05/12/2011 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Our headlines tonight: The call for

help that was not heeded. A suicide victim makes a last 999 call but

the police did not respond. Stabbed through the head with a screwdriver

- the man killed for his mobile phone. The biggest concentration of

elderly people in the UK. How local authorities are coping with their

needs. And find out that happened when The Hoff gave an interview to

Good evening. A suicide victim who took 30 pills and then called the

police for help died after they failed to turn up. Christofer

Walker made the emergency call on his mobile phone but the police

decided not to send an officer. Avon and Somerset Police have now

apologised to Christofer's family. Our health correspondent has been

following the story. We should warn you that his report does include

that final distressing phone call. It was in the early hours of the

morning in February, 2009, when Christopher Walker make this call

to the police. I'm taking more pills. I want to dive. Christopher

New the local police and trusted them. He was living on his then and

had some physical and mental problems. -- his own. He was

desperate. He wanted someone to help him. He had no credit on his

mobile. The first police caught operator graded the call as

requiring an immediate response. It means a police unit should be on

the scene within 15 minutes. many pills have you taken? Loads.

How many is loads? 30. An ambulance is dispatched immediately. The

pills he is overdosing on our for his heart and have no antidote. The

ambulance car which was near by arise at the address very quickly.

He has not been told which of the three flats he lives in. The driver

cannot get a response. A police unit should be hit in the next 10

minutes. A baffling decision has been made by another person - the

police dispatcher. They deploy police units. They decide to

downgrade the call from an immediate response to resolution

without deployment. Put simply, the police are not going to attend.

What happened next was a crucial delay while the ambulance driver

tried to get into the flats. When eventually the ambulancemen got

hold of a number, Christopher came straight down to let him in. The

ambulancemen had to persuade an extremely grotty man to go with him.

An hour and a quarter after his call that he finally left in the

ambulance for hospital. If the police had attended as they should

have turned, Christopher would have done what he told them to do. They

would have said, come on come a hospital. He would have gone

immediately to hospital. His own consultant cardiologist pointed out

his only hope would have been for his stomach to have been pumped up

straight away. A delay of more than an hour would make this relatively

ineffective. The coroner at the inquest said the failure of the

police to attend had not affected the final outcome. Following

complaints by his mother, Avon & Somerset Police force has admitted

it was at fault. We have apologised privately to his mother. We should

have gone when somebody needs our help. How busy were you that

evening? There are a number of incidents going on. By way of

example, in the last month, we have dealt with 215 calls relating to

suicidal persons. For Carroll, it has been agonising to relive the

tragic events of that February night. She is clear about her

reasons. It was a difficult decision to let this harrowing tape

be played. We hope that it can Well, joining me is our health

correspondent. Is this a one-off? Since this sad case, we have learnt

of five other cases which have been investigated by the Independent

Police Complaints Commission. They involved the same force - Avon and

Somerset - and the way they responded to calls involving very

distressed people. All those people went on to take their own lies.

Those series of investigations have come up with a series of

investigations nationally. It is about a more efficient system in

terms of police call handling. The police say they have introduced

better procedures and better computer technology. They are

adamant they take these things very seriously - as seriously as another

emergency call. That charge is made against them by a mental health

charity who think they do not necessarily take these calls as

seriously. It is a question of resources, isn't it? If in this

case they did not follow their own protocol. And you can see more on

this story tonight on Inside out West at 7:30pm here on BBC One.

Mark Andrews was fired when he was then dragging a woman across the

floor of a police station. The courts found him innocent. Our home

affairs correspondent reports. are in my custody and you'll be

quiet and you will listen. Pamela arrived at the police station to be

greeted by Mark Andrews. He is seen on CCTV dragging her across the

floor towards the cells. The video shows her falling into the cell

where she lies for over a minute, before gradually struggling to get

out. She struggles to her feet with blurred over her face. The incident

left her with these injuries to her eye and face. I won't ever forget

it. I still get panic attacks about it. I get huge panic attacks. It

will stay in my mind unfortunately clever. I am trying hard to forget

it. I do not think anyone could forget anything like that.

former soldier and police such it was jailed for six months for

assault. The conviction was later quashed on appeal. Sergeant Andrew

said she was abusive and difficult when she was brought to the police

station after being found asleep at the wheel of her car. Extremely

sorry to Mrs Somerville who received injuries while in my care.

It was never my intention. I was only trying to place her back in

herself. It was never any intent on my part to cause her any injury.

December of last year it Sergeant Andrews was sacked from his job

after an internal police hearing. Officers from a neighbouring force

said he had fallen below standards expected from police officers. He

took his case to the Independent police appeals tribunal which ruled

he should be reinstated immediately at his former Rank. Today the force

declined to be interviewed. They are surprised and disappointed at

the result. Senior officers are taking legal advice and may appeal

against the findings of the tribunal. Sergeant Andrews, who was

suspended on full pay, lost his �36,000 a year salary when he was

sacked last year. The force has been told to pay him back. His

solicitor told me his client is delighted with the decision of the

tribunal. If his employers refuse to accept the verdict, though their

head with a judicial review of the whole case. He lost his life over a

mobile phone. The words of the prosecution in the trial of two men

accused murdering a father from Gloucester. 36-year-old Keith Soons

died in Wellington Lane in Cheltenham earlier this year. He

had been stabbed in the head. The prosecution say that he Mr Soons

was killed after he tried to remonstrate with two robbers who

The 36-year-old was found lying unconscious here in Wellington Lane

in Cheltenham last February. After a night out with friends, he had

been stabbed in the head with a weapon similar to a screwdriver.

Injuries he never recovered from. Opening the case, the prosecution

told the jury that he lost his life over a mobile phone when he tried

to recover his belongings after being robbed at around 3am in the

morning of 5th February. The two men in, accused of his murder, 28

you rob Michael Sexton and 27-year- old Richard Smith, both admit to

being at the scene of the attack in the early hours of that morning. --

year-old. He denies the murder. Smith denies the murder and robbery.

Each blamed the other for delivering the fatal injury that

led to the man's death. Both men are in fact culpable. The jury were

also told that Sexton in a police interview said the Richard Smith

had told him that he always wanted to know what it was like to kill

someone. Tonight, as Keith Soons' family and his girlfriend, Samantha

Ramsay, left Bristol Crown Court hoping this trial expected to last

three weeks. It will hopefully answer their questions as to why

such a promising life was cut so tragically short. A brutal murder

which has left a little baby girl to grow up without her father. You

are watching BBC Points West. Still to come on tonight's programme: I

am David Hassell off. Join us. do not want to miss that. An

inquest into the death of Kate Prout has been adjourned after the

pathologist was unable to establish how she died. Her remains were

found in woodland last month after her husband, Adrian, who is serving

life for her murder, took police to the spot where he buried her on

their Gloucestershire farm. Further tests will be carried out on her

larynx and the body won't be released for 28 days to allow time

for any request for a second post- A group of campaigners from Bristol

are due to appear before magistrates accused of aggravated

trespass at a gas drilling rig in Lancashire last week. Three

protesters climbed up onto the rig. In all, five people have been

charged with a variety of offences and are due in court on December

20th. They are opposed to the practice of fracking, where natural

gas is extracted from thousands of Planning officers in South

Gloucestershire have recommended the closure of Filton airfield. The

report, which will be debated by councillors next week, suggests

that two-thirds of the airfield should be used for housing, with a

third set aside for business use. Our reporter, Robin Markwell, has

seen the report. The report says when there's air-filled closes in

December next year, it will not have a significant impact on the

aviation business already here. There is no prospect of

redeveloping the site as a commercial airport. It is a bitter

blow to campaigners. They have been battling to keep it registered as

an airfield. What to do with the real estate on the outskirts of

Bristol? They are talking about 2500 homes and a heritage centre,

where Concorde might find a permanent home. What happens next?

Councillors will discuss this on Wednesday next week. Then it will

go to a planning inspector for a final decision next April. Still a

long way ahead for this crucial matter. It is an iconic side. Thank

you very much indeed. The owners of empty homes are being encouraged to

return their properties to a liveable condition to help tackle

the housing shortage. Across the UK, more than a million houses stand

empty. So, councils here in the west, are offering owners help and

When is a house not a home? When it is cold, lifeless and empty.

this is the living room. It is in a bit of a state. This cottage in

Saltford near Bath was a home and the challenge for the owner is to

make it habitable once again. But there is lots to do. The I did it

is to help the earn a clear-out as much stuff as we can during this

week, so that he can actually spend his time at your renovating the

property and putting it back into use so that it can be occupied. At

the moment it is not in a fit state to be occupied. As part of the no

use empty campaign, local councils are encouraging owners to contact

them. They will be offered advice on refurbishment, on renting the

property out, and in this case there is practical assistance with

workers from Clean Slate an organisation that helps people back

into employment. There are 400 m to property is not being used. We

could help people not to be homeless. -- empty. Across the UK,

there are one million domestic properties that are empty and could

be put back into use. But, even if every single one was converted, it

would fall well short of solving our housing shortage. But it is a

start - helping to transform an The good news is we are all living

longer. But that is presenting a big challenge to those who look

after the elderly - especially here in the West. Take, for example,

west Somerset. It has got the highest proportion of older people

in the country. The average age there is 52. In second place is

west Dorset. That means there is a growing need for the care services

provided by councils, at a time when their budgets are shrinking

fast. Here's our political editor, She is one in a million and a half.

Patricia Simpson-Bysman is among an ever increasing number of adults

who need help. She used to teach PE but, following a stroke, even the

most basic physical movement is a struggle. Carers come to her

Wiltshire home four times a day. can be very humiliating. Home care

is a lifeline. They are terrific people. They laugh, Joe, they know

when to be serious. They do everything from buying her shopping

and preparing her food to personal care such as washing. It is funded

by Wiltshire Council, which has struggled to balance growing demand

for adult care with shrinking budgets. These West Somerset

residents hope they won't need care anytime soon. This activity session

for the over 50s is part-funded by the council. It is needed. The area

has the highest proportion of elderly people anywhere in the

country. The councillor responsible has been to lobby the government

minister for care. A group of us from the West Country did meet the

minister in London. He is coming down to West Somerset to see the

needs we have in this very difficult geographical area.

control spending, the council has tightened its criteria for who gets

help. It was not an easy decision to make. It was a fair way of

distributing finances. Back in Wiltshire, lunch is being served

for Patricia Simpson-Bysman. She thinks politicians should treat

older folk with respect. While we may be living longer, we have paid

financially. Many of us in emotions, to fund this country's welfare.

Looking after her - and many others - is a growing challenge for our

The magic of the FA Cup has certainly cast its spell on our

sides. The third round draw has paired three of them with

opposition from the premier league ensuring media attention aplenty

and a significant boost to club Swindon are home to Wigan but the

greatest interest is in Bristol Rovers match against Aston Villa

and Cheltenham who have a trip to Two glamour ties, the very stuff

for F A Cup dreams. Two different scenarios. For Cheltenham Town, a

chance to play Spurs, in front of a crowd of upwards of 35,000. For

Bristol Rovers, it is a home tie against Aston Villa. The chance to

get a Premier League outfit and the chance to offer them some West

Country hospitality. Aston Villa were not be looking forward to

paying a visit. Yesterday, Rovers were the cup giants. The cameras

were there to see them slain but no chance as they won 6-1. Next time

It is a nice feeling. There is no pressure on you. They were never

have to be at their best to beat us. We had to be at our best against

Corby. We have earned the right. The players have done great.

Cheltenham's day of glory was harder earned with a 4-3 win at

Luton. But, with the ink barely dry on the score sheet, the board met

this morning trying to make the most of their tie against Spurs.

They have already made more than �65,000 from their cup run and

Spurs' match will earn them more than �100,000 from gate receipts

It is massive in the town. The whole profile of Cheltenham is huge.

It will be great for businesses and sponsorship. It will be a good

fillip for the town. Going to White Hart Lane and playing Spurs is

absolutely a dream. Rovers have struggled to sell their corporate

packages this season. This morning, the phone has been ringing off the

hook with all deals for the day gone. They now wait to hear if the

magic of the cup will extend to live television coverage, bringing

a new dawn, and a season-altering Now, if you watched TV at any point

in the 80s, you would have struggled to miss him. David

Hasselhoff - star of long-running classics like Baywatch and Knight

Rider - is now gracing the stage here in Bristol. He is playing

Captain Hook in a new production of Peter Pan opening later this month

at the Hippodrome. Well, earlier, Ali managed to control her

excitement to introduce the Hoff to a group of students from Weston

Super Mare. It is lovely to have you in the studio. Nice to see you.

I am surplus to requirement. We have some best interviewers. Fire

away! Bravo! Which you ever go back to Baywatch? Would I go back to

Baywatch? They are making a bay watch movie now. I do not think

they want me in it. I might to a cameo. Someone else would pay him -

- play my character. All of us are so cold we probably would have to

run down the beach really in slow motion. What is your name? Reece.

If Knight Rider were to return, do you think it would enjoy the same

success? They make the big mistake trying to recreate shows by

recasting them and making them totally different. Those days were

a really special. Knight Rider was release special. One man can make a

difference was the theme. If you can make a difference first you

must make a difference in your own life. It was not about taking lives.

The car was or was programmed to save lives. Would you ever

considered the launching of pop career it in the UK? That is a

funny question. I am doing that right now. I'm going on tour on the

23rd. It starts off with very romantic movement -- music with

West End musicals like Jekyll-and- Hyde from Broadway. I'm doing

beautiful ballads like and dress the cherry. Then ago into crazy

stuff. I found a new writer I am writing with. When I go back now,

everyone wants to jump in my car and they want to hear the theme

from Baywatch. People come dressed up as me. Not like 10, almost all

of them come dressed up as me. It is really surreal. How do starring

in the breast of pantomime compare with being a judge on Britain's Got

Talent? -- Bristol. The first show I ever did was Peter Pan. I am now

in my 50s. 50 years later, I am doing Peter Pan again. On stage is

magic. If you ever get a chance to beat in the show or beat in the

theatre, you must do it. You cry should all come backstage for the

big new talk. -- you guys. That is the great offer. Are you going to

be really tough? No. I am fun. I want to take you home. Thank you

very much indeed for joining Bass. Good job. He is very tall, isn't

he? The teachers were absolutely thrilled. They were as thrilled as

the kids. Thanks again to the students, standing in and doing

something to doing for us. A winner has been announced for the 2011

Turnip Prize, the annual send-up of the more prestigious Turner Prize

for art. The turnip has been awarded to this entry, entitled

Jamming With Muddy Waters. The New Inn at Wedmore in Somerset which

runs the contest every year gives the award to the entry showing the

I think it was a well deserved winner. Now for the weather. Our

I never used to watch Knight Rider. I did used to watch Baywatch. As

for the weather, it is a similar story for Tamara. Where there have

been showers today, there will be some tomorrow. For some of us,

there will be some reasonable sunshine. Some of you will be

dodging showers. Tomorrow, very little change. This West to the

float is with us. Bringing showers from time to time. -- westerly. On

Thursday, it looks like it will be milder, wetter and cloudier. The

showers are packed into southern Somerset especially. The sea

temperatures about 13 Celsius. Positively barmy. The showers are

coming into this particular area. In Gloucestershire, you have had

very little in the wake of showers. -- way. The showers continue to

packing across parts of west Somerset, into some central

districts. We have had some hail as well. That is how they continue

overnight with interludes of drier weather. The best of the drier

weather is in the north. We get down pretty close to freezing in

parts of Gloucestershire. Not far off that as you come further south.

On the coastal fringes you will continue with the breeze of the

Bristol Channel. The showers earlier and further north it is a

drier picture. Here will be the best of the sunshine. Clout tending

to build later in the day and showers as well. -- cloud. Into the

evening most of the showers will go, with the exception of some into the

far west. Looking beyond that, Wednesday should be a dry and

bright day for us all. There will be sheltered from the shires. With

the wind front coming through, it will be wetter and milder tomorrow.