04/04/2017 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.

The revenge porn offender who posted photos on X-rated websites is banned

Leaving his victims suffering fear, discussed and extreme humiliation.

There's photos of one of the girls's weddings that he's in and stuff

and it's marred all of our memories of certain times in our lives.

A memorial match in honour of murdered policeman Keith Palmer.

Charlton Athletic donate half tonight's gate

We'll be live at The Valley with the details.

between staff and management on Southern Rail -

Is a legal loophole forcing drivers to spend hundreds of pounds

And the nuclear option - how Britain planned to blow up

the Channel Tunnel to keep the Russians out,

A man who posted images of women he knew onto a so-called

revenge-porn website, inviting others to leave graphic

Oliver Whiting from Eastbourne stole photos from the social media pages

of two women he knew, adding what the judge called "vile,

One of his victims was left in tears outside court,

and angry, distressed that he won't be going to jail and told us

she believed Sussex Police should have done more

Our special correspondent Colin Campbell reports

Mr Whiting, have you got anything to say to your victims?

Spared jail, Oliver Whiting caused his victims

fear, disgust and extreme humiliation.

What you did has caused a great deal of upset and distress

He uploaded innocent pictures of them to a US porn site.

Your victims think that you should be in prison.

Adding repulsive and extremely aggressive and violent

So do you have anything to say to your victims?

You are hiding your face now when you put all of their faces

He encouraged others to use the images

One of the images he posted was of a 16-year-old

schoolgirl, another of Nikki Elliott and her young child.

They were changed into being explicit photos

so they were just normal ones and we were all

saying earlier there is photos

of one of the girl's weddings that he is in and stuff and it has

just marred all of our memories as certain times in our lives

because we look at photos and we see that

they are photos that have been put on the website.

Sentencing him to a six-month suspended jail term,

District Judge Teresa Szagun told Whiting "what you used those

The accompanying comments were vile, aggressive

The impact to the victims has been far reaching."

We think that our stuff is safe online, what we put online is only

to our friends and family and we just need to make sure that when we

upload photos that we're saying they are private between those

people but whatever you put online stays online

Whiting initially received just a caution for similar offences

against four other women last year, prompting anger from victims who

They mislaid all of our stuff so we put in a statement

and they mislaid it and so that is why it has been reopened.

I didn't know criminals were given police escorts!

Witnessing Oliver Whiting being guarded by police in and out

of court, victims have been left in further distress,

knowing their violated personal images remain on the internet.

Colin is in Hastings now where the curse was heard today. The US

website which he used where the pictures were put up, they have

refused to take it down? Yes, we understand that many of

these images of young women remain on that unique base pornographic

website and despite requests from the victims themselves and from the

police, the American company has so far declined to remove the

photographs. In court today we heard that Oliver Whiting may be able to

get the images removed himself but only after he pays the company a

cash payment. Sussex Police say that they provided Oliver Whiting with an

escort in and out of court today because they feared there may be a

breach of the peace. Sussex Police say that they accept that their

offices require better and more training when it comes to dealing

with this type of new cybercrime and say that as a process which is

already underway. Thank you.

Keith Palmer is the policeman who lost his life in Khalid Masood's

terror attack on the Houses of Parliament last month.

Tonight Charlton Athletic Football Club will donating half of ticket

sales from their match to support his widow Michelle,

PC Palmer was a regular at The Valley for many years

and his usual seat has been draped in a Charlton flag in tribute.

22 of his fellow officers will follow the players out

of the tunnel before kick-off and then join them

Let's cross to The Valley now, and speak to our

Tonight's match against the Milton Keynes Dons Football club's home

match at the Valley since the Westminster terror attack. This is

the first opportunity for the club and the fans to come together and to

express their collective grief at the loss of a member of their

football family. Murdered in the line of duty, PC

Keith Palmer has been hailed a hero who gave his life for others

in the Westminster terror attack. To fellow fans of his beloved

Charlton, he was family. It is why tonight's game

at The Valley will be When something like

this happens, you You feel like you owe someone

like Keith a fitting tribute and I hope we will give him

that tribute tonight. Well, this is the home dressing room

at The Valley and this is the special shirt that

the players will be wearing tonight, dedicated in memory

of PC Keith Palmer. On the back, the hashtag

"we stand together". The players are also

donating their appearance fees while half the gate receipts will go

to PC Palmer's family. In the stands, a solitary

white seat will remain empty tonight, a reminder

of where Keith Palmer sat Charlton's always been

a family club, hasn't it? They've always been

for the kids and for any club to lose anyone

like that is a big thing. When you walk up the road,

you see all the flowers up there It will be a very sad night but,

you know, Charlton obviously But this is a tragedy that has

united fans of every colour. Chelsea supporter Diana Jupp

has made the journey to Unfortunately he lost his life

but he was the same as us, We all love football

so regardless of what team we support, when a tragedy happens,

we all come together. United in sadness, tonight

fans will pay tribute We are just over an hour or so away

from kick-off but before that happens, PC par's stepbrother will

lead at Teamster Knight to the tunnel and then into the centre

circle. -- Palmer. They will be joined by 22 former police officers

colleagues of PC Clive Palmer to join in a minute's silence. --

Keith. It is certainly to be an emotional night here at the Valley.

And Q. How a row over tax for locum doctors

could lead to a Kent hospital having to cut back on its accident

and emergency cover. One of the top negotiators

with the train drivers union Aslef says he's "not surprised" a deal

brokered between the union and Southern Rail was

rejected by his members because their relationship

is "utterly toxic". In an exclusive interview

with BBC South East Today, Simon Weller said that drivers have

trust issues with Southern The dispute is over the introduction

of driver only operation on trains. The deal was rejected yesterday

despite the company agreeing that on-board CCTV systems would be

upgraded and that on board supervisors would receive

extra safety training. In a moment I'll be talking live

with a senior member of management from Southern,

first Amanda Akass has The defined memory of decades of

past industrial accident greet everyone who walks through the door

of Aslef's headquarters in London. It leaders had been hoping the

latest dispute would soon be consigned to history as well. There

is a complete class a drug of Southern and members don't believe

Southern will keep to their side of the bargain. The relationship

between Southern and their staff, it is just utterly toxic. The way they

have been treating people, passengers as well in the run-up to

these disputes and during these dispute has broken any trust. The

two rejected deal set up a list of exceptional circumstances when

Southern would be allowed to run trains without a second member of

staff on board. The conductance union the RMT argued that should

never happen. While the RMT began their industrial action a year ago,

the first of six Aslef strike this was in December bringing Southern

services to a complete standstill. But at the start of fabric, Aslef

when Southern announced they had come to a deal. It was rejected

later that month. The second deal was struck on March the 15th after

another three weeks of negotiations. It is almost unprecedented over the

history of industrial relations in the UK, we have seen disputes,

hostile disputes, bitter disputes that ultimately there is a

resolution. We look at the dispute here, it does not seem to be any

positive way forward. Commuters are fed up. It is ridiculous that they

have not come to more of an agreement. It seems to have got

worse. They both have to have their heads banged together. There has to

be light at the end of the tunnel, it cannot go on like this forever.

It is really annoying. Aslef leaders insist they have the confidence of

their members and they are committed to resuming negotiations. But if a

better deal is not reach, they say that the strikes are not off the

table. I'm joined by Angie Doll,

from Southern Rail. Thank you for being with us this

evening. Rail users will be massively disappointed that this

deal, the second time round was not accepted by members. The problem

seems to be that just not enough drivers trust you.

I am out on the network every day speaking to our drivers and our

staff and I do not think this is about an issue of trust. I see there

is a good relationships and trust with our managers on the ground. It

is very disappointing that this ballot was rejected by such a narrow

margin. But it was rejected and it comes down to the fact that they do

believe, a lot of drivers do believe that you should have a second safety

critical person on all trains. We will be going back to talks next

week with Aslef again. Aslef's executive did endorse this agreement

and pitted out to their members to recommend that they except the

ballot. We will be going back to speak to Aslef next week to explore

a little bit more and understand the reasons why... Unless you have a

safety critical person on all trains, they are going to say no

again and again. That is what Bsaid right from the beginning, that is

what Aslef have said and if you will not concede that point, it is not

going to end. The dispute with Aslef is different to the dispute with

RMT. We have a good relationship with Aslef, we have been in talks

with them. Both parties are committed to finding a resolution.

We know what the resolution is, to have this second safety critical

person on the train. We offered a good deal and we need to explore now

with Aslef negotiating team and talking to our members to understand

whatever we need to do differently to get this over the line. It was

very close, just margin will be the number of people that voted against

it there are a lot of drivers out there who will support this deal. We

are absolutely knitted to getting this across the line. Why is

Southern so committed to not making that final commitment to not having

a second safety critical person on every train? We have said that we

have a second person on the train where we have had a conductor. We

had moved to this method of operation and we've made the changes

back in January. All the staff are now working as the on-board

supervisors and adapting to the road really well. We are looking for some

exceptional circumstances but as I said, we are committed to meeting

with Aslef next week and exploring more, what further concessions need

to be made to get this agreement over the line. You think Aslef can

deliver deal? I think we can. Both parties here are committed to

finding and enter this, not only for the passengers sick but also our

staff's sake. Angie Doll, thank you for being with us.

Six Iranian migrants have been rescued from a sinking boat

as they attempted to cross the English Channel from Calais

French authorities received a distress call from the small

fishing vessel just after midnight and found the group one mile

It comes after a dozen incidents off Kent and Sussex last year.

Customs officers are searching for a lorry driver who's gone

on the run after being caught smuggling more than

5.7 million cigarettes into the UK through Dover.

Richard David Curtis, from South Yorkshire,

hid them beneath boxes of frozen chips.

He failed to turn up to his trial at Maidstone Crown Court

and was found guilty of evading more than ?1.3 million in excise duty.

This programme can exclusively reveal that the future

of the Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance is secure.

Fears were raised when it was announced that development

at Redhill Aerodrome could mean it would have to move but today it's

been announced that a new 25-year lease has been signed

for the operation to remain at the aerodrome.

A Kent Hospital is making contingency plans to cope if age

doctors refuse to work later this week in a row over changes to their

tax that could see their take-home pay cut by 20%. This programme has

been a document drawn up by medical staff at the Queen Elizabeth, the

Queen Mother Hospital in Margate which could see major changes.

From Thursday, it is feared many are set to stay at home in a row over

tax rules. BBC understands that at least one Kent hospital, the Queen

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in Margate has already rearranged its

rotors in anticipation. I think anything that takes pay away

from locums at the moment is bad. We need to support all of them at the

moment because otherwise serve are going to be on safer patient and we

cannot have that. Government route changes mean locums will have to pay

more money in tax and seeing their take-home pay full overnight. We

understand that some are asking hospitals to up their rates to make

the difference which many can't do. South Thanet MP and chartered

accountant believes any stay at home will be short lived. There is no

other provider our bird that will be buying their services. I think we

have got to live in the real world. It is not going to happen and I will

be fighting against any thing that is going to upset services at the

hospital. BBC understands that the hospital has rejected some of the

measures drawn up by staff to deal with the shortage of ligands. In a

statement, the trust said we had not considered and not introducing any

partial closers, temporary or otherwise to the accident and

emergency department of the hospital. All the closure of

Buckland Hospital. As paying more money, a new rate of ?75 per has

been rated four locums, Negri 's of more than 10%. The deputy executive

has told us they are considering the look rate but has not agreed one as

of yet. Our reporter Sara Smith

is in Margate now. A lot of people are going to be

worried about the situation. They are, east Kent hospitals trust,

which this is a part, they have long had to rely on locums. Freelance

doctors if you like because they have problems recruiting staff. It

is a national problem but they say they have a particular problem here

because of what they describe as their relatively isolated location.

Staff are tempted to the big teaching hospitals in London. Two

weeks ago, we reported Abbey Kent and Canterbury Hospital which is

another hospital this trust, they were having to ship out that junior

doctors here to the hospital in Ashford because they did not have

the consultants to oversee their training. 88 times they have

advertised for consultants over the past few months. What they say here

is that whatever happens, there will not be any temporary partial

closures of accident and emergency. Thank you.

Motoring organisations say it's scandalous that hundreds of pothole

compensation claims from drivers in Kent have been rejected -

on the grounds the council was planning to repair the roads

A little known law permits authorities to dismiss claims made

by motorists whose cars have been damaged by defective roads,

if they can demonstrate the road in question was scheduled for repair

Recent analysis showed the overall road repair bill for councils

nationally could reach ?14 billion within two years.

Causing misery for motorists and often costing them money too.

Repairs to pothole damage at this garage in Tunbridge Wells are

increasingly common, particularly to the car springs.

One bit flies off into the road normally, it can go in

to a tyre, it can go into a brake hose and the other bit stays in, it

Kent County Council won't pay compensation if they

But even if they did, they give themselves up

So if a car is damaged in that time, they won't offer compensation.

Between 2015-2016, 395 claims were rejected

on the basis that there was a plan in

place to repair the defect within a reasonable time.

Over those two years, pay-outs were made

in 208 cases, totalling over ?45,000.

That is according to a freedom of information request by

I think that's quite unfair and I've known

potholes to be around a lot longer than a month so, yeah.

Because you can't avoid it sometimes.

Almost but I swerved and then almost hit another

Not good enough, absolutely, it should be repaired as soon

Otherwise anyone could have an accident or even injure

Motoring organisations want more clarity.

I think the legislation isn't actually

strong enough and what we need is central government to actually help

out in this scenario and help determine what a reasonable

KCC say the repairs are prioritised based on

As long as we have met that criteria and

fixed it in the time we have said we are going to fix it,

It can seem quite harsh but we have got to

make a judgment about the safety of the rule dues and healthy for

dangerous that pothole is going to be.

They say they are spending an extra ?2.5 million on blitzing

Simon Jones is in Aylesford for us now.

Simon, how many potholes are actually being repaired?

Each week, Kent gets reports of 300 potholes that need repairing and one

week last month, that figure doubled to 600. This road is just round the

corner from the depot where the pothole villas are based but rather

embarrassing, down there you can see a big pothole in the raid and then

right next to it, and even bigger pot hole. The big question is if you

cannot get an sensation if the council does not know about the

potholes, if you cannot get compensation if they do know about

the potholes that they are planning to repair them in a certain time

frame, when can you should get any money? It is if they miss themselves

imposed deadline and your car gets damaged, you might get compensation.

The council points that this money comes from the public purse and if

they pay out compensation, it is taking money away from fixing more

potholes. Oliver Whiting from Eastbourne

posted stolen images of women he knew to a so called revenge-porn

website along with "vile, Sussex Police should have done more

to protect her and other women. And after a damp start,

the afternoon brightened up with more sunshine on the

way for tomorrow. I will have the details

for you in the forecast a little If you have a story you think

we should be covering on South East Today,

we'd like to hear from you. You can call us on 0345 300 37 47,

or send us an e-mail to We are also on Facebook or you can

tweet us @bbcsoutheast. In the 1950s, at the height

of the Cold War, Britain was working on secret plans to defend

the country in the event of a Russian invasion,

including plans to blow up the Channel Tunnel

with an atomic bomb, even though it hadn't

been built yet. Newly released files reveal that

in 1959 the Ministry of Defence advised any physical link

with the continent could be vulnerable and should

be "totally destroyed for defensive purposes

if necessary". But conventional explosives wouldn't

be destructive enough. Only an atomic bomb would

be "100% effective". Fortunately the suggestion

was later abandoned as it was realised there would be

a certain amount of This is something more than the

first atomic bomb. It is a shocking revelation. Can it really be true

that an atomic bomb was ever considered as a way of sabotaging

the Channel Tunnel in the event of a national emergency by defence

experts advising the government? A silly idea. Crazy. It would do more

damage than anything else. They contingency plans that may, properly

won't need that. Properly floodlit. Can you imagine what would happen?

It would be like a double barrel shotgun going off in both directions

and operas well. The story has emerged from Department letter was

kept in the National Archives. They revealed that as far back as the

1950s, the idea of a nuclear blast to destroy the tunnel was under

discussion. None of this with here then. The Channel tunnel system that

we take for granted today was just a dream. The idea of destroying

something which had not even been built, I guess that was a bit of

blue sky or grey sky thinking in a world stock in Cold War made. For

the second test, this was the plan. A propaganda film from 1940s

illustrate the concept dramatically. The sound of the debtor nation

reaches us. And if the technology existed, the arms race between the

Western powers and the Soviet Union provided the motivation. Nuclear war

seemed very real prospect. Duck and cover underneath the table desk. It

was finally considered too expensive and too costly in terms of the

desert station that would have ripped through Kent. -- devastation.

So ticking nuclear time bomb never happen.

Let's take a look at the weather. No nuclear fallout clouds to worry

about. Plenty of blue skies on the way?

Lots of cloud around, it does not seem so long ago that we were widely

seen highs of 22 Celsius. Looking at the stats generally, so much, for

the south-east, that made it the joint milder is on record. An

average amount of rain. This morning, how brave the rain, not

particularly heavy but cloudy, damp start to the day. A bit more

brightness the afternoon. 13 Celsius. As we had to tonight, still

some cloud, some patchily rain but the most part it is going to be

easing. Pressure builds. We have got clearer skies, later winds and some

mist and fog patches around. Overnight, six or seven Celsius in

towns and cities, dropping to three or four in more rural slots. A

chilly start to the day tomorrow. It will be bright. Through the

afternoon, a bit more cloud cover around. The wind still relatively

white, they are coming from a chilly north westerly direction. Why the

temperatures tomorrow afternoon once again around average, 11 or 12

Celsius. More cloud around during the afternoon. Eventually as you

head through the first part of Wednesday evening, the chance you

could catch one or two isolated showers. Towards the early hours of

Thursday morning, they ease, clearer skies develop once more. Campus is

milder but still widely in single figures, dropping to around six or

seven buses and more rural spots. Quite chilly as we start the day for

Thursday. Very similar whether through Thursday and Friday. This

area of high pressure in control of things. The wind eased off, cloud

cover, decent spells of sunshine as we look towards the weekend. Chilly

nights but during the afternoon, both Saturday and Sunday, expected

to reach 15 or 16 Celsius. Today was cloudy, disappointing with the

sunshine but it should be back towards the end of the week and the

weekend. It is not looking too bad at all. I

will be back at 8pm and 1020 5p with the updates. Have a very good

evening. -- 10:25pm. Goodbye.