22/02/2012 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories: a woman banned from driving after going the

wrong way at 4am. Also in tonight's programme: A �90,000 aid package

for Thamesteel workers who lost their jobs with the closure of the

Sheerness plant. A convicted rapist sexually assaulted a woman Dipper -

- despite being under 24 hour surveillance.

Vanessa Redgrave sprinkles stardust over the Brighton Festival: She's

this year's director and she'll tell us what's in store.

Brighton boys the Rizzle Kicks take centre stage, performing their

number one hit single at the Brit Awards. Good evening. 43-year-old

Maureen Darvell has been banned from driving. She travelled in the

fast line on the wrong side of the M3 before she was arrested. The

pensioner had become confused on 170 mile journey from her home in

Ashford in Kent to a relative's wedding in Bristol. Maureen Darvell

got lost on the wrong side of the motorway. Now, she has lost her

licence. I remember coming out of this crossing and thinking I was on

the wrong side of the road. I'd never done anything like that

before. I just thought, there is no traffic, I'll have to get back and

I'm on the wrong side of the road. It was just unfortunate that I had

no time to get back on the right side before the police came along.

She left her home near Ashford at 9am to travel to Bristol, but she

took a wrong turning. She realised her mistake when she was near

Bournemouth and tried to find her way back. She ended up travelling

on the wrong side of the M3 and was stopped by police at 3:50am the

following morning. This led to a debate about whether all the

drivers should have to retake their tests. Older people are more at

risk of being injured in an accident. It is not the first case

of its kind. Last year, a woman drove the wrong way for 23 miles on

the M5 and was jailed for nine months. Maureen Darvell says in her

case, it was just a mistake. Do you realise that you or other people on

the motorway could have been killed? Well, I do, because people

have told me, but at the time, there was hardly any traffic.

were still on the wrong side of the road. Yes, but to me it was just

minutes. Maureen Darvell has been told there wants her 15 month ban

is up, she will have to retake her test if she wants to take to the

road again in this car. She says her driving days are over, however.

She says she will stick to her mobility scooter. Aid packages have

been unveiled today to help former ThameSteel workers in Kent. A total

of �90,000 was pledged for -- following the second meeting of a

task force set up after the plant in Sheerness was shut. �80,000 is

coming from Kent County Council. That will pay for eight students

who lost their jobs to finish their HNC courses. The other �10,000 from

a charitable trust is being put into a hardship fun -- fund that is

open to the families of all the workers who lost their jobs. Let's

cross live to Thamesteel and our reporter. Peter, is this money just

a gesture, or will it realistically make much of a difference? For the

students who will get this funding, it could be life-changing as it

provides a good chance of them getting a job. But in a workforce

of 400, only about eight people are going to benefit, a handful. But it

might create pressure on the task force to come up with other schemes

which will benefit workers of all ages. When Thamesteel closed, these

students not only lost their jobs but the prospect of finishing their

course. Now companies have been offered a cash incentive to employ

them so they can complete their end -- HMC on day release. For Colin,

this is a real boost. I was a much happier people when I had something

to do and I was working. House to let -- has today's announcement

given new hope? Yes, it is an incentive. It has definitely made

everyone in my position feel a lot better. The students had been in

limbo since 26th January when workers were officially made

redundant. The taskforce was set up in the wake of the closure on the

16th the babe -- February, and today, the aid package was

announced a. The work force chairman says progress is being

made. The work force has been released without any prospect. We

need every company to contact us if they think they may have anything

which would see these workers. week, former Thamesteel apprentices

were helped by Mid-Kent College. They have found me a job. Not only

have they taken me on an supplied me with a salary, they had taken on

as well. The taskforce of -- still has a lot to do, but securing work

for the workers is the main priority. The task force noticed

there was real hardship on the ground here, and that is why

�10,000 has been put into this charitable trust. The money will be

given in food or in child care vouchers, but with potentially 400

people being able to apply for this fund, it means only �25 per person.

Many question of that will be enough.

Coming up: The Sussex woman subjected to a vile campaign of

internet abuse just because she had shown support for a pop star of

mind. -- online. A Sussex woman who sent a

supportive message to the X-factor singer Frankie Cocozza found

herself subjected to it vile abuse online. She reported the Beast to

the police but was told they could not help. It was not until her

lawyer wrote a letter to the chief inspector that her case was taken

seriously. It is the 21st century crime, but usually it is the

celebrities were the victims of internet stalking. I wish people

would leave me alone, I wish a Hall would suck me in. But it seems

everyone is at risk. Nicola books sent a supportive message to

Frankie Cocozza after he was shown -- thrown off the show. Within

minutes, she became a target herself of hate mail, posted

anonymously. It is painful and hurt full. It will never leave me. It

would go away. I was distressed, I was absolutely distraught at the

time. I couldn't believe that they had turned on me like that with

this vile abuse. One person had Many other comments were simply too

offensive for us to broadcast. said there are so many incidents

and reports of crime like that over the internet, so they could not

possibly looking to everyone. Sussex Police today told us they

are now in touch with face but to try to track down the offenders.

Based but deny claims that their systems do not work, pointing to

the successful will find of this man. But some, this happens

relentlessly over a period of months. Nicola Briggs is now

working with her way to raise awareness of this crime. She says

she has spoken out today because bullies should be stood up to.

The extradition of a Kent man to the United States on suspicion of

selling mess -- missile parts to Iran has been raised at Prime

Minister's Questions in the House of Commons today. Retired

businessman Christopher Tappin denies the charges but has been

ordered to report to police next week. The Prime Minister said he

wants the Home Secretary to have another look at an inquiry into the

extradition treaty. Of course, balance in these arrangements is

vital, but it is important that at the same time we remember why we

enter into these extradition treaties, which is to show respect

which others judicial -- to each other. Credit card company American

Express could lay off as many at 190 people in Sussex. The Brighton

based offices employ 3,500 people across the county. The city's

largest private sector employer says Brighton remains an important

part of their global network. A final decision on the proposals

will be made shortly. Despite cuts in government funding

of, Kent councils failed to collect more than �17 million of council

tax in the last financial year. Medway, Thanet and Gravesham were

the three worst performing authorities, owed a total of �7.4

million between them. A Kent man who been arrested in

Egypt during the latest unrest in the capital remains in jail after

being denied bail. Alisdare Hickson from Canterbury claims he was

taking photos of protestors in Cairo when police mistakenly

detained him for throwing stones. Families at the centre of the

inquiry into a rare birth defect have met experts. Five babies have

been born with part of their bold protruding through the abdomen.

Health care experts have now met the families.

She suffered life-threatening illnesses when she was trampled by

horses. She needed emergency care. Despite suffering a punctured lung,

Lotte is that with the animals she loves. -- back with. This might be

the last thing you would expect Lottie Taylor to be doing. Five

weeks ago, her a life was hanging in the balance after she was

crushed and trampled by horses at another yard where she worked.

had two courses on either side. Something spooked them from behind.

-- horses. They bolted for Woods, but because I was stuck in the

middle of them there was no where for me to go. I got up and walk to

the House, I guess it was just a adrenaline. Her injuries were so

severe that the Surrey air ambulance was called. It was a very

serious chest injury. The crew gave her an anaesthetic and performed

surgery to enable her to breed. Lottie Taylor was then airlifted to

King's College Hospital in London. She spent three days of into debt -

- ventilator but there was then a home within a week. Today was a

chance for her to visit the air ambulance team and thank them for

saving her life. Keeping an eye on the monitor their. That is crazy.

It was the essential that the air ambulance enabled her to be here

and talking with us today. I can't thank them enough. It has been made

quite clear to me that if they were and where they were, things could

have been very different. Back at the stables, her accident clearly

has not dented her confidence. Anyone who likes horses knows these

things do happen. It is what I'd love to do, and I'm not going to

stop just yet. She hoped be back at work next month.

A convicted rapist sexually assaulted a woman in broad daylight

on a Sussex Street despite being under 24 hour police opponents.

Michael Phillips was released from jail last July after serving 10

years with a rate a woman in Brighton. On release, he was being

managed under the most serious category of risk, but within days

he had exposed himself to two women and sexually assaulted a third.

Colin Campbell has been following this story. Colin, what did police

Well Sussex police have welcomed this conviction. He has been

convicted of two count of indecent exposure, and also found guilty of

carrying out a violent sexual attack on a South Korean student

here in Brighton last summer. An interesting aspect is that when he

was released from prison on 15th July last year, a covert

surveillance operation was mounted because police believed he was a

danger to women. Two days afterwards he was caught trying to

carry out a sexual offence. On the 1st September, at around -- has

around 25 police operation -- police officers were following him,

he managed to run away from police and carried out a violent sexual

attack on a South Korean student. He grabbed her and pulled her to

the floor and violently sexually assaulted her before running off.

There has been concern expressed by other rate victims about the

circumstances. Yes, he was not subject to an

indeterminate prison sentence and victims who have been raid in

Tunbridge Wells said it is very important that such individuals are

faced with indeterminate prison sentences. The Government is

seeking to change those and abolish them.

Our top story, a Kent pensioner drove the wrong way on a motorway

for seven miles at 4 am in the morning. 83-year-old Maureen

Dartevelle has been banned from driving for 15 months.

We are graced with the presence of acting royalty as the Brighton

Festival's creative director Vanessa Redgrave tells us what to

expect this year. Who needs to be a quality?

Tomorrow's temperatures will be 89 degrees higher than today.

-- eight or nine degrees. As the opening of the London 2012

games get closer, it is a remarkable thought that without the

action of a local Kent women, women might not have taken part in the

Olympics in the same way at all. They did take part in the 1,900

games. In 1924, the woman brought the world record for the 250 metres,

but she let at boycott in the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, protesting at

the treatment of women. 99% of medical professionals were

against women taking Anand -- an active part in athletics. During

the 1920s, it was not just the idea of women showing too much like that

was deemed inappropriate but even some medical experts disapproved.

Back then, via a Palma was a successful runner. So frustrated

that the restrictions, she would travel to countries like France and

Sweden so that she could compete. She was presented by a medal by the

King of Sweden. They had to God rot because there

was nothing in England. -- brought brought. -- go abroad.

She was awarded an OBE in 1979 for her services to sport.

It was very restricted, really. It was an Newfield and something fresh

when it came along. The ladies are showing what good

sports they can be at the Women's Amateur Athletics Association...

There are still vestiges of best. People think women should not box

because they will damage their breasts or they should not wear

certain clothing. Are we still have these beds of discomfort but I

think we are probably passed that. If these days, women in sport have

come a long way since the 1920s. We train as hard as them. I think

it is outrageous, I think women are depressed.

While women of her generation struggle to be part of the Olympic

Games it is thought her contribution to sport helped pave

It says something about the rapid rise of the Sussex hip-hop duo

raise will cakes that they have already sold 250,000 copies of

their debut single, recorded with Fatboy Slim and not stop a lot of

the views on YouTube. -- Rizzle Kicks. They did not quite get the

award last night but they took centre stage at the Brit Awards.

The performing on stage in front of fans and the cream of the music

industry. They were nominated for the best

Against some good other acts, it is the only award voted for it by the

public so even being nominated takes a huge swell of public

support. For the Brighton based band, it is a seminal moment.

never thought we would be standing here in suits. Two years ago, we

watched this from the pet. To be performing, it is just mad.

Even as a young student, Jordan Stevens was making his mark.

He always wanted to do something special and make a difference and

He took it further. He went on and did some -- some climate change

work with Tony Blair. He areas aged 14 talking to us

about climate change. You have to act now rather than

later. We have no time to waste. Now they are bought 20 years old

and they are keeping Brighton on the MUSIC:.

They sum up what it is to be UN. Maybe there will be that for the

next generation. With their first Award nomination

they have established themselves in Apparently I Cobham by the wrong

name earlier. But I have no street cred to lose. Vanessa Redgrave has

revealed her plans for the Brighton Festival this year. It is now one

of the largest arts festivals in Europe.

Please welcome guest director of Brighton Festival 2012, Vanessa

Redgrave. She is a British actress out of the top drawer. She has 1-1

of the Oscar -- of the awards. This year she will be the guiding hand

behind the Brighton Festival. It is a wonderful thing for me to

be asked to be part of this festival. I have been involved in

various important arts events at one time or another, but this is

the first festival I have been totally a part of. She is well

known for her political activism and campaigning for human rights.

She follows last year's best director in that tradition.

Bringing the young together with the old, and the young people what

their new visions and perspectives and their new ideas, and giving

them a I chance to see some of the very best work they could possibly

see. The festival will include music,

theatre, dance, film, literature and politics. The whole point is

that we reinvent it every year. This year, we have a wonderful

range of some 143 events. 351 performances. One thing the MSI is

passionate about is the work for children so that is really

represented in the best of all this year. She hopes it will be a

An Audi weather. -- now at the The International Space Station

will be going overhead but the cloud will prevent us from seeing

that. Earlier today, we saw this so this cloud. Ice crystals falling

out of the sky at 25,000 feet. Strong winds are helping this

weather front come men quite quickly, and a couple of

millimetres of rain, but most of that has moved away. Marquee

conditions and misty in places. It will be mild. Seven or eight

degrees the minimum tonight. A mild but cloudy start to the day

tomorrow. A change in temperature tomorrow, 8 or nine degrees, higher

than it was today. Getting up to 15 or 16 degrees. On Friday, does mild