08/08/2011 East Midlands Today

Hello, this is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and Quentin Rayner.

Tonight, the lengths one student has gone to, to speak Korean.

Rien in her surgery to loosen her tongue.

Also, the man charged with the murder of a young mother lived at

the same address. Plus farmers lose millions as rural

crime Astor was by 60%. Your locks are smashed and you are things have

gone the next day. As football kicks off again, we

have all the goals from the opening Good evening, and welcome to

Monday's programme. First tonight - the extreme lengths

that a student has gone to to improve her chances at university.

Rhiannon Brooksbank Jones from Nottingham is hoping to read Korean

and Business Management next year. But she claims her language skills

were hindered because her tongue was too short. The solution was to

under the knife to correct it. Angelina Socci reports.

It's coming up to that time of year when exam results are out, and

while many students are anxiously hoping that their rows of revision

have paid off, one student has gone a step further and has actually had

a surgical procedure to try and improve her career prospects.

Rhiannon Brooksbank Jones has always been fascinated with Korea.

Three years ago, she started learning the language, but soon

realised that her pronunciation wasn't as good as it should be.

became apparent after a little while but I was having trouble with

the Korean the letter L, which comes from a slightly higher place

in the mouth than the English letter L. My tongue was too short.

I didn't notice when I was speaking, but after I had left my Korean

lesson, I noticed that my tongue was quite tired. After consulting

her dentist, she was referred to the Queen's Medical Centre. She was

given a procedure known as frenectomy, which involves removing

tissue from under the tongue. was an important thing for me,

because I am a bit of a perfectionist, and if I can't do it

perfectly, it really irritates me. Some might say it is extreme, but

you could apply the same argument to plastic surgery. And also, you

could say it is showing dedication. She has no regrets about the

procedure, and says there has been a noticeable difference in her

language skills. Angelina is with us now. How common

is this? During the day we have spoken to various medical

organisations to try and find out more about the procedure. It seems

that it is fairly common, and it is not complicated. But each body we

approach to steam did more than a little bit surprised that her

reasons to have the operation. That said, it seems that some parents in

South Korea are so keen for their children to be able to speak good

English that they allow them to have this procedure, because they

believe that a longer time can help them improve the pronunciation.

assume she is going to do well in her exams, I am sure she will, what

does she want to do after which? She is hoping to read Korean and

business management at Sheffield University. As part of that course,

she is hoping to spend a year in Korea, and she believes that

because she has had this procedure, her skills will be better, so the

chances of getting into a good university in Korea will be

increased. The we wish her well. A man has been charged with

murdering a woman in Derby at the weekend. 22-year-old Danielle

Thompson, from Chaddesden, was found with multiple stab wounds.

Her alleged killer made his first court appearance today. Simon Ward

reports from Derby. Police forensic experts arriving at

Mayfield Road. It was here that 22- year-old Daniel Thompson was found

with multiple stab wounds in the early hours of Saturday morning.

She was the mother of a young boy. Derbyshire Police have confirmed

the man charged with her murder lived in the same house. "gone, but

never forgotten". Some of the messages left by friends and family.

The flowers remain here today, and the house is still sealed off by

police. People living nearby who knew her say she was a nice girl.

They couldn't believe the way she died. She was taken to the Royal

Derby hospital, where she later died. 34-year-old Martin Edward

Short appeared in court today charged with murdering her. Wearing

a white T-shirt, his right hand was bandaged. He was remanded in

custody, and is due to appear in Nottingham Crown Court on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire Police have started a murder inquiry after

a man died from head injuries. Officers were called to a fight on

Hallam's Lane at Arnold just after 9.30 last night. The victim, who

was in his late 20s, was found unconscious. He was taken to the

Queen's Medical Centre but died later. Police cordoned off the road

for forensic examination. A 21- year-old man is in custody.

Plenty more to look forward to here on BBC East Midlands Today.

Including some special birthday celebrations, as a market pulls out

all the stops to salute its 700th Rural thefts have cost farmers in

the region almost �10 million in the last year.

Figures just out show that countryside crime is up by more

than 60 per cent across the East Midlands.

In a moment we'll be speaking to someone from the farmers' insurance

company, but first, this report from Geoff Maskell in

Leicestershire. It might look idyllic, but in 20

years a farmer, and the Gillespie says he has not seen her crime wave

like it. In the past two years, I have had stuff stolen, things that

I would walk into a shed, it is gone within seconds. In the last

year he has had two generators, a quad bike and power tools stolen

from his farm. You come back from going down the field, you can see

the tracks, you find people asking directions when you know they are

not asking directions. It is just bizarre, really. And it isn't just

opportunist theft that farmers are having to deal with. Organised

gangs are stealing a pieces of plant like this. They will take

them from a farm, Neath and down the road, and wait. If they are

still there are 12 hours later, chances are it doesn't have a

tracker fitted, so it can be shipped off around the world, as

far away as Australia. We heard the helicopters, it was about 10pm at

night, they had stolen would you have just seen, apart if it

underneath my barn, when the police finally came, the signal from the

track was going out the side. They knew it was roughly around this

area. It does tell you the value of the tracker. Definitely. It is on

all the high-performance vehicle, so one at a Mate vehicle that costs

�50,000? Police are encouraging farmers to invest in better

security. I have a guide dog now, that was easier. If I'm not around,

the dog is out, somebody who is not supposed to be here has to pay the

consequences now. Earlier this afternoon I spoke to

Nicky Whittaker from NFU Mutual insurance, and I began by asking

her what was top of the thieves' list. In the East Midlands, the top

targets are tools, tractors and heating or oil. We know that

detractors that a stone and I ended up outside the UK to fulfil the

demand for agricultural machinery. What about big equipment like

combine harvesters, are they being stolen? They can be worth up to

�250,000, so more than a high- performance sports car. They also

are leading the UK. This must be having a huge knock-on effect

potentially for insurance premiums? We are working very hard with the

police and other authorities and farmers, and vehicle manufacturers

to be to make sure we can keep premiums low by increasing security,

and our recovery rate with tractors is extremely good. We recovered a

tractor only recently from Cyprus. Talking of security, what can

farmers do to reduce the South -- thefts? They can fit Tracker

devices, they are extremely good at helping us recovered tractors, and

members of the public, if they go down in the woods, they may get a

surprise. Because these are very good at hiding tractors, and other

machinery, in the woods. If they see attractive it is parked,

perhaps partially covered, they need to ask the question, what is

that tractor doing there? We have been successful in recovering

several tractors because members of the public had spotted them in

woodland, and called the police to see if they are there for a

legitimate reason. Thank you. A police inspector who's accused of

having sex with a 13-year-old girl has been remanded in custody for

two months. Russell Dew, who was based at Mansfield in

Nottinghamshire, is facing two charges. They are alleged to have

taken place in the Newark area. The 44-year-old, who's been suspended

from duty, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court this morning.

The family of a Derby man who's in hospital in Singapore are hoping to

bring him back to the UK later this week. Mathew Taylor was seriously

injured in a motorcycle accident in Bali last month, but didn't have

travel insurance. Members of his family have been desperately trying

to raise money to help him. They say his medical treatment and

flight home will cost about �200,000.

The owner of Leicester speedway and his daughter were robbed with -- by

a man with an iron bar last night. They were loading up their car at

the stadium when they were attacked by three masked men. Our reporter

spoke to him a few minutes ago. family are still in shock, they

joined now at their home. You were with your daughter last night can

tell me what happened. After the meeting, we were closing up the bar

in the car-park, at around 11pm, when I was walking back to meet my

wife, when we were approached by three hooded and armed men. They

attacked both, it they attacked myself and pulled my daughter from

the car, trying to get the takings from the evening's meeting.

incredibly frightening experience. What did you see? I was just in the

bar doorway, about to exit in the street, and I turned my head to the

right, and I could see men, dressed all in black, with a metal bar,

chasing torch David, because I had my other daughter with me, I pulled

her into the bar, and it was a split-second, we had been attacked.

So I came back to the bar and dialled 999. All I could hear were

screams and I was praying, we will be safe. Because money is one thing,

but losing your husband and your daughter in the same night would be

awful. If I can just come back to you. How do you feel about what has

happened? How are your daughter's? Obviously, as a family, it is very

alarming and very disturbing. We want to spend a bit of time with

our two daughters, just to have a bit of family time together. It is

just so disappointing, after the time and effort ourselves, along

with the great volunteers that have put into the speedway, but some

individuals can support it to everyone. Thank you for joining us.

A substantial amount of money was stolen last night. The police are

urging anyone, if they have seen or From today, more parts of

Nottingham are banning the drinking of alcohol in public places. The

new restrictions are being introduced in and around Basford

after a residents complained about anti-social behaviour linked to a

car. The city council says that tackling this kind of behaviour is

one of its top priorities. The city council has recently spent

more than �1 million on improvements to this area in

Nottingham. From today, a banning order should make the open space

even more attractive to locals and visitors. It is designed to stop

people who become a nuisance and are aggressive to others because

they cannot hold their drink. throw cans and bottles and

everything into the lake which harms the wildlife. They abuse the

public, swear at them. They urinate behind the trees. When they are

children here, that is not really the done thing. There are orders

which ban people from drinking alcohol in public places covering

the city centre and other areas. Back existing order is to be

extended to include a Basford which is the newest area to introduce the

ban. Our police and community support officers will be able to go

around and stop people who are drinking irresponsibly in the park

and move them on and eliminate the risk. People living near by have

welcomed the banning order, saying that it will ensure the majority --

the minority do not spoil the park for the majority.

A lot can change over 700 years. In one corner of Leicestershire, one

think has stayed the same. It is Hinckley market.

Today it celebrated its 700th birthday.

Happy birthday to you. Birthday celebrations in Hinckley today as

the town commemorates its historical past. The first

documented evidence of a market here dates back to 1311. When

Richard the red ended up in front of the mayor of Leicester for not

paying his dues for the ball that had been sold at the market here in

Hinckley. As you can see, the market has gone from strength to

strength. There is a wide variety, it is busy enough to give a nice

atmosphere. You can meet your friends here. It is one of the best

markets in the Midlands. Some stores have seen trade fall during

the recession. Others are enjoying bumper sales. Happy birthday

Hinckley! 700 years of trading. Then I have some of the

strawberries please? This man has had a stall here with his family

for over 60 years. What is trade like? We have had a good early

summer. People have supported us. With the recession, they are

watching, but we are trying to give them a barrier for money. The last

year, the town won the title of best street market. It is a

tradition people here want to see survive fought centuries to come.

That was a very nice cake. You had it all.

Anyway, we will have some spectacular pictures from the

weekend later. With changeable weather this

weekend, it seems many of you were out and about with your cameras.

You never know, we may show one of your pictures later run. -- later

Time now for sport. We almost had a clean sweep of victories, almost.

Day one of the new football season and not a bad start. Some

sensational cricket late to do. The new pop Aussies and has started and

after the first game there is plenty of optimism. Derby County

who came from behind to beat Neil in relegated Birmingham City.

Nigel Clough has brought 10 players in. This opening day when had

plenty to do with spirit and character. Derby were one down to

Birmingham but fought their way back. There was an equaliser and

then the goal of the day from a long-term injury victim Steve Davis.

In the second half, he only needed a touch here. Slightly better aim

here, but in the end, in front of 27,000 fans, it was Derby who had

to hold on. You need the crowd to get behind you and they did that.

Although our play was not great at times, I think they appreciated the

determination that we showed. bright start and Derby's third

opening-day win in a road. There was a good start for

Leicester City. A 1-0 win at Coventry was steady if not

spectacular. Sven Goran Eriksson and his

millionaire backers are the story of the season. But it could have

turned a little sour on Saturday. An early red card made Leicester's

job at Coventry trachea. -- trickier. When Coventry were

reduced to 10 men, Leicester it took full control. The only goal of

the game came from a new signing. Leicester are championship

contenders and this was a steady way to start. They very difficult

game. Moving around the ball very good. Technically, a good team. We

had to chase a lot when they had the ball. But at the end, we won

and of course, I am happy. Michael Ball was close to finalising his

move to Leicester, signed a number 11 as part of the city revolutions.

It looks like Nottingham Forest are poised to make signings. Steve

McClaren has been itching to add to his squad. He took stick from the

away fans, the Wally with the Brolly tag will not by cheque. But

after a goalless draw with Barnsley, he has more pressing things on his

mind. Steve McClaren is back with a reputation to rebuild. Irony

provided a pre-match shower and even cricket's most famous rain

stopped play umpire was there for the occasion, Dickie Bird. Everyone

is talking about his time at England but I think he is a good

manager. I did not like the appointment initially. I am looking

forward to the season. And I hope that we can go. The lack of

additions to Forest's squad has been frustrating the new manager

and fans alike. At the end of 19 minutes, he might well have said, I

told do so. They lacked a killer finish. But a promising, if not

spectacular promising start. need to add in the final -- further

matters. Signings are likely. To Maronite, Forest play Notts

County in the Carling Cup. Notts County had one of the results of

the day with a 3-0 win at Carlisle. There was controversy in the first

was that you will see a collision involving Lee Hughes and Peter

Murphy. Lee Hughes made the most of it providing a cross for Jeff

Hughes to score. The second was a spectacular own goal and the third

was a 50th for the club from the use -- Lee Hughes who has been

struggling with fitness after suffering from the bends after

going scuba-diving on his honeymoon. Some terrific scenes at Gray's

wrote after Leicester made it through. Nottinghamshire went out -

- Grace Road. Look at it! Among the mob of fans,

Leicestershire's 40-year-old wicketkeeper. He announced his

retirement last week and on his last appearance, he was man of the

match. He turned round the game with Kent to set up a

Leicestershire win. A very special finish. I am a bit under the

weather today after a big party. I like fairy tales, and hopefully we

will have a 6 x -- sensational finish. We are all in good form. We

are ready for a big day. At Trent Bridge yesterday, Notts County put

them in a good position. Some sensational hitting gave the women

to Somerset. That was spectacular -- gave the

name win. Manu Tuilagi had a trademark try it for England

against Wales. The final World Cup squad will be announced by Martin

Johnson two weeks today. Manu Tuilagi could well have confirmed

his place. In athletics, two great wins at a

top athletic event, the diamond lead at Crystal Palace. Richard

Whitehead From Martin was in a mixed class event in the 200 metres

but he broke the world record for his category and at the Paralympics

next year he is now the one to beat for the gold medal.

Victory in the 1500 metres to a Lady From Loughborough.

That was a great sport. This was built here in Nottingham

in the golden age of motorcycles and it broke records for speed and

luxury. Now and at Brough Superior SS100,

the last motorbike to roll off the production line, is to be auctioned

off in California later this month. When it launched in 1924, the

Brough Superior SS100 was already is something special. It was made

in Nottingham and each one was certified to hit 100 miles an hour.

It is a very important motorbike. It was classed as being the Rolls-

Royce of British motor Cycling in its heyday. In 1924, it was the

world's speed record holder at 124 miles an hour. It went further

during the next five years to eventually reach the speed of one

rider and 29 miles an hour. It was really untouchable in its heyday --

129 miles an hour. It may now be even more desirable.

The very last model to roll off the production line will be auctioned

in California. Conservative estimates say that it will reach

almost �250,000. Whoever wins will be in good company. The most famous

owner of the Brough Superior SS100 was Lawrence of Arabia who was the

proud owner of seven of the machines. They were all main took

his George,. I am told that investors are

looking at more tangible places to put their money so the Brough

Superior SS100 could still have a record left to break in America.

A great bike. Now it is time for It seems many of you were out and

about with your cameras. His first picture was sent in went the storm

clouds are just started to develop at the picnic at Burghley House.

The rain caused some double rainbows. The rain also stopped

play briefly at the charity match. In the evening, the storm clouds

developed. Finally, a beautiful picture at the reservoir with the

storm clouds moving in. Thank you to all of you who sent the pictures

in. Over the next few days, we will start to see things getting a

little bit more unsettled. Tuesday will be the driest date. There is

some broken cloud and sunshine and some showers in the east this

evening. It will be dry overnight. Temperatures will drop --

temperatures will drop down to nine degrees under the clear skies. A

sunny start to Tuesday. The cloud will bubble up as we go into the

afternoon. It is set to stay dry and settled. Still be a link quite

chilly with the north-westerly breeze. -- feeling quite chilly.

There will be rain moving in, it heavy and persistent, during the

date and then on Thursday, that will stay with us. Let us look at

the outlook. Tomorrow will be the best day of the week. Warm with

sunny spells. The area of rain moves in on Wednesday. Showery on

Thursday with the potential for them to be quite sharp and heavy. I

am afraid as we go into Friday and the weekend, it will stay with a