29/03/2012 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with This is East Midlands Today with

Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale. Our top story tonight: Forecourts

close as petrol stations run dry. The threat of a tanker driver's

strike causes panic at the pumps. Because of the Government

frightening us all to death, I went and got some petrol. I didn't

actually need it, but thought I should. Jail for a man who claimed

he was sleepwalking when he raped a teenager.

Teachers in Nottingham strike over plans for a new five-term school

year. I will be here at Calke Abbey,

where plenty more lambs have been born since Monday. A full update

Good evening and welcome to Thursday's programme.

First tonight - filling stations across the East Midlands ran dry

today as motorists rushed to fill up their cars. Forecourts were

forced to close while others saw lengthy queues after a day of panic

buying at the pumps. Drivers said they were heeding government advice

ahead of a possible strike by tanker drivers. Our reporter, Helen

Astle, has been at a petrol station in Leicester.

There has been a steady queue at this garage for most of the day.

Yesterday it ran out of fuel but there have been more deliveries

overnight. Across the region there has been patchy panic buying.

This was the scene across many garages in Leicestershire, and as

the day progressed, the queues got longer with everyone having their

own story to tell. Usually we come in celesta and we drive and park in

Leicester, but we have come on the park-and-ride. Because of the

Government frightening us all to death, I went and got some petrol.

I didn't actually need it, but felt I should fill up. One gentleman

just after 7am, rather than filling up his car traditionally, he filled

a jerry can. One garage has run out of diesel and have sold five days'

worth of petrol in one day. It is tremendously busy. We have already

sold two days' supply. We are scared about the truck-driver

strike. That is why you are here today? On that is the major reason,

yes. This was Nottingham today, another garage and another queue.

More drivers said they were running out of fuel, not panic drab --

buying. I am on NT, I want to get home and I might make it to the

petrol station. Are you out of diesel or are you think her for?

am on the way, the light is on. Absolute crazy. I need to get some

petrol. Have you run out? Yes. signs said it all as stations run

dry. It used backed up on to main roads as drivers sought supplies.

In Derbyshire or there were similar queues as people wanted to make

sure their tanks were false. In some areas the price of fuel has

gone up. In other areas it like here, it is Russian, you can only

by �25 worth. -- rations. Garage owners are urging people not to

panic buy, they say it garages have run out, there will be more

deliveries. A man who claimed he might have

been sleepwalking when he raped a teenager has been jailed for six

years. Zack Thompson, from Newark assaulted the 17 year old at a

holiday resort in Portugal. Thompson admitted the crime after

Nottinghamshire Police brought in a top sleep expert from the States.

The force says his conviction is the first of its kind. Our Social

Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy Ball, reports.

Zack Thompson and his victim was on holiday in Halbeath Europe. The

teenager woke up to find him in her bed and she reported the attack

when she got back to the UK. The court accepted the goal's version

of what happened, but he told the police he cannot recall it. He said

he might have been sleepwalking. But that was dismissed. I thought

he was just rung and couldn't remember coming back to the hotel.

He had an alcohol-related memory loss, or a blackout. It started

while he was clearly the wake. When a sleepwalker has a memory loss it

is only for the episode itself. Thomson admitted raping the girl

after a 2.5 year legal battle. Nottinghamshire Police said centres

the first time at Defence of sleepwalking has been successfully

challenged in British courts. hope we can carry on with these

cases and people cannot use sleepwalking as an excuse. We will

carry on until we get justice for the victims. The court heard

Thomson had drunk at least seven pints of beer and his initial

reaction to the allegation is, I cannot remember, maybe. The judge

said his actions had a devastating effect on his teenage victim.

Still to come on the programme: A sunny forecast - but for just one

more day. We only have one more day of this before temperatures start

to drop. But the question is, how low it will they go? I will answer

that shortly. Thousands of children in Nottingham

had a day off school today after members of one teaching union

walked out in a row over possible changes to the school year.

Nottingham City Council says a five-term year would improve

learning and increase attendance. They say today's action is

premature because talks are planned for after Easter. James Roberson

reports. There is only a strike in

Nottingham because we have a council behaving in this way.

Members of the NUT at a rally in Nottingham city centre. Many

members walked out of dozens of Nottingham's schools over the

council's plans. It wants to replace the current system with

five, shorter terms and a shorter summer holiday. It will mean

radical changes to many families. This lady's two daughters but go to

school in Nottingham, but she teaches in Nottinghamshire. I would

have a child being on holiday when I was in work. I know a lot of

teachers who work in the county and have children in city primary

schools or vice-versa. Whichever way it works, its causes difficulty.

The City Council says a shorter summer holiday will benefit many

children and parents. There is evidence that says the children are

have along summer break, and they live in a family who does not have

enough money to go on holiday, then there are learning goes backwards.

But this teacher questions that. And there is no proof a five-term

year will make a positive difference to the attainment and

achievements of the children. council says the changes are not

yet fixed. In our view, the strike has been called to early, while

consultation is still ongoing. It will cause a lot of inconvenience

for parents who will be saddened by the fact the consultation on this

matter is still ongoing. The five- term year divides parents.

Definitely approve. He is a way for quite a lot of time of the year,

and some of the year he misses out on school holidays. I think it

should be left as it is. It is better for the children, better for

teachers. I don't mind, because I work freelance, I can cope but

either way. Not all teaching unions in Nottingham have been on strike,

but the NUT says it is planning another two strike days next month.

A soldier from Oakham who died in Afghanistan was repatriated today.

Captain Rupert Bowers, from the Second Battalion Mercian Regiment,

died last week when a bomb exploded as he was leading a patrol. The 24

year old's body was flown into RAF Brize Norton this afternoon. He was

described by his commanding officer as "the bravest of the brave".

A 22 year old man arrested in connection with a fatal crash has

been released on bail. The incident happened in the early hours of

Monday morning when a Renault Clio and a minibus collided on the A617

near Mansfield. The driver of the bus died at the scene. A man was

arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He's

due back in court in May. An inquest's heard it took three

days to find the body of a woman killed in a house fire - because

her home and garden were so full of rubbish. Linda Parkes was an

obsessive hoarder who threw almost nothing away. Today the coroner

recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. From Derby, Simon

Hare reports. The inquest heard how one woman's

obsessive, compulsive urge to hoard almost anything and everything

ultimately cost her her life. Firefighters were called to

Wellington Street at long in the -- Long Eaton in Derbyshire in January

last year. It took several hours to put the fire out. It was three days

before police discovered the body of 59-year-old, Linda Parkes. It

was buried under several feet of debris inside the terraced house.

Station manager David Paul, describe what his staff had to

battle through. Most of the rooms or completely filled with articles

which made fire-fighting in the property very difficult indeed.

This was piled several feet high? Some of the rooms were floor-to-

ceiling, wall-to-wall. He said the most likely cause of the fire was

piles of rubbish being set alight by gas rings on the hop which Linda

Parkes, used to keep warm. Her partner, who was away in Spain at

the time of the fire, said he was trying to help her with her

compulsive obsessive disorder for 30 years. But she had declined help

from medical professionals and social services.

A union leader accused of stealing almost �150,000 from a miners' care

home has told a court he had no idea that the money had come from

the charity. Mick Stevens is jointly charged with the UDM's

former President, Neil Greatrex, of stealing the money to pay for home

improvements. Here's our chief news reporter, Quentin Rayner.

Mick Stevens is currently a UDM general secretary. Along with the

former President, he is accused of stealing money from a minus charity

when he was a trustee. The charity ran a care home for sick and

elderly miners on the Lincolnshire coast. It is thought the union

leaders used the money for building work on their own properties. Nick

Stevens told the jury under no circumstances would he approve of

any personal expenditure being paid for by the home. He was asked by

his defence counsel, how come you signed the Czechs? He said they

were put in front of me. If they had Neil's signature on them, I

would sign because he had authorised them. Mr Stevens said he

was not involved in the day-to-day running of the home or its finances

and had no recollection of seeing any invoices before signing cheques.

One was for �36,000. The court was told Mr Stevens paid for

improvements at two homes, either encashed, including a payment of

�3,000, or legitimate the through another company of which she was a

director. He was challenged by the prosecution, did you approve their

kitchen and authorise its sq? Now I did not. Mr Stevens said he trusted

Neil and believed everything he did was right. Both men denied the

charges and the trial continues. The salary of the elected Mayor of

Leicester has been given final approval by the city council today.

Sir Peter Soulsby's wages will be �65,000, in line with that of a

backbench MP. His deputy, Rory Palmer, and his five Assistant

Mayors also get pay rises. A new study claims renovating

social housing in Nottingham has helped reduce crime and improve

people's health. Around 20,000 homes across Nottingham have been

refurbished. The work included the fitting of new windows and

installing central heating systems. A survey by Nottingham City Homes

and Nottingham Trent University found the number of burglaries in

these areas had gone down, along with people's fuel bills.

A death trap. That's how residents have described a row of flats in

Derby. They've raised their concerns after their neighbours

became trapped inside their property when a fire broke out.

Angelina Socci reports. Repairing the damage caused by a

fire which left the two people inside terrified. It was in the

early hours of yesterday morning when crews were called to this flat

in Derby. Recycling bags left outside the front door have been

set alight and the staircase became engulfed in smoke and flames.

were met by two occupants at the window who were able to put

themselves in a place of safety whilst we arrived. Shortly after we

were able to put the fire out, gain access to the property and we

assisted in the safe rescue of those casualties down the stairs.

The couple, in the 60s, were taken to hospital after breathing in

smoke. But this has left nearby residents are worried by having

just one way in and out of the building. It is a death trap. That

is the way I feel. I have always said it, not just now. That is why

we have these doors put in. If you are in the bedroom and the fire

starts on the landing, you have to think of a way out. Some of us

might not be able to jump. We would reassure anybody who lives in a

similar property, there is no additional risk associated with

that. Think about it in advance, how they would deal with that

situation and how they would safely exit the property. Derby Holmes

says it takes its tenants health and safety seriously. Every

property has a fire safety risk assessment, internal fire doors and

a smoker alarm. Tonight, the couple are still recovering in hospital.

Still to come on the programme: A wobbly welcome to the world. We're

at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire as another new arrival struggles to

find his feet. Next tonight, the woman who

underwent IVF four times in an effort to get pregnant. She did and

gave birth to twins. But both children have cystic fibrosis.

They're now two years old and they're taking part in a major new

study in Nottingham into treating the condition. Jo Healey reports.

The Queen's Medical Centre, home from home for Alex and his sister,

Isabel. They have been here so often in their short lives. I am

keen to know if Alex has been coughing? They were born after

their mother underwent six years of IVF treatment. It was devastating

to find out they had cystic fibrosis. It affects us every day

and we have to make sure we have the medication they need to take,

they do the exercises and the physiotherapy to clear their lungs.

It is incredibly difficult. The new study is about making a difficult

life a little easier. The torpedo study looks at eradicating at

trouble infection in cystic fibrosis. We want to find the best

way to do that. It will discover if children can be treated at home on

special antibiotics, or, as now have to come in here for lengthy

intravenous sessions. This is the number of people with cystic

fibrosis in the UK. One in 25 people is a carrier, and every year

2,500 babies are born with cystic fibrosis. It is life threatening

and club's internal Ong -- organs, especially the lungs and digest it

system, with mucus. Families welcome anything that can help.

This trial is incredibly important. It is the difference between being

in hospital for couple of weeks of being at home. The trial will run

for three more years hoping to make lives easier.

Best of luck to everybody involved in the trial.

Now for the sport. Injury worries for Nottingham

Forest. They are battling to get Gareth McCleary fit for the trip to

Crystal Palace on Saturday. He missed the midweek game at

Leicester through injury. His inspirational form has helped to

turn around forest's recent fortunes, but at training this

morning, Steve Cottrell, was giving little away. We do not know what is

going to happen, so we have to wait and see. You are hoping he will be

OK? We will have to wait and see. He is a vital player for you?

when he is here. Leicester City manager, Nigel

Pearson remains adamant they are within a shout of making the play-

offs. They are four points of the all-important top six. The 4th, 5th

and 6th places are up for grabs for a number of clubs. It remains very

tight. Although the season has been stop and start, we still have a

chance. But we will have to finish the season strongly. As the

Olympics gets closer, another group of competitors are about to do

their bit in the battle for team selection and to stake a claim in

I do admit, the first thing I thought when I woke up on New

Year's Day was, it is 2012, an Olympic year. Laurence Shannon,

British Rock brought up in America. When she was introduced to eventing,

there was no stopping her. There isn't it one day I had not loved it.

Even when I have been at the lowest low, there wasn't one day I did not

want to be doing it. It is a good job, because the work that goes on

at the stables is hard. Rewarding, but hard. And necessary. No event

there is eventing as a sport without using it to make money as

well. We do a lot of buying and selling. I do a lot of teaching and

everyone here is an event rider, they have to have a business

surrounding the losses or nobody would be able to fund it. 2010 was

the events, Lauren and there was announced their rivals. It is a big

splash to make. They have done it, and now realistically they are one

of five challenging for one remaining Olympic place. I have

been struggling with the laws that could possibly go to the Olympics

for a few years. -- de horse. If I just sit here and think about it, I

get a bit excited and gobsmacked, that a few years ago I would never

have dreamt of being in this position. For Laurent's Olympic

hopes, a Badminton next month is the one to watch.

Finally, he has been at it the 32 years, but Leicester City's Alan

Birch shows no signs of quitting his fund-raising yet. He is hoping

to break his �1 million mark when he does his laps around the stadium.

Every year I say, it is the last one. But there is something always

around the corner. Leicestershire people have been fantastic. We will

keep our fingers crossed and get through the million-pound mark. I

don't want a weather like this. Although it seems like summer, it

is of course only spring. And Sally has been back to Derbyshire today,

because we cannot keep her awake from the little lambs. Earlier in

the week she was at Calke Abbey, now she is there again meeting some

newborns and a young vet who has just delivered her first Lambs.

We are back at Calke Abbey, and although it feels like a gorgeous

summer's day, it is spring. These girls here are ready for lambing

any day now. These were born in the night. We will move them down to

the individual pens, but there is one there she is not happy with.

She perhaps mother that one of another one in the night and then

had her own. I came along and found her with two Lambs. What will you

do with it? I will stand us with it and making sure it gets a drink. It

is really hungry. Stand where I am. She just hasn't been able to turn

round and from pen, so he can have his drink of milk. The bonding

opportunity has gone, do you think? I think so, he might end up with

the waves and strays. We have a big electric bucket of warm milk that

keeps them going. -- waifs and strays. Congratulations are in

order? Your first lambs delivered last night? 4pm in the afternoon,

but completely solo. That is the bit I must congratulate Tory about.

This is Damon. A very big boy. And there was no room in there at all.

I struggled to fit my hand in to pull him out. I clear his air waves

of them brought in to his mum. This is Bella and she came out pretty

much after. It was unbelievable pulling it out. What I was worried

about his 2.5 hours, they might have been a problem. I was

literally overwhelmed. After hearing about the lambs being born,

we finally caught the moment on camera, which you will see for

yourself tomorrow night. Teasing us.

More animals because the parents in Falcon has had been pretty busy.

The first exit of the spring has been laid six days earlier than

last year. People around the world had been following their progress.

Internet hits have passed the 2 million mark. -- Peregrine Balkans.

Tomorrow is looking to be dry, settled with warm temperatures.

Overnight, dry and a bit on the chilly side, much like it has been

all week. You have been sending High pressure is just a bad

clinging on, keeping us dry and settled. We have had barely a cloud

in this guide. Across much of the UK, clear skies and that is how we

are at the moment. It will be a lovely evening before it gets dark.

Overnight, a little bit of cloud pushing into the worst, but for

most Clear skies and temperatures down to four Celsius. It could be a

couple of degrees lower than that in rural spots. They missed it will

quickly clear and any cloud in the worst first thing tomorrow burns

away and we are in for a lovely day on Friday. High temperatures

tomorrow of 19 Celsius. All change Friday night. This colt funds comes

south through the night. It all bring an increase in cloud and

colder air from the Arctic. A- changing temperatures as we go into

Saturday. -- a change in temperatures. Looking at some night,

cloud around but also some sunny spells. Sunday is what you would

normally expect at this time of year. Let's look at the outlook.

Another warm day tomorrow, and gradually temperatures start to

drop. And the trend of those lower drop. And the trend of those lower