13/12/2013 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's programme:

Tributes to the innocent man who took just one sip from a fizzy drink

laced with fatal amounts of cocaine. He was a wonderful man and would

help you when you needed him. Walking out ` firefighters stage the

first of two strikes over pensions on a busy festive weekend.

A family shop for 40 years faces closure because of the impact of

pedestrianisation outside. I do not know a single person who

does not shop here. We are devastated we will lose it. And the

pressure is on the new Pompey boss looking for a win this weekend.

More details have emerged about the fizzy drink contaminated with

cocaine that killed a man from Gosport. Joromie Lewis worked for an

import company and was helping unload a consignment of drinks from

the Caribbean at a warehouse in Southampton. He took just one sip

from a bottle of Pear`D, immediately became ill and never recovered. He

leaves behind a wife and three`year`old daughter. Joe

Campbell reports. Former Royal Navy sailor Joromie

Lewis was known for his stand against drugs, drink and gambling.

In words of one friend, he was a good guy. He was a regular

worshipper here at this church with his wife and their daughter, who

turned three years old on the very day he died last week. He was

described here is a big man, a bighearted man, who would do

anything to help somebody out. In fact, he was helping out somebody on

the day he died. They had been handling and imported cargo of juice

drink which had been brought in by a third party from the Caribbean. It

was hot and thirsty work and once it had been taken away from the

warehouse where he was employed, he saw a bottle had been left behind.

He took a swig quenches first and moments later, was seriously ill.

The man who baptised him was today making preparations for Joromie

Lewis's funeral. Thursday, about 11 o'clock, I had somebody crying. It

took me a while to figure out it was his wife. She said he was in

Southampton general and on a life`support machine and they were

about to turn it off. My wife and I rushed on down to the hospital. He

was dead by the time we got there. Per day is a popular drink in parts

of the Caribbean. These bottles were on sale there today. The makers

described the shipment that killed Mr Lewis as contraband, saying

Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed the bottle was camped with ``

tampered with. Ex`pats today told us two kilos of

cocaine could be dissolved in just one litre of water and police say

drink so regularly used by smugglers to hide imported drugs. It has been

used in the past and tragically, it has gone horribly wrong. Mr Lewis

completely innocently has had a drink of this that has fallen out of

a dispatch from his warehouse. Mr Lewis' family are preparing for the

funeral after Christmas so relatives can fly in from overseas for the

service. A man who raped a school girl in Berkshire when she was drunk

has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. The girl had kept quiet

about the attack by 51`year`old Robert Hawkins for over a decade.

She finally found the courage to tell the police he had raped her

when she was a young teenager after serving as a juror herself on a rape

trial. Nikki Mitchell reports. The girl who was raped is now in her

20s, and it was he that Reading Crown Court last year that she was

called for jury service. She was a juror hearing a case of a man

accused of child abuse. Given that she herself had been raped when she

was 13 years old, the trial had a profound effect on her. The day

after it ended, she walked into reading police station to report

that she had also been a rape victim. This is the man

responsible, 51`year`old Robert Hawkins from reading. He waited

until she and her friends were drunk before raping her in the bedroom of

a house he was staying in 12 years ago. She blacked out during the

attack. The charity Rape Crisis believe only one in seven women who

experience sexual violence reported to police. Why is that? If you have

not been believed, Johnston blamed. A fear of the perpetrator. If they

hear stories about low conviction rate is poor treatment by the

courts, that can be even more off`putting. In sentencing Robin ``

Robert Hawkins to 11 years in prison, the judge said the rape had

been a girl's first sexual experience and that afterwards she

went off the rails. Her behaviour change completely, she self harmed,

she had nightmares, she took drugs and got into trouble with social

services. The judge told Hawkins, that is the effect you're selfish

act had on her. The court held Hawkins has been convicted of

numerous crimes and this is the second time he has been jailed for

rape. Firefighters across the South have

just walked out this evening on another strike. It is part of

ongoing industrial action over pensions. Fire and Rescue Services

are asking the public to take extra care on what is usually the busiest

weekend for Christmas parties. Those who are still working this evening

to provide cover have asked the public to call only if it is a real

emergency. We will have 50% of resources as we normally do. But you

dial 999, it may be slower than normal. We will be doing our best to

get as quickly as possible. Colin Daulby if you need us. `` collars

only if you need us. Laura Trant is live for us this

evening in Salisbury. Here in Salisbury, along with fire

stations across the country, firefighters walked out and went on

strike at six o'clock in an ongoing dispute over pensions. There have

been four strikes since September. This, the fifth strike and the sixth

tomorrow, will last for four hours from six till 10pm. It's over

Government plans to raise firefighters' retirement age from 55

to 60 and to increase their individual pension contributions.

The FBU says it would mean if firefighters between the ages of

55`60 fail fitness tests and get the sack, then they would lose out on

pensions. But the Government says the offer is fair and one of the

most generous in the public sector. But in light of plans for MPs' pay

going up by 11%, anger at the Government's intentions for

firefighters has intensified. We asked you to contact us on our

Facebook page and share your views. We were inundated with your

comments. Here are just a fear of them. `` just a couple.

As we heard earlier, the Fire Service are warning members of the

public to take extra care when the strike is taking place. Things like

candles and festive lighting at this time of year are particularly

dangerous, and they are asking people to be extra vigilant. The

leader of West Sussex County Council claims there are no bombshells in

plans to cut ?60 million from the council's budget over the next two

years. Proposals discussed today include cuts to adult social care

and children's services. But an extra ?30 million will be spent on

resurfacing unclassified roads. West Sussex also hopes to freeze its

council tax for a fourth year running.

We will always look to see that it will not affect people. That is the

first priority. A lot of it is looking at how we do things and

where we commission services and the way we do it. That will mean that

perhaps we'll be doing it a bit cheaper, but the end result is just

the same. Two air Ambulance Services in the South remain temporarily

grounded today, after a fault was found in a similar aircraft. The

Thames Valley, and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulances all operate

the same type of helicopter as the one that crashed on a pub in

Glasgow. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been cleared

to fly again following safety checks.

Stay with us, because we will have the sport, not. We will be looking

at three of the contenders hoping to be Sports Personality of the Year.

That is happening on Sunday. They will be finding out whether Pompey

can actually get a win with the new manager. As was that, we will have

the weather. Our reporter is inherently because an Advent

calendar opens with a difference. Christmas spirit and community

spirit go hand`in`hand here in Henley as they bring the traditional

Advent calendar to life. A Hampshire MP is warning people

there's no need to pay companies to renew your driving licence and if

you're over 70, renewing costs nothing. Freda Kerslake, who lives

in Horndean, unknowingly paid a company called drivinglicenceuk.com

?80. They've now agreed to refund her money. Ena Miller has been to

meet her. I only use the car, really, to

travel locally or to go to the shops. I find it so difficult

walking now but I do need it. When this woman made a mistake renewing

her driving licence, she literally paid for that. When I said to a

friend, I have applied for my driving licence over the phone, so

that is out of the way and it cost ?80, she said, it shouldn't cost

that. You are over 70. Well, I needed to, so... `` and 82 years

old. At Ascot to be refunded. `` I asked for it to be refund. She

unwittingly it is perfectly legal and they make

terms clear. I suspect you're looking for people in a hurry. But

how easy is it to make the the Office of Fair Trading

investigations say it is happening all the time. There is a fine line

between whether they are legal or not. They use quite a bit of small

print. Is it difficult for you to solve this? It is. If you stop this,

another will pop up. The company refused to comment but has now given

Frida Ely fun. `` a refund. It is the sort of store that could

be really useful over this festive period. Akram's in Portsmouth stocks

every type of Asian spice, along with Chinese, Thai and West Indian

delicacies. But it is threatened with closure, after the road that

it's on was pedestrianised and takings dropped by half. Now a

campaign is underway to save it, as Peter Henley reports.

Whether it is animal, vegetable or mineral salts, Akron has every

variety from every corner of the globe. It is an institution at the

heart of Southsea for 40 years. But after parking spaces were removed

outside, taking supplemented. We're behind wages and with your trusty

Bill, paying rates. If it carries on, I do not know what will happen.

Portsmouth City Council see the half a million Pendse are spent on

pedestrianisation is well spent, because they are trying to create a

cafe culture in Southsea. Some say the pedestrianisation is a step in

the right direction. I find it easier. I would not mind if it was

just pavements, but it is nice knowing this is a wider area. But

deliveries are real problems. Goods have to be taken to the shops on

foot. The signs are not clear. Motorists are regularly confused. I

can see 30 miles an up the... And abroad are still a route. This needs

to be for traffic and businesses. At night, it is a place of anti`social

behaviour with a lot of drinking. That is not acceptable. It is

residential as well. I do not know the single person who does not,

choppy. We are devastated that we could lose it. `` does not, choppy.

Three generations of this family have worked here. This man could be

the last of his generation to work here.

How about running up and down the highest mountain in the world? The

Everest Marathon is known as one of the hardest marathons. Snow, ice,

rough tracks and a lack of oxygen. The man they call Running Rob, who

lives in Farheam, came into the studio to tell me how he coped with

all the challenges a mountain can throw at you.

It starts at the place that is about 16,000 feet. It runs down

effectively, you know those climbs in at the size of Ben Nevis, to 3400

metres. So you're permanently going up? Deal mac go down gradually,

about two and a bit thousand metres. 16,000 feet. Someone told me

you may get 50% of the oxygen you would get like we are here. That has

a huge impact, doesn't it? Deal mac it does. `` it does. When I first

went to that distance, it took me 20 minutes. When I got the start line,

it was better. You do a lot of endurance running. How does this

compare? It was very tough. I learnt a lot about myself. I was quite ill

before I started the race and when I got to the halfway point and

realised I had nothing left and still had another half marathon to

run, I found it incredibly tough. Why did you do it? About three years

ago, my father died of cancer. When he was struggling for breath, I

decided that every time I got stuck for breath, I would raise money for

charity. The cause of that, I did the marathon two years ago and this

this year. And how did it compare to the last one? It was very different.

It is the Sahara Desert. At one point it was 65 degrees when I was

running that. It is a multi stage race. This one is just one single

stage over one single day. Did you ever get scared doing it? Everyone

says when you do a marathon, you reach that wall and you do not know

what you can go forward, beyond that. This is very different. You're

not just reaching a while, you have a 16,000 feet altitude and the rest

of it. Did you become worried about your health and condition? Yeah,

seven. I was struggling after seven miles. There was many doctors on the

route, running along. A doctor was following me. I was quite worried

because every time I hit an inkling, my body was filling up with lactic

acid and were struggling. What sort of person are you that you won't to

keep doing these? There are lots of things my friends and family would

say. Perhaps not repeatable! And someone who will not give up. In a

way, I proved that by doing this race, because I really thought I had

it partway through. I think generally, it is the tenacity to

keep going and raise as much money as you can for charity. And your

last race is going to be where? The Arctic Circle. You are bonkers, Aja?

Probably, yes X, `` yes! He is a wonderful man raising a

massive amount of money for different charities depending on the

endurance marathon he does. We wish them well, particularly in the

Arctic. Time for the sport now. Shall we talk Sports Personality of

the Year? We have done so well. Sunday night, everyone will be

tuning in. Sunday night sees one of the big

nights in the sporting calendar, the choice of the BBC Sports Personality

of the Year. Now the award is celebrating its 60th anniversary

this year, so it's a big one. And of the ten sporting heroes in

contention for the title of 2013, no less than three are from the South.

Bob Everett reports. Without the presence of a certain

Andy Murray, Tony McCoy may well have been the case' favourite. He

has broken most of the bones in his body at least once, in jewels all

the usual deprivations in force by the need to keep his weight down,

get his bravery and skill as brought him an unsurpassed 4000 national

winners. In a year of firsts, don't discount Justin Rose. His first

major win in the US Open back in August was the first English win in

the tournament 443 years, a just reward for the work he and his

family had put in since he was teenage schoolboy in Hampshire. Sir

Ben Ainslie must have a chance as well. He inspired team America to

come back from the brink of defeat and win the America's Cup and has

carved out a unique place for himself in yachting history. It is

not the first time he has been nominated. Could this be his year?

And while we're at it, let's not forget this man, his tireless work

and grass`roots cricket won him BBC South's unsung hero award. Can he

pick national award? Let's hope so. We have had the few winners of the

unsung hero award. The weekend's Premier League

football programme sees eighth`placed Southampton visit

Newcastle, who are immediately above them in the table. Saints have

stuttered of late ` last week's draw with Manchester City ended a run of

three straight defeats, and they still have a few injury worries for

the trip to St James' Park, where one of their former managers awaits

them. And certainly looking forward to

seeing some of my old players thou done brilliantly. They were all

there in the first division with me. That site, and look forward to

seeing. It is a game I really want to win.

It's an important weekend for the new Portsmouth manager Richie

Barker. He's got the unenviable job of stopping the rot at Pompey, who

have lost their last seven games in a row. So the pressure is already on

for the former Crawley boss. James Ingham reports.

It is just four days since Richie Barker's arrival at Fratton Park. To

say he has had to do to the ground running is an understatement.

Imposing his philosophy on the players has had to happen fast to

take the club out of freefall. So far, so good it seems on that score.

The most important thing is we win and lose together as a teen. We set

yourself goals. We need confidence back into them. We need to get them

playing with no fear. Obviously, that can be helped with the fans

coming and coming up in the numbers and really getting behind us. It all

sounds good, but Pompey fans will be hoping the on pitch action against

Newport matches the pre`match rhetoric.

Coverage of those games and all the rest of the weekend's matches on

your local radio station. We will have the results tomorrow as well.

Less than two weeks until Christmas, hope you're ready. Towns and cities

across the South are celebrating in many different ways. German markets,

light displays and in Henley there's a living Advent calendar around the

town. Sarah Farmer is there to find out what the 13th day of Christmas

is like. Having opened the window and is it

chocolate? `` have the opened the window. Now, but there are mince

pies inside. There was huge anticipation as window number 13 was

opened today. Every day here in Henley, people are going to

different areas in the town to open a and all sorts of different treats

hide behind them. Santa has been rescued at the fire station here,

the heavily choral society have performed at the Museum. Today, this

was what we do Mac was behind door 13. `` this is what was the fine

door 13. It Has Been Tremendous. The First

Year We Got 40`60 Every Night. This Year, I Don't Think We Have Had

Under 100. . Every year, there is something gorgeous. The first year,

we had Olympic rower 's. This year, everything has been spectacular. And

you have been recognised this week as well? Yes, we found we had one

one of the Prime Minister's Big Society awards. Businesses play a

huge role in this as well. You are businessmen here. Tell us the

difference it makes. It brings a local community together with

businesses and promotes local products. A good opportunity to

network and share in the festive spirit as well. It is great for all

the family and great for the families knowing what businesses

exist in the area. We have been to almost every single door "I just

about. Has there been a magical highlight for you? All of them. They

are all different. It has been wonderful here this evening. Plenty

of community spirit. We are off to do the weathermen. It

must be a nice hat shop `` we are off to do the weather now.

Now we will look at the weekend weather. We had a bit of a grey,

dampen greedy day`to`day. Satellite pictures show there was plenty of

cloud around and dampness as well. That's dampness is set to clear

through in the next few hours and in fact, we will see the sky is

beginning to clear as well. One or two showers could crop up, but in

the most part, it looks like we'll see a dry nights to come. Around

2`3dC in towns and cities, so rural spots could a bit lower, maybe even

a touch of frost. A chilly start to Saturday morning. But at a bright

one for most of us as well. We will see sunny spells as well. Cloud

begins from the West as the morning draws on. It looks like tomorrow is

quite a decent day, try for the most part, breezy and cloudy in the

afternoon. It looks like the evening period is when we will see the wet

weather arrived. A relatively mild day with temperatures of 10`12.

Overnight, a band of rain will arrive from the West. A bit on the

easy side as well. That's rain sweeps through quite quickly and by

the time we reach dawn, I suspect it will pretty much disappeared. We are

looking for a relatively dry end to the night with temperatures in bit

milder than tonight. Looking ahead to Sunday, we start with a dry,

possibly write a fair, but the cloud will build. By the time we reach

lunchtime, we expect to see rain from the south`west. It will be

another breezy day. We have got more of those breezy, wet conditions into

Sunday evening. As we start the new working week, we stick with the

unsettled fame. It looks like we will have more showers and prolonged

spells of rain at times. Something for you, very special, on

Monday. It has been an business wish lists since 1957. The electric car

racing game Scalextric is a best seller around the world. But

Scalextric started in Hampshire ` the invention of Fred Francis from

Havant. David Allard will have the story of the man who called himself

the toymaker. I will bet every father will be

watching that. We have got some other lovely films for you next week

as well. watching that. We have got some

other I will be looking back on a sort of review of the week as well,

so join us next week. Have a great weekend. Goodbye.