27/01/2012 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: She preyed on the vulnerable, the

legal executive who abused her position of trust and stole

hundreds of thousands of pounds from clients.

Royal recognition for those medics saving lives in Afghanistan.

guess you wonder if, day if he will be good enough, if you'll panic.

On your bike the postie awaiting delivery on his claim for unfair

dismissal. And beware the foreign predator

that can cause an itchy rash and The she stole the life savings from

a 19-year-old woman, and hundreds of thousands of pounds from her

other clients. Leanne Harris, a legal executive working for a

solicitors' firm in Hove was sentenced to four years and nine

months in prison. Her crimes even contributed to the closure of the

long extended family business. We are live outside Hove Crown Court.

Clearly this was a crime which had issued personal impact.

She was said to have caused untold misery for her victims and those

who lost their jobs. She was also said to be full of remorse, but the

judge said she must be punished for a severe breach of trust.

Leanne Harris arrived at court knowing she faced prison. She had

previously pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and one of theft,

totalling almost �500,000. She earns �20,000 a year running the

world and probate department at a solicitor's firm in Hove, but over

18 months she stole money from the state of five people and she stole

64 bus and pounds from a woman in her eighties. The court heard her

criminality contributed to the firm's closure with the loss of 30

jobs. She still out of sheer desperation due to a combination of

greed, personal financial problems and a constant pressure to placate

her husband. The judge told her, I accept your remorse is genuine but

you have done huge damage to those who trusted you. He said it wanted

a severe sentence of four years and nine months. Some of those lost

their jobs when Serco -- when Arscotts clapped record. Absolute

shock, she didn't seem to be that kind of person. What do you think

about the fact she did this to the estates of deceased people? That is

the worst thing, just awful. caused great upset to the families,

and used it in 19 old lady of all her life savings, leaving her with

that money to pay for her care -- 90-year-old. The police said the

severe sentence should send a sharp warning to others.

Joining me in the studio is David Burke, a solicitor at the firm

Paris Smith. Plentiful coming in. It is hard to believe with so-

called safeguards in place this sort of thing could happen. Yes. It

can happen. There are a number of safeguards which prevent the sort

of thing from happening. I am not sure of the exact circumstances of

this particular case but solicitors deal with huge amounts of money on

a day-to-day basis as part of their normal legal work, buying and

selling houses, dealing with the administration of people's estate.

We have access to huge amounts of money which sit on clients'

accounts and we have a lot of safeguards in place to prevent that

from being taken. She had power of attorney for a

number of people. Is that unusual or usual for a legal executive to

have? Unusual, very unusual. Normally reputable firms would

insure only part of, if anybody, act as attorney's or trustees for

Clyde and hold their money's in that way. For -- for clients. If

she was under power of attorney, personally, if somebody asks me to

beat their attorney as a client, I normally say it is better that a

member of the family his attorney. There must be people at home

thinking my solicitor has got power of attorney, should I be worried,

what would be your advice, given this is a clear warning for people

to know what they're doing? People should be alert to it and

worried. Most large reputable firms of solicitors, there is little risk.

You don't see this sort of thing happening very often. You don't see

it every day, every six months. Solicitors have a number of

safeguards in place to prevent it happening. We have checks and

balances whereby nothing can leave client account without the

authority of a partner and the accounts department and everything

is checked. Something went very wrong here,

didn't it? That is not usual. Thank you for coming in.

A male nurse from Southampton who went missing during a malaria drugs

trial was detained under the Mental Health Act for sexually assaulting

a waitress. In 2010 Matthew Lloyd failed to attend a medical

appointment sparking fears he had contracted the disease. He was

found in the Netherlands. So thank -- at Southampton Crown Court he

was found guilty of sexual and common assault against the 20-year-

old woman. He was suffering from schizophrenia.

They put their lives on the line to save others, today they received

royal recognition. Royal Navy personnel who provided medical care

during operations in Afghanistan last year have been presented with

medals by the Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony in Portsmouth. During

their six-month deployment they helped deal with 3,600 casualties

at the British field hospital. Navy medics went out on 10,000 patrols

with soldiers. Amount the Navy team was a reservist, who saved the life

of a soldier shot by a sniper. Steve Humphrey was at today's

ceremony. These medics use their life-saving

skills on the front line in Afghanistan and in a field hospital.

Today 200 Navy medical personnel along with colleagues from the RAF

and Army, were presented with a campaign medals by Camilla, Duchess

of Cornwall. Among Stem was Michelle Ping, a naval reservist.

In civilian life she is a medic, and she saved the life of a soldier

shot by a sniper. You wonder if on that date you will be good enough,

if you will panic, but he has a past everybody's expectations, I

didn't think he was going to live in the first place so the fact he

survived and is doing really well, it is a testament to his strength,

really. And your skills. Well, yes. I guess. As well as treating

casualties on the front line the Navy's doctors, nurses and surgeons

were based at the field hospital at Camp Bastion, the main British base.

No doubt in my mind there are people walking alive today who are

alive because of the medical support they got in Afghanistan.

For me it was the highlight of my career. Where have you come from?

the Duchess of Cornwall also met the Navy medic's families who have

had to cope with their loved ones have been away for six months.

Looking after relatives back at home has become increasingly

important, and in Aldershot they have opened a new centre to help

the families of soldiers in Afghanistan. For the children to be

able to come and express themselves and if they feel sad and lonely we

have got the use of computers, they can contact dad, and being in Dad's

workplace they feel close to her. Back in Portsmouth the Navy medics

have been enjoying their royal recognition. Many say their time in

Afghanistan was the biggest Brave men and women who are quite

rightly honoured today. Some disappointing news on the jobs

front as hundreds of posts are to be axed in Hampshire. Serco which

provides seven -- prison escort services employs 35,000 people

throughout the UK. In a move to have all management structure the

company plans to cut 500 jobs. The majority of which are likely to be

axed from the headquarters based in Hook.

This is a huge blow for those workers in Hampshire, isn't it?

The company are calling this streamlining, but they can hardly

disguise the fact this is an awful lot of jobs going in one hit.

Around 500 is what we have been told, and the vast majority of

those jobs are to go at the corporate headquarters which is in

a Hook near Basingstoke. They operate three separate of these

buildings, which a cluster together on a business park. -- for three

separate office buildings. They say the head can fluctuate but they

said several thousand work there at any one time. -- the head count

fluctuates. The news was announced to staff earlier this month but

they have just now made it public. They have declined our request for

an interview that have issued a This might come as a surprise to

some people, because the job cuts are being made despite Serco

winning a big contract recently. A lot of people will be familiar

with the logo because it appears on the side of prison delivery vans.

It is issued international company which other businesses and

organisations hire to provide all sorts of services like transport

and training. This new deal announced this week is �130 million

contract with the MoD to provide training and operational support.

You could argue the company are burying bad news by announcing this

at the same time, but it is worth remembering unemployment in this

part of the world is lower than elsewhere in the country, currently

running at 6.4% so heavily those people losing their jobs will be

able to find one fairly seen because they live here.

-- fairly soon. Plans for a redevelopment of the Royal Sussex

County Hospital have been unanimously approved by Brighton

and Hove Council. The trust wants to replace some old buildings with

a new 12 storey block and wants to create a major trauma centre for

Sussex. It estimates it would treat 360 seriously injured patients each

year who would otherwise be sent to London hospitals.

It predates Florence Nightingale, so it is about time. If you have

had a loved one or been a patient in hospital you would know why this

is so necessary. Still to come: kicking up a storm.

The Serie netball team bidding to A Dorset postman claims he was

forced out of his job when he was ordered to abandon his bicycle and

deliver post by trolley instead. William blight told an employment

tribunal in Southampton he felt Biddy -- bullied and intimidated.

The Royal Mail said they had gone out of the way to resolve the

William Blight was a familiar face in Corfe Castle, delivering by bike

in a narrow and steep cobbled street. Changes introduced

nationally by Royal Mail as part of efficiency savings has meant

trollies were being introduced, designed to make it easier to carry

parcels and it was a response to the increase in packages and

decrease in letters. He was told he would have to give up his bike for

a trolley. But he said the Mail vans had manual Trans mission and

he had a licence for only automatic vehicles and as for a trolley, he

said that the streets were too narrow and that could be dangerous.

There were other grievances. 21 in total, including the state of

repairs for his bike, which he said was not safe. He was signed off

sick with work-related stress for 11 months and resigned, claiming

constructive dismissal. At today's tribunal, his old manager was asked

about him. He said he did not Ginty was a bit of a nuisance. He said he

tried to deal with all of his concerns fairly. In 2006, he cycled

five miles for charity. It was an effort that got him a Royal Mail of

water. But he will have to wait to hear if he has won his case against

them. The result will be announced Eight wreath was laid in

Basingstoke to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The gathering at the

memorial was one of a number of events taking place in the South.

As well as remembering Nazi concentration camp victims, it

encourages people to reflect on recent genocide, including the

genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Anybody that the

Nazi regime did not like, they sent them to concentration camps and

they shot them. I feel it is my way of trying to remember the poor

people affected. I feel very grateful to people that come along.

They are not just Jewish people that come along. Gentiles as well.

I did it is marvellous for us all to come and remembered. -- I think.

The MP for Hove and Portsmouth has told Southern Railway more must be

done to help passengers when they have got delays and cancellations.

He said he is being contacted by angry commuters fed up with delays

at mainline stations. He has asked for more information and has said

safe areas should be available for people to wait while rail services

returned to normal. Oil explorers have told the BBC they could be

drilling in Dorset by 2014. Wessex Exploration could be on the verge

of a major oil discovery. They had bought the rights to a company but

is now investing in material to locate oil offshore in the South.

They are long, hairy and can give you a nasty reaction. Unwelcome

visitors can be found in Berkshire and there is concern that they can

be an actual health risk. They are called oak processionary moths and

had been found nesting in trees in Pangbourne. They are not that big

as caterpillars but they damage trees and they have toxic spines

which can trigger an allergic Pangbourne's location in the North

Wessex Downs has earned it environmental protection. But that

is not a defence against the latest threat. This corner Berkshire had

been the landing pad for alien invaders, now across the

countryside. A mature oak tree was imported into the village in 2008.

In 2010, it was discovered that it was infected. It was infected with

oak processionary moths. Forestry Commission said six trees

had been infected with moths brought in from the imported a good.

By the bombing year, that number had quadrupled, to 26. -- by the

following year. Extensive woodland has been affected one kilometre

away from the original source of the infection. It is not just eggs

that are affected. They have not got any sign of caterpillars here

but as spring comes, experts say should people should be watching

out for them. -- people should be. Do not touch them it you find them.

Otherwise, they will fly around and you will end up getting them in

your eyes and it will give you a severe itching reaction. It is best

left to experts. Leave them alone. Already out of control in London,

politicians have been meeting ministers to try and ensure that it

does not happen in Berkshire. want to eradicate this as quickly

as possible and not allow them to spread because they have got a

bridge that it a spread, it will get worse and worse. As we have

seen in London, massive problems arise in woodland. For now, they

hope that this is one battle against invaders that can be won.

The oak processionary moths and caterpillars. Watch out for them.

Sport and I am looking forward to the netball peace. That is not

front or back. That is the goal defence. OK! I am hoping to learn

more about netball! Chris knows all about that. FA Cup this weekend and

I know about that. Brighton and Hove Albion have got a massive game

tomorrow and have already had big occasions this season and they have

got one tomorrow, against Premier League opposition and the omens

look good for an upset. The stadium has already been an unhappy hunting

ground for Premier League teams The Albion had victory against

Sunderland in the Carling Cup. Tomorrow, it is Newcastle's turn to

visit but the manager is playing down expectations against one of

the Premier League's most improved teams this year. We have got

excitement with the players and with the situation that both teams

have got at it will be a great game. Takes advantage! 29 years back,

Albion made it to Wembley. On be journey, they knocked out the

second-division Newcastle on a third round replay at. One player

in the Albion camp is very keen to get one over the Magpies tomorrow.

It will be a bit weird but at the same time, I have not scored a goal

against them this season and it will be great to score against them

this season. Brighton have settled well into their new home and

tomorrow is another chance to show how far they have come under the

leadership of this man. Good luck, Brighton. Good luck to Crawley Town

this season. Last season the competition took the team all the

way to Old Trafford and a narrow defeat against Manchester United.

They are underdogs against Hull City after beating Bristol City in

the third round. Somebody called me and said that we were the

bookmaker's favourites to beat Bristol City. I said the world is

going dark and then when we beat them, I thought, well how about

that? I have checked the odds and Crawley Town start as underdogs.

Southampton might have set their sights on promotion but they might

use the FA Cup against Millwall to look at Japanese signing, Tadanari

Lee. He arrived this week. appears to be very intelligent and

he has been training well and his skills are some of the best. His

scanning skills, his awareness and his head is always moving. Very

intelligent running. He has got a lot of things that we had picked up

on video, watching him. He can see the space is created when somebody

is moving. Reading could have a debut for both new signings against

Bristol City. Jason Roberts is in contention to play for a team that

was beaten by Hull on Saturday. Tomasz Cywka is in the team as well.

Portsmouth travel to Peterborough hoping to put off-field

distractions behind them. Aldershot have slipped to 19th in the table

and they could include a new signing, Stefan Payne for

tomorrow's match at AFC Wimbledon. Bournemouth are hoping to extend

their away run to 12 matches without defeat as they travel to

bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield. Full commentary on BBC Radio Solent.

Thousands of people have focused on London 2012 but the netball teams

have got other priorities. It is not an Olympic sport but the

domestic season is in full swing. Teams from the South are hot

favourites to win the first ever British League title for them. Here

The bookies rate them as the best club side in Britain and Surrey

Storm are out to prove them right. D Gilford franchise lost in the

Grand Final last year and they are determined to go one better this

time under the new player, coach. We want to put that pressure aside.

We have got the skills and we can win this competition but mentally

we have to get out there and do it every week. It will be tough but we

can do it. As well as coaching, she is also an integral part of the

team. It can be a difficult balance to strike but not in her case, it

appears. To be honest, not really. People have always been very

helpful, technically. She is 18 made and a coach. It is great. --

team mate. Netball is an amateur sport. A mixture of local and

national talent make up the Surrey squad. An academy is already in

place. It is important these girls had a look at what we are all about

and that we are not a scary, senior team out of reach. We have got

signings which is great but we will bring on our own players. The home

game against Loughborough is sold out. Last week's win is already on

their record and it is bring up nicely for the title challenge will

Great Britain's rowers had been showing off their skills ahead of

the Olympic regatta at Dorney Lake. Among the people looking at how

Olympic rowers train, Sam Townsend is with the quadruple sculls team.

Tim Dellor had a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to perform in

the sport and we will have a special feature on next week's

programme. Look forward to that. A bit of a puzzle. I do not think you

have seen theirs. A man from Bournemouth has been let Mr fight

after seeing tiny blue balls in his garden. -- mystified. The jelly-

like substance which has not got an header came raining down from the

sky on Thursday. The Met Office says that they are not

meteorological. Research at Bournemouth universities says that

they might be eggs from crustaceans found in the EC. They could have

been transported from a bird that was caught in a storm. -- from the

That is extraordinary. Yes, it is. Maybe you know about that. Please

let us know it you have got ideas about that. Now the weather and it

will be a cold weekend. Any snow? Potentially in the West but we have

got a lot of uncertainty. Look at this picture. This was captured

above the Celtic cross. This was taken of lifeguards in the Poole

taken of lifeguards in the Poole braving the cold for a charity swim.

A lot of uncertainty but I will talk about that in just a second.

We have got a battle with warm and cold air. The cold air will

probably win had pushed the warm air out to the Atlantic. Once that

happens, we have got the potential for showers. Possibly snow on

Monday. Cloudy on Monday with a few showers tonight. We could have ice.

The Met Office are keeping a look at the situation. Dorset and

Wiltshire will be affected. Elsewhere, cloudy but that does not

mean that we will not have a few holes in the cloud cover. Fog

patches are possible in the usual areas. Temperatures plunging

towards freezing. These are the values in the towns and cities but

could be colder in the countryside. We might get some mist are. Very

quickly, cloud disbursing and sunshine coming through. Top

temperatures of just seven degrees. Really struggling because of the

northerly wind back grip. Wind will be light. Wrap up warm. -- nor the

wind. We might get some frost. Temperatures dropping towards

freezing him or towns and cities and could get below freezing. Cold

and frosty on Sunday morning. Sunday is quiet and dry. Mild air

pushing across from the Atlantic. Cloudy but some bright spells. We

are keeping a look at that. Western areas will be affected. Once this

comes here, we could get snow. Mainly affecting western areas and

the Isle of Wight. Tuesday his quiet, colder and temperatures

staying very cold next week and over the weekend. We have got one

more picture. Sally is getting to grips. I am guessing that is a

thumbs up! Yes, that was me last night. That is me and the telescope.

The problem is that it is very cold. Is that might hold? It is very cold.

With the hat and the gloves and everything. Somebody said, what

telescope have you got? I said, it is orange! Did you take the lens

cap of? Yes, I did. Everybody give -- gave me a lot of lovely advice