28/11/2013 East Midlands Today

Louise, thank you. That's all from the BBC

On East Midlands Today at 6:30: This is East Midlands Today with Dominic

Heale and me, Anne Davies. Tonight ` a mother's extraordinary

act of forgiveness. Mandie Brown hikes are serving

prisoner whose drink`driving killed her son. Everything he has done,

Michael has always shown true remorse.

Also tonight, after 20 years of dereliction, and I saw and drugs

haven is finally demolished. Alas, is it right to fight? What

Boxer Carl Froch tells his little boy.

And the new `` a mastiff who is half the dog she used to be.

Good evening. Welcome to Thursday's programme. First tonight ` in an

extraordinary display of forgiveness, a mother today publicly

embraced a serving prisoner whose drink`driving killed her son.

Michael York was granted special release from prison to address

students at his old school in Hinckley. He was joined on stage by

Mandie Brown, to raise awareness about the dangers faced by young

drivers. This was the moment when a mother

publicly renewed her forgiveness for a prisoner jailed for the

drink`driving which killed her son. What does her forgiveness mean to

you? Everything. I do not forgive myself. For her to forgive me, for

what I have done, it really does mean a hell of a lot.

Michael has always shown true remorse, and I know my son made the

decision to get in that car, I could not be a hypocrite. Through the

chats we have 0 not be a hypocrite. Through the

chats we have had, this has come about. We have been able to support

this project, so something good has come out of it.

Two years ago Michael York had been on a 13 hour drinking binge with his

friends. He crashed into a tree as he drove them home. Matthew was

killed instantly, another friend died later.

The Ministry of Justice gave permission for Michael York to

address students at his own school `` old school about the dangers of

drink driving. I have lost two friends I grew up with. I am still

in jail, I am still paying for it now. It is not worth it at all.

His appearance was part of a road show which `` whose aim is to make

sure every school pupil is aware of the causes of death among young

drivers, drink and drugs, mobile phones, speeding and not wearing a

seat. It prompted this impassioned plea from Mandie Brown. I am

screaming at you, to think. I do not want to see one of your faces with

two dates on. It has made me think a lot about going out on driving under

the influence of alcohol. I hope that people have learned a lot. It

makes me want to make the right decisions later on in life. It

really touched my heart. It goes to show how precious life is. I had

someone who I loved past away in a similar situation. `` who has passed

away. It is quite emotional. Michael York is now back inside

Sudbury prison to reflect on what he calls the biggest mistake of his

life. But it is a lesson students at his former school will never forget.

A man who's survived cancer six times in the last 28 years is

setting up a trust named after his son ` who died from cancer earlier

this year. Mark Cooper from Leicestershire and

his wife Tracy want to celebrate the life of 14`year old Joseph, who had

leukaemia, and in his memory raise funds to help other sufferers. James

Roberson reports. It is now five months since Joseph

died, but for the Coopers, their home is still a shrine to his

memory. Joseph was 14 when complications from leukaemia and

lymphoma took him away. It has been particularly traumatic because

Josef's illness came as Mark himself was between his own fourth and fifth

balance of cancer. History going back 28 years. Joseph was diagnosed

in 2008 with lymphoma, and I blamed myself straightaway. Eventually we

found out it was nothing to do with my illness.

For five years Father and son fought their own cancers, Joseph even

writing a book. I was diagnosed last year with a second throat cancer.

And Joseph was still at that time fighting a lot of problems. Mark

survived a sixth boat mast year. Tragically Joseph could not fight of

his illness. Joseph died in June, and the next day we were handed by a

letter which he had written in the January. I was not in the letter

about his life, how happy he had been, which I am very proud of, and

I know I am his dad but I am so fortunate to have known him for 14

years. After Joseph's fight the Coopers has

started a trust to support organisations that help sufferers

like him. When Joseph was alive we spoke many times about setting up a

charity in which we could help some of the children that he met along

his journey. Newspapers are supporting 0

his journey. Newspapers are supporting their cause. This weekend

a friend will have his beard shaved off for the charity. They hope that

through it, Joseph will live on. It's been described as an eyesore

and a blight on the landscape ` but that's all set to change.

The former Mansfield General Hospital has been derelict for 20

years. Work to demolish the site finally started today. Navtej Johal

reports. From derelict to demolished. These

machines are tasked with tearing down the former Mansfield General

Hospital. The site was bought by the Council in June this year. It has

over IT of buildings, the oldest dating back to 1900. For over 20

years, the site has determined `` deteriorated badly. It is a blighted

site, recession, numbers do not stack up. Previous owner had

different ideas for this site. We tried to work with him to make that

happen, it did not happen so the council stepped in.

The council have been committed to demolishing this site. Last month

they agreed to pay the extra ?360,000 to cover the cost of

demolition. The total cost of the project is

expected to be just under ?1 million. This has been a blight on

the landscape in terms of Mansfield as a whole and also the residents in

this area for 20 years. The council made a commitment to purchase the

site, we managed to do that without going down the compulsory purchase

route, and having completed on that we managed to get the guys on site

and as you can see we got the site clear. The demolitions should be

completed by April next year. The council are hoping the site could

then be used to build around 40 new homes.

Police in Leicester are investigating reports that a woman

was assaulted before being put into a car and taken to a park.

It happened between half past seven and half past eight yesterday

evening. The woman was walking along Rosebery Street when she was

approached by two men and assaulted. She was then taken to Spinney Hill

Park before being attacked again. Police say she's being treated for

head and facial injuries. It's not clear whether she knew the men.

A shopkeeper in Nottinghamshire has been ordered to carry out 100 hours'

community service and pay ?1,000 in costs after being caught selling

fake cigarettes. Trading Standards officers found

more than 12,000 counterfeit cigarettes at Andrew's News and

Booze 0 cigarettes at Andrew's News and

Booze in Sutton`in`Ashfield. 35`year`old Shakhawan Salah pleaded

guilty to seven offences at Mansfield Magistrates Court.

More than 170 jobs are to be created at a Derby call centre.

Webhelp began life as HEROtsc when it moved into the old Egg building

at Pride Park in 2011. It's since hired more than 1,000 staff. Now

it's looking for another 177 permanent employees, who'll mainly

work in satellite TV and internet support.

Still to come: The gloves are off. We're at home with Carl Froch

discussing the future, family life and THAT fight.

High pressure is putting up a fight, but will in dominate for the rest of

the week? `` will it dominate.

Poachers and even some gamekeepers are both being targeted in a

crackdown on wildlife crime. Specialist police teams are being

trained to protect birds and animals across rural Derbyshire. Our social

affairs correspondent Jeremy Ball reports.

The stunning Derbyshire Peak District does not look like a

typical crime scene, but then rare birds of prey are not typical

victims. His father used to be a magnet for Peregrine Falklands ``

this valley. They were preying on grouse, but now they have

disappeared. I have lived and worked up here all my life, they are a

stunning work `` bird. It would be something I would want to bring my

grandchildren to come to see in years to come, and it looks like

that will not be possible. Nearby, a nest destroyed killing the

checks. Glenn Brown was caught on camera trapping a sparrow hawk. He

has been convicted of wildlife offences, so no 20 Derbyshire Police

officers have been specially trained to tackle wildlife crime. They want

the rest of us to help. Not all gamekeepers are persecuting birds of

prey, but there are occasions it happens. We would encourage the

public to report things, and getting witnesses is important. Landowners

are being told to keep their eyes out as well.

Protecting the wildlife has become such a priority, but that does ``

does that mean officers are being diverted away from protecting human

victims of crime? I think there is a wider aspect when you look at crime

here, where you often find that people involved in wildlife crime

are also involved in other areas of criminality like domestic abuse.

What we are trying to do is build up a whole intelligence picture. It is

a picture that is far from clear. The force recorded 200 wildlife

incidents last year, they think that is just the tip of the iceberg.

A planning application's been submitted for a revamp of the main

entrance to Nottingham's Victoria Centre.

The centre's owners, Intu, want the way in on Lower Parliament Street to

be completely refurbished and surrounded by multicoloured lights.

It's all part of a planned ?40 million redevelopment of the centre.

The City Council's already approved proposals for similar entrances at

the Clock Tower and Glasshouse Street.

Commonwealth medallist Ross Davenport says Derby City Council is

making a mistake in downgrading its plans for an Olympic`sized swimming

pool. The Belper`born swimmer says he's

concerned the city will miss out on hosting national competitions. The

authority says the pool will now be smaller than planned, and in light

of budget cuts, it could be delayed by at least a 0

of budget cuts, it could be delayed by at least a year.

Equipment used to test the ripeness of cheese is helping people with

liver disease in Nottingham. The scanning machine measures liver

elasticity, meaning people at risk can be identified before they have

any symptoms. The pilot project has doubled the number of patients

diagnosed. Experts at the University of Nottingham say if the project is

rolled out nationally it will save the NHS nearly ?75 million pounds in

the first year. If we can pick it up early, there is a potential to

reduce people getting into the last stages, and reduce the cost of care,

because they do not need hospital care.

Staying with health, next tonight a hospital facility treating the most

seriously injured patients is set to become the busiest NHS major trauma

centre in England. Already the centre, in Nottingham,

treats patients from across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and

parts of Derbyshire. From next April they'll also be taking patients from

Lincolnshire and Southern Derbyshire. Our Health correspondent

Rob Sissons reports. This report contains flash

photography. Opening the major trauma centre

ward. They saved Jason's life. He came off his motorbike, the crash

took seconds, the recovery has been 18 months and counting. You never

think you will be involved in this kind of thing. A major trauma

involves the most serious life`threatening cases. Major trauma

encompasses the most severely injured patients, people in very

serious car accident so falling off horses. They have about a 10% chance

of not surviving those injuries. The centre open back in April 2012. They

have already treated over 1,600 patients and claim to have saved an

extra 71 lives. From next April they expect 900 nations per year, making

it England's busiest major trauma centre.

It has cost ?2 million to create this unit. Patients can be isolated.

Everybody here has their own story about what happened.

Warren cannot remember his car crash. My ribs are broken on my left

hand side, my shoulder blade's not fantastic, I have scratches and

bruises everywhere. David had an accident with farm

machinery. Somebody pressed a lever and I bought one straight through my

hand. And this man's road accident

happened just metres from his home. My pelvis was shattered on one side.

I grateful they could actually rebuild it. I never thought five

days on I would be able to get up. They are in, day out,

round`the`clock, they never know what will come through the door.

`` day in, day out. Still to come: A massive mastiff no

more. Mizzy's middle is now more medium

than extra large. A diet for old dogs that could teach us a new trick

` later. Time now for the sport.

First, an exclusive at`home interview with Nottingham boxer Carl

Froch. The boxing world is still talking about the double world

champion's controversial win over George Groves at the weekend. Carl

won the fight when the referee stopped it in the ninth round. So,

will there be a rematch? Well, Froch told us today it's unlikely ` Groves

has had his chance, and Carl wants to end his career with one big fight

in Las Vegas. Carl Froch says despite all the

controversy and drama, the hardest thing this week has been explaining

to his three`year`old that daddy fights for a living. After returning

from his battle with George Groves, for the first time his son asked him

about the bumps and bruises. He was looking at me really

concerned, what has happened? Are explained that is what I do, and

then he understands. `` are explained. I said, unless you have

good odds on, you cannot hit anybody. He is a clever lad. ``

unless you have got gloves on. On Saturday Carl won his fight. He

returned his two world title belts when the referee controversially

jumped in to stop the fight in the ninth round. What the crowd saw was

the referee not letting the fight come to a natural conclusion. I feel

like I had my glory taken away from me, because he jumped in. He stole

me of my glory, but I am not going to complain about it because I got

the win, I successfully defended my title, and I have got my health.

Maybe they just wanted to see that full conclusion, that for knockout,

but I think a lot of people have watched the fight again now and

thought, the referee was right, he was right to stop it because it is

dangerous at the end of the day. It is a dangerous sport. Carl is now

taking time out with his family in Nottingham to think about his next

move. A rematch with Groves, he says, is unlikely. He wants `` he

wants one last big fight in Las Vegas. I need to finish my career in

a massive fight. That would be much better than going over old ground.

He has had his chance, and unfortunately he blew it. He cannot

cut it at world level, and that fight proved it.

On to football, and a former Notts County footballer is understood to

be among six people arrested as part of an investigation into alleged

match`fixing in England's lower leagues.

33`year`old Delroy Facey now works as a football agent. He played for a

number of lower league clubs in his career and spent two seasons at

Notts. It follows an investigation by the Daily Telegraph which is

being looked at by the National Crime Agency.

On to Derby County, who have signed young Manchester United defender

Michael Keane on loan today. Keane was with Leicester last season and

is a good signing for the Rams. Derby are flying at the moment `

four wins in six games and just outside the promotion places. Angela

Rafferty has been to see a man who could prove to be a key part of

their success. It is not 0

their success. It is not always easy being the

goalkeeper going from hero to zero with one small mistake, but here at

Derby there is a coach on board known worldwide as a goalkeeping

guru. They have to touch all the four

corners. Tactically, mentally. And physically. And they realise the

value of what the goalkeeper does. Eric helped mastermind Manchester

United's European and domestic glory, and he is now determined to

bring success back to Derby County. Having been there as a player and a

coach, I know what it is about. I know what the people want. There is

not a magic wand that gets you there.

His CV takes some beating. The players understand he is a tough

task master. He has got us at it from half past eight in the

mornings. My wife is not happy I am still here at four clock, five

o'clock at night. `` four o'clock. Lending his

services is a major coup, but the chance to return to the club where

he `` is an offer he could not turn down. Next year I will be 30 years

living in the Derby area, so there was no hesitation, and in the last

six and seven weeks we have tried to build and improve and move the club

forward. He has just one goal in mind now,

promotion for Derby. On to another bit of Derby news,

striker Callum Ball has gone on loan for a month to Notts County.

While two young Charlton players, Morgan Fox and Bradley Jordan, are

on the to move to Meadow Lane for a month. Fox is a left`back, and

Jordan an attacking midfielder. And at Nottingham Forest, two

players out today. Marcus Tudgay has joined Barnsley. Ishmael Miller has

gone to Yeovil on a month's loan deal.

In ice hockey, Nottingham Panthers are up to fifth in the Elite League

after victory over the Edinburgh Capitals last night.

A hat`trick for captain David Clarke who opened the scoring, before Petr

Kalus made it 2`0 with his first ever goal for Panthers. Clarke

completed his treble either side of the Capitals' solitary goal. A great

result for the Panthers after their European exploits at the weekend.

Some of us might be piling on the Christmas pounds over the next month

or so ` quickly followed by an urgent 0

or so ` quickly followed by an urgent desire to shed them in the

New Year. No easy task. So spare a thought for Mizzy the

bullmastiff from Derby, who's spent all summer on a special diet to

fight the flab. Sumeer Kalyani's been to see how she's getting on.

The last time we saw Mizzy, she had let herself go a bit. The

bullmastiff weighed more than 11 stones back in May. She needed to

lose a few 0 stones back in May. She needed to

lose a few pounds. In fact, drastic action was in order. She was slow,

she slept most of the day. Fickle to walk, she would strike if she did

not want to go. So we really knew we were having problems. And what a

difference a dog diet makes. We now have a waist measures `` measurement

of 35 inches. Mizzy has shared two stone in just

six months. She has shared a win in a national, edition. They say, come

on, feed me. `` a national competition. She could

not exercise, and I should have cut down the amount which she was being

fired. Mizzy's diet is part of the PDSA's

campaign to end `` encourage a better diet for pets. We give pets

extra food for our own short term happiness. However it has a massive

impact because it increases the risk of `` joint disease, heart disease

and other diseases like diabetes. It is like having a poppy. She bounces,

she swims... `` it is like having a poppy.

Mizzy's next challenge might not be as easy. She is afraid of the dark.

It has been a quiet week. We have had largely dry conditions, and

light winds, but a change is on the way tomorrow. It will feel colder,

with a few blustery showers. There will be some blue skies though, so

we may get some pictures like this. Thank you to Peter for sending this

in. Why are we having the change? We are sandwiched between high pressure

and low pressure. The winds begin to strengthen, they are coming from the

North West so it will feel quite cold. That wind will drive all the

cloud away so we should see the skies whitening up. `` brightening

up. Some missed is forming underneath the cloud, `` some mist.

First thing the art a few showers, but as the winds strengthen you will

notice that cloud break `` breaking up. You will notice the winds are

strong enough to keep driving in some cloud, and a few blustery

showers. Allow for a few blustery showers into the afternoon. All of

us should still see some sunshine, you will notice it feeling colder

however. With the wind chill, feeling quite chilly.

High`pressure's in charge for the weekend, Saturday's looking the

better day, it will be a cold day on Saturday but we should cease and

distance spells of sunshine. More cloud on Sunday, and high`pressure

keeps a settled well into the week. `` we should see some spells of

sunshine. I will be back with late 0

sunshine. I will be back with late news.

Goodbye.