02/09/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans.

And I'm Rob Smith. Tonight's top stories:

"Dangerous and selfish" - passengers who climbed onto the

tracks from a stranded train are condemned by police and other

commuters. Jail for a disgraced Sussex

policeman who downloaded and distributed more than 50,000 images

of child pornography. Also in tonight's programme:

The Conservative councillor in hot water for calling a constituent a

"village idiot" on Twitter. We're live tonight in Lewes.

Got �25 million to spare? Just what would prospective buyers of

Brighton Pier get for their money? # You done too much, much too

young... #. And Folkestone is two- tone-tastic as the town gears up

Good evening. Rail passengers who forced their

way off a stranded Southern train and walked along the tracks to the

nearest station - after becoming frustrated with the delay to their

journey home - have been condemned by transport police. Officers say

the commuters, who forced power to the line to be shut down for an

hour during last night's rush hour, put their own lives at risk and

caused massive disruption. Jon Hunt And so here I am, walking the in

high heels. At the side of the tracks. Their passenger makes a

video as she and others leave the train in frustration. They had

forced open the doors after being stranded for nearly two hours.

not going to lie, I am actually quite scared. She has reason to be.

But the third rail has just been switched back on after a trespasser

was clear from the line. Police, who had to rush to switch the power

off-again, said these passengers were taking serious risks as well

as breaking the law. Obviously, it is illegal. It is a criminal

offence to trespass on the railway and we will be looking to identify

people from this and deal with them appropriately. Because the power

had to be shut off again it caused delays to other commuters. It is

really, really annoying, because they are putting their own lives at

risk and they are being selfish, holding up thousands and thousands

of other people. The author of the video today defended her actions.

We had absolutely no information as to what was going on. The driver

didn't have a clue when we would start moving again. We waited and

we waited and saw more and more people getting off and it was when

we realised that that pretty much the entire train had got off that

we thought, let's get off. Can you poor clear-up that one there? That

is the electric one. Because they passengers took matters into their

own hands, hundreds of other commuters were stuck for an

additional hour on heart and stationary trains. -- hot.

A Sussex police sergeant who was commended for his bravery has

admitted downloading and distributing over 54,000 indecent

images of children. 26-year-old Philip Savidge used the

username "babypass 2004" on a file- sharing website to distribute

indecent images. He told detectives his collection of child pornography

spiralled out of control. Today he was jailed for 27 months. Our Home

Affairs correspondent Colin Campbell has the story.

He was a Sussex police sergeant commended for outstanding bravery,

but what nobody knew was that at home, Philip Savidge had compiled a

massive library of child pornography. Tens of thousands of

extreme images of young children, which he shared over the internet.

All indecent images of children being sexually abused are

disturbing. At all levels. And that they were particularly disturbing

with babies and toddlers. It is a case of distribution, file sharing

it, for the sexual gratification of some like-minded offenders.

Sussex police officer for six years, he told detectives his fascination

with child pornography had spiralled out of control. In total,

he admitted to 42 charges, possessing over 54,000 indecent

images, still and moving. At least 1,400 were graded at a level five,

the most extreme. In court, it was alleged he had shared the images

with other paedophiles, using the user name "babypass 2004".

Sentencing Philip Savidge to 20 -- 17 months in prison, the judge told

the former police sergeant that his offences were wicked and evil and

that each picture of represented a child being abused and that there

were an horrendous number of images being involved. Philip Savidge

resigned the day he was arrested. He was involved in various youth

organisations, a scout leader and a cricket coach. Police said they are

now trying to trace all of those he shared images with online.

In a moment, he wasn't acting alone, say Kent police hunting the

A Conservative councillor who called one of her constituents "a

village idiot" on the social networking site Twitter has been

forced to apologise. Donna Edmunds, from Lewes District

Council, made the remarks to Jim Cornelius during an online row

about whether the NHS should be privatised. Nick Miles reports.

Another political gaffe on Twitter. And this one goes to the heart of

concerns some people have about Tory Party attitudes towards the

NHS. Councillor dollar Edmonds was debating the NHS's cancer -- cancer

survivor rates on Twitter with Jim The statement about cancer has been

slightly misconstrued. My point was, and I made it very badly, was that

I thought cancer outcomes could be better in this country, especially

for the level of taxes we pay. Of course, I apologise unreservedly to

anyone who was offended by the comments, cancer sufferers or NHS

staff. It is a sensitive issue and for that reason, with the response

that has come from her, she should consider her position. I don't

think it is a resigning matter but it takes more than saying sorry on

Twitter, due need to make a very public apology to bigger channels.

-- you need. This isn't the first time people have been caught out on

social media. Ashford Tory Jacquard were told a person to go back to

washing dishes. One person was told to resign after making jokes on

Twitter about blind people and anorexia. Another resigned from the

Conservative Party after reserve -- referring to local women as sluts.

None of those mistakes probably caught the eye of the Prime

Minister. This latest one just might, it is so off message. I want

politics not to take risks with the NHS, not to threaten the NHS in any

way, but to safeguard and improve the NHS for today and for future

generations. The people of Lewis and elsewhere are likely to be

Back row and is it a party that says, great NHS, or died of cancer

NHS? It is a mixed message Nick Miles joins us live from Lewes

now. What does the conservative leader of Lewes District Council

have to say about this? -- Conservative.

Tania Nicol says quite a reserved man and he had some quite strong,

it's to make -- Tony Nicholson is. He said it was wholly appropriate

and it was a bash in appropriate and it was embarrassing for the

party. -- he had said it was totally inappropriate. She has made

a full apology, but nevertheless, he wants to have a full face-to-

face talk with that as soon as possible. We did try to contact

Conservative Central Office but they gave no comment.

A mother from Camber in East Sussex has pleaded not guilty to the

murder of her three-year-old daughter more than seven years ago.

33-year-old Lesley Dunford, seen here during an earlier hearing,

denies killing her daughter in February 2004. It's alleged Lucy

died from asphyxia caused by a blockage.

Train passengers on a high-speed service from London to Kent had to

be rescued this morning following a power surge on the high-speed line.

The Southeastern train was stuck in a tunnel under the Thames for more

than an hour. It was caused by electrical problems at St Pancras

International and Ebbsfleet International.

Some south-eastern and Eurostar services suffered delays of up to

two hours. Children's charities have called it

"horrifying" that a mum from Sussex is giving her four-year-old

daughter spray tans. Jools Willis, who's a trained beautician, claims

the treatment helps boost the confidence of her youngest child,

Tate. But Kidscape believes her actions -

which have become front page news - helps sexualise young children.

Rebecca Barry reports. A Sussex mother making national

headlines. And it is all down to this. Her four-year-old daughter

with a fake tan. So is Jools Willis forcing her child to grow up too

soon? She runs a beauty salon inside this leisure centre. Adults

come here for everything from their extensions to take widening, but it

is news that she is offering beauty treatments to her own children that

is causing controversy -- to the widening. My daughter is the same

age and I wouldn't do a spray tan. I don't see why she would want one,

and why I would need to do it. should be doing children's thinks.

That is an adult thing to do. she should be enjoying it, not

worrying about what she looks like. Ena Brown is serious, Sky enters

the world of pushy parents. Jools Willis and her children appear in a

new documentary starting next week. Some parents say they are

centralising their children. Predators believe that children are

sexual beings and best plays right into their court. It is really an

necessary. -- this. This summer, a government report called for tough

measures to tackle just this. Four year-old Tate was born be done in

one hand. Her mother says beauty treatments help to boost her

confidence -- with only. You've been commenting on this

story on our Facebook page - here are a couple of your views.

Simon James says "That's just wrong, totally wrong!".

While Chris Searle says "Surely there must be other ways to boost

her daughter's confidence? If however the mother has narrowed it

down to this one issue and it does her no harm then why not give it a

try? We want to know what you think. So should parents be free to give

their young children these beauty treatments or does it amount to the

sexualisation of children? You can get involved in the debate

on our Facebook page or send us an email.

In the 112 years of its existence, Brighton Pier has survived being

rammed by a barge, storms and a fire - and now the agents selling

it say there has been strong interest from potential buyers.

The current owners have invested some �35 million and anyone taking

it on may have to pay out a similar sum.

Chrissie Reidy is at the pier now - so what do you get for your money?

Well, what you see is what you get above which this evening, isn't a

great deal, but for nearly �30 million, you even get the

fairground rides are thrown in. It is Grade 2 listed so there will be

restrictions, but speaking to people today, whoever buys it, they

wanted kept as a tears. Visitors have been flocking to

Brighton Pier since the late 19th century, symbolising an era when

the South Coast became more accessible and British folk could

holiday by the sea. It survived two world wars and some of the harshest

weather conditions, I get the Victorian structure is still

standing and is as popular now as it was then -- yet. It is a symbol

of the resurgent seaside. It is a key focus attraction for Brighton.

And I think that in itself really keeps the appeal of Brighton Pier

going and going. Fashions may have come and gone but the pier remains

one of the most treasured landmarks on the south coast. I don't really

wanted to change. I am quite happy with everything we have got here.

Brighton is a wonderful place at the Pier is superb. I like the

architecture. I like the way they have brought some of it then, like

the night -- nice art by the fish- and-chip shop. I was brought up in

Brighton and I would like to bring my boy, we don't live here and come

down time to time. It is Brighton Pier, the one and only. And the one

and only pier comes with a whopping price tag of around �30 million.

Mind you, that does include all fixtures and fittings. It does have

its own security. Is it a bargain? I think it is that there is

potential for the new owners to make more money. But it is like the

Forth Bridge, you have to keep painting it from one end to the

other constantly. It has been here 100 years, could it be here another

100? I think so, another 300 or 400 if it is maintained properly.

Whoever buys it will have to appreciate its importance to the

people of Brighton. The only thing you cannot be sure of here is the

sunshine. So the Noble Group took over the

peer back in 1984. I understand this evening that there is interest

from foreign investors -- took over the pier. But we probably won't

until the new year what is happening.

The top story tonight: rail passengers who forced their way off

of a stranded Southern Trains and walked along the tracks to the

nearest station after becoming frustrated with delays have been

condemned as dangerous and selfish by Transport Police and other

commuters forced up Also tonight: the louder than a low flying

aircraft, German Touring cars come to Brands Hatch this weekend.

And a collection of ska: Folkestone revise the Two Tone beat than the

night -- late 1970s. -- from the late 1970s.

Detectives investigating two bomb hoaxes that caused major lads in

Canterbury say they believe the offender was not acting alone --

alerts. A week on from the incident, police have been speaking to

shoppers as part of the investigation.

We are just appealing for one of these. Seven days after a suspect

packages caused lockdown in Canterbury city centre, at the

police still want to identify this man, he was caught on CCTV near

Marks and Spencers. That was before a fire alarm was set up under hoax

bomb was found in the store. actually believe there is more than

one person connected to these offences, but the principal person

is the person who is in the imagery that we have put out from the Marks

& Spencer CCTV. This is an organised and well planned attempt,

a serious attempt to disrupt the people of Canterbury. So what

happened and went last Friday? At 4:21pm, a suspect package was found

on the railway line by the Phoenix Park on the Old Dover Road. Nearly

an hour later, a fire alarm was activated in Marks & Spencer and

just minutes after that, the city centre was evacuated, well into the

early hours of Saturday morning. Security experts say that any

suspect package that took hours for bomb disposal teams have to make

safe must have been unusually sophisticated. When it gets to this

degree of sophistication, I think we are talking about several people.

One may be leading a, one may be competent to deal with creating an

atmosphere and the technical work associated with a bomb. This

afternoon, police were asking shoppers if they noticed anything

suspicious last Friday. They also confirmed that no one has claimed

responsibility for the hoax bombs, and therefore the motive remains a

Folkestone is preparing to welcome crowds of skinheads and Mods this

weekend as Skabour Festival gets under way. It kicks off tonight

with two of the big bands that trace their history to the two-tone

music of the seventies, the selector and Beat.

Ska kicked off in the 1950s, drawing on a fusion of jazz, reggae

and blues. In the sixties, it became popular with British bards

and was actually a pre- cursor of There was a time when an influx of

crew-cut it skinhead son would have been a cause for concern in a

seaside deserter -- skinheads. They still turn heads. A lot of people

perceive us as outsiders, whereas we don't. We perceive other people

as outsiders! It is the first time I have ever come back here. When

you hear that peak, you can't help but tap your feet. -- beat.

weekend is a big celebration for people who feel this sort of music

has never really been away. There is no doubt about their looks or

their manager, but what do they all talk about? The music -- that their

manner. Ska was at the heart of reggae and Two Tone beat in the

1970s and the 1980s. I don't think ska music has ever gone away. It

hadn't gone away when we first started. I see what we do as to

turn music. And that was political in its day? -- two-tone. Is any

music not political? Here are two celebrities of the ska scene.

to come from Jamaica. And we are right by the sea. It is Neville

staple of The Specials and his lifelong friend and DJ, Trevor.

The I will tell you what keeps it fresh, but fans. The bash at the

fans. I am working on a new album, but they keep shouting out for the

old stuff. That is what we do. And I love it. And he is just here to

mingle and there to watch, like them. To be together, to remember

the good old days and celebrate their music, that is still alive.

And lovely weather for it as well. Vorsprung Durch Technik will be the

catchphrase of the weekend at Brands Hatch, where the latest leg

of the German touring car championships are taking place.

Not only that, but there's some important football matches. Neil

Bell is in Chatham - and Gillingham and Crawley are both looking to

bounce back from defeats tomorrow. Yes, both teams came down to earth

with a bit of a bump. The Gills will be keen to forget their 3-0

thumping at Rotherham. All of them second half goals. It won't be easy,

because they have been beset by a virus which has hit a number of

players, including striker Dani cared well. We have had quite a lot

of illness. There is concerns over Danny for the weekend. I think it

has gone around the staff as well and it has not been particularly

nice. We are hoping they will be OK for the weekend but at the moment,

they are doubtful. It's a long long time since Crawley

lost three games in a week. Last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Cheltenham

was sandwiched by early exits from the Carling Cup and Johstone Paint

Trophy, but they will be confident of getting back on track against

Bristol Rovers tomorrow. Now, what travels at close to

200mph and is louder than a low flying aircraft? The answer is a

German touring car. There will be plenty of them in action this

weekend. The big race on Sunday has attracted a number of Formula One

legends, including Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard. They are

expecting crowds of up to 25,000. Rottingdean Cricket club are the

third Sussex side in the last five years to make it through to the

final of the National Village Cup competition. They will take on

Lancashire side Woodhouses on Sunday in a 40-over match at the

home of cricket, Lords. It is great, having seen them come up through

the ranks. I just hope they win, but as long as it is a good game,

the game first, the team's second than yourself a third. Let's hope

they have a great day out. A friendly, Brighton & Hove Albion

fans, they have finally signed Rodriguez. He will hopefully be

involved in the next day made over a week's time.

Sunshine in Chatham, sunshine in Rottingdean, it is everywhere.

I think it is a case of enjoy it while you can.

I think so, the weekend will be part of two halves. It has been

lovely and bright today, and lovely and bright today, and

Saturday will be slightly similar but unfortunately, there are some

thundery showers overnight into Sunday and Sunday itself, it will

be a wet picture, particularly compared to Saturday. Earlier today,

there was some fair weather cloud around but it hasn't affected the

Bryden has too much, just turning the sunshine hazy. -- brightness. A

slightly humid and muddy field to the day and temperatures in the 20s

So plenty of the evening sunshine around, and we are holding on to

those clear skies overnight. So mist around and some ploughed

reforming it, but despite those clearer skies, a pretty mild night

-- cloud of reforming. Not getting above 13 degrees. Saturday, it will

be warm unsettled and bright. Will we start off with a little more

cloud and as we move into the afternoon, the cloud cover will

burn off Mallett -- plenty of sunshine. South-westerly winds,

pretty light, and temperatures very similar to today. Highs of 24

degrees. As we move into tomorrow night, it will initially stay dry

but we do have some thundery showers moving up from the near

Continent and currently, there is some level of uncertainty about how

far inland they are going to go but they look like they will clip the

far east coast of Kent. Elsewhere, plenty of cloud around, pretty mild,

temperatures not much below 14 degrees. Sunday, it is all change.

We have a weather front, and an associated band of rain. A wet

start to the day and that's the front players, we are left with

some showery outbreaks of rain -- as the front players. Temperatures

will feel significantly cooler, struggling to get much above 18

degrees. As you can see, we have this weather front, clearing East

on Sunday morning, and we will see some further outbreaks of rain. As

we move into next week, it will be fairly quiet weather-wise, still

feeling cooler and temperatures in the top teams. A weekend of two

halves, tomorrow should be dry and settled, and thundery outbreaks as

we move into Sunday, which will be unsettled. Highs of around 18

degrees and as we move into next week, settled but still feeling

week, settled but still feeling rather call. -- Pool.

Let's recap tonight half backs top story. Libya's National

Transitional Council says most of the country is now secure and safe

and it is just a matter of time before Colonel Gaddafi is caught or

killed. The former Libyan leader has about two -- fared to fight a

long guerrilla war. A member of Lewes District Council

who called a constituent a village idiot on Twitter has been forced to

apologise. And outrage at a woman who giving a

her four-year-old daughter spray tan. She claims that it boost the

confidence of her youngest child. We ask your views and we have had

lots of comments. One says, more and more children

losing their innocence. What happened to being covered in mud at

the age of four? Another says it is putting out a

terrible message that the that the lovely skin and hair tone of a

child can be changed to make them look more attractive. It is more

invasive than playing with lipstick for fun.

Victoria has gone against this and says she remembers putting on her

mother's make-up when she was about six and she got told off for doing

good. Most kids play with the parents' break-up, is this not just

a more controlled and less messy She believes children should be

children and should not be moving - - wearing make-up at that age. She

thinks that children should enjoy their childhood and not grow up too

fast. Robert says it is a thin line, or

we allow children to dress up and use their mother's make-up, but

spray tan and adult clothing is way beyond any line a sane adult would

draw. This one from Valerie says she

thinks it is disgusting and that if her daughter has such low

confidence at such a young age, the question should be why and how to

boosted. This is the wrong way to do it. She says that in slightly

stronger language! And Linda Wilson says, how lovely,

just the right thing to show up that pierced belly button.