26/02/2014 Look East - West

soon. That is all from the BBC News at Six, goodbye from me. On BBC

Wounded in Afghanistan and suffering from post traumatic stress disorder,

this soldier killed his baby daughter. But today a report says

her death could have been avoided. Clearly he had his own personal

struggle so I am surprised more questions weren't asked.

Also on tonight's Look East: Guilty of murder ` the pensioner who said

she'd strangled her sick husband to save him suffering.

Attacked from the sea by German destroyers ` the latest in our

series of stories to mark the centenary of World War I.

And, an eye in the sky ` how new technology is helping the RSPB

protect our wildlife. Good evening. First tonight, how the

death of a baby girl, killed by her father who is a former soldier with

post traumatic stress disorder, could have been prevented. Today, a

Serious Case Review concluded the army, doctors and health

professionals could all have done more. In May 2011, seven`week`old

Khloe Abrams suffered a catastrophic attack at her home in Northampton.

She was taken to hospital with multiple injuries. Her treatment at

Northampton General lasted 18 months. But, in November 2012, she

died, just 19 months old. In January this year, her father, Liam

Culverhouse, was sent to prison Mike Cartwright reports.

Liam Culverhouse, a former soldier sentenced to six years for causing

the death of his daughter. At six weeks old, he fractured her skull

and broke her arms. He was described as a violent and troubled man. Clear

indicators, we were told, that should have raised concerns with

professionals about the safety of the child. I would like there to

have been checked on his background. Why would we have concerns? The

simple fact that he was a man who was suffering from injuries he

received in the service of his country and clearly having his own

personal struggle. I am surprised, therefore, that more questions were

not asked and I can only put it down to in and out relationship with the

mother. Blinded by a bullet, his troubles

worsened because of his injuries the report said. This is the aftermath

of that attack. One of six soldiers route `` wounded by a roadside

bomb. He later told Army doctors it was likely he would harm a child if

left alone together. But the Serious Case Review found that information

was not shared with children's social care nor the Army welfare

service. We take seriously our obligation to

people and children of service people. We have already learned some

lessons from this tragic case and we have taken some actions. We will now

study the Serious Case Review report and take further action is as they

are necessary. We were told that professionals need

to be more nosy about domestic relationships. Liam Culverhouse s

relationship was troubled and there was evidence of domestic abuse, we

were told. The army supported him as an independent injured soldiers

Health professionals treated her partner as a single mother with a

child. Today's report found the opportunities were missed with the

armies failure to share information with civilian agencies. Health

professionals failed to spot injuries just days before Khloe

Abrams was admitted to hospital It concluded her death was preventable

if information had been shared and a child protection plan put in place.

An important lesson is that we need to improve awareness of the impact

military service can have on families for spouses and children,

whether emotional or psychological harm or, sadly in this case,

physical harm. Lessons in this case will be learned

and acted upon agencies said. A soldier who came home from bloody

combat only to inflict terrible injuries on his own baby daughter.

Earlier, I spoke to Mark Sewart a retired Squadron Leader who's now

working as a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and is an expert

in post`traumatic stress disorder. He told me that, although violence

is rare, people suffering from the condition can find it difficult to

distinguish between past and present.

One of the key diagnostic criteria for post`traumatic stress disorder

is what we call re`experiencing phenomena or what are commonly known

as flashbacks. During those episodes, the individual can believe

they are back in whatever event it was that traumatised them in the

first place so they can become less aware of the immediacy of their

surroundings and feel themselves to be back in a very dangerous and

volatile situation from their past. In the case of Liam Culverhouse he

went as far as to tell those Army doctors that he felt he had the

potential to harm his child. It seems to me the crux of this case

is that crucial bit of information was not then passed on. The key

thing to remember is that people divulges things like this on a daily

basis to primary care professionals across the country, not just the

military, and one house to take a balanced judgement about whether

they are just articulating and inner fear or whether it is a plan or

intent to cause harm to themselves or someone else.

But that risk a judgement in this case was not taken. We could see him

falling almost between two stools, as it were. How common is this,

between military and civilian care? The transition between receiving

care from the Ministry of Defence and the National Health Service is

an area which is known about as being a potential risk and I am

aware the MoD is working hard to bridge that with increased dialogue

between themselves and the NHS when people move from military service to

civilian life. If they're a transfer of care? It doesn't seem like there

was in this case? We are moving to a situation where it is far more

joined up. What has gone wrong, though, in the past? Why hasn't

there simply been someone passing on records or a letter or an e`mail of

a phone call to ensure something like this doesn't happen? The MoD

put in place a computer system that is still operated within the MoD

witching abled that data to be transferred to the NHS computer

system but unfortunately the whole process was cancelled.

Therefore, we have been less `` left with no information transfer through

that medium. But you are right. There is no reason why letters or

e`mails cannot pass between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS You

have had your own experience, haven't you?

I worked within the system so I got a copy of my own medical records and

hand delivered it to my own civilian GP but that is something I chose to

do. So, knowing the military system as

you do and now in civilian life are you confident things can and will

improve? I have every confidence things will

improve and you can see it on a daily basis. This is a tragic case

and one you would not want to see repeated. I can assure you that

clinicians, whether they are wearing a military uniform or an NHS

uniform, strive to achieve that level of assurance that these things

will not happen again. Thank you very much.

A pensioner has has been given a life sentence for killing her

husband. Sheila Sampford from Milton Keynes claimed it was an act of

mercy because he was dying of leukaemia. She said her husband s

dying words as she strangled him were, "I love you". But the Judge

did not accept her claim. Neil Bradford was in court and joins me

from our Luton newsroom now. Neil, what else did Mrs Sampford say about

the night she killed her husband? She wept as she relived the moment

as she strangled her husband with a bandage. She told the judge that it

had been the worst thing she had ever done and that she did it for

John, for love and to stop him suffering. She said he was his rock.

The couple were three months away from celebrating their golden

wedding anniversary when she killed him at the home they shared together

in milk and `` Milton Keynes. She said it had been discussed on

numerous occasions and she was acting out of devotion and to ease

his suffering from leukaemia. Today, it emerged that John Sanford

showed no signs of wanting to take his own life and that he was coping

well with his terminal illness. The court also heard that Sheila

Sampford told police that at the time she had just snapped and she

did not know what she had done. Today the judge ruled it was not a

mercy killing. An explanation the police have never accepted.

From the word go, it was always treated as a murder enquiry. There

were other factors other than his health in the enquiry that led us to

believe Sheila had committed this murder for other reasons. This

really was an unusual case, wasn't it?

That's right. It was heard without a jury. It was a trial of fact because

Sheila Sampford pleaded guilty to her husband 's murder last month.

The judge described her evidence today as unconvincing. She `` the

judge did not agree that Mr Sampford wanted to die or that he had asked

his wife to kill him or that she was acting out of compassion but that

she snapped under immense pressure. She was jailed for a minimum term of

nine years so she will not be eligible for parole until she was 84

`` she is 84. The judge said she had denied family members the chance to

say goodbye to Mr Sampford. Next tonight, a family's anger at

the way their father was allowed to die. Bob Goold, who was from

Stevenage, was put on the so`called Liverpool pathway after being

admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The pathway is designed to provide

palliative care for patients in their last few days. But his family

say they didn't give permission Today, though, a coroner ruled the

hospital had provided "appropriate relief". Louise Hubball reports

Bob Goold died last February. His family say his last week was without

food, medication and oxygen and the treatment stopped without their

permission. But today a coroner ruled ending the treatment was

considered to be in his best interests and up to his death he was

provided with appropriate relief. What is your reaction to what the

coroner said? Very disappointed Quite angry. We really believe he

would have come out of hospital had he been given the chance. And we

don't think he was given that chance. Just the basics a human

being needs to leave. Bob Goold an outsole must patient, fractured his

skull at a fall. He arrived at Addenbrooke's Hospital. He was

placed on the Liverpool pathway but he did not die until seven days

later. This has been a long process for you and yesterday was the

anniversary of his death. Have you been able to grieve? A normal family

would see a loved one pass away You are not supposed to see a loved one

pass away in the way he did. A year down the line, being none the wiser

is so difficult. You said none of this will bring Bob back. What do

you hope will come out of this? To prevent other families going through

what we have had to go through for the last year. If families are not

happy with what they see, asked the doctors and speak up. The coroner

said the Liverpool pathway had been nationally discredited but that more

recording making at the hospital and an explanation to the family might

have avoided much of their distress. Addenbrooke's spokesperson said that

although they recognise they could have had discussions, they could

have communicated more effectively and they apologise for that and they

have since changed their processes. Bob 's daughter is a nurse and noted

that two much reliance may have been put on that when she was at his

bedside as a daughter and not a doctor.

Dozens of people from this region have gathered in London to protest

on behalf of the bingo industry They say it's unfair that the game

is taxed at 20%. The figure compares to 15% for bookmakers and 12% for

lottery tickets. Bingo is big business here with 15 bingo halls

across the east. This report is from our political correspondent, Andrew

Sinclair. This is the Harlow bingo hall, one

of the most popular in the country with 54,000 members. Even on a

weekday night in February there are around 100 people in. It is a night

out, isn't it? If you have a little when you have your money back. A big

win, better still. I have been coming here for years. For us, it's

a social night out. According to latest figures, there are 41 million

visits to bingo halls every year compared with 23 million visits to a

league football match on 93 million visits `` 19 million visits to a

National trust Christ `` property. Membership has halved in the past

few years, partly due to the smoking ban and also to the tax, say some.

The bingo industry would like to build more modern state`of`the`art

premises so we can attract more numbers. That is why bingo players

from Harlow joined others from around the region today to

demonstrate outside Parliament. A petition containing 300,000

signatures was wheeled past number ten two legs 11, Downing Street The

campaign led by Harlow's MP and many others. A lot of these people are

elderly and they find a great deal of satisfaction and friendship. So

it is important. If we can make them happier and more secure in their

lives, I think that is named the government ought to pursue. Back in

2009, Alistair Darling changed the way bingo is taxed. He said it would

benefit the industry. It hasn't Ministers say they are sympathetic

but with cutting the deficit a priority still and now with extra

demands for more spending on flood defences, it is by no means clear

whether the Chancellor will find the money. Cutting the tax would cost

?20 million. Campaigners say it is a price paying.

The Green party are calling for greater investment to improve the

region's transport links. A meeting is being held tonight to discuss the

future of children's centres. The council says the move would save

just over ?1 million and resources could be spent spent on those most

in need. All this week on Look East we're

marking the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war

Tonight, the bombardment of Lowestoft. It happened in the Spring

of 1916 when the port was attacked from the sea by German destroyers.

This was 1916 in Lowestoft after a pounding from the sea. 60 German

shells struck in little more than ten minutes. Hard to imagine today.

We knew it was a big naval gun and knew what was happening. We

shouted, bombardment. This is an account of the attack written by his

great`grandfather. One struck the gable end of a terrace of cottages.

Alfred lived at 137 London Rd S And had a vantage point from this attic

window. After this there was a lull so we went and saw the torpedo boat

destroyers steaming north. It was the case of a wasp stinging a tiger.

It must have been horrendous, the noise and the sense of isolation.

They couldn't see or hear anyone else around them. The whole world

must have sounded like it was falling apart and to some extent it

was. The Germans wanted to disrupt the port and to try and draw the

Navy into open warfare at sea. They were keen to support the Easter

uprising by nationalist and up `` in Ireland. The idea being it might

draw Army reserves to the east coast. Perhaps they thought there

was an invasion so when the uprising began in Ireland, the reserves might

have been on the wrong side of the country. That was their thinking. I

met John at the town 's kitchen Centre opened in 1990. Around

Lowestoft, there are other reminders of the conflict, like this memorial.

James and Archibald white brothers created the tinned stew which was

the rations for the stew. Produced from the family 's factory in

Lowestoft, the rations became world famous but they weren't to

everyone's taste. There is one phrase from World War I which says,

warm they were edible, cold they were a man killer.

100 years are, they are desperate to document the role played by the

brothers. It is such a key piece in this town 's jigsaw. This was the

first time in Lowestoft in 1916 that British citizens had come under

attack since the Norman conquest. It is hard to imagine how so much

damage could have been caused and yet there is little trace of it

today. It was a precursor of what was to

come and what could have happened during the Cold War. It is hugely

significant. It is important we remember it locally and nationally.

Football and it is holding up at the top of the tables in league one and

two and at the bottom. Good news last night also.

Northampton 's fortunes needed to change if they are to stay in the

football league. They were in fact inside ten minutes to settle some

early nerves but found themselves level ten minutes later. It was this

strike that was enough to move them off the foot of the table for the

first time in 2014. Safety is five points away though. The tackles the

chasing back, the defending is what we needed to do and we did that

really well over my time here. It was first class and gave us the

opportunity to get on the ball and try and counter from there.

In league one, Stevenage remained at the foot of the table but there were

`` there was progress as it took them five minutes to score. This was

a great solo effort. The nerves grew as they appeared close to an

equaliser but they are four points from safety. Elsewhere, Colchester

remain close to the danger `` sown after picking up nothing from their

match. A penalty in the final few minutes sealed their fate. Near the

top of the division there was better news for MK dons as they kept their

slim hopes for promotion alive. Six points is the gap between them on

the frontrunners. The RSPB has come up with a new way

of bird`watching using a remote`controlled helicopter.

happened. I looked out of the front window. I saw a lot of activity the

helicopter, a lot of boats. I thought it was a training exercise.

And then I heard a little bit later that someone had gone off the ferry.

It is still only nine hours since this happened so there is still a

lot more information to come out to explain why this happened. This is a

strong seafaring community. As someone said to me a short while

ago, whatever the wise and wherefores, this is a tragedy. This

is the loss of two lives. Today, thereby great images of the

farm in Cambridge. They have also trialled the use of a camera at

night to try and spot the corncrake. They hang around in tall and dense

vegetation so it is difficult for us to count them. We are trying to use

a thermal imaging camera mounted on this at night to pick up the heat

signatures that these birds in it. It isn't the RSPB's only new toy.

They want to know more about how girls relaxed to structures like

wind turbines and oil rigs so they plan to strap this device to some

lesser black backed goals. At the moment we know very little as to how

they respond. You will put that on the back of a bird? Yes. It is

unbelievable! They admit it is still early days,

but if this works as well as they hope, we should be able to find out

much more about those hard to reach mammals and birds.

Clear skies there but will they continue.

Good evening. We have some changes on the way. It is this weather front

over the Atlantic that will bring some rain tonight. It looks as

though the evening will be mostly fine with clear spells to start

with. Increasing amounts of cloud to start with and a freshening breeze

will signal that a weather front is on the way bringing pulses of rain

early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, not the best start to the day. Some

rain to clear first thing but sunshine is expected to come out in

the afternoon. There will be some showers around which could be on the

heavy side. The sunshine will come out and temperatures will climb to

around tell Celsius in the sunshine. Quite a brisk westerly breeze. `` 10

Celsius. Showers could be on the heavy side and they will keep going

into the first part of the evening. A fairly complicated weather picture

for the end of the week. Thursday night and into Friday morning an

area of low pressure developing in the Atlantic looks as though it will

move in. It looks as though it will bring heavy rain and strong winds

and there may well be something wintry, perhaps sleep when you wake

up on Friday morning. It looks as though Friday will be colder with

strong winds. You will be interested to know the temperatures overnight,

particularly for Friday and Saturday which will be cold enough for a

touch of frost in places and made that `` drop to below freezing in

places. Some sunshine in between the showers but a cool forecast for

Saturday and windy. And improving picture on Sunday. The sun will come

out and it stays fairly settled until we get overnight on Sunday

when more rain will move in.