02/12/2011 Look East - East

In Look East tonight... A woman is seriously ill in hospital after a

concrete block was dropped on her car from this bridge.

Hello and welcome to Look East. Also in tonight's programme...

The woman who stole so much from her employers that they went bust.

Because she seemed such a nice person, the thought that she was

stealing off us never, ever crossed my mind.

Vince Cable vows to make the banks lend money to small businesses.

And Strictly Panto! Anita Dobson and Russell Grant play Milton

First tonight, a woman is in hospital with what are described as

life threatening injuries after a concrete block was deliberately

dropped onto her car. She was in the passenger seat travelling on

the A12 near Chelmsford when the incident happened yesterday evening.

Just half-an-hour earlier, another block had been dropped on another

car, but without injuring those inside. Both cases are being

treated as attempted murder. Kim Riley is next to the A12.

This is the bridge from which one lump of concrete, described the

shaped like a bucket, was dropped on a car at around 10pm last night.

A 57-year-old woman was a passenger, her husband was cut, but she was

seriously injured. She is at -- she is in a serious but stable

condition at Broomfield Hospital. Forensic teams are gathering

evidence. About half an hour before the incident, a similar lump of

concrete was dropped from a bridge on the A12 several Mike -- several

miles down some off -- several miles down south. The passengers

and drive on that car for an injured. There have been about 30

of these incidents in the last three years. I went to see David

Ackland. He runs a riding school with his wife. Three years ago, he

was towing a caravan and under a similar bridge when a lump of

concrete smashed through his Land- Rover and he was in no doubt what

would have happened if hit hit him. I would have been dead. It was

future. It was a huge piece of concrete, very heavy, it would have

killed me. What do you think of people who do this? I do not think

you would be able to transmit what I think. It is disgraceful

behaviour. I do not see any reason for doing it. I cannot see any

sense in it whatsoever. With me is Nick Morris. This is

absolutely crazy. It is, I can see no reason why anyone would want to

do this. Some people at home watching could think this was part

of a group. What can you say? is being investigated as into it --

as an attempt at murder. Not just the person holding or pushing the

concrete could be held accountable, anyone there could be accountable.

I would arch people to come forward and explained their case. The you

are asking people going down the road for any information? Certainly.

We would like contact from anyone who saw anything suspicious one

that any of the Road bridges up- and-down at the A12, particularly

the Chelmsford area. Are you hopeful of getting the people

responsible? We have had a forensic team are out here today. We need

members of the public to come forward and give us more

information. Thank you very much. I have a telephone number if you can

help with information. That is 0300 333 4444. Back to the studio.

Thank you. A finance director, who stole so much money that the

company she worked for went under, has been jailed. Christine Abbott

took more than �90,000 from Euro- Spec steel in Essex. A judge at

Chelmsford Crown Court told her he was imposing a 21-month sentence.

It was to deter others who might be tempted to steal from their

employers. It has bounced back. Not long ago,

this company went bust. It was a combination of the recession and an

accounts manager fiddling the books. Christina Abbott stole �93,000.

Because she seemed such a nice person, but what she was stealing

from us never crossed my mind. While working at Euro-Spec steel,

she made up invoices and pocketed the money. In 2009, we started

letting people go. In fact, she lost her own job, because she was

stealing, but we had to make car redundant. Before she left, she

bought a brand new Mercedes, went on nice holidays, but we just

assumed it was her husband's business doing well. We had no idea

that we were supporting her. A jury found her guilty of fraud at

Chelmsford Crown Court. She was sentenced this morning. The judge

told her she had to go to prison, otherwise what is to stop another

accountant or book-keeper putting their hand in the till? She was

jailed for 21 months. The court heard she was under financial

pressure, because her partner's business was struggling. Mr Howard

has started another company. Work is steady. We can see us getting

back to the way we were. He is going to try and take on some of

the staff who lost their jobs because of Christine Abbott's

dishonesty. Tom Wagstaff is a solicitor who

specialises in this sort of crime. He joins us now. How widespread the

these cases? In the last six months, I had seen two instances of

comparable fare in the local community, where employers have had

to dismiss employees who were prosecuted. My experience is there

are more things like this happening. Why do you think that might be?

There could be a correlation between theft and the current

economics. I do not think that is necessarily true, but there will

perhaps always be employees who see the opportunity and exploited.

seems to those of us looking an enormous amount of money can be

taken before anyone actually notices. Is that because the

majority of cases are people dealing with the payslips or

payroll on expenses claims? Exactly. Employers are trusting these

individuals to control the financial systems and payroll

systems. Where that trust has lost, these people are able to manipulate

the system and secret money a week. As sophisticated as the systems

might be, people determined enough will find means of stealing. If the

systems are not police by employers, it is only as good as the people

looking after them. What should employers to stop this? I think

deterrent has got to be the best approach. It employees know there

would be regular audits or reduce, -- or reviews, that must help

employers stop employees stealing money. That is if we are aware of

they are being monitored regularly. Maybe not leading up on annual

review. As technology made a big difference? Has it made it easier

to hide the money? They analogy has advanced, but with that, employees

and their schemes have advanced similarly. -- technology has

advanced. Money can still be stolen. Thank you very much.

Later in the programme, the latest sport and the weekend weather. And

pantomime star, Russell Grant, is strictly thankful. I must thank

everybody out there, all you Look East -- all you Look East yours,

thank you from the bottom of other The Business Secretary has vowed to

make it easier for small companies to borrow money. Vince Cable was

speaking at a conference in Norwich. Entrepreneurs there told him

difficulties getting finance was their number one problem.

It is a problem which is frustrating business and annoying

the Government. After the near collapse of the banking system,

banks have become far more reluctant to lend. On Tuesday, we

featured this engineering firm whose owner was refused a loan

despite having an excellent credit record. I applied for �50,000 and

was turned down. With that, I would have employed another person.

you would like to repeat that... the conference today, business

leaders were asked to bolt on what was the one thing that would unlock

business growth. -- asked to vote one. There was one winner. People

want to trade. It seems to be banks not giving the money is the problem.

There are financial worries about investment in staff. But that is

what will get us out of this situation. The Business Secretary

knows that. That is why he has been trying to get the banks to lend. It

seems he is running out of patience. He understood more provision for

bad debt these to be taken, but there is still room for lending.

have to be ruthless on cutting down bonuses and dividend payments. Then

it be should be able to be safe whilst at the same time lending

more to good British companies. What if that is not done? We have

one major bank that is owned by the Government, another partially owned,

all the banks ultimately depend on the Government. More direct

intervention may be needed. There were promises to lend more. The

Chancellor launched a credit easing scheme. Will hope is that money

will flow old more freely. If it does not, Vince Cable says he means

business. And Andrew is in Norwich now. What

more can Dr Cable do? I think he would like to do what the former

Chancellor dead, which was to lock all the bankers there and keep them

and will be agreed terms. This is difficult. The Government does not

own most of the banks. They have relied on gentle persuasion up

until now it. I believe Dr Cable has had enough and would like to

get tougher. The problem is the Conservatives do not want to go to

head the on bankers, because they are worried banks local overseas

and banks are important to the economy. It has been a tough week

politically. What did he say about that? He did talk about the grim

economic news. But he got the region had a good future, because

of the number of small businesses we had at the offshore energy

industry. He said growth will come from the regions, not from the City

of London. Andrew, thank you. And you can see that interview with Dr

Cable in full on the Politics Show this Sunday at Midday here on BBC

One. A Labour councillor is facing

investigation over remarks he made on Twitter regarding female

Conservative councillors. Julian Swainson, Labour group leader on

Waveney District Council, has apologised for any offence caused.

The council's Conservative leader has described the tweet as an

acceptable. Hundreds of people have had their

holidays cancelled, some just hours before they were due to leave,

following the collapse of a coach tour operator in Essex.

Administrators have been called in at Crusader Holidays, which is

based at Clacton-on-Sea. For over 30 years, its coaches have

taken customers far and wide. Today, they were going nowhere. People

turned up at head of us wanting to know if their money was safe. Some

booked this week. We were booked for Germany for one week. We were

going in July, then we had another one book for September. We were

going to Brittany. We were supposed to be going to Portugal in

September. Crusader is well-known and highly regarded. 34 jobs are

now under threat. This man is a former managing director and says

the whole coach tour industry is under huge pressure. The clientele

which coach leading companies have are generally more elderly, getting

more elderly. In the last few years, income has diminished because of

problems with savings. And the companies have to adapt. Crusader

is a member of the bonded coach holiday scheme, meaning people who

have just booked trips with accommodation should get their

money back. People currently on trips will be able to complete

their holiday and return home. 480 people booked to travel this

weekend have had holidays cancelled. Over 500 bookings for next week

could face a similar fate. Administrators are tried to find a

buyer in the hope that next year's bookings can be honoured.

Football now. It is League games for both Norwich and Ipswich

tomorrow. But for the rest, the FA Cup.

Norwich boss, Paul Lambert, says they will not fear Manchester City

when the sides meet in the Premier League tomorrow. The Canaries

travel to the league leaders off the back of a crucial win against

QPR. Man City are the only unbeaten team in the division. They have won

11 of their 13 games. We will go there to win. But we know how hard

it will be. They are at topside. It is there for everyone to see. --

They are a top side. We have to go there believing we can do something.

Onto the championship. A huge day for this man tomorrow. Paul

Jewell's Ipswich are at home to Watford. Town have lost their last

six. The table makes uncomfortable Ipswich are 4th from bottom. Only

out of the relegation zone on goal difference. And Watford tomorrow

are one of their bogey teams. the knee meant -- at the minute, at

18 we come up against is a bogey team. It is about mentality a

mental strength and having a belief and desire to get a result. It does

not matter how we get it, we need the result.

So big games for Ipswich and Norwich. Several rungs down the

ladder, Whitton United face a trip to Corton in the Suffolk Senior Cup.

Chairman of the Greens is Ruel Fox, combining the role with a personal

Jonathan Park spent the morning Up painful, but rewarding start to

the day. That is why it is called booked up. The man in charge laced

up his boots more than 400 times for Norwich, Newcastle and Spurs,

among others. I started off, at first it was quiet, then I moved

down here and it is going well. This is Wyton in Ipswich, where he

grew up, also the home to the club where he started playing aged eight.

Fast-forward 35 years and he is chairman. Do you think you are

giving something back? It feels like that, but it is something I

have always done even when playing. When I look around the club, there

are people there who used to pick me up when I was a child. If he was

playing now, he might have earned �30,000 per week, the same cost of

building a new stand. It is hoped a new ground could be built on the

same site. It is through has strong links with the community. The

clients all got something out of this morning. It is thanks to this

former player. Its over 32 Old? When we were

winning, no one was talking about age. -- is aged 32 Old? It is all

about confidence. Confidence has not been in short supply. They are

pleased to be showing attacking instincts. I liked the way the Air

plane, going out there and expressing themselves. -- I like

the way they are playing. You get a feeling that the journey is just

To the FA Cup. Non-League Chelmsford trained in the wet and

the gloom last night ahead of their The Essex side have never reached

round three before. They have come through four rounds just to get

this far. It is a chance for a good exposure. The financial

implications are great for us. It gives the opportunity for players

to showcase themselves against Here are all the second round ties.

As we know Chelmsford play Macclesfield. Elsewhere, Colchester

play Swindon. Southend will hope to continue their unbeaten run against

Oldham. Do not forget, you can follow your team on your local BBC

radio station tomorrow. The goals from the Norwich game will be on

Match Of The Day. Ipswich will be on the the Football League Show on

BBC One on Saturday night. The FA Cup third-round draw is also on

MUSIC: "Reach For The Stars". You are watching Look East from the

BBC. Coming up... The Strictly Come Dancing star shooting straight into

pantomime. We will tell you why he chose Milton Keynes. That is to

come. It is seven years since the DJ John Peel died. But in this

region, his memory lives on with an arts project in Suffolk. John and

his family lived in Stowmarket. The John Peel Centre for the Arts aims

to help the kind of young musicians that he always championed. But now,

they have to raise �25,000 by Christmas.

They are a local band from just down the road.

In a world where the word legend is often misused, John Peel really is

one. He lived in Suffolk, loved Liverpool Football Club and was the

champion of new music. Today, his widow, Sheila Ravenscroft, is part

of a group that wants to improve facilities at the John Peel Arts

Centre. At the moment, we per pot - - we put on new bands, unheard-of

band so, which is within his ethos. It is not just new bands, but

theatre, comedy, entertainment for children. The centre has a grand

for �0.5 million but needs more through a crowd landing -- through

crowd funding. The you go out took lots of people and ask them for

support. It is part of a community. This is electronic. It is also

damaged. John Pugh loved all sorts of music,

not just what he played. -- John Peel. But he did not love

everything. One kind of music he would not listen to and that was

opera. If we have opera here, it will be against his wishes. There

is money to raise and work to do before the sector can provide the

sort of facilities needed. The future looks bright, just do not

expect to see too much opera. We are both fans of Strictly Come

Dancing. We are indeed. I dance around the

newsroom. As I am as huge fan of Hari. He is amazing.

You would like to be like him. If you have been watching this

series of Strictly Come Dancing, you will know that Russell Grant

and Anita Dobson were real entertainers. They may have both

been voted off, but they will not be out of the limelight for long.

That is because they are swapping Strictly for panto. They are

joining the dancer Camila Dallerup taking turns in playing the Genie

in Aladdin at Milton Keynes. MUSIC: "Reach For The Stars".

They have enhanced their way into living rooms. What pantomime season

around the corner, the stars of this programme are in demand. Now

Russell, Anita and can they love being there is a major draw. We are

doing two of the numbers we did in the programme. Samba Is one of the

dances we have done. That is to one of the songs by Kylie Minogue. And

the big one, reach for the stars. Unfortunately, there will be no

cannon. We will still do reach for the stars, so it will be banned.

For Russell and Anita, both in their sixties, this has been a

revelation. -- so it will be fun. never had form of dance training. I

always wondered if I could do it. - - formal dance training. It has

created a new passion in me. There will be plenty of dancing. Russell

all we're even more sequins. His mother is another reason why he

chose Milton Keynes. My mother was evacuated to Bletchley in the war.

One of the reasons why I wanted to play Kear, with 20 pantomime operas,

we were getting calls all the time, but I chose at Milton Keynes,

because it a Christmas present to my mother is to bring car from

Lancashire to see the short and go back to see all of her friends in

the region. -- bring her from Lancashire. At the end of the war,

she worked at Bletchley Park, I do not think she cracked any chords, I

think she does cleaned their. -- codes.

Everyone will be thrilled. We liked the tenth year. For some people who

do not watch but programme, when we talk about Harry, we met Harry from

It was called last night, but not quite so cold tonight. We have some

wet weather later tonight. You can see that Becker cloud. Mostly clear

skies for now, turning increasingly cloudy from the West. -- thicker

cloud. Some spots of rain in the West of the region, where it is

likely to get coldest. Temperatures expected to dip down to about four

Celsius. With a freshening south- westerly breeze, it will be a

moderate to freshen strength at times, keeping our eyes largely

free of frost. Rita tonight, when speeds will increase to strong.

Quite a bit of rain, but most of it light and patchy. Some heavier

bursts. It should clear swiftly tomorrow morning. A bit cloudy to

start with, particularly in the East. Then cloud thinning and

breaking allowing some sunshine. Late morning is where we get the

highest temperatures. Possibly touching 11 degrees Celsius. It

will be windy tomorrow. We have a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

Through the afternoon, further spells of sunshine and cloud

thinning and breaking further. For the second half of the weekend, it

is this weather front. It is positioned to the South of the UK.

It looks like it will produce rain across the English Channel. Perhaps

getting into the southern coasts, but not much farther north. Some

uncertainty, so we have the chance of some showers. It will not be

quite so windy on Sunday. Moving into next week, it looks dry, fine

but cold. Potential high temperatures of only five on Monday,

6 on Tuesday. A north-westerly wind for Tuesday. Potentially more

changeable conditions by the rest of the week. It will be fairly cool

overnight, particularly for Sunday and Monday. Values dipping down to