:00:42. > :00:44.A widow's anger after the man who killed her husband at this bus stop
:00:44. > :00:46.is released from prison after just two years.
:00:46. > :00:48.Good evening. Christine Seamen's husband died in a violent attack.
:00:49. > :00:51.She says the killer should still be behind bars.
:00:52. > :00:54.Also tonight: Damning criticism of the MOD. It is under fire for
:00:54. > :00:57.failures over armoured vehicles; the father of one dead soldier says
:00:57. > :01:00.the front line was let down. All they wanted for Christmas was
:01:00. > :01:02.to be reunited. Today that wish came true as HMS Ocean returned
:01:02. > :01:05.home. And they have never failed to
:01:05. > :01:09.brighten up the festive season. The 1960s fairy lights still going
:01:09. > :01:15.strong. Killer Alec Pearn was jailed for
:01:15. > :01:18.six years, but after just two years he walked free today. It is a
:01:18. > :01:26.decision which has angered and appalled the victims of his crime.
:01:26. > :01:29.Pearn killed Peter Seaman in the Cornish village of Dobwalls in 2008.
:01:29. > :01:33.Peter's widow, Christine, says she will forever hate the man who took
:01:33. > :01:38.her husband of 40 years from her. She was speaking exclusively to our
:01:38. > :01:42.Home Affairs Correspondent. Peter Seaman was taking his dog for
:01:42. > :01:48.a walk when he was killed, beaten around the head with a piece of
:01:48. > :01:54.wood. Alec Pearn was the killer. Today, he was released from prison
:01:54. > :02:02.having served just over two years. It is not enough. The system should
:02:02. > :02:06.be changed. People will not put up with that. The victim is treated
:02:06. > :02:12.like the criminal. That is how I felt. I felt it was me that had
:02:12. > :02:17.done something wrong, not him. Peter was passing a bus stop in his
:02:17. > :02:27.home village. Alec Fern was blocking the pavement with his legs.
:02:27. > :02:29.
:02:29. > :02:37.Peter asked him to move and there was an argument. He was sentenced
:02:37. > :02:41.to six years. Jorge he spent two years and four months in prison.
:02:41. > :02:47.The Ministry of Justice told us they're changing sentencing policy
:02:47. > :02:55.to ensure criminals are properly punished. All serious, violent or
:02:55. > :03:02.sexual offenders will serve a longer term of their sentence.
:03:02. > :03:08.There has been no official response about the release. The police
:03:08. > :03:18.wanted the public to know exactly how long he had served in public --
:03:18. > :03:20.
:03:20. > :03:27.had served in prison. The widow told me of her feelings about Alec
:03:27. > :03:32.Pearn being out in time for Christmas. It makes me sick in the
:03:32. > :03:39.stomach. He can spend Christmas with his family. I hate him. I
:03:39. > :03:45.still hate him. I hate him as much as I did then. I will never forgive
:03:46. > :03:51.him. I will never forget what he has done. In memorial stone is due
:03:51. > :03:54.to be laid in the grounds of the village hall next year.
:03:54. > :03:57.The father of a Devon soldier who died in Afghanistan says his
:03:57. > :04:01.criticisms of the MoD over the armoured vehicles it uses on the
:04:01. > :04:05.front line have been vindicated. An influential committee of MPs says
:04:05. > :04:11.more than �1 billion has been spent since 1998 on a procurement process
:04:11. > :04:14.that hasn't delivered a single military vehicle. Ian Sadler whose
:04:14. > :04:24.son Jack died four years ago says it shows the chaos of a flawed
:04:24. > :04:25.
:04:25. > :04:32.system. It is four years since Jack Sadler
:04:32. > :04:42.was killed when his Land Rover was blown up by a mine. He was leading
:04:42. > :04:43.
:04:43. > :04:48.a convoy when it was blown apart. His father who lives in Exmouth has
:04:48. > :04:51.maintained that better protection was required. If we add these
:04:51. > :04:59.vehicles, it would mean that soldiers would not have to detect
:04:59. > :05:09.mines on fit for. Today, a committee found shortcomings in the
:05:09. > :05:15.procurement process at the MoD. It found �10 billion has been removed
:05:15. > :05:21.from the armoured vehicle budgets. That left 5 billion, which is not
:05:22. > :05:27.enough to pay for all the programs that are planned. I think
:05:27. > :05:30.government of all colours are to blame. But what is at the heart of
:05:30. > :05:35.this is the culture within the Ministry of Defence that they
:05:35. > :05:41.always try and buy more than they can afford and the always gold
:05:41. > :05:45.plate what they want to buy, which becomes more expensive. In a
:05:45. > :05:50.statement, the defence minister said the armoured vehicle programme
:05:50. > :05:58.had been left in a mess when the previous government. He said that
:05:58. > :06:04.vehicles had been delivered. He also said that more money was being
:06:04. > :06:12.invested since May of last year. �350 million, which would see
:06:13. > :06:17.another vehicle delivered to a Afghanistan shortly. Ian Sadler
:06:17. > :06:25.says the report shows that those on the front line were sold short.
:06:25. > :06:29.obviously had money in a pot for these vehicles. -- they. But it was
:06:29. > :06:37.Robert to pay for other projects and it meant our soldiers went
:06:37. > :06:44.without the correct kind of protection. Ian hoped the report
:06:45. > :06:47.will bring changes. -- hopes. A survey on behalf of the
:06:47. > :06:50.homelessness charity Crisis has found that 30% of people in the
:06:50. > :06:53.South West are worried they might lose their homes because of the
:06:53. > :06:55.current economic crisis. The figure is significantly above the national
:06:55. > :06:57.average. Gritters will be out in the region
:06:57. > :07:00.tonight treating main roads and other key routes as surface
:07:00. > :07:03.temperatures are expected to dip below zero. More than 2,000 miles
:07:03. > :07:09.of road will be gritted in Devon and Cornwall along with routes to
:07:09. > :07:12.Derriford Hospital and the streets leading to the Torpoint Ferry.
:07:12. > :07:15.A Cornish charity is looking for donations to help the elderly and
:07:15. > :07:17.vulnerable people over the next few months. Staff at the Cornwall
:07:17. > :07:20.Community Foundation say they are worried a spell of cold weather
:07:20. > :07:23.like last year could prove fatal for some, so they're hoping people
:07:23. > :07:26.will donate all or part of their Winter Fuel Allowance to their
:07:26. > :07:30.Surviving Winter Appeal. Developers in parts of the south
:07:30. > :07:35.west may soon have to pay what critics are calling a new roof tax
:07:35. > :07:37.to fund essential projects like roads, railway stations and schools.
:07:37. > :07:42.The proposals have been drawn up by government and now local
:07:42. > :07:45.authorities are asking everyone what they think about the idea. The
:07:45. > :07:48.levy could raise tens of millions of pounds. In Exeter alone, it
:07:48. > :07:55.could generate up to �300 million over the next 15 years. Our
:07:55. > :07:59.Environment Correspondent reports. When work starts on a new
:07:59. > :08:04.development, there is usually a need for new services to accompany
:08:04. > :08:14.the extra housing, supermarkets or offices being constructed. In the
:08:14. > :08:19.
:08:19. > :08:23.past, that has been provided by a 106 agreement. Developers would pay
:08:23. > :08:31.towards schools, libraries, swimming pools and road junctions.
:08:31. > :08:38.Now that is about to change. Some have called this a roof tax.
:08:38. > :08:42.existing building is very old. It is leaking. This woman is an
:08:42. > :08:46.architect who hoped the new levy could be used to help develop this
:08:46. > :08:54.elderly community site. She says the levy could be better than the
:08:54. > :09:02.old way of doing things. Whatever they're doing, developers have to
:09:02. > :09:12.admit that it is having an impact on the surroundings. They have to
:09:12. > :09:13.
:09:13. > :09:23.help communities. There has to be some sort of contribution. Of are
:09:23. > :09:26.
:09:26. > :09:32.the next 15 years, they hope to raise �300 million in Exeter.
:09:32. > :09:39.is national legislation coming from a Tory government. It is a Labour
:09:39. > :09:49.lead counsel in Exeter. We are looking at that and we're raising
:09:49. > :09:52.the levy so that we can provide what residents here need.
:09:52. > :09:54.Servicemen and women from Somerset travelled to London today to march
:09:54. > :09:58.past Buckingham Palace and receive Afghan war medals from the Prince
:09:58. > :10:00.of Wales. Members of the Yeovilton- based Commando Helicopter Force
:10:00. > :10:06.have recently returned from a demanding and dangerous operation
:10:06. > :10:16.in Afghanistan. Today their proud families were with them to
:10:16. > :10:17.
:10:17. > :10:23.celebrate this special occasion. Our reporter was there.
:10:23. > :10:32.From the heat and the dust of Afghanistan to a clear, crisp,
:10:32. > :10:38.London morning. They arrived there were -- they arrived for royal
:10:38. > :10:48.appointment at Clarence house with the Prince of Wales. He flew with
:10:48. > :10:49.
:10:49. > :10:59.one of these squadrons in the 1970s. Very proud of him. Great to see
:10:59. > :11:05.them being recognised. I met the Queen several years ago. Man are
:11:05. > :11:10.have a photograph of me with Prince Charles. I am very proud. I was
:11:10. > :11:17.honoured to be in the presence of so many brave men and women. It is
:11:17. > :11:22.a really nice way to finish off a tour in Afghanistan. Deployment to
:11:22. > :11:28.Afghanistan are always tough, often dangerous. Today, the chance for
:11:28. > :11:38.Prince Charles to hear first-hand accounts. He asked me if I got shot
:11:38. > :11:49.
:11:49. > :11:54.at. I said yes. I was working on the ground and during operations
:11:54. > :12:04.there was incoming fire. Not a pleasant experience. But one that
:12:04. > :12:06.
:12:06. > :12:12.they face every day. Thought turned to those still deployed overseas.
:12:12. > :12:16.Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and the air. And the knowledge
:12:16. > :12:22.that next year when some are back in Afghanistan, these royal state
:12:23. > :12:25.rooms will seem a very, very long way away.
:12:25. > :12:28.Senior figures in the renewable energy industry are calling for
:12:28. > :12:31.hundreds more wind turbines here in the South West. They are responding
:12:31. > :12:36.to the Government's recently- published Carbon Plan which aims to
:12:36. > :12:46.produce 30% of the country energy from renewable sources by 2020. Our
:12:46. > :12:46.
:12:46. > :12:51.Political Editor is here to tell us more.
:12:52. > :13:01.The Government is talking about a mix of onshore and offshore
:13:01. > :13:10.turbines. The industry thinks over time the balance will move towards
:13:10. > :13:17.offshore, but for now we need some more onshore. We could see another
:13:17. > :13:26.couple of hundred onshore turbines been increased in our region.
:13:26. > :13:34.Looking further ahead, they say that wave power will be more useful.
:13:34. > :13:39.It is currently in its infancy. They say that onshore wind is the
:13:39. > :13:47.cheapest way of rolling out renewable energy.
:13:47. > :13:57.Some people will be horrified by this idea.
:13:57. > :13:59.
:13:59. > :14:04.Some think they look nice and help our energy needs. Other people
:14:04. > :14:14.think they look ugly and don't think they are worth it. I
:14:14. > :14:20.
:14:20. > :14:25.understand that the number of turbines in particular areas will
:14:25. > :14:31.be smaller than at present. Possibly only three or four. We
:14:31. > :14:34.will have more on this story on the Politics Show on Sunday at midday.
:14:34. > :14:37.All the sport still ahead in the programme. We will meet the last
:14:37. > :14:38.unsung hero in our final four. Sharon Hawkins from the Devon
:14:39. > :14:41.Raqueteers. And making the most of Christmas
:14:41. > :14:44.past. The fairy lights from the 1960s still burning brightly.
:14:44. > :14:47.The Royal Navy ship which played a key role in the Libyan conflict
:14:47. > :14:50.returned to her home port of Plymouth today. Hundreds lined the
:14:50. > :14:53.quay to welcome home HMS Ocean. She had spent seven months at sea
:14:53. > :14:56.during which time 15 babies were born to the families of crew
:14:56. > :15:06.members. Our reporter was there. They set sail for seven weeks. This
:15:06. > :15:09.
:15:09. > :15:19.morning, the crew of HMS Ocean came home. Seven months later. It is
:15:19. > :15:26.nice to be home. There she is! On the quayside, hundreds were waiting.
:15:26. > :15:36.Many barely able to contain themselves. Am so pleased that he
:15:36. > :15:46.is coming home! The commanding officer was first off. Then the
:15:46. > :15:56.reunions began. Really good to be back on British soil with my family.
:15:56. > :15:59.
:15:59. > :16:09.His first deployment. Love to have them on. The carrier left port in
:16:09. > :16:14.April for Libya. The amphibious assault ship went into action.
:16:14. > :16:24.is wonderful to see everyone reunited with their families.
:16:24. > :16:25.
:16:25. > :16:35.babies were born when the ship was away. It is all for having to leave
:16:35. > :16:35.
:16:35. > :16:41.your child. It is wonderful to be back. The mother of the child also
:16:41. > :16:51.works on the ship. And on maternity leave just now, but I will be back
:16:51. > :17:01.next year. The vessel has sailed 40,000 miles. Now she is home and
:17:01. > :17:10.the timing could not be better. Best Christmas present ever.
:17:10. > :17:18.They're fantastic Christmas the deal is on our Facebook page. --
:17:18. > :17:19.Christmas Eve the video. -- video. Time for the sport, and tonight we
:17:20. > :17:22.complete the line-up of Unsung Hero finalists.
:17:23. > :17:25.Torquay United tonight will move onto the same number of points as
:17:26. > :17:28.the League Two play-off pack if they beat Barnet at Plainmoor. BBC
:17:28. > :17:31.Radio Devon has full coverage with Alan Richardson. After a
:17:31. > :17:34.fortnight's break, Exeter City hope to follow up their win over
:17:34. > :17:37.Tranmere when they go to Leyton Orient who are one place below City
:17:37. > :17:42.in League One. Yeovil Town look to ease their bottom four position by
:17:42. > :17:46.beating Notts County at Huish Park. Plymouth Argyle can catch Bradford
:17:46. > :17:48.City at the bottom of the Football League, but they will have to win
:17:48. > :17:57.at Valley Parade in their first match since Peter Ridsdale's
:17:57. > :18:01.departure to Preston. I think this team will genuinely
:18:01. > :18:07.start winning matches regularly. From that point of view, I am
:18:07. > :18:12.emotional that I am leaving behind the players we have just brought in.
:18:12. > :18:22.But I have been given an opportunity I cannot turn down. It
:18:22. > :18:23.
:18:23. > :18:25.is one I will relish and move on to pass just knew. -- pastures new.
:18:25. > :18:28.In rugby, Exeter Chiefs resume their European Challenge Cup
:18:28. > :18:30.campaign on Sunday tea-time when Celtic League side Newport-Gwent
:18:30. > :18:33.Dragons come to Sandy Park. They hope Argentine Ignacio Mieres has
:18:33. > :18:36.his kicking boots on again after landing all five penalties in last
:18:36. > :18:39.weeks win over Worcester. After scoring six tries last weekend, the
:18:39. > :18:42.Cornish Pirates seek a repetition of that form at Leeds on Sunday.
:18:42. > :18:47.While Peter Drewett aims for his first win as Plymouth Albion coach
:18:47. > :18:50.against Bristol at Brickfields tomorrow.
:18:50. > :18:54.It has been a successful day for two South West sailors at the World
:18:54. > :18:56.Championships in the Western Australian city of Perth. Three
:18:56. > :19:01.times Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, who plied his trade in
:19:01. > :19:04.Cornwall, is in the lead overall. He is just ahead of Weymouth's
:19:04. > :19:10.Giles Scott in the Finn class after race eight. Another Briton, Ed
:19:10. > :19:13.Wright from Bournemouth, shares third place.
:19:13. > :19:16.All this week, we have been meeting those special people you have
:19:16. > :19:19.nominated as the unsung sporting heroes, those who work behind the
:19:19. > :19:25.scenes to keep their clubs and organisations going. Tonight, we
:19:25. > :19:28.meet the last of our four finalists, Sharon Hawkins. Three years ago,
:19:28. > :19:30.she started coaching badminton to people in wheelchairs. Since then,
:19:30. > :19:40.the Devon Racqueteers has become the biggest wheelchair badminton
:19:40. > :19:40.
:19:40. > :19:45.club in the country. Our reporter has been to meet her.
:19:45. > :19:50.This club has grown and grown. But it is not just about disabled
:19:51. > :19:56.athletes performing at the top of the game. Sharon Hawkins came on
:19:56. > :20:01.board several years ago. Now she coaches players at all standards.
:20:02. > :20:08.We celebrate success at all levels. We have a beginners' class on a
:20:08. > :20:13.Tuesday. Now we're training towards national championships. Four have
:20:13. > :20:20.gone to the European Championships. We have one in Guatemala at the
:20:20. > :20:25.World Championships. That shows how far we have come in the last year.
:20:25. > :20:29.She takes on all of this work in her spare time. Starting a new
:20:29. > :20:35.sport with a disability can be daunting. She has helped many of
:20:35. > :20:41.the players get through it. I felt very comfortable to have a goal.
:20:41. > :20:46.She makes it so easy to join in and be a part of the group. Without her,
:20:46. > :20:53.the club would be nothing. Although there are other coaches, Sharon is
:20:53. > :21:01.fantastic. Sharon has worked hard to raise awareness of the sport and
:21:01. > :21:08.has visited schools and colleges to encourage those to take part.
:21:08. > :21:13.is a shoulder to cry on. I have been involved in many different
:21:14. > :21:18.sports and clubs. But this is so rewarding. You get another players
:21:19. > :21:28.very well. Nothing seems to stop them. Sports like this have helped
:21:29. > :21:30.
:21:30. > :21:34.many people with disabilities get out into the community and stay
:21:34. > :21:36.active. Finally, it is a big weekend for
:21:37. > :21:39.Plymouth Raiders in basketball. They pitch in new signing, Canadian
:21:40. > :21:42.Jamal Williams, for the two-legged semi final of the BBL Cup against
:21:43. > :21:46.Worcester Wolves. The away leg is tomorrow with the return at the
:21:46. > :21:49.Pavilions on Sunday at 4pm. With Christmas a little over two
:21:49. > :21:53.weeks away, many of us will have got our old decorations out of
:21:53. > :21:56.storage and put up the tree by now. But one woman from Plymouth is
:21:56. > :22:05.still using the same fairy lights she bought in the 1960s and, she
:22:05. > :22:13.claims, she hasn't had to change a bulb once. Our reporter has the
:22:13. > :22:17.story. These Christmas tree lights were
:22:17. > :22:24.bought in 1969. Four to two years later, the still shine bright. The
:22:25. > :22:31.honour paid �3 for them at Woolworths in Plymouth. I think
:22:31. > :22:37.things were made stronger in those days. I heard recently that someone
:22:37. > :22:44.else's lights broke after three days. I have been running mine for
:22:44. > :22:49.one month every year ever since. She still has the replacement bulbs
:22:49. > :22:55.that came with them but says she has not had to use them. Four to
:22:55. > :23:01.two years and I have not had to change them. 1969 was the year Rolf
:23:01. > :23:11.Harris had a Christmas number one with this song. And also man walked
:23:11. > :23:13.
:23:13. > :23:18.on the whip -- and also a man walks on the moon. I have grown up with
:23:18. > :23:23.these Christmas lights. They have always been there. As a child, they
:23:23. > :23:28.were not that old. Of course, I was never allowed to put them up myself
:23:28. > :23:38.would take them down. This, I believe, is why they have still
:23:38. > :23:38.
:23:38. > :23:45.lasted. This is the original box that their Christmas tree came in.
:23:45. > :23:51.It did say it was long-lasting! She says she will continue using the
:23:51. > :23:56.lights as long as they are safe. Maybe they will last until they are
:23:56. > :24:03.50 years old! They are the little bit of Christmas that just keeps on
:24:03. > :24:13.giving. Brilliant! They are the same age as
:24:13. > :24:19.
:24:19. > :24:24.Brilliant! They are the same age as me, but they are brighter!
:24:24. > :24:30.Picked up your Christmas decorations this weekend! Feeling
:24:30. > :24:38.like winter now. Widespread frost and the risk of some icy patches.
:24:38. > :24:48.Frosty tonight, mainly dry and find tomorrow, there are more room for
:24:48. > :24:50.
:24:50. > :25:00.Sunday. -- then more rain for Sunday. Quite a lot of clear sky
:25:00. > :25:00.
:25:00. > :25:07.across as just now. A ridge of high pressure moving in over us. Some
:25:07. > :25:16.wet weather on Sunday and it will be breezy. Apart from a couple of
:25:16. > :25:26.showers, it is likely to turn very frosty. So there is a risk of ice
:25:26. > :25:29.
:25:29. > :25:37.on roads and pavements. Up earlier on today, we found some blue sky.
:25:37. > :25:46.And a very calm sea. We also had a good view of the setting sun in at
:25:46. > :25:50.Truro. It has felt cold today. We have had a chilly breeze from the
:25:50. > :25:56.north-west and we have struggled with the temperatures. Now the sun
:25:56. > :26:06.has set and the skies are mostly clear, it is turning quite frosty.
:26:06. > :26:09.
:26:09. > :26:17.We continue with the rest of a few showers. -- the risk. Possible ice
:26:17. > :26:27.on untreated roads and pavements. Quite low temperatures, especially
:26:27. > :26:30.
:26:30. > :26:40.for Somerset. Most of the day will be dry. Perhaps increasingly cloudy.
:26:40. > :26:44.
:26:44. > :26:54.Temperatures will struggle. Generally low -- light winds. Here
:26:54. > :26:56.
:26:56. > :27:06.are the times of high water. Winds generally fairly light through the
:27:06. > :27:09.
:27:10. > :27:19.day, so there are a good conditions for surfing. Here is the coastal
:27:20. > :27:22.
:27:22. > :27:29.waters forecast. Sunday is wet. Colder for Monday and Tuesday. Many
:27:29. > :27:35.of the showers will turn increasingly wintry for Wednesday.
:27:35. > :27:39.It certainly feels like winter is here now.
:27:40. > :27:43.One viewer has e-mailed end to say that he has the same set of