26/03/2012 BBC Points West

Welcome to the programme. Our headlines: tracked down in Spain

and brought to justice. A bath newsagent who sexually abused girls

and went on the run has been jailed for 15 years.

High-speed has a -- to school campaigning against the 60 miles an

hour speed limit on its doorstep. People seem to have no awareness

that there is a school here, they ploughed under road so fast, it is

so dangerous. I am surprised at there has never been an accident.

Also, the marines from Somerset, preparing for another tour of

academic -- Afghanistan. And is the weather that unusual for

A Bath newsagent who raped and sexually assaulted three teenage

girls who worked in his shop in the 1990s has been jailed for 15 years.

All the girls worked in his shop. Lewis Knight, who's now 61, went on

the run when he was first accused of abuse, but last year he was

tracked down to a remote village in Spain and brought back to the UK to

face justice. Steve Brodie has followed the case.

This is the face of Lewis Knight. The man found guilty of four rapes

and six indecent assaults. All against three girls aged between 13

and 15. His victims were young and innocent. They worked here as paper

girls in the then-newsagents shop in Mount Road, Whiteway in the late

1990s. They were groomed and lured into a cellar and subjected to

appalling sexual abuse. During the trial his victims, now women in

their late twenties, spoke of their horror and disgust. His victims

were left extremely traumatised by the attacks on them back in 1998,

1999, I think the verdict today it is a testament to the bravery they

displayed in coming forward and giving evidence in court. In 1999

one of his victims finally told her parents what had been happening and

Knight was arrested and charged. Police seized his passport. But in

February 2000, when he was meant to appear here at Bristol Crown Court,

he vanished. He'd managed to get a new passport by the simple trick of

phoning up the passport office and claiming his original -which had

run out - had been stolen. But last summer, members of Avon &

Somerset's Cold Case team tracked him down to the remote village of

Torres de Segre near Barcelona. He was then extradited and brought

back to Britain after a court appearance in Madrid. Jailing

Knight for 15 years, the judge Neil Ford told him that as the manager

of the newsagents he posed as a respectable family man. But that

respectability was just a veneer. The judge added that he acted as a

father figure, but he had betrayed his victims and left them mentally

scarred. As Knight was taken to prison, his victims cried and

hugged one another, delighted that justice had finally been achieved.

Our reporter joins us now. Can you explain how someone who has had

their passports taken away can get another one so easily? Indeed. In

this case, I have just been contacted by the Passport Service,

and they say it was not their fault that Lewis Knight escaped back into

1000. They say they always take into account, when they are

conducted by the police, an applicant's bail conditions, before

they even consider issuing a new passport. But they say, "we were

not contacted by the police". So they're putting the blame a very

firmly on Avon and Somerset police to stop we haven't had time to ask

the police what they think about that, but they said they would have

taken into consideration bail conditions they say they were not

told of. Police say the haulier killed in the M5 was a 65-year-old

from Wales. He had run into the back of a coach which had broken

down and was stationary. The coach driver was arrested on suspicion of

causing death by dangerous driving, and has been bailed.

Parents and pupils from a village near Frome are campaigning for a

lower speed limit past their local school. They say vehicles are

travelling so fast it rattles the whiteboard in one of the classrooms,

and they're worried someone could get seriously injured. But traffic

engineers say a 30 mile an hour limit won't make the road safer.

Scott Ellis reports. Jack and the Beanstalk. Kicking off

Monday morning lessons at Berkley school near Frome. But getting to

and from lessons is no fairy tale. The turn towards the school

entrance is from a rural road with a 60 mile an hour limit. Sometimes,

when we are turning in, it has happened to me a few times, some

lorries or cars just go straight past you, and you feel the car

shake. Coaches, lorries, they are literally that close. They could

not small children either, pedestrians, ploughing into cars

waiting to get into the car-park. What do you want to see happen?

least down to 30, even less, because lots of other schools have

at least Printy. -- 20. Though seemingly sensible, the 30 limit is

proving elusive. That's partly because the school is isolated. The

current government advice is that all villages should have a 30 miles

an hour limit. The definition of a village is been any Boyet would 20

buildings in close proximity of. But there are not 20 buildings

nearby, which is why this road is not -- currently 60 mph. So it's an

open road. Put a 30 sign, say Somerset's traffic engineers - and

drivers won't obey it. They quote Add in some road changes to slow

drivers down. Parents dismiss another factor which plays against

them - that recorded accidents here off you. There is a row near by

where a child was killed on, and as soon as that happened, they got a

30 mile an hour limit. We don't want to wait until one of our

children is killed or injured before they do something about it.

Somerset county council says it's continuing to investigate safety

along this road. Parents won't stop campaigning until the 30 signs go

Fuel tanker drivers at a depot in Wiltshire have voted overwhelmingly

in favour of strike action in a national dispute over terms and

conditions and safety standards. Workers in seven major UK

distribution companies were balloted for industrial action by

the union Unite. At the Chippenham- based haulage firm, Wincanton, 68%

of members voted in favour, in a turnout of 72%. The union claims a

strike could close up to 7,900 petrol stations.

The future of 130 South Gloucestershire home care workers

is hanging in the balance this evening. The council's proposing

privatising the service, most of which is already contracted out.

Dozens of staff are facing redundancy. But a special meeting

taking place right now is to vote on whether to delay the changes.

Our political editor Paul Barltrop is at the council offices in

Kingswood. Is this all about saving money? In essence, it is. A �1.1

million was the amount they thought they could sell. 85% of their home

care, which looks after elderly people, those with disabilities, is

provided by private contractors, 15% is done by the in-house staff.

But they reckon they could save a lot of money by putting the rest a

bit out of private contractors. That has caused a huge amount of

opposition to stop a lot of members and -- of the public and carers

came out, it has been argued about by different councillors, but

amongst those who came out to make their feelings known is a lady

whose husband has dementia. If you take his carers away from him,

these wonderful carers, and you dedicated dementia peanut, I think

a lot of money were spent on their training, I think you are going

against the mental capacity at, and I will go to the Court of

Protection. Today's meeting has only just ended. They could have

excited -- decided to let the council take a decision, but

instead, they have decided to defer it until there is a change of

government at this place in a couple of months' time. The

decision will be taken by a committee of councillors at a later

date. Why the delay? What we want to do is assure quality, that is

our primary reason for this delay. We want to ensure that everything

that we here about the quality is assured. We don't really... We

don't care who provides it, as long as it is of a high quality. Our own

staff have provided a wonderful service over a good number of years.

So we would be reluctant to see them go. But in the end, if we can

provide the best quality service from a private provider, then we

will do. However, this time we have got now has given us time to check

all our facts before making but the very important decision. They will

come back in decide in a couple of months' time.

This is Monday's Points West with Ali and Will.

Thanks for starting this sunny week with us. We'll find out if it's

going to last a bit later in the programme.

But before that, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all

over again. How Paolo and his boys are recovering from their Wembley

wipe-out. And the sun shone on the Sport

Relief mile. On the day two more British deaths

have been announced in Afghanistan, more of the West's servicemen are

preparing for a tour of duty. 650 Royal Marines from 40 Commando,

based in Taunton, are likely to be sent out before the end of the year.

14 Marines died during their last deployment two years ago. Today our

Somerset correspondent Clinton Rogers was given exclusive access

to the base to see how a new group of young men are preparing for the

The training is getting tougher as every day goes by. I need you to

have your head up. Today visiting American instructors giving lessons

in close quarter combat - how to deal with a man inches away from

you who wants to kill you. They are a young lad, do they look ready for

it? They look excited, they look smart and ready to take on the

challenge, I think. As if they need reminding. They are training right

next to a memorial garden which honours the 14 men from this unit

who died in Afghanistan on the last deployment two years ago. Yet it is

the mindset of the military that these men want to go. I was at 45

before, they are not even pencilled in for another tour, that is why

high -- I have come here to 40. transferred specifically? Yes.

with the government committed to pulling out of Afghanistan by the

end of 2014, this is likely to be the last time 40 Commando go.

always say to my wife, it would be a bit like training to be a milkman

and then never delivering in the milk. In the same context, people

joined the Marines and then they want to do what they have been

trained to do on operations. If they look at it as their last of

the duty, they will be seizing it. But it's unlikely your milkman will

be training in the local language of Afghanistan. All of the Marines

will be required to learn the was being schooled in how to spot

and deal with IEDs, the improvised explosive devices which have taken

such a heavy toll on British forces. At the same time in the centre of

Taunton, local businesses are being encouraged to support the Royal

Marines. A Somerset charity called Go Commando is asking businesses to

commit to asking shoppers to add a pound to their bills to help for

service families. One of the first projects will be to renovate the

families centre at the Marines. think if you do it in the right way,

you can absolutely whole people, and think they are willing to give,

because you can't describe what these families to pull the country.

And today's news of more British deaths in Afghanistan serves as a

reminder of why these men spend so much time preparing for anything

Kenton Cool is to take an Olympic medal to the top of Everest to

honour a pledge made after the 1924 Games. Kenton Cool will carry a

gold medal awarded to members of a team who made the first serious,

but unsuccessful attempt to conquer the mountain in 1922. One of the

climbers made a promise that a medal would be taken to the summit,

but, until now, that hasn't been Many have poor standards of

literacy and numeracy. Nearly half of those who have poor skills are

unemployed or living on benefits but we have spoken to an unemployed

man from Gloucestershire who went on to a course and has tried to

turn his life around. I went to the false -- first Gulf War and when I

came back life was a let-down. I started drinking. I got really,

really bad with it. I was pretty much an alcoholic. He came to me in

2008 not sure what he wanted to do. We discussed options. He decided he

wanted to be more involved in education. He got level one and

levelled to Certificates in numeracy and literacy and then went

on to study computers. They have taught me the basics I need to

actually do it and they pushed me forward to go out and say well,

sorry, I am not working at the moment but I am here and I am

willing and able. I want to do it. When he is using a computer, there

was a time when he would be discussing difficulties in spelling

words but he formally suffered that previously. People can ask for help.

It will come and it will give you self confidence to be able to go

out and if you cannot help yourself perhaps what you have learned can

help somebody else. The YouGov. It is never too late. There is a

series of powerful dramas about adult literacy here on BBC One all

week. Secrets And Words is here at 2: 15 all week. To learn more about

the subject go to bbc.co.uk/Secrets and words. Football, and Swindon

Town have turned their attention to winning promotion after the

disappointment of defeat at Wembley. They may have lost out to

Chesterfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, but the manager,

players and fans are all convinced they'll win the League Two title.

No traces of Wembley in the club shop today. New stock has arrived

and the club as a whole has moved on. Yesterday's defeat was

disappointing for all concerned, but back at work today it has

sharpened the desire to win promotion. I have no doubt that the

manager was hurting as much as be where we are at the moment but

it is not finished. Many teams have slipped from here. We have just got

to see it through. I am sure our manager is the right man to make

sure no one takes things for granted and that we do see it

through. The club still made over a quarter of a million pounds from

their Wembley experience, even if they didn't claim the trophy. But a

greater reward would be the League Two Championship - which would

certainly soften the blow of a second defeat at Wembley in three

seasons. So long as we go up as champions that is what we really

care about. Going up to the next lead is all that matters. Going up

a lead is the cherry on the cake, it is all we wanted when we started

the season. They have nine games left to play, starting with a local

derby against Bristol Rovers. Then it's 2 away games, after which they

hope to be in a position to clinch promotion at home against

Northampton or the weekend after against Plymouth. We need to

regroup. If we can win the games in hand that is a priority. This was a

massive day but the leak is a priority. It is disappointing to

lose this one. Their reaction will be key - the fans now expect

promotion, but the players are determined to give them something

to celebrate. Now how many Olympic journeys do you think were started

by a nagging mum? Well, a top dressage pairing from

Gloucestershire put their success down to one such parent. Carl

Hester has been competing for 22 years and took on youngster

Charlotte Dujardin after a cheeky approach from her mother. They've

since formed a partnership which could see them both landing a place

on the British team competing in London. Zoe Gough has been to meet

them. Successful sporting partnerships come in various forms.

This one was created by a pushy parent. Charlotte, on the horse,

and Carl, in the middle, met after Charlotte's mum begged the dressage

star to take a look at her daughter. He was someone I really admired. I

got my mum to go and ask if he would give me a lesson. He did. I

then had three lessons and on the third lesson he asked me if I would

do Tenby's cover and I never went home. I was very lucky. And I lost

my best horse to Charlotte. That horse - Valegro - helped Charlotte

and Carl to their biggest success so far. 2011 European team Gold

along with fellow Gloucestershire resident, Laura Bechtolsheimer.

Carl has been to three previous Olympics but feels London is his

best chance of making the podium. It was really is a deal to think

back at what I achieved last year and to be going up hopefully to the

Olympics on our home ground is an amazing opportunity. I would love

to think that I could have produced a level course from here in

Gloucestershire. It is very exciting. Equally, if charlotte is

the one who is going to push me out of the wave which is a possibility,

that would also make me very happy because I have been part of her

journey. What it means is I have just picked the wrong horse if she

beats me! If they both do make it, just think how proud that would

make Charlotte's mum. You see the power of mum's -- the power of

mum's! Next, you can't have failed to notice that it's been a pretty

spectacular few days weather wise. All over the West, beaches and

parks have been packed with people enjoying the first proper sunny

weekend of the year so far. The great news is, it's set to last,

for a while at least. Here's Laura Jones. Spring has officially sprung.

The clocks have gone forward, we've had our first properly warm weekend

and the magnolias here at Westonbirt arboreutum are blooming.

Spring is probably one or two weeks early for us this year which is

fantastic because we are enjoying this beautiful weather. I always

likened it to a long drawn-out fire display -- fireworks display

because the risks always something in bloom. -- Mayor is always

something in bloom. The last time temperatures were this high at this

time of year, and for this long, was back in 1965. And there's no

sign of this warm spell coming to an end. It's good news for most

people, but not all. Farmers, despite welcoming the sun, are

still edgy about a lack of rain. Hayfever sufferers aren't exactly

thrilled about the pollen season starting earlier either. And

gardeners, whilst enjoying it, are concerned about the damage a cold

snap could do to tender buds. Gardner I do find this weather

great but it can be a little bit early and we might get a cold spell

and it will not cure annuals. That's it, you know? It is a bonus,

isn't it? The papers and the weather forecasts have been telling

us terrible stories and all of a sudden here is the son right on our

shoulders. One place where the sun can always be sure of a warm

welcome though is here - when you make ice cream for a living - the

hotter the better. During the winter we tried to stockpile the

ice-cream is so that with good bursts of whether it be orders

flood in and we try to keep up with them. And the good news is, it's

set to last at least until the end of the week, so make the most of it.

Now the weather. We're on the coast are you? This is the best part of

the North Somerset coast, it is Porter said, where I live. It is

lovely and warm this evening and it is set to be a warm evening ahead.

-- Portishead. What is causing all this good weather? There are two

factors. One is the jet stream which is a way above us in the

atmosphere. It is farther north than it normally would be at this

time of year and it is bringing warm weather up from the south.

That is combined with a ridge of high pressure over us which has

sealed in the mild here, cleared these guys giving as sunshine and

the mild air and sunshine are lifting temperatures well above

where they should be for this time of year. The high temperatures

of year. The high temperatures reflect that. For tomorrow, it is

more of the same in the daytime. Dry, sunny and warm. It will be

chilly tonight. Some frost tomorrow morning. At chilly start but once

the day gets under way there will be glorious spells of sunshine once

again. Highs between 16 and 19 Celsius tomorrow afternoon. There

will be an easterly breeze in places which will take the edge of

temperatures. Normally Marge is 12 Celsius door and you can see how

much above that we are. Again tomorrow night the clear skies will

lead to some frost but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will continue

dry, sunny and warm indeed the Times and call that night. By the

weekend it looks like change is on Well done to Radio Bristol's Ben

Prater who raised more than �500 for Sport Relief following his 24