18/04/2013 BBC Points West

West. The headlines call on the coroner in court. He's accused of

taking money from the estates of his dead clients.

The paralysed man who says his life is unbearable. He is leading a

campaign for the rights to die. Action is demanded on flooded

fields. Join us on Points West!

Good evening. The Gloucestershire coroner has appeared in court in

London charged with stealing more than �2 million. A disclaimer that

Alan Crickmore, who is a solicitor, took money from the estates of dead

people he was representing. Before his arrest, Alan Crickmore

worked as a solicitor. He was suspended in 2010 following an

investigation. A police enquiry followed and he was charged in

March. He faced cameras today. He was led into it glass panelled dock

with co-defendant Terry Morris. But it is Alan Crickmore who faces

the majority of the accusations. 13 counts of theft and eight counts of

fraud. His alleged offences totalled �2 million. This was an

administrative hearing in which very little was said.

The co-defendants only spoke to confirm their names, addresses and

dates of birth. The judge said he was keen to move the case along so

it was adjourned until June. They will then be sent to Crown Court for

trial. The vulture family campaigning for

the rights of seriously ill people to be allowed to die say their

campaign received a boost today. -- the Wiltshire family.

Quadriplegic for 23 years, Paul Lamb wants to end his life. I just find

that I am going through the motions. The pain is the big one. Paul Lamb,

as with Tony Nicklinson, is not terminally ill but he does want to

die at a time of his choosing. Paralysis means that they cannot

commit suicide so he wants a doctor to be able to tell him without

facing a charge. I think it is hugely important. I

think the fact that Tony was so public, whoever takes over has to be

public as well that they can see his disabilities and see that he is just

a regular bloke and he knows what he is doing and is not being coerced.

It is very important. Opponents think that a change in the law might

give doctors too much power. Anyone will sympathise but this very sad

case but the law is there primarily to give legal protection to

vulnerable people and any change would mean that people would feel

pressure, imaginary real, to end their life so as not to be a burden.

Jane Nicklinson rejects that argument and says each euthanasia

case could heard in court. There are other people who want what staff

wanted and are prepared to come forward and put themselves out

there. Paul Lamb and Jane Nicklinson's cases will be heard in

the High Court next month. Opponents regarded on an attack on the law

against murder. Joining us now from London is our

legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman. Is this a case of assisted

suicide? Now, it isn't. That would be if a doctor filled it arrange

full of drugs, give it to a person and they injected themselves and

did. Paul Lamb is paralysed Sue such an extent -- to such an extent that

he could not inject himself. If the doctor injected him, that would

amount to murder. The defence is necessity, and other words, the

doctor has two act to stop intolerable suffering. Moving from

that to ending the life of a single person is a very big step in legal

terms. It has already gone in front of the court before and they decided

it was a matter for Parliament so why are they going back to court

again? Cause it is such an important and emotive issue. The judge said

that it struck at some of the most profound ethical and moral issues

that we face so it was thought appropriate that it goes to a more

senior court, the Court of Appeal, where it will be held by three of

the most senior judges in the country, including the Lord Chief

Justice. It was deemed appropriate that they consider this issue.

Opponents are worried that it will open the floodgates. People say that

and they argue over the statistics from countries like the Netherlands,

Belgium, Luxembourg, where euthanasia is legal and they point

to a rise in the number of deaths by euthanasia. People in Paul Lamb's

situation say that, with the appropriate safeguards, and what

they are asking for is for the courts to sanction the doctor doing

this, so it goes before a doctor first, with the appropriate

safeguards it is safe, they say. You're watching Points West.

Campaigning for your votes - we look at Labour's challenge in the

forthcoming elections. One any million - we need the

great-grandfather who has the lottery. I think he could see my new

best friend. And mine.

Farmers are urging the government to protect their land from further

flooding. Environment Minister Richard Bennion

visited some of the worst affected areas of the Somerset Levels. --

About 70 farms were expected to turn up with the meeting. The minister

toured some of the parts of this area that were worst affected by the

flooding. I joined him. Driving through the villages around

Glastonbury, the impact of the floods can be seen everywhere. I am

in the company of a local farmer who is showing the three businesses that

were severely affected. He says the main causes the poor maintenance of

the water ways. This is the sort of problem that we have got. The first

business he takes me to his more evidence of the rivers silting up.

You can see this build-up of modern industry in. The nursery was two

feet under water last year, threatening �1 million worth of

stock. They had to pump the water out themselves. Without doubt it has

been one of the worst periods for farmers that I have ever known.

There is no escape route for the water. Because of lack of

maintenance. Almost next door is this pizza factory, another big

The national authority used to have a regular programme and the

Environment Agency has failed to do that. It is not fit for purpose and

needs fundamental reform. Last on our tour is this farm. The water was

so deep you are that the family really big gloom by ceiling. --

just say flooding farm land. farmers will hope that the minister

will take the messages back to Westminster and things will start to

change. What did you hear in the meeting and were you pleased?

think it went very well. We showed him some of the issues that were in

the area and I think he was really receptive to the comments that came

from the floor and he answered them very well and hopefully will take

this experience away with them and make the right decisions. What do

you hope come out of this meeting? It is quite clear to the minister

that the farmers are businesses and need to be protected. We need to

look after the wildlife that farmers do that automatically. We want them

to make sure that the agencies recognise the value of productive

land so that water can be taken away. The system works well when the

rivers are dredged and cleared. So that there is good food for the

wildlife TE. You're from the Environment Agency. You have

received a lot of flack today. What is your response to the allegation

that you are not fit for purpose? think we have to listen to what

we're hearing and understand what are telling us. That is about as

explaining what we're doing and why we're doing it and we are working

much closer with the farmers. We want to improve that drainage so we

have started listening. Will dredging start on the rivers?

have already started to do that work. Farmers say it hasn't been

done for 15 years. Will it start to be done regularly? It won't this

year but we will have to work out how to do that. They say that it is

that the rivers are narrower and they need to be dredged regularly

and this has been building up over a long time. I'm not saying that

removing the cells won't have a benefit... So the budget will go

up? It is about using what we have better. And about finding ways of

how to get the maintenance back-up so that we can have better drainage

for agricultural reasons. There are lots of questions to be asked and to

be answered and we will see more to come. An inquest has heard how a

mother from Somerset drowned as you try to stop her sons from being

swept out to sea. Alison Tooby from Wellington died at Northcott Mouth

beach near Bude in Cornwall last September. The hearing was told she

made frantic efforts to save her sons. They were rescued by members

of the public. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death. The

first boats will soon be cast for the local elections with thousands

of ballot papers about to be sent to postal voters. Election day is on

May the 2nd when people in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset

and Dorset will be able to vote for who they want to serve on their

councils. And for people in Bristol, a third of the seats are up

for grabs. The party expecting to make the most games is labour.

giant ballot box has been brought out in Bristol urging us to vote in

these the local elections. The last time these councils across the West

were contested was in 2009. Back then, Labour was in government and

Gordon Brown was Prime Minister and they suffered badly at the polls.

For years on it is the other way round with Conservatives and Liberal

Democrats in coalition and making lots of cuts, so Labour should make

big gains this time. At Labour 's regional headquarters, volunteers

are busy phone canvassing. The big prize is Bristol and the chance that

they could once again become the biggest party on the council.

Bristol is on Labour's radar nationally. We shouldn't be the

party of the Midlands and the North, people in the south need

Labour representation. They need it at a council level and the

Parliamentary level. You are not the only ones to tell voters of

government failings. The Green Party are standing candidates around the

West including every seat in Bristol. For decades the Liberal

Democrats have dominated the city's council chamber but they are now

braced for losses. Obviously, we are in government and we have to make

tough decisions but people do recognise that we were left with a

financial mess and they don't necessarily blame us for that.

Another issue is that people realise that they don't change government at

these elections. Across the West, it could be their coalition partners

who are hardest hit. Out delivering leaflets today in Bristol, the

Tories are concentrating on holding on to what they've got. We macro we

want the seats in 2009. Yes, there is a tendency for it to become a

referendum on this coalition. People have to remember that people are

voting for local councillors. Not if their opponents can help it. There

are lots of people saying that after four years of this government, they

have failed. Ed Miliband swept through the West this weekend. He

stopped in Stroud and showed even in the shires Labour are on the attack

and the coalition parties are on the defensive. There is more on the

Sunday Politics West show this weekend which starts a bit later

than normal because of the London Marathon. The Royal Agricultural

College in Cirencester has been granted full university status. It

will be known as the Royal Agricultural University. The

institution, which was established in 1845, currently has more than

1100 students. It will continue to develop teaching and research in

areas like equine, food and land management. One of the biggest names

in pop came West today in a pink Rolls-Royce as part of a 24-hour

charity challenge. Gary Barlow has joined Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans,

Professor Brian Cox and Top Gear presenter James May on a trip from

Land's End to John O'Groats in aid of a breast cancer charity.

enthusiastic crowd welcomed in the four travellers and their rather

flamboyant ride at Cribbs Causeway. It was the first stop on a 24-hour

trip from Land's End to John O'Groats in a pink Rolls-Royce goes

with a fab numberplate. They set off from Cornwall after Chris 's

breakfast show and they need to be in Scotland for tomorrow's

programme. We are happy at the moment. We are still friends.

cooked on a stove in the back-seat. The charity to benefit is Breast

Cancer Care which provides support for sufferers. They are not one of

the biggest charities in the country but they are as committed as any

other. It is just an excuse to get together. We know each other but we

have never got together. We find out how smelly each other is. You should

see the ingredients that Gary has chosen! There was a treat for the

crowd as Gary Barlow took to the stage for an impromptu singalong.

am here to see Professor Brian Cox. I have been waiting ages. I am

freezing and want a cup of coffee. I want a decent picture. We came to

see Chris Evans. We saw the Professor. We shook hands with James

May. When Chris came out, we looked right into his eyes. Then it was

back behind the wheel for the final 640 miles but leaving behind some

very happy fans. They were quite taken, weren't they? It was a

pleasure to lend them my car! many dream about it and wonder what

it will be like but now a great-grandfather in Wiltshire has

become the latest lottery millionaire. The 76-year-old former

long-distance lorry driver from Trowbridge saw his numbers come up

last Saturday. This is how you celebrate becoming a millionaire. A

shower of champagne while holding an oversized cheque. Last Saturday,

John Alford became �1.4 million richer. I couldn't believe it. I

told the wife and she said yes, yes. I said I'm going to ring the

children. No, you're not, she said. Until you have got the jackpot, you

don't say a word. But his numbers did come up and in an instance of

this retired long-distance lorry driver saw his and his family's

lives change for ever. We macro it is bound to change may! I don't need

to turn the electricity and the gas off! If I want to keep it on all

year round I will. As a person, I won't change. John now wants to take

his entire family of 20 two Florida for what he says will be their

holiday of a lifetime. What more can I ask for? I can't ask for anything

else, can I? At 76, John is without a care in the world and all it took

was one lucky dip ticket. priorities are right, aren't they? I

have always said how good you look in that lovely Thai and lovely

shirt! Let's move on to the weather, hasn't it been lovely? It has. Some

of you have seen some showers and others have seen a good deal of

sunshine. The showers have gone away now so a fine evening for us all.

There will be less in the way of showers tomorrow and many of you

will see a good deal of sunshine, on and off. So, as we head through

tonight, dried to start with and the rain should be out of the way by

tomorrow morning. There will be lighter winds generally and the

showers are confined to central and eastern parts rather than the West.

Many of you will have a dry day from start to finish. Clear skies

tonight's but the heavy winds will remain a feature. Here comes the

showers of rain that will dominate the picture for the second half of

the night. They are out of the way for the morning. Temperatures will

drop to around four Celsius. Tomorrow will be a dry picture with

maybe some light, showery rain in the mid-morning. Northern and

eastern areas may see some scattered showers. Towards the West, we will

see no showers at all. This will lead us into a much quieter night as

we go through to Saturday. Temperatures tomorrow will be up on

what they are today. 11 or 12 Celsius. The legacy of the high