16/08/2013 BBC Oxford News

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford. In tonight's programme:

Jailed for eight and a half years — the man who beat his former

girlfriend with a hammer after she ended their relationship.

Also tonight: the guns that fire 50,000 volts. A police officer is

accused of assaulting a suspect in a cell — with a Taser.

And later on: The no—go zones — the homes with no postal service for

months because of fears over dog attacks.

Good evening. He attacked his former partner with a hammer and imprisoned

her in her own home. Today 38—year—old Darren Stenhouse from

Aylesbury has been jailed for eight and a half years. He'd previously

pleaded guilty to charges of causing grevious bodily harm. The court

heard how he carried out the attack after his former girlfriend ended

their relationship. Today it has emerged it is the second time he's

been sent to prison assaulting the same woman. Jessica Cooper reports.

Darren Stenhouse, today sentenced to more than eight years in prison for

making his former girlfriend a prisoner in her own home. During the

attack in March, Claire Harrison managed to call 999 after

barricading herself in a bedroom. The 38—year—old was originally

charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to GBH charges. That

999 call was made on the street and moment earlier she had been hit over

the head with a hammer and bound with bicycle cables. When the police

were called, they found Darren Stenhouse hiding amongst the trees.

His victim has been left physically and psychologically scarred by what

happened. In a statement Claire Harrison said the attack was "the

most frightening thing that has ever happened to me".

I think everyone is extremely satisfied that we've come to the

conclusion that we have, that he is guilty and is being sentenced today.

It will give Claire the closure she needs to move on with her life, and

it is a message to all other perpetrators of abuse out there.

When describing what had happened, the judge said, the victim must of

been terrified. She could have easily been killed. On sentencing,

she said that given that a hammer had been used and the perpetrator

had previous convictions he decided he was a risk to other members of

the public. An Oxford university college has

paid tribute to reservist soldier who died during SAS training in the

Brecon beacons. Corporal James Dunsby had working as an academic at

Pembroke College. In a statement, the college spoke of its sadness,

adding he'd been working on a chapter for a forthcoming book. Two

other soldiers also died. A police officer from Wiltshire has

appeared in court today accused of assaulting a suspect with a taser

weapon in a police cell. PC Lee Birch is said to have used the

weapon, which discharges tens of thousands of volts. Scott Ellis was

in court. 29—year—old police constable Lee

Burch appeared in the dock of Swindon Crown Court charged with

assault after using a 50,000 volt Taser weapon on a suspect in a

police cell. These events date back to December the 23rd of last year,

when Daniel Dove was arrested in trout bridge and taken into

custody. —— Trowbridge. The charge is one of assault causing actual

bodily harm as well as a second charge of misfeasance in a public

office. This was a preliminary hearing today and PC Burch did not

have to enter any please, but it was agreed that because he is a

Wiltshire Police officer that the trial should be held elsewhere. It

will be heard at Bristol Crown Court.

Swindon Town have signed the controversial former Newcastle

striker Nile Ranger on a one—year deal. Ranger, who scored twice in 51

games for the Magpies, gained notoriety for tattooing his surname

on his face earlier this summer. He appeared in court yesterday facing a

charge of rape, which he denies. A trial is expected in January. One

year ago will go council was told it was failing in its provision of

services to vulnerable children, now it has been told it is adequate. It

was told by Ofsted last year it needed to make urgent improvements.

Today it emerged that although the service is far from perfect, it is

much better. The number of people working from

home has been rising over the last decade, with the Cotswolds and West

Oxfordshire among the most popular areas of the country for

home—working. In the UK as a whole around 13 per cent of people do some

work from home. In West Oxfordshire it's 19 per cent and 20 per cent in

the Cotswolds. So what are the pros and cons? Angela Walker has been

finding out. When Louise ran her business from a

shop, she had to juggle decorating cakes with serving customers. Now,

she works from home. When I was at the shop it was very

long days and there were still a lot of things to do when I got home.

Now, being at home I can be a little bit more flexible with my time have

a little bit more time to myself as well, but also things like overheads

are greatly reduced and I can still do the same as what I was doing

before. But it can have its downsides — like isolation from the

business community. The Oxfordshire rural community council says some

villages have hundreds of people working from home who don't know

each other, which is why networking is essential. That's where places

like the Picnic Hamper in Chalgrove come in. We have networking events.

The late breakfast networking event is a really good one which regularly

has 50 to 60 people, we also have the Business Biscotti, which is a

coffee morning event really good for getting out of your house and

meeting other people who run businesses from their homes as well.

Based on the Monument Business Park, people can host events here without

making a long—term commitment. This has obviously got many units and

different businesses in each unit which have different needs, so this

community space means that people can get together and meet and share

ideas and just be social, and being social is a part of good business

anyway — it's networking it's talking to people. But for many,

slow broadband is a deterrent. Unless that's addressed we're

unlikely to see a surge in the number of people in Oxfordshire

ditching the office. Angela Walker, BBC South Today.

At one time it was thought about 30 or 40 per cent of us might be

working from home, but that's not happened. Dr Benjamin Reid from the

think—tank The Work Foundation told me why. I think there are a balance

of pressures as to the drive towards more home—working, but also elements

that are discouraging it. Relating to the disadvantages, some of the

advantages favour part—time work. On the other hand, I think many

organisations are still nervous about having people to far—away and

they want to develop a strong organisational culture that is based

on interaction and people working together closely. People can run

their businesses from home, but what about employees? What's the most

common jobs people are at home? The vast majority are knowledge workers,

and that could be people in the creative industries, media,

Management — all sorts of different industries. It is most likely

knowledge workers who have that opportunity to work from home. There

are advantages to working from home, it says on travel and childcare, but

what's disadvantages? Certainly an amount of loneliness, that people

miss the camaraderie and the possibility of sharing knowledge.

Also, there is some data in the research that shows you may miss out

on progression — out of sight, out of mind. Thank you.

An Oxford theatre company which was on the brink of closure last year

has battled back for another season of open—air performances. The

Creation Theatre Company was badly affected by the wettest summer in a

hundred years and a drop in tourism because of the Olympics. Stuart

Tinworth takes a look at how they've bounced back.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for he today that sheds

his blood with me shall be my brother? Shakespeare's Henry the

fifth — with a cast of three. We've got our work cut out for us cos

we're playing about 23 characters between the three of us. I'm playing

Henry V, and also the hostess, Mistress Quickly, Bardorf, some

soldiers, and the French court as well. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. It's

one of the cuts made by the Creation Theatre Company, which was on the

cusp of closure, but they say it's actually done them a favour. It's

amazing actually. The kind of creativity, the invention you get

when you're forced to. Actually it's really hard to imagine this show any

other way. They've also started later in the season in an attempt to

avoid bad weather and they've taken other measures. We've reduced our

audience size as well, so smaller capacity. It just helps to reduce

that risk. Even if it were to rain from now until 14th of September we

know we're not going to be back in a situation where we're faced with

closure. I think the future of the it is exciting at the moment,

because although there are cuts left right and centre, what has come out

of that, Theatre is providing new places for it to be performed. So

much is done for us. I get to deliver one of Shakespeare's most

famous speeches and you can look no further for such inspiration with

these surroundings. Last year they kept going by fundraising £50,000.

Stuart Tinworth, BBC South Today. That's all from me for the moment.

I'll have the headlines at eight and a full bulletin at 10.25. Now more

of today's stories with Sally Taylor.

close. Supposing 90 children are on the books, what then? The schools

Still to come in this evening's South Today: Sarah Farmer has no

fear working with animals. From deer to wallabies, otters to bison, I've

been exploring the wild side of the New Forest.

So many postmen and women have been bitten by dogs while doing their

rounds in Reading, the Royal Mail has stopped deliveries to more than

100 homes. It says there've been more than 270 dog attacks on its

staff in the town in the last five years and a fifth of those attacks

happened in the RG2 postcode area — that's south of the town where some

deliveries have been suspended. But many residents believe the Royal

Mail is exaggerating the issue and they're sick of having to queue to

pick up their letters at the sorting office. Nikki Mitchell reports.

It has been four months since Nicole Ray had letters through her door and

when she goes to collect them, they'll and delays. I am very angry,

I had one that was late and I had a whale if come around and now he

wants me to take 108 pounds. And all because the Royal mail says somebody

here is conveyed dog without a lead and that dog has bitten the postman.

This is web people from more than 100 homes have to come and collect

their mail. There are often choose. It is my brother's birthday tomorrow

so we have two go down to the Royal mail and pick up birthday card. The

Royal mail has been able to deliver mail saying why their mail has been

suspended. They are still coming past everybody's houses so they

could still put letters up here couldn't they? It is health and

safety gone mad. The Royal mail welcomes new laws. It is going to

make some of the behaviours we have seen with aggressive dogs, dogs that

nip, and also dogs where they are in their own gardens, they will be the

ability to fine and prosecute owners who are not taking proper response

will achieve for their dogs. Earlier this week, a postman was attacked by

a dog and required hospitalisation. This is not health and safety gone

mad, this is a very serious red to our colleagues. People who have had

their mail suspended, many of whom do not have a dog, are losing their

patience. They want their mail reinstated next week.

New technology developed in Berkshire could help soldiers

identify friend from foe. The face recognition software uses a headset

designed by Google to tell its wearer information about who they

are looking at. The company says it could be used in war zones or to

assist people helping with international aid in relief

operations. Here's our business correspondent Alastair Fee.

You wear them like normal classes but these spectacles are one of

Google's latest inventions. The headset has a range of uses, from

searching the web to taking photos. New software developed in Berkshire

means it also can recognise people. I can see everything normally but

when I approach someone, the headset sends me a message that only I can

see. The glasses are telling you this is John and he is not a threat.

This is a tool for the Arsenal of people who work in difficult

environments. —— and Byron. Troops have to make snap decisions every

day. In every, this could do away with the use of either the cards. It

could warned the individual is unknown. It would be able to

recognise a face with a high degree of actresses and enable a person to

understand whether that is a friend who is coming to help or whether

that is a threat that is —— and unknown. The benefits that we can

act truly identify the person that we are supposed to be working with

to make sure they are the person we are working with in the field. The

word of caution I would add to that is that we must respect people's

right not to be identified by electronic means. This technology

isn't available yet but it is expected to be on the market next

year. It costs £1000. Industry experts say the cost could fall to

the price of a smart phone. Once on the market, the real test of the

software will begin. You might not be surprised to

encounter some ponies in the New Forest or even a pig, but at the New

Forest Wildlife Park there are some rather more unusual creatures to

greet you. Sarah Farmer is there tonight. My goodness, there is

something behind you there. Yes, this is a very large, scary bison.

You can hear him breathing if you get up close. I have had a wonderful

day delay. This New Forest Wildlife Park has 40 different species of

animals being cared for by the staff here as part of their conservation

project to get them back into the wild and preserve them from

extinction. Earlier today, I was taken under the wing of the head

keeper who took me in as her apprentice and what a treat it was.

250 covers and every fussy customers. Less chatting and more

shopping. This towel isn't for me to dry off. Look what we've got. Mr

hedges. Pop him down next to the other one. Give him a wander around.

Give your bucket a shake, server. Beautiful creatures. What do I do,

handed to them? Yes. Frieda here is seven years old now. And that one is

just too. —— two years old. I really do think it would be this close.

The lunchtime rotor involved reading the bison. The links. And they quick

catch up with the Wallabies. But for me, the highlight is to be meeting

Topaz the tame otter. Oh you beautiful creature.

I'm not sure who got wetter, Topaz or me but we have dried out since

and I have the full forecast coming up later in the programme. In the

meantime, I'm going to enjoy these beautiful creatures, the gentle

lesson, —— bison, and the stack. Stay away from both animals as

commission Onto sport and it really is a big

weekend, Tony's looking ahead to the new Premier League in a moment but

cricket first. Domestic cricket's showpiece day of

the summer heads to Edgbaston and they're billing it as "expect the

unexpected." Four teams have made it to finals day. Northants, Essex, and

both Hampshire and Surrey who meet in the semifinals. The two teams met

yesterday in the YB40 competition, Hampshire winning by three wickets.

And the Royals have been kings when it comes to T20 cricket in recent

years, this is their fourth consecutive finals day.

I think this will be the big one, really. Through history, no one has

defended their crown. To go there to Birmingham this weekend and achieve

that would be massive. It's a farewell to T20 for captain

Dimitri Mascarenhas can he lead the defending champions to glory again?

His side have already beaten Surrey twice in T20 cricket this season

too. If we had lost to study both times in the group stages, we would

really want to be pushing hard to say, group stages didn't count, this

is where it matters, and put a good show on. But from my point of view,

we have nothing to lose. Whatever has gone before has gone. It is

whoever performs best on the day. They have got some stars, we have

got some stars, and it is whoever can perform best.

As for Surrey, they're without Gareth Batty for the game, he's

suspended after a clash in the quarterfinals. He has been a great

leader and a fantastic man. To lose him has been tough. It was a

hard—fought game against Somerset and sometimes the emotions spill

over and he has paid a real tough price for that. We are still

confident that if we can perform as well as we have done in the past and

deal with all of the pressures and distractions that might come along,

then we can certainly win. It's a 2.30 start tomorrow and you

can follow it live on BBC Radio Solent and online via the BBC

website. Buoyed by a record multi—billion

pound TV deal, the new Premier League season kicks off tomorrow.

Southampton fans will be optimistic that their side can continue to

improve after an impressive debut season. For our latest football

preview, I've been to St Mary's to assess the ambitions.

14th last seen in —— season, a manager in his first full season in

charge, so can Saints saw in the Premier league? What would you judge

a success for this team this season? TRANSLATION: I think the sky is the

limit. We have to think positive, the ambitions about our goals this

season. The Saints boss has added power were to his team, the oration

centre half from Leon is joined by another player from Celtic. In the

engine room, there is the midfield maestro. He had the most

interceptions last season and he is striving to get better. I still want

to score more goals, I still want to get the goals back even more, I want

to progress in every aspect because I am never happy with myself even if

some people say to me I have had a good game, I am very strict about my

performances. 14th last season, do you feel as a team you can go better

than that this year? I think we can. We, all of us, we are very

young players. We didn't really know what to expect from the Premier

league we learnt very quick last year. I think we are a better team

than seven months ago. Every player grows, it was an individual, it was

a collective, and we are ready to finish as high as possible and that

is what we want to do. Saints second season starts at West Brom tomorrow.

Don't rule out another striker joining the Lambert by the end of

the month but this group is ready. I can't wait for the atmosphere, for

the fans, for everything. It is such a beautiful thing to play every

weekend, to feel this adrenaline before a game, that is something you

can't buy. It is just amazing, I can't wait.

Big game tomorrow. There are the matches you can follow there.

Meanwhile elsewhere. Reading host Watford and Brighton are at

Birmingham in the Championship. In League One, Swindon are at

Shrewsbury, MK Dons go to Preston. In League Two, BBC Radio Oxford

follow the U's game at Torquay. Hampshire golfer Neil Raymond is in

action right now at the US Amateur Championship after wining through to

the last eight at Brookline. It really wasn't the best start to

an August day, but these holiday—makers in Swanage weren't

put off. Thanks to Robin Boultwood for that. And this picture was

captured in a garden in Basingstoke. What is it looking like

for the weekend, Sarah? A mixed bag over the weekend. We started with

soggy conditions. You can see from the satellite picture earlier the

progress of that band of rain. It works it way eastwards and has

cleared through through the course of the day. Try, brighter conditions

have been with us this afternoon. The showers will fade tonight is

looking largely dry. Perhaps little on the chilly side, temperatures

down to 12 or 13 but rural spots could well the temperatures down

into single figures. As we head towards the early albums into dawn,

the cloud starts to building from the West, with patchy outbreaks of

rain. Eastern parts perhaps little brighter but the cloud soon

arrives, bringing outbreaks of wet weather. Mostly light, moderate,

maybe one or two heavier birth, particularly along the coast, we

could see dusty winds, 40 marks per hour along the coast, 35 inland. ——

40 mph. Tomorrow night, we will see the hand of wet weather clearing

through, becoming lighter as the night draws on. A dry spell for a

time, maybe some showers in the early hours. As we start the day on

Sunday, the showers could well be a round from the very start of the

day. There are few blustery shout was, a brisk breeze but we will see

decent sunny skies through the course of the day. As we look ahead

to next week, not doing too badly. We will see higher per share

building in and things looked to be little more settled. The winds are a

little bit lighter, we should have fun —— we should have some warm

sunshine and we could well lead the temperatures up into the mid—20s. A

damp, wet weekend to come but next week is looking to bad at all. Thank

you very much. Enjoy the rest of your evening. We just have some

breaking news coming in. It has just been confirmed in the last few

moments at the troubled special school Stanbridge Earls is to close.

The school had been trying to secure at least 90 pupils for the autumn

term following criticism about how a deal —— dealt with allegations about

a pupil being raped. They have not secured enough pupils and the school

will now close. We will have more on that in our late news at 10:25pm.

That is the Stanbridge Earls in Romsey, it is about to close. Anna

Wardley was going to go back and try and do the last ten miles, we

followed her, she and post—rehab to pull out again. —— she unfortunately

had to pull out again. That is it from us. Have a great weekend. Thank

you for watching. Bye—bye.