14/08/2014 South East Today

and on our website, but that is all for now. It is

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

Back home after being left hn a coma for two weeks after a road rage

incident, the police want to speak to this man. The Sussex MP `nd drugs

minister calls for the legalisation of cannabis to ease pain. Also, the

A`level student celebrating tonight. Eastbourne Airbourne opens today.

Can the event to boost forttnes for Eastbourne today? And he's back

Russ Abbot returns to prime time and tells us all about new comedy

Boomers filmed in Kent. A man from Ashford who was left in a

coma for two weeks after a road`rage attack today pleaded for thd public

to help find his attackers. Wayne Morton, a father of sdven

has no memories of being set upon. Tonight, the police have naled

a man they want to speak to Have officers been able to shed any

more light on what led up to this attack? Well, the police sax Kit is

a bit of a mystery. Tonight they've made an appeal for witnesses and

named a man they want to talk to but as for where `` as for Waynd

Morton, it says it has left him scared to leave the house.

His family feared they might never see this day. Wayne Morton back at

home for his birthday tomorrow after suffering a fractured skull

following an attack he can't remember. It had a dramatic effect

on my life, to be honest. I have to learn to do everything again,

walking around, feeding mysdlf, you know. It has put me back to a baby

stage. He was driving his v`n home after visiting a friend in great

stone on July the 4th. It thought he involved in an argument with two

other men in the Kingsnorth area. Afterwards found, he was rushed to

hospital in London. Kent Police say they are continuing their enquiries

and the key question is how and why did Wayne Morton end up herd with

such severe head injuries? That remains a mystery even to hhm. I

want to know why they did it, what made them do that to him. How hard

is it not knowing? Very hard, every day waking up learning they know

what they've done and we don't know nothing. The police have issued this

picture of Joseph White, whom they want to speak to in connecthon with

the assault. And there is and there is a renewed appeal for witnesses.

Come forward, please, so it stops this happening to someone else

because someone else might not be so lucky. The relief of being back home

is tempered with the knowledge you basis months of further medhcal

treatment. The family say they've had difficulty getting any clear

information from the police about what they believe may have happened

but Wayne was in the cone of two weeks. Only last week he was well

enough to speak to the police and self and the family say thex

desperately need to find who was responsible for this so that they

feel safe in their own home. People suffering from severd pain

should be allowed to take c`nnabis, that's the call tonight frol Norman

Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP for At the moment,

cannabis is categorised as Class B, which means that you risk bding

prosecuted if you use it. Mr Baker's stressing he wants to

remove that risk for use in medicines, but not

for people who choose to smoke it or He points out that

the drug is well known for dasing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis

and HIV and AIDS, as well as Our political reporter Ellid Price

has been looking at the argtments. So, I've still got a few of the old

drugs I used to take, like the antidepressants and tramadol and so

on. I don't take them any more. Mark French was diagnosed with mtltiple

sclerosis we as a go and he says conventional medication does not

help him so he smokes cannabis illegally. What do I do when it is

my life? It is in all of my existence, when I am in pain, when I

can't do anything, and cann`bis changes that. Who is wrong? Me or

the law? It is a similar story for Kieran who uses the drug for

epilepsy. They are not alond. They have helped launch a communhty

group. That helps people with diabetes, MS, epilepsy, cancer. And

they're all life changing stories. We'll have the same thing common. We

are just trying to live a bdtter way of life. Cannabis has been legalised

in parts of the US and although some synthetic versions of the drug used

it is only here, campaigners say it could be used far more widely. You

don't think this sends out the message that cannabis is th`t bad,

that it can be good for you? It sends out the message that the

government are prepared to tse a substance where it can help people

who are ill, and we should be prepared to do that, we shotldn t

allow ancient prejudices from 4 years ago to get in the way that. If

someone is ill, let's them `nd not make them terminals. The MP knows

that the chances of his proposals going ahead are slim. The government

says it has no plans to leg`lise cannabis or soften its approach as a

use in medicine. Many experts agree that can be side effects. The

dangers can range from hallucinations, addiction, fear

developing anxiety. Once ag`in, it is varied. Campaigners want to

change perceptions on this hllegal drug. They accept a change hn the

law will prove even more difficult. A culture of drugs, a verdict on

Lewes prison from a serving prison officer.

Police have released an e`fht of a man they are looking for

in connection with seven reported sex attacks on women in Whitstable.

The police say the attacks happened over the course of eight months

and are now investigating whether they are linked.

A network of paths act as short cuts through which to ball. The detective

leading the investigation into the assaults is urging pedestri`ns to

carry mobile phones and to be vigilant when using the paths even

in daylight hours. The nature of the offences is such that we have lone

females, between 60 and 88 xears of age that have been approachdd and

accosted, and inappropriately touched. That is traumatic for the

victims. It would be traumatic for any victim of any age. The police

have released this e`fit and have looked at several attacks in

Whitstable, the first occurring within 45 minutes of each other on

January the 27th. In June, there was another attack near all Saints

close, but on Tuesday there were three incidents in one day. I would

be careful. I'd never go thdre by myself, not late or early, but I'd

be very careful. If someone is trying to hide, it is very dasy

here. It is in the back of ly mind. Bearing in mind that it is literally

five minutes away from my house So I do, actually, kind of... H would

prefer to get a lift or if ht is late at night, I'd think about not

going there. The police say they don't know if the attacks are linked

and they are appealing for information so that it can bring

whoever committed these criles to justice.

A 25`year`old man has been convicted of murdering a pedestrian bx hitting

John O'Donohue was fatally hnjured after he was trapped underndath

Jake Austin, who has no fixed address, h`d

admitted manslaughter at his trial at Maidstone Crown Court, btt this

A serving prison officer from Lewes Prison says she fears

a member of staff will be khlled unless action is taken to address

Kim Lennon says she and her colleagues are so

overstretched, they can't mdet the needs of prisoners, which is causing

Ms Lennon says there aren't enough staff to carry out daily cell

checks, the smuggling of drtgs and contraband is rife,

The Prison Service denies that staffing levels are unsafe,

and they have a zero tolerance approach to illicit substances.

Kim Lennon is risking her job speaking out about working

conditions in Lewes prison. She says staff cuts mean they don't have

enough time to do the basics. We are supposed to do sell checks once a

day. Doesn't happen. Becausd? We don't have enough time or staff

Because we are doing this and that. And the dangers of not doing that?

Prisoners know they `` prisoners know we are supposed to be doing it.

Some of them are so complacdnt they have mobile phones by their bed She

says that the smuggling of ` drug called spice is rife. She fdars the

situation is critical. I have never ever known Lewes Prison to be Rocky

but it is going to go and somebody is going to get hard, be it prisoner

or member of staff. The number of staff at the prison has fallen by

16%. Over the same period, the number of suicides by prisoners

increased by almost a third. But at Lewes Prison, official figures show

that in spite of Mr Lennon's concerns, the number of ass`ults

declined by 37%. Paul Carroll is the former governor of Lewes Prhson and

he says that managers will do what they can to reduce the risks to

staff. But he says... It is inevitable if you reduce st`ff

numbers that services will suffer and, therefore, in that envhronment,

you will find there will be increased number of incidents. Now

one from Lewes Prison was prepared to be interviewed today but the

prison service issued a statement saying that staffing levels here are

safe. And that sensible and precaution that measures have been

taken to manage the recent national increase in the prison population.

Staffing has become tight btt overall I think there are enough

numbers. There are difficulties with some of the older prisons, which is

why it is important to invest in new prisons. CCTV is fully functional at

Lewes Prison and the prison says they have robust measures to find

illicit substances, including spice. They are continuing to recrtit

staff, they say. Students from across the Sotth East

have been collecting their @`level results today, but for one teenager

from East Sussex it's been lore Rachel Hammond

from Horam clinched her thrde A`levels, and is heading to

university despite being di`gnosed with a rare condition which affects

her immune system 13 years `go. Across the south`east,

there's no clear picture yet of how we've done, with most counchls still

crunching the numbers. In West Sussex, though,

we do know there's been a slight drop in the pass r`te,

in line with the national phcture. Like thousands of young people

across the South East, Rachdl needs good A`level grades to move onto the

next stage of her life. But will she get them? Wow! Oh, my gosh, I can't

believe that. It is just am`zing! You must be very pleased.

Definitely, thank you. Mum's very pleased, too. Staggered and very

proud. Well done. Ten years ago BBC south`east spoke to Rachel `nd her

family as she'd started a ndw drug treatment programme. The tednager

has a continuing immunodeficiency condition. Next month, Rachdl will

begin a degree in occupational health in Norwich. Elsewherd,

students at this school in Laidstone also received their results. It was

a similar scene at the Howard school. And there was much to be

happy about in Brighton. Wow! I gotten a and B and C. I am proud of

that. In Sussex, some students will have to reassess their plans. Others

will move onto new challengds. Well done to them all. This is our

top story tonight. A man from Ashford was left in a coma for two

weeks after a road rage att`ck today pleaded for the public to hdlp find

his attackers. Wayne Morton says he has no memory of being set tpon and

the police say they want to talk to Joseph White in connection with the

assault. Also into night's programme... Be reporting on the

moment two Lancaster bombers made history in the skies over

Eastbourne. And change to the weekend forecast.

Will it bring weekend well or a weekend sunny glow? Join me later to

find out. The ferry disaster at Zeebrtgge

remains one of Britain's worst ever maritime catastrophes, costhng

the lives of nearly 200 people. It happened more than a quarter

of a century ago, but only now a woman from Sdaford in

East Sussex has felt able to speak publicly for the first time about

losing not one relative, but three. Jane Hind could have been

on the Herald of Free Enterprise when it sank claiming the lhves

of her mother, sister and uncle Her story appears

in a new book about the dis`ster. She's has been speaking to

Robin Gibson on the effects of that March weekend

for tonight's special report. 'They hacked

and smashed the strong glass.' Mum was my whole life, how was I

ever going to live without her? 'They lowered ropes

and hauled people out.' My sister would have still been

alive, you know, 'People clawing

and fighting their way up.' It took just 90 seconds

for the huge ferry to capsize But, for many, the effects

of that night are still going on. They were meant to go

from another port, I believd, but they were running early, so we

thought we'd drive down to Zeebrugge Herald of Free Enterprise w`s

a roll on roll off ferry. The bow doors allowing cars and

lorries inside had not been closed. My uncle had a house over

in Eindhoven. And he was selling

the house Eindhoven to move back to And they had gone over

for a week's holiday, to help him My sister actually wasn't

meant to be on the boat. A marine inquiry found neglhgence

by specific crew members and the An inquest jury returned a verdict

of corporate manslaughter btt I've always set myself a target

to be half the woman my mum was She wouldn't have wanted me to

be sad for the rest of my lhfe. Talking with friends

and family has always helped her cope but a new book on the disaster

gave her an avenue to speak publicly It was humanity, basically,

thrown into chaos. It was a single event which

changed so many lives forevdr. For me, the more I talk abott it,

the better. I'm very proud

of my family who died. And, really, this for me is

like a tribute to them. You know,

they can be remembered forever. The deaths of the passengers

and crew members resulted in major But for many of those touchdd

by this tragedy, the question why A piece of aviation history was made

in the skies above Eastbourne today. It is the opening day of

Eastbourne Airbourne, Among the crowds was a formdr pilot,

now aged 90, watching the Jack Watson,

who lives in Eastbourne, flew 77 missions himself in

the aircraft during World W`r Two. Piers Hopkirk has spent the day

at the show. Swooping low across Eastbourne Pier,

a site not seen in our skies for nearly 60 years. The world's last

two airworthy Lancaster bombers inverse skies together at l`st. ``

inverse skies. I was completely emotional, I thought I'd never see

it. I've seen formations of 20 Spitfires but I have to admht that

tops the lot. It is an honotr. It makes you proud to be British.

Fantastic! And few know the site and sight better than 90`year`old Jack

Watson. He was a flight enghneer and bomb gamer on no fewer than 77

Lancaster missions. When yot heard the throng of those engines, how did

it make you feel? It evokes memories, obviously. It is ` sound

you never ever forget, and xou can still smell the inside of one. The

day began with a Birds Eye view of Eastbourne, courtesy of the Tigers

parachute display team. The better way to beat the traffic and find the

best spot on the beach. Tens of thousands packed the seafront for

this annual aerial showpiecd. After the disaster of the pier fire, a

chance for a tourism boom. Ht is a fantastic opportunity to show

everybody that Eastbourne is a very can`do town. We've had a bit of a

disaster without peer, but we've come through that and it is business

as usual, our town is buzzing. And no greater buzz perhaps than this,

the Breitling wing walkers, getting their fair share of fresh ahr in

arguably the best seats in the house.

It must have been an extraordinary moment when they went over.

I am no great aviation expert or enthusiast bucked the moment those

two Lancaster 's flew over the pier, and the huge crowd burst into

spontaneous applause, you couldn't help but be moved. It was the

combination of the sight of these iconic aircraft and that throb of

their engines. There was a woman standing in front of me and she

actually became quite tearftl, and I asked what had moved her. She said

it was the moment of seeing those two Lancaster is that brought home

to her the bravery and the sacrifice of the airmen who gave so mtch

decades ago. Thank you. Some football fixture to tell you

about. and the second round draw for the

Capital League Cup has been made. One of the highlights, Gillhngham

take on Premier League Newc`stle. In the other ties,

Brighton travel to Swindon, Charlton have a tricky tie `t Derby,

while Crawley go to Norwich. But Gillingham's reward

for their victory at Yeovil is one of the most attractive cup ties to

be staged at the Priestfield Stadium People tell me it's the first time

in ten years that ginning of won in ten years. And getting the draw is

lovely, lovely for our supporters to see a Premier League team. H am

pleased and delighted for everybody. Kent's Adam Gemili comfortably

qualified for the semi`finals of the 200 metres at the European

Championships this evening. The 20`year`old from Dartford,

who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

earlier this month, had the fastest time in this morning's heats, and

will be one of the medal favourites Back in the 80s, he was a m`ster

of slapstick, popular with children and adults alike, and turning

in the odd singing performance Now, Russ Abbot is back, with

something a little bit subtler. Boomers tells the story of three

couples dealing with retirelent in their own way, and much of it

was filmed in and around Herne Bay. The first episode is

tomorrow evening on BBC One. I've got wrong number, anyone want

it? Nothing subtle about Russ Abbot. In the mid`80s, we bdcame

familiar with his singing voice too.

Much more recently, he was ` big noise on Last Of The Summer Wine.

But now Russ Abbot has venttred to filming on location along the coast,

Herne Bay in particular. Well, Herne Bay is supposed to be of fictitious

seaside resort where all of the crowds have retired, the boomer

crowd. She might be having ` baby now! The series takes a siddways

look at retirement. Trevor loved out of the bedroom on Tuesday. Oh! That

must be difficult for you. Not really, I did notice till Thursday.

Fortunately, I'm not retired. We just get to play older parts and

keep going as long as we can, so I wouldn't know. I am a bit sdlective,

and I'd choose the right pidce that comes along, and this was the right

piece. Wilf! Wake up! It's time to take a sleeping pill. Perhaps Russ

Abbot will be thought of first and foremost as churning out thd gags.

People want to sit there and relax, they know they're not going to be

insulted or offended, and they are looking forward to something they

can relate to which is what Boomers is all about. There is now something

gentler to add to the collection. Give us a smile at least! Rtss

Abbot, very much not retired. And the weather.

I like to sniff out the poshtives, and these frequent showers light be

giving you the PIP, but we can see one of meteorology's magic loments.

Rainbows. When we get these showers, you can also get some long`lasting

rainbows, and on the 14th Atgust 1979, there was a three hour long

rainbow which means that thd showers lasted for three hours, and that is

what some of us have been stuck under today. If you look at the

radar picture, you can see the showers are spotted and dotted,

right the way across us, rather like a Dalmatian's coat. There are still

plenty of heavy showers out there, they are causing some flash flooding

as well, so any of us likelx to be affected by them. As the telperature

drops away, the showers will get the hint and they will die away as well.

Inland, going down to 12. On the coast, staying up to 14. Th`t is

because of those warmer sea temperatures. Tomorrow, Inl`nd,

eight. To the day, but for lany there will be fewer showers in

Surrey and Sussex because the wind will go to a north`westerly which

can protect Surrey and Sussdx from the showers, but if you are in Kent,

particularly the north and dast you will get more showers tomorrow and

some heavy ones into the afternoon. Still, basically, another d`y of

sunshine and showers, but more of them gathered towards the e`st

tomorrow. Top temperature, 20. Tomorrow evening, the showers fade

away. Into Saturday, things are looking more positive and wd will

have some sunny spells, it should stay dry, and although the winds

increase, Saturday will be the better day of the weekend. Sunday,

two, the forecast has definhtely improved. Yesterday it lookdd like

we would have three weather fronts on Sunday but now we will h`ve a

little rain, the rest of thd day should be drier and brighter. Things

are looking better over the next few days. You will always need xour

umbrella nearby but you'll `lso need your suncream, shades and shorts,

too. We like it when you put things into

reverse. And we like long`l`sting rainbows. That was a lovely fact.

See you at 8pm and 10:25pm. Goodbye.