02/10/2013 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight: A teenager on trial, accused of plotting bomb attacks on

his home town. His targets included a mosque and a

cinema. Also, the community in shock as

police hunting a missing teenager find a body. Dumbstruck. We are

waiting to see what happens and what the police say. , plus, the

controversial Muslim free school is closed by Ofsted.

These schoolchildren are getting up close and personal with a

masterpiece. Good evening. Welcome to the

programme. First tonight, a Leicestershire teenager has gone on

trial accused of preparing a terrorist attack. The court heard

that his targets included a mosque and two colleges in Loughborough.

He'd made a plan based on the mass shooting at Columbine High School in

America. The jury was shown videos of him testing home—made bombs and

threatening to kill Muslims. Our social affairs correspondent Jeremy

Ball is live at the Old Bailey. Jeremy, what more can you tell us?

We heard the teenager suffers from Asperger's syndrome. We cannot

identify him because he is 17. He is facing two very serious terrorism

charges. When the police went to his home, they found weapons including

pipe bombs, a poisons Handbook and a list of targets. The targets

included a mosque. We heard he had made notes about fighting what he

called the Islamic invasion of Europe. Also on his list, the

Council, the university, a local cinema and two local colleges. What

is he accused of planning to do? We heard he had written plans for an

operation referencing the shooting spree at Columbine high school in

the US where a teacher and 12 pupils were shot dead in 1999. Here at the

Old Bailey, the prosecution said this boy had made notes talking

about attacking a secondary school, eliminating pupils and teachers by

chaining up the exits and attacking classrooms with bombs and a machete

and guns. In the notebook, he had drawn swastikas and written English

Defence League slogans. What about his motivation? We had quite a lot

about his far right views but the prosecution also talked about

personal grudges. A very telling recording that he had recorded on

his dictaphone. This is the voice of an actor. How could anyone treat a

fellow person like anyone has treated me? That is what drives

people to do this. Look at all of the things in the past, Columbine,

others. All because of William. —— bullying. We saw home—made videos of

the boy with friends where des Alpes wearing balaclavas and they identify

themselves as the urban revolutionary army —— they are

wearing balaclavas. The jury has been told to decide if the teenager

on trial was simply a misfit or whether he really was a would—be

terrorist. A second man has appeared in court

charged with the murder of a football coach from Leicester.

Antoin Akpom who was 20 died from a single stab wound following an

attack on Kent Street in the city last month. Earlier today,

19—year—old Hussain Hussain was remanded in custody to appear at

Leicester Crown Court on Friday. Another 19—year—old, Abdul Hakim,

has already been charged with murder.

Managers at the Leicester Royal Infirmary have admitted failures in

care. It's after an elderly dementia patient was allowed to walk out of

its accident and emergency unit in his pyjamas. The 86—year old had

walked more than four miles before he was found early in the morning

last November, after falling near a police station. The hospital trust

has apologised and says new training procedures are being introduced.

Still to come: Trying new treatment for a cancer that has no cure.

Mesothelioma is often the legacy of a lifetime's exposure to asbestos.

Now patients who have it are helping test a new drug.

People living on the housing estate where a teenage boy went missing

have told us they're devastated to hear a body has been found.

Ciaran Sweeney who's 14 left his home on the Oaktree Lane Estate in

Mansfield two—and—a—half weeks ago. His family had appealed for him to

come home. But yesterday police told them they've found a body. Jo Healey

reports. It is a close community so when the

police started searching for Ciaran Sweeney people helped too, putting

up posters, combing the heath land near his home. Hole I came to check

the hiding I know. With my volunteers, we go out twice a week

—— I came to check the hiding places I know. Now I feel sick and very

sad. Feelings mirrored by others on the estate. People have come

together over this. But you can see and feel the sadness and heartache.

My daughter went to school with him. She has found it upsetting. She was

close to him and close to his sister as well. People are dumbstruck. They

are waiting to see what happens and what the police are going to say. We

are waiting for answers. My thoughts and love go to the family and

friends. A police underwater search team recovered the body of a teenage

boy yesterday at a quarry. The body will not be formally identified

until the end of this week. Here is what the chief inspector said. We

appreciate it is an emotional and trying time for the local

community. Until we can make a formal identification, we ask for

patients and sensitivity to all those involved.

A Muslim faith school remains closed tonight, 24 hours after Ofsted

inspectors moved in and shut it down. At the end of one day of

inspection, the Al—Madinah School in Derby was ordered to close

immediately on health and safety grounds.

In the past, the school has been accused of imposing strict Islamic

practice on staff and pupils and there have been allegations of

financial irregularities. More now from our reporter James Roberson.

Today at the primary part of the school in Derby, there was a sign

saying there was an ongoing Ofsted inspection but nothing about school

closure will stop North could the staff enlighten us. Do you know what

is happening? I cannot comment. On the school's website, the interim

principal has put this statement for the parents. Owing to a health and

safety issue, I have taken the decision to close the school until I

am confident all children are safe. Ofsted themselves issued this

statement. We agreed to bring forward our planned inspection of

the school. As a result, we understand the principle has written

to the parents informing them the school will be closed to children

today. Half a mile away at the secondary school site of the

Al—Madinah School, parents were coming to the school to try to find

out for themselves why it had closed. They are happy with the

school. We do not know what is going on. Obviously, with the teaching

side, we are really happy. Really happy. We do not want it to

shutdown. Not without any specific reason. We are really happy and I

would definitely send my child to the school. Principal says he hopes

the school will reopen in the very near future.

Joining us in the studio now is Nick Raine, the regional officer for the

National Union of Teachers. Thank you for coming in. We have heard

claims that teachers have been told what to wear, that girls have been

told to sit at the back of the class and claims of financial

irregularities. Are you hearing this? We have had members contacting

us with concerns about contracts and practices in the school, to the

governments of the school. They have raised serious concerns. Hence the

ongoing inspection. What do you think is the possible health and

safety aspect? I do not know. It could be one of a number of things.

It is virtually unprecedented for a school to be closed the day after an

Ofsted inspection. The nature of free schools is that no one is

accountable. Have you tried to contact the people behind the

school? I have had many journalists asking me who is in charge. This is

inherent with free schools. You have a situation where schools are not

accountable. The some of the parents seem very happy. They want the

school to reopen. We all want the school to reopen but we also need to

think about the future of schools up and down the country. This could

well be replicated in other places. We will leave it there. Thank you.

Cuts have been voted through at Nottinghamshire County Council. It

has to save £157 million. In Matlock, the big picture is

emerging. Five years of cuts voted through today at Derbyshire county

council. Labour blame lack of funding from the government. The

Conservatives Shepp 1200 jobs when they were in power. Now they say

labour has slowed down the pace of the cuts. The greatest concern today

in the report is the failure to maintain the momentum of making

savings in this authority. It is something that has been going on now

for the four years of our administration. This is the scale.

£157 million over five years. Up to 1600 jobs at risk. These are some of

the budgets being targeted this year alone. Nonsense to suggest they are

not being tough enough says the Labour Party. We do not have sofas,

we are cutting money on the civic budget, —— chauffeurs. We are

finding money in all kinds of ways. The union is worried. From what we

know, it is going to be the most abominable people within Derbyshire,

particularly adult care. Those services are going to be affected

directly by this. Much of the detail of the cuts has yet to emerge.

We hear there has been another development this evening. That is

right. Councillors have voted not to accept a 1% increase in their

allowances. They say it will say something like £7,500 a year. In

2012—2013, the allowances totalled around £1 million. Not a huge saving

but the councillors say they are showing solidarity. They also voted

through a new package of increased allowances for a slimmed down

cabinet. Other councillors will get a reduction. There will be less paid

out over all and it is claimed it will save the authority around £3600

overall. Looking for savings everywhere. Thank you.

Two new treatments for an aggressive form of cancer are being tested in

the East Midlands. At the moment, mesothelioma, mainly caused by

exposure to asbestos, can't be cured.

More and more cases are being diagnosed each year and doctors at

Leicester's Glenfield Hospital are predicting numbers could peak in the

next six or seven years. Here's our health correspondent Rob Sissons.

It is the past that is destroying this man's future. He is convinced

he developed me Cecilio in the working as an engineer 40 years ago

—— developed cancer. He was exposed to asbestos. We were going down into

a stone storm —— snowstorm. A very dusty room. There were no masks or

anything. The jagged edge around his long, cancer. Note you but there is

hope. At this hospital he is the first to test a new drug —— there is

no cure. We have had not had any treatments. What we plan to do is

get the scan. You have the combination on the first day... The

drug he is trying out is designed to prevent the growth of tumours. The

university is leading an international trial into another

drug to reduce reliance on chemotherapy. Even if it does not do

me good, it is going to help other people in the long run. It can take

15 to 16 years —— 15 to 60 years to develop cancer after exposure to

asbestos. 2500 cases a year are diagnosed in the UK. We have seen in

other cancers where survival is improved is that the more treatments

you have got, the longer people live.

Still to come, schools get a masterclass in art. Works by leading

painters are being taken into classrooms across Nottingham, giving

children a chance to see their work up close.

It is sport time now. What a night at Derby County. They will take

their time to make the right appointment when it comes to wait

technical director to work alongside new head coach Steve McClaren. And

what an introduction to his team for him last night. McClaren was in the

stands as he saw the Rams go 4—1 down by half time against Ipswich.

Derby were so bad he was forced to intervene and inspired a dramatic

comeback. Kirsty Edwards was there. And so the new era began as Steve

McClaren and his coaching team met the players for the first time last

night. Darren was in temporary charge for the game with Steve

McClaren watching in the director's box. With the new boss watching,

these players will be desperate to make a good first impression

tonight. And desperate for their first home win. As first impressions

go, the first half was a masterclass in how not to do it. He has scored

in his own net! Terrible defending. It is four. Oh, dear. Derby were

four — one down. Steve McClaren had enough. He did an unexpected team

talk. Everyone knew that we would be told what they thought of us. He

came down and he changed the shape of it and told us to believe in

ourselves. Whatever he said, it obviously worked. Derby have got

another one back! Into the net! Derby have a third goal. He puts it

in the net! Derby have an equaliser. Down from the director's

box, Steve McClaren watched on. They tried to snatch a late winner but

time just eluded them. That is what you call a game of two halves. What

an amazing comeback. Unbelievable. Great atmosphere. We liked doing it

the hard way. What do you think Steve McClaren will have learnt from

tonight? He will have learnt we need to defend better, from set pieces

particularly. We need to play as we did in the second half.

At Leicester City their excellent form continues. Last night they beat

Yeovil by 2—1. So tonight, this is how the Championship table looks.

The Foxes are third but only goal difference separates them from

Burnley and QPR. Leicester are our best place team in the Midlands.

They have won seven out of their first ten league games. It was a

night for Leicester when their quality shone through. They had the

better chances and could have won by more. They deserved the lead on 54

minutes . Their power and pace was too much for Yeovil Town. David

Nugent has scored six times from the penalty spot this season and again,

he made no mistakes. Yeovil Town got a penalty of their own but Leicester

were dominant and are unbeaten in five games and joint top of the

championship. Onto Nottingham Forest who are still

in talks with Wolves about bringing in winger Bakary Sako to the City

Ground on loan. Discussions have been ongoing for a long time so the

club could be forced to go elsewhere. On the pitch, Forest have

only lost one of their first ten games. Last night, they drew 1—1 at

Charlton. Mark Shardlow reports. Forest in the grey started the night

in style. Andy Reid's free kick gave them the lead after three minutes.

Soon after, he had a half chance for a second. But Charlton gave notice

this would not be an easy night as they gave them a fright. This was

probably the moment when Forest should have racked up the points but

they could not quite finish it. In the second half, Charlton

equalised. As the game neared the end, the home side look for the

winner. First, the woodwork saved Forest. Then it was some scrambled

defending to desperately clear. The ball was staying out of the net to

Forest's relief. Finally, gymnastics. One of our top Olympic

stars is hoping to reach the finals of the World Championships this

evening. Nottingham's Becky Downie competes on the bars and beam. She's

hoping for better fortune than Sam Oldham who's also from Nottingham.

The medal winner from the London Olympics failed to make the finals

in the competition which is being held in Belgium. Hard luck, Sam.

From the gallery to the classroom. Today, hundreds of school children

in Nottingham were given the chance to see a masterpiece up close.

As part of the BBC's Your Painting project, works by leading artists

are being taken into schools in an attempt to introduce children to

art. Geeta Pendse reports. It is not every day you have a

security man at the doors. These children today got the chance to

have a close encounter with an original piece of artwork. Ella

Macri you have the nail varnish. Can you see, is it just on the floor? ——

you have the nail varnish. Owned by Nottingham Castle Gallery, curators

were on hand to chat to the children. The purpose behind it is

making artwork more accessible and it could not be more accessible than

being in your own home for the day. A great opportunity for the children

to look up close at the artwork. Then we find out more about it,

particularly because it is a local artist. It is one of 27 paintings

being taken to schools across the UK. It is not just about

appreciating the artistic merit, but also exploring a moment of history.

We do not get many trips to the gallery to see famous paintings. I

thought it was amazing. Really cool to have a real painting in the

school. It is not like cartoons, it is realistic, like a real person. I

like the painting. The painting will be returned to Nottingham Castle

where it is also hoped these children will venture in the future

to take another look. And you can get more information

about this project by logging onto our website.

I thought that was really lovely. Pretty as a picture, here is the

weather. Such a long time since we have seen

significant rainfall, but we had lots overnight and first thing this

morning. Nottingham sought 17 millimetres of rain over the past 12

hours —— Nottingham saw. The cloud will be with us overnight. The risk

of one or two outbreaks of rain, particularly through western parts,

the Peak District and western parts of Leicestershire. Further east, it

is a dryer picture. Overnight lows of around 14 degrees. Tomorrow, it

will start dry for most places. Quite cloudy. Do not be fooled for

thinking the rain is not with us, it will just take a while. Not too bad

they start to the day. Some brightness. In the sunshine,

temperatures will reach 19 degrees. Breezy. The rain will edge its way

and in the afternoon. It will become more heavy and persistent as we go

into the evening. Gradually, it. To work its weight used. It will be

heavy and persistent for a time —— gradually, it will start to work its

way eastwards. Further showers on Friday. By Saturday, a ridge of high

pressure will build and that will help to settle things down. We will

not see Wall to wall sunshine. It will be quite a cloudy affair. We

will see some sunshine at times. And temperatures will not do too badly

either. After Thursday night, it looks like it will be an improving

picture. I do not think we can remember wall

to wall sunshine. Thinking really hard!

That is it for us. Good night.