10/02/2014 South East Today

Thank you. That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye from me,

and Lost crops, damaged fields `nd

rising prices in the shops, farmers warn of the long term impact of the

floods. We'll be reporting live frol east

Kent. Also in tonight's programme. The

last surviving U`boat of its kind in the world, but should this World War

One relic, stuck in the Rivdr Medway, be saved?

They took on the Dragons and won. The Kent couple who secured a

?50,000 investment in their Indian food business.

I have to keep moving in thd water. But I am very nervous. I literally

cannot stop shaking. Heading for breaking point. Davina

McCall's Sport Relief challdnge just gets more and more extreme.

Good evening. A man from Sussex is counting his blessings after he

managed to fight off a great white shark while surfing in New Zealand.

Darren Mills, who's 28 and dmigrated to Queenstown from Crawley several

years ago, says he punched the shark in the face before managing to get

back to shore. He had to swhm 5 metres back to the shore, bleeding

badly. His sister today spoke exclusively to BBC South East Today.

Sarah Cruddas reports. It is every server's worst

nightmare. I was scared it was going to come back but it didn't. I

managed to get into shore. Pretty much... In the end, it was just

really scary. Darren had bedn paddling on his board in thd waters

of the south coast when he was attacked by a three metre long

shark. As a puncture wound below my knee which has gone through a

tendon. And there are four lacerations up my leg to thd top of

the thigh. His friends have managed to get back to shore but Darren was

left struggling. It hit me `nd pushed me around a bit. And I

realised what was going on. I tried to punch it, but it was mord like a

push. Today, his sister spoke for the first time. You never think

you're going to be told that to your brother has been bitten by ` great

white shark. But it happened. All he said to me is that he thought he was

going to die. When we first found out, we couldn't speak to hhm

because he had been sedated and put on medication. So, initiallx, it was

very worrying. But he is OK. It s thought the shark was a babx great

white shark although experts say this type of attack is rare. We are

more likely to be killed by a vending machine than by a shark

never mind a great white sh`rk. It think an attack like this mhght put

you off for life. At first, I thought I'm never getting into the

bath tub again! But now he says he can't wait to get back into the

water. I can't get back to surfing. The hope for his family is to raise

enough funds to visit him. Farmers say they could be ldft tens

of thousands of pounds out of pocket by the flooding that has sw`mped

parts of the South East. Fidlds are waterlogged, crops cannot bd planted

and live stock due to go out to pasture may be stuck in barns.

Retail experts say, long`term, the weather could lead to prices in the

shops going up. Simon Jones is at a farm near Canterbury. How are they

coping there? Well, farmers are used to ddaling

with the extremes of weather but they told me this situation is

really quite extraordinary. We have the initial problem with thd crops

that are already in the grotnd getting saturated. We have ` problem

with crops that should be going in the ground now that cannot. And the

knock`on implications for the livestock here that can't gdt out

into the fields. Surveying the damage. This field of

wheat is set to be written off by the weather. It's completelx

waterlogged. There's about 8`10 acres here that we will losd. Over

there, there's a brand`new orchard that was put in in November. There

is probably an acre of therd that we might lose because of the

restructure. The big concern is about what is already in thd ground.

Of all the efforts gone in to putting it in, the drilling and the

manpower that goes into it, then to see your crop looking like this is

horrible. Hopefully you will come around in June and things hopefully

will be much better. Come the spring, this field is due to be used

for grazing cattle. But with more rain predicted in the coming weeks,

they fear it will still be tnder water. The major problem is that it

is sitting in the shed. It should be out today, the next day. At this

neighbouring farm, they want to plant but can't. With the added

complication of livestock. This field here was destined for early

turnout for the cows and calves And, as you can see, we cannot

afford to put valuable livestock on this because it will be full of

disease within days. These sheep will be brought in tomorrow when

space in the barn becomes available. Retail analysts say the real cost of

this weather may be passed on to the consumer. The floods won't have an

immediate effect on the food crisis. The bigger concern hs the

long`term effect. You have fields that have been flooded. What will

farmers be able to produce? It is much more of a long`term impact

Pharmacy even if the sun now shone for weeks on end, it would take

months to clear this water. `` farmers save. This farmer whll lose

tens of thousands of pounds himself if this weather continues. Ht's not

just financial indications. The farm I was speaking to not only hs having

to deal with flooded fields but the potential that his farmhousd could

be flooded, too. Another farmer says he is employing 12 people at the

moment but there is simply not enough work for them to do because

it is too wet and windy. Thd farmer he says the one thing keeping him

going is that come August hd will be complaining it is too hot.

So, here's the latest on thd flood warnings tonight. To the east of the

county, there are five flood warnings and, elsewhere in the

region, there are 15 flood `lerts. And the conditions are due to

worsen. Tonight, it will be dry cold and potentially icy with the

severe gales and further he`vy rain arriving across Kent and Sussex by

early morning. This should be over by lunchtime.

Your BBC local radio will h`ve the very latest on the weather `nd the

impact it's having on the roads and train services.

You can also get more inforlation from our websites, and we'll have a

full forecast later on in the programme. The Sussex priest jailed

for child abuse applies to be released from prison on

compassionate grounds. Businesses and homeowners who are

left without power drill a Christmas club say that compensation should be

based on how long they were affected for. It comes as the chairm`n of the

Energy and Climate Change Committee has called on the government

consider penalising companids that were slow to restore power. He also

raised concerns about the inadequate levels compensation that customers

are entitled to. When power cuts forced Kent landlord

John to close his pub in St Mary's Platt for nearly three days over

Christmas, he didn't just lose ?4,500 in food and takings, he

nearly lost the business, too. We had 36 people booked here for a meal

on Christmas Eve. We had to cancel that at the last`minute.

Fortunately, they went somewhere else but it could have taken us

down. David Clark and his whfe Alison had to spend Christm`s with

friends after they were without power for 84 hours. What do you

think of this system as it stands? It's very hit and miss. Thex did say

they would compensate us but it was ages before they sent out any form

of what you might get. As I say we've heard nothing since. So much

to be desired. The Christmas storms left thousands without power across

Kent and Sussex. And with m`ny still waiting for compensation, c`lls

today to overhaul the way ctstomers are recompensed. Much more generous

levels would be appropriate and if companies don't offer those

voluntarily, the government should step in. For people losing power in

severe weather, Mr Yeo has called for minimum compensation to increase

to ?75 per household, up to a maximum of ?700. He's also `sked for

the qualifying time to be rdduced to 18 or 36 hours. What would xou like

to see? A sliding scale. If you offer, say, 12 hours, X amotnt of

pounds. And another 12 hours, double it and double it. It might lake them

go quicker. The Energy Networks Association said today they were

constantly reviewing infrastructure to ensure reliability and efficiency

can be maintained. And they were in talks with the Secretary of State to

enhance the customer experidnce Piers hop Kirk joins us livd in

Tunbridge now. Obviously flooding hampered attempts but those people

were very angry. Interestingly talking to those people most badly

affected today, the one thing they were most critical about, not so

much the length of time thex had to wait, it was simply the not knowing

how long. They said it therd was porky medication. They therd was

poor communication. Poor communication was one of thd most

serious aspects of what went wrong. And they have called for a better

gathering and disseminating of information by those power networks.

Thank you. Sussex Police say the teenager

seriously injured in a collhsion on the M23 yesterday was pursudd

shortly before the incident. The 19`year`old male pedestrian collided

with a vehicle, and remains in a critical condition. It's believed he

was in a suspected stolen c`r with another man. The incident h`s been

referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A former

Sussex schoolteacher who was jailed for abducting teenage pupil at his

school has been moved to a new prison. Jeremy Forrest, who taught

maths, was jailed in June for taking a girl to France, and had sdxual

activity with her. It has bden revealed he has been moved to

Dartmoor. A Church of England priest jailed last year for sexually

abusing vulnerable young chhldren has applied to be released from

prison on compassionate grotnds Gordon Rideout, who worked hn

Eastbourne, was jailed to tdn years in jail last May. We've learnt he

was admitted to hospital recently and one of his victims told us she

was in a state of disbelief and anguish at what was an obvious ploy

to manipulate the system. Otr special correspondent has otr

exclusive story. A prolific paedophile, Gordon Rideout `bused 16

children in the 1960s and 70s. He has requested release from prison

on compassionate grounds. Wd have had 40 years of remembering what he

did to us. He has only paid for that with eight months. And I don't think

that is long enough. Becausd he is trying to escape it again. He

repeatedly molested and it when she was six. He also targeted hdr

sisters, and many other vulnerable boys and girls at this Bern`rdo s

children's home in Crawley. Some were sick and ill in bed at the

time. How did you feel as a child? After he abused me? I felt numb

Scared. Really, really scardd. The Ministry of Justice told us

compassionate release is only granted in exceptional

circumstances. Gordon Rideout took 50 years to be

brought to justice. He is an older man not but that is a consepuence of

the actions. The Ministry of Justice should be careful they don't

undermine justice by allowing people out within months of their

conviction for very serious offences. Victims haven't bden told

what illness Gordon Rideout is suffering from. Guilty of c`using

suffering over a very long period, they want him to remain in prison

until his time is up. How soon is a decision likely to be

made on this? And no decision is imminent. He made his application to

the Ministry of Justice is just last week. It will be the Ministry of

Justice and the Parole Board who will have to decide whether Gordon

Rideout can be released on compassionate grounds. Therd are a

number of hoops to go through. He will have to have medical

assessments done, independently verified uncorroborated, thdre will

also have to be report stunned by the prison service, who will have to

decide whether he is safe for release. And today you have been

speaking to his victims. Th`t's right. They've told me they are in a

state of disbelief. They ard very distressed by this latest

development. 16 victims gavd evidence at his trial and it took a

lot of courage to give eviddnce One man who was abused by Gordon Rideout

said that Gordon wide`out is a truly evil man, beyond compassion. Another

woman believes this is a ploy by Gordon Rideout to try to manipulate

the system, and, if released, she believes he would be a dangdr to

children. This is our top story tonight. A man

from Sussex has been badly bitten by a great white shark while sdrving in

New Zealand. Darren Mills, who's 28 and emigrated to Queenstown from

Crawley, says he punched thd shark in the face before managing to get

back to shore. Also in tonight's programme. I will

give you ?50,000. I want 30$. A hot investment, how a Kent couple

walked away with ?50,000 from the Dragons' Den. It is another very

unsettled week with gale force winds and heavy rain. Join me latdr in the

programme for all the details. Should the wreck of a World War I

U`boat that is lying in the mud of Kent's River Medway now be saved?

Experts agree the submarine is the last of its kind in the world. It

was surrendered, partially dismantled, and then abandoned in

1921. Robin Gibson has been investigating the case for ` rescue

operation. Inside Medway's German U`boat, all but forgotten for 1 0

years. It has survived so long, it has become unique. The only survivor

from World War I... That very nearly crippled Britain. If it is ` lone

survivor, could it be saved? Should it be saved? No. How much would it

cost to dig it out? ?? GREEN it s history, it should be looked after,

loved and cherished and bought back to life in some way. The experts

seem to agree, the U`boat is UB 22. And this is a photograph of her

taken during her short life on active service. It seems to fit

It's one of these things. To us at the moment, it is a rusting heap of

iron. But in 100 years time, people will say, why didn't... We have at

least one example of this tdchnology anywhere? UB122 was launched in

1918. But in the last months of war, her crew of three officers `nd 1

men saw just two voyages without incident. But the submarine is still

here. Couldn't she now be used to bring history to life for pdople in

the future? The U`boat is jtst a short boat ride away from Chatham

dockyard, famous, of course, for building warships and submarines in

both world wars. They've already got a Cold War sub here. Surely a U`boat

will have them jumping for joy? There's nothing wrong with ht, per

se, but it doesn't fall with our charitable objectives, so wd won't

be able to fund it. Secondlx, we already have a submarine. Wd don't

have the space for another one. The whole stress and strain of loving

something that will now be very fragile I think is probably a strain

too much for her. So near, but yet so far. Gradually dissolving in the

mud. She waits for a rich imagination and deep pockets to

bring her back to shore. You can see this full report on

Inside Out tonight at 7:30pl. A couple from Kent have won a ?50 000

investment in their food business. And made history by becoming the

first Indian couple to win over a Dragon on the BBC programme Dragons'

Den. Since it was recorded, Vini and Bal Aujla's company in Northfleet

has gone from strength to strength. Our business correspondent Lark

Norman has been to meet thel. As Vini and Bal Aujla got a lift to

face the Dragons, the nerves kicked in. Try to keep calm. We ard

standing in this lift, and Bal has been lifting my spirits all day and

then he is white! I nudged him, and there was no response at all. And I

think that was the point whdre I told myself, man up. Hello, my name

is Vini, and this is my husband Bal... They made a pitch for the

Indian cooking sauce business and then faced a three`hour

question`and`answer session, condensed into just 11 minutes on

the show. They are looking for ?50,000 or 15% of their fresh curry

business. And new Dragon `` and the new Dragon made them an offdr. I had

the chicken, I loved it. Peter Gentle had said no. Duncan

Ballantyne said no. I half dxpected everyone to say no. They all enjoyed

what they tasted but he was very vocal about what he tasted. He got

it straightaway. He was acttally saying to Peter Jones, you need to

try this. Vini stood up to le. It was very niche. The paperwork was

signed off in July and the couple have their product in 300

Sainsbury's supermarkets. TV presenter Davina McCall, who

lives in Wadhurst, is taking on arguably the biggest challenge of

her life, to run, cycle and swim from Edinburgh to London. So far,

she's cycled more than 100 liles, and has climbed England's hhghest

mountain. This morning therd was real concern when she had to be

carried out of Windermere, `nd she's still got four days to go. This is

the story of her journey so far That water is life threatenhng, I

have to keep moving. I am vdry nervous. I literally cannot stop

shaking! I have warmed up, I have had a bath,

and I am ready to get on my bike. We were hoping to catch up with

Davina, but the cycling has been taking up a little bit of hdr time,

so we hope to speak to her late on in the week. She's now reached

Accrington in Lancashire. She will be cycling southwards towards

Derbyshire. Good stuff. But you wouldn't get me doing it! Freestyle

skier from Sussex has made his game debut. Ben Cavet 20, is currently

fourth in the second part of the moguls final in Sochi.

Fresh from their Ashes victory in Australia, the England and Kent

cricketers Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway have been visiting

young players in Maidstone today. Not only were they celebrathng

achieving something their m`le counterparts completely failed to

do, they were also helping ` local cricket charity. Ian Palmer reports.

That is the end of the test match! England win! 12 days ago, the

England captain was guiding her team in Australia to another historic

Ashes victory. Come on, movd along! Today, she's inspiring a new

generation take up the game. Right, are we ready? In Hobart, Ch`rlotte

Edwards hit a 92 to retain the Ashes. The cricketer says whnning in

Australia was very special. It was the toughest challenge for ts as a

group, and it made it very special to win back`to`back. The sulmer was

special, in terms of the support that we had. To go to Austr`lia it

was one of the career highlhght so far. The men were also on tour down

under but they lost the test series 5`0. We came out was traded to win

our Ashes, so that is what we have done. And, obviously, that hs what

we want to do. Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway are ambassadors of a

charity that encourages young woman to play cricket. Lydia Greenway was

lucky because she came from a cricketing family. I played cricket

with boys, which all played cricket. To be able to come here tod`y and

see what amazing work this charity has done for cricket and further

women's game, it is something we are all very proud of. The Engl`nd

ladies tall Bangladesh in M`rch `` the England ladies will tour

Bangladesh in March. Now, the weather. It is wet and

windy and maybe some snow on Tuesday.

Just a possibility. We are going to be seeing further heavy rain and

gale force winds. But also very cold as we go overnight. Potenti`lly icy,

too. Warnings out throughout the week, valid until Friday, wd will

see another 20 millimetres of rain most days. Earlier, quite a grey

victor with showers around. Temperatures around seven or eight,

not strong winds during the day but they will strengthen going hnto

tonight. Mostly dry tonight, but just in time for the rush hour, we

will see further heavy and persistent rain. Tonight, cold and

clear, temperatures dropping to around two or three degrees.

Dropping to below freezing hn rural spots, so problems with ice

potentially. It will be dry tomorrow morning, but then it is raining

Very strong winds, gusting `t about 50 miles an hour along the coast. By

the afternoon, it is going to be brightening up, and it is going to

be at around six or seven. Those westerly winds staying at around

20`25 miles an hour. Gusting stronger than that along thd coast.

Tomorrow night, staying windy but cold. We have cold air, temperatures

dropping to two or three degrees. You might see a wintry mix, a

dusting of snow. There is some uncertainty about that. On

Wednesday, another weather system comes in, some more wind, g`le force

winds and temperatures around eight or nine. It is not going to be

feeling that, more like four or five. On Thursday, further outbreaks

of rain, really heavy rain `s we go into Friday. So, wet and windy. It

will be frogs next! I will be back with the latd

bulletin, so I will see you later. And I will see you tomorrow.

Goodbye. # I tremble

Commencing AC-12 investigation of DI Lindsay Denton for suspicion

It was only for a second or two but I know -

You're dragging up the past and into our house. She's my family