21/11/2011 Midlands Today

Good evening, welcome to Monday's Midlands Today from the BBC.

How a chance discovery uncovered a woman's brutal murder. Daisy meant

the world to all of us and no sentence will be able to bring her

back. As an inquiry ends, news of a new

case of negligence involving a baby boy. I gave him three hard slaps on

his back. I pull something from his mouth.

The driest year in the region since records began. We will have all the

facts and figures. Three of our teams power into the

Good evening and welcome to a programme. Tonight: the woman who

seemed to be the doting relative, caring for her frail, 92 year old

grandmother. But a chance meeting with police at a roadside uncovered

her brutal secret. She'd murdered after taking her life savings.

36-year-old Sheila Jones is beginning a life sentence tonight

after battering Daisy Myring to death in a cold-blooded attack at

her home in Staffordshire in May. Jones originally denied murder but

changed her plea this morning. From Wolverhampton Crown Court, Ben

Godfrey reports. Daisy Myring was 92, she was frail

and partially blind. Despite this, she chose to live alone in

Brownhills. On May 31st, she was killed at the hands of her own

flesh and blood. This is her granddaughter Sheila Jones, a woman

who visited with shopping, to offer care, who beat her to death with a

plastic chair. Today, she changed her plea, and admitted murder.

last few months have been a nightmare for me and my family.

Daisy meant the world to all of us and no sentence will ever be able

to bring her back. She was a kind and generous lady and will be

sorely missed by all members of her family. When Sheila Jones came here,

supposedly the doting granddaughter, she came here with a secret. She

had taken more than �6,500 of her grandmother's life savings. When

the days he began to suspect -- suspect foul play, the court heard

that Sheila Jones came here to silence her. And tonight, new

detail about how she was brought to justice. There was no one who she

came into contact with he would not have been affected by her kind

nature. After police appeals, like this one on Midlands Today, the

court heard Jones may have panicked and tried to move the murder weapon.

A police patrol spotted Jones in Norton Canes, walking with two

black bin liners, in one a pillow and a torch, in the other, a

plastic stool, with traces of her grandmother's blood. We were

struggling to connect her specifically to the killing and she

had been released on bail at that stage. They stopped, talked to her,

they talked -- looked inside the bags and had realised what they had

discovered. They then made the arrest. Sheila Jones showed no

emotion in court, she'd claimed she was in financial turmoil but this

mother of two could apparently afford a new TV and a holiday.

Sentencing Jones to life imprisonment, Judge Philip Parker

told her had crime was a gross abuse of a Britons -- position of

trust and added her taking her savings was callous and cruel.

Taking her life was unforgivable. Later in the programme, a crisis in

our primary schools with a record number of vacancies for head

A young boy could have died after choking on a 17-centimetre tube

which was left in his body at birth. It's the latest case of negligence

to have come to light during the period covered by the Stafford

Hospital Inquiry. Patient representatives have been

giving their views to the inquiry today, as it enters its final

stages. These days, for year-old Owen

Thomas has no problems eating his breakfast but it was not always so.

At birth, a tube should have been put into his airway but it was put

into her stomach and forgotten about. That was until he went blue

and cheered. I was physically sick when the mist came. I had Owen in

my arms and she thought he had merely had a Sieger because he'd

had a couple of episodes where he was having a seizure. -- seizure.

My friend said he has just -- she has just pulled this out of him.

What is this? The plastic tube had stopped him feeding properly. It

was first told of avoidable mistake that must end. Why should they hide

the fact they have made a mistake and just carry on as normal? We

were not. Members of the organisation left the inquiry after

four hours of naming and shaming those they felt had failed to

protect patients. The council's overview and scrutiny committee did

not know their powers, let alone how to use them. The Strategic

Health Authority was reluctant to recognise problems. The Care

Quality Commission was responsible for wholly ineffective regulation.

The organisation compared the culture of fear with a scene out of

Alice in Wonderland, the one where the cards were painting the roses

red because they were frightened to admit there are making us -- a

mistake. A catalogue of chaos. There has to be won the system

throughout the whole of the NHS that ensures quality and safety.

But the moment, we've not got that. Owen Thomas survived. Many patients

died. The inquiry was told it must follow up on its findings to make

sure they have taken flight. Well, let's speak to Michele now.

What were Cure the NHS key demands during their closing statement

today? They want to turn the NHS on its

head. They are fed up with the structure and want doctors and

nurses to take over the control again. They want more democracy

within the NHS to doctors' leaders are elected and they want citizens'

juries so they can ensure patients have more control over patient

safety. This inquiry has gone on for over a

year now, and most of the evidence is from past events, is it still

relevant? Only yesterday, the Royal College

of Nursing was complaining there were not enough nurses. There are

shortages on the wards. This was something that came up time and

time again over the four years of the Stafford hospital problem. In

fact, there was at least one complaint for every day of those

four years. There was also a time of major institutional change going

on and there were financial problems taking place. All the

elements are still there for the same sorts of things to be able to

happen again. So what's happens now?

Now, we are getting closing statements so other people like the

Strategic Health Authority, the Care Quality Commission, will

actually put forward their closing statements. At the end of November,

the chairman will take away over 1 million pages of documentation.

There were over 179 witnesses. Some time next year, probably after

April, he will come back with recommendations. We've been told

the Department of Health has already set up a unit to try to

ensure the findings of this inquiry are taken into consideration and

acted upon. Police have launched a murder

inquiry after a man was stabbed in Solihull last night. The 22-year-

old was found in Chelmsley Wood but died in hospital after being taken

there with another injured man. It's believed trouble had started

at the nearby St Anne's Social Club. Police have spent the day searching

woodland in Gloucestershire for the remains of a teacher who went

missing four years ago. Specialist officers are searching the farm

where Adrian Prout lived with his wife Kate. He was jailed for her

murder last year, but until last week had denied all responsibility.

Nearby footpaths are closed and the search is expected to restart

tomorrow morning. A mother's been describing her

terror after a car was set alight with her baby still inside. 18-

month-old Chad was left in the car on the driveway of the family home

in Willersey near Evesham while his mother took his siblings inside.

Moments later she saw the car in flames. Police are investigating

reports that a man was seen running away. The flames were as tall as me

and luckily, they were on that side so I could get him out. I was

actually -- absolutely terrified, like a headless chicken running

around. I didn't know what to do. The shortage of primary school head

teachers has reached a 26-year high. Latest figures show that a record

number of vacancies remain unfilled and more than 40% of all posts last

year in England had to be re- advertised.

Governors at Green Lea First School in Staffordshire say they're at

their wits end. They're about to re-advertise the head teacher post

for the 3rd time. 36 children attend this small rural

school at Milwich in Staffordshire. It's been described as the heart of

the community. They've been without a head teacher now since the start

of term. Staff and parents say they they're desperate to find someone.

Plenty to offer an individual. have fought like cats and dogs.

There is a lot of work involved and probably not for as much money as a

headship at another school. that's part of the problem. Due to

the size of Green Lea First School the salary of �40,000 is equivalent

to a deputy's salary at a bigger school. Helen Richardson is the

teacher currently acting up. It has shown me the other side of the job.

It is concerned with health and safety, finance, and other areas.

Recruiting Head Teachers seems to be a problem across the region.

They have been 36 vacancies in Staffordshire. In Shropshire, 16

posts are currently available. In Warwickshire, 11 out of 193 Schools

are without a head teacher. Six miles away in Stone, Pirehill First

School is thriving with 220 pupils. The head teacher Debbie Breeze is

currently mentoring Helen at Green Lea primary. She's run a small

school herself in the past and can see what might be putting

candidates off. You really are all things to everybody. It takes a

special person to be so heavily involved in a school. It brings its

rewards as well. I think you are actually -- absolutely welcomed

into that committee. The latest figures show that 40 % of posts

last year had to be re-advertised put a 20 six-year high. -- that is.

Children had that by creating their own homespun -- posters and being a

part of the process themselves, they will find the perfect had

teacher third time lucky. With us now is Victor Aguera from

the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women

Teachers. Is this a common problem across the region or is it just in

rural schools? It is a common problem across all sectors of

education. The problem is workload. One of the things... It is workload

for teachers. We've noticed there are 30 % fewer teachers applying.

30 % of teachers express a wish to leave the profession was to some

teachers have said that the whole thing, the whole process is far too

tough and long. There is an accreditation scheme for

headteachers but the most important thing is to actually have a

workforce that is passionate about education and currently, the

workload pressures mean we are focusing... That is why we in our

union are focused on raising standards for in order to allow

teachers to reclaim learning in the classroom. To be fair, the county

council are saying they're not care to drop the standards to fill the

posts. Absolutely but we need to rebalance in terms of workload and

make sure it is focused on the in in the classroom. That is why we

will be raising standards and standing up for standards. How has

this problem could be solved? That figures are daunting. It is

daunting. We have recently balloted in terms of our action. That will

focus people on their contract and focus on learning in the classroom.

I think if we can focus on learning in the classroom, we will get those

fearful that a passionate about education... And ease the workload.

We need to focus on that passion and continued to raise standards

Stoke City Council have revealed plans to cut �24 million from next

year's budget. The council has an annual budget of around �650

million. Council officials say they will be axing some services,

closing day centres and cutting around 360 jobs to make the savings.

But they do want to reinvest some of that money into the city to help

create jobs. Well, our Stoke Political reporter, Elizabeth

Glinka was at today's briefing, so what exactly are they planning?

Well, that is not quite clear. We do know as well as the money they

have to cut, the city council says it wants to cut extra �5 million

which it wants to use to bring businesses to the city, to invest

and create jobs. Of course, that sounds fine until you think about

the things on the cutting board, care for the disabled, care for the

elderly, the closure of local museums. And making extra cuts

start to look controversial. What will happen next? Well, they will

be consultation period before the Budget is signed off in February.

What's interesting is this city had some of the biggest cuts in the

country last year. As a result, there are some high-profile and

well-organised local campaigns to save services which were under

threat. Some of those campaigns, including those protecting

children's centres were successful. As a result, it means the council

is going to have to take people with them if they are to convince

local people in Stoke-on-Trent but cutting extra money is a good idea.

OK, thank you for the update. Still to come: the driest year on record.

It is causing problems in border country.

And could we be looking at more disruptive weather this week? More

Dan's here and it's been an expensive day for the Stoke manager

Tony Pulis. The Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has been fined �10,000

by the Football Association for criticising a referee. Pulis

claimed they had not been treated fairly in the decisions made by Lee

Probert during Stoke's Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool last month. As

well as the fine he's also been warned about his future conduct.

The Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has denied he's planning to sell

the club. Rumours have been circulating that the American is

looking for a buyer because he's only attended one game this season.

But he's reassured fans that's purely for family reasons and says

he's fully committed to Villa. On the pitch Villa are at Tottenham in

the Premier League this evening hoping to build on an exciting

victory over Norwich in their last match.

These guys have played extremely well together over the last few

weeks. We are playing away from home so we will possibly be

thinking that things have more depth, rather than unleashing them

and play an open game. We look to get over the problems. And you can

hear full match commentary on that game on BBC WM this evening.

Their coverage begins at 7 o'clock. There was no shortage of goals from

our teams in League Two. Cheltenham beat Port Vale, Burton won a five

goal thriller at Hereford. But pride of place goes to Shrewsbury

Town who won 7-2 at Northampton. OK, so you need a bit of luck to score

seven and a deflection got Shrewsbury on their way.

But this was the day they made everything count. Mark Wright's

opening double and Aaron Wildig put the Shrews three up by half-time.

But they cut loose in the final eight minutes scoring another four.

By the seventh beleaguered Northampton were even helping them

out by whacking them in by hand. It's been an enjoyable performance

and result. We do not gloat because it is a club in turmoil. But we

have done OK. There was also late drama at Edgar Street where

Hereford led Burton 2-1 going into injury time. But Burton scored

twice through Billy Kee and Aaron Webster for a dramatic 3-2 victory.

It was devastating. There was six minutes extra time that killed us.

You had to shuffle around at half- time. A few harsh words perhaps.

Two Midland sides also met at Whaddon Road where Cheltenham beat

Port Vale 2-nil with a penalty and this strike from Luke Summerfield.

Cheltenham remain in third with Shrewsbury and Burton just behind

in fourth and fifth. It could be quite a season in the league two

promotion race. He was described by Nelson Mandela

as "our hero" and tributes have been paid all around the world to

the former Worcestershire cricketer Basil D'Oliveira whose death was

announced on Saturday. South Africa's refusal to allow

D'Oliveira to tour there with England in 1968 led to the sporting

boycott of that country. He was immensely popular at Worcestershire

helping them win three county championships as a player and two

as coach. You saw him play. Wonderful. A really gutsy batsman.

So brave and as a bowler he had this knack of taking wickets. You

always thought when he played cricket something would happen.

Beyond that, the way he had a major hand in changing the world. It's no

exaggeration to say what happened with him was a major part in ending

apartheid or that it took another 25 years. We talked earlier and you

knew him quite well. I had some moments and laughs with him, some

boozy nights. I was due to interview him on breakfast TV and

we were presenting TV-am and they never turned up. At the end of the

programme they ran up and we asked what was happening. We sent a car

to the Holiday Inn in St John's Wood and they were in Marble Arch.

Lovely memories of her tremendous guy. BBC Hereford and Worcester

have done an interview with him as well. A fascinating man and a major

sporting star. It's hard to believe, because it

doesn't feel like we've had a wonderful sunny summer, but it's

been the driest year in the Midlands since records began in

1910. In the Shropshire hills, the springs which supply water to

thousands of homes have run dry. It's causing problems for farmers

feeding their animals, and for people trying to do the simplest of

tasks from washing their dishes to going to the loo. In a moment,

we'll speak to our Environment Correspondent David Gregory, but

first Shefali has been looking at the facts and figures for the past

year. Well the figures from the Met. Office show that month after month

this year, the rainfall totals have been below average. It all adds up

to spring seeing only 42% of the rainfall normally expected, with

April being an exceptionally dry month receiving only 14% of the

average. The amounts started to perk up a little from May through

to August where we were beginning to see around three quarters of the

average rainfall for those months but still below average. Overall

that meant that summer saw 86% of the average. Autumn is still a work

in progress seeing as we're not at the end of November yet but

September, October and this month so far have also been very dry.

Well, out here with me is our Environment Correspondent, David

Gregory. David - this is going to have wide ranging and long term

effects if things don't pick up soon.

Some of of viewers get water from springs in Shropshire and the

borders. We gave a video camera to a family farming in Shropshire so

they could show us the impact on a dry wells on the land.

We will fail the empty barrels at my father-in-law's house in Ludlow.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be married to a farmer who can

Borger up anything. It's amazing how much time we spend. Checks are

written and money spent on water. There, we have water again. And

some sunshine. It is very nice. I am sure you understand why be

prefer rain. A struggle in Shropshire. Is it climate change?

Science tells us climate change is real and we are mostly likely for

most of it. But what science cannot tell you is individual events are

caused by climate change. You might say a lack of rain and a drought is

something you expect but elsewhere in the UK people have had above

average rainfall. Really, you need to look over a longer term trends,

10 years or longer and look further afield than a short run. It has

been raining cats and dogs. Yes, this is not what people were

hoping for. It is not completely wet, it is quite right. There is

more fog and a touch of frost. Some rain tonight and there will be fog.

The rain moved in from the West earlier on, it is now across most

parts. It is heavier on western fringes later. Where it eases in

the east, we will start to see this fog reforming. Benson places but

patchy on a whole. Under the cloud and rain, a mild tonight with loans

of seven rate. The fog persists in to rush out right, gradually

lifting but a grey start. The rain will move eastwards, there will be

heavier bursts but it will clear by the afternoon. It is looking dryer,

brightness in western parts to end the day. Tomorrow, temperatures up

to 10 or 11. It is slightly milder. We have a north-westerly breeze

drawing in fresh air by tomorrow night. The cloud clears, clear

skies so tomorrow night temperatures could fall low enough

to thrill four Celsius and lower in rural parts to give a touch of

frost. The fog will not be as dense. In the morning, frosty on Wednesday

but otherwise dry and sunny. A fresher breeze. It stays dry until

Friday. Late on Thursday with the front from the north and we could

see outbreaks of rain. Get back inside!

The main headlines: Milly Dowler's mother gives evidence against those

she believes hacks into a daughter's phone.

A chance discovery uncovered a woman's brutal mother -- murder of

her grandmother. She is in jail. We want is a thank you very much

for all your help in raising millions of pounds the Children In

Need. In case you missed it, these other highlights from Friday. --

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 56 seconds

A big thank you, it was very memorable. Pretending to cycle and

eating a sausage sandwich. And the latest figure for the West Midlands

total is just over �2.25 million, so well done. That's all from us

this evening, but on tomorrow's Midlands Today we'll be looking