01/05/2012 South East Today

Welcome to the programme. Tonight top stories: Dozens of police and

residents search for an Nellie Herriot, the 96-year-old woman from

Brighton who has been missing for eight days.

He lost �120,000 to investment fraudsters based in Sussex. I felt

a complete idiot. But just wanted to crawl up into a hole and die.

Also tonight: Tributes to the Ashford hairdresser stabbed to

death at her salon. Friends say Natalie Esack was strong and

beautiful. From Maidstone United to England

manager. The unlikely rise off Roy Hodgson.

And burning bright for Her Majesty. There will be Jubilee Beacons in

More than 60 Sussex Police officers are now involved in a search for

96-year-old women missing for the last aid days. Residents have been

searching the Whitehawk estate in Brighton looking for Nellie Herriot

last spotted on CCTV on 25th April. Her whereabouts are still unknown

despite people highlighting her case on Twitter, including

celebrities. Our correspondent joins us now. The police are

focusing their search on the estate? Yes. Nellie Herriot's last

sighting was in a. At the Whitehawk estate where she lived. Police have

been asking people who live here to search their gardens and the area

surrounding, but they have launched an extensive search today. Nellie

Herriot finds it difficult to walk, and finds it difficult to hear. Her

family are concerned about her health and safety. It is strange to

think in this day and age of communication that she can just

evaporate into thin air. It seems strange. We are worried about her

well-being. We are desperately fear full. She visited British Home

stores cafe on the last day she was seen. Police say they would like to

know where she has. It is concerning she has not been seen

one week on from when she was reported missing. She suffers from

dementia, and she is very frail. She could have got into a difficult

state. -- confused state. Dozens of neighbourhood watch schemes have

been carrying out door-to-door inquiries. The area they are trying

to cover as large. She is part of the community and we are part of

the same community. We should be helping each other. The police

cannot stretch their resources thus far, so this is our way of helping.

Police have being -- been using search dogs in their hunt. Hundreds

of people have recirculated a police appeal, including Alan Sugar,

John Prescott and Sarah Brown. Nellie Herriot was reported missing

six days ago, and police have since received a number of Leeds, of

which have not revealed where the 96-year-old might be. Police this

evening are urging residents to continue searching the local area.

They say they hold the key to finding Nellie Herriot. Tonight the

search for her goes on. Thank you. He lost �120,000 and an

investment scam. Today a Sussex man has described the gang had targeted

him as awful people. Colin Wells was one of hundreds of

investors who fell victim to the international operation run from

Bexhill and Battle. The couple at the centre of the �4 million fraud

were jailed last week. Brian O'Brien was the American

brains behind the share dealing business which targeted unwitting

investors. But his wife, he persuaded 300 people to hand over

�4 million. Colin Wells from Crawley was one of them, and paid

�120,000 for the shares they offered. People just say, you have

just lost money, it is only Material. It is not, you lose your

self-esteem, because of the way they manipulate you. As you start

to realise something's wrong, it is training. The scam began here. The

couple then moved to this house near Battle. It is owned by someone

else now, but when the couple lived here it became the control room for

their sophisticated international fraud operation. As well as the

supposedly secure company in East Sussex, O'Brien control the company

in Limerick and two others in Barcelona. They made cold calls and

sold over valued shares in businesses such as an oil and gas

business in Toronto. In reality the money was transferred to a Jersey

bank account and back to the fraudsters. There was a UK address

for them, and a bank account in the UK. All the things people would be

wary about where those addresses are overseas. They were well-

executed frauds. There is no shame in it. These victims are genuine

victims of clever fraudsters. affected me physically, emotionally

and mentally. It made me feel very unwell for some time, and I felt a

complete idiot. I mean, I just wanted to crawl into a wall and

dive. You can see why people commit suicide, I really can. I can

understand getting to that stage. It took six years to convict the

couple at the centre of the scam. Last week they were both jailed.

Colin's name is on a so-called sucker list that fraudsters believe

We are joined by David Braithwaite, financial adviser. Thank you for

joining us. Natalie referred to the sucker list. There are 70,000 names

on it. That is astounding. How widespread is the problem? It is

quite widespread. The problem at the moment is when people are

looking for increases on their investments. People are naturally

more susceptible. And as a nation we are more trusting of people.

Given that, how can people avoid falling into the trap? If you are

called called at home, offered an investment opportunity and tempted

to it, to a -- do not be sucked into it. Call the Financial

Services Authority to check the company is legitimate, and do

research. But you also have to think, would someone with that good

an investment cold call at home? have heard a lot about frauds like

this involving overseas companies. It is unusual -- is it unusual to

hear about one in the UK? It is more unusual but a lot of people

use things like the Royal Mail here to target people through the post

because it looks more trusting. And as a nation we are very trusting.

We will fall for these things. We have to be more aware of these

things, and promoting the fact that these guys have gone to jail is the

thing. Thank you.

Coming up on the programme, a Sussex stroke victim who says he

felt cut-off and abandoned when his physiotherapy support was stopped

without warning. Tributes have been paid today to

the Ashford hairdresser Natalie Esack who was stabbed to death at

her salon. Friends described her as a beautiful, strong per son.

She died yesterday morning. Her estranged husband, former Kent

police officer, is being questioned on suspicion of her murder.

A crime scene filled with floral tributes. Natalie Esack's customers

and friends struggling to come to terms with her death.

She was a wonderful, beautiful, strong, lovely person in every way.

It is just a terrible, tragic loss. It is just awful. She was good at

what she did, she was strong. She was everything a woman should be.

She was really pleasant and happy. Obviously professional as well. She

will be sadly missed. Searches have continued throughout the day at the

salon. Natalie Esack's body was removed from their late yesterday.

Today a post mortem examination has been taking place. People in the

town have felt compelled to bring flowers. She's an Ashford girl. I

am from Ashford. It is something nice to do. I knew it. It is sad

someone you knew growing up has been taken like that. Natalie

Esack's estranged husband Ivan Esack was arrested at 10:40am

yesterday in the town. He is a former Kent police officer who has

since been working as a football agent.

Simon Jones joins us from the salon. What is the latest on the

investigation? Mr Esack is being questioned by officers tonight.

They have until 10:40pm to decide whether to charge and, to release

him ask the court for more time for questioning. Here, throughout the

day, flowers have been arriving, and they are growing by they are.

One tribute read, you are the best hairdresser I have ever had. One

says, you're not just my boss, you were an amazing person. Added a

sense of shock at war has happened. A grandfather from Newhaven are set

to become the oldest person in the UK to undergo a sex change

operation. Ruth Rose, 78, has been accepted for NHS surgery next year

at the age of 80. She changed her name from James Rose and start

addressing for a time as a woman six years ago.

The case against a member of a West Sussex Hunt accused of illegal fox-

hunting has been thrown out. A judge ruled there is no case to

answer against Jimmy Fox Guild -- Jamie Hawksfield senior, who is

joint master of Crawley and Horsham Hunt.

A man who admitted bludgeoning a man to death believing he may have

been a paedophile has told the court he had a list of 900 men he

was investigating for sexual offences.

Christopher Hunniset told Lewes Crown Court he drew up the list of

people he was going to deal with. He admits -- admits hitting Peter

Bick with a hammer or at his flat in Bexhill in January last year,

but denies murder. Christopher Hunniset says he

medallists containing the names of hundreds of men he was

investigating for possible sexual offences. Peter Bick was one of the

names. Another was a man described in court as mystery, who

Christopher Hunniset so be it -- suspected of abusing girls.

He drove to his house, but discovering he had children, he

drove back to Hastings. Christopher Hunniset was asked about Peter

Bick's death. You bashed his head in with a hammer, that is right,

isn't it? Guess, replied Christopher Hunniset. While doing

it your intention was to kill him, wasn't it? I intention was to get

his hand of my throat. You are not attempting to defend yourself,

where you? I do not call itself defines, know.

He went on to assert that Christopher Hunniset tailored his

entire case. He also repeatedly challenged the 20-year-old during a

heated exchange about an alleged rumour that Peter Bick was a

And it is now 17 minutes to seven and these in our top stories column

more than 60 Suffolk -- Sussex police officers are searching for a

96-year-old that has been missing for seven days. They're looking

near at the Whitehawk Estate in Brighton. She was last seen on CCTV

on April 5th. Also tonight, it all began at

Maidstone United, Roy Hodgson started his career in Kent.

And while it's the best way as we move into a with the weather?

The man from Sussex who suffered a stroke says that he felt abandoned

after his physiotherapy was stopped without warning. Mark Belsey says

that he only found out that his treatment had finished when he was

told that he could buy any equipment off the internet that he

needed. The Stroke Association charity say that they want more

support for patients to give them the best possible recovery.

A taking centre stage with his band, but Mark Belsey's working life as a

performer at was cut short when he had a stroke. Now he relies on his

wife for even simple tasks. The care that he got in hospital and

immediately afterwards was, he says, fantastic. But once he got out, the

couple were left struggling. For it a couple of weeks afterwards we had

a team that helped us. But after those 12 weeks we were abandoned.

They were helping me with my movements and my speech. When they

went, they just went and didn't help me. More than one million

people in the UK are stroke survivors. They live with their

effects of temporary loss of blood to the brain. It is thought that

300,000 people have a disability as a result. Today's report says that

there is still a problem getting support for long-term recovery.

They are being denied the chance to it the best possible recovery. The

services are not joined up and they're not getting the right care

afterwards. Stroke care in hospitals has been transformed, but

here afterwards can be patchy. But can be devastating especially for

younger stroke survivors. Many want to get back to work and get back to

their family lives. Physiotherapy and other Rehabilitation is

necessary. They just need it to be at priority and give it investments.

It can be a long and hard journey. Health care professionals say that

there is effort going into driving up standards for her care

afterwards. And making sure that the care is more joined up.

He is the new England manager charged with leading the nation in

22012. They are looking for him to save us from 46 years of pain.

Roy Hodgson may not be everybody's first choice but he has had a long

and illustrious career as a football player and manager. He is

one of very few people who have played for at Maidstone United and

was their assistant manager. In a sport famous for her neck

names, following today's press conference, Roy Hodgson is clearly

the chosen one. I am grateful for the chance to be the manager of

England. Roy Hodgson has secured that top job in English football.

He learnt his trade in Kent. In 1969 he played 20 games for at

Tonbridge football club. After that he moved to Gravesend and where --

he stayed there until 1971 and then he joined Maidstone United where he

was assistant manager. As the player, only avid fans remember him.

You could not say he was a brilliant player. It would not be

too unkind to say that he was -- it would be unkind to say he was poor

it but he was middle of the road. He is better coaching. That rings

true at Gravesend also. He is not even mentioned on the club's roll

of honour. You have to search local newspaper archives to find out

anything about him. Roy Hodgson pleads for Gravesend on 59

occasions. His only goal was not impressive.

It says that the ball rebounded off in other player and then it it was

passed under the body of a slow to dive other player. Nothing to

expect that he would be the future England manager. But Maidstone

United is where his coaching career started and he is more fondly

remembered there. He was a reasonably ordinary player. He was

a mid-fielder. He was not outstanding, but a reasonable

journey man. So Roy Argent didn't have an illustrious career. -- Roy

Hodgson. But we do find him in grassroots football.

Reasonably ordinary. Reasonably ordinary, not a spectacular player.

Good luck Reuter. Diamond Jubilee night. The skies will be set

twinkling with the 1,000 beacons across the county. The deadline for

up applications to take part emerges and we have found that

there will be more beacons in Kent than anywhere else in the country.

Could there be a better setting to light a Royal Peakin than at the

head of this? How did it come to be here? The story goes back 110 years.

It was dug out of the ground by students in 1992 by the Coronation.

We're having a barbecue and a live bands down on the cricket field. It

is open to everybody here. And anybody else who wants to come

along. We will write it between the hours of 10pm and 10:30pm. From

there you should be able to see some of the other beacons dotting

the lights -- night sky. Lot Securities have applied. But Kent

will have more than any other county. East Sussex will be having

57. Considering the history, with William the Conqueror landed here

in 1066, that trust was volunteer in the 1890s. That was the decade

when Queen Victoria had her celebrations. The whole thing

really fell into place. This place had to -- had to be one of the

National Beacons. It is the stuff of legend. Over here at Queen

Elizabeth the first stood here it took to a project that she had a

feeble body of all women but the heart of a lie-in. That was when

they were going to Battle with the Spanish Armada. She could see the

warning signals across the water. The council rebuilt their peak in

in that 1998 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Armada.

We have let it every year since then. The twinkling finale. It will

end the celebration. It is getting close now. We are

joined by a reporter at the Medway river. They are literally throwing

themselves behind the Jubilee celebrations. The approach here of

their maritime heritage. They are having a giant river festival here

on the Saturday and on the Sunday attention moves to the cathedral.

On the Monday, they are having a beacon festival. Six beacons will

be a light. Pretty much wherever you live, there will be something

going on during the day. Maybe one of these beacons will be let during

the evening also. It looks like he found a dry spot.

You can celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with us in our

photo mosaic which will be displayed in the Towner Gallery.

It is made up entirely of pictures of you. I have set in at photograph

of the Silver Jubilee street party. It reminds me of that occasion then.

This photo of my late husband was taken when he played for Eastbourne

United and I thought it would be nice to have been included in the

Jubilee mosaic. My husband and I sent him a picture of our son Harry.

It is for men to be part of the history. It is anything for him to

look back on when he is older. Why don't you dig out a photo? You

Websites: And if you do not have a computer at home, you can now take

your printed photo to your local main library and they will scan it

for you and send it to our site. Check with your library beforehand

to make sure they are participating. We saw glorious sunshine all

We saw glorious sunshine all through that.

It has been Eddie of to have so. It has brightened up in the afternoon

for many of us. It will be clear for the first part at this evening

and will stay dry through tonight. There will be some cloud coming in.

Tomorrow will be a dull but dry start. By the evening there will be

further rain. By today, the band of rain that gave us that windy start

clears northwards and it becomes increasingly dry towards the

afternoon. We will see decent spells of sunshine and some

isolated showers. Temperatures will not be too bad. They will be high

is around 16 degrees Celsius. It will be an increasingly dry picture

through the early part of this evening with clear skies initially

but clouds coming in by Donne. It will be fairly light and will be

quite cool. Temperatures will be around ten degrees. There is plenty

of cloud around tomorrow morning but it does stay dry initially. By

the latter part of the afternoon we will see this band of rain pushing

up from the South which will be heavy at times. We will see that

into Thursday. It will be addressed acted tomorrow with plenty of cloud

around, isolated showers in the afternoon, top temperatures around

15 or 16 degrees Celsius. As we go through tomorrow night, we will all

see this rain getting heavy at times and the wind moving in a

northerly direction. Temperatures will be around six or seven degrees.

On Thursday it will eventually cleared in the afternoon but will

still hold onto those northern a wins. It willstay dry but we do not

know where we will see the rain as we head into the weekend. Saturday