15/04/2014 Spotlight

President Putin calls for the West to condemn it. Now

But it gave her more strength. It was almost like he was feeding off

market. Helen and her family are now asking

why the police didn't take action sooner.

And the couple who need to make a 600 mile trip to visit their

autistic son, borrowing money. Water quality at South West beaches

shows a big improvement. And sharing a swamp ` the

butterflies getting some snappy new neighbours.

Tonight the man who caused these injuries in a frenzied attack is

facing a lengthy jail sentence. Helen Pearson says she pleaded with

her attacker to stop, but he carried on stabbing her with a pair of

scissors. Today a jury found Joe Willis, who is 49 and from Exeter,

guilty of attempted murder after he'd carried out a five year

stalking campaign against Helen and her family, threatening her and

attacking her home and car. The family have accused Devon and

Cornwall police of missing dozens of opportunities to catch Willis and an

investigation into the way the force handled the case is underway. This

report from our home affairs correspondent Simon Hall contains

distressing images from the start. Helen Pearson believes the police

missed repeated opportunities to prevent the attack which could have

taken her life. The culmination of a five`year stalking campaign, she was

set upon with a peer of scissors. When I look at his face, the

realisation of who it was, and I suspected, I remember pleading,

please, no. It was like it gave him a more strength. It was like he was

feeding of it. The stalker was Joan Willis. The

reason for his campaign, one night Helen refused to go with him to see

a band. The campaign began with attacks on her car. Tyres were

slashed and the bodywork scratched. Graffiti was adopted around the

streets of her flat. Then the letters. I want to play again, see

how you would cope if attacked. But the game begin. A dead cat was left

on her doorstep, there were attacks on her flat, often in the middle of

the night. Helen revealed details to us because she believes stalking is

not taken seriously enough by the police. They logged 125 incidents

with the police and had evidence Willis was the stalker. But the

police did not catch despite her repeatedly desperate pleas. I did

not know if I was being followed, whether my friends would targeted,

every night I went to bed, I didn't know if it would be a broken window,

what would happen. Just constantly living in fear. I got to the end of

my tether. You see that there is no way destocking is ever going to end.

`` the stalking. You just reached the end point where you think, it is

better if I am not in the equation. Her parents were also targeted and

their car attacked. In frustration with the police they brought in a

private detective and even began investigating themselves. Now the

family are making an official complaint against Devon and Cornwall

police. We try to raise the incident each time what were brushed off. ``

but. Nobody in the police could see that the level of violence was

rising and rising. It was time to do something proactive. Our complaint

is, why did they not see what was happening and do something to stop

it? They did not seem to appreciate the

stalking incidents were getting worse. We could see from the

letters, the dead cat on the doorstep, that this was typical of

what a stalker was. I could not believe, that one of the authorities

you go to to try to help, will not helping. I was shocked. I could not

believe it. The police say they have begun an internal enquiry into their

handling of the incidents. But they insist they did investigate

thoroughly. We took it seriously. We sent letters for forensic

examination, utilised CCTV, as was heard during the court process. We

did take it seriously we just did not have the hard evidence to

progress any further. Victim support charities say this represents a

classic excavation of stalking. `` escalation. They say it is a

persistent problem that action is only taken when crimes become so

serious they can no longer be ignored. It took the jury three

hours to reach the verdict. As the form and pronounced the word,

guilty, Joan Willis hung his head. `` for men. `` Cho

Richards, the Director of Paladin, the National Stalking Support

Service. I began by asking her how common

cases like this were. Running the National stalking advocacy service,

and even prior to the change in the law, we do see a lot of cases like

this. The pattern of behaviour is not being picked up. It is really

not good enough. It is important that people pick up stalking is a

pattern of behaviour and they understand that it will be a pattern

and get in far earlier to intervene and prevent the worst things from

happening. Carter because this case in terms of

how it was dealt with by the police? Her Majesty suspected just released

their findings in all police forces and that's a similar things around

all cases. The pattern was not being picked up. A challenge with the case

of Helen as she did not have a relationship with the perpetrator.

It did not go to a specialist unit therefore. It is about saying that

the police understood these matters need be understood by all police

source. There hasn't been a literature of the perpetrator will

stay with the local, may be the neighbourhood team, the plesiosaurs,

and it is fatal that they are trained as well. How can the police

be expected to react to have a thing. Especially given the cutbacks

they have suffered? It's about prioritising. Public protection is

case. Particularly with stalking. The kind of cases where women and

children are far more likely to be killed. It is important that they

prioritise training. Not just about specialist staff but also about

training the safety neighbourhood teams. And bringing in specialist to

do that. Sales, coming and, if special sled and put. The cost of a

murder is about ?1.54 million. The RIP, if it goes wrong, it is also

the reputation increases. `` and pieces. With the new legislation

brought then are you seeing stalking being treated more seriously? Having

campaign for the new law it is fantastic this year. But all of the

key issues as you need to train people. We are pleased that exists.

Building to ensure the police officers, trim precision service,

judges, magistrates, you'll notice tests.

Photos of the resource monies to be done. That is right. The new

legislation is a great step forward. We have a new national stalking

advocacy service. That was launched last year. But the say, very little

has changed. They have imagined it. `` thank you very much indeed.

Bathing water quality at the region's beaches improved

significantly last year, according to new figures from the Marine

Conservation Society. The number of beaches now classed as recommended

went up by 59% between 2012 and 2013. Instow, in North Devon, was

the only beach to fail the mandatory 'bathing water standard' for a

second year running. And 11 beaches moved from 'fail' to 'recommended'.

The way water quality is tested is based on a thirty`year`old data

collection system which means a beach can pass or fail depending on

the conditions on the days the samples are taken. As Sophie Pierce

now reports, some people think that's unfair and the system should

be changed. The speech failed to make the grade

last year. `` this beach. It is a very large estuary with a high

population content in Exeter and on the margins. We are surrounded by

agricultural land and we have lots of roads that discharge into here.

When those high rainwater comes through here, and to the sea. It is

one of the few beaches and religion getting that cleared for clean

water. There through the consent of the total. Coral it is really good

news based on last year with a lot of people coming and enjoying.

Confirmation of equality of beaches and in bathing waters. It is based

on 20 water samples taken at each between May and September. This

your's excellent results reflect last your's try summer. The

prevailing conditions while other councillors. What sought on earth

that is have an impact. Even on the day of the sampling events, the

weather will have an endless. The south west resort lies usual and

these results. Is it time to change to a more accurate system. This

could be a more medium way of doing it. More snapshots over the course

of the year. Not just taken on one day like today. The system is about

30 years old. You might call it retrospective testing. The

environment agency has been looking at means of forecasting water

quality for years to come. This year, for the first time, they will

trial the water quality forecasting system. Selecting beaches that are

prone to fluctuations in quality. In the future, technology permitting,

it may be possible to simply check the water quality on the day we

visit the beach. A Devon couple have to make a

600`mile round trip to see their severely autistic son at a

specialist mental health hospital in Norfolk. It's the second time this

month that Spotlight has highlighted the shortage of young people's

mental health beds in the region. The NHS admits there's a shortage of

inpatient units for children and adolescents and a review of services

is under way across the country. Our Health Correspondent Sally Mountjoy

has this report. Mark Harvey is 17. But because he has autism, he is

emotionally about five years old. After an episode of disturbed pager

in the New Year he was sectioned and sent to the nearest hospital

available. `` disturbed episode. He is heartbroken. Closing in on

himself. The staff might say he is good, but we know his mood, we now

had oppressed he is. `` how depressed. Every two or three weeks

his parents make the return journey from Torquay to Norfolk. A round

trip of 644 miles. It takes 11 hours each way and they return cost is

?138. But in three months, Mark and Sharon have had no official help

with travel costs. They borrow money and reliable cash from a local

charity and their church. If local authorities were forced by an

automatic system to meet the costs of travel and in most cases

accommodation then it might put more pressure on local authorities to

fight for more local provision. Spotlight previously highlighted the

case of a 13`year`old boy with autism in a specialist unit in

Birmingham for 18 months. His parents are campaigning for his

return. The idea of Torquay to Norwich, Cornwall, Birmingham, sadly

these are common situations. What they also mean is that those

clinical commissioning groups are spending many thousands of pounds on

very expensive placement. He said they always tried to meet

reasonable travel expenses and claims were reviewed. The family has

just heard they will be reimbursed. NHS England acknowledges the

shortage of dates. Beds. Children should not be in the situation where

parents are travelling miles to see them. It is just wrong. He is just

hoping his own son will be allowed home soon.

The MP for Totnes, Sarah Wollaston, has denied pressurising two men to

report sexual assault allegations against the former Deputy Speaker.

Nigel Evans was cleared of all charges last week. Dr Wollaston says

she offered to stand down as an MP if the two men felt she had put them

under pressure to go the police with their claims. Her constituency

chairman says other south west MPs should support her publicly. Claire

Jones reports. It has been a challenging few days for the MP

thrown into the national limelight for offering to help two men who

alleged that they had been assaulted by the Deputy Speaker. I am a member

of the health select committee. We have been saying that they should be

striking doctors often fail to act on serious concerns raised by

colleagues. It would not be right of me to fail to expect those standards

as a parliamentarian without applying the same standards myself.

It is always difficult, particularly were very popular colleagues are

concerned. Nigel Evans, cleared of all charges, agrees with the

decision. If you are given the information she was, you have got to

take it somewhere. And her local constituency chairman also backs.

MPs should publicly back her, she deserves it. Her decision was

supported by the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commission. She has

provided support to two people who claimed sexual assault on them. It

is disgraceful that she has been criticised over this. In my view she

has acted totally promptly. On the high Street, divided opinions. It

was the right thing but will not help her political career. She

ignited the fire, it all got blown up, I don't think she should have

said anything. Possibly was the right thing, but I feel sorry for

him. If you see something you don't think is right, you should speak up,

definitely. She says she now intends to return her attention to her

constituents. It's claimed that research by

scientists at the University of Exeter is changing the lives of

children with diabetes. The pioneering work has meant youngsters

have been able to change from insulin injections to tablets. And

the results have prompted one family to call the treatment a "miracle".

Spotlight's Scott Bingham reports. At five years old, health problems

due to diabetes meant Jack was unable to talk. But after scientists

at the University of Exeter put him on tablets to stabilise his blood

sugar, Jack, now 14, delighted his family by altering his first words.

He would often collapse on the floor because his blood sugar was so low.

He had seizures. They all stopped. He had never said a word, six weeks

after taking medication he walked out of school and said hello mum,

for the first time. Now he never shuts up! The breakthrough came

after scientists identified a genetic mutation with the pancreas

some sufferers. It meant some patients like Jack could be treated

with tablets rather than ensuring injections. `` insulin.

For a scientist who spent most of the time in the laboratory to

actually meet the people who benefit from research is really amazing. We

found we could learn so much from them, from sharing their

experiences. More than 300 people have been successfully treated

across the world and the medical School and Hospital now hosts an

international centre of excellence. The discovery has also changed

international guidelines. All children with neonatal diabetes

should now have a genetic test to see if they also can switch to

tablets. South West farmers who were worst

hit by the recent flooding are being told they can apply for grants of up

to ?35,000. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced the

extension to the Farm Recovery Fund in a visit to the Somerset Levels

this morning. Nationally ten million will be made available.

Thousands of homes and businesses in parts of West Cornwall still don't

have mains water. It's been off since around nine o'clock this

morning after a burst water main in Hayle. South West Water says most of

the properties affected are in St Ives, St Erth and Carbis Bay. They

hope to have supplies restored by tomorrow morning.

Cornwall Council issued the second highest number of parking fines

outside of London according to a Freedom of Information request.

There were 47,000 tickets issued in the county last year, bringing in

nearly ?2 million in revenue. The council say it's one of the biggest

unitary authorities in the country. Hundreds of butterflies have been

released into the crocodile swamp at Paignton Zoo. At more than 26

Celsius and with high humidity it's the perfect environment for the

insects. But how will it work out for them in their new shared home?

Our South Devon reporter John Ayres has been to find out. They would not

be my first choice if I was looking for a new housemate but as it turns

out, the crocodile swamp, which also has snakes, is the ideal place. The

only other place in the zoo with suitable conditions is the reptile

house, but the butterflies would not last seconds in there. The reptiles

will have a field day. But crocodiles and snakes are not

interested in butterflies. They eat lots of different things but not

insects. It is perfect conditions. Today they were released, in their

own time. They are really stunning things. The caterpillar makes the

case around it, basically its body dissolves, it reforms into a

butterfly. As it does so, as it is solid enough, pops open the case and

begins to emerge. It is all about celebrating

biodiversity and the 100th birthday of the zoo.

Lots of pictures have been sent in. The weather has been beautiful

today. Glorious sunshine. Pretty good temperatures. 16, 17 Celsius.

Very good for this time of year. Not quite so warm along the south coast.

The reason is the breeze. Despite the sunshine, no more than 11 or 12

on the south Cornwall coast. Still some sunshine tomorrow, still fine

and dry. You can see where the area of high pressure is all stop not

just us, France, Belgium, across the Channel, the influence of the

high`pressure, moving away from us. It allows one week weather system to

drift towards us on Thursday. Generally more cloudy for all those.

Temperatures are still good. But then a drop. Particularly as we move

into the start of the Easter holiday. The satellite picture from

earlier, completely free of cloud, we have not seen that much in April.

This was earlier today, the youth sailing Championships. Conditions

could not be more perfect. A decent breeze, clear blue skies. The song

has been pretty strong for the time of year, five on the UV index. So be

careful, the sun at this time of year has some strength to it.

Overnight, Cleo skies remaining. `` clear. Overnight temperatures

probably done as low as four degrees. Just a little bit warmer

than last night. Tomorrow should be lovely. Cloud in the afternoon. It

might just make the sunshine a bit hazy. Perhaps a bit warmer around

the south coast. Top temperature, 16 degrees. Again, the onshore breeze

holding the temperatures down to just 12. The Isles of Scilly, a fine

day. Cloud making the sunshine a bit hazy. And the high water times:

surfing has been disappointing. We have had some lovely clean waves on

the north coast today, similar tomorrow. The coastal waters

forecast. Winds from the East, South East, south`east tomorrow. Slowly

dropping through the afternoon. Generally dry with good visibility.

Heading towards the Easter weekend, Thursday, more cloud around.

Slightly different conditions. Saturday is a fine day. Lots of

uncertainty. More cloud and potential for outbreaks of rain.

Good evening. That is all for now. We are back at

a p.m. And 10:25pm. Good night.