend is gone. We would leave after work on a Friday and come back

on a Sunday evening. I play in Switzerland, that can be leaving on

Friday evening, flying from Gatwick on Saturday, and getting back on

Sunday. I play for a club in Holland, I have to come back on

Monday morning, because there are no flights on Sunday night, so that

takes up a lot of time. But it's good fun. It is a good experience.

Gayle and Elena made it to the last 16 at the last Commonwealth Games in

Delhi. They're hoping that the thousands of pounds they've spent to

keep up with the best will help them do even better in Glasgow.

Finding testing opponents is not just a problem for athletes in the

Channel Islands. We have been to an island in the South Pacific. What

are you doing their? Could evening. Like following the Queen's Batson

relay as it makes its way around the Commonwealth. On that journey so

far, since leaving Buckingham Palace in sober, it has been to 19 places

throughout Asia, and now into the Pacific. The reputation has been

fantastic, it is wonderful to see people getting involved. Some of the

warmest receptions are in some of the most from road communities. From

here, through Africa, the Americas, and through Europe for the Opening

Ceremony. Coming to Jersey on the 11th of May and Guernsey on the 13th

of May. We are looking forward to seeing you and the bat on here. The

challenge for people living on those islands must be similar to what our

athletes face. How has it been for the competitors their? To be honest,

for the athletes here, it is very difficult. Their main sporting

facilities are their school grounds. Their best hope at the Commonwealth

Games, the weightlifters, and they need to go abroad, to new Caledonia,

to train. That is a facility they share with many other islanders I

found a similar story in Tonga. The boxers have won all of their

Commonwealth medals, the baby to go to New Zealand and elsewhere to

train. One solution that I liked was in the cook islands, they have

hosted international tournaments to bring the competition to them, but

the advantage is they live on a paradise island. You are not doing

too badly yourself! And, of course, when the Queen's

Baton arrives back in the British Isles, it will do so here in the

Channel Islands. It will be in Jersey on 11th May next year and

Guernsey on 13th May. More info online at

bbc.co.uk/queensbatonrelay. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. Coming up, the weather. Later in Spotlight with

Justin and Rebecca, a dentist who normally treats human patients is

called into the lions' den. Time for a bit of musical light

relief now. All week, we're featuring festive choral

performances. Tonight's comes from the Hot Bananas choir in Jersey who

are singing Let It Snow. # Oh, the weather outside is frightful.

# But the fire is so delightful # And since we've no place to go.

# Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

# It doesn't show signs of stopping. # And I've bought some corn for

popping. # The lights are turned way down

low. # Let it snow, let it snow, let it

snow! # When we finally kiss goodnight.

# How I'll hate going out in the storm.

# But if you'll really hold me tight.

# All the way home I'll be warm # The fire is slowly dying.

# And, my dear, we're still goodbying.

# But as long as you love me so # Let it snow, let it snow, let it

snow! We have had some hefty showers

pushing through today, and we will see some four to night. Then,

further showers tomorrow. Some sunny spells, but cloud will build through

the day. We have got some fresh to strong winds blowing. We have got a

low`pressure approaching from the west, so conditions are going

downhill. But the rain will tend to arrive for Friday night. Then, it

stays with us for much of Saturday. Pretty wet, and windy. Come Sunday,

it is more of a showery affair, but we keep the strong wind. A queue

showers running through at the moment, they will continue through

the course of the night, but there will be some clear spells, and it

will get a bit chilly. It is still pretty blowy. We have got some

showers tomorrow from the word go. They could be pretty sharp in

places, but they will tend to die out through the morning. We will see

more brightness, though cloud tends to thicken up as we had through the

afternoon. The wind is picking up all the while. Our coastal

waters... The wind will continue to strengthen

through the day. It will reduce the visibility at times, with the

showers. Some big waves for the surfers tomorrow.

Thereafter, looking at the showers at first tomorrow, and the

strengthening winds through the day. During the night, heavy rain will

last through much of Saturday. Further heavy rain and strong wind

for Monday. Finally, someone tonight is

?1,038,000 richer tonight. The winning number for this year's

Channel Islands Christmas lottery is 1135507.

The lottery raises money for local charities, the ticket prices have

doubled, and a record number were sold.

That is it from us in the Channel Islands, let's join Justin and

Rebecca. They could