26/02/2014 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight ` why was an arrest warrant for a fugitive priest withdrawn

Good evening, and welcome to Wednesday's programme.

He was wanted for child sex offences and invaded justice for dec`des

Also tonight, the ex`policelan who was accused of rape and the wife who

cleared his name. Everybody thinks of you as a rapist. How could I live

with that? The fight to keep free school transport in Leicestdr. It

will be financially difficult to send the twins to the school. It is

just not cricket. The scand`l surrounding a World War I prisoner

of war camp. Good evening, welcome to

Wednesday's programme. First tonight, the BBC has learned that an

arrest warrant for a fugitive priest wanted on sex abuse charges was

withdrawn because magistratds in Nottingham fop was no chancd of

finding him. Father Francis Paul Cullen had been hiding away on the

island of Tenerife or nine xears. He eventually spent 22 years there and

was only brought to justice after a new victim came forward. Michael

Sullivan has this exclusive report. Saint Mary's Catholic Church in

Nottingham. In 1991, the parish priest was facing a range of abuse

charges against altar boys. He appeared at the magistrates court

but then jumped bail. A warrant was issued for his arrest. In the court

in the year 2000, the arrest warrant was withdrawn. The police s`id that

meant he was effectively no longer a wanted man. It begs the question,

why would the magistrates do that? Especially as the arrest warrant had

priest of Saint `` previously been renewed. In a statement, thd court

said... priest of Saint `` previously been

renewed. In a statement, thd court This solicitor who has dealt with

hundreds of clergy abuse cases says he has nerd Neb `` never he`rd

anything like it. They will find it hard to trace this because `s far as

they knew, there was still ` risk to children. I cannot understand how

the arrest warrant had been withdrawn at that time. Francis Paul

Cullen was extradited from Tenerife last year after spending 22 years on

the island. He had been livhng in an apartment there and attending Mass

at church. He was tracked down after a victim from Derby came forward in

2005. From that victim, it took over his life. Paedophiles are an ongoing

threat to all children out there and the police and organisations

responsible for the activithes of these paedophiles need to bd

vigilant and constantly look out. On Monday he pleaded guilty to 21

offences of sex abuse against children in Derby, Buxton and

Nottingham. Nottingham police said taking him off the wanted lhst was a

decision made by the court. They say they are now working with their

partners to improve processds in the justice system.

Next tonight, the extraordinary story of the former police officer

whose wife turned detective to clear his name. Two years ago, Trdvor Gray

was convicted of rape. But his wife tracked down evidence which was to

prove he was completely innocent. Last year, appeal court judges

quashed his conviction, earlier this month a jury unanimously fotnd him

not guilty. He's now trying to get back his job with Nottinghalshire

police, as Jo Healey reports. They are close by but almost thrde years

ago Trevor and Alison split up. In that time he met a woman in a bar in

Nottingham. He spent the night and caught a taxi home the next day She

was to accuse him of raping her Your worst nightmare, you could not

imagine it would be anything like what happened to me. I did not

believe he was capable of stch a horrible thing. I had been larried

to him for 22 years. He was sent down to Nottingham prison. Being

convicted of something you have not done and everybody thinking of you

as a monster, a rapist, how could I live with that? Alison never gave up

on him. I went to see the new solichtor we

reviewed the case files togdther, we established there was a need to

trace a taxi driver, a crithcal witness who collected him from the

address. Incredibly, Alison traced the taxi driver and he clearly

remembered picking Trevor up from the woman's house. He said he saw

them kiss and embrace and she said CU later. Not the actions of a woman

who had been raped. `` see xou later. The evidence proved crucial.

The appeal judges quashed hhs conviction. We hugged each other and

broke down in tears. We werd so elated. Earlier this month, a

retrial. The verdict was un`nimous, not guilty. The pressure th`t was on

me throughout that period w`s unbearable, it was. Despite that,

Nottinghamshire police will not give his job back to him. He had been

detectives had in in the force for 25 years, getting many commdndations

and awards. I have done nothing wrong, I have been through the court

process, I have been proved to be innocent. Because he is appdaling,

they will not comment but the Police Federation are backing him

wholeheartedly. He is having to sell up. The legal cost of proving his

innocence has run into thousands of pounds. Still to come ` first time

out for the first responders. BBC cameras follow a group of p`ramedics

as they put their training with East Midlands Ambulance service hnto

practice. BBC cameras follow a group of paramedics and they put their

training to practice. Policd have confirmed they're investigating

further allegations against Paul Mosley, who was jailed for the

manslaughter of six children in the Victory Road fire in Derby. Officers

say they've been looking at claims made by both witnesses and

defendants during the trial last year. But a more recent

investigation is also underway, after further allegations wdre made

about Mosely after the trial. The police haven't revealed the nature

of the claims. Trade unions in Leicester have been staging a rally

to protest against ?85 millhon budget cuts. The unions say the

authorities should not agred to further cuts. They are angrx that

cuts are being taken away from children's services. We are not

prepared to accept this levdl of cut. These are the most honourable

in society, under continuous attack. This is one more mounted on a load

of others. Rolls`Royce has tnveiled plans for a new generation of

aero`engines. The Derby`basdd company says the engines will be up

to 25% more fuel efficient than the first versions of its existhng Trent

models. It's hoped the new "Advance" and "Ultra Fan" engines will also be

more reliable and environmentally`friendly. A billion

pounds a year is being spent on their development. Next tonhght

hundreds of parents across Leicestershire say they'll fight

controversial plans to cut free school transport. From Septdmber

next year, they could have to pay up to ?600 a year for their chhld to

catch school buses which, at the moment, are free. The countx council

says the growth of academies has created a transport problem and that

they need an easy`to`understand policy to avoid extra costs in the

future. Helen Astle reports. It is a busy morning in the Harris home as

they get ready for school. @t the moment, the eldest son gets a free

bus. Under proposals, that could change. For the younger brother

George, his parents could h`ve to pay hundreds of pounds a ye`r or

George goes to a school closer to home. What is being proposed will

cause a lot of uncertainty `nd disruption. The costs will be high.

Lots of parents will choose to drive their kids to school which will

cause a lot of traffic. As Will heads off to school, this is one of

many buses that parents could be paying for from next September. What

are the proposals? Take thrde imaginary schools. One is a primary

school, and then to secondary schools. At the moment, children in

one are entitled to free tr`nsport to the catchment area school. Under

the proposals, catchment ardas would be disregarded. Free transport would

only be provided to the nearest school. That would be even hf it is

over the border in Leicester City or Nottinghamshire. The Harris family

are not alone. At the local primary school, many parents are very

concerned. It is just going to be a huge financial difficulty for me to

send my twins over to the school, costing over ?1000 per year. It will

affect a lot, not just monexwise but obviously people with anothdr child

having to drop them here or there. We moved here because of getting

them into the schools in thd first place. That is pointless.

Leicestershire county counchl says the proposals are not about saving

money. If approved it could be more expensive. The choice is up to the

parent. If they choose to sdnd the child out of the area, then they

will have to pay. The consultation finishes on March 12.

Taxi drivers in Nottingham `re being offered blood pressure tests and a

waist`measuring service while they're waiting to pick up

customers. It's part of a project, being backed by a former world

boxing champion, to help fight heart disease and improve health within

the city's South Asian commtnity. James Roberson reports. Next to

attack it `` to a taxi rank in Nottingham, there is a drivd to get

men to watch their help. It is backed by a former world

welterweight boxing champion, who has already tackled the problem by

getting taxi drivers down to his gym. We started it, it was `

challenge, two times a week they were training, we had 12 melbers.

They lost inches off their waste. Among the participant were two

brothers. I want to get rid of some of these pounds on my tummy. When

you come into this kind of lifestyle, you get into a rtt. They

are offering a new set of drivers blood pressure tests. They know that

ethnicity and inactivity can increase the risk of heart disease,

or blood pressure. South Ashan communities are more at risk of

heart disease and as a result the British Heart Foundation has

undertaken a number of inithatives to help raise awareness and get them

to be more active, think about their diets. Six months on, what of the

two brothers? I feel more alive It has done wonders. I feel stronger.

Would you advise others to do it? Definitely, it is your own health.

They hope to get some more recruits to take part in the fitness

campaign. We shall see. Thex're on the front line of the NHS ` for many

a career as a paramedic is `s exciting as it's challenging. A BBC

documentary has followed nine student paramedics as they ventured

out on their first placement with East Midlands Ambulance service

Geeta Pendse reports. I called to a cardiac arrest. The paramedhcs have

just eight minutes to get to the scene. Under pressure and thme

critical. This programme follows nine students as they embark on a

placement with East midlands ambulance service. Nick gets the

chance to do his first sailhng flush. For Nick Bailey that was a

full on experience. It is OK practising on the mannequins, but

once you hit your first pathent you will think it is strange. It soon

becomes natural. It is here that students get a taster. At the

University of Anthony begin the course, but it is only eight weeks

before they replaced the mock ambulance for the real thing. In

order to cope with that, each student is assigned a qualified

paramedic as a mentor. The show captures their bond.

You need to get on with thel otherwise you sit awkwardly in the

car. It could reflect on thd job. I go from being at home, workhng away

from home, probably working nights, never working nights before, it is

very different. The satisfaction of helping people. I tried othdr jobs

and it certainly wasn't for me. But this is absolutely fantastic. Junior

paramedics is on BBC Three tomorrow night. In 18 months time, they hope

they will be on the road as qualified paramedics.

I like that. We should do that. It is time for sport now. I Winter

Olympians are back and they have been to see us. Yes, the st`rs of

the ice from the Winter Olylpics have returned. It's been thd most

successful Winter Games of the modern era. And our Team GB short

track speed skating team have been part of it all, providing us with

some of the most dramatic and memorable moments from Sochh. The

team based here in Nottingh`m only finished competing on Fridax, but

this morning they were back at the National Ice Centre and earlier came

to see us for a chat on the big red sofa. Here is the whole teal,

including Elise Christie. J`ck Welbourne. Charlotte Gilmartin,

Richard should bridge behind me Elise Christie, disqualified in all

three of your events. Everybody was following it throughout the nation.

How are you feeling now? Obviously it was quite a tough few wedks. I

was pretty heartbroken. But the support from the British public

brought me back up for that last day and I put my best performance out

there. Unfortunately I had ly chance taken away and I am trying to move

forward to the world Championships. It is not an Olympic medal but I

will try my best. She did us proud. She was nearly there. You s`id you

felt a sense of injustice at the refereeing. At the end of the day,

the referee is there to makd a judgement. I did not agree. There is

no appeal. We had very few hssues with the ladies, other countries

were also dissatisfied with the referees of the men. You were

watching on the sidelines. She certainly raised the profild of the

sport. In that sense it is ` victory for Team GB short track. Hopefully

the influx of young kids will get into the sport and produce ` lot

more than five medal hopes hn the next upcoming games. We can go there

and do it again. Let us hopd so You were the flag bearer for thd opening

ceremony. How was that? Fantastic, to go out there in such a bhg crowd.

It was a real honour to represent the team. Also, thanks to UK sport

and the National Lottery. You have been to three games. Have you

noticed a different reaction from the public know your back? Very much

so. After London, everybody was just thrilled by Olympic sport. Dverybody

gets behind us. The support has been fantastic. Here's a bit of ` slave

driver, one day back and yot're on the ice. But there is a good reason

for that, isn't there? Therd is a lot coming up with the world

Championships and 2018. Exactly For me, this is a bonus because it means

I don't have time to dwell on what happened, I have to move on. I have

for years to train again and work on my little weaknesses. Work `s a

team, to get more medal opportunities so that everyone out

there is a medal hope. Thanks for coming in and putting short track

speed skating on the map. Onto football, and a Nottingham Forest

player who suffered a career`threatening injury dtring a

league game is seeking masshve High Court damages, claiming the defender

who tackled him was negligent. Nottingham Forest striker and former

England youth international, Dexter Blackstock, 27, is seeking

compensation from Seya Olofhnjana and his former club, Cardiff City,

over a tackle in November 2010, which put him out of the gale for 15

months with a "horrific" knde injury.

Staying in football and on the pitch, there was a big setb`ck for

Mansfield Town last night. They ve been dragged closer to the League

Two relegation zone again after a 4`1 defeat at the hands of Bury

Kirsty Edwards reports. Mansfield town had won their last two games at

home but there was Little to be happy about at this one. Thd shot

found the bottom corner for the opener. No more goals beford

half`time, but then the floodgates opened. They extended their lead

with this close range finish and then an impressive lob saw them go

3`0 up. Mansfield finally rdsponded. Less than a minute later, it was all

over, another goal leaving them looking over their shoulders towards

the bottom of league two. There are six points clear of the reldgation

zone but have played one more game than the four teams below them.

Rugby and Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill has rubbished

reports linking Manu Tuilagh with a switch to rugby league. Newspaper

stories suggested Salford wdre lining up a big money deal to lure

the England star away from Welford Road. But Cockerill says it's

laughable. His contract is Leicester and he will be for the foreseeable

future. He is our player, you want to play for Leicester and wd will do

whatever it takes and whatever it takes to keep it here for a

long`term. There is no truth in it. It is a typical tabloid story. That

is all the sport. Now ` movhng back a hundred years for our special

series of features on the Great War. It was a time of massive social

change, with the whole country becoming involved in the war effort.

As part of that, many old btildings and stately homes were taken over

and put to use in quite unexpected ways. In the latest in our series

for the BBC World War One At Home project ` I've been to Donington

Hall in Leicestershire whosd wartime role gained national notoridty. In

Chuter times, deer graze thhs is state. These days it has bedn

replaced by the hobby of pl`ne spotting. Signs of the building s

former grandeur remain. The entrance hall is stunning. Until recdntly, it

was the HQ of BMI. The Chief Executive of the current colpany is

intrigued by the history of the building. I met up with him in the

old library currently undergoing renovation. Over a period of time,

the house has had many diffdrent owners, but it is funny to look back

and think of the German prisoners of war playing cricket outside. That is

the link with World War I. Donington Hall was indeed a German prhsoner of

war camp. This photo shows prisoners being marched through the vhllage of

Donington. Here's the library back then, used as a dining room for the

captured German officers. Hdre are the prisoners playing crickdt just

outside the library. The st`ndard of comfort afforded the prisondrs

caused a scandal at the timd though it was hardly the writ that this

campaign claimed. Donington Hall certainly wasn't the

only POW camp for Germans in Britain but what made it famous is the

escape of one of the German officers from this camp. This man. Hd was a

celebrated pilot, a man of extraordinary determination whose

successful escape from Donington Hall during a storm in 1915

transformed him into a national hero when he made it back to his

homeland. The man who wrote the book about him is Anton Rippon. We met up

in the chapel. He and a fellow officer reported sick, waitdd in the

summer house until lights ott and then E `` they literally for

themselves through barbed whre. They walked into Derby, Cotter train to

London, travelling in separ`te compartments. `` caught a train Was

it a source of embarrassment? He was the only one that escaped injury

war. That is why he was nevdr put in the front line. It was. Thex did not

want to risk him being capttred or killed. They put him in charge of a

naval air station. The postscript to this story is after the war is an

escape tunnel was discovered. It is possible the sport that took place

on the library lawn was intdnded to mask the noise of the digging

beneath it. Tomorrow, the extraordinary tapes reminisces of a

soldier present at that famous Christmas Day truce in 1914. And you

can find more stories on thd BBC World War One At Home website, a

partnership with the Imperi`l War Museums, and on your BBC local radio

breakfast show all week. Now the weather. We have had a tastd of

spring today. The flowers are springing to life. Thank yot for

sending this in. We love seding your pictures. Tonight it is set to turn

wet and windy. It is camera there at the moment `` it is more serene It

will remain dry for the next few hours before the cloud incrdases in

the West. A spell of wet we`ther, the south`west wind will also

strengthen. The cloud and r`in will help to hold temperatures up. The

rain is with us first thing. It will clear away nicely to the east.

Through the morning it is l`rgely dry with some decent spells of

sunshine. As we go into the mid`afternoon we will see more in

the way of cloud and showers pushing in from the south`west. There will

be a little bit of Hale movdd in. Here comes winter. Things are set to

change. An early warning for snow has been issued by the Met office.

The risk of snow through thd early hours. It is this feature that will

push in through Thursday evdning and Friday morning. As it hits the cold

air, likely to turn into snow. It is particularly potential over higher

ground. We will keep an eye on this as it is set to turn wintry. It will

definitely feel colder. By night we are likely to have widespre`d frost,

ice, that will also be an issue Find those scarves and hats quickly.

We will need one here. It is noticeably colder since the

air`conditioning kicked in. I shall be back with the late news. Join me

then. Goodbye.