23/01/2014 BBC Wales Today

shaking your head. That is horrible. That is all from the

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story tonight: Andrew Woodhouse was

found not guilty of attacking two men stealing diesel from his yard.

Calls for the Crown Prosecution Service to review its procedures. I

think this verdict and this case will serve as a reminder to the

Crown Prosecution Service and those who prosecute others as from now one

they have to look carefully at whether it is in the public interest

to bring people like Mr Woodhouse before the court.

Also tonight: Rock singer Ian Watkins, jailed for a series of

child sex offences, is seeking to appeal against his sentence.

Broadcasting big football matches is big business. Now the Premier League

plans to prosecute pubs here suspected of showing games

illegally. Calls for foreign languages to be

taught at primary schools to stop the decline in young people studying

them. You learn another language. If you go on holiday, you can actually

people and talk to them. Leigh Halfpenny becomes the latest

Welsh rugby star to move to France. And we're with the Welsh Cavalry as

they prepare for a final tour of Afghanistan.

Good evening. There's a call for the Crown Prosecution Service to review

its procedures after a father of five was found not guilty of

attacking two men who were stealing from his business. Andrew Woodhouse

was arrested after he confronted two men who were stealing diesel from

his yard near Abergavenny. One of the men suffered two broken legs and

a broken arm. Tonight his MP says the case should never have gone to

court. Jenny Rees reports. Ten months ago Andrew Woodhouse

received a text alert, his groundwork business a mile away had

been broken into. And not for the first time. He'd previously had

around ?20,000 of goods taken, nearly costing him his livelihood.

What makes this burglary different is Andrew confronted the eaves of 20

attack him with a fence post he fought back.

Kevin Green received a broken arm and leg and fell breaking his other

leg. Andrew rugby tackled Timothy Cross and held him down until the

police arrived. The businessman was then arrested and charged with

grievous bodily harm with intent. Yesterday a jury took 20 minutes to

find him not guilty. They look back over these last ten lengths thinking

they would have done things differently, but I couldn't. Unless

they would have got away and not be seen again. They would've come back

next week and then it all again. It would have been another financial

loss. Yes, I don't think we could take it. There are now cause for

great review. It is called for the CPS to revisit their policy and

revisit perhaps in circumstances where people act in self defence,

where people act in defence of their own property, whether or not the law

needs to be changed but whether or not the guidelines for the Crown

Prosecution Service -- Crown Prosecution Service the to be

toughened so people that fewer people are prosecuted. The law is

supposed to be written so people can protect their businesses. This case

went to cause that court. That needs to be looked at again. I would like

it to be playing if you go into somebody's property to rob or steal

from them and some misfortune is -- before zoo, tough. People should

have the right to defend themselves and businesses. The Crown

Prosecution Service said it was the prosecution's case that "Mr

Woodhouse's actions during the incident went beyond what the law

allows for in terms of self-defence". But that they

"respect the jury's decision on this matter". The not guilty verdict

means Andrew Woodhouse has avoided a jail sentence. The two burglars were

each charged with theft and given ?75 fines.

Earlier I spoke to the legal commentator, Joshua Rozenberg. I

began by asking him what the law says about cases like this.

The law says you can use reasonable force to defend yourself, your

family and your property. Reasonable force could be great force indeed.

You could use lethal force if necessary. You don't have to wait

for people to attack them. It has to be reasonable in the circumstances.

The prosecution argued if somebody is dealing jerry cans of diesel

fuel, it is not reasonable to breaks and dislikes. Powell and usual is it

for cases like this to get to court? It is unusual for people to

be cleared in cases like this. Often the prosecution will look at it and

say maybe he went a bit over the top but it was not so unreasonable we

will bring a prosecution. Here the prosecutors thought the force was

excessive and the judge must have agreed because the judge did not

throw the case out. This man was acquitted within 20 minutes. It

doesn't really sound a bit of a lesson to prosecutors that the

public has every sympathy for business people and homeowners who

defend their property against people who are trying to steal their

property. Julie is not going to worry too much about whether

somebody gets badly hurt when somebody is defending their

property. Mr Woodhouse's defence lawyer has asked the CPS to review

procedures. How likely do you think that is to happen? I think they will

bear this case in mind when another case comes up of somebody who has

used apparently excessive force and they realise how sympathetic Julie

's art. They will take the view that they did the right thing if they had

gone wrong if they shouldn't have brought a prosecution, the judge

should not have let it go to the jury.

Ian Watkins, the former singer with the rock band Lostprophets, is

seeking leave to appeal against the length of his 35 year sentence for a

series of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a

baby. The 36-year-old from Pontypridd was jailed last month.

Sachin Krishnan joins me now. What more do we know about this?

It was last month that Ian Watkins was sentenced after pleading guilty

to a number of child sex offences including the attempted rape of a

baby and three counts of sexual assault, At the time of sentencing,

the former singer was said to have a corrupting influence and shown a

complete lack of remorse for his crimes. Watkins, who's from

Pontypridd, was sentenced along with two other women, who are the mothers

of children he abused. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison with

another six years spent on licence. Today the Court of Appeal confirmed

that an application has been lodged to appeal against the length of that

punishment. That was done two days ago. South Wales Police are

continuing to investigate whether Watkins also committed offences in

Germany and America and the Independent Police Complaints

Commission is also looking at the conduct of three police forces over

this case. Thank you.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned following the death of a

man at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend last week. An

internal investigation is underway after 58-year-old Michael Bowen,

from Ogmore Vale, spent four hours in an ambulance outside hospital. He

died two hours after being admitted. Five new cases of measles have been

reported in south west Wales in the last 11 days. Public Health Wales is

urging anyone who hasn't had the MMR vaccine to do so.

The Premier League has told BBC Wales it's planning to prosecute

pubs in Cardiff and Swansea that it suspects are showing its matches

illegally using foreign satellite channels. In the last four months

its private investigation firm has visited nearly 200 pubs in South

Wales. The League is planning to bring up to 100 prosecutions across

Wales and England this season. Paul Martin has this exclusive report.

Televised Premier league football is a multi-million pound industry. The

league has official deals with sky and BT in the UK and lots of other

broadcasters overseas. The subscriptions that pubs pay for sky

and BT aren't cheap and with two Welsh clubs in the Premier league

loss of purpose in Cardiff and Swansea a using cheaper, foreign

providers. It is good for business. It is a good thing that places like

this can show the matches so people can come is that of sitting in the

house. I came here for every Primary League game. It is amazing. I can't

describe it. This is like our second home. It is a Saturday afternoon at

this bar in Cardiff. The place is full of Cardiff city fans watching

the game on the big screen. BT Sport and sky can't show 3pm kick-offs

that foreign broadcasters can. The Primary League says any pub or club

that uses a foreign subscription to show the games is raking copyright

laws and wants them to stop. Back in 2011, landlady in Portsmouth when a

court battle against the Primary League. All her case proved what

that people are able to buy and watch and EU subscription in their

own home. The law is different for pubs and clubs. The Primary League

owns the copyright in its logo in its an firm and in any other bit. If

you play those in a pub without the Primary League consent, that is

infringement. Some posts use technology that tries to block out

the logos of the league says it is not come across any mass gain

technology that will stop as prosecuting. It says South Wales is

an area it is focusing on. We want to help pubs, we want to help

educate licensees. We find evidence of the use of foreign satellite

systems and we will give them the opportunity to get rid of that

system. But if they choose not to be phased the real prospect of

prosecution. BBC Wales understands the Premier League's first

prosecution will be against this hotel in Swansea. Pubs who pay to

have read the sport and sky -- to have BT Sport and sky will be

pleased with the rules crackdown but it will be some fans disappointed.

Plans are in place to deal with high tides predicted for the start of

next month to protect people and properties. That's according to the

Natural Resources Minister. Alun Davies was giving evidence to the

Assembly's environment committee, following the poor weather over

Christmas and the New Year. Nearly 400 extra civil servants have

been hired by the Welsh Government in the last two years while the

number employed across the UK fell. The Government say the recruitment

followed a period when 1,100 jobs were cut and is the result of more

powers being transferred to Cardiff Bay.

Wales rugby star Leigh Halfpenny is the latest Welsh rugby star to move

to France. He'll leave the Cardiff Blues at the end of the season after

signing to Toulon. Our sports news correspondent Gareth Lewis is

outside the Millennium Stadium for us tonight.

This is the only place next season that Welsh rugby fans will be

guaranteed to see Leigh Halfpenny play in Wales. His future at club

level lies elsewhere after signing a two-year deal with a further

one-year option with European champions. It is a side Cardiff

Blues fans need to make the most of after nearly five years Leigh

Halfpenny is leaving the Welsh capital to play for too long. The

BBC were sports personality of the year is a man in demand. He was

considering a contract offer from the Blues themselves and a central

contract from the WRU. But the huge many on offer in France and the

ongoing row between regions and union over finances and the

tournaments the regions play in, appear to have helped to make up his

mind. He made the decision because he had a concrete offer. Having

spoken to him myself we know that was part of the decision making

process. His grandfather watched the news of the television and says his

grandson has thought long and hard over his decision. Malcolm told him

how to kick and is sad to see him leave Wales. A bit sad for myself

because of my age. But really happy for him. I honestly think he has

made the right decision. The way Welsh Rugby Union is at the moment,

his future would be uncertain. The way the game is so hard and the

likelihood of injury, I think he has got to take a chance. He will become

the 11th member of Wales 's original 32 man squad for this season six

nations who will play of Wales next season. Wales captain and Halfpenny

Coldplay, somewhat button, is understood to staying in Wales. --

Sam Warburton. That said, I think that our people in the regions who

have grave reservations about the principles of central contracts. The

regions are set on this alternative European cup next season that they

say would be worth ?1 million extra each to them next season. If they

can sort out Europe, the unions, the regions may be the problems of Welsh

rugby will fall into place. Still to come in the programme: with

exactly six months to go until the start of the Commonwealth Games, I

am in Glasgow to find out what Wales 's biggest ever team can expect when

they arrive in the host city. Primary school children in Wales

should be taught foreign languages as a way of halting the decline in

their study here. That's the call today from the national centre for

languages in Wales. Recent figures revealed a drastic drop in pupils

studying a foreign language at GCSE and A Levels. Here's our education

correspondent, Arwyn Jones. A language lesson with a difference

in Cardiff today. It is not just the shouting that is unusual but the

fact the children are learning Spanish. It is a really cool

language to learn. I really enjoyed learning languages. It is a good

experience. When you go on holiday you can talk to the locals and you

can talk fluently to them. These children and in a minority. Every

school in Wales has two teacher English and Welsh but don't have two

teacher modern, foreign language. Now there are fears that Wales could

be left behind. According to the head here, including Spanish in the

timetable was a huge challenge. We made sure children had access to

this modern foreign language because it would benefit them. When we look

at the curriculum as a whole we all know it is incredibly challenging to

include every aspect of the curriculum. Across Wales, courses

like this one teach children the basics and now that our course to

make sure every primary school offers a foreign language. Learning

any language and as many as you can early can reinforce these skills and

the cognitive activity that is going on. It can underline it. We have

definite evidence this raises literacy. Easier ten students are

starting their GCSE Italian course. I have taken Italian because it

helps you get into university and things and it was recommended to me

from the older students. It opens up so many more people to talk to.

People don't tend to do it because they think it is either an cool all

the think it is too hard. But they are part of a shrinking group. Eight

years ago 13,000 pupils studied in modern foreign language as GCSE. Now

it is around 86 ended. At A-level, it down from 1400 to less than 700.

You lose the confidence to think you are going to go down that path. You

go into secondary school and it is not taken up, not pushed, not

encouraged. It is a detriment to our hopes of building a good economy.

The Welsh Government says private schools are encouraged to teach

foreign languages. -- primary schools. With economic as well as

educational benefits to foreign languages, getting it right would be

something to shout about. The final round of job cuts for our

armed forces was announced today as the deadline approaches for UK

troops to withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of this year. The Queen's

Dragoon Guards, known as the Welsh Cavalry, will be the last UK force

to see active combat when they deploy in May. Abigail Neal went to

meet them on a training exercise in Pembrokeshire.

They trained for the worst Afghanistan can offer. Enemy fire

from all directions and a casualty to evacuate. The regiment is

expected to deploy to Helmand province in May for what will be the

last combat to the UK troops before they pull out in 2014. This, their

third two, will feel very different. Previously the Queen's Dragoon

guards were fighting side I side with the Afghan National Army. This

time, they will be taking a back seat. Before we would have been on

the front line fighting with the Afghan soldiers, now we're going to

be sat back at the headquarters overseeing things and offering

advice. While some regiments will be feeling the pain, from today's

announcements on the final round of army redundancies be Queen's Dragoon

guards are safe. The looking forward to the changes that will bring them

closer to home. We will take up our place in the new army. Our role will

be as a light cavalry Regiment, new capability that are still being

defined and worked out. It is exciting for us. For soldiers who

have been in Germany for a number of years, the icing on the cake is we

will be moving back to Norfolk in 2015. While this training focuses on

supporting the Afghan National Army, they also have to prepare for the

danger it can bring. The risk of insider attacks they face are some

of the last troops on the ground. In exactly six months time, the

opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games will be about to get underway

in Glasgow. Wales will be sending its biggest ever team, with 220

athletes backed up by more than 100 coaches and support staff. They'll

be the best prepared team ever to represent Wales. After 19 medals in

Delhi, they've set themselves a target of 25 in 2014. Ashleigh

Crowter's been to Glasgow to find out what they can expect.

The Wales team had to travel right around the world for the last two

Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and Delhi. Now, this year, it is a

shorter trip to Glasgow in Scotland. The games will open here in July.

With the venue is just an hour 's flight away, that is a different

dynamic to Wales 's preparations this year. It is a home games.

Easier to prepare for and therefore more is expected. Wales will be

competing in all 17 sports. Athlete numbers are swelling to record

levels because netball, rugby sevens and hockey teams have all qualified.

The Commonwealth Games for Wales is the pinnacle and still up there in

the top two or three games they can compete in. The Olympics is the

height and then after that comes the Commonwealth Games. Some teams have

been picked both our boxes are still scrapping for places. There's squad

will not be named until April which means that is a real edge to

training. Everyone is under pressure including the coaching team who know

future funding depends on results. We want to build these boards, the

former 's programme we have been building up. The comeback with a big

medal haul will be in the West edition. -- best position. This

woman is hoping to make history as the first Welsh woman to win a

Commonwealth boxing medal. These boards was added to the programme

after a successful debut in the London Olympics. That is what is

driving me. It is the gold I want in the Commonwealth Games. They have

given me fuel for the fire. With no need to acclimatise, these should

find it easier to settle into the village which is next door to Celtic

Park. Unlike in barely four years ago, the competition venues in

Glasgow are ready and waiting well ahead of time. This is the Chris

Hyde velodrome where our sprint cyclist, Becky James, will be going

for gold in July. It is costing ?500 million to stage the games.

Observers from Wales will be watching closely. They considered

the -- bidding for Cardiff to be hosts in 2026. Hosting a

Commonwealth games is a fantastic way of advertising a country 's

presence. We would like to see after these Glasgow games what the full

benefits will be for Scotland. People can make a genuine

assessment. In Glasgow city centre you would barely made -- know the

games are coming. It is not the only show in talent. It is here that

Wales athletes hope to shine in six months time.

The Wales and ospreys forward, Ian Evans, will miss the six Nations. He

has won 32 cast but has been suspended.

Tom Jones will play his first ever major concert in north Wales this

summer. It's been announced he'll headline at the Access All Eirias

event in Colwyn Bay in July. The star of BBC Television's The Voice

will be on a European tour also taking in Amsterdam, Warsaw and

Edinburgh. The date in Colwyn Bay is the only one announced for Wales so

far. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Tomorrow night, with

Trouble is brewing over the Atlantic and it is heading our way. That

means more rain, drizzle and hill fog to come in the next 24 hours.

The rain heaviest in the South and West. This evening, try and Chile

Bitstream build reach Pembrokeshire and this will spread slowly across

the rest of the country by the end of the night. Temperatures dropping

to around two Celsius. There is low pressure tomorrow near Iceland with

these active fronts moving in from the UK. Here is the picture of eight

o'clock in the morning. Not pretty, a dull and wet start. Be milder in

the south-west that there will be some heavy rain in Pembrokeshire.

Breezy on the coast with a brisk wind for the Lleyn Peninsula and

Anglesey. The heaviest rain will be for the south and west, 20

millimetres. Plenty of low cloud. The rain should ease off in the

afternoon. Many places remaining stamp. Temperatures slowly rising

tomorrow. The winner will via Westerly. In Kerry begin tomorrow,

rain, heaviest on the Cambrian Mountains. The waterproofs will come

in handy. The rain should ease off in the afternoon with a high of

seven impossible. Tomorrow evening, we will have a short spell of heavy

rain but this will clear. Dry before midnight. What about the weekend?

Saturday will start off dry and bright but rain and showers will

spread during the afternoon. Heavy showers in places with hail and

thunder. Sunday will start dry that it will not last. Turning wet and

windy, more heavy rain but the risk of flooding in the south and

south-west. Strong to gale force winds as well. Not the most of your

weather we had this winter but a recipe for destruction and the heavy

rain should clear by evening. Next week, unsettled and turning colder.

There is cause for the Crown Prosecution Service to do viewers

procedures after father of five were found not guilty. A quick look ahead

to tomorrow night 's programme. The prospect of another nuclear power

station and offshore wind farms, that is concern about the number of

electricity pylons that might have to be built on Anglesey. Here's Iolo

ap Dafydd. Pylons carry cables right next to

Britannia Bridge but with new lines, they may be pressure to very

those cables beneath the Menai Strait.

More on that tomorrow night at 6.30pm. This evening there will be a

quick update at 8pm and more at 10.25pm. For now, from all of us on

Wales Toda, have a good evening.