24/02/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's top story... A bank worker is

jailed after stealing �160,000 from customers. She knew many of them

personally. Very unexpected. He would never have thought that

somebody like her would touch anybody's money. -- you would never

Good evening. Also tonight, the family a TV cameraman Gareth

Montgomery-Johnson are concerned for his welfare after he is

arrested in Libya. Students that it spent thousands on their education

tell us why they are concerned day University of Wales degrees might

not appear. Good evening from London on the eve of a monster

weekend for Welsh sport. The supporters are already on their way.

Many left this morning for the Triple Crown showdown. Red turns

blue on Sunday. Cardiff City head to London aiming for silverware in

the shape of the Carling Cup. fans are behind us. We hope that

they are going to do well. We are here to make history. And the weigh

in is over. Our world boxing champ A bank worker that stole more than

�160,000 from customers at a branch where she worked has been sentenced

to 2.5 years in prison. Gaynor Russ was also a church warden and

hoodwink many elderly and vulnerable people, all of whom

trusted her completely. 59-year-old Gaynor Russ arrived in court this

morning expecting a jail sentence. A family bomber, churchwarden and

respected member of the community but for years, she had stolen from

Barbara or clients, many of whom she knew personally. -- many

clients. She took money of myself and my parents. They are both very

elderly. That really upset me. That she took the money of my parents

and myself. She worked at Barclays for 40 years. She was a counter

manager, a position she used to her advantage. She moved money in and

out of accounts to cover her tracks. Barclays have refunded the money

but it is estimated she took more than �160,000 out of the accounts

she handled. Michael Thompson said she took more than �23,000 from his

father's account and he found out when the fraud team contacted him

bus-stop she has taken --. She has taken a lot of money off him. He

could hardly walk and had emphysema. I used to go to the bank and we

trusted Gaynor Russ. I never asked for a statement because I trusted

her. She said she took money because of a credit card debt but

could not say how it had been spent. The judge said that an aggravating

feature of the offences was that almost all the victims were

vulnerable or elderly. They felt personally betrayed by you. They

trusted you, the judge said. She pleaded guilty to 13 charges and

was sentenced to 2.5 years and will serve half that time in jail. Her

lawyer said she was tortured by what she had done and wanted to

apologise to everybody she had betrayed. A cameraman from

Carmarthen has been arrested in Libya. Gareth Montgomery-Johnson

works for Press TV, the English news channel on Iranian television.

He was detained on Tuesday and his sister is concern for his welfare.

Here is our correspondent. family found out about this this

morning to. He is from Carmarthen but has been working in Libya since

last year. He is a cameraman and what the channel have told us is

that on Tuesday Gareth and a colleague, a reporter, were seized

in Libya. They were apparently seized by a brigade which is one of

the forces involved in toppling Colonel Gaddafi. They have been

taken to Tripoli but what we do not understand is the detail as to

where they are being held. As a result, I have been talking to his

sister and she of course is very concerned for his welfare. She is

concern for his whereabouts and welfare. We found out that it was

in fact this morning. We could easily slip into getting upset but

he has got a job to do, to try and find out what the information is.

We want to sort the situation out and we will continue to try and

keep some semblance of normality. We are trying to get through the

day and that is how it is. We are trying not to let the brain or

wander. We are trying not to think too much about the position he is

in because you become paralysed. Tensions in Libya are very well

known and he must have been aware of the risks. She thought Gareth

was well aware of the dangers. She absolutely understood that he loved

the job but that it was a very dangerous every day. I have no

doubt that he puts his heart and soul into everything that he does.

He is going over and above the call of duty in his quest for trying to

report what he sees as a newsworthy. He is trying to illustrate to

people what is going on to. He was aware of the danger. The family

have tried to understand as best they can and tried to illustrate

what the risks were but he understood that full well and that

is what he wanted to do and he has done it. The Foreign Office has

said two British nationals have been detained and that the British

Embassy is looking into doing everything it can to find out more.

BBC Wales has discovered evidence of problems in the relationship

between the University of Wales and other colleges which validates its

degrees. Students at Birmingham Graduate School, which offers

University of Wales courses have said they are concerned they will

not get their degrees because of a financial dispute between the

institutions. This is Birmingham Graduate School. The offices are

above a row of shops. Students from across the world travel here to

study. Many have gone to the University of Wales validated it

MBA courses. BBC Wales has been contacted and told that despite

completing courses at a cost of more than �3,000, several students

had not received their degree. We have seen documentary evidence from

the University of Wales Validation unit that they will not issue any

certificates or confirmation letters until the students have

cleared their debt. I have paid money and satisfied everything. I

In a statement online it reassure students that they will eventually

get their certificates and that they will keep in touch with the

University of Wales. But students have said that reassurance is not

enough and they will not be happy until they have received their

In a statement, the university told us that details of all the

Validation agreements with part- time colleges, including the

payment of fees are confidential and commercially sensitive. It says

it has a duty of care to provide results and certificates to

students that successfully complete programmes of study but that

issuing certificates is governed by the contract between the university

and the centre. Two previous investigations by the BBC uncovered

serious problems at a number of the University's part time -- partner

colleges. A scam was exposed in which students were offered help to

cheat their way into University of Wales degrees. Last October, the

University of Wales announced it would stop validating courses at

all other institutions in the UK and abroad but would honour

existing commitments. In future it will only award courses that it

fully controls. In September it will be branded again as a merger

between St David and Swansea Metropolitan University. Students

will receive University of Wales and Trinity St David degrees

instead. But for these students, the future remains uncertain and

they just want prooved they have completed their course. The Wells

government is pushing for it Bath for years back it was advised not

to merge South well as universities. A report describes plans to merge

the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales and other

institutions as unrealistic. The government said the report was

produced when the situation facing higher education was very different.

The Welsh teaching union UCAC has decided to reject the pension offer

at a meeting in Aberystwyth. They said the government offer is not

acceptable and warns that the option of further strikes is opened.

The government says it is a good and fair deal. Seven more children

have been diagnosed with measles in Porthmadog, bringing the total

number of cases to 19, 17 of them at this school. Parents are urged

to get vaccinations. The infected students either had no jabs or just

one dense. If he won a sports fan, he will not be so -- short changed.

We have got the Six Nations showdown. Welcome to Twickenham.

This is where it all starts tomorrow at. It will be a feast of

Welsh sport would rugby, football and boxing. It will be a packed 48

hours but it starts here at the home of English rugby as Wales

attempt the Triple Crown. Twickenham is looking spick and

span and we have just got a few final preparations. The goal posts

are up and we are ready for take- off. Both teams have been here just

to get a feel of the ground and make sure they are 100 % ready. The

supporters have been arriving and Arkin very good spirits. Wales have

never won a Triple Crown on English soil but both fans feel that might

The match might be less than 24 hours away but supporters were

already in fine voice and setting off for the trip. An early start

but it is all about the build up. His support the group was formed

back in the 1950s and a relish the route to Twickenham. I came back

from here to London and enjoyed the game and came back again and again.

It is a long way away but it has been formalised. I think we should

be confident. It is a game we can certainly win and we hope that we

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

will. They are few and far between England have made four changes from

the win over Italy - or when Farrell will start at fly half for

the first time. They say Wales are there for right challenge for them

at just the right time. We will just go out there and focus on

beating Wales. They are coming down to do the same thing. It will be an

exciting game. There is no escape from the Welsh

fans. At this Popat the flags are out and they are expecting a great

atmosphere. -- at this pop. We will have the greatest party in the

world. Sadly, I think Wales will win. But at least 15.

Wales have beat on their confidence from the World Cup this Six Nations

tournament - a win tomorrow at Twickenham will be testament to

just how far they have come. We will be talking more rugby in a

moment, but first, breaking news tonight. Just days before he was

due to take charge of Wales, assistant Wales coach Raymond for

high and has announced that he has resigned. He has said on Twitter he

has had enough of political and destructive games, but he thanks

the players and the fans for his amazing journey.

Let us turn to football. A huge weekend for Cardiff City fans. Nine

miles that way, you will find Wembley, and that is where Cardiff

City finds are heading this Sunday for the final of the Carling Cup.

They will take on Liverpool. It is their 4th trip in four years, they

were waved off by fans early this morning as they started their

journey, hoping to find some -- hoping to bring some silverware

home. It is becoming a second home for

Cardiff City, on a Sunday they will be at Wembley again hoping things

turn out better than previous finals in the FA Cup and

Championship play-offs. The team set off for Wembley at lunchtime,

cheered on their way by fans who will be following them down the

Mfor on Sunday morning. It is a fantastic time to be a Cardiff City

fan. Three Wembley finals in four years is an amazing record for any

club, and they are confident that this time they will get a win.

believe in them. I want to see some passion, and the will to win.

think we will win, as long as they keep the game tight.

In August, Wembley was the last thing on the mind of the fans as

the team scraped through in extra- time against Oxford United. It was

the match that set them on their way and save the lives of this

Cardiff City fan. Lesley had collapsed at his home in Newport

and could not get up for six days. Fellow fans noticed he was not on

the bus to Oxford, and raised the alarm. I thought I would never make

it. I can't wait for Sunday, you know. I thought I would never make

Sunday. The road to Wembley was relatively

kind to Cardiff. After the first round at Oxford they had four home

games, including a victory over premier-league Blackburn. Then they

avoided one of the top division's big beasts in the semi-finals,

although victory against Crystal Palace could not have been closer.

Double saves from Tom he turned in a nail-biting penalty shoot out

made history for Cardiff City, their first time it in that final.

It is a new one for me walking out there, against a top team it is

certainly going to be something that is nice to look back on, but

at the time, we have to win it. Liverpool are strong favourites.

They got to the final thanks to a ball from Craig Bellamy, who says

he will not celebrate if he scores against his home town club. We will

talk after it, not a problem, but we have to respect each other as

well. I do not want to get information off them or tried to

hand them for information. We just want to both tripe as best as we

can, and whoever wins, deserves it. This match is not a straight Wales

against England contest. Liverpool has strong support,

include -- especially in North Wales. Many fans are looking

forward to red ribbons being on the Kop.

I think a lot of people backwards and forwards have emigrated one way

or another across the water, so that is probably why there is quite

a healthy support, and of course liveable's history is very strong

in football. - Mac Liverpool. Today the players left with dreams

of causing an upset. On Sunday they hope to return to Wales as he was.

It is not just about football and rugby, but about boxing. Nathan

Cleverly will take the ring tomorrow night to defend his title.

We will hear from him in a few minutes. The way in happened today.

We will see you in a few minutes. - - the way in happened today.

Does it matter which way a person is buried? One councillor in

Aberystwyth is claiming people being buried in the town cemetery

are facing the wrong way. Cefn Llan cemetery sits on a deep

sleep. It opened in 2006, but it is only now questions are being asked

about the way burials are carried out.

As you can see, these headstones are facing south, and now a local

councillor says that is wrong, and that in accordance with Christian

tradition, people should instead be buried west to east. Just like they

have been here, in Llanbadarn Fawr cemetery. The Christian way it is

to be buried facing east, so that you would face Jesus. That is what

they believe in. Do you think this matters? When you consider how many

people are cremated these days, is this important? Probably not to a

lot of people, but a lot of people are very concerned, and they are

firm Christian believers and want to be buried in the Christian

method. The cemetery is am -- the cemetery is managed by Ceredigion

County Council, who says there is no specific legislation regarding

this. Cefn Llan summitry, they say, has been set out to maximise the

use of land, and to reduce costs when preparing graves on a steep

slope. So what do Christian leaders think? I don't think it matters.

The biblical reason is that the Lord Jesus Christ is called the Son

of righteousness, and that he rises with healing in his wings, and

presumably from the east, and therefore that his second coming

would be from the East as well. But as far as I am concerned, I do not

think it matters which way the body faces.

The council does say that it is a section of the cemetery which lies

approximately west to east, and people can ask to be buried there

it that is their wish. Let us return to Twickenham with

more on the big sporting weekend. Head coach of London Welsh is here

now. Thank you very much for coming. Your thoughts ahead of tomorrow -

it is a hard place to come? Wales, maybe for the first time are coming

here as favourites, and they have to deal with expectations of the

Welsh public. Wales do have a little bit of advantage over

England, but it is all on the day. It will be an almost Wressle, but I

think they will be tested. If they can pass the test, you never know.

You are a man who knows the English scene world - have England

impressed you? They say this is their perfect time to face Wales.

They have not impressed me, they have a long way to go. The English

game has a big emphasis on scrum, and very little thought on the

extra skill part of the game which Wales have in abundance. So they

have some key players, and they also have an 8, 9, ten combination,

who are making their very first start for England. When the

pressure comes on, how are they going to deal with that? Wales are

being tipped to win 44 -- by 14. Do you agree? It is going to be tough,

as we all know, and what is important is that at 5:25pm we do

not hear sweet low -- Swing Low, Sweet chariot.

Bent you very much indeed. It is a huge weekend, and the meat

between the sandwich is boxing. Nathan Cleverly will take to the

bring to defend his title in Cardiff tomorrow night. He is

taking on America's Tommy Karpency. The two men come for a deadly met

the 12 stone seven weight limit. Cleverly is beginning to defend his

WBO title, which could pave the way for a fight against a big name like

Bernard Hopkins. He is very placid, but he has come to win. He means

business, and has -- and as his team says, he thinks he is

unbeatable. We want to see a great fight, and that is what we will get.

Let me tell you how your weekend pans out in the sport. It kicks off

Everybody today has said, do they need their coats this weekend? What

A rugby fan on Twitter says there will definitely be dark grey clouds

hanging over Twickenham tomorrow, as Wales win the high-pressure game.

Let us hope he is right. For those of the travelling to Wembley, take

your sunglasses, it will be fine and mild. In Wales, plenty of dry

weather, some cloud, some sunshine, and some ground frost as well.

Tonight, cloudy and damp in the south. North Wales, dry and clearer.

There will be a few mist and fog patches, and fog -- crown frost.

Tomorrow morning seven counties will start of grey, mist and fog in

the Bristol Channel. Dry, Bright, in Powys. During the day tomorrow I

think the whole country will become dry, cloudy in places, bright in

others. The best sunshine, in Powys, Monmouthshire. Temperatures not bad,

it to 11 Celsius. Tomorrow night, dry some cloud, again a few mist

and fog patches. Ground frost likely in mid-Wales. For Sunday,

sunshine for a time in the north and east. Make the most of it. The

Clyde will increase. Spots of light rain and drizzle in Gwynedd and

Conwy. Our picture is of snowdrops in the Wye Valley.

Good luck, Wales, tomorrow. In the past half are, Wales'

assistant football coach has resigned. He has announced on

Twitter that he has had enough of political and destructive games.

Cardiff City head to Wembley on Sunday to face Liverpool in the

Carling Cup. But it all kicks off tomorrow in Twickenham as Wales'

bid for the 20th Triple Crown. We will have more in our late

bulletin. Twickenham has been a happy -- an unhappy hunting ground