01/05/2014 South Today

connection with a murdering Belfast back in the 1970s. That is all from

Hello, I am Sally Taylor. Tonight: A the BBC News At

Hello, I am Sally Taylor. Tonight: A thief, a fraudster, and a

con`artist. A Hampshire builder who scammed people out of more than two

million pounds has today bedn million pounds has today bedn

sentenced to five and a half years in prison. We probably lost 150,000

in prison. We probably lost 150 000 pounds, a lot of money. Tough love,

why a scheme to help troubldd families is falling short. If

why a scheme to help troubled families is falling short. Hf Pompey

families is falling short. If Pompey is happy, the city smiles and long

may the smiling continue. How does this meadow grow? Counting the cost

of a wet winter. A thief, a fraudster and thd con

A thief, a fraudster and the con artist. A Hampshire builder who

scammed people out of more than ?2 million has been sentenced to five

and a half years in prison. Victims have described how Danny Shda conned

have described how Danny Shea conned people across Hampshire and Surrey,

by undertaking building work which was never finished. Some lost their

life savings and say the authorities should have been quicker to warn

people. Here's our Home Aff`irs Correspondent Emma Vardy. A well

practiced and convincing conman. The judge at Winchester Crown Court

today said it was no surprise people had been taken in by Danny Shea.

had been taken in by Danny Shea Martin Wells and his wife employed

Danny Shea to develop their bungalow in Grayshott into their dre`m

Danny Shea to develop their bungalow in Grayshott into their dream home.

in Grayshott into their dre`m home. He made a start, removing the roof,

but the materials for the next He made a start, removing the roof,

but the materials for the next stage of the build failed to turn up. As

the weeks went by, there was not much work being done and I was on

the phone to Danny Shea every day, sometimes several times a day,

sometimes several times a d`y, saying, when is the timber all

sometimes several times a day, saying, when is the timber `ll the

saying, when is the timber all the bricks arriving? He would always

have a plausible excuse. Martin Wells had paid out thousands to

Danny Shea. But the work ground to a halt, and Shea disappeared. Martin

and his wife were forced to live in a caravan in their garden through

two freezing winters. We were stuck there, in the caravan, with a house

with no roof on it. We got to a stage where we needed to believe

that this was going to happen. We that this was going to happdn. We

probably lost the. `` hundred and probably lost the. `` hundred and

?50,000. Between 2007 and 2010, Danny Shea pulled off a number of

similar scams across Surrey and Hampshire. He cheated peopld

similar scams across Surrey and Hampshire. He cheated people out of

Hampshire. He cheated peopld out of a total of 2.1 million pounds. He

was described in court todax a total of 2.1 million pounds. He

was described in court today as was described in court todax as

having the appearance of a successful businessman. His victims

are struggling to cope with the financial losses they have met.

are struggling to cope with the financial losses they have let. But

financial losses they have met. But sadly they weren't the first. Danny

Shea has a string of previots Shea has a string of previous

convictions for fraud and dhshonesty dating back to 1998. Does this not

show that it is too easy for con artist to get away with it for too

long? I would say to people that if someone says to you they ard onto a

someone says to you they are onto a good thing, then it probablx is not

true. You need to stand back, speak to your friends and family, speak to

other organisations. A future court hearing will determine how much

money Danny Shea could be ordered to pay back. What is recovered in

reality may only be a fraction pay back. What is recovered in

reality may only be a fracthon of reality may only be a fraction of

the victims total loss. Emm` reality may only be a fracthon of

the victims total loss. Emma Vardy, the victims total loss. Emma Vardy,

BBC South Today. 13 people have been taken to safe locations by Hampshire

Police officers following allegations of forced Labour in

Southampton. A number of warrants were made at addresses in the city

yesterday. A Lithuanian man's been charged with two counts of knowingly

holding another person in slavery or servitude. The Red Cross is

providing assistance to those affected. In less than two hours,

one of the main roads into Reading will close for up to a week, causing

major traffic disruption. The A4 will be shut, close to Prospect

Park, because of work by Th`mes Water. The road is the major route

out of the town, towards Newbury, West Berkshire, and Wiltshire.

Contractors for Thames Water had already been working at the site but

did not anticipate having to close the entire road until earlidr

did not anticipate having to close the entire road until earlier today.

In less than five years frol now, you will be able to get on a

In less than five years from now, you will be able to get on ` train

you will be able to get on a train from Reading and travel str`ight

from Reading and travel straight beneath the centre of London,

without stopping at Paddington and without using the tube. A month ago

it was announced that Crossrail services would be extended west to

Reading, instead of terminating at Maidenhead. It was widely welcomed `

but it is not without drawb`cks but it is not without drawbacks.

Today the people building the new route below the capital have been

route below the capital havd been setting out what's in it for

passengers from the Thames Valley. Our transport correspondent Paul

Clifton reports. Going underground, this is where Crossrail services

from Reading will disappear the need West London. For a decade, it it

West London. For a decade, ht it seemed that people from Reading

would be denied direct services would be denied direct services

through this tunnel. Suddenly, last month, there was a change of heart.

This is an important part of cross well `` Crossrail as this is where

the trains from Berkshire come. For the Thames Valley, this will mean to

cross rail trains an hour into the heart of London. This will be in

addition to First Great Western and new intercity trains that whll soon

new intercity trains that will soon be built. It will also help the

increasing flow of people going the other way. It means that Reading can

other way. It means that Re`ding can become a destination in it own

right. People of Reading and Twyford will have a choice and this is the

place where Crossrail trains will whisk people into Central London and

beyond. At Paddington, and xou beyond. At Paddington, and you

Crossrail station is being built. `` a new. ?15 billion, Crossrail

Crossrail station is being built. `` a new. ?15 billion, Crossrahl is

Britain's largest construction Britain's largest constructhon

project and 10,000 people are working on it. From Reading, cross

rail will take 15 minutes to reach London. `` 15 minutes. Crossrail

will take half that time. For many, taking one direct train str`ight

will take half that time. For many, taking one direct train straight to

taking one direct train str`ight to work through here will be very

work through here will be vdry popular. Schoolchildren in Romsey

are being offered screening for TB after it was confirmed a school bus

driver had contracted the dhsease. driver had contracted the disease.

Parents are being re`assured that the risk of catching TB is very low.

71 students who are aged between 11 and 16 and use private hire coaches

to travel to The Romsey School are being offered the screening as a

precautionary measure. Will you get a pay rise this year? How confident

are you that there's any money to pay for it? Election campaigning in

the South Today centred on the economy, as our Political Editor

Peter Henley reports. They make sales and their sales are up. The

spinnakers from Cambridge are in demand around the globe and

employers like Jamie are optimistic. We are trying to save for a

mortgage. We are in a better place than we were before. It is still

some way off? Yes! They recognise that the storm has been weathered.

Staff here at this hospital have not had pay rises but did hear that the

government would back a massive development with the Chancellor

guaranteeing ?420 million. Lore guaranteeing ?420 million. More

beds, more space, new cancer services. This would not have

happened if we did not have a long`term economic plan. It means

our country can afford to invest in the NHS. Not everybody can feel the

recovery according to Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. Energy

bills are up and childcare is bills are up and childcare is

unaffordable. The Tories sax bills are up and childcare hs

unaffordable. The Tories say there unaffordable. The Tories say there

is no crisis but Labour says there is a problem and we have policies to

solve it. In Hampshire, the Liberal Democrat question whether people

would trust Labour. In the next quarter we will get full recovery

from where we fell in 2008. The economy will grow. Various wind in

the sales of the economy th`t economy will grow. Various wind in

the sales of the economy that is their confidence in the polhticians

charting the course ahead? We will know more after the elections. The

funeral of the brother of the Duchess of Cornwall has takdn place

Duchess of Cornwall has taken place at a Dorset Church. Mark Sh`nd,

Duchess of Cornwall has takdn place at a Dorset Church. Mark Shand, the

conservationist and travel brighter, died unexpectedly in New York last

week after falling and hitting his head. He was 62 years old. With her

husband Prince Charles at her head. He was 62 years old. With her

husband Prince Charles at hdr side, the Duchess of Cornwall led mourners

at the Holy Trinity Church hn at the Holy Trinity Church in

Stourpaine, near Blandford Forum. Chris Harris, one of BBC South's

Chris Harris, one of BBC Sotth's most popular TV presenters, has died

suddenly at the age of 71. He presented the "Hey, Look, That's

Me" children's show that ran between 1976 and 1984. In recent years he

was best known for his work in pantomime at Bath. Still to come in

this evening's South Today... Roger Finn is once again, out and about.

Join me in this meadow near Oxford to hear the story of these little

fellas and why some voluntedrs are fellas and why some volunteers are

trying to count them all. It's the Government's attempt to turn the

lives of so`called 'troubled' families around ` those with a

history of crime, substance abuse and long`term unemployment. But,

just under two thirds of thd and long`term unemployment. But

just under two thirds of the way just under two thirds of the way

through the 'Troubled Families Programme', BBC South can rdveal

that councils in our region are struggling to meet government

targets. So far, Hampshire has successfully helped just a puarter

successfully helped just a quarter of the number of families they are

expected to. Dorset has managed a third. On the Isle of Wight just one

in ten families identified has been helped. And in Bournemouth, only

eight per cent. MPs have already admitted that the scheme is unlikely

to hit its targets. In a spdcial to hit its targets. In a special

report, Lewis Coombes met one family going through that programmd

report, Lewis Coombes met one family going through that programme to see

going through that programmd to see how they've fared. Some of the

scenes you are about to see, you might find upsetting. We have

protected the identity of the family, who have been portr`yed

protected the identity of the family, who have been portrayed by

actors. What have you been doing with the children again? ! Ht is

your responsibility. I was in a bad your responsibility. I was in a bad

relationship and I broke up. Caught up in a cycle of despair. I was

suffering from depression and I needed drugs first being, bdfore

anything else. Everything at home got into a mess. Not paying bills,

my son was not going to school. A local mother who found herself

local mother who found hersdlf trapped by depression, drugs and

deprivation. It proved very difficult to find a family willing

to be interviewed. The message difficult to find a family willing

to be interviewed. The mess`ge that to be interviewed. The mess`ge that

came back was, I do not want to be labelled as troubled. An insight

into the challenge faced by the scheme perhaps. I was going downhill

and did not want to be here any more. I did not want to do that

because I had a son. The government identified a son. The government

identified who had a similar story, each with their own problems, and

each estimated to cost taxp`yers each estimated to cost taxp`yers

money. For local authorities, there is a financial reward on offer.

Every family said to have been Every family said to have been

turned around, they are paid up to ?4000. Do you know where your

?4000. Do you know where yotr children were this morning? A key

worker is parachuted in to coordinate help. The impact of

having someone worked closely with the families, the way we do, has a

long`term impact on behaviour. As I long`term impact on behaviour. As I

say, it comes from the family and not from people telling them

say, it comes from the family and not from people telling thel what

not from people telling them what they need to do. It comes from the

family, recognising what they they need to do. It comes from the

family, recognising what they need to change. The objectives are clear.

Reduce crime, get people back into work and back to school, and we will

reward you. Will that work in the reward you. Will that work in the

long term? Whenever local authorities have been asked to

identify troubled families, they have been asked to use meastres

have been asked to use measures including unemployment, drugs and

not attending school and anti`social behaviour. Not the criteria we have

used. Success will be judged on whether targets have been met,

used. Success will be judged on whether targets have been mdt, but

whether targets have been met, but ultimately, targets do not latter to

ultimately, targets do not matter to the families whose lives ard

the families whose lives are improved. It is good to havd a

improved. It is good to have a second chance and to get out of the

situation I was in, and to get better and have a better life. A

little earlier, I spoke to Louise Casey, who runs the Troubled

Families scheme. I began by asking her if labelling them as troubled

families was in itself causing a families was in itself caushng a

problem in reaching their t`rgets. No, I do not think it is and this is

where we have to be straightforward. These families do not get their

children to school, they ard caught children to school, they are caught

up in crime, and are causing crime in the community. They are out of

work and many people would say that using the word troubled abott them

is a gentle expression. We need is to be honest and that is the most

important thing. Why do the local authorities have low targets that

were set? Bournemouth only has %. Some regions are struggling but the

key thing is that this is a difficult thing to get them to do.

Changing families is hard btt you Changing families is hard btt you

have to change the system. Some of the areas in your region were slow

to get going whereas other areas were running family intervention

projects and all they had to do was get bigger. To be honest, places

like Hampshire, Portsmouth and others are motoring and we have seen

a big increase in the last six months, even in areas such as

Portsmouth and Hampshire. I do have some worries about Bournemotth and

some worries about Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight but we ard feeling

optimistic. You can applaud the initiative but on the basis of this,

would you change anything with the targets if the scheme is to

continue? I do not think I word. Out of 125,002 we targeted help, we

already have the names and addresses already have the names and `ddresses

of hundred and addresses of 111,000 of hundred and addresses of 111 000

families. Nobody thought this was families. Nobody thought thhs was

possible in the beginning and here we are today to say that we have

turned around 45,000 familids. We turned around 45,000 families. We

have identified a. I feel confident. These families cost a lot of money

and cause problems. Very brhefly, it and cause problems. Very briefly, it

is challenging to get the f`milies on board because not everybody wants

to participate in that scheme. That is right and that is where ` tough

is right and that is where a tough level approach is needed. Pdople are

level approach is needed. People are forced to take help. We do not give

up, we keep going round until they up, we keep going round unthl they

open the front door. We threaten them with eviction and crimhnal

them with eviction and criminal prosecutions. People wake up at that

moment and take help. In sport, Andy Awford was confirmed as Portsmouth

football club's permanent m`nager today. The 41`year`old has signed a

one year rolling contract. As our sports editor Tony Husband reports,

he was the stand out choice to replace Richie Barker after an

impressive spell as caretakdr, replace Richie Barker after an

impressive spell as caretaker, in impressive spell as caretakdr, in

which he's steered Pompey to football league safety. Andy

which he's steered Pompey to football league safety. Andx Awford

was smiling from day one in the Portsmouth job. He asked his players

to do the same and has turndd Pompey's fortunes around in

remarkable fashion. It is no surprise that he was named permanent

manager today. The spirits needed lifting and reigniting which we

managed to do. I think the city is smiling again and long may it

smiling again and long may ht continue. Since he came in, he has

lifted everybody. The trainhng has lifted everybody. The trainhng has

been more intense, as you can see in been more intense, as you can see in

the victories we have and the performances we have made. Dverybody

performances we have made. Everybody is just happy to stop it is a shame

we could not do that earlier in the season. How things have changed in

Fratton Park. Five winds and a draw from his six games in charge. ``

five winds. I was confident we would stay up but the standard there

five winds. I was confident we would stay up but the standard thdre lads

stay up but the standard there lads have met has been terrific `nd I

have met has been terrific and I cannot thank them enough. What is

the long`term challenge? There is no the long`term challenge? Thdre is no

reason why this club cannot go for the championship soon. That is a

realistic target. Let's just make sure we have a football club first!

That's not forget how close we were to their not being one. Andx Awford

has ensured he got the job on his own terms. The reconstruction of

Portsmouth Football Club feels Portsmouth Football Club feels

underway. More sport from Tony tomorrow. Remember the winter?

underway. More sport from Tony tomorrow. Remember the wintdr? That

tomorrow. Remember the winter? That wild, wet winter? One of thd worries

at the time was about long term damage to the countryside from the

storms and the flooding. For this week's Finn's Country, Roger Finn

has been to a protected flower meadow near Oxford. For much of the

winter it was underwater ` `nd there winter it was underwater ` and there

were fears that some rare and precious flower bulbs may shmply

precious flower bulbs may simply have rotted away. As the Th`mes

flows out of Oxford, not too far from the hustle and bustle, suddenly

all is green and tranquil. And this is where you'll find Iffley Meadows

` home to the county flower of Oxfordshire. This is the jewel that

makes these meadows so spechal. Oxfordshire. This is the jewel that

makes these meadows so special. It makes these meadows so special. It

is the snakes head fritillary. It is also known as the lepers L. The task

today is to count them all. I've joined a group of volunteers with

the Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust which has been

managing e meadows since 1983. `` the meadows. Every year in the

Spring, there's a careful strvey the meadows. Every year in the

Spring, there's a careful survey to see just how many fritillarhes have

bloomed. We want to know how big an impact the winter had. Quitd a

bloomed. We want to know how big an impact the winter had. Quite a few

impact the winter had. Quitd a few in the middle there. This is an

old`fashioned flood plain mdadow with low management work needed.

with low management work nedded When we took over the site, the

number of fritillaries were very low. The first count was 500 and the

numbers rose to a peak in 2011 of 76,000. An incredible number. The

count is going up within that count is going up within th`t

general trend although therd are blips due to the weather. Yes, the

blips due to the weather. Yds, the weather. We had some real weather

this winter and this place lust have this winter and this place must have

suffered. What were the worries I suffered. What were the worries? I

live a couple of minutes aw`y and I live a couple of minutes away and I

came down here a lot. This leadow came down here a lot. This leadow

was a lake. The seven weeks of flooding was too much but before we

finished the count, we have no idea. So every flower head must be

So every flower head must bd counted. A rare double headed white

` a good sign. After each painstaking sweep, everyone's total

is recorded. The final sum will be done later. Fritillaries have

disappeared as meadows have disappeared. They only thrive here

thanks to careful management. Cattle graze here from July through to

September and that is just to nibble away at anything else that has

grown. If you do not cut the site away at anything else that has

grown. If you do not cut thd site or graze it, it would get dominated by

the grasses and rushes which would impede all the flowers. People are

so passionate about wildlife still. It lives on because many people are

so young. You have to concentrate, don't you? Yes, you do, or xou

so young. You have to concentrate, don't you? Yes, you do, or you can

forget how many you have cotnted! don't you? Yes, you do, or xou can

forget how many you have counted! We forget how many you have counted! We

had to wait a few days to hdar forget how many you have cotnted! We

had to wait a few days to hear the had to wait a few days to hear the

result but it was surprisingly good news. Despite the flood, 86,000

snake's head fritillaries were counted at Iffley. And that's the

highest total ever. And there's more. At the Rural Life Centre near

Farnham, Roger found some of the strange tools used in the p`st and

strange tools used in the past and he's been challenging us to guess

what they are. Last week's item what they are. Last week's item

looked a lot like a carpenter's rasp...but it wasn't. Here's Roger

to reveal the answer. Hearings last week's object. A wooden handle and a

metal plate. It was used by bakers for scraping of burnt bits of bread.

Here is this week's object. An odd looking bottle with a couple of

looking bottle with a coupld of holes in it. It is probably not what

you think it is. Have a guess on our Facebook page and we will tdll

you think it is. Have a guess on our Facebook page and we will tell you

the answer next week. I was thinking of something else. A bank holiday

looming, what is the weather? Today, we have had some hefty showers and a

lot of rain around. A beautiful picture of a swan guarding the nest

at Mill Stream in Christchurch. Paul even captured the raindrops falling

in that shot. More raindrops hanging from these blubells in Abingdon.

Thanks to Becca Collacott for that one. Some hefty showers to be had in

the next hour or so and we have a yellow weather warning in place,

valid in 8pm. We will see those showers gradually fading, so by 9pm,

much of the region will become dry with a couple of spots of rain

much of the region will become dry with a couple of spots of r`in here

with a couple of spots of rain here and there. On the radar, yot can see

the heavy bursts earlier today. Here is the pocket where we have one or

two heavy downpours to be h`d. They are easing away through the evening

and it will become drier. A cloudy night with hill fog and temperatures

falling to seven or eight degrees. A falling to seven or eight degrees. A

mild night with a few spots of rain. A murky start as we go into Friday.

Yes, a gloomy one first thing and we could still see a little bit of web

weather, so perhaps some wet weather appearing for eastern parts. `` wet

weather. Elsewhere, a dry phcture. weather. Elsewhere, a dry phcture.

Temperatures of 13 or 14 degrees. Gradually, into the evening, the

cloud will thin and break, `nd cloud will thin and break, and

eventually clear away. Stayhng dry eventually clear away. Stayhng dry

through tomorrow night but with clear skies we are expecting

widespread frost. Temperatures of three or four in the towns and

cities, and cooler in rural spots, at `1 or `2. A chilly start to the

bank holiday weekend but we have high pressure in charge. Some

bank holiday weekend but we have high pressure in charge. Sole good

high pressure in charge. Some good dry sunny conditions to comd

high pressure in charge. Sole good dry sunny conditions to come through

Saturday and indeed, through much of the weekend which Saturday, a decent

day with some lovely sunny skies. Warming up as well. Hazy sunshine

with highs of 13 or 14 degrees. Temperatures gradually inchhng up

Temperatures gradually inching up with a bank holiday weekend. Sunday

looks to be another dry day predominantly with some sunny spells

on offer. Temperatures are running once more on Monday and some warm,

sunny spells as well. `` rising once more. He was a taster of Monday's

more. He was a taster of Monday s show. Join me as I revisit brief

Encounter, 70 years on. A tremendous film and we will enjoy seeing that

tomorrow. Thank you for watching this evening. Bye`bye. Goodbye.

'The last two generations have been robbed of an opportunity

'And yet it has greater impact on our everyday lives than anything

'We need to put this issue to bed now,

'and not leave it for another generation.'

I want a Britain that is free to control its own destiny.

'another three million people in Britain by 2020.

'Our public services are already stretched.

'The pressure on schools, housing, hospitals in huge.'

While we stay in the EU, we cannot control who comes into our county.