20/01/2012 Spotlight

A man has been arrested for attempted murder after a fuel

tanker ploughed into a bungalow. Good evening. A woman inside the

property escaped serious injury - we'll report from the scene. Also

tonight: the conman who stole people's identities. Kevin Castle

raided post boxes to gain personal details which he used to commit

fraud. Sentenced to 11 years - the teenager who carried out a brutal

attack which left a grandfather in a wheelchair. The grandchildren are

in bits. We're heartbroken. And as diesel prices reach a record high,

how small businesses are struggling with the cost of fuel. A man has

been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a tanker

full of fuel crashed into a house in Wool in Dorset. The resulting

fire gutted the house on Folly Lane near the local primary School, but

the woman living there managed to escape. Some locals say a man was

seen running from the scene. Ben Moore reports. Deep skid marks now

the only clue that the huge scorched hole in this house was

caused by a tanker full of fuel. It rode up the pavement this morning,

the resulting blaze ripped right through the bung alow. We don't get

this sort of thing every day in Wool. We're a quiet, sleepy village.

30 firefighters took an hour to get the blaze under control. Later

police detained a man on suspicion of attempted murder. Police say

they have arrested a 51-year-old man from Yeovil that was known to

the woman. Locals say he was her partner. The woman inside escaped

unharmed. The house is a different matter. But the tanker is no longer

there. Removed pending a police examination. A notorious conman who

stole the identities of people in Somerset has admitted fraud today.

46-year-old Kevin Castle, who lived in West Buckland, targeted

residents with unsecured letterboxes, then stole their

personal details. Today he pleaded guilty to 27 charges of fraud and

one of money laundering. He'll be sentenced next month. Steve Powell

has more. The post map wasn't the only one doing the rounds in this

village on the border between Somerset and Devon. Often he was

followed by Kevin Castle, only he wasn't delivering mail. He was

stealing it. Again and again and again. Then using the personal

details he stole, he set up fraudulent cedid card events. But

his luck ran out when he targeted this man. Steve became suspicious

that someone was tampering with his mail and turned detech tifr. I went

and bought this camera. -- detech tifr. To solve my mystery. I put it

on the Monday for the whole of that week I captured the bloke that was

coming to my house. You gotture man didn't you? Yes. He deserves all

what he gets. The sheer number of cards acquired enabled Castle and

his partner to fund a lavish lifestyle. They lived in this

impressive property, with paddocks and stables, which they used to

house their six horses. Their couple are captured using a

fraudulent credit card on a spending spree. They ran up

thousands of pounds worth of debt. This type of crime is happening on

a daily basis. My advice is don't have a post box on your drive. Have

it coming through your front door. Most victims remain oblivious that

their identity has been stolen and debts ran up their name, until nay

receive a demand for payment on a credit card they knew nothing about.

Steve says it never crossed his mind that somebody might steal his

identity and after this experience, he is heeding police advice and

making sure his post never falls into the wrong hands again. A 15-

year-old boy who attacked and left a man for dead, has been sentenced

to 11 years in a young offenders institution. Tyler Fielding jumped

and stamped on Victor King's head after an argument about queue

jumping in a shop in Redruth in Cornwall. Mr King has been left

disabled by the attack and now has to use a wheel chair. In this

report by Eleanor Parkinson, you may find some of the details

upsetting. 51-year-old Victor King arrived in court today, the attack

left him disabled. Tyler Fielding was just 15, the teenager was drunk

and had been smoking cannabis and was trying to buy more alcohol in a

shop. After leaving the shop, the teenager attacked Victor King twice.

This footage shows Fielding and a group of others approaching Mr King.

We can't show you the attack, but he jumped and stamped on Mr King's

head so hard that the imprint of his shoes were left on his victim's

face. Tyler Fielding walked off and left Mr King for dead. He was found

by a passing jogger. He had frackures to his jaw, eye socket

and voice box. If he hadn't been given emergency treatment at the

scene, he would have died. Mr King's family described how their

father's life had been changed by the attack. It's just been ruined.

It has ruined our life. How much care does your dad need now?

needs you know around-the-clock care. The court heard Tyler

Fielding had a troubled childhood and moved to Cornwall to start a

new life. He was sentenced to eleven years in custody. $WHITE The

average diesel price in the South West has hit an all time high

according to the AA motoring organisation. In the last 12 months

the average price per litre has gone up from nearly �1.33 to just

over �1.42 - that's an increase of more than 7%. As Jane Chandler

reports, independent traders in the region say they're doing their best

to absorb costs, but it's becoming increasingly difficult. Reflecting

on how she can keep her customers happy the rise in fuel costs is

tough on Alison's business, specially as many of her flowers

are delivered by van. I wuldz say in the past six months it has

doubled, the fuel cost. But we try to swallow the costs and we're not

putting our delivery fees up, but we are losing our, our profit

margin is coming down. Parcels are delivered from this depot in

Saltash. Their mileage is high and it is a struggle to keep up with

fuel prices. At the moment we're surviving. It is not a massive

profit organisation. And I don't think the parcel business can

sustain its much longer. It is a case of monitoring it from month to

months. If we have to pass on a fuel surcharge again, we'll have to

do it. I can't see that the whole industry can sustain this. The AA

say it is worrying that even though demands is falling, the price of

diesel and petrol continues to rise. It is of concern, particularly for

the hauliers and for small businesses, and indeed motorists in

rural areas of the South West, who are dependent on road transport.

And for many businesses and individuals, there is no choice.

World events supply issues and stock market speculators are some

of the reasons for the rise. There are some things the Government

cannot do. If it does do the one thing that is easiest, to lower

taxes, that just means we have to find the money from somewhere else

or cut public services more. diz businesses can do is hope --

businesss can do is hope prices stabilise. Don't know how they will

bring them down. More than 1,000 vulnerable people in Torbay could

be affected by millions of pounds of cuts from the adult social care

budget. Among other things Torbay Council is considering a reduction

in residential and nursing home placements, while reducing respite

care and day services for older people. The cuts will amount to

more than �4 million, with the biggest area affected being

domiciliary care. That's where carers go into people's houses and

do things like wash and dress them. That service alone could lose �1.1

million. Earlier we asked the owners of one care company what

this could mean for people who need home care in Torbay. Obviously it

will affect them. Front line service always seem to be affected

and they won't get the care that they should be getting. My argument

with it it is always the vulnerable that get hit first. Education is

ring fenced, why can't social care budgetss be ring fenced? The time

carers are assigned to each client has already been cut. Some think it

can't be cut any further. We'll have the same work to do h, but in

less time. So what you would do in an hour, a lot of our clients have

to have creams apply and eyes bathed and thn you go on to doing

breakfast and clearing up and you have to do all that in half an hour.

It is very hard to get it all in. report published for councillors,

points out the risks, and describes the size of the cutbacks in

domiciliary care as an immense challenge. In a statement the chief

executive of Torbay Care trust said: "We understand that people

may be concerned about how proposed changes to care will affect them or

a family member. People will continue to receive the care which

they are assessed as needing to ensure their independence,

wellbeing and safety." The scale of the cuts has not yet been finalised.

Members of Torbay council will make the final decision in the next few

weeks. A judge has been told two men accused of conspiring to rob

and murder Devon soul singer Joss Stone have mental health problems

that may affect their ability to stand trial. Kevin Liverpool and

Junior Bradshaw are accused of conspiracy to commit murder, GBH

and robbery. They were both arrested last June. An operation to

clear fishing nets from the wreck of HMS Scylla is under way, it is

feared the net is a danger to divers and wildlife. The plan is to

attach a line to the net and pull Members of homelessness charities

are concerned changes to the way housing benefit is calculated will

leave more people in the South West without a home. From the beginning

of this year, tenants under 35 have seen the amount they can claim

reduced, forcing some to reconsider their housing options. Latest

figures show Government spending on housing benefit in the region

increased by more than �57 million last year. Spotlight's Simon

Alexander reports. Lloyd called him -- Coleman is

being forced to scour the newspaper could try and find somewhere

affordable to live. The part-time supermarket worker is in temporary

accommodation, but the Government's new restrictions for claimants

under 35 means his dream of living in a home in which his children can

stay are in the balance. -- is in the balance.

I don't get to see my children much, Ridley, every other weekend, if

that. Latest Government figures obtained

by BBC Scotland -- BBC Spotlight show that more than �751 million

were spent on housing benefit and the Year of 2010 to 2011. The total

for Devon, including Plymouth and for Devon, including Plymouth and

for Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay, was 336.6 million.

Some charities are warning the benefit changes will lead to more

homelessness across the South West. But the Government's new age Clyde

tenia mean that claimants will only be able to claim for a run in a

shared house, rather than a flat. For people in their 30s, that is a

difficult proposition, particularly if they have children.

Charities say there has a shortage of properties for people to rent

rooms in the South West. The DWP says Spiring benefit costs must be

brought under control and claimants must make the same choices as

people not on benefits. For Lloyd, this is an issue that is giving him

plenty of food for thought. As we heard, the Government is

adamant that this is necessary to cut costs.

Yes, the Government also says that shared accommodation is yet --

common among younger people and is in fact the norm. On the face of it,

that is quite uncontroversial, but there is a lot of disagreement as

to how you did -- define younger people. The older rules had the

cut-off period at 25. These changes raise that substantially to draw in

people will on the way to 40. This is to judge allows his

admission that you cannot aspire to live by yourself, independently,

until you late 30s. We know that the average age for a first-time

house buyer is now 37. It will rise to over 40 during this Parliament.

This is saying you cannot get a flat until you were 45, I think

that is the wrong way of so when this problem.

While housing may be a big problem in places like Manchester, some MPs

are saying it is not so much of a problem in the sad twist.

And there will be more on this on politics the Sunday.

#$$NEWLINE The charity which runs Devon's Air Ambulance is to

purchase a second helicopter thanks to the fundraising efforts of

listeners to BBC Radio Devon. A cheque for over �720,000 was

presented today after the stations two year appeal. People who've

either raised money or been helped by the service were at a special

event in north Devon. Spotlight's Hamish Marshall was there.

It is something you don't want to see. If you needed, it is the best

sight and sound there is. The Devon the air ambulances fly six missions

a day. One last July helped Pat. She had been axed that they struck

in the eye by a golf ball hit by her husband, David. They were on

the most remote port of Sidmouth of course. She was going to be and a

hospital in Exeter within minutes, whereas it would have probably

taken three-quarters of an hour, that was such a relief.

Pat still does not have full sight in her eye, but they are now keen

fundraisers. The Radio Devon appeal raised �725,000. That means the

trust can produce a helicopter, which is better than the current

leasing arrangement. It is the certainty that we know we

are going to need that cost. It means we are now three to invest

all our efforts in fund-raising to keep the air ambulances flying.

money was raised in many ways, including sponsored swims, table-

tops sales and a folk music marathon.

They tis a wonderful achievement for the people of Denham and to

give anything from 20p to thousands of pounds to reach this amazing

total. The new helicopter will be in

service next year. Time now to take a look at the

weekend's sport. Good evening. It has been another

unpredictable week for Plymouth Argyle. Fans were expecting the

appointment of a new Director of Football - but Sean O'Driscoll, the

man thought to be the front runner for the job, has accepted a role at

Nottingham Forest. Former Luton manager Richard Money is now the

latest name to be linked with the vacany at Home Park. The delay

means the pressure remains on manager Carl Fletcher ahead of

tomorrow's home game against Crawley Town.

Elsewhere, the rest of our club sides are on the road this weekend.

Just five points separate Exeter and Oldham in the League One

standings. The Grecians will be keen to make it three games without

defeat. Yeovil Town travel to Bury, where they desperately need to pick

up three points to start moving clear of the relegation zone. And

in League Two, manager Martin Ling will be looking to extend Torquay's

winning streak as they take on For the Exeter Chiefs just one game

stands between them and a place in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Cup.

If the Chiefs can secure a home win over Perpignan it would be the

first time they have made it to the knock-out stages of a European

competition. It is a great situation for us to being,

individually and collectively. Do have a side like a Pinot coming

here, it is a massive test for us. -- Perpignon. We're looking forward

to bringing them down here and giving them a taste of it.

Plymouth Albion have the weekend off, but Sunday see's the Cornish

Pirates resume their attack on the British and Irish Cup as they

welcome Nottingham to the Menaye Field. Pirates took the title in

2010, and are keen to progress past their quater-final encounter. The

clubs met just two weeks ago in the Championship, with the Pirates

pipping their opposition to the post by just two points.

You can hear the match live on BBC You can hear the match live on BBC

Radio Cornwall, or on the BBC Cornwall sport website. Kick-off is

And just before I go, good luck to the Plymouth Raiders this weekend.

It is a double header for them at the Pavilions, Guildford Heat

tomorrow night, and then the Cheshire Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Thank you very much. The 2012 Olympics get underway in London in

July, and of course, importantly for us, in Weymouth and Portland.

This Sunday, we're putting out a very special programme profiling

the region's top athletes. It's called South West Olympic Dreams

and will be presented by Natalie who told us more about it.

We were spoilt for choice of material for this programme. We are

so lucky in the South West. Not Ollie are we hosting part of their

games - and not many regions can say that - we also have some really

high-profile competitors that stand a good chance of winning a medal at

the Olympics. Let's start with the obvious - Tom Daley. He is the chap

everyone is talking about. He is the poster boy for London 2012, and

that is something he is a little bemused by.

I don't see myself as a poster boy for 2012. It is something I love to

do, something I have worked hard at, and if people see it like that, it

is weird, but kind of interesting, too.

What about more established competitors do Mike we have plenty

of them, too. Ben Ainslie can make history at

these Olympics. He could become only the third Briton to come -- to

win gold at four consecutive Olympic Games.

It would be amazing. You can think about that too much, it is hard to

describe it until you do it. Hopefully I will get the

opportunity to find out. What about some of the female

athletes? Probably there are too many of them

to actually mention. Helen Glover, Mary came, she could be making

history if she qualifies, she could be competing in her six Olympic

Games, which is quite a feat. When is it on?

It is on that Sunday at 5pm, after signs of praise and before the

Antiques Roadshow. Thank you.

Now for more action men, but with macho outfits, gripping hands and

eagle eyes. Sadly it is the toy from the 60's, but he's still

rather good value as was proved at auction in Dorset today.

Uniforms and accessories for the doll with an estimated value of ten

thousands were being auctioned in Sherborne, and attracted interest

from numerous buyers. Johnny Rutherford was there.

Charterhouse Auctioneers, what numbers 454 to 537. Over 150

Ayrton's collected over a decade by Richard Briggs from The Oval know

of programmes by eight eager collections -- collectors at a cost

that could reach �10,000. These are exceptional items. These

are not the kind of things you will see at a car boot sale. Most of

these are meant and in the original packaging. But what makes it so

valuable. Action Men was made between 1966

and 1984. It followed the success of the American dole, GI Joe, to

which these are rare example. It is a vast collection, including

French Action Men, Spanish Action Men, and this German storm trooper

wrote that, which cost a collector at almost �300.

It is a trip down memory lane for me, as I had many hours of fun with

the toy. I remember collecting stars on the packaging towards the

three extras. They make going to a display

cabinet or the back of a wardrobe. They make going to a man cave, you

have your beer fridge, you pool table, your boxing trophies, and

you have your action man accessories, fantastic. Maybe they

would just be played with - but then that would need an action-man.

That sounds like David's House, our beer fridge, snooker table, Action

We have had some sunshine today, but tomorrow is generally much more

cloudy, and in fact quite windy. That has been increasing through

the day, I'll windy weekend in store with some patchy rain every

now and then. Before I give you the forecasts, can we go back to

yesterday's whether? We have had some unusual pictures sent in by

the Royal for the of -- Royal Air Force. This is a waterspout filmed

by a search and rescue Squadron. Unusual to seek one like this. It

was caused by some fairly big rain clouds that develop yesterday

afternoon. We will keep a lot of cloud and some outbreaks of rain.

Lots of cloud on the satellite picture, giving us a cloudy story

for tonight. We have had some breaks this evening, but they will

all disappear overnight. Through the night, some drizzle possible.

Hill fog possible, mild, windy. Tomorrow we have a weather front

close by, staying cloudy, Sunday somewhat brighter conditions after

a damp morning. We can see that a few holes have developed in the

cloud, though they will fill in again. As the cloud comes, so does

the drizzle and hill fog. Winds remain strong ride through the

night. Temperatures no lower than eight Celsius for most of ours.

Tomorrow morning, cloudy, mist patches over the brewers. Still

quite windy, western ate the ring north-west winds. Possibly 12

Celsius, unusually mild for the time of year. They Isles of Scilly,

breezy and damp. The times of high water... Big waves, but messy ways.

5-seven feet -- 5 or 7 feet. Sunday, it gets a little bit better, Sunday

morning that rather cloudy but drizzly, some sunshine coming

through. A bit colder, and watched on Sunday night into Monday morning,

a brief touch of frost, then more went back and rain for Tuesday. --