18/08/2014 Look East - West

you might stay dry. The temperatures will still be in

Behind bars, three men are found guilty over the shooting

Horrendous. A young man, 27 years old, going about his daily

business. Somebody decided they wanted to shoot him.

Searching for Sonica, nearlx two years on, her sister makes ` fresh

We will be here later with 04 marathons in 40 days. If yot think

that is bad, you will be sldeping in a mobile shack. It may be Atgust,

but the weather is taking a distinctly autumnal turn.

A shooting that left victim Atif Ali fighting for his life.

Blasted in the leg at close range, the young lawyer needed

a seven hour operation to s`fe his leg and his life.

Today, three men were found guilty for

their part in the attack in a Luton street, early one morning l`st May.

Three other men were cleared of all charges by the jury `t

Our reporter, Neil Bradford, was in court for today's verdicts.

It began like any other journey to work. But the Atif Ali the one on

May 20 last year was one thd tainted life ever. He was shot in the leg

and almost died. The target of a hit man, hired by a drag dealer who

wanted a relationship with his fiancee. That man was mastermind

behind the conspiracy. The gunman words this man. A man with ` violent

past. He admitted shooting him, but denied he was trying to kill him.

Matthew McCafferty. Horrendous act. Matthew McCafferty. Horrendous act.

A young man, 27 years old, going about his daily business and someone

decided to shoot him to be with the girl he was with. As Atif Ali drove

to the streets of Luton, he was closely followed by the gunlan. Seen

here on CCTV behind another car The Mondeo was crashed into Atif Ali's

car. When he got out to inspect their damage, Pillai opened fire and

shot him with a sawn off shotgun. The manic use of coordinating the

operation was today found not guilty, along with the allegedly and

spotter. Today, they spoke of their relief of being cleared. We have

been struggling and thinking about what will happen. I am so h`ppy now.

Did you have any involvement? No. Nothing at all. I have a datghter

and she is my world. Why wotld I risk that? It's nonsense. It has

been since January. That is all I will say. The jury took just four

hours to reach a verdict. The judge described it as a brutal and callous

act carried out for money. Jailing him to life with a minimum term of

four years, he said he was `cting out despite. He described the gunman

as a barbaric and a heartless thug. as a barbaric and a heartless thug.

He too was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 17 ydars

Matty McCafferty who supplidd the gun, will be sentenced on Sdptember

the 1st. The judge described the gunman and the other man as

dangerous men, capable of a most extreme criminal act. One w`s a

criminal Ashgrove convicted drag dealer released on licence. Bernard

Pillai was also one license, after slashing the necks of the two police

officers. The judge describdd his performance in the dog is

extraordinary, like a cardboard cut outs of an East and gangster,

difficult to know with a fantasy figure ended and the real Bdrnard

glamorous about you or what you did, glamorous about you or what you did,

it was barbaric. The act of a heartless thug.

It was Boxing Day 2012 when Sonica Hans walked out of her Bedford

Sonica, who shared a home with her sister,

said she was going out shopping and that was the last time they spoke.

No`one has heard from the 35`year`old since.

Today, as police divers searched a stretch of river close to

their home, her sister, Manhsha made a new appeal for help.

Searching the River Great Otse for a second time.

Police dive teams from across three forces look in an area

It's been more than 18 months since Sonnika Hans disappeared

For her family, it's been a difficult time.

They would have celebrated her 37th birthday this month.

I miss her on her birthday, because they all were celebrated together

and went together, enjoy it together. I just miss every and each

day with her. We hope that Sonica is out there somewhere and that if she

seizes, she will get in touch with her family you are desperatd to some

news from her. On the day she disappeared, she was

seen shopping at a supermarket on Midland Road, buying food at

the Tesco Metro, before going home. More CCTV shows Sonnika walking

along River Street and then Sonica came back here to thd flat

she shared with her sister. She said she was going into town and left

with a friend. That was the last the family saw of her. More CCTV shows

Sonica walking along river street and then onto the embankment. Today,

officers took to the street to jog people's memories to try to bring

the family some hope. It is the not knowing. We just try to look at

every stone, turn it over and double`check and we double`check,

that is why we double`check, that is why we're here today, checkhng the

riffle to make sure that wedkend reassures family `` River. Police

say they have no reason to `ssume that people are going to harm Sonica

and they are no nearer to knowing what happened to her. They hope

their investigations would give the family some answers.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101,

or text direct to the force control room on 07786 200011.

A vicar from Luton has pleaded guilty to seven charges

38`year`old James Ogley, sedn here on the left, was vicar at S`int

Francis Church in Carteret Road in the town until his arrest l`st year.

The charges relate to materhal posted on an online chat blog

A man has appeared in court today, charged with attempted murddr

following a stabbing in Petdrborough on Friday.

The incident happened in Cobden Avenue in Millfield.

Officers say the victim, who is in his 30s, has suffdred

He remains in Addenbrooke's Hospital in a critical but stable condition.

Antonio Conceitao, of Cobden Road appeared

There's been a dramatic risd in the number of stress related sick days

BBC East has asked more than 10 councils and emergency servhces

across the region how many work days have been lost because of stress,

We found that the figure has gone up by 70% over the past five ydars

Let's start with the impact on councils:

Three years ago, Northamptonshire County Council lost

just over 1,500 days to workers stress or depression.

Last year, that more than trebled to more than 5,500 days.

To put that into context, that's the equivalent of losing

around 24 full`time members of staff for an entire year.

Across the region, 2,100 council workers were stressdd

The combined councils in Northamptonshire lost 10,000 days.

In Cambridgeshire, they lost 12 000 and across the Three Countids,

The mental health charity, Lind says it's an issue which employers

Over the last few years we have received an increasing numbdr of

enquiries from employers yot are looking to address strength `` with

stress anxiety and depression in the workplace.

Some managers are lacking the confidence or the know`how to

address mental health specifically, so they avoid having the discussion

because they are, perhaps, concerned about triggering something off or

Some councils are tackling the issue. Cambridge Campsie Cotncil has

more than halved its stress absenteeism from down to

Let's move on to the Emergency Services.

Four years ago, Northamptonshire Police lost almost

A similar picture for Bedfordshire Police up from almost 2,000 in 009,

Bedfordshire Police Federathon represents staff there.

Earlier tonight, Ray Reid told me that budget cuts

The single biggest issue, and it is across all

departments, not just the front line uniformed police, are a lack of

resources. I have senior st`ff coming to me and talking about the

demands placed on them. And what they are expected to do. Thd police

in Bedfordshire, and across the land, will always provide that

service but it has an effect. The effect is, as you are saying, with

these figures, this is the stress on individuals. That has a knock`on

We have huge issues, police officer

debts, whole loads of divorce, stress and so forth.

These are partly as a consequence of more stress `t work.

Basically, this is where we are with huge cutbacks and demands for our

current workforce. Stress is something that many people

internalise. Is it fair to dxpect employees to see the signs? I think

every employer has a duty of care. They need to see stress and identify

every employer has a responsibility and weather that extends, elployers

should be looking after thehr employees and monitoring thd time

they have at work and offer work, and even monitoring journeys home.

And the tiredness of the st`r. That brings greater efficiencies. It so

few resources. Is there enotgh money for counselling for people who are

suffering stress? Our welfare department I hugely busy, m`ssively

busy. I think the force can with straight harder. `` can alw`ys try

harder. There are massive things we do with our resources, we always

look at what we currently do. The initiative is there. We are paying

the consequences, possibly, of previous decisions and cuts as they

are. You recognise that the force will not get much more monex, and

that the Chief Constable is doing the best she can with what she has.

What more can be doing `` c`n she do? What could be better is that we

are funded as a rule force, but we should be funded as an urban force

`` country`macro force. We `re not funded as we should be. I know our

local members of Parliament, representatives of our forcd, have

tried to argue this point. Our funding formula is wrong. Wd are

being underfunded and have been for years and years. Any cuts, huge

cuts, his task `` hit us more significantly.

Still to come, wearable technology. And what to do when running a

marathon is not tough enough. This man is going for 40 marathon ons in

40 days. Did you know the word bungalow comes

from the Indian words ?bangla Ghar,? meaning house in the Bengalh style?

Bungalows became very popul`r between the wars but

in recent years they have f`llen out of favour with builders.

Now the Planning Minister Brandon Ldwis

believes we should think ag`in. believes we should think ag`in.

The Minister, who's also thd MP for Great Yarmouth, says we need to

build more bungalows. He says they're ideal for pdople

in their 60s and 70s who want to down`size but don't need shdltered

housing or retirement homes. 1970s bungalows, quintessentially

British, and according to the housing minister overlooked. This

couple have lived in their bungalow since it was built 42 years ago and

they absolutely love it. We enjoyed it. My wife finds it easy to keep

the place clean because we have not got any stairs. I find it e`sy to

paint and decorate. The nicd thing is we do not have to go upstairs to

sleep. As you can see we have a big garden. The footprint of thd

bungalow is bigger than a house but we have big plot of land whhch

enabled us to build extensions onto the back. Just down the road, a

development of 30 bungalows is being built to meet an increase in demand.

We often think about bungalows for older people who want to downsize

but still want their own hole and garden, and an apartment is not

always available. It frees tp houses for a younger population and they

are also appealing to youngdr people. They can play an important

role across the scale. The boom in the building of bungalows c`me in

the 1950s and 1960s when thdy were almost as popular as houses. In

1986, 15% of new builds werd bungalows but that's reduced to 7%

ten years later and by 2012, just 2%. Traditionally builders `re not

so keen because they can make more money off the land by creathng flats

or larger family homes. One estate agency says they are in dird need of

bungalows because many older couples want smaller properties. We do not

have anywhere to get people to go next, because they want to love from

the big houses and downsize. A lot of the time the is nothing to go

when two. Prince Charles once called them have modernised boxes but with

an ageing population it could soon be boom time for bungalows `gain.

As we all know, computers are getting smaller and more portable.

In the last ten years many people have gone from a massive desktop PC

to a tablet or smartphone. So what will be next?

The latest buzz phrase is "wearable technology," or the smart w`tch

Now rescue teams in Cambridgeshire are hoping it could help thdm save

lives. A team of volunteers prepay a

four`day training exercise hn March. Today rescuers have a new tool, a

smart watch, that can help them find people more quickly. We can see

where every individual has been and we have quick navigational reference

is so worth we find any evidence we can look at the watch and sde the

red reference straightaway `nd give that to our support.

In today's exercise, someond has gone missing in the water. The team

will kayak across the river and focus on the way ahead. All the

navigation elements are on the watch, which means they can use it

hands`free and they do not have to be looking at the watch constantly

but can tell speeds and everything by looking at the watch. For

rescuers, these smart watchds represent a new tool. We can track

Aliens that have been searched and that need searching again.

Ultimately this can minimisd the potential of people being ott and at

harm. This maximises the opportunity of finding people. The smart watch

runs navigation software developed in Cambridge that can be usdd on

Waterland. It is hoped the trial can be expanded to other areas to save

lives. Sport now and it's been another

tough day in a tough season for Northamptonshire's cricketers.

Last summer they won the dotble promotion to Division One

and the T20 Trophy. But this year it has been

a struggle. Here we are in the middle of August

and they are still waiting for their first win in the top flight.

Today another defeat. This report from our Sports Editor,

Jonathan Park. When you play against the bdst, you

need to be at your best, and these players have endured a summdr to

forget. It has been hard for everyone. People would have thought

we would be more competitivd. It is how we come back that is thd

critical thing. Last season they could not put a foot wrong but this

season it is completely different. They have lost nine of 11 m`tches,

and the step up in class has proved too steep. Operating with one of the

country's smallest budgets, they are favourites to be relegated. Today

they had the chance to break their duck, but Nottingham chased down to

win with five wickets to sp`re. You have to perform and if you do not

perform you call, and we have not done our jobs and have had some

injuries that have limited things. It has been difficult and obviously

trying to play the same plaxers all season is hard and that is probably

why the bigger clubs can colpete in all competitions.

They need to somehow recapttre the spirit of 2013, a historic season.

Nine losses became ten defe`ts after today's game, and the sober reality

of the league table. On thehr way back down. I expected a tough fight.

I didn't expect them to be so much had left. `` addressed. I think they

can build it back up again because they have an excellent coach. I

think it is just bouncing b`ck next year. Relegation will not khll them

because the big money comes from the T20 these days but the challenge is

to keep the fans aboard. Attendance is up considerably on last xear and

I am hoping we can coalesce around and people will stick with ts.

Tonight the season is nearlx over. Beaten, battered and bruised.

If the thought of running a marathon fills you with dread, spare a

thought for the man who's rtnning 40 in 40 days ` more than 1,000 miles.

Dave Hall from Stopsley in Bedfordshire started

his first marathon in John O'Groats this morning.The

final one should take him to Lands End at the end of September.

And just to make it a bit tougher, he'll be sleeping in a mobile shack.

Running a marathon is nothing new for Dave Hall. Over the last 15

years he has taken part in 030 but he has set himself a new ch`llenge,

to run 40 and 40 days. It starts at John O'Groats and the whole team is

flying up or being transported there, and then we are stopping at

35 venues and churches and places to inform people on what the project is

and hopefully to raise monex and by the end of it all we should end up

in Land's End. And this is his motivation. In Sierra Leone,

hundreds of thousands live hn poverty. It is a charity designed to

build homes for people who live here and it is for this reason that he is

living `` raising money and sleeping in a shack for each night. He was

ready to do a major challenge and asked to work with us because he had

seen the effects of poverty in these places. I was overwhelmed bdcause to

do this challenge is just an incredible feat. The marathon

challenge started this mornhng, and covering 1000 miles he will head

from John O'Groats before fhnishing at Land's End on Friday 26

September. He is hoping to raise ?2000 for the charity. He is already

a quarter of the way to his target but with many more miles to run

I am exhausted just thinking about it!

And we've just had these pictures in showing Dave Hall setting off from

John O'Groats this morning on the first leg of that first mar`thon.

We'll let you know how he gdts on over the next few weeks.

We will not ask you about the weather at John O'Groats but will it

be nice? It was blustery yesterday, H lost

some washing off the line. Between about 35 and 45 mph. The strongest

on the north Norfolk coast. The strongest today as well, but

generally less windy today. You can see some good breaks in the cloud

particularly in the north`e`st corner and a few showers proving to

be quite heavy. Still some to move through over the next few hours but

once most of those have gond, it should be a dying night. It will be

on the chilly side. These are the expected lows but in some rtral

spots we could be down to around eight Celsius. Light to moddrate

westerly. For the next few days chilly a feeding down from the

North. Tomorrow is a dry st`rt with brightness and sunshine and we are

likely to see some showers but fine and but I generally but not very

warm. Called are moving unsold temperatures struggling to 08

Celsius but many others will not even get that high, so be low

average, and we hold on to loderate westerly winds. We finish whth a

scattering of showers but qtite a lot of fine, dry weather. On

Wednesday, still a scattering of showers but again, temperattres

should recover to 17 Celsius and it looks as though it will be ` repeat

performance on Thursday. Frhday will see showers and longer outbreaks of

rain but hopefully some sunshine. We will be into a run of chillx nights.

In rural spots, temperatures could drop even lower so particul`rly on

Tuesday night, it could hurt five Celsius. Perhaps time to dig out the

heavy pyjamas.