19/05/2014 BBC Oxford News

20 degrees. We need to keep a close eye on development is over the next

couple of days. Good evening.

A teacher from Swindon has been warned he's facing jail after he

tried to encourage four girls to have sex with him by sending

inappropriate messages on Facebook. Alexander Thomas, who's 30, admitted

having a picture of one of the girls in her underwear, but had denied

inciting the teenagers into sexual activity. Police say he

systematically abused his position of trust. Katharine Da Costa reports

from Swindon Crown Court. Alexander Thomas, seen here with his father,

had a promising career as a PE and business studies teacher at a

secondary school in Wiltshire. But the court heard the 30`year`old

would use Facebook to target four teenage girls aged 16 and 17. He

would gain their trust before encouraging them to send pictures of

themselves in their underwear. The prosecution said one of the girls

sent him five photographs of herself including one topless image. Two

claim they met up with him outside school and that he touched them

indecently, charges he always denied. Today, a jury found him

guilty on five counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

while in a position of trust. But he was cleared of two counts of sexual

activity. He pled guilty to possessing an indecent image of a

child earlier in the trial. Outside court, the investigating officer

said Thomas abused the position of trust for his own sexual

gratification. Thomas targeted his victims and encouraged them to

engage in sexual acts after gaining their confidence and trust. He has

refused to take any responsibility for his actions and has forced his

victims to relive their suffering and give evidence in court. I would

urge anyone who has been the victim of any sexual offence to contact

Wiltshire Police immediately. We have dedicated officers to help

those who have been abused. The judge said these were serious

offences and warned Thomas he could face a jail term when he is

sentenced next month. Police are continuing their

investigations after a woman was knocked down and killed by a fire

engine in Oxford.79`year`old Sultana Begum was knocked down on Friday on

the Cowley Road. The engine was being driven to an emergency in

Blackbird Leys. Today, police have been speaking to potential witnesses

as part of their investigation into what happened.

Home owners along the proposed HS2 route have been urged to protest to

the Government about how it will affect their lives. The HS2 Action

Alliance says a quarter of a million households will be affected by the

London to Birmingham route. The group is protesting against a

parliamentary bill which would authorise construction. The

Government says HS2 will bridge the divide between the north and south

of the country. New figures show that more than half

the homes in Oxford are rented out rather than owned by the people that

live in them. The report by the office of national statistics also

shows private landlords now own a quarter of homes in the city.

Experts say the prospect of owning a home in Oxford is now out of reach

for more people than ever. Sinead Carroll is in Oxford tonight.

Sinead, what's the significance of these new figures? It is easy to see

why Oxford as a desirable location on a sunny day like today. This is

the first time that the number of people has outstripped the number of

people that own their own homes. Someone who knows about buying here

is Anna. You have nearly exchanged any property in Marston. We offered

?60,000 over and over the next week and a half we had five people trying

to make it ?100,000 over. To be honest, since then, we have had our

fingers crossed. Talk me through the idea. It is when you have had an

offer on a property, but the owners are still in their right to sell it

to anyone else for another price are not sell it at all. If you are

gazumped you can lose out. Yaron estate agent year. Gazumping sounds

like a dream. It is reassuring that if you're competing for a property,

that it will hold its value when you come to sell it. It is a condition

of the market at the moment. We're finding a lot of good property in

the city. Were hearing about a lot of people renting. You finding a lot

of people coming from rented accommodation? A lot of people are

waiting for the right accommodation to come up. Buyers are in cash

positions or already have mortgages and are fighting tooth and nail to

get the best deals. It is like a scary housing market. Doesn't look

like on screen to change any time soon. `` like it is going to

change. More adults in Oxfordshire are

paying thousands of pounds to have braces fitted on their teeth. This

orthodontist's practice in Oxford has seen 15 extra patients enquire

about braces each month since the start of 2013. It's thought the

increase has been partly down to new technology, like transparent plastic

braces. Only limited treatment is available for free on the NHS.

Private care can cost up to ?6000. Election candidates have been

canvassing in Swindon, knowing Thursday's vote could have

significance for the country as a whole. In the past, the results in

the town have mirrored those in general elections. Navigate your way

around Swindon's notorious Magic Roundabout and it's reckoned the

road to Downing Street lies open. For 30 years, whichever party has

got MPs elected? here has also got their man as Prime Minister. So

these local elections are crucial. Labour turned out in force on one of

their target seats. Helping deliver leaflets, parliamentary candidate

Amme Snelgrove, who Labour HQ say simply must win next year. `` Anne

Snelgrove. It puts pressure on me and Labour Party activists and

councillors to make sure we vote on May 22 and on the 7th of May 2015.

In the town centre, local Conservatives survey a regeneration

project. They believe Swindon's economic recovery has helped them

keep control of the council. We have had a majority of just one for the

last two years and have survived two by`elections and strong challenges

from the Labour party. We will be working hard to keep this council

Conservative. In the council chamber, the only other party of

four Liberal Democrats. All wonder about the impact of UKIP and the

possibility of a hung council. If it is a balanced council, as

predictions are, we are the ones who hold control and therefore can bring

our policies into play which can hopefully get more people to vote

for us in the first place. If we had four, five, six, ten councillors

elected, we would have a say in the way in which this council would

operate and run. If you have the sway and the power, you can get what

people want. Swindon's results will be watched this year and next.

And you can find details of all of the candidates standing in

Thursday's elections on the BBC website. That's bbc.co.uk.

A man from Oxfordshire is preparing to row more than 2000 miles across

the Pacific Ocean. Darren Taylor, from Charlbury, has left his job as

a firefighter to take part in the race which starts in America next

month. He'll be rowing as part of a group with three other men, raising

money for charity. It's hoped they'll complete the challenge in

about 80 days, finishing in Hawaii. Darren had planned to do it with

Alex Flynn from Goring but that's now been postponed until next year

because of a shortage in funding. It's got that close now where it is

just fine`tuning everything. All the exercising and training has been

done. There isn't much we're going to do on the way out there apart

from getting used to the boat itself and drawing together. More than

anything, it's been saying goodbye to friends and family.

That's all from me for the moment. I'll have the headlines at 8:00pm

and a full bulletin at 10:25pm. Now more of today's stories with Sally

Taylor. cars and a lorry has been involved

in a collision between junction five and four B. The eastbound motorway

has been closed. This Still to come in this evening's South Today.

Briony Leyland is live at the world's greatest gardening show.

Created in days, this garden looks like it has been here for years. It

is all part of the magic of Chelsea. All of that to come.

Voters across the South, along with millions of others across Europe, go

to the polls on Thursday for elections to the European

Parliament. But those aren't the only elections on the day. Council

elections are also being held in twenty local authorities across

Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex and Oxfordshire, as well as

in Swindon. One of those is Basingstoke, which has already seen

more than its share of political hot potatoes this year. So we sent Ben

Moore to the town to take the electoral temperature. From

widespread flooding to a Cabinet minister resigning over expenses.

From a Facebook faux pas to High Court rulings over housing.

Basingstoke has seen it all in the last year. Despite the high`profile

headlines, do the people know what Thursday will bring? Is it something

you consider important? Yes I voted before I came out. Is it something

you will voting? I don't know I haven't made my mind up yet. You

going to vote? Yes it is very important. I'm undecided no party

has overall control here although the Conservatives have the most

overall seat with 29. Basingstoke was in the eye of a political storm

when the local MP, Maria Miller resigned after an expenses row. Have

the Tories overcome a problem like Maria? I think this is rather like

the Euro elections, it is in the background. This is not what the

elections of about. Look at our track record of improving people 's

lives in the borough and we want to continue to do this. The controversy

over this is still raw. The High Court said the how `` the council

acted unlawfully after it was bought for housing but left off development

plans. The judge called the Cabinet incompetent. Others agree. It is

almost unforgivable because you have legacies of planning permissions

that should never have been allowed. It has shown incompetence. We stand

for real involvements with local people actually having a plan for

the borough that actually has local influence over it. UKIP say they

have something to offer at a local level. The party have suffered from

ill advising social media. Matt Ellery said on Facebook that

Basingstoke women were ugly and he felt like stabbing someone. This is

a young man who posted something we might have said on and off moments

when we were younger. We are not supporting and if he wins he will be

an independent standing. There were political storms as well. Flooding

in Buxton left people being evacuated and left on the streets.

Residents have asked many questions that they have not had answer just

yet. We need a public enquiry were questions can be put to the counters

in charge and they can justify what they did and did not do. As we

approach polling day, the focus might be on the Euro election but as

Basingstoke shows there can be plenty to grab the attention at a

local level. Of course in about a year it is the general election,

this is a perfect chance for voters in the South to show all parties who

is in control. Well as we've said, European

elections are also happening on Thursday where a number of smaller

parties are also on the ballot paper. One of those is 'An

Independence from Europe' who have a full list of candidates in the South

East and South West. They're campaigning to leave the EU

altogether. The EU has taken our sovereignty and it reduces us to

second class citizens. It's time we got out and took back our

independence. There is no doubt that the EU is a black hole that swallows

tax payers money. It has failed on everything it has set up to achieve.

Instead of creating peace, there is turmoil. Instead of economic growth,

there is recession. Instead of democracy, we got bureaucracy. You

can find a full list of European candidates on the BBC website. Go to

bbc dot co dot uk slash news and then click on the politics section.

And you can hear a special Euro election debate at 19.00PM tonight

on BBC local radio in the South, hosted by our Political Editor Peter

Henley. ?? new line Onto sport and Lewis Coombes is here. In the last

couple of hours, Hampshire have announced the signing

is it too early to talk about the World Cup? Never too early. Today

the England squad went on the plane to Portugal. First cricket news.

Hampshire have announced the signing of batsman Owais Shah on a

short`term deal.The 35`year`old who's played 94 times for England

announced his retirement from first class cricket at the end of last

season, but has been brought in to boost the batting ranks with Michael

Carberry on international duty and Glenn Maxwell still playing in the

Indian Premier League. He'll make his debut against Sussex at Hove on

Friday. Meanwhile, on Day Two of their County Championship match

against Leicestershire at Grace Road... Hampshire added just eleven

runs to their overnight score, all out for 332. Leicestershire 292 for

nine in reply. Southampton captain Adam Lallana has reiterated that he

won't be distracted by speculation about his future whilst on

international duty. Lallana joined up with the rest of the England

squad before flying out to Portugal today for the start of world cup

preparation. Speculation over Lallana's future and that of

team`mate Luke Shaw has been much publicised since the end of the

season. But Lallana says he'll be fully focussed on representing his

country. It is easy for me to keep focused on the job in hand. It is

the World Cup, it is what kids dream of surveyors no chance of my being

taken off the ball. AFC Bournemouth defender Steve

Purches has announced his retirement after a 14 year playing career. Just

one year ago up from primary school finished rank last in the Hampshire

schools football cup without winning a single game, but now with the same

team, they've not only won a game, they've become county champions and

regional champions and this weekend will take part in a National Final!

Earlier today I went to meet the team. They are the schoolchildren

with the bounce back ability. Without a win last time round, the

roll call of 2014 now can't stop winning. Alistair, midfield. Sienna,

defender. Melick, Midfield. Thomas, defence. Paul, forward. Tom,

midfielder. Thomas, defender. Oliver, defender. George,

goalkeeper. Upham primary school booked their place in the national

finals with a dramatic last`minute goal in the regionals. Teachers have

dubbed them, the team that never give up. They have been training a

lot, every break time, lunchtime and every opportunity they get to play

football, they are playing football. What is lovely are the younger

children have been inspired by it. They have been joining in and

helping them to practice as well. Aged between nine and 11, they play

seven aside on smaller pitches with smaller goals. The dreams of winning

however, they are still as big. I like the buzz of excitement you get

before and after the matches even if you lose. Upham will now travel to

Aston Villa's training ground to compete against seven other schools

from across the country and they are hoping the winning run continues.

Good luck to everyone there. They have a great team and all of the

parents are going up on a coach. A real Phoenix from the flames story.

Good luck for the weekend. The world's greatest flower show got

underway today at Chelsea and the weather has certainly matched the

occasion. The South's horticulturists generally take

centre stage at the Show, and this year is no exception. Briony Leyland

has spent the day there and has been meeting some of the home`grown

talent at the show and joins us live now. This is one of the high`profile

show gardens here at Chelsea. It is called no man's land, inspired by

the landscape of France and how it was damaged in the First World War.

It draws parallels to the human experiences of some. It is a

thought`provoking design that is a popular theme at this year 's

Chelsea. Music macro. A new part bringing the history to life in

Chelsea. Michael Turner created his warhorse from stainless steel. His

local nursery worked with him to tell a wartime story through

planting. The horses coming through the trenches, he has been at war

coming from the dark side with moody colours and plans and taking him

through to the light and heading back to his home farm, hence the

nice flowers on the other side. This is a first for me. A fish out of

water. It is very exciting to see the sort of people of all walks of

life being able to see my horse. After a bitter and drawn`out winter

last year, this year has been milder and kinder to South 's growers. It

has been called the great Springer show. Last year was a nightmare. The

weather was dull and cold. This year it has been easier and we have not

had to move plans in and force them on, they have come unnaturally which

makes our life much easier. Chelsea always holds surprises exhibiting a

compost heap may seem like a risk, but a lot of thought has gone into

this. It shows how paper is made and how paper cuts `` Cubs can be

compost it into cups. I cannot begin to tell you, I have worked every

single day on this garden for the past eight months, just nonstop. It

has turned out well. Not a leaf must be out of place at Chelsea.

Attention to detail has made the team behind this garden look like it

has been here three years. Alison Hamilton has been scouring the

county for vintage props. We have paid so much money for these that

people walking by and saying why is she doing that? It is called the

Chelsea flower show, it is the details like that which make it

convincing. I show to entertain, stimulate and amaze. Every year

Chelsea finds new ways to turn heads. We brought you to a little

piece of the Isle of Wight at Chelsea. This is Alan tip marches

garden partly inspired by his home on the Isle of Wight. The judges

have made their inspections and the Queen has visited. The public will

be pouring in over the next few days, now it is time for the

exhibitors from the South who have been preparing for months to sit

back a little and show off. It looks divine briny. Everything looks nice

in the sun. We have had plenty of it this weekend. There is sunshine to

come but there's a B to the change. More unsettled weather to come but

let's enjoy the sunshine we had today. Now take a look at this. Part

of a Bournemouth shopping centre had to be cordoned

hank you to Martin Perry for that shot. Adrian Turner counted seven

cygnets in this swan's nest at Goring`on`Thames And I think I'd

give way to the oncoming traffic on the Swing Bridge at Freeman's Marsh

in Hungerford. Ken Rayner sent that one in. For many this evening is a

fine and pleasant end to the day. One or two of us may have boundary

downpours particularly Western Dorset where we will see lightning.

It looks as though we will stick with thundery downpours through the

night. The showers, that rainy area working in from the South West

bringing downpours through the course of the night. Not all of us

seeing them that there will be torrential rain in parts.

Overnight, temperatures mild with lows of 13`14 degrees. We start

tomorrow with wet weather which is being driven with low pressure. It

does is offer a time but we will see more showers cropping up through the

day. A grey and damp start for many. A bit of a breather with bright

intervals and some showers in the mix in the afternoon. Temperatures

through the day up to around 18`19 degrees. If you see a good chunk is

an shine you might see those temperatures nudging up a little.

Not doing too badly, you can dodge the showers that if you see the rain

there will be downpours to come. Tomorrow evening, potentially quite

nice. Maybe some dry spells to end the day. Tomorrow night, largely dry

and a bit of well weather to look out for in the eastern parts. In the

West murky conditions. Overnight lows down to 9`10 degrees. In the

middle of the week, we have unsettled conditions to come. There

will be heavy, thundery downpours that there are bright intervals to

be had. We are not ruling out the chance of sunshine. It will be

slightly warmer than average for this time of year. We will not see

the blue skies we will over the weekend. The summary, cloudy for the

next few days with some heavy downpours and some sunshine to. You

give with one hand and take with the other. We have had a good time over

the last two days and can't complain.

A mixed bag ahead. We will be back tomorrow. Join us again have a

lovely evening.