20/08/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top Jail for the mother who left her

baby home alone every day for a Our other headlines tonight:

How not to sack somebody - a finance director who lost his job

at a charity wins his case for Another health authority proposes

changes to the services it offers - this family tells us why they're

A wet summer means we could all be And five days after A-level results,

every single Welsh University still Good evening. A woman from Brecon

has been jailed for 15 months for leaving her baby daughter home

alone every day for a week while she went out partying. Neighbours

raised the alarm when they heard the 15 month old's cries. Our

reporter Jordan Davies is outside Merthyr Crown Court. Jordan, what

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how a 20 wheel -- a 20-year-old

woman who can't be named for legal reasons spent the week partying

with friends last Christmas and only made four fleeting visits home

to make her daughter breakfast cereal and microwave meals. She

then went back to her friend's flat to continue partying. The alarm was

raised when the neighbours heard screams from the girl. They called

the police and when officers arrived, they said it was dark,

cold and in a mess. The prosecutor said that the house was filled with

rubbish, had dirty clothes, empty wine bottles, beer cans and dirty

nappies are strewn over the floor. The girls had been -- the girl had

been on their own for 24 hours. One of the officers went into the

bedroom and found the girl subdued in her crib. There was no heating

and she was part be covered by a blanket. When a doctor examined the

girl, he said she was bleeding because her nappy rash was so

severe. What was said in court?

Defending her, the lawyer said that the mother hopes to rebuild her

relationship with her little girl very cloak -- very slowly when she

leaves prison. The judge said, he may have gone back to the house on

occasion but you neglected her for a very long time. The woman

admitted neglect and broke down in tears when she was jailed for 15

months. Des Mannion is from the NSPCC. Is this a one-off?

Whichever way you look at it, this was a terrible case involving a

parent who left a vulnerable child alone, and fed, a low without water,

repeatedly. It is a rare case. These criminal prosecutions are

rare but they are not unique. There have been similar prosecutions in

South Wales and I am aware of them this year and across the UK. While

prosecutions for neglect are rare, they are not unique. It broadens

out. It needs to be broadened out into the whole context of children

experiencing neglect and trying to promote an understanding of that.

By the sound of it, it was the neighbours who saved the day here.

Presumably, it is so easy for family, neighbours and friends to

look in the other direction and ignore what is in front of them.

It is easy, I guess, for people to do that but it is equally important

that everybody in the community takes responsibility to protect

children and in this case, it would appear that the community and

neighbours did decide to intervene. Where were the caring services, the

social worker, how first sitter, in all of this? -- the health visitor.

At this point in time, we don't know. One would hope that a serious

case review, a multi- agency review, will be taken and that would enable

us to arrive at an understanding and a fuel over involvement on

behalf of statutory agencies and what action they in fact took.

"A textbook example of how not to dismiss somebody" - that's how a

judge at an employment tribunal today described the way the finance

director of a defunct race relations charity was dismissed.

Saquib Zia was accused of gross misconduct and sacked in February

after a Welsh government audit report warned of "significant and

fundamental failures" at the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association,

Saquib Zia claimed he had been unfairly dismissed from his �50,000

a year job as the finance director of AWEMA. Today a judge

overwhelmingly backed his case. He said this was a textbook example of

how not to dismiss members of staff and that it was astonishing how

bosses had ignored processes and the whole process had been wholly

defective. He awarded Saquib Zia over �4,000 in compensation.

And I knew from the outset that I wouldn't be able to cover my cost

with pursuing this tribunal but the idea was to distil my credibility

and I believe I have done that. Earlier this year, the charity was

wound-up after a report found serious financial failings. It was

on the basis of those feelings that Saquib Zia and the chief executive

of the Swansea-based charity, Naz Malik, seen here, were sacked by

the charity's trustees. Naz Malik admitted using the funds from the

charity to pay off his personal debts, claiming it was an advance

on his expenses. The Wales Audit Office are in the process of

carrying out an investigation into the relationship between AWEMA and

the Welsh government, due to report in the autumn.

A man has been arrested after an incident in Llandudno that left two

people critically injured. Police were called to a property at Ffordd

Dulyn at midday today following reports of an assault. A man and

woman have been taken to hospital, both are said to be in a critical

condition. An investigation is now underway.

A support group for parents with babies needing intensive hospital

care say they'll campaign against plans to move it from north Wales

to England. The Betsi Cadwaladr health board has started a ten week

consultation on widespread changes to the service it provides.

Included is a plan to switch long term intensive care for babies from

Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan and the Maelor in Wrexham to a

hospital near Liverpool. Roger Pinney reports. More on that later

in the programme. We may all have to pay more for the

food we buy - that's the warning from farmers tonight. Welsh farmers

are facing a difficult year ahead trying to cope with the

consequences of the wet summer. The farmers union NFU Cymru says the

unseasonal weather has devastated crops and led to an increase in the

cost of producing food. Cemlyn By now, they should be a reasonable

size like that one but unfortunately, that year -- this

year, that is an exception to the rule. It's been a rotten few months

for Teifi Davies who grows and sells vegetables on his farm in

South Ceredigion. Normally this field would yield 30,000 tonnes of

potatoes. With much of it now hidden under a blanket of weeds,

Teifi says he'll be lucky to get a third of that from this year's crop.

A lot of the spectators will be hand sorted because the they are

misshapen and the sizes involved. The rotten ones will have to be

picked out. It is a bit of a disaster, really. I should be lucky

if I may break even with my potato crop this year.

Crop farmers aren't the only ones who've been affected by the

unseasonal weather. Alan James keeps sheep in the Aberystwyth area.

Some of his land was affected by June's floods. He says it's been

difficult to fatten up the lambs ready to be sold.

We have sold some but we sell them later. Yes, you sell them two kilos

less, when the price is around �4 a kilo, that is �8 less for a lamb.

Of course things have been very different in other countries.

Severe drought in parts of the United States have seen the price

of corn rise sharply. That's pushing up the cost of animal feed

for some farmers here and with others facing poor harvests,

farmers unions are warning of a knock on effect on consumers.

We produce food for the sake of feeding the consumer in the

population. If at the end of the day, we can't do that because it

costs too much or there is insufficient crop, it will impact

on what the consumer pays for their food. The sun was shining on west

Wales today, allowing Teifi an opportunity to assess the damage to

his crop and salvage what he could. As the scale of the loss becomes

clearer it seems the rest of us Much more to come before 7:00pm.

Swansea's doubters are silenced after that 5-0 win at Queens Park

Rangers. And some of the world's top

Paralympic athletes head here for camp before the deep end of London

Five days after pupils across the country received their A-level

results, every Welsh university has some places available through

clearing. The number of applicants to Welsh Universities was down

nearly 3% from last year, and this is the first year that universities

are allowed to charge up to �9,000 for tuition fees. Our Education

Correspondent Gwenfair Griffith is here.

What is going on here? Clearing is an ever changing picture with

students securing places by the hour. But unusually, each

university in Wales has places left to fill and maybe more

significantly universities like Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and

Bangor. Cardiff University has about 50 places left, and Swansea

University has about 250 free spaces in courses including history,

English, law, business and economics. These universities say

they want to fill those places with high achieving spaces. Why is this

happening? There could be a number of reasons.

We can't ignore the fact that universities can now charge up to

�9,000 tuition fees - up from around �3,500 until last year.

We've seen a significant drop in university applications - nearly 3

% less here in Wales. But that could be because there are fewer

school leavers here. Another factor is the change in English

Universities' entry system. For the first time this year, they're

allowed to accept as many as they like of the highest achieving

students - students who've achieved at least two As and a B - its

something the sector acknowledges could affect the quality of

students who come to study here in Wales. All of which means what?

Financially, failing to fill places could have far-reaching effects on

universities' budgets. Students are now potentially worth �9,000 each

to a university's yearly budget. For example, if Swansea University

still has 250 places left to fill, that could amount to up to two and

a quarter million pounds a year - that's dependent on the individual

course's costs. But the clearing process isn't over yet and the

picture of what's happening across the border is far from clear yet so

we'll have to wait and see what the picture will be for Welsh

universities at the start of the autumn term.

Later this week it will be GCSE students getting their results. The

exams are right at the heart of our education system but do they need

changing? Over the next three days on Wales Today, we're taking an in-

depth look at the GCSE. Tonight we begin by asking what it's future is

as the Welsh Government undertakes a review of the entire exam system.

Here's our political editor, Betsan Powys.

Class, let us start with some revision. The GCSE, the General

Certificate of Secondary Education Kabul was introduced in Wales,

England and Northern Ireland in the late 1980s. The first exam was in

1988. It replaced the O-level. To the questions.

Do we stick with GCSEs or do we scrap them? Do we revive the old O-

levels or introduce a brand new distinctively Welsh qualification?

In the process of answering those questions is a review board

appointed by the Welsh government. Huw Evans was chairing the board.

He sat his exams in 1967. I believe from the evidence we have

looked at so far, GCSEs are a very, very strong and that you'd

qualification and that has come through very strongly. I am very

aware of the fact that they have been whispers and leaks from

England that potentially, GCSEs could be changing and changing

significantly. We have certainly not identified that kind of

groundswell within Wales. However, that doesn't mean to say that GCSEs

can't be improved. And also, that they can't be modified.

International evidence suggests what pupils are up losing ground,

falling behind in tests for reading, maths and science. Its critics say

the Welsh government should concentrate on raising standards,

Renate -- rather than blaming the qualifications themselves.

We have concerns that we have changed for the sake of change.

There Welsh government need to be clear about what we want to achieve

from this review under way at the moment. We have already seen the

Welsh Baccalaureate, several higher education institutions in England

don't count that as a meaningful qualification.

In June, the man in charge of education in England, Michael Gove,

announced plans to scrap GCSEs. He said they had been in expensive

mistake, replacing exams with coursework had dragged standards

down. Bringing back O-level exams would set a gold standard in

England. So, more questions. Should Wales go down a different path to

the rest of the UK? Should qualifications in Wales diverge

from those in England? If they do, how can we be sure they are

nationally and internationally respected? And their faced her O-

levels in 1983. A people will worry about parental

response and what institutions outside Wales will think of

different qualifications but what has been instructive as this review

has gone on is how relaxed higher education institutions in

particular are about the variety of qualifications they consider when

accepting students into their institutions.

The review board report back in November and then it'll be all eyes

on the answers the world government provides. And to be entirely fair

and open, Betsan Powys sat her O Tomorrow night we'll meet a married

couple with a unique perspective on the exam system - they're head

teachers on either side of the border. As I mentioned earlier, a

support group for parents with babies needing intensive hospital

care say they will campaign against plans to move services from North

Wales to England. A year ago, John and Nicola didn't

even know Glan Clwyd Hospital's special baby-care unit existed,

despite having three other children. Then Molly came along with

complications. She was born prematurely. It was a stressful

time. The nurses and staff were really

reassuring. We would go to the specialist baby unit and there was

a board full of pictures and stuff of babies who had been born there

and how they had come on so that was nice to see that everybody has

been wonderful there. Doctors and nurses.

They have become passionate advocates for the unit and now they

have heard that in future, babies needing long-term incentive care

will be moved to Liverpool. -- intensive care.

We wouldn't have been able to travel far with having other

children as well and you don't need. Why mend something if it is not

broken? It doesn't fit well with me. They have got a duty and the

directives of the Welsh Assembly Government mean that they'd have to

provide that level of care so anything else would be a cop out

and to move it to England is a bit more of a cop-out, isn't it?

But it isn't just neonatal. The changes proposed by the University

Health Board affect a whole range of services and in the main, they

are locally-based services, the stuff people like to have on their

doorsteps such as community or hospitals, minor injury units. They

have already been protest meetings. This consultation will be pretty

bruising process. The health board needs to save

money but argues that changes will improve patient care. Doing nothing

is not an option, it is claimed. We will have services spread too

thinly and they are unsafe. Unsafe services are no good for anyone. If

we don't change services, we would be sleepwalking into disaster,

really. Campaigners like the Hewitt will

take some convincing. They will make a fight of it, they say. Now

stars of the cricketing world are taking part in a 160 mile bike ride

in memory of former Glamorgan player Tom Maynard. Ashes winner

Andrew Flintoff is among those joining Tom's Father, Matthew on

the journey from Cardiff to London. They set off from the Swalec

Stadium this morning and will arrive at the Oval tomorrow,

shortly before a tribute match in memory of Tom. Matt Murray reports.

Members from the cricketing community gathered early this

morning at the Swalec Stadium. Many there to support Tom's father

Matthew on this bike ride from Cardiff to London and also to

remember a friend and sporting colleague.

I met Tom through Matthew, his father. I played with him with

England. He then moved to Surrey, where I live now. I would pop into

the Oval and see him about the place. Everyone will be talking

about Tom over the next few days and the impact his life had on

everyone. Tom Maynard was found dead on a railway track at

Wimbeldon Underground station in June. He was seen as rising star of

the game. He started his career at Glamorgan while his father was

still coach and later joined Surrey. Speaking just last week, Matthew

Maynard explained how a trust has been set up in his son's name and

memory and will help aspiring and disadvantaged cricketers.

Reading the letters that have come through, people have said how much

Tom had helped their child. It kind of made us think, I guess. It is

something we believe he would want us to do.

This bike ride from the Swalec stadium to Surrey's home ground the

Oval is the first fundraising event for the trust. The cyclists left

Wales this morning, crossing the old Severn Bridge, and will

complete just under 100 miles to finish in Newbury tonight. Tomorrow

a further 60 miles, arriving at the Oval in London for a tribute match

between Surrey and Glamorgan. It has given everybody some focus,

training and logistics. Matt's daughter has helped out with the

website and the Low goes. This bike ride will now lead the

way for many more events in Tom's memory which will benefit

youngsters for years to come. Football and it was a dream start

to life as Swansea City manager for Michael Laudrup. The 5-0 win at

Queens Park Rangers did much to silence doubters who expect the

Swans to struggle this season following the departures of manager

Brendan Rodgers and Joe Allen to History was and on Swansea City's

side going into their season opener at QPR. These ones haven't won at

Loftus Road in 19 attempt and they hadn't won on the opening day since

All that was forgotten in the space of 19 memorable minutes. New

manager Michael Laudrup and his new signings, especially the double

goalscorer, making an immediate impact.

It is just the thing we needed to start like that. The confidence. He

could already see the players in the last third of the game and

their confidence is very important because I think everybody, me and

the players inclusive, every player manager and club, when you start a

new season, they are all a little doubtful. Where are we? That goes

for all teams. The first couple of teams are very important.

The scoring was rounded off by Scott Sinclair, after his refusal

to sign a new contract. In the meantime, the Swans have made a �5

million bid for Celtic's midfielder. The weekend kicked off with a late

show from Cardiff City, Mike Hudson leaving it until extra time to see

off Huddersfield. A trip to Brighton tomorrow for the Bluebird.

They were brave -- they were brave and they kept going. They kept

looking for that space and eventually, it came. Overall, we

have got the win. We are now looking to go towards Brighton. It

will be a tough game. No mistake about that. It was last year.

And Newport County's impressive start to the season continues. They

made it three wins against three against Lincoln. Wrexham are the

13th after their draw. There just nine days to go until

the Paralympics in London. Many of the Welsh competitors in the Great

Britain team are currently in training camps ahead of the start

of competition. And hundreds of athletes and officials from across

the globe are here in Wales putting the finishing touches to their

preparations as Sachin Krishnan The Paralympics have grown into a

truly global sporting event and following the success of the

Olympics, this year's Games in London are set to be the biggest

yet. It's meant hundreds of athletes and officials basing

themselves here in recent weeks. And aside from traditionally strong

teams such as Australia, Wales is playing hosts to countries such as

the Solomon Islands. A nation of just 700,000 people, shot putter

Helen Tasaunga is their only competitor. Her team have been

preparing for the games at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

It is a big difference here. Back home, we don't have facilities.

Sometimes we struggle to look for equipment and we are lucky if we

have one. Here, it is a bonus for us to go me here. The party from

the Soloman Islands are among 600 competitors and officials from

around the world who have based themselves across South Wales ahead

Among them are swimmers from Mexico and New Zealand who today held

training sessions for young Over the last six years, we have

gone out and invited the Paralympic nations to come to Wales. We have

world-class facilities to offer countries. What we would like to

get from this opportunity is not just for countries to see Wales as

a one-stop shop before London but consider Wales as a permanent

training base where they can come back before events such as the

Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. One official told me that the

welcome he's received in Wales could mean return trips in future.

Since we have seen what the facilities and hospitality are like

and the weather, I think it is a good thing for us and it is a

learning curve for Fiji Paralympic as a whole.

So aside from the 38 Welsh competitors aiming for medals in

the Paralympic GB Team, Wales will have played a major part in the

success of many more at the London Games. Let's see what the weather

has in store for the start of the There is no escaping the showers

tomorrow. Heavy thundery showers heading our way. Perceiving is a

fine end to the day with the double sunshine in the further east of the

country. Parts of Anglesey as well. More cloud for Cardigan Bay and

Pembrokeshire, making its way inland in the overnight period and

a few coastal showers with mist and fog patches. Overnight temperatures

it remaining in double figures. Tomorrow, this weather front

bringing rain with it. Some heavy showers possible but there will be

some bright nurse in between as well. First thing tomorrow, at 8am,

some brightness for parts of Powys but head for the West in two parts

of Anglesey and the peninsula, we will see showers from the word go

and also a long Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire. Through the morning,

the showers will make their way further inland and as they do, they

will intensify further. Heavy downpours possible along parts of

Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay. For entry downpours could be mixed with

Hale as well but brightness in between and feeling a little bit

fresher than today. Into tomorrow, the showers will start to ease off

and die away. In the overnight period, just a few showers but for

the majority of the script will be dry and cloudy with some mist

forming overnight. 16 Celsius the maximum. Breezy conditions into

Wednesday. Wednesday another day of sunshine and showers. They

shouldn't be as heavy as Tuesday. Highs of only 19 Celsius third --

so it will feel much cooler. By Thursday, fewer showers. Longer

spells of rain by Friday and that set the scene for the weekend with

heavy downpours heading our way. Today's beautiful picture is of the

The headlines once again: The businessman who run the high

profile Polly Peck empire in the 1980s and early 90s has been found

guilty of theft. The jury at the Old Bailey has

reached the verdicts on three counts of stealing millions from

his own companies and has yet to make up its mind on a further nine

counts. We will --

We'll have an update for you here at 8:00pm and I'll be back after