14/12/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories: A dramatic day in court. A teenager pleads

guilty to the manslaughter of an Afghan asylum seeker in Kent.

Critically important and highly controversial - a decision on the

Bexhill Hastings link road will be taken by next spring.

Also in tonight's programme: The baby born in a storm. How a Kent

mother was forced to give birth in a car, as winds battered the South

East. The car was snaking a bit on the road. It wasn't the safest

journey I've ever had! # Our hearts will build a bridge

across the time and space. With a song in their heart, the

choir of Dover's Royal Military Academy perform a Christmas hit for

parents serving in Afghanistan. And full to the brim with Christmas

cheer. Why a Sussex pub isn't taking the matter of christmas

Good evening. It was a killing that shocked the town of Folkestone, a

street brawl between rival gangs of Afghan teenagers that resulted in

the death of a 17 year old from a knife wound in January. Today the

trial abrubtly and dramatically came to a close when one of the

defendents, who denied murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Farid Hussani will serve five years for the death of Osman Sherzad. Our

Home Affairs Correspondent Colin 17 year-old Osman Sherzad fled war-

torn Afghanistan for a better life. Tragically he was fatally stabbed,

left dying on the streets of Kent, by a fellow countryman. Today the

man who inflicted the fatal blow, 18 year-old asylum-seeker Farid

Hussani, admitted manslaughter, abruptly ending a lengthy trial at

Maidstone Crown Court. It is just a waste of life. It is such a waste

of life. To come all this way seems so futile to die in another country.

Osman Sherzad died from a single stab wound to the stomach in

January. Violence erupted inside a flat on Marine Parade in Folkestone

as two rival groups of Afghan youth gathered to try to resolve

simmering tensions. Instead of brokering peace, one group launched

an attack. The mass brawl spilled onto the streets and several

witnessed the aftermath. The police and paramedics were working on the

bodies in the road, tried to resuscitate them. Loads of

commotion everywhere. Guilty of affray, further three Afghan

teenagers were jailed for their part in the violence. Described as

a student with great promise and potential, Osman had been at

college in Folkestone for over a year. His death prompted widespread

safety concerns. We had a problem with too many young Afghan men in

the asylum system being house in close proximity to each other. What

has happened since the incident has been dispersal. Or have been the

move to two different locations around the county. -- more have

been moved to different locations. Our Osman Sherzad came to the UK

via Calais. He arrived without any family aged just 16. Despite the

distance travelled and the risks taken, he was unable to avoid the

violent rivalries that dominate his homeland.

A decision on the controversial Bexhill to Hastings link road will

be taken by next Spring, the Government has revealed. Ministers

say they recognise transport links are critically important to the

regeneration of the area. The planned road would link the A21

north of Hastings to Bexhill, through the Combe Haven Valley. But

before any final decision other schemes, including improving the

A21 at Pembury, the A259 and local rail lines, will also be considered.

Our political editor, Louise Stewart reports.

For more than two decades, plans to build a road linking Hastings and

Bexhill has been seen as a way of improving an area that has been in

decline for years. In 1989, proposals for a Hastings bypass

were put forward by the council. 12 years later, the Government

rejected the plans. In 2003, the council was asked to develop new

proposals for the link road we see today. But the plans were put on

hold with the change of Government last year. Residents were told they

would have to wait three months for a decision. Many people in Hastings

will be bitterly disappointed. The residents along Bexhill Road,

clearly, because this is an opportunity to reveal less

congestion. But also the people of the town wanting jobs which would

require the link road to open up the town to realise these projects.

Other projects that a similar have been given the go-ahead elsewhere,

minister said that she was looking carefully at the bypass auction.

need to to work with local authorities to find a solution. We

have not said no, but we just need a bit more time to get it

absolutely right. Campaigners who support the plans for a bypass say

that the delay just extend their misery on the roads. It takes me

three quarters of an hour to come home from Bexhill in the evening.

It is about time we had something done about it. We used to live on

Buchel Road and it do we two hours to get home from work. It needs to

go ahead. -- Bexhill road and it took me two hours. The bypass road

has always proved controversial. Campaigners say that it will damage

the environment by cutting through the undeveloped Combe Haven Valley.

They welcome the decision to look at more options. We won this to be

successful and we don't think this is the right way to spend �100

million. There are other ways that we will go into over the next few

months. The Department for Transport says they will work with

the County Council over the next few months before making their

final decision and hopefully putting an end to years of

uncertainty. Our Political Editor Louise Stewart

joins us from Westminster. I understand the Government is

planning a three month consultation to find the best approach? That is

right. They are very aware of concerns about the environmental

impact of this bypass. They want to look at other options like trunk

roads and local railways. I am joined by the Conservative MP for

Tunbridge Wells. How likely is it that this scheme will get the go-

ahead? I am determined that the A21 will be a matter of when and not if.

It is crucial. The congestion that we have, bad accident records,

going from bad to worse with the new hospital opened at Pembrey. We

need investment and the sooner the better. That should not be at the

expense of the Hastings bypass. A21 and the bypass are both very

important to the regeneration of Hastings. What the Transport

Secretary has said is that she wants to consider both schemes

together over the next few months. I am hopeful that this can all be

moved forward. Lots of transport infrastructure projects have been

announced across the country but none has been given the go-ahead in

the South East. That is disappointing for campaigners. Why

have we been overlooked? All of the schemes announced today were in

that the waiting room and our scheme was not in that position.

I'm encouraged that Justine Greening has said that the A21 and

the connections in the area will be looked at over the next three

months. This is an important investment for the local economy

and it is important all away down the line, from Sevenoaks to

Hastings. It is important that we get this moving and I am determined

to keep fighting for it. As you have heard, the decision will be

taken in around three months. Thank you.

In a moment: Years of public health campaigns, so why are a fifth of

our youngsters now officially obese?

A man from Thanet who was falsely accused of rape by his ex-

girlfriend says he feared his life had been ruined. Wayne Maddox says

it was the most humiliating experience of his life. Kelly

Atkins from Margate has now been jailed for two years for perverting

the course of justice. Simon Jones reports. He works in the family

business, but Wayne Maddox found himself arrested in front of his

family, accused, along with one of his friends, of rape, and held in

police cells until Kelly Atkins's lies were exposed. If she had been

successful in doing what she was trying to do, it would have been my

whole life. Any chance of a career over, straight away. I don't know

what it is, 10 or 20 year sentences. It could have ruined my life. It

was the single most embarrassing thing I have ever had to do in my

life, have people take swabs of May and things like that. But it was

Kelly Atkins that found herself in court. She had been harassing her

ex-boyfriend after they split up, a culminating in the false accusation.

It soon became clear to the police that Kelly Atkins had made up a

tissue of lies. The judge said to her that rape is a repulsive line

but making false allegations of rape is a dreadful crime that

undermines public confidence in the judicial system. It is a view

shared by organisations who work with genuine rape victims. Anyone

that was the makes an allegation of rape and that is clear and obvious,

then they should be pursued with the full might of the law, because

to do so makes it so much more difficult for genuine rape victims

coming after them. It is a difficult enough crime as it is to

get conviction without that sort of bother. Kelly Atkins has been

banned from going near her victim's home when she is released. I would

not want genuine rape victims to see this as something that puts

some of coming forward and reporting an offence of rape to

Kent police. -- put them off. This is not about a genuine victim who

was not believed. This is somebody who made up an entirely false

allegation. Why do you think she did it? I wish I knew. I have not

got a clue. I wish I knew. She obviously had to reasons but I will

probably never know. An ordeal that he now wants to try to forget.

Police in Kent have raided scrapyards across the county today

in an attempt to cut down on the selling on of stolen metal. Metal

theft is on the increase in the South East with copper from phone

cables and lead from roofs fetching high prices on the black market.

Police checked metal with infra red lights to detect Smart Water tags,

but found no illegal metal. People with dementia in the South

East are collectively being defrauded of millions of pounds, a

charity has claimed. The Alzheimer's Society says up to 3000

sufferers in Kent and 4000 in Sussex have lost over �5 million to

cold callers, scam letters and doorstep sellers. It's calling on

banks and Trading Standards to be more alert to the problem.

Demonstrators who'd spent more than a month camped out in Brighton's

Victoria Gardens have had their site cleared today. Tents making up

the Occupy Brighton camp were blown down in the recent storms.

Protesters said they wanted to clear up the area themselves but

staff from Brighton and Hove City Council did the job this morning.

As gale force winds and driving rain caused damage across the South

East this week, the wild weather also led to a desperate journey for

one expectant mother. Caelyn McDonnell went into labour three

weeks early, prompting a 16-mile drive to the hospital. But the

stormy conditions delayed the journey, so the baby made his

appearance in the back of the car instead. Safely back at home,

relieved mum Caelyn has been speaking to our reporter Lynda

Hardy. Here the picture of Peace Now, but

his arrival was about as far as possible from this quiet calm. They

came on the same day that gusts of wind up to 74 mph battered the

South East. They ripped down rooftops and trees, meaning long,

slow and treacherous car journey to hospital for his mother. I was

having to worry about the winds, the conditions as well as being in

labour. I must try not to deliver my husband's car. It was horrible.

Going up the motorway, we were aquaplaning, getting blown sideways

and having to basically fight the car and try to maintain a safe

speed. Visibility was terrible. The roads were just no fun at all.

had driven his wife from their home to the William Harvey Hospital in

Ashford, a 16 mile trip. It is a journey that normally takes about

20 minutes, but because of the conditions, it took double the

amount of time. The delay meant that Caelyn did not make it to the

labour ward, giving birth in the back of the car in the ambulance

Bay instead. Luckily there was help nearby. Caelyn did brilliantly in

what could not be worse circumstances. It was pitch black,

pouring with rain, blowing gales. Then the midwife came down and

happened to be there just in time to catch the baby. Then we went

inside and tried to warm the baby up and Caelyn went to maternity

with him. For the tiny tot who has yet to be named, quite a story to

tell him when he is older. Despite years of public health

campaigns, the latest figures for childhood obesity show that more

youngsters than ever before are being classed as obese. The figures

published by the NHS today show that almost one in five 10 to 11

year olds in Kent and Medway are obese. In East Sussex including

Brighton, one in six 10 to 11 year olds are obese. The figures reveal

that many children in the South East are obese before they even

start school. I think we need to be extremely worried about this. Being

overweight or obese at a young age means to have a much higher chance

of being overweight or obese as an adult. We all know there are many

health problems associated with being overweight as an adult.

while the issue has prompted some parents to re-examine their

children's eating habits, others are questioning whether the way the

statistics are measured actually make sense. Alex Beard reports. 11

year-old Jake was considered overweight by national standards.

Since losing four pounds he is healthier and things about what he

eats. That is not what was always the case. As a parrot, I am guilty.

We had crisps and biscuits in the cupboard. He would come in and say

he was hungry and eat them and that would be it. Since attending every

ten-week course, the family have changed their lifestyle and eating

habits and the benefits are not just physical. It changed my

personality. It changed my confidence, because before I was

not very confident but now I am. Jake is now a healthy weight, but

statistics show that obesity is on the rise. Some campaigners say that

these figures are misleading because they are based on a ratio

of Heister to wait, the PMI index. -- height to wait. The BMI index.

Muscle is heavier than that, so there BMI could be higher, but they

might not beef fat. Thomas was seven. When his mother received a

letter informing her that her son was obese, she ignored it. A letter

that calculated his BMI from his weight and height, technically he

was obese. I was very surprised to hear that and very annoyed. He is a

normal, healthy boy. He is not obese. The childhood obesity rates

are officially on the rise. There are predictions that by 2050, half

of the adult population will be obese.

Our top story tonight: An 18 year old has pleaded guilty to stabbing

to death a rival Afghan youth in a street brawl in Folkestone. 17 year

old Osman Sherzad died from his injuries in January. Today Farid

Hussani, who denied murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been

jailed for five years. Also in tonight's programme: I can't wait

to see you. I am taller than man now. Come home. Written from the

heart. A 15 year old's emotional letter to her father serving in

Afghanistan. Join me in The Marine Park in

Eastbourne where the landlord has created the ultimate Santa's grotto.

-- pub. Unemployment figures released today

make for grim reading. The numbers are up again, though the Government

say the rate of increase shows signs of slowing down. There are

now 2.6 million people out of work, the highest level since 1994. Youth

unemployment rose to 1.027 million, the highest since records began in

1992. And here in the South East the number of 18 to 24 year olds

claiming Jobseekers Allowance is now almost 22,000. Our Business

The faces behind the numbers. These friends are all under 24,

unemployed, and looking for work. They are getting help from the

Prince's Trust but it has not been easy. It has been really

frustrating. I am giving out CVs, more than once to one place, but no

responses. I want to look for a specific job that I like, and enjoy,

instead of just being down and depressed at work. We will get a

job in the end, and soon hopefully. Although it is hurting right now,

it should not impact in the long term. But is he right? Some experts

say that long-term unemployment can damage young people's futures and

the Government is not approaching the problem the right way. A period

of unemployment when you are young and so is the damage your life

chances later on. You are more likely to be unemployed again later

on in life and you are more likely to have low wages and if he did not

have that period of unemployment. You also likely to have low levels

of health. Sometimes you get initiatives with the current

Government where they want to get rid of an old Labour policy, and

then they six months later reintroduce it with a new name.

That erratic behaviour does not really help employers. There are

100 staff at this firm in Crawley and 20% of them are under 24, and

they are currently recruiting more. They agree that red tape makes it

difficult to take on youngsters on the dole queues, but they have

tried and been successful. I have been really impressed with the

youngsters that we have had coming on board. They are really

enthusiastic and keen to learn. They have a good attitude. They

have got fantastic IT skills. That really helps us in this sort of

business. On the one hand, we need more employees, but on the other it

is the affordability of those people. That is not that we want to

their employees, because it is not what we are about, but it is about

making it more affordable for us as the business and simpler to employ

those people as well. Government says that numbers are

stabilising and schemes like these to get young people back into

employment need to be given time to They're an unexpected contender for

the Christmas Number One - the military wives, conducted by TV

choirmaster Gareth Malone. Now their singing has inspired another

choir, this time the children who attend the Duke of York's Royal

Military Academy in Dover, many of whom have parents serving in

Afghanistan at the moment. They've recorded their version of the song

Wherever You Are. Sara Smith reports.

# Wherever you are, my love will keep you safe. Choir master Gareth

Malone coaxed these women into forming a choir. They sang at the

Royal Albert Hall and on TV. And possibly, if the bookies are right,

they could be about to become number one for Christmas.

# I hold you in my dreams each night until you are back.

Now the children of servicemen and women that go to the military

academy in Dover have joined the wives in recording their version of

the song. Their version is made up of the letters between the men and

their families. We really wanted to support the military wives and

their quiet. For our pupils, who not only have parents but brothers

and sisters and friends, former pupils of the school, serving in

the armed forces, it really meant a lot to them. Included in the

recording is a message from one people to her father. I was hoping

that you would be back before Christmas but no worries. Alan

Oliver is serving in Afghanistan over Christmas. From the base in

Germany, Jordan Oliver explained what that meant to her. It is quite

upsetting when we are all there on Christmas Day opening presents and

he is not able to open his. That is why this year we have decided to

only open a few and then when he comes back, we can open the rest

with him, so that way we do have Christmas together. The recording

on the song, done on the last day of term, has been sent to those on

active duty including Jordan's father. When I saw it, I had tears

in my eyes because I know how much that will mean to Alan. He will

love it. Like she says, it will make him cry and he will be so

proud of her. As with the military wives, it is hoped that this will

remind people not just of those serving but of those left behind as

They sound lovely. While sightseers being attracted to

a certain pub in Eastbourne? It is because inside the landlord has

gone crazy with decorations. Seven van loads of Christmas trees, 450

sets of lights and more decorations than you can shake a stick at. Is

it all being done in the best possible taste?

Polly, it is Christmas, everything is in the best possible taste!

There are 22,000 light bulbs in this pub in Eastbourne. I have

counted every single one of them. It has made it the most festive pub

in the country and of course the ultimate answers -- Santa's grotto.

The ceiling is festooned with baubles, tinsel and the lights.

This is how it works. 20 people come in on a Sunday and put up the

structure of, basically lots of sprigs and Bowers to hang the

lights. Even though there are that many people, the landlord still

have to work for weeks to get them up. An extraordinary effort. Why on

earth do you do it? I think I must be mad. The chaps come along and

help and they like to see people's faces, especially the children. It

is incredible to see. People are coming from far and wide to see it.

Yes, there was some Belgian people at a local guest house a few years

ago and now they make a pilgrimage every year to spend a weekend in

Eastbourne and eat and drink it up. It all away from Belgium. Thank you.

Set speeches some punters about what they make of it. That -- let's

speak to some punters. What do you think? He does it every year and to

improve it every year. It is fantastic. Good luck to him. He has

really made the pub. It is a one- off. They certainly is that, I have

to tell you. He does not come cheap. The landlord has to spend �100

every week just to keep the lights on. How about that?

Thank you. It is nice to see our correspondent in winter and it

where! You do not get to use the phrase festooned with baubles

I am festooned with stormy weather, which is not quite so nice! One or

two to come over the next 36 hours. It one has the unique personality.

I think they will be leaving with not too many friends left behind.

No. 1, that is coming in the next few hours and it is really the

warm-up act for what is to follow tomorrow night. The main thing at

the moment is the heavy rain falling across the South coast. The

winds will be picking up over the next few hours and overnight they

could be up to 60 mph. Not quite as strong as Monday-night but it will

be close. The heaviest of the showers will always be around the

South coast. Already we are starting to see showers bubbling up

on the sea, and pounding the South coast. Some of them will be moving

inland. There is thunder and lightning mixed in and some of them

will be pushing inland. Many places will and up staying dry but

wherever does stay dry, with those cool temperatures, icy conditions

can become a problem. Some of us will see ice and some of us rain.

Tomorrow the showers will fade away and there will be drier weather and

even sunshine tomorrow. The temperatures will be fairly cool

again, six or seven at best in those strong winds. The next storms

will be coming in tomorrow night and this one is the real bad boy.

The winds will be getting stronger and the rain will be heavier. Any

time from 6 o'clock tomorrow evening, the rain will be starting

and the winds will be getting stronger. We will be in for a wet

and windy night with gusts of up to 70 mph. There is a sting in its

tail as well because when the winds have feared to the north-western

eight on Friday morning, they slap is in the chops when we are down,

because the north-westerly could bring some wintery showers on