02/09/2011 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West. In the headlines tonight:

The self-proclaimed healer who duped the most vulnerable patients.

Peter Aziz is jailed for claiming a dangerous hallucinogenic drug could

treat cancer sufferers. The best of homecomings - friends

and family greet engineers back today from Afghanistan. Also

tonight: Unwanted memories? Controversy over

a new drama documentary about serial killer Fred West - on screen

this weekend. And I will be reporting from

Somerset where world record of tumbling. Fancy getting the weight

of the world's heaviest swede? -- guessing.

Hello. A self-proclaimed healer, who

brewed a drink containing a Class A drug, has been sentenced to 15

months in prison. Peter Aziz offered the concoction containing

the illegal plant to sick patients at ritual healing ceremonies. He

claimed it could help fight cancer and took money from those who drank

it. A police investigation was launched after our Health

Correspondent Matthew Hill exposed Aziz's illegal activities. Now, in

the first case of its kind in the country, he's been sent to jail.

This secret footage was taken late at night in a disused hotel in

Weston-super-Mare. The man who calls himself a healer Peter Aziz

took �100 each from 20 strangers who drank his mind-bending

Amazonian herb called ayahuasca. The herb contains DMT, an illegal

Class A drug. Aziz claimed it could help fight serious health

conditions like cancer. It can talk to its spirits.

Our undercover GP, who posed as a cancer patient, was offered a

sample of the medicine. He has welcomed today's court action

against Aziz. It was a serious matter of somebody,

in my case, offering to treat people with cancer. Secondly,

producing a truck which had clearly quite potent properties to it. We

witnessed people vomiting and having violent hallucinations. If

it had been given to somebody weakened through cancer it could

have made them seriously ill. It was after we gave the sample to

local police in Weston that a major investigation took place which led

to today's landmark hearing. In January 2008 we launched a

further investigation during which week seized further drug and plant

material which led to the arrest of the disease. What kind of message

does this send out? D N T is a dangerous drug, a Class A drug for

a reason. -- D M T. I'm hoping awareness will be raised of the

problems and health concerns. from Devon, had denied two counts

of producing a Class A drug and two counts of supplying it. He claims

to have taken Home Office advice about the legality of using it.

Have you got that in writing? through e-mail. Can I see that?

The herb is still advertised on the internet. This legal action may

make some suppliers think twice about continuing to sell it.

Police investigating last month's disturbances in Gloucester have

charged a 16-year-old boy with violent disorder. Detectives are

still appealing for help in identifying these people in their

most wanted gallery. They've also released these new pictures taken

from CCTV around the city during the disturbances.

There were heart-warming scenes in Wiltshire today, as local soldiers

were welcomed home after four months in Afghanistan. The members

of 22 Engineer Regiment played a key role in Helmand province

supporting British and Afghan soldiers, building new camps and

updating existing ones. Ben Moore was there to see families re-united.

It has been a long four months. Not only for those serving, but for

those left behind. You have limited communication, you can't just pick

the phone up when you want. I will be keeping my sunglasses on, I

think. He has been doing an important job on the front line.

How does a father feel? A very proud. I can see you are welling up.

You have obviously Mr. Yes, it has been tough. -- missed him. And for

one family, this reunion will be a first meeting. He is looking

forward to it because he hasn't seen him yet, only heard him

screaming down the phone. On the stroke of to the sword is marked on

to the square. One last formality. -- on the stroke of two the squad

marched. What have you been getting? Photos,

parcels. Nothing like the real thing. Well happy to be back.

will you make him do? Puzzles. bet that is a welcome relief.

sure we will be on the trampoline as well. The 22 Engineer's Regiment

were based in Helmand province providing infrastructure. All their

work on the front line, a forward operating base, a difficult job but

made easier by their families. Little things mean a lot when you

are deployed. You lose contact with all reality in the loo k and by

somebody send you a letter or photos or magazine, it reminds you

there is a normal world back there waiting for you. The regiment will

return to Afghanistan in 18 months of formalities a well-earned rest.

There is one thing that makes this a particular early happy homecoming

and that is that every one of the 100 soldiers has come home safe.

There have been no injuries, no That is lovely.

You're watching BBC Points West, your regional news programme with

Alex and Chris. Yes, and stay with us as there's much more still to

come. Including: With all eyes on the skies this

weekend, what's the weather going to be like? Ian will be here

shortly with those all important forecasts for Saturday and Sunday.

An angry game keeper from Wiltshire who drove his Land Rover at a low

flying army helicopter has avoided being sent to jail. But 61-year-old

Malcolm Hughes has been ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid

community work. The court heard the pilot narrowly avoided a collision

when he saw the vehicle directly underneath his cockpit as he came

in to land. Scott Ellis reports. Will just have skies are a training

ground for military helicopter pilots -- Wiltshire's skies. In

December 2009 this gamekeeper's tolerance ran out. Malcolm Hughes

drove at a squirrel helicopter, similar to this one, as it hovered

over a field. The incident happened here in countryside just south of

Marlborough. The judge said he accepted Mr Hughes did not intend

to damage the helicopter when he drove at it, or rather he was

trying to express his disapproval at the noise which may have upset

his game birds and that misty Hughes was trying to get close

enough to write down the numbers on the side of the helicopter. Malcolm

Hughes was given a five-month jail sentence, suspended for a year, and

ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He had earlier been

found guilty of acting in a manner likely to endanger aircraft.

didn't need to approach that air craft if he wanted to know the

number and reported. He just needed to note the time, date and location

and friend that to the MoD and they would have been able to trace the

aircraft at that time. The MoD says it has to use farm and an occasion

for training, especially if live firing closes down Salisbury Plain

to aircraft. The campaign group says it is time for tougher laws

against aviation noise. Their role laws on industrial noise, but when

it comes to noise from aircraft, it is specifically exempt. Basically

the aviation industry as a whole, not just the military, has a car

plunged and the public have no right whatever. The judge said

Rafferty spoke highly of Mr Hughes and he was short lessons had been

led. -- references. Opposition councillors in Swindon

have called for the council leader to step down over the failure of a

project to provide free wireless internet in the town. Swindon

Borough Council lent operator Digital City UK �400,000 to set up

the Wi-Fi network - the firm's now gone bust. The Labour group's

calling for the Conservative council leader Rod Bluh to resign.

Councillor Bluh says the council should have examined potential

risks more closely. But that new investment in the project will turn

it into a success. A controversial drama about the

Gloucester serial killer Fred West is to be screened this weekend.

Appropriate Adult tells the story of the relationship between West

and a housewife who was asked to sit with him during police

interviews. There's been a mixed reaction to it in the city as our

Gloucestershire reporter Steve Knibbs has been finding out.

The Cromwell Street murders still resonate today. They shocked the

world. It seems that everything to be said about Fred West has already

been said. But there's always one more story. I love Rose, and I love

her too, but Anna was the one. Appropriate Adult, Fred West is

played on screen, with an unnerving realism, by Dominic West The drama

explores how he manipulated this woman, Janet Leach. She sat in on

police interviews but crucially West told her things that he

wouldn't tell the police With the case nearly 20 years old, Fred

West's daughter has reportedly criticised the producers for making

this drama. The police gave us five minutes alone together and we

agreed I would tell them it was all me. Rose gets away with it and I

get -- paid the price, but that is the plan we made. Was the case

nearly 20 years old Fred West's daughter has reportedly criticised

the producers for making this drama. It has registered very strongly

with us. If you say you can never discuss any difficult subject

because there is somebody directly infected who doesn't want you to,

that could mean for example we don't discuss the Holocaust or the

Vietnam war or the Second World War were atrocious things happened.

This case is a story that will never go away. Hilary Allison was

the press officer for the police at the time and says there is a place

for dramas like this Gloucester will never be able to hide from

this terrible moment in its history but there is a hope that the

perception of the city has now changed. Lots of aspects of the

investigation have been looked at, learn from. There are other aspects

of the inquiry, including the role of Janet Leach, and it should be

looked at and as long as it used treated sensibly it is a positive

thing. This is where the focal point of the West murders, 25

Cromwell Street, once stood. The house was demolished soon after the

investigation. There was a dark chapter in Gloucester's history but

as time has gone on the perception of the city has had very changed.

We have achieved a lot, got some great plans for the future, it is a

different place today than it was then and will be an even greater

place in the future. Janet Leach admits she made

mistakes in her dealings with Fred West and did work with producers on

Appropriate Adult to ensure the real story of that crucial

relationship could finally be told. And if you're interested in

watching the programme or want to e-mail us your views after you've

seen it, it's on Sunday on ITV1 at 9pm, with the second part on Monday

night. In sport tonight as the new rugby

season gets under way, we ask will this finally be Gloucester's year?

And we're already a month into the new football season so plenty to

talk about in our regular temperature check. Here's David

Passmore. Yes, our expert Geoff Twentyman

here shortly to assess how our football sides have started the

season, but first to rugby. Last night we looked at the prospects

for Bath, tonight we turn our attention to Gloucester who for so

long have been knocking on the door but without a Premiership title to

their name. Alistair Durden now reports on the cherry and whites

and their particularly passionate and enthusiastic supporters. They

are going to be brilliant. We have all got season tickets. They're

very good on my home ground. I have got a good feeling Gloucester will

win everything. Always known for their whole-

hearted support, could this really be the year for Gloucester's fans?

No-one would love that more than Andy Hazell. Born in the city and a

club stalwart for over a decade now. And not getting any younger. Every

year we are chipping away, learning as a squad all the time so

hopefully we can get that Premiership title. One of the key

men this year will be Freddie Burns. It's now up to him to make the

crucial number 10 shirt his own after the departure of Nicky

Robinson. Definitely a little more pressure but something I have never

shied away from and there will be trying times throughout the season,

but I will try and do the best I can. It will be different this year,

people will stand up and take notice of Gloucester so we will

have to reach that expectation. squad is depleted by the World Cup.

But the head coach is excited about the players he has left behind.

They give their best, it is an opportunity for every player, young

or old, to step up and put a bit of pressure on the plays that are away

and probably forget about them and get on with the game now and see

worried Texas. -- where it takes us. But Charlie Sharples is here. The

latest in Gloucester's long line of internationals just missed out on a

place in England's squad, despite training with them all summer. So

instead he's back to give his club a major boost.

I exceeded my own expectations in getting as far as I did, I got a

cat out of it. Once you get that taste of being environment you get

a hunger for more. Heavily experiences I have had over the

summer will transfer onto the pitch and have some good performances for

Gloucester. Kingsholm will again be a fortress,

some have probably never seen the side lose there. If they can

improve away, there might just have something to toast.

And Bristol also start their season in the championship this weekend

they have an away game at Doncaster and we'll look at their chances

ahead of their first home game next weekend.

A month into the new football season and we have had drama with

Paolo Di Canio at Swindon. What has caught your eye?

Cheltenham, without doubt. Already in the play-off zone. 3-1 victory,

a super start. Very early, but if they can keep the momentum going,

keep their best players fit, there is no reason why they cannot

maintain it. Bristol City, has looked too good.

It is a reflection of the squad. No real snap, crackle, pop in there.

Defensively, a little bit worrying. The weekend off will do Keith

Millen the world of good. He can work with his squad, a few issues,

and that will help. But they have hung on to Nicky

Maynard. A am glad they have pickers he will

be real quality and value over the next few months -- I am glad they

have because. It is good news. Keith Millen did tell me yesterday

they are still some way from sorting out a new deal for him.

That kind of goal, they have got to keep him from the long term -- for

the long term. Rovers, not find the net that easy.

It is a tough league, we have seen that with Cheltenham beating

Crawley. An away day tomorrow, pretty optimistic.

If we get on the front foot quickly we can get and out into their mind.

Jarman have done well to beat them. If we play well on the day and get

a bit of luck and played to our best we are capable of beating them.

Swindon, Paolo Di Canio is a complete season in itself, and

ticks all of the place. What did you make of -- make of the bus-stop

on Wednesday? It happened in football, sport, but

it is not great for morale. At the moment things are on a bit of a

knife-edge with Paolo Di Canio. A great character, player, but that

doesn't mean you will be a great manager. He has got to show who is

in charge, and in this incident it is the manager who has come down on

top. A breakdown in communication. Do

you worry it might be more players that are not happy with his style?

It is possible. The thing about results, and Martin Dobson in my

time, his methods were strange in the extreme. If we had been winning

matches you accept that, but when things are not going well results

Wise, the players can get restless. They need to win a match pretty

quickly. A have they got the squad to win those matches?

Defensively they are vulnerable, they conceded too many goals from

set plays. Di Canio needs a bit of guidance and work on. But yes, they

can. Yeovil, hour only lead one

representative. A 15 piece jigsaw. Too many injury

problems at the moment. I think they will be OK. Tough game at

Tranmere tomorrow. One. Tomorrow would be a good result. -- were

point. -- one point. Finally from me,

there have been more medals for West Country rowers at the world

championships. There was a bronze for Paul Mattick from Frome in the

lightweight men's four. He said, "I'm very proud. This crew's been

very good over the past two years." But it was a disappointment as they

went in as reigning champions. And a bronze too for Natasha Page from

Hartpury near Gloucester in the women's eight which was enough to

qualify for London 2012. And tomorrow Peter Reed from Nailsworth

near Stroud, along with Andy Triggs Hodge, will try to overhaul the all

conquering New Zealanders in the Thank you very much. Staying on the

A man from South Gloucestershire who was hoping to water ski across

the Irish Sea has had to postpone his attempt because of bad weather.

Dave Froud had been planning to set off from Fishguard this morning

with three friends. He wants to complete the journey in memory of

his son Charlie who died in a plane crash in Ireland. We will keep you

in touch with that attempt. And of course Ian will be here with our

weather in a couple of minutes. Thanks, David.

And in Somerset today world records have been tumbling. Not for

sporting achievements though, but for the biggest swede in the globe,

and the biggest cucumber to name but two. It is, of course, the

Giant Vegetable Championships, part of the National Gardening Show, at

the Bath and West Showground. Clinton Rogers has been sizing up

the competition. They say it has been a bad summer

for gardening, but you wouldn't know it looking at all of this.

Some of the best growers from around the country are exhibiting

here, frankly, showing us all how it should be done. People really do

travel the length and breadth of the land to exhibit here. Like Ross

Ainsleigh who has driven more than 400 miles in a van from Fife, just

to win a prize of �20. Mining goes on the trophy and that

means more to me than the �20 -- my name. In years to come people are

will say I don't know who this guy is, and somebody will say, I

remember him, he is the fat guy who used to come down from Scotland.

They were among the more unusual visitors to the show, but they

weren't the only thing raising Scary, aren't they? Colossal

cabbage, super sire squash, it can only mean the UK giant vegetable

championship -- super sized squash., need a world record holder, Ian

Neale, lift your giant Swede if you can. You better put it down before

you had your back. How heavy is that? 37.29 kilos. Congratulations

on a world record. How on earth do you grow something that big? Good

seed, good ground, good weather, good luck. They claim there is

something for everyone here. Sophisticated gardeners with a lot

of knowledge, but we also want the middle of the road people who enjoy

growing vegetables and having a pretty garden. There is a section

called green shoots which encourages bargaining innovation

like growing vegetables are pure wool, nice and easy to reach. The

organisers are hoping for crowds in excess of 25,000, assuming the Sun

-- sun stays shining. Let's find out about that.

Is this lovely weather going to stay for the weekend? Ian is

looking at the skies for us right There will be spells of usable

weather. At some rain as well which will arrive during the course of

Saturday. Let other a good headline into the weekend, we can summarise

that effectively. -- let's have a look at the headline. The rain will

arrive later into the evening. That will clear on Sunday to leave a

fresher day, for the most part drive. The reason for the settled

weather has been high pressure which has been with us for some

time. Edging a way out towards the east. You can see a cold front

coming in on Saturday, very slow progress it will make. Intermittent

phase between two weather systems which will give a drier spell

before things turn more autumnal next week. This is the temperature

for next week. It shows how the warmer air of today gets moved away

during tomorrow. Into fresher conditions by the time we reach

Sunday. For the most part it is try and find this evening, a few

showers popping up in southern districts. Clear spells being

overtaken by a cloud from the staff. Milder than of late. Tomorrow we

start with more cloud than we have seen for the last couple of

mornings. Some brighter spells. The best of those in the east. The

weather front starting to make inroads into the West. Some rain

into West Somerset by the afternoon, crossing the Bristol Channel, Op 2

Gloucestershire by early evening. - - it will head up to

Gloucestershire by early evening. Despite that temperatures still on

the one side. -- on the warm side. Looking beyond that, first of all,

Tristan will be opening the Rectory fate at St John's. The vicar tells

me she is mad so I assume it will be very nice indeed. He should

remain up trying. Sunday we will lose that overnight rain looked

towards the east. And there after a drive window with some brighter

spells. But back fresher feel in evidence. -- that fresher feel.

Looking beyond that into next week, distinctly autumnal, a breezy day

to come on Monday, a few showers. It will turn windy Tuesday and

Wednesday. Maybe gale force in exposed areas with longer outbreaks

of rain. Dr Adam, what can I say? Bristol

international kite fiesta is celebrating its quarter-century

anniversary this weekend. We will be covering that on Points West