15/08/2013 Spotlight

Guilty of stealing thousands of pounds from the charity he set up to

help his seriously ill sons and other sect children. Kevin Wright

still more than £17,000 from the front. In 2006, he told us how

grateful he was for donations. It has been a real eye—opener that the

bar that number of people out there who care and are prepared to put

their hands in their pockets to help someone. Tonight, he is facing a

jail sentence. We will hear from some of those who raise money for

the fund. Also, sailors arrive in Plymouth for

one of the biggest races in the yachting calendar.

And a voyage of discovery closer to home. The abandoned island which was

once a thriving community. A father who raised tens of thousands of

pounds from people in Devon to help save his son from cancer has been

convicted of stealing from the charity he set up. Kevin Wright, who

lived in Kenn, near Exeter, was found guilty of ten counts of theft

and two of fraud. He stole not only from his own son's fund, but similar

charities he set up to help other sick children. The money went on

Wright's lifestyle and business ventures. Tonight, people who raised

money for the fund have told Spotlight Wright was "sick" and "the

lowest of the low". Our home affairs correspondent Simon Hall reports.

The public image was of a devoted father raising money to help treat

his son's cancer and grateful for the public's support. It has been an

eye—opener for me that there are that number of people out there who

care and are prepared to put their hands in their pockets to help

someone, that there are never likely to meet but someone who is in real

need. It has been very humbling. The reality was different. Wright was

stealing from Bobby's fund and other charities he set up to help sick

children. Jill Locke is a landlady who raised £1500 from Bobby's fun.

How low do you go. You don't go any lower than taking from a charity.

That is the lowest possible thing you can do. I work at Saint Luke 's

all the time and 101% goes into my charity and that is saying to looks.

For someone to do that what can I say? There is no... I wouldn't say

on air what I really think of him because you would take it off. Right

live near Exeter before moving away. Local people told me he was

repeatedly abusive without any provocation for the most didn't want

to speak out fearing reprisals from his friends, that one woman did on

condition we disguised identity. He always was aggressive, he looked

aggressive and drove at high speed through the village. He had no

regard for anybody or their feelings. He seems to feel he had

this aura about him, that he was someone you didn't want to tangle

with, someone you wouldn't want to take on. Intimidation was one of

Wright's favoured weapons. Question online when investigators began

examining his fundraising, he told one person...

Wright had previous convictions. At Exeter magistrates, he admitted

threatening behaviour and was convicted of assault and criminal

damage. He tries to protect his image. Journalists said he

threatened them when they began to investigate his charitable work. He

started a libel action against the express and Echo, the local paper,

when it question him, and he complained to the police when the

media filmed him as he appeared here. The complaint was thrown out.

This man is glad he has been brought to justice. He is one of those

people you meet in life that you just don't want to know. How sick is

a person that tries to make money out of his child's Delmas? That sad.

That is sad. Wright will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court

next month. Thousands of students across the

region have been receiving their A—level results this morning.

Despite many universities charging £9000 a year for tuition, the number

of applications for 2013 has increased. Exeter University says

its figures are up by a third, which is believed to be the highest

increase in the UK. Johnny Rutherford reports. Nervous laughter

as students wait to see exam results that will help shape their future.

Off you go! Ivybridge committee College achieved a 100% pass rate

for its A—level students. I got an A* in maths, A in history, B

Spanish, and an A in physics Seven people have been charged with

the number of great world to A—level students has dipped slightly for

this year, so not everyone got what they hoped for. Annoyed, but we will

see what happens. It is not the worst thing that could have

happened. Any reason why you didn't get as high as you hope? Coursework.

Should have started earlier. Some students got good grades but are

shunning University and the high fees. In his case, it is to work in

the family business. You're coming out, your work so hard to get that

degree, you are not guaranteed a job and you have to start paying off

this debt when reach that salary. It was another successful year at

Torquay girls Grammar School, which included some happy surprises. I

didn't get the grades for my top choice, and I was really

disappointed, but I just logged in and I have got my offer anyway. At

Penrith College, more than 200 students received a stars, 40 of

them in maths. I got fine art A*, geography A*, English—language day,

and psychology A. Colleges are offering support for any students

who didn't quite make the grade. Plans to develop the seafront at

Exmouth have been unveiled. The scheme would include a watersports

centre, indoor and outdoor play areas, and parking for cars. The

council says the area needs to provide more attractions for

visitors, that some traders have raised concerns. Hamish Marshall is

in Exmouth tonight. Exmouth remains one of the region's main resorts,

two miles of sand. Many people believe it could do with a bit of

investment. The question is whether this new scheme, which could involve

major changes, including the demolition of this landmark cafe,

are the best way to which even at. Already Exmouth has a new bowling

alley and function area. This could soon make way for a seafront hotel.

The Wright family have run the cafe for more than 40 years, but the

boating lake and play area may be replaced, and is no promise they

will be part of the future. A lot of people have worked for a long time

here on the seafront, involved with businesses in trying times, so

embraced those people. Make them part of what you are proposing

because they are all very keen to be part of that. On a peak season day,

the play area is busy. Those using it like the fact it is affordable

but worry about wet days. We love coming to this park. It is great for

kids and near the beach, but on the whole, Exmouth could probably do

with an upgrade. It rained earlier this morning, so then you think it

could do with something indoor. The District Council has brought forward

the scheme, that it says traders have been consulted. We have had

schoolchildren coming to Exmouth and in their summer holidays, it has

been rain, rain, rain. Today it rained, and we need to look ahead to

the future to keep children and families within the town. The

harbour of you cafe is open every day of the year. 25 people work here

that the boss fears next year could be the last. I would like to see

them incorporate the businesses that have been here for years, providing

a service to the tourists and locals, I would like to see somebody

listen to us and let us put some ideas forward. The scheme won't be

discussed by East Devon planners until at least December.

I think the main concern from speaking to traders today is that

this is a large scheme, £10 million, and I think it will take a big

developer to get involved with it and they would want control, which

may mean there isn't any place for the people working here for up to 40

years. Multi million plan ——

multi—million—pound plans for the redevelop mud of Home Park in

Plymouth are being discussed. The project would include a ten screen

cinema, a hotel, ice rink and other facilities. John Henderson is just

back from the council chamber. What has been happening? Plymouth Argyle

haven't had the best of times on the pitch recently, but the ambition is

still there and plans for a hotel, an ice rink, an IMAX cinema. The man

behind the plans think they will put Plymouth on the map. From Argyle's

standpoint it is important to improve the hospitality for our fans

and to generate an income so we can invest in the team to move back up

the leagues. It is important for the city because we need to create

centres of excellence and with the life centre there, we will create

the best sporting and leisure facility in the South West of

England, so it really puts Plymouth in a different place to the

south—west. There were lots of people before this meeting in

support, but there were some concerns, over 200 objections during

the consultation. Here is a flavour of what people are worried about.

The key reason we are concerned is that there is no information

available to the public about what this developer is going to do. We

can see the proposals for the buildings but there is nothing there

in relation to how they will landscape, how they will set up

their highways access, how they will deal with waste and drainage. That

has all been done behind closed doors and that worries us. I left

that meeting about 6pm. They were still talking and I understand there

has been an adjournment so there is still work to do before they make a

decision. Thank you, John. A new power plant costing £2.5

million has been given the go—ahead at Nomansland in Devon. It will

generate chicken manure —— at it will generate a liquidity from

chicken manure and crops, but there is opposition from locals. This

chicken is being bred for food, but its waste can be turned into energy,

and that is about to be commercially exploited on a very big scale.

Stuart Cole has around 54,000 of these little chicks. That is on his

farm alone, but in the area, there are a number of other farms, and in

total around 400,000 chickens bred in this area. That is a lot of

manure. Much of it will be transported in. In its raw state, it

may not look appealing and it produces climate—changing methane

gas, but for Stuart Cole, generating energy from chicken waste has become

a passion. We can capture that methane and use it as renewable

energy, and the digestive material can then be used as a sustainable

organic fertiliser. The chicken farm waste is fed into a digester and

mixed with bacteria to break down the waste producing biogas. That is

then fed into a generator to produce activity. This is the site.Stuart

says work on the power plant will begin here within the next few

months, and when it is finished, he says it will produce enough energy

to power 1200 homes. Some neighbours still have doubts. The lanes are

narrow, and the tractors which will bring in the digestive material to

the site will be too big for the roads and a quantity of vehicles on

the road. ??BLUE I don't think this is the right site for it, to get all

these big lorries there. Some crops will need to be added into the fuel

mix, but Stuart says chicken manure is the fuel of the future. Thousands

of sailors have been arriving in Plymouth for 20 —— as the 20 13th

Fastnet race draws to a close. This year had a record number of entries.

More than 700 votes set of for the race to Plymouth, and here with us

are for local sailors who took part. We have Sam Matson, or LC, Sam

Goodchild and Henry Bomby. Henry, how are you feeling? I feel tired.

They finished at six 10am. We have had four nights at sea and quite a

busy day, so I haven't yet caught up my sleep. It was an intense for days

with just two of us on board, slightly longer than the racing we

are reduced to doing by ourselves but just as tiring. It was a tough

race. What was the toughest stretch in the race, because it went by

Fastnet Rock up to Plymouth the toughest races are normally in the

Irish Sea, and on the boat we had a few typical problems. We had to bail

a lot of water out of the boat. Not as dramatic as that sounds, but it

didn't really allow us to concentrate on raising as much as we

would like to. It is known as a challenging events, isn't it?

Absolutely. It is had a reputation —— a reputation, since the disaster

in 1979, but it is still just as tough as it was back then but

hopefully less dangerous. Robin, what is it like taking part in a

race with so many other competitors? It makes it more hectic

on the course because instead of just 30 bits, you have another 100

boats, so it gets quite exciting turning around Marks and things like

that. You must be within eyesight of each other for most of the race. The

first four boats of the fleet were within 20 minutes of each other, so

we could see each other the whole race, and it was very intense. We

went around Fastnet Rock in pitch black with fog everywhere, couldn't

see anyone, but we knew everyone was there. It got exciting. We mentioned

more than 300 boats that wanted to compete this time. I think that

figure is higher than previously. Is it that edge that you get with the

events that attracts competitors? Yeah, the more competitors, it makes

it a tough race for everyone, and it adds another dimension to the race.

It is one of the biggest races in the world because of the volume of

people doing it, so it makes it more exciting. Henry, why do you think so

many people wanted to take part in this year? I think it is a classic

on the calendar. Just a complete the race is a fantastic achievement for

many sailors, and a lot of people wanted to take part. I'm not sure

why this year achieved so much entry that it has been growing as a more

and more popular event, and that is great to have the race finished here

in the south—west, to have one of the iconic races that know around

the world, we are lucky to have it finished our doorstep. And that race

village he based here in Plymouth to accommodate this huge fleet, it is a

big event for the city. When I arrived this morning, by the time I

got to the race village to hand in my declaration, it was 7am but bars

were full and people were in high spirits, and it is amazing that it

is basically a 24 hour process of people finishing the race that high

spirits, having worked towards the race for two years, so would as a

combination of so much hard work to make sure the boats are prepared and

safety equipment is done, and everyone is be pair to take the

race, so the buzz around Plymouth was quite exciting. Congratulations

to all of you for completing the race and getting back in one piece.

Like you for joining us. —— thank you for joining us.

It is time for our summer series were BBC presenters visit places in

the South West they have never been to before. Tonight, it is the turn

of my colleague. My voyage took me to an abandoned

island in skill a. Centuries ago, it was home to a thriving committee,

but now it is only inhabited by wildlife. I've been coming to the

Isles of Scilly for 30 years and I love the place. I have been to all

the main islands — St Martin's, Bryher, Tresco, St Agnes, but one

island has always intrigued me, and I have never been to it. Until

today. It's that one there. This is it. The first time ever set

foot on Samson. It is like being in the Caribbean.

Is not a bad view, is that? Although this is an uninhabited islands now,

I am not here are my own. Then here to meet David Moore from the Isles

of Scilly wildlife trust, who will tell me more about the history of

Samson and the wildlife living here. Hello, David. Hello, just in.This

was obviously someone's house once. How did the island end up being

abandoned? People farmed here until about 1855, when Augustus Smith took

over the lease of all the islands. He was the first person interested

in doing that, and he had ideas for social reform, and I think having

people here didn't fit in with that plan, so people were asked to leave.

So in 1855, the last people left the island. The Webbers and the Woodcock

's the main families. My Gran was a Woodcock, so my family lived here.

What sort of life would they have had? Quite a nice life, farming and

fishing and connected with the land. It would have been hard with water

shortages, but all an interesting life. This is another of Augustus

Smith's ideas. Once people left the island, he had this wall built. It

is not quite high enough for dear, and the story goes that the deer

escaped and either drown or got back to Tresco.

Preparing for this visit, I found this rare photograph of Samson and I

have tracked down K Manfield, descendant of the man in this

picture, and I will meet in what is left of this property. Hello, K. Who

lived here, then? This was my grandmother's cottage. Who is the

man in the photo? Here's my great—grandfather, and he was an

Woodcock's son. My grandmother, who was his daughter she said when she

was a young girl, they would come out in boats and they would come up

and spend the day and picnic and pick primroses to take back to Saint

Mary 's, it was like its own world appear. What sort of stories have

passed down through your family about the time when it came to leave

the island? Water and acceptance they had to go or did they want to

stay? There wasn't an acceptance at all. The families wanted to stay.

Augustus Smith since the parties up to evict them, to take them off the

island, down to Saint Mary 's, and they were so determined to stay,

they barricaded themselves in the cottage. They said they would rather

die than be taken off the island, and in the end, the parties got back

in their boats and left. This web family did eventually leave, but

they put up a protest quite strongly, and good on them. It has

remained uninhabited ever since, apart from wildlife. I will catch up

with David now to find out more about that. Nice to me you. Thank

you. It is important wildlife haven. We

have a very important sea bird colony, shacks, fulmars, and very

important sea bird, and that is important for archaeology. This is

one of several prehistoric burial mounds on the hilltops. As someone

who is descended from the families that lived on the island, how does

it feel to be conserving it for future generations? When I come

here, I often wonder what might ancestors with say seeing all the

bracken that would not have been here when they worked the land, and

it feels good to be letting it take back over.

I can finally understand why the Woodcock 's and the Webbers were so

reluctant to leave Samson all those years ago. It has been a real

privilege to finally get to explore this beautiful part of the South

West. And next week it's a David

double—act. On Wednesday, BBC Radio Cornwall's David White discovers

Pengersick Castle at Praa Sands, and on Thursday, on his first ever

visit, BBC Radio Devon's David Fitzgerald finds out he's connected

to the people who built Overbecks in Salcombe. I look forward to that

next week. We were fortunate with the weather on our trip, as you saw,

it was a bit like the Caribbean. It hasn't been so silly to date but it

is getting better. Next week, yes. There is some rain in the forecast,

but next week is much drier and we should see some sunshine. Tomorrow,

we have some rain coming in overnight tonight and it will be

around for much of the morning, and then brighter and drier with a

fresher feel to the air and the end of the afternoon. The satellite

picture shows this great lump of cloud stretching out into the

Atlantic. It gives some heavy rain across Ireland, heading down towards

us in the few hours. The main weather system producing that is

moving towards us, with bumps developing along, which means its

progress is inconsistent. The time we get to the end of the morning and

into the afternoon, it will clear away from us. Approaching that is a

new area of low pressure which will bring quite wet and windy weather on

Saturday. Once that goes through, come Sunday, it is a much improved

picture. Weather surfers are among you, the isobars are pretty much

straight from Newfoundland across the west coast of Ireland. That

means a steady strength of wind over a long stretch of sea, so some big

waves heading our way, especially Sunday and into Monday. In the last

few hours, here comes that wet weather, already into parts of West

Wales and the Isles of Scilly. Before that, earlier, our cameraman

was down in Cornwall, where there was a bit of brightness in the sky

and the seas were relatively calm, so here we've seen temperatures up

to 19 degrees today are higher than that inland, 22 in the sunshine, but

the breeze will increase overnight which will whip up the seas and by

Saturday, with that new area of low pressure, someone the conditions

heading our way. Overnight, that band of rain comes in from the North

West, becoming widespread in the early hours, low clouds developing

too, so hill fog becomes extensive and also the breeze. Overnight

temperatures shouldn't fall much below 16 or 17. Tomorrow, we wake to

a web start. Outbreaks of rain for all of us but clearing from North

Devon first then much of Cornwall, slow to clear, Dorset and Somerset

eventually it will clear to give some lengthy sunny spells in the

afternoon. A bit misty around the coast, particularly the North

Coast. Temperatures will still get into 22 or 23 degrees, but a fresher

feel to the air as we head into the weekend. For the Isles of Scilly,

rain clearing here first and then fine and mainly dry as lighter winds

trade —— change direction. The service will be a bit choppy if not

messy tomorrow, but cleaning up as we head into the second half of the

weekend. There is our coastal weather is forecast, south—westerly

veering north—westerly, rain at times they're becoming fair.

Saturday will be wet and windy. Sunday is brighter and continuing

dry into next week. Thank you, David. That is all from

us for now. I will be back at 10:25pm. I hope you can join us for

that. Have a good evening.