:00:00. > :00:09.A 72-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in prison,
:00:10. > :00:11.for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a young girl
:00:12. > :00:15.in Staffordshire, 16 years after the attack took place.
:00:16. > :00:17.Arnold Baxter was caught when his DNA came up
:00:18. > :00:19.on a police database, after being arrested
:00:20. > :00:25.Our Staffordshire reporter Sian Grzeszczyk was in court.
:00:26. > :00:31.On the left as he looked when he abducted and sexually assaulted
:00:32. > :00:37.On the right, a 72-year-old on his way to prison tonight.
:00:38. > :00:39.In March 2001, police were hunting for him.
:00:40. > :00:42.His crime featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.
:00:43. > :00:44.He snatched his young victim in the village of
:00:45. > :00:48.He'd driven her away to Walton on Trent,
:00:49. > :00:50.assaulted her and then abandoned her.
:00:51. > :00:52.She was found alone, half an hour later.
:00:53. > :00:55.But until last year, her attacker had remained at large
:00:56. > :01:01.That DNA breakthrough came down as a result
:01:02. > :01:03.of Arnold Baxter getting arrested for a drink-drive offence,
:01:04. > :01:08.no doubt to celebrate his 72nd birthday, he consumed alcohol,
:01:09. > :01:12.got behind the wheel of a vehicle which he subsequently crashed.
:01:13. > :01:15.But when his DNA was taken for that road traffic offence,
:01:16. > :01:18.that then led to the DNA match for this serious
:01:19. > :01:22.sexual offence and kidnap that occurred in March 2001.
:01:23. > :01:25.When sentencing Baxter, his honour Judge Eades described
:01:26. > :01:29.what happened as every parents' nightmare.
:01:30. > :01:31.He said that Arnold Baxter would remain on the
:01:32. > :01:37.I would really like to pay testament,
:01:38. > :01:39.really, to the bravery and the courage of our victim
:01:40. > :01:41.but also the victim's family and the local residents,
:01:42. > :01:46.This offence did cast a shadow over this community
:01:47. > :01:50.for some time when the offence was committed so it's just
:01:51. > :01:53.wonderful news for them who now finally can put it
:01:54. > :01:55.behind them and move on with the rest of their lives.
:01:56. > :01:58.Tonight, Arnold Baxter starts his nine-year sentence
:01:59. > :02:00.knowing that the dark secret he thought he could keep hidden
:02:01. > :02:07.Sian Grzeszczyk, BBC Midlands Today, Stafford Crown Court.
:02:08. > :02:10.On New Year's Eve, Will Flint was taking out ?20
:02:11. > :02:12.from a cash point, moments later he had been
:02:13. > :02:20.The 27-year-old intervened when he saw a woman being attacked.
:02:21. > :02:25.Today Mr Flint returned to the scene of the assault for the first time.
:02:26. > :02:28.Here's our special correspondent Peter Wilson.
:02:29. > :02:31.William Flint had been celebrating New Year's Eve when he stopped at
:02:32. > :02:35.Selly Oak in Birmingham at the cash machine.
:02:36. > :02:38.He saw a woman being attacked, Will stepped in to help but
:02:39. > :02:42.the man turned on him, repeatedly stabbing him.
:02:43. > :02:56.It's bringing back some emotions, I guess.
:02:57. > :02:58.Lots of people are calling you a "have a go hero",
:02:59. > :03:06.I'm just a regular guy who wanted to use a cashpoint, saw
:03:07. > :03:09.something bad going on and wanted to help, wanted to do
:03:10. > :03:14.I think most decent people would do the same thing.
:03:15. > :03:16.Will suffered a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and
:03:17. > :03:21.The knifeman, 18-year-old Aidan Morrissey, was
:03:22. > :03:28.But what's the police advice about intervening to stop a crime?
:03:29. > :03:29.If people are carrying knives, they are
:03:30. > :03:32.extremely dangerous and I could not encourage people to intervene
:03:33. > :03:37.They need to call 999 and get emergency services to the
:03:38. > :03:43.Before the attack, Will Flint had been learning
:03:44. > :03:51.His instructor believes that Will's fitness kept him alive.
:03:52. > :03:53.The 60 stitches and collapsed lung spell
:03:54. > :03:57.the end of Will's career in physique fitness competitions.
:03:58. > :04:01.He now wants to put his energy into beating knife crime.
:04:02. > :04:04.Knives are out there, they are very present on our streets and
:04:05. > :04:17.Will Flint plans to take his anti-knife
:04:18. > :04:21.campaign into city schools and colleges this summer.
:04:22. > :04:36.Peter Wilson, BBC Midlands Today, Birmingham.
:04:37. > :04:38.Two lanes on the M6 northbound in Staffordshire are closed tonight
:04:39. > :04:41.The accident happened between junctions 12 and 13,
:04:42. > :04:43.police and ambulance are in attendance.
:04:44. > :04:48.There are currently two miles of tailbacks.
:04:49. > :04:50.The West Midlands has had the largest rise in unemployment
:04:51. > :04:57.A jogger in Birmingham has been shot with a stun gun, as a gang tried
:04:58. > :05:00.The victim suffered burns, whilst fighting off the attackers
:05:01. > :05:03.Police say six people have reported similar
:05:04. > :05:05.incidents in South Birmingham in just five days.
:05:06. > :05:07.Four teenagers have been arrested and bailed.
:05:08. > :05:10.A driver caught on camera weaving between the barriers of a level
:05:11. > :05:12.crossing in the Black Country, has been condemned by
:05:13. > :05:15.The footage shows the silver Citroen crossing the line
:05:16. > :05:18.near Oldbury just moments before a train was due to pass.
:05:19. > :05:21.British Transport Police hasn't been able to identify the motorist.
:05:22. > :05:24.Footballers who repeatedly head the ball can end up with dementia,
:05:25. > :05:29.Researchers examined the brains of six players known for their skill
:05:30. > :05:31.at heading the ball, all of whom developed
:05:32. > :05:35.The former West Brom and England striker Jeff Astle died
:05:36. > :05:40.Our reporter Amy Cole is at West Brom's ground,
:05:41. > :05:51.What has been the reaction to the study?
:05:52. > :05:55.Hitting headers is of course an integral part of the game
:05:56. > :06:00.but for some today's findings only reinforce their suspicions.
:06:01. > :06:04.Now you may remember the former England and West Brom striker
:06:05. > :06:06.Jeff Astle who was affectionately called the King by his fans.
:06:07. > :06:09.He played for the club for ten years from 1964.
:06:10. > :06:16.He died in 2002 at the age of 59 after suffering
:06:17. > :06:21.from a degenerative brain disease linked to repeatedly heading
:06:22. > :06:24.footballs, which were then made of leather so much heavier
:06:25. > :06:34.Since his death the fans, the club and his family have been
:06:35. > :06:41.campaigning for more research, calling it 'Justice for Jeff'.
:06:42. > :06:44.Today his window said the results of this new study
:06:45. > :06:47.The inquest on Jeff 15 years ago said that
:06:48. > :06:49.heading the ball was an industrial disease
:06:50. > :06:57.Although it's good to get, obviously, research,
:06:58. > :07:14.The family have been asking the Football Association to fund
:07:15. > :07:17.research into this for the last 15 years.
:07:18. > :07:21.Have they said anything to? The family have got their wish as the FA
:07:22. > :07:25.said they will fund research. They say that the one question that needs
:07:26. > :07:30.answering is whether degenerative brain disease is more prevalent in
:07:31. > :07:34.ex-footballers will stop where as for Laraine, she says she will
:07:35. > :07:37.believe it when she sees it. Thank you.
:07:38. > :07:39.A couple who got married in a hospice have sent
:07:40. > :07:41.their heartfelt thanks to a total stranger.
:07:42. > :07:43.Paul Bruce, who has terminal cancer, married Emma Davies -
:07:44. > :07:46.and when a customer at the florist heard their story, he insisted
:07:47. > :07:53.Paul Bruce and Emma Davies got married at Mary Stevens Hospice in
:07:54. > :07:56.Paul has terminal cancer and didn't feel up
:07:57. > :07:58.to being filmed by us but they want to thank
:07:59. > :08:01.a complete stranger who made
:08:02. > :08:03.their Valentine's wedding so special.
:08:04. > :08:10.Here's Emma with her bouquet shortly beforehand.
:08:11. > :08:15.which matron Claire Towns collected from the florist
:08:16. > :08:18.and was taken aback by the reaction of another customer.
:08:19. > :08:21.A gentleman in the shop overheard me saying that I
:08:22. > :08:24.was from the local hospice and he stepped in and said that he would
:08:25. > :08:28.like to pay for the flowers for the couple getting married.
:08:29. > :08:37.Just surprised at his act of just genuine human kindness.
:08:38. > :08:41.The wedding was arranged with just 24 hours notice.
:08:42. > :08:45.Paul realised that it was Valentine's Day the next day and he
:08:46. > :08:48.had not got round to marrying Emma which was something that he had
:08:49. > :08:52.expressed that he wanted to do and was quite upset about the fact
:08:53. > :08:55.and said to the nurses, "I haven't married Emma."
:08:56. > :08:58.And they said, "Don't worry, we can help you.
:08:59. > :09:02.And this is the florists in Stourbridge which made the bouquets
:09:03. > :09:07.at the moment's notice on one of their busiest days of the year.
:09:08. > :09:10.They were never going to charge full price in the circumstances
:09:11. > :09:14.but the mystery customer's generosity touched them.
:09:15. > :09:26.And then for somebody else just to say, out of the blue,
:09:27. > :09:32.Paul and Emma say the kind act made their special day even more so.
:09:33. > :09:43.Joanne Writtle, BBC Midlands Today, Stourbridge.
:09:44. > :09:46.If you are that stranger, we would love to hear from you.
:09:47. > :09:51.I'll leave you with the weather from Shefali.
:09:52. > :09:54.Well, it was another lacklustre day today.
:09:55. > :09:56.We started off with the mist and some fog patches
:09:57. > :10:00.Lots of cloud and even some rain but mild temperatures.
:10:01. > :10:02.Everything but the sunshine which is what we should be seeing
:10:03. > :10:07.And that is because we've got this ridge of high pressure
:10:08. > :10:10.building which should help to break up the cloud and you'll also
:10:11. > :10:12.noticed that the winds are turning to westerlies,
:10:13. > :10:15.We'll probably be into the mid-teens by the start of next week
:10:16. > :10:18.and temperatures at this time of year are more like eight Celsius,
:10:19. > :10:20.so quite mild, something to look forward to.
:10:21. > :10:23.But this is in summary what the weekend is looking like.
:10:24. > :10:25.You're probably wondering what that will be.
:10:26. > :10:27.Cloudy mornings, we've got some brighter afternoons but it is also
:10:28. > :10:31.Now, for tonight, we have seen any of that
:10:32. > :10:34.rain from earlier on dying away, moving away but we will see
:10:35. > :10:36.the cloud breaking up now and under the clearer spells,
:10:37. > :10:39.temperatures will drop to a minimum of three Celsius here
:10:40. > :10:41.in the south-west of the region but generally above freezing.
:10:42. > :10:43.So no frost into the morning tomorrow but
:10:44. > :10:49.So it could be a fairly murky start to the day but plenty of sunshine
:10:50. > :10:51.around, just the odd shower flitting across the region
:10:52. > :10:53.and temperatures eventually rising to around ten to 11 Celsius.
:10:54. > :11:01.I'll leave you now with the outlook for the next few days.
:11:02. > :11:04.the weekend. Wouldn't promise you two dry days but you never know,
:11:05. > :11:08.here is Nick with the national picture.
:11:09. > :11:12.Hello. We put that cold weekend well behind us now. Temperatures edging
:11:13. > :11:15.upwards and our weather watchers are seeing plenty of signs of spring.
:11:16. > :11:19.Spending more time looking down than looking up at the skies, we see
:11:20. > :11:24.these early blooms. They are set to continue as we are set to stay mild
:11:25. > :11:26.for several more days to come. Average daytime temperature this
:11:27. > :11:29.time of year around eight, but getting into double figures all the
:11:30. > :11:35.way through the weekend. The start of next week into the mid-teens
:11:36. > :11:37.potentially, very mild indeed.