04/04/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

You're watching BBC Channel Islands. The headlines this evening.

Guilty of abusing children in Guernsey 40 years ago. The law

catches up with Alasdair Garven. Plus following an extensive air and

land search police find the body of a missing man in Jersey. And the

plan which it's hoped will sort out Guernsey's schools and education

A man's been found guilty of sexually abusing children in

Guernsey 40 years ago. 65-year-old Alasdair Garven denied all along

that he'd indecently assaulted four young girls between 1970 and 1977.

Mike Wilkins was in court. He denied it right up to the end,

but today Alisdair Garven was found guilty of sexually abusing four

children. He lived in Guernsey before moving to the UK in 1976 but

was arrested when he returned to the island last October. Alasdair

Garven moved to here and it is in one of these houses that for girls,

aged between four and seven, were repeatedly sexually abused. One of

them told the court that she is now happily married with two sons who

know nothing about it. She said, I did not take him when I was little

but I hate him now. Questions were raised in court why it had taken

the victims so long to come forward. One said she thought it would be

impossible to prove, another said she didn't want to re-live any of

the memories. When the guilty verdict was delivered, Mr Garven

who was sitting behind this glazed screen and was wearing a red fleece

with an open shirt and jeans, showed no emotion, staring at the

floor. The Court was then told that Mr. Garven had a previous

conviction from 1984 for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-

old girl in Bath and north east Somerset. It does happen and what

we would like to send the message of the is no matter how long ago

the abuse happened, victims can come forward and abusers will be

dealt with accordingly. After two hours of considering the evidence,

they Durer's unanimously found Alasdair Garven guilty of all 10

counts against him. Those accused five of gross indecency and five of

indecent assault. What price he will have to pay remains to be seen

and he is due to be sentenced at the end of May.

The police have found the body of a missing Swedish man. There has been

an extensive land and their search for Gustav Floven who was last seen

at the weekend. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Just minutes after this, police found the body of a man they were

looking for. It was that of 29- year-old Gustav Floven. Gustav

Floven went missing on Saturday night. And was last seen here at

the Black Dog Pub. He said, I am diabetic and need a job. I said I

cannot help you. That was the last time he was seen alive. Over the

last few days, rescue teams have carried out a huge search of the

area around Bouley Bay. It included the Channel Islands air search

plane, sniffer dogs and St Catherine's lifeboat. The police

say Gustav had been working in Guernsey and he arrived in Jersey

on Saturday night. It's thought he'd come over to try and find work

in a hotel. The manager of this hotel, the Water's Edge, said Mr

Floven was an ex-member of staff. And he'd worked here three years

ago. Tonight, police are continuing their investigations to establish

exactly how Mr Flovae died. Police have carried out house to house

enquiries in Guernsey after a 26- year-old man was seriously injured

in an attack in St Peter Port. Police say the assault, with a

bladed weapon, took place at a private address in Mont Durand at

around 5am yesterday morning. Two people have been arrested in

connection with the incident. A new men's refuge is opening in St

Helier. This is the site in New Street where men who have fallen on

hard times can stay. It's being launched by the charity Caring

Hands which runs a similar hostel in St Aubin. The charity have had

to expand their operation because of growing demand.

Deputies Shona and Trevor Pitman have been unsuccessful in suing the

Jersey Evening Post and Broadlands estate agents for defamation. The

case related to an advertisement published, which they felt did not

portray them correctly. It was poor GCSE results that

highlighted the low standards at Guernsey's high schools and now

there's a plan for how to solve the problem. Education has today

published a report containing nearly 50 recommendations for

improving the Island's schools. I spoke to our reporter Penny

Elderfield earlier from our Guernsey newsroom. I began by

asking her, with so many recommendations, which were key?

They are all sorts of suggestions. As to quality of teachers, the

department wants to ensure the good ones can stay longer. At the same

time, it is about rooting out those not up to the job and introducing

more of a link between pay and performance. Work also take place

to see how schools are managed to give head teachers more of a say.

More information will be made public. While the 11-plus system is

not going anywhere just now, they will try to improve it to make the

process quicker. How long will this take? Some of the ideas have

already been implemented. There is already more implement --

information out there with school reports on line. At the three high

schools were reports -- results were disappointing, help is being

brought in to try to bring standards up an English and maths.

Education says there will is there to make the changes. It has been

fantastic to see the professionalism and dedication

among schools and staff and head and within departments. It was

quite traumatic at the beginning of the year. Morale has improving and

there has been a drive to ensure we can deliver going forward. Like all

States departments, Education is facing budget cuts, can it achieve

all of this without overspending? Well, with a target of finding �1.6

million worth of savings, there's no denying it will be challenging.

But that said, the department is confident that by using existing

resources more effectively it can, and will deliver.

Well, what do you think of this story? What should Guernsey's

states be doing? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and

Later in Spotlight with Justin and Victoria: Why the flowers and the

bees are being confused by our Toxic ash produced by Jersey's new

incinerator could be treated to make it safe to bury. At the moment

it's stored in sealed bunkers or pits. The equipment to turn it into

harmless glass-like beads could cost up to �5 million. The Minister

in charge says it's just one of the methods being considered. All the

solutions are out there but some of them are unproven. We are

investigating to see which is the best option for us. What I do not

want to do is leave the ash around for a children and grandchildren.

It was part of my election pledge to deal with it.

There'll no longer be a Miss Junior Battle of Flowers in Jersey. Each

year a girl between eight and 12 years old is chosen to represent

the island. She usually shares centre stage with Mr and Miss

Battle during the August parades. But the organisers say there's not

enough interest in the role to continue it.

In sport, Guernsey's Alison Merrien has won the Bowls World Cup after

beating New Zealand's world number one Jo Edwards 7-6 9-5 in the final

in Australia. Merrien secured her eighth title in 12 years when she

beat Edwards this morning. I played a really good game yesterday

against the Australian girl. My confidence grew one side beat Heart

and I felt I could beat anybody. It was hard going this morning.

Feeling relaxed which makes a change because usually I'm nervous.

The I felt good. Fantastic news for ha and Guernsey. It was not as cold

as we expected today and has been quite sunny here in Jersey. Let's

find out what will happen with the Temperatures will recover tomorrow

and into the weekend. Some showers around which will continue over

night tonight. And the rear of although pressure is close to the

islands just now. That will slowly still and later this evening and

overnight. Lunchtime on Thursday, little changed. By Friday, we have

moved away from that with a weaker Reg of high pressure. There should

be some sunny weather to enjoy it with temperatures recovering nicely.

Nothing compared to the temperatures of last week. Tonight,

a continued risk of showers and those will occasionally be heavy.

Winds from the east and temperatures down to 4 Celsius.

Actually started the morning tomorrow. A scattering of showers

as well and it will feel pretty raw. You will have to wrap up warmly

tomorrow. It will feel cold with temperatures up to 11 Celsius. The

wind and the showers will make it feel decidedly chilly. There is a

coastal waters forecast. Winds from the north-east. Showers and

moderate visibility. Here other times of high water. For a surfer's,

for most of the sheltered westerly beaches the staff will be Claire --

clean. Into the weekend, Friday is a bright and dry day with sunny

spells. At that four will Celsius. Saturday, a 11 Celsius and Sunday

are rather cloudy with a risk of some patchy rain. He does the

Before we go, a quick reminder of today's top stories.

65-year-old Alastair garden has been found guilty of sexually

abusing young children in Guernsey 40 years ago.