20/12/2013 BBC News at Six

Nigella Lawson's two assistants are cleared of fraud. They had claimed

they were allowed to spend huge sums if they kept quiet about her drug

use. The celebrity chef admitted in court

that she did take drugs but strongly denied that she was a habitual user.

Ms Lawson has issued a statement criticising what she calls a

ridiculous sideshow of false allegations.

Also tonight, new revelations about surveillance by British and American

spy agencies on EU officials, the UN, aid agencies and national

leaders. How 17 different agencies failed to

prevent men sexually abusing young girls in Rochdale.

After 70 people are injured by a ceiling collapsing at a London

theatre, safety checks on all the capital's historic theatres.

And four shopping days to go, and how shops are trying to part you

from your money. Coming up on Sportsday, a new Deal

for Luis Suarez makes him the highest paid player in Liverpool's

history. Good evening and welcome to the BBC

News at Six. Two former assistants to the

celebrity chef Nigella Lawson have been cleared of spending huge

amounts of her money without permission. Francesca and Elisabetta

Grillo had claimed that Nigella Lawson had approved their high

spending in return for their silence about her alleged habitual drug use.

During the trial, Ms Lawson admitted taking drugs on two occasions and

talked about the unhappy state of her former marriage to

multi-millionaire art dealer Charles Saatchi. Following the verdict, Ms

Lawson said in a statement that her experience as witness was deeply

disturbing and there should be reforms of the court process to give

witnesses more rights. Here's Luisa Baldini. One of the things I love

about the Italians is their love of shopping. And shopping is what her

two Italian personal assistants did, on her approval, they claimed.

Nigella Lawson and the Grillos systems were like family. Elisabetta

Grillo even appeared in her cookery programmes and contributed recipes.

The sisters walked free from court today after being found not guilty.

They made no comment but their solicitor spoke for them. This has

been a long, hard fight played out in the gaze of the world's media.

Elisabetta and Francesca would like to thank their friends and relatives

for their love and support. Additionally, they would like to

thank those members of the public who expressed their best wishes.

Their defence was linked to their allegation that Nigella Lawson had a

drug habit and they had a tacit understanding with her that they

could spend on the credit card if they did not tell her then husband.

In the witness box, the TV Cook denied being an habitual drug user

and said she had only taken cocaine once during her second marriage. The

defence asked the jury to consider whether that was credible, or

whether her drug use was wider than she admitted. Today, in a statement,

Nigella Lawson maintains the drug allegations are false and part of a

sustained campaign to destroy her reputation. So where exact leaders

this leave the reputation of the woman behind the domestic goddess?

-- where exactly does this leave her reputation? When she strode into

court, she was walking into a story that had it all dashed drugs,

divorce and intimate terrorism by Charles Saatchi. This had been going

on ever since a meal at a swanky Mayfair restaurant which led to a

series of photos appearing in the papers, the image of Charles

Saatchi's hand around her throat, the opening scene of the drama that

then unfolded in court. She may not have been on trial but her

reputation was. Why should her alleged dirty laundry be aired in

public Western Mark is it relevant? She is not alleged to have before

did anyone and was not photographed with her hand around someone's

throat, and yet it seemed her life choices were on trial. It may have

been uncomfortable for her, but if the opinion polls are anything to go

by, the balance of sympathy is with Nigella. It is worth remembering

another media storm years ago. Eight years on, Kate Moss appears to be in

rude health. What is less sure is what the American market will make

of the verdict. The second series starring the TV Cook as one of the

judges begins next month. With me is our media correspondent

David Sillito. Nigella Lawson was not the one on trial, but

nonetheless she was forced to reveal intimate details about her life in

court and admit to using drugs. This has been a highly unusual case.

Absolutely. Her lawyers were amazed that this case became a trial of her

reputation. They said the court had been used as a libel free zone to

throw mud at her. Has it affected her reputation? Even the Prime

Minister said he was on team Nigella, even though he was rebuked

by the judge for it. And we have one bit of evidence, a poll, 75% of us

say that even though we have heard the confessions by Nigella Lawson,

we are not bothered. And then there is the issue of Charles Saatchi.

Equally, it has been bruising for him, but there is the possibility he

will press ahead with civil action against the Grillos. I spoke to one

PR man who said if his client wanted to go back into court, his advice

would be to dig two graves. There are more damaging revelations

tonight about the number of targets placed under surveillance by British

and American spy agencies. Newly emerged documents leaked by the

former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden suggest targets

included the European Union, the UN, aid agencies and national leaders,

including the Israeli prime minister. Tonight, the European

Commission said the claims, if true, were unacceptable. Gordon Corera

reports. And embrace between the Prime

Minister and Germany's Angela Merkel at a European summit in Brussels

which ended today. The next time they meet, things might be more

awkward, after fresh allegations about Britain spying on allies,

including those in Europe. The claims, published in the Guardian

just after the Prime Minister left Brussels, are based on documents

from Edward Snowden. They say that written's GCHQ and America's NSA

operated a lengthy list of surveillance targets. The documents

are said to show over 1000 names of targets from 60 countries, including

Israel's Prime Minister. There are also said to be terrorists. More

surprisingly on the list are a senior member of the European Union,

the vice president of the commission, who deals with economic

and petition issues, humanitarian organisations like the United

Nations children's charity, and a French medical charity. Companies

like a French oil giant, and German government buildings in Berlin and

overseas. We had a ready heard about the Americans targeting German

Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone, and that caused outrage. But the

allegation that this country may also have been spying on allies may

cause further problems. A European Commission spokesperson said they

would raise the allegations with the US and UK, if they were true, they

were annexed the ball deserve the strongest condemnation. This is not

the type of behaviour we expect from strategic partners, let alone our

own member states. GCHQ said it did not comment on intelligence matters

and operated under one of the strongest systems of democratic

accountability in the world. One of the charities involved also

expressed surprise. We are bewildered by these extraordinary

allegations. Our doctors, nurses and midwives are no threat to national

security. British taxpayers will be horrified that money has been wasted

on snooping on aid workers. Of course, other countries spy, too,

but having your secrets exposed is always embarrassing and can lead to

difficult questions. A "widespread pattern of weaknesses

and failures". That's one of the conclusions of two serious case

reviews of how seven young girls were groomed and sexually exploited

in Rochdale between 2003-2013. All 17 agencies involved in the cases,

including charities, social services and the police, that could have

acted to predict or prevent a "significant part" of the abuse,

failed. And in a separate case, five men have been jailed today for the

prolonged abuse of another young girl in Rochdale, as Jeremy Cooke

reports. Convicted of child sex abuse, in

court to be handed sentences totalling 26.5 years. Today's case

once again centres on Rochdale and involve the exploitation of a young

girl, once again has prompted police to admit that they got it wrong. It

took four years to get from an original rape complaint to today's

conclusion. It all sounds too familiar, another victim failed by

those who were supposed to protect her. This is not the first time the

streets of Rochdale have been the centre of an investigation into the

sexual exploitation of young women. Last year, nine men were convicted

and sentenced, but only after some of their victims suffered years of

abuse. The girls would hang around food takeaway shops, be given drink

and drugs, and then repeatedly sexually abused. The case prompted

today's report into what emerged as a widespread problem in Rochdale. It

asked what went wrong and who is to blame. It concluded everything and

everybody. Failures by 17 agencies involved. Greater Manchester Police

admit mistakes but they say they were dealing with young girls who

did not see themselves as victims. A culture of hopelessness had been

created in Rochdale. At that time we had a particular group of girls who

were being abused who did not recognise themselves as victims.

Clearly, we had weaknesses in social services as well, and the trouble

was that the culture of hopelessness had been created. Today's report

said that one girl had reported being raped in 2007 but no

investigation followed, a failing which may have this courage to

others from coming forward. An important lesson. Listen to young

people. Respect them. Listen, and make sure we are providing them with

some safety. Often they will disclose little bits of information

and test out. The biggest fear for young women is that there will be

some retribution if they tell anybody. The court case in Liverpool

was the subject of high security and media attention, but at least it got

to trial. The Crown Prosecution Service is heavily criticised today

for failing to bring some cases to court. Their message now is that

things have changed, victims of sexual abuse will be heard and taken

seriously. The landscape had to change. It took this case for the

landscape to change. Additionally, people who may have been victims in

2003, 1993, who are courageous enough, confident enough now to come

forward, will get justice. Already, several key decision-makers have

been replaced, but the failings here have consequences which the victims

will carry forward into their adult lives.

Safety checks are being carried out at every single historic theatre in

London's West End, after a ceiling collapsed onto the audience at the

Apollo Theatre last night. Two people remain in hospital. More than

70 were injured. Surveyors say the Apollo's ceiling is now sound, but

investigations continue into how the accident occurred. Robert Hall

reports. It has been at the heart of

London's west end for over 100 years. Tonight, the doors of the

Apollo Theatre are locked as engineers and police investigators

try to establish the cause of a collapse which sent over 700

frightened theatre-goers hurrying to the X it is. A BBC team were filming

with the Ambulance Service when the first emergency calls came in.

Paramedics found dozens of dazed and injured people in the streets

outside. Some were taken onto a bus which ferried them to nearby

hospitals. As far as we know, the roof collapsed above us. I got a

sharp bang on the head and the next thing I know I was in the foyer.

Neighbouring theatres became casualty clearing stations, as

paramedics treated dozens of theatre-goers, some with head

injuries and others with breathing difficulties after inhaling dust.

One of the actors said, watch out. There was a loud bang and the whole

place was covered in dust and debris flying everywhere. These photos show

the ornate interior of the Edwardian theatre and the decorated

plasterwork above the audience areas. The Fire Brigade say a

section broke away, striking the front of the dress circle as it

fell. Stalls are covered with debris from the ceiling. There is dust and

timber hanging down. It is quite a mess. We have established that the

scene is now safe. The Apollo's layout and decor is echoed at the

Noel Coward Theatre. It has also been adapted to cope with

productions its founders could never have envisaged. Most of central

London's theatres are over 100 years old, which poses a challenge for the

owners, but safety is paramount. Ceilings have to be checked every

three years. In fact, they are checked far more often. It is

terrible when incidents like this happen, but it is a one-off incident

and our theatres are safe for the public. Tonight, Theatreland is

thronged once more. This was a rare incident but identifying the cause

and possible remedies remain priorities. Our top story... Nigella

Lawson's two assistants are cleared of fraud. It had been claimed they

were allowed to spend huge sums if they kept quiet about her drug use.

And still to come... Quit or be sacked. How the Cardiff chairman

told his manager he was no longer required. Coming up in the sport on

BBC News, a test drive for England 's cricketers. They hit the road

some much-needed respite from the Ashes series.

As if you didn't know it, there are four days left to get your Christmas

shopping done. And retailers say they know a battle is on to persuade

us to part with our cash. Researchers say they are expecting

?12 billion to be spent over the next four days. That's as much as

we'd spend in two weeks. Online sales are predicted to be 28% higher

than this time last year. However, nearly 75% of shops are already

having sales, slightly less than 2012, but the discounts are bigger.

Emma Simpson joins us now from Oxford Street, in London's busy West

End. The shoppers are out in force here tonight. You can probably hear

the salvation army band. This has not been a great season so far for

retailers. People may be feeling more confident, in fact we have new

evidence out today that the UK economy had been growing faster than

previously thought. People still feel under financial pressure and

retailers are hoping that dashed to the shops is finally getting under

way. You cannot miss the discounts on the high street. It has been a

slow start to festive trading and prices are being cut to persuade

shoppers to spend. Here in Bristol today, people were on the lookout

for deals. We have managed to get things reduced. I do not think there

is much of a change to previous years. You never know what is coming

around the corner. On a budget this year, but do not tell my children

that. We leave Christmas late every year but this year it seems later

than ever. It leaves retailers nervous. They discount stock. It is

great news for consumers and not so good for retail margins. In other

words, profits. Some city analysts have already been cutting forecasts

for several retailers. Order online and pick-up in store. Click and

collect is one of the reasons why shoppers are more confident to wait

until the last minute. The boss of Argos is one of retail 's longest

serving CEOs. He thinks it is more competitive than ever. Over the

years, it has got tougher and tougher. This is the opportunity for

retailers to prove themselves. These last few days, they will find out

whether they made target or not. Was it a good Christmas for them or not?

What it comes down to is not just competitive on price but

availability of products and providing a great service. Retailers

certainly hope so. There are predictions that overall this

festive season will prove better than last. It is just unlikely to be

a bumper one. On my back of the envelope calculation, there are just

under 50 shopping hours to go and that could make all the difference

for retailers. As ever, there will be winners and losers will stop

Labour says it will give councils the power to ban high stakes

gambling machines from bookmaker shops if it wins the next election.

Ed Miliband said the machines were spreading like an epidemic in parts

of Britain and that they were causing poorest families to get into

debt. Many councils have come to us and said, this is causing real

misery in our community. It is causing addiction to gambling.

People are having a casual bet in a betting shop and becoming hooked on

these machines. Two former soldiers who threw petrol bombs at a mosque

in Grimsby have both been jailed for six years. The attack took place

just four days after Fusilier Lee Rigby was killed, just one of the

wider repercussions of the soldier's horrific murder. June Kelly reports.

It was described today as an act of retribution. Four days after the

Woolwich Madoc, these men launched a petrol bomb attack on this mosque in

Grimsby. Inside, Muslims at prayer. Their own CCTV had recorded them

making the bombs. They mistakenly thought the CCTV at the mosque was

not turned on. Muslims praying inside raise the alarm. During his

army career, Harness had been based at Woolwich. The reason this mosque

was targeted was because of the defendants. Leave that the Muslim

religion was responsible for what happens in the tragic events in

Woolwich. The judge took that into account. The murder of Lee Rigby led

to a spate of anti-Muslim incidents. The killers were

condemned and Muslim leaders, with the message they were not true

representatives of Islam. Both had chosen the radical path will stop

this was one of them, Michael added while they, at a demonstration at St

Paul's Cathedral five months before he went to kill. This was them both

protesting together. Today, in a BBC interview, this radical man

repeatedly refused to condemn the murder of Lee Rigby. At one mosque

in London, the imam made plain of what he thought of the killer 's

defence that they were soldiers of Allah. How can you claim to be

soldiers of Allah? He was also blunt over the refusal to condemn the

killing. He would not get away with it had it been a Muslim country. He

is abusing the democracy. Successive governments have had programmes in

place to try to the radicalised young Muslims. In the wake of the

Woolwich Madoc, new measures were put in place. This shows the extent

of the challenge. The Russian oligarch, Mikhail Khodorkovsky,

jailed for ten years for tax evasion and embezzlement, has been freed

from prison in Siberia. He was once Russia's richest man and had used

his wealth to fund opposition parties. President Putin signed a

decree pardoning his former political opponent on humanitarian

grounds. Our diplomatic correspondent, Bridget Kendall,

reports. Mikhail Khodorkovsky being welcomed at Berlin airport today by

the former German Foreign Minister who helped to negotiate his release.

Whisked away for his first taste of freedom, the former oligarch who

became the most famous political prisoner in Russia. Only this

morning he was still behind bars in this remote and snowy penal colony

in Russia. Then this presidential decree to secure his liberty. It was

Mr Putin who confirmed he was prepared to offer clemency after

Mikhail Khodorkovsky asked for a pardon to see his ageing parents

again. An extraordinary turnaround after ten years of rivalry. This was

a move no one was expecting. Once Mikhail Khodorkovsky was a powerful

oil magnate, Russia 's richest man. Then he was put on trial and charged

with fraud and tax evasion. He always insisted he was innocent, the

victim of a Kremlin plot to prevent him from challenging Mr Putin. Why

is he being released now? Well, it comes as a wider prison amnesty

looks set to release protesters from Green Preece, including some

Britons, and the Pussy Write rock band. Possibly it is all aimed on

improving the image of Russia prior to the Winter Olympics. Maybe it is

also a signal that President Putin no longer fears opposition rivals,

so he can afford to be generous in releasing them. Quit or be sacked.

That was the ultimatum to Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay, given by

the club's owner in an e-mail. The Malaysian chairman, Vincent Tan,

didn't pull his punches. He criticised Mackay's signings, his

style of play and his results. And tonight he flew into Britain on the

hunt for a new coach. Andy Swiss reports. One of Britain 's brightest

managers and one of the world 's richest men. Malky Mackay and

Vincent Tan have never been close but after taking Cardiff to the top,

they have hit rock bottom. In a nutshell, Malky Mackay asked for

more players, he was told to resign or be sacked. The manager was absent

from his press conference, leaving his assistant with awkward

questions. Yellow M I am here to talk about the Liverpool game

tomorrow. Give me a question about the football match and I will answer

it. Vincent Tan was no stranger to just it measures. Earlier this year,

fans demonstrated after he changed the colour the team play in from

blue to red. They were demonstrating again today, loyal to the manager

and livid with what they see as an interfering owner. There is no rhyme

nor reason as to why this is happening. He is the best manager we

have ever had in this club. The owner has put a lot of money into

the club but he has taken some decisions which have any native

plans. This money may have helped to transform Cardiff city into a

Premier League falls but with this cash has come control and

controversy. I find it astonishing there is talk about him leaving.

Absolutely astonishing. My only conclusion is that you have a

business guy who is operating the club. He knows absolutely nothing

about football. And so a year which saw promotion celebrations is ending

on the sour wrist node. A sporting marriage, destined it seems, for the

messiest divorce. -- on the most sour note. Time for a look at the

weather. Here's Alex Deakin. More stormy conditions heading our

way which could cause more flooding. Very strong winds. It is likely to

cause travel problems in the run-up to Christmas. Christmas day might

turn colder. This bank of rain and very strong winds, particularly on

the West Coast, will linger in the south. Further north, there will be

clear spells the temperatures staying well above freezing. This

line of rain lingers in the south. It will rain for a good part of the

day across the South East and dry up in the south-west. Further north, it

is a case of sunshine. Frequent bands of showers will whizz across

the UK. Some of them will be heavy. A bit of snow but only across the

tops of the hills and mountains in Scotland. There should be sunny

spells and frequent showers moving across Northern Ireland and much of

northern England. Temperatures might just get into double figures. Quite

great cross is anger in the afternoon. Slow to clear from the

south is late in the afternoon. It will brighten up a touch in the

West. We need to keep an eye on this line of intense rain. The winds

whipping up quickly as the band of intense showers moved across England

and Wales. It could cause a lot of surface water on the roads tomorrow

night. We are left with sunshine and showers on Sunday. A brighter day in

the south-east corner. More snow coming in on the higher ground. It

will be colder on Sunday. Temperatures widely in single

figures. It will turn stormy on Monday and Tuesday. Some very strong

winds. A lot of you will be travelling around. If you have

travel plans in the run-up to Christmas, the BBC weather website

will keep you up to