23/12/2011 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today. Our top story tonight: Jailed

indefinitely. The couple who tortured a defenceless housemate.

Have you been tempted into the shops today a? Or have you gone

online? If you have finished your Christmas

shopping, you may need to know what the weather will be like for your

festive journey. I will have the details at the end of the programme.

Good evening. Welcome to Friday's programme. A woman and her

boyfriend have been jailed indefinitely for abusing a

vulnerable man who was set on fire and made to jump into a canal. 25-

year-old Amanda Ford was the main instigator of the abuse, getting

her housemates in Leicester to gang up on the victim. She was said to

have found the violence towards him entertaining. James Roberson

reports. A face of apparent innocence mass

in a brutal appetite for violence. Amanda Ford was one of a group of

people with learning difficulties who lived in this street. They

turned up on one of the housemates. He was forced to do the housework.

For any slip up, he was violently abused. He was beaten with weapons.

He was set on fire. His teeth were broken. He was thrown down the

stairs. They even forced him to jump in the nearby canal. After one

of these visits, he was set alight. Amanda Ford was the ringleader.

Even when the victim's brother in law reported his plight to the

police, the man was reluctant to shop is tormentors. He saw them as

his friends, not as the perpetrators of this terrible abuse.

These specialists say anyone who suspect abuse against someone with

disabilities should not be tolerated and reported to the

police. After the complaint is made to the police, that is the process

for safeguarding kicking in. women here in the middle was given

a one-year sentence. The man in the dark suit was given a 12 month

community order. Today, Amanda Ford and her boyfriend were told the big

serve a minimum of five and four years respectively. When arrested,

Amanda Ford claimed she was the most vulnerable of the house and

Aids. She knew what was happening. She was the ringleader.

Still to come on the programme: Christmas is back on for a family

whose home was destroyed by fire. In a matter of days, a whole house

has been put together by people giving us donations. It has been

wonderful for. Hospitals in the East Midlands have

closed wards to new patients as staff try to contain the spread of

the winter vomiting bug. The norovirus causes sickness and

diarrhoea. NHS managers say around 200 patients are infected and now

staff are becoming ill as well. Angelina Socci reports.

The norovirus Bagh is responsible for the closure of many hospital

wards across the East Midlands. is very infectious. The key to this

is hand-washing and to remove yourself from gatherings. If

patients have the symptoms of winter vomiting, they should stay

at home. Worst affected his Derby. Nearly 130 patients are suspected

to have the virus as well as many members of staff. In Nottingham, up

more than 40 patients have put -- have caught the virus. Glenfield

Hospital and Leicester are reporting 12 cases between them.

These special inflatable Dora's can decontaminate areas quickly. --

inflatable Dora's. If you have this virus, stay at home and drink

plenty of fluids. Coming to hospitals and visiting hospitals

should be avoided. Christmas is always busy for hospitals. Battling

the winter bark will put extra strain on the resources. -- the

winter vomiting Bach. Police are looking for a man from

Grantham, who has been missing for ten days. 46-year-old Stuart Taylor

disappeared in Market Harborough. Officers are now searching close to

the Grand Union Canal. Mr Taylor's partner has made an emotional plea

for him to return home. Simon Ward reports.

It was meant to be their first Christmas together at a new home in

Grantham. But when this couple went to an appointment in Market

Harborough on 13th December, Stewart became distressed and

disappeared. She hopes people will help if they have any information.

Please take a short time to have a look. Even if you're not sure, if

you think you see him, please contact the local police force.

number of inquiries have been undertaken since that date. That

has led us to some possible sightings in and around the Grand

Union Canal. Stewart, darling, please. I don't

know what is going through your head at the moment. I am sure you

know deep down I love you very much. Please call someone, anyone, just

to let you -- just to let's know that you are safe and well. Please

ring me so we can talk about this. Please don't leave me here for

Christmas on my own. Well, it's nearly all over for

another year. The Christmas shopping rush entered one of its

busiest phases today, with one credit card firm saying almost 33-

million transactions could be completed. But in these tough

economic times, are shoppers keeping their money where it is, or

have they been tempted by big discounts? Well, Mike O'Sullivan is

at the Highcross Centre in Leicester and can tell us more.

Welcome. This centre is open until 9pm tonight. They expect 100,000

people through the doors here today. In total, there will have been

500,000 visitors to this place over the course of the week. The

Christmas sales are in full swing. It is the season for deep

discounting. The sale started early this Christmas. How much our people

spending this year? Weir be more clever and looking for

bargains. I have spent more this year because the bargains have

tempted me. I have spent less. Definitely. The internet is

changing our shopping habits. Sales in this shop are down by 2% over

the year. But there was a 16% increase in online cells. Is this

an indicator of the future direction of retailing? This

distribution centre is half-a-mile long. It will be part of Marks and

Spencers online business. There will be 1,000 jobs next autumn when

it opens. The increase in online trading has played a part in the

closure of best buys stores. They will close next month. There is so

much competition online. You can get it much cheaper than in the

stores. A lot of places that sell electrical goods have so much

competition. It is too much to contend with.

With plenty of cars packing into the Highcross Centre, perhaps it is

too early to write off the shops? We have been delighted with the

Christmas period. Customers have come out and shot. John Lewis is

21% up this week. I expect that to continue. Some shops will be open

all day on Christmas Eve. And the sales start all over again on

Boxing Day. 90,000 people are expected you

tomorrow on Christmas Eve. Sales are up 2% year-on- year at this

shopping-centre. Are the statistics could? It is about average. If we

look at the start of the year, you would be thinking 3%. Now 1% is

reasonable. It is tough. People are getting more concerned. There are

stories about electricity and gas rising. There is less money to

spare. Is there a recession in retail? Not yet. It is just about

flat. It is the same as last year, but people are being more careful.

What our next doing right online? Online is very important. The

website for the store next is proving that. If you don't have

online service, it is very difficult for you. Are more and

more retailers going to go the same way as last sense that in the new

year? -- La Senza. More will follow, I am afraid. They are in debt and

have to pay some of that off. too early to predict the demise of

bricks and mortar shopping, however. How many new films went on release

this year? And how long would it take to watch them all? Well, this

man knows because he's sat through most of them. Later, we'll be

asking him which were the triumphs, and which the turkeys.

A family whose Leicester home was destroyed by fire earlier this week

say they've been overwhelmed by the generosity of complete strangers.

Donations of furniture, clothes and electrical goods will now make this

a Christmas to remember. And for all the right reasons. Peter Snow

reports. This family lost everything when

the house was gutted by fire at the weekend. Now they have been

rehoused by the council. People who have heard of their plight have

been sending them replacement goods. We had literally nothing. Now we

have furniture, clothes, at Television. A microwave. Everything.

One lady has given us a cheque. I have never met her. She sent the

�100. I am blown away. They have even received a Christmas tree.

lady has even wrapped up some presents for us. I can't thank

people enough. She says her faith in community spirit has been

reaffirmed. In a matter of days, a whole house has been put together

by people giving it to us. family hope to move back to their

old house in a few months. In the meantime, they are trying to decide

which of their five televisions to watch on Christmas Day.

Fantastic news. And now another heart-warming story which shows

that watching East Midlands Today can also help if you're looking for

work in these financially difficult times. Yes, the first person

recruited by a major new employer in Derby says she only heard about

the jobs on offer by watching us. And she'd been searching for work

for two years. Simon Hare reports. Wrapping up the last few presents.

But Christmas came early for this woman. In the form of a job offer.

Derby has been given a jobs boost after one of the UK's largest call

centre companies. Mac this was our report which she saw last week. It

alerted her to 700 new jobs. applied online that evening and got

a call the next day. It all started for mayor. Part of the former egg

call centre is being taken over by a customer service company. And she

was the first to be offered a post. She had been job-hunting for two

years. Being offered the job to start with was amazing. But being

the first person, it is the best Christmas present ever. The company

says they have had 800 applications for the 700 jobs initially being

created. And she is one of 84 people to get job up and kick --

job offers so far. I am proud of her. I like her having a nice job.

It means so much to me and my daughter that we can have a relaxed

Christmas and look forward to a brighter future for.

And some more good news for Derby. The train-maker Bombardier has won

a government contract to convert diesel trains to run on electricity.

The work will be mainly research and design, but there will also be

some manufacturing. The project involves upgrading up to 35 diesel

trains. Earlier this year Bombardier lost a major UK

government contract, which was given to a German company.

A Leicestershire fund to redistribute unwanted winter fuel

payments to charities has raised �11,000 over the past three weeks.

Last year, Paul and Sue Newman from Glenfield set up the 125 winter

fund with the help of people who felt they didn't need the extra

money. People in the East Midlands are

celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. This event took place at

Victoria Park in Leicester this evening. The eight day festival

celebrates the restoration of a temple in Jerusalem, 2,000 years

ago. This time of year is a chance to

gorge yourself on loads of films, but spare a thought for a man who

has already had a bellyfull. At the beginning of 2011, Neil White, a

journalist from Derby, set himself the target of watching every film

on general release, and all in his spare time. Earlier this week, Neil

found time to pop into the studio between films and spoke to Quentin

Rayner. First question, had he managed it?

Sadly not. I will get to about 620 films. That is about 40 short. I

did not start quickly enough. I went on holiday at the start of the

year. Now I am rushing around to watch three or four a day. But how

one quite make it. Have you had some hairy moments? Yes. One day, I

watched six films. It was like I had jet lag at the end of it. It

started at 10am in the morning and finished at 11pm at my. What about

your trip to Bradford Q mac I got there and realised the film had

subtitles, but it didn't. I sat through all of the adverts and the

trailer as, but the film was in Punjabi. I am not counting that one.

You must have a favourite. Which is It got two Oscars. It is a

fantastic family drama. I think it is the best sporting drama ever

made. That is your favourite. Presumably you must have had to sit

through some quite general -- some quite dreadful ones? Zombie films

don't do it for me. Perhaps I am not romantic enough, but wrong

Comms as well. -- romantic comedies as well. Some of these films have

been sent to you on DVD. What does your wife think? My wife and my

children are very supportive. I think my wife has sat through 300

films. You have a website which is cataloguing your film watching.

What has been your response? Fantastic. I am very surprised in

it. One person has sent me a foodie with the film, the fighter, on it.

I have heard from people in Afghanistan and Libya. It has been

amazing. You are a glutton for punishment and are going to try

this again next year? It is my Everest. I have not quite made it.

I am halfway up the mountain. I want to reach the very top and I

will be better organised next time. He must be sick of popcorn by now!

Sport now and Christmas is a defining time for our football and

rugby teams. While we tuck into the turkey and trimmings, a glut of

festive fixtures lie ahead for Leicester, Forest, Derby, Notts and

the Tigers, as Natalie Jackson reports.

If you ask most the dollars what they want for Christmas, they come

out with that old chestnut of three points. But for this festive period,

all Forest want is to get out of the bottom three. And these other

-- these are. We have to stay focused and not eat too many pies.

We will be raring to go. What do you want for Christmas? Everyone to

smile at home and in the stadium. -- goals. All they want are more

We have been inconsistent this season so far. But we're still in

touch. I love this time of year. Loads of it all. Lots of families

coming to the game. We are looking forward to a. Merry Christmas to

all of our fans. Have a nice to time. At Derby, they have two

Christmas crackers. There is a lot of history between the clubs. It

will be a fantastic occasion. We're desperate for three points. This

week, the Rams have been spreading Christmas cheer. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas and thanks for your support in 2011.

Notts County are relying on Rudolph and sand a's sleigh to take them on

their travels. I think we will have 1,000 supporters at Sheffield. I

want to make them happy. We can make a lot of people happy. That

would make me happy. It is a busy time for the Leicester Tigers.

would like peace and happiness for Nice to see football managers

Nice to see football managers smiling for once!

Today has not felt very Christmas Eve. What a difference a year makes.

This time last year, I was doing the forecast ankle deep in snow.

This year, mild temperatures. Mild temperatures for Christmas Day and

Boxing Day. I have pressed the wrong button! This photograph was

taken this morning. Thank you for that. Keep sending them into us. We

have had trained with us today. That is starting to clear away to

the south and east. Trial behind it, so there might be some light

showers over the next few others. The rain continues to clear up

which will bring us clear skies overnight. Much cooler than last

night. Temperatures will fall down to about two degrees. We wake up on

Christmas Eve with a decent start. Gradually, we will see an increase

in cloud through the morning. On a whole, I should stay dry.

Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire might get some rain.

It is breezy. Temperature rise, about seven degrees. But it will

take time to get there. Stay in windy on the night of Christmas Eve

which might help Santa with his journey. It is staying mild on

Christmas Day. 10 or 11 degrees. Very similar on Boxing Day. Another

dry day. Staying breezy. Right across the Christmas weekend.

Milder temperatures are with us until Tuesday. But don't worry, we

will be with you over Christmas and new year to keep you up-to-date.

Merry Christmas! As this is our last full programme

before Christmas, we thought we'd leave you with a real festive treat.

To play us out are three choristers from Southwell Minster. They are

Joe Knight, Toby Hyde-Barker and Guy Parker. The conductor is Paul

Hale. They are singing Away in a Manger. From all of us on East

Midlands Today, Happy Christmas. # Away in a manger, no crib for a

bed. # The little Lord Jesus laid down

his sweet head. # The stars in the sky looked down

where he lay. # The little Lord Jesus asleep on

the hay. # The cattle are lowing, the baby

awakes. # But little Lord Jesus no crying