07/04/2014 South Today

Hello, I'm Tom Hepworth. You're watching South Today. Good to have

you with us. In the programme tonight: Starved

and defrauded by the son who was meant to be caring for her.

Paul Schmidt is jailed for the wilful neglect of his mother.

It is extremely serious, she weighed just over five stone. Who is to know

what would have happened to her. Pressure continues to grow on Maria

Miller. Show me the way to Wembley.

Celebrations as non`league Sholing become the second side from

Hampshire in a month to reach a Wembley final.

It is history in the making, the first time ever.

He put the pooch in Puccini. We catch up with the opera star dog

after taking his bow wow. Start, neglected and defrauded,

87`year`old Marjorie Schmidt was just five stone when she was found

in her bed. The patient was not able to cut her own toenails which had

culled around her feet. All this happened while she was in her son's

house, supposedly under her care. He was systematically defrauding her of

her pension. This afternoon, he and his partner were sentenced for their

crimes. Sean Killick has this exclusive report.

This is 87`year`old Marjorie Schmidt, a couple of weeks after she

was effectively rescued by West Sussex Social Services. Marjorie was

living with her son at his home in Barnum. His former wife, and their

daughters aged in their 20s, became concerned when he wouldn't let

family or friends see Marjorie. After finally doing so, they were so

alarmed, they dialled 999. The social worker described Marjorie's

condition. She was in bed in her nightclothes, they were soiled. She

was very thin, confused. Her toenails had grown up and over her

feet, and back underneath again, which made it very painful and

uncomfortable for her to walk. It is extremely serious. When she was

weighed, it was just over five stone. If she had been left longer,

who is to know what would have happened.

52`year`old mechanic Paul Schmidt was arrested and charged with wilful

neglect of his mother, and defrauding her of almost ?7,000.

Today, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. His partner, Amanda

Whelan, 38, was sentenced to nine months, suspended for two years, for

wilful neglect. His former wife Jacqueline said alerting the

authorities had been a hard decision for the family.

It is difficult for my daughters, Joanne and Katie, they were very

upset, obviously, because he is their father. They couldn't believe

their father could do that to his mother. He is their dad at the end

of the day. But it had to be done. They were very brave to come

forward. They were concerned for their elderly relative, horrified by

the way she appeared. The fact they couldn't get in to see her, they

were shocked by that, which is why they reported it.

Judge Charles Kemp said Marjorie Schmidt had been systematically

fleeced, and Paul Schmidt and Amanda Whelan had spent the money on their

own selfish needs, including motorcycle parts and feed for

ponies. While keeping Marjorie in the small, sparsely furnished room,

inadequately fed, often left alone. He said it was difficult to imagine

a more callous way to treat an elderly lady. West Sussex Social

Services say such instances of neglect by close family members are

rare. But they hope this case will encourage anyone concerned about an

elderly relative or friend to contact them. Meanwhile, Marjorie is

now in a care home where she gained two stone within a month of

arriving, and is now said to be happy, healthy and well cared for.

Earlier, I spoke to the chief executive of Age UK Sussex. I asked

how much of this abuse is hidden in the south.

It is larger than we think. When I first came into this job, it was

particularly the financial abuse which was huge, or the potential for

it. So tempting when you are short of money, and you know mum or dad is

sitting on quite a lot, to actually think it is not even a crime, to

take some of their money. I think, particularly around finance, it is

wider than you think. How difficult is it to investigate? This is hard.

The older person will not want to report their own children. Other

people in the family may known `` may not know. Having a relationship

with solicitors or your bank, if there are substantial sums, and if

other people in your family know, they will see any changes. What

signs should they look out for? If you are visiting and people are

reluctant to let UN, try gently to find out why you can't. If that

repeats, I would see that as a sign. If a person's appearance has changed

dramatically. If a person looks worried or is asking you to do

things differently. These are potential signs. You can talk to

social services or a local agency, informally, before you need to do

anything formal. It is always worth doing that.

Definitely has second home. Pressure is mounting on the Culture Secretary

Maria Miller. The comments made exclusively to ask bar from her own

former campaign organiser. Mrs Miller has been embroiled in a row

containing ?90,000 in expenses towards mortgage payments on a house

in Wimbledon. She said she was entitled to because it was her

second home and not the Basingstoke house. The Parliamentary

Commissioner for standards who has conducted an investigation has

judged she should we paid ?45,000 due to changes in her mortgage. The

house of commons Committee on Standards which has the final say

over ethics cut this to ?5,800. There has been more media outrage

over reports Mrs Miller sold the London home for ?1 million profit.

Peter Henley is in her Basingstoke constituency.

It is not just media outrage. As this has unfolded, people in the

constituency feel very strongly. Somewhere where you might expect

support, she doesn't seem to be getting it. Here, in the Bolton Arms

in Old Basing, a village where many vote Conservative, they feel this is

an example of one rule for them and one for everyone else. David Cameron

is under huge pressure to back down from his support for the Culture

Secretary from the media. The new house she has bought in the

constituency but Maria Miller was nowhere to be seen. Her husband came

at briefly to warn off waiting reporters. Press and public outrage

at her second home expenses reached a new height. A former Conservative

aid in Basingstoke added his voice to the criticism. Though he now

works for UKIP but for eight years he won `` he ran her election

campaign. He said the three different rented houses were not her

main homes but that is what she had to put down to claim expenses of

?2000 a month. She would come back once every couple of weeks, on a

Friday, to do a surgery. Then she would go back to London. Her family

and children were there. Her parents stayed a lot of the time there. Her

house in Basingstoke, whenever we had a meeting that, there was no

family. Where many people asking questions? The Conservative Party

claims to have the men in grey suits, the men with the money. They

say, if you wanted to be a counsellor, do it our way. A former

deputy mayor of Basingstoke, Phil Heath was expelled after complaints

were made about him, but now he thinks the electorate deserves

answers. She needs to come back to Basingstoke publicly, not to a

picked audience but to an open audience, and say, I am sorry, this

is why it happened. She needs to explain herself fully. It is clear

as a UKIP supporter, we have to take that with a pinch of salt. But he

was close to Maria Miller for a long time in the Conservative Party. The

Conservatives have issued a statement pointing out that Mrs

Miller has apologised unreservedly, and will be repaying what she says

is an administrative error. Whether she survives the next few days is

whether David Cameron wants to face down the pressure. And not just the

Telegraph. Just look at this from the Sun. A cartoon of Maria Miller

as a Millerpede, when the papers turn you into a vegetable or insect

you know you're in trouble. Whether his opponents can make enough hate

in the local and general elections remains to be seen. The Labour MP

who brought this to a public meeting in Basingstoke tomorrow.

Dorset Police have moved a step closer to solving the mystery of a

body found high up in a tree in Bournemouth. The remains were

discovered 40 feet above the ground, on the Meyrick Park Golf Course.

Officers believe it's the body of a Lithuanian man who vanished three

years ago. But DNA tests are continuing to confirm the

identification. Steve Humphrey has the latest.

Police sealed off part of Meyrick Park Golf Course on Monday after a

dog discovered an arm in the undergrowth. A day later, specialist

search dogs indicated the presence of more human remains, 40 feet above

the ground in a tree. We have specialist recovery teams assessing

the area come to remove the body with dignity and to preserve

evidence. The police believe the body to be that of this man, a

21`year`old Lithuanian. He disappeared from his home in Saint

Peters Road in Bournemouth three years ago. At the time, an appeal

for information was launched. He had told his girlfriend she would not

see him again. Close friends had said in a statement, this code on ``

this: scientific tests are continuing to confirm the

identification of the remains found in the tree.

Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious. Police

officers investigating a claim of rape say the claim is false. The

16`year`old girl had made the claim for sexual assault.

Still to come in this evening's South Today: We catch up with an

opera star of the canine variety. An elderly cancer patient claims he

was forced to dial 999 from his hospital bed, after staff ignored

his calls for help. Peter Tizzard, who's 73, was at Dorset County

Hospital when he made the call. He said he had experienced severe pain,

and hadn't received assistance in the ward.

An increasing number of businesses in Dorset have agreed to pay their

staff the so`called living wage. It comes, despite warnings from some in

industry that the move would be unaffordable. The hourly rate is

above the nationally set minimum wage enforced by law. Simon Clemison

reports. Government adverts from 15 years ago

may not seem dated, but look closely at the rate the minimum which was

set AT when it was first introduced. `` was set at. Brought in by Labour,

the floor above which almost all workers must be played is now

getting on for double what it was. It is currently more than ?6 for

over`21s. In October, it will rate rise by another 90 pence, an

increase ministers are proud of. Even those who created the original

benchmark think it is a blunt instrument. And they say some

employers couldn't afford more. There are businesses where ?7.65 is

the norm, which is said to better reflect the cost of living. Some

businesses are now choosing to give all staff at least the higher

amount. This property maintenance company based in Dorset says it

wanted to treat its workers well and not drive up its prices as a result.

We are in a difficult market, maintenance, repairs, we need to

compete, but we are confident we can do that and pay the minimum wage to

our employees. Gardeners working for Dorchester Council get the same

deal, but there were fears the commercial world could not afford

the price. An argument campaigners say is familiar. A lot of people say

if the national minimum wage comes in, there will be an absorbent and

job losses. It wasn't true, and it is not true for the living wage. You

can do the right thing. Some businesses are still struggling in

terms of cash flow. Certainly, the situation is improving. Three roads

onto an island. No place in the South has more of a challenge coping

with traffic, than Portsmouth. Today, the city took a significant

step towards tackling its problems. It built the first new motorway

junction in the south, in more than 20 years, and attached to it,

Portsmouth's first park`and`ride scheme. More from our transport

correspondent Paul Clifton. Rush`hour on the busiest road into

Portsmouth. But there is no queue to get in to the new park`and`ride

site. Today is the first weekday it has been open. A handful of

commuters gave it a try. It is ?2, and it is easier to get into

Portsmouth. It can be really hard to park. Parking in the centre of the

city is nigh`on impossible. It is cheap and convenient. It is going to

save me a lot of money and a lot of time. It takes an hour to get out of

the car park in Gun Wharf. This is Portsmouth's only park`and`ride

site. The city has a stronger case for it than places like Winchester

and Salisbury, which have had park`and`ride for years. As an

island, there are only three roads in and out. The city is very densely

populated. To find a site which has the right ingredients to make it

attractive, I think it will be great for economic growth, and prove to be

a really good asset to the city. Tipner is the south's first new

motorway junction since the M3 was built through Twyford Down in the

1990s.. But this was almost built in the 1970s. The bridges for a

roundabout were completed and space left for slip roads. This has been

on the cards for almost half a century.

664 car parking spaces, taking those cars off the roads going into the

city. And it will free the city up a bit. The ground was badly

contaminated. Old military hardware and ships used to be dismantled

here. But soon, work will start on a new housing estate. Britain's newest

motorway junction currently only leads to a car park. Within a few

years, it will lead to 600 homes as well.

Now, it's happened to many of us, you come back from a holiday and

discover a huge mobile phone bill because of data roaming. But, spare

a thought for those living along the Purbeck coast in Dorset. Some have

found their phones switching to a network

Time now for the sport. Some breaking news. There has been an

injury to Rodriguez, the news from Southampton in the last few minutes

is not good, it has been revealed in the last ten minutes, he is likely

to be out to six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate

ligament. It means his World Cup dreams are over. He landed awkwardly

in the first half, when trying to control a high ball. That rules him

out for the rest of the season. The World Cup is gone to him and he is

likely only to be back in October. He had hopes of going to Brazil with

England. He is up to six months. They normally play in front of just

over 100 people in the ninth tier of English football. But now, Sholing

are heading to Wembley! The Wessex League side are through to the FA

Vase final, after beating Eastbourne 4`2 in their semifinal second leg.

Nick Watts scored three minutes from time, to seal the 6`4 aggregate win.

A Wembley appearance will bring a much`needed cash boost for the

Boatmen who will now face West Auckland Town from County Durham in

May. Unbelievable, great stuff. Great second`half comeback by them,

but our lads really dug in, and deserved to get the result. It was

absolutely fantastic. It is history in the making. First time ever.

Now time for a round up of our Football League teams. Can

Bournemouth reach the Championship play`offs? Tommy Elphick put them in

front as Harry Redknapp made his first competitive return to the club

he managed for nine years. QPR equalised just after half`time.

Lewis Grabban scored his 20th goal of the season as they almost

regained the lead, but the chances of victory looked in peril, when

Harry after was sent off. `` when Harry Arter. Four straight wins for

Bournemouth, who have taken 22 points from the last 27. Another big

match for the Cherries tomorrow night when they face Reading at Dean

Court. The team are up against a side who arrived in Dorset unbeaten

in their last six away games. Five of those six have been victories.

Danny Williams with the goal to win at Charlton.

Late Kick Off returns tonight. As well as all the goals and talking

points from our football league clubs, we'll find out why ex`Pompey

defender Arjen De Zeeuw now carries a gun for a living! BBC One.

11.25pm. Britain's sailors have made a

winning start. Helena Lucas has one in the 2.4 metres class.

In their Silver Jubilee year, Basingstoke Bisons, have won their

second piece of silverware. After lifting the Ice Hockey League Cup

last month, the Bison can now add the English Ice Hockey Premier

League title to their trophy cabinet. They beat Manchester

Phoenix 5`3 in the playoff final yesterday. Great scenes of

celebration at the end. The first weekend of the cricket county season

has been decimated because of the weather.

Basingstoke bison, those medals are like buses. `` Bison.

This week, the weather is more settled. A lot of dry weather, more

about that in a second. This picture of a heron was taken in

Bracknell by John Cook. Sue Cowell captured raindrops on a

tulip in her garden in Iping, West Sussex.

And David McLeod took this photo of a pigeon shaking off the rain in

Wokingham. We still have a band of rain making its way east. There

could be some heavy bursts. The rain will eventually clear and it will

turn a lot cooler than last night. Yesterday, it went down to 11

Celsius which is what temperatures should be during the daytime.

Tonight, down to five Celsius. The winds are changing direction. The

risk of isolated showers. Tomorrow morning, we start on a drying note,

a few showers in the morning. With the winds changing direction, it

will feel fresher than today. Today, 14 Celsius, tomorrow, 12

degrees. That north`westerly wind will make it feel fresher. Tomorrow

night, a quiet night, high pressure is building in. It will stay

settled. The odd shower is possible. And the risk of mist and fog

patches. Some frost in the countryside. Down to five degrees. A

predominantly dry start to the day on Wednesday. High pressure starts

building even further. The winds stay fairly light. Some cloud

associated with high pressure. Staying with us through Thursday.

Thursday daytime, mainly dry, with this weather front creeping south.

Some drizzle by the end of the day. A fairly quiet week with drier

weather at times. A decent day tomorrow, probably the best day in

terms of sunshine. Increasing cloud through Wednesday with the chance of

a shower. Light rain and cloud on Thursday, sunny spells and scattered

showers on Friday. This week, light winds with overnight frost.

Now, you may remember, we recently reported that the King's Theatre in

Southsea was auditioning for a rather unusual role in the opera, La

Boheme. It was for a small dog. Well, Tex the Jack Russell was

chosen. And last night was his first night. Katy Austin has been to find

out how the pooch got on with Puccini.

It was the night that this dog had his day.

OPERA SINGING. Tex auditioned against other

talented canines to win a part in Puccini's La Boheme. He played the

strong and thankfully silent type, as he stepped into the limelight at

King's Theatre, Southsea. He has been brilliant, absolutely

amazing. I'm so proud of him. He has done so well. He wasn't at all fazed

by any of the music, or the sounds. He was quite happy and wagged his

tail. Waved his paws. He was really good.

Tex is now home after his first opera experience, and it went so

well, his owner is considering entering him for other auditions.

Lynne got the chance to go on stage with her Puccini pooch.

They told us, depending on how good he was, that would be the time we

could stay on stage. If he was happy, they would leave us on stage

for the whole lot of the section we were in. He was fine, so we stayed

for the whole bit. Tex has already been successful in

dog shows. Now, it looks like a new career could beckon.

Tex, do you kill fame has changed you?

Not much, it seems. And he joins us now, along with his

owner. It helps when you have a pocket full of mints! I am really

proud of him. He exceeded all of our expectations. He was really well

behaved last night. And you had to tread the boards, as a chaperone.

Yes, I was the maid. I followed onto the stage. And he was brought back

to me. Can he sing? He hasn't opened his mouth at all during the

performance. He only barks if my other dog sets him off. Did you have

any concerns before the performance? No, because he is really laid back,

he was so good when he came here. He has been amazingly well`behaved. He

loves the camera. He is getting used to this. Are you getting agents

bringing up? Someone suggested he should have an agent, so maybe we

will think about it. And Sandra at the theatre said she would like to

have him back. That's the latest. Thanks for being

there. We will be back with bulletins at 8pm and 10.25pm. Hope

you can join us then. From all the team here, a very good night.

Bye`bye.