08/05/2017 East Midlands Today

You're watching East Midlands Today. so it's goodbye from me.

Tonight - the fight for justice for victims

We can reveal that more than 50 suspects with links to

Nottinghamshire's care system have died. Also tonight, the businessman

who once all children to have compulsory lessons on mental health.

Plus, funding for kidney research. This father just want to check for

?2.7 million. If we can add just a little bit to the knowledge and help

this disease, it would be fantastic. And why a film about Mozart hit all

the right notes for Derbyshire screenwriter Brian Ashby. As you

know, I have done a lot of exciting things, but I think there's probably

will be the most exciting, yes. Welcome to Monday's

programme with Geeta Pendse First tonight - East Midlands Today

can reveal that more than 50 suspects in a historical child

abuse inquiry, have died. They've been reported

to a long-running investigation into the care system

in Nottinghamshire. The police

have identified hundreds of potential victims,

but it's been hard to find evidence. And one survivors' group says it's

very concerned that more suspects Our social affairs correspondent,

Jeremy Ball, reports. The police are listening

and they are helping. It took decades for

Sharon to go to the police to say she had been raped

and repeatedly abused by a man that worked at the children's home

where she was a teenage resident. And she has never

had a day in court. That's because Sharon

has been assessed as having a psychiatric condition,

probably caused by childhood abuse, which means she wouldn't

make a credible witness. I will never get justice

for what he did to me. He would get me to stay

behind, help clean up He punched me in the face

and he raped me on the table. That is why a lot of people

stopped talking about it, stopped telling,

because people did not listen to us. Sharon is part of a vast police

investigation into child abuse in the care system across

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire over She is one of more than 300 men

and women who have come forward They've made 680

separate allegations. Detectives have recorded around

400 potential abusers. And actually all of the unidentified

subjects could be one We know that over 50

of them are dead. We rely so heavily now

on forensic evidence, telephone evidence,

CCTV, things like that. but when we are dealing

with historic allegations and historic investigations,

such as what you see in Operation Equinox,

we don't have that benefit, and so it makes it all

the more challenging. But this former social worker has

been brought to justice. Andris Logins was jailed

for 20 years for sex attacks on several youngsters

he was supposed to be caring for. It all happened at the old Beachwood

children's home in Mapperley, where the abuse enquiries

began back in 2011. Since then, emotions have

sometimes boiled over Because only three abusers have

been evicted so far. Most suspects haven't been

prosecuted, because a lack of evidence means there is no

realistic prospect of conviction. We are very concerned

with the number of cases going to court,

because actually, there is absolutely no deterrent

there to the people who abuse and there is no incentive

there are two people that have been accused, including rape

victims, to come forward. But how can you change that

without convicting innocent Well, why don't you let more cases

go to court and if the guy is He is found not guilty,

but at least the system has It was our role to keep children

safe and we clearly didn't. But this public apology

has been welcomed by survivors and now they are working

with the authorities and survivors and now they are working

with the authorities in Nottinghamshire, so victims

get the help they need. The support, traditionally,

has been towards But actually, a large percentage

of victims are men, so we are making some extra special

provision for men to help them Some of these allegations

go back 60 years. Now Sharon is pinning

her hopes on the independent enquiry

into child sex abuse. That won't put anyone in jail,

but it will try to establish the truth, so the sins

of the past aren't repeated. ..he was threatening,

he was a nasty man. Jeremy Ball is in Mapperley

in Nottingham for us tonight. Is it too late for most

victims to get justice? Well, the police are still

investigating a handful of suspects are still pacing follows cushion. --

facing prosecution. You can see how how little evidence is, when you

begin the old Beachwood children's home. The focus of this is now

shifting to the independent enquiry into child sex abuse. This Thursday,

that is going to open its stand on Nottinghamshire children's homes.

That'll look at whether there were institutional failings,

It's not a court, so it won't decide who's guilty of abuse.

But survivors will get the chance to tell their stories -

So, they can get some sort of closure.

Still to come this evening - in Sport, Nottingham

And I'm at Westminster as two of our best-known MPs say farewell to all

The biggest-ever financial gift from an individual has been given

to the University of Leicester to boost kidney research.

More than ?3 million has been donated in total by Colombian

entrepreneur Jimmy Mayer, after his son was diagnosed

Today, the pair flew in from South America to see

the labs where their money will be spent funding vital research.

Scientists say the donation will transform their work and could be

The lab has already been renamed to mark the incredible act of

Jimmy Mayer, a philanthropist born in

Colombia, has gifted the University of Leicester ?2.7 million to fund

It comes three years after giving half a million

He has a personal interest, his son, David,

here with him today, was diagnosed with kidney disease -

known as IgA nephropathy, five years ago.

He actually controls it quite well with

diet, etc, but if we can stop it in its tracks,

you know, as if other, that's a fantastic thing.

What does it mean to you to tour here today

I'm just delighted that I'm able to help

these people get better equipment, better tools.

In any business that I've been in, it's all about people.

Scientists here at the University of Leicester have been besetting this

It's a disease in which the patient's own

antibodies, which are produced naturally to fight infection, settle

in the kidneys, causing inflammation and scarring.

In extreme cases, it can lead to kidney failure.

But it is hoped this huge donation could

directly prevent that from happening.

By allowing the team to design the right drugs to treat the

It's going to transform the work we can do here.

It's going to allow us to invest in new talent

to the laboratory, to bring in new, exciting scientists, that are going

It's allowed us, as you can see, to purchase a whole range of different

equipments and it's going to fund a research programme that is very

It's really going to allow us to examine this disease in ways

Do you think that you might benefit from this one day in the future?

I speak on behalf of every patient with this condition,

it's just great to know that you have a team like this on

Sarah Teale, BBC East Midlands Today, Leicester.

Next, another businessman who is putting his time,

money and energy into combating one of the biggest health

challenges of our age - mental health problems.

Adam Shaw has set up a charity in Newark to campaign for mental

health education to be made compulsory in schools.

His foundation has has now gathered enough online signatures

on a petition to secure a House of Commons debate.

Our health correspondent Rob Sissons has more.

As is standing up to talk about mental health after years of

silence. He battled from the age of five with anxiety, panic attacks and

depression. Though a by-product of his commit obsessive compulsive

disorder. Must've Magatti cars, holidays, but I didn't have the. I

didn't like disgusted with my parents, teachers are friends.

That's really because there was no education around it. Adam sold his

business and is now involved in what he describes as a crusade to get

mental health taught in schools. He insists that suit the compulsory.

The sharp mind foundation, a charity yet set up, they have gathered

enough signatures now to secure a Parliamentary debate on the school's

idea. There an absolute epidemic of education on mental health. It is

going to get worse with no education. It will be a disaster.

The only way you can address that is to make it compulsory. What's going

on at the moment, was being ordered by the Government as the reactive

way of dealing it is not going to work. It becomes a box ticking

exercise will stop it lets the schools, teachers and sufferers

down. He realises this is a hot topic during the election, with

politicians keen to show their credentials. But he says three

years, successive governments just haven't delivered enough. Deck

adapter decade, the Government has said things about mental health, but

they have let down society and generation after generation has been

generation after generation has been failed.

It's early days in the general election campaign, but already

Yes, one month today to the general election. If you are counting. It is

being talked about. Yesterday, we heard from the Conservatives, who

said that they want to see more people trained in schools to spot

the symptoms of children with mental health problems earlier. Labour

today talking about improving counselling for young people. That's

something Ukip has said they want to see. And we have spoken as well to

the reader of the Association of School and College leaders based in

Leicester, this organisation represents 18,000 school readers.

They warn that all this is great stuff, but it has to be funded and

is a danger that schools are dumped on. Schools will be modelling mental

health like fitness and good diet. We need to be careful that what we

are not doing is assuming that schools are the answer to everything

and there are some young people who are going to need specialist

position. The Government need to make sure that that provision is

More mental health provision will cost more money -

how have the parties said they will pay for their plans?

Simply, we haven't got the full details of that, because those

manifestos are not out yet. We are expecting them next week. We know

from bits that have been announced, Labour have said they want to give

modest tax increases to people earning more than ?80,000 a year.

People below that amount they say won't be affected. The Conservatives

have yet to tell us their details and we know the Liberal Democrats

are proposing a 1p increase in income tax rates, which says it will

go to health and social care. Thank you.

The family of a young Leicestershire woman who,

an inquest heard, killed herself after being

physically and emotionally abused by her ex-boyfriend are urging women

Meera Dalal, who was 25, was found dead at her family home

Her former partner was reported to Leicestershire Police, but has

never been charged with any offences in relation to her.

Meera's family now want to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Staff at Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire are clearing up

a load of rubbish which has been fly-tipped over the weekend.

Office chairs, an old vacuum cleaner and even a portable toilet

were hidden in bushes near the main car park.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust says volunteers are having to spend hours

A woman who was found seriously injured at a house in Derby four

Jane Sherratt was discovered at her home on Avondale Road

Her husband, Paul Sherratt, was charged with attempted murder

As the general election campaign gathers pace,

two of our best known politicians have been packing up

and clearing their offices in the House of Commons.

Harborough's Sir Edward Garnier and Nottingham

North's Graham Allen have both taken the decision to stand down.

Tonight, they look back at their Parliamentary careers

Here's our general election reporter, John Hess.

Rolling up the years and his constituency map,

Sir Edward Garnier packs up his things after 25 years

The constituency achievement I'm probably most proud of is the battle

They wanted to build up to 20,000 new

Which would have completely destroyed rural Harborough,

would have turned Market Harborough almost into a suburb of the city

The former Solicitor General's held high-profile

Government roles, but that recognition that can backfire.

Such on a chance meeting with Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

He said, "I was told you were part of the Dutch

Whoever let you in should be taken out and shot."

And we had half an hour just chatting

and dealing with a stranger who just turned up on the off chance.

He could not have been more charming,

I thought it was one of the greatest moments of my life.

I'm now on my way to the Parliamentary offices of another one

of our MPs, who is standing down after 30 years.

His staff help with the heavy lifting.

In these boxes, the story of this Labour MP's political battles won

And his continuing frustration with parliament itself.

I think that it has let people down of the last 30 years when I've been

It has not raised the issues that it should have done.

I think the House of Commons isn't fit for

It wasn't when I came in and it's not now.

We have seen how it has been rolled over by the

The door is almost shut on a Parliamentary career,

as two of our very senior politicians take a new

destination - out of the House of Commons.

First, Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi says the club's

takeover is 99% done and expects it to happen by the end of this week.

Al Hasawi say Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis is meeting

with the Football League in the coming days.

He told us the news after Forest secured

Natalie Jackson was there and looks back now on a dramatic

The fans invaded the pitch, as Forest stay in the

Great result, great end to the season.

But after a season of turmoil, managerial changes and field

takeover bids, for fans, the day started full of tension.

Concentrate on our job and I think we'll be absolutely fine.

I'm feeling apprehensive, cos I've got to live

Half an hour in, with both Blackburn and

Birmingham winning, only goalie Jordan Smith kept Forest in the

And at this stage, Forest were going down.

Then a crucial moment as Jamie Ward won a penalty.

They needed a strong heart and mind from Britt Assombalonga.

COMMENTATOR: Brave, brave penalty by Britt Assombalonga!

As it stands, Forest outside the relegation zone.

In the second-half, Captain Chris Cohen, outstanding.

Britt Assombalonga then had a penalty saved,

As Blackburn were relegated and Forest stayed up,

They've dealt with it and I'm delighted with them today, to get

Nottingham Forest must never, ever find itself in a

We can keep building, especially with the

He has got his philosophy and everyone is behind

him and hopefully we will gel to that.

Also safe in their league, but rather less dramatically in

Watford were the latest victims as a resurgent Foxes

Wildred Ndidi, a proper find, opening the scoring.

Twinkle toes Riyad Mahrez supplied the second -

will we be seeing him in this stadium next season?

Perhaps not, but bank on Jamie Vardy being there.

What a run this is right at the end of the game.

And when the pass picks out Marc Albrighton,

Derby County owner and Chairman has called the Rams' season disastrous.

It's seen the team yet again change manager mid-season and, last week,

A poor return from a campaign that at one point promised so much.

Notts and Stags to come, but it's with Derby

Rams were at rather, he really have had a disaster. The record low

points tally on their way to bottom place, didn't stop them taking the

lead, though. Derby won themselves a penalty and a point. It 1-1 draw at

the bottom says it all. Mansfield needed miracles to get into the

League 2 play-off. The first requirement, victory for Crawley.

The own side bit back, results elsewhere meant the Stags would have

missed out anyway. Be finished in 12th. The end of an era at Newport

County, not for the home team, scoring here. They needed a win to

avoid relegation and got despite being 1-1 with Notts County after an

hour. The dramatic late winner was the final goal but Notts and BBC

legend Colin Slater will talk you through. COMMENTATOR: Bus to back

the in and into the back of the net! Newport fans are all on their feet!

The final whistle goes! Newport County are indeed in the football

next season! Thanks for that brilliant strike late on late in the

day, not have lost, Newport celebrate! Thank you, Colin.

Now to the saddest story of the weekend.

There's been overwhelming support for the Leicester

who's pulled out of the British Lions tour to New Zealand.

He made the decision after being told the wife

of his brother, Tom, has terminal cancer.

A week ago, Ben Youngs's wife Tiffany and daughter Maisie were on

an end of season lap of honour. The last few days have brought a

dreadful diagnosis. Tom and Ben both played for the Tigers at the weekend

and will continue to play and train a possible in the coming weeks. Tom,

the captain, scored the try which said the club into bed 13 successive

play-off semifinals. Three years ago, you pulled out of England pot

tour to New Zealand in the early stages of his wife's illness. On

Saturday, brother Ben sacrificed what would have been a career

highlight. He once every four years Lions tour. He said...

Today, the Lions coaches and squad had their first meeting and sport to

the press. As far as I'm concerned, family comes first. He has made that

decision and we know how close they are as well. Our thoughts go out to

them and to everyone. If you think that's the right thing to do, it's a

great thing to do. It's his choice. Absolutely 100% his choice. Not like

the brothers are very close and these last few days have received

overwhelming support from fans and Robbie community. Mark Shardlow,

East Midlands today. Tigers go into those premiership semifinals.

Tigers go into those premiership semifinals.

Success too at the weekend for the Leicester Riders Basketball

team who made next Sunday's play off final.

And for Loughborough Lightning netball who secured their sport

in next months finals weekend in Manchester.

A story about perseverance - 18 years ago, Brian Ashby

from Ashbourne in Derbyshire wrote a screenplay for

a film about Mozart, but struggled to get it made.

Despite the setbacks, he kept trying and this week

Interlude In Prague will have its world premiere

Our reporter Navtej Johal went to meet him.

A film release which is music to the ears of 181-year-old Derbyshire man.

This is it, this is your finished script that you worked on for so

many years. It is, yes. Looking brother dog eared. It is the

finished script. In 1999, Brian Ashby decided to write the

screenplay for four, even to no romantic thriller based on Mozart's

time in the city. The no semi retired businessman then here's

trying to get the film made. I was close to giving up, to be honest,

because I had gone down the wrong routes to try to get them to let me

foam the screenplay. And I realised I was a complete amateur and I could

be wasting my time. Then a friend persuaded Brian to persevere.

Introducing into the eventual director of the film. That's when I

realised that it was worth picking it up again and working on it. I'm

glad I did. Last year, Brian Winters to see it being shot in Prague. It

was very emotional, because I heard words that I had written coming back

to me from the actors. Not only that, but most of them were

repeating it over in a way that I had envisaged, as I was writing it.

Awakened by a musical 's effort tapping on my consciousness. On

Thursday, the film has its world premiere on London's Leicester

Square ahead of its nationwide release on the 25th of May. If you

see that come to life, what would that be like? Very emotional.

Without question. He will enjoy that premiere. You will indeed. The

question is, will it be music to our deals with the weather forecast?

In some ways, yes. Some of us did manage to the electorate of dappled

sunshine earlier on, but for most of us, grey skies were the order of the

day. That theme is going to continue as we go through tomorrow. Closure,

but some bright spots. If we have a look at the charts, we can see why,

high pressure is generally in charge of our weather. Not a lot of women,

about building up. If we have a look at the satellite picture from

earlier on, the best of the sunshine in the west. Grey skies. Looking at

the detail of the cause of the night, continuing to the quite

cloudy skies. Does the odd spit and spot of rain has a go through the

early hours, nothing too much to double as with. We are the cloud

bins and breaks, we must the end of frost in sheltered rural spots. Not

a touch of that at all in towns and cities. Looking at tomorrow, quite a

cloudy picture. Again, we could see the odd spit and spot of rain. We

get that big required. Brokers Bell is particularly to the rest of the

region and highs of around 13 degrees obvious. Looking ahead to

Wednesday, a slightly brighter picture on Wednesday. Variable

amounts of cloud and highs of 15 Celsius. Those above looking forward

to a bit of rain, low pressure taking charge towards the end of the

week. I will leave you with the Outlook. Staying fairly settled for

the next couple of days. We could do with some rain. For the garden, yes.

We'll be back later on with more updates at 10:30pm.