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More shows rescheduled at Derby's Assembly Rooms following massive fire

March 24, 2014, 9:07 am
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MORE shows have been rescheduled at the Assembly Rooms after a massive fire in the car park. A major investigation is now taking place into the blaze which wrecked havoc on Friday, March 14. Organisers said they would not be able to say when the venue will open until the investigation was completed on April 14. A spokesman for Derby Live said: "Should any further cancellations be necessary we will either reschedule shows or offer a full refund. "All of the services that supply the Assembly Rooms were in the plant room and have been totally destroyed. The plant room will therefore have to be demolished before being replaced and this will take a considerable amount of time. "The Derby Live Box Office team will contact all customers as soon as possible to arrange either an exchange to a new date, another venue or full refunds. We will update the list below as soon as new dates or full cancellations are confirmed."• Friday 14 March Anton du Beke and Steve Tilston Trio (fully cancelled) • Saturday 15 March Beyond the Barricade (rescheduled to Tuesday 16 September) • Sunday 16 March, Grimethorpe Colliery Band (rescheduled to Sunday 26 October) • Monday 17 March the Tea Dance (fully cancelled) • Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March Sarah Millican (rescheduled to Monday 26, Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 May) • Friday 21 March An Evening of Burlesque (rescheduled to Saturday 13 September) and Julian Joseph Trio (fully cancelled) • Saturday 22 March Paul Carrack(rescheduled to Friday 18 July) and Interrobang (fully cancelled) • Sunday 23 March Derbyshire Music Education Hub's Celebration Concert (fully cancelled) • Monday 24 March Tea Dance (fully cancelled) • Tuesday 25 - Saturday 29 March New Jersey Nights (rescheduled to Tuesday 1 July - Saturday 5 July) • Thursday 27 March Andy Kirkpatrick (moved to The Venue, 47-49 Abbey Street, Derby, DE22 3SJ - same date and time) • Friday 28 March Andy McKee (moved to The Venue, 47-49 Abbey Street, Derby, DE22 3SJ - same date and time) • Saturday 29 March An Evening with Michael Dodd (moved to Allestree Woodlands School - same date and time) • Monday 31 March Tea Dance (fully cancelled) • Tuesday 1 April The Good Old Days of Music Hall & Variety (rescheduled to Tuesday 23 September) • Wednesday 2 April Sinfonia Viva • Thursday 3 April Charlie Landsborough (rescheduled to Tuesday 14 October) • Friday 4 April A Night of Dirty Dancing • Saturday 5 April Joel Dommett and Gala Concert (fully cancelled) • Monday 7 April Tea Dance (fully cancelled) • Friday 11 April Kerry Godliman (moved to Derby Theatre Studio - same date and time) • Saturday 12 April Funhouse Comedy Club • Monday 7 - Saturday 12 April Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story (rescheduled to Monday 18 August - Saturday 23 August) • Monday 14 April Tea Dance and Russell Brand • Tuesday 15 April Hot Flush! (fully cancelled - The nearest performance will be at The Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent on Sat 26 April) • Saturday 19 April Monsters of Mock (rescheduled to Saturday 8 November), Interrobang (moved to the Guildhall Clubrooms) and EPD Championships (moved to The Albert Hall, North Circus Street, Nottingham, NG1 5AA) • Tuesday 22 - Wednesday 23 April Peter Pan (rescheduled to Mon 21 & Tue 22 April and moved to the Guildhall Theatre) • Thursday 24 April That'll Be The Day (re-scheduled to Sunday 8 June) • Friday 25 April Nights on Broadway and European Jazz Ensemble (moved to Déda, Chapel Street, Derby, DE1 3GU) • Saturday 26 April Dave Swarbrick & Said the Maiden • Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 April Aliens Love Underpants (fully cancelled) • Monday 28 April Tea Dance (fully cancelled) • Tuesday 29 April The Hallé (re-scheduled to Sunday 22 June) • Friday 2 May Pasadena Roof Orchestra (rescheduled to the Guildhall Theatre, same date and time) • Saturday 3 May Son Yambu and Jane McDonald (rescheduled to Sunday 12 October) • Sunday 4 May Championship Boxing (rescheduled to Sunday 1 June) • Tuesday 6 May Return of the Grumpy Old Women (rescheduled to Mon 2 June) • Wednesday 7 May The Solid Silver '60s Show (fully cancelled) • Thursday 8 May Matt Richardson • Friday 9 May Sing-a-long-a Grease (re-scheduled to Friday 27 June) and England Away (venue changed to Guildhall Theatre - same date and time) • Saturday 10 May Feast of Folk and Interrobang (fully cancelled) • Sunday 11 May Evolution (rescheduled to Sunday 29 June)

More shows rescheduled at Derby's Assembly Rooms following massive fire

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Home fans will be in iPro Stadium South Stand if Derby County reach play-offs

March 24, 2014, 9:13 am
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DERBY County fans will fill the South Stand at the iPro Stadium again should the club reach the play offs. Away fans, no matter the opposition, will be housed in the South East corner for a home semi-final leg. Derby did this against Nottingham Forest on Saturday as a trial ahead of next season when all away support will be housed in the South East corner. Preston brought 4,201 supporters and Southampton 4,878 in the previous two play-off semi-final legs held at the stadium in 2005 and 2007. The ruling states the away club is given a minimum of 2,000 tickets or a minimum of 10% if less than 2,000.

Home fans will be in iPro Stadium South Stand if Derby County reach play-offs

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Council tax penalty drives down empty property numbers in Derby

March 24, 2014, 9:53 am
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PENALISING owners of homes that have been empty for more than two years has cut the number of long-term vacant homes in Derby, the city council has said. But one homeowner says the house in which his son lives has incurred the 150% council tax rate by mistake. Roy Allen, 64, of Cowers Lane, near Belper, said the council had been levying the extra charge on the home in Field Lane, Alvaston, despite his son having lived there with his girlfriend throughout this financial year. He said: "At the moment he is living at the back of the home and in the loft room. From the street you wouldn't see activity in the house. We are willing to go to court over this." From April 1, last year, the council introduced the empty home premium tax" for homes vacant for two years after councils were given extra powers over council tax charges. It says the main reasons were to generate extra revenue and "encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use". Now the authority has revealed figures showing that it has had some success. The number of properties incurring the rate was 468 for this financial year. But in 2014-15, that will drop to 327 – a 30% decrease. Over the two years, the extra charges on homeowners will be worth £117,000 – £57,000 in 2013-14 and £60,000 in 2014-15. A council spokeswoman said: "The fact that the number of properties is lower for 2014-15 than for 2013-14 would suggest that the approach is working, and more properties are being brought back into use. "The higher charges in 2014-15 may be due to factors such as the property bands of the homes in question, and the slight increase in council tax." Mr Allen said his property had been empty for a time, prior to his son living there, while it was refurbished. He said that when wife Lynne called the council in February to say the property would now be lived in, she was told that just that phone call would do for notification. But the authority has then charged the 150% for the entirety of 2013-14 and has now told the family it expects the same for 2014-15. At one stage, in summer last year, the council had asked to enter the property to check if anyone was living there. But Mr Allen said no because he didn't believe the authority had the right to do this. He said: "They were giving us conditions of what they expected to find." In January, the authority wrote to say they would consider other evidence, like photographs and energy bills, as potential proof the home was occupied. The council said it received information from the Allens on March 6 – after details of 2014-15 council tax charges had been sent out. A statement from the authority said the information was "being reviewed by a case officer". It said: "If, after reviewing all the necessary evidence, we are satisfied that the property is not empty, we will of course revise the council tax charge for the property for 2014-15 and refund any overpayment for 2013-14." Mr Allen said: "They've got the evidence and their disbelief of it is based on nothing – an alleged visit, we've not had a knock on the door and nobody's called."

Council tax penalty drives down empty property numbers in Derby

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Live: Ipswich Town v Derby County

March 24, 2014, 10:01 am
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JOIN us for live match coverage of Derby County's Championship clash with Ipswich Town on Tuesday night. We'll have all the build-up from Portman Road and minute-by-minute updates from the game in our interactive match blog below. The blog will be up and running from around 6pm ahead of kick-off at 7.45pm.
 

Live: Ipswich Town v Derby County

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Police urge drivers to hide valuables away from thieves

March 24, 2014, 10:20 am
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Police have urged drivers not to leave valuables on display in their cars. Officers in Mickleover checked 439 vehicles last Thursday. Twenty were found to be insecure and had items on display, including handbags and documents. Crime prevention leaflets were also distributed to residents. PC Laura Robins helped organise the event. She said: "It only takes a few seconds to make sure there are no valuables on display in your car, and that it's properly secured. "We've had several vehicle break-ins over the last few weeks and the idea of this campaign was to make people aware of the steps they can take to avoid becoming a victim. "Criminals will see your car as an easy target [if left insecure] so it pays to take that short amount of extra time to make sure you aren't a victim."

Police urge drivers to hide valuables away from thieves

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Derby City Council brown bin charge originally set to be half the current cost

March 25, 2014, 9:20 am
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THE controversial Derby City Council brown bin charge was planned, at one stage, to be just £20 – half of what it is currently set at. This revelation appears to lend weight to claims made already by Tory opposition councillor Chris Poulter that the charge is higher than the cost of collection. The Labour-led authority's paid-for service will start on April 15. Households wanting their brown bin emptied will have to pay £40 a year for the first bin and £20 a year for any additional bin. But an options appraisal of how the council could save money through its waste management, completed in October 2012, shows it had at one stage proposed charges of £20 and £10. Councillor Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member responsible for the collections, previously said that the scheme, aimed at saving £1.2 million a year, was being introduced because of "the worst Government cuts in history". Mr Poulter had said that the council was not being transparent about what the £40 per bin charge covered. Now a Freedom of Information request from environmentalist Simon Bacon has brought the appraisal to light. It says: "The charges proposed of £20 for the first bin and £10 for each additional bin are relatively low compared with other councils that have adopted the policy." There are councils that charge more than Derby. In Harlow, Essex, the charge is £90 a year and it is £71 in Kingston, Surrey. But in Leicester, the price this year will be £20, rising to £30 in 2015, and it is £35 in Birmingham. Mr Poulter said the appraisal document seemed to confirm what he had "always suspected". He said: "Obviously they are taking further income which they are going to use to achieve their budget target. The council wants to put itself forward as open and honest with the public but this is a clear example of where they are not." Mr Poulter had previously estimated the cost of brown bin collection was £20 a household. Mr Bacon, chairman of Sinfin and Spondon Against Incineration, which has been battling a waste treatment plant set for Sinfin, said the apparent increase from £20 was "highly questionable". He said that the cost of collection and disposal in 2012-13 was about £20 per bin, including food waste. He said: "This shows the true cost of the service to the council and highlights what service the council should be offering and the fee it should charge residents if a charge can be justified." The council has been aiming for 20% – about 21,000 – of the city's households to sign up for the service to reach its £1.2 million target, which would help towards the £78.9 million it needs to save over the next three years. Up to today, it had signed up 9,378. Mr Poulter said: "That's about one household in 10 and seems to be a resounding rejection of the policy." A council spokeswoman said: "Different levels of charges for collecting garden waste were considered and £40 per annum was chosen, which is comparable to the charge levied by other councils."

Derby City Council brown bin charge originally set to be half the current cost

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Fame of unique Derbyshire auto village store has spread round the world

March 25, 2014, 9:24 am
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THE inventor of the first-ever truly automated shop says he is keen to stick to rolling his concept out locally, despite it becoming an international media sensation.

Electrical engineer Peter Fox and his "Speedy Shop", which sets out to replace the traditional village stores that have been lost by many of the nation's communities, have made headlines as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea since the story broke last week that the first machine had been installed in Clifton, near Ashbourne.

But despite being approached by would-be investors and even researchers for BBC's Dragon's Den and The One Show, Peter says he wants to stick to his initial plan and roll out his first few machines into Ashbourne area villages.

The machine works like a giant vending machine, dispensing household items, and its ability to stock around 60 lines and update customers on its stock levels live on a website makes it unique.

Peter, 50, from Belle Vue Road, Ashbourne, said: "It's just gone absolutely berserk, I've not stopped.

"This thing has gone all over the world.

"It's nice that people have found it so interesting, but it's just me with a little manufacturing company that's gone global.

"I thought it would go in my local papers and thought there might maybe be a small piece inThe Times or something but I really didn't expect it to make headlines everywhere like it has done.

"I have had a couple of big companies approach me but, for now, I'm very much sticking to the same trajectory and keeping it local until I can see what happens."

Peter says the handful of machines he is working on at his industrial unit in Mayfield Road, Ashbourne, will soon be ready and talks are on-going with villagers to prepare the next one for its new location – which has not been announced yet.

Peter is keen to hear from villagers as he looks out for new sites. To find out more visit www.villagevending.com.

Families can use the shop to buy break milk, eggs, toiletries, kitchen essentials pet food and even umbrellas and payment can be made by cash or credit card.

The machine sends out an e-mail when its stock levels are getting low.

It is fitted with an array of security features.

Fame of unique Derbyshire auto village store has spread round the world

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Team news: Will Hughes misses Derby County's match at Ipswich Town

March 25, 2014, 11:38 am
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WILL Hughes misses out on Derby County's Championship clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Tuesday night (7.45pm). Hughes was on the bench in Saturday's memorable 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest but did not travel to Suffolk due to a hip problem. As expected, Johnny Russell replaces the injured Jamie Ward (hamstring) in the only change to Steve McClaren's starting line-up. Meanwhile, there are places on the bench for Academy striker Kwame Thomas and defender Mark O'Brien. Simon Dawkins (groin) remains sidelined, while George Thorne continues in place of the suspended John Eustace, who completes a two-match ban. "Unfortunately, Jamie Ward isn't fit, so Johnny Russell keeps his place in the team that finished against Nottingham Forest," said Rams coach Paul Simpson. "The only other change in the squad is Will Hughes not travelling with us. "He has got a hip flexor strain which he picked up in training on Monday but Kwame Thomas comes into the 18 and takes his place on the bench. "We are hoping it is not serious and that he could be available for the weekend but he didn't travel with us so we need to assess him tomorrow. "It is great experience for Kwame. He has been doing well in the under-21s side, has shown a good attitude and has been getting a few goals of late, too." Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy has named an unchanged side following Saturday's 2-0 win at Brighton. Former Rams midfielder Paul Green is on the bench for the home side. IPSWICH TOWN: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson, Hyam, Wordsworth, Hunt, Williams, Murphy. Subs: Loach (gk), Mings, Richardson, Tabb, Green, Ebanks-Blake, Nouble. DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Wisdom, Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth, Thorne, Hendrick, Bryson, Russell, Bamford, Martin. Subs: Legzdins (gk), Naylor, Whitbread, O'Brien, Bailey, Thomas, Sammon. REFEREE: F Graham (Essex).

Team news: Will Hughes misses Derby County's match at Ipswich Town

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Derby weather forecaster warns of snow in city

March 25, 2014, 12:00 pm
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DERBY weatherman Martin Harris has warned the city could wake up to snow on Thursday morning. Martin, who runs the weather page Weather Update Derby, said this may be caused by an incoming front from Scandinavia. He said: "Looks like we may wake up to a slight covering of snow Thursday morning, ridge of high pressure from Scandinavia is currently edging towards the UK bringing cooler air over the next few days with a risk of snow Wed night/Thurs morning. "By the weekend the winds will come up from the south bringing warmer drier weather with temps above 15℃"

Derby weather forecaster warns of snow in city

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Derby takeaway which hired illegal staff has licence refused

March 25, 2014, 1:24 pm
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A CITY takeaway owner who was employing people with no right to work in the UK has had an application to have his licence back rejected. Wab Ashouri's USA Fried Chicken, in The Spot, was raided by officers last April. They found two people from Afghanistan with no right to work in the UK, who were then deported. Mr Ashouri's licence, needed to sell food from the takeaway late at night, was revoked by city councillors in August. A month later, he told police he was signing the business over to a man called Zia Nemati and officers allowed the licence to be transferred into Mr Nemati's name. Earlier this year, Mr Ashouri applied to Derby City Council to have the licence put back in his name. Police objected to the application – and it was rejected by councillors today. Addressing the council's general licensing sub-committee, Sergeant Mark Lomas explained why he wanted the application to be refused. He said: "In September 2013, Mr Ashouri came to me and stated he was selling the business to Mr Nemati. "They both sat before me and stated Mr Ashouri would have nothing to do with the business. "Mr Ashouri said he was signing it over but for Mr Nemati to run the business, he would need a premise licence as well. "On the understanding Mr Ashouri would have nothing to do with the premises, I agreed with that application going forward, with a number of conditions. "It turns out they were economical with the truth and that the signing over of the business did not happen. "Mr Ashouri owns the business and Mr Nemati holds the licence. "It surprised me somewhat when Mr Ashouri came to me and said he wanted to transfer the licence to his name. "I told him unequivocally I would object to that." Sgt Lomas said Mr Ashouri's history of employing immigrants with no right to work in the UK and his dishonesty were his reasons for objecting. He said: "I have serious, grave concerns as to this individual's honesty and integrity. Both he and Mr Nemati have abused my trust, the licensing committee's trust and the trust of the night-time economy trader. "Mr Ashouri is not here today which gives me cause for concern as to how seriously he takes this matter. "He was given a £10,000 fine for employing immigrants with no right to work in the UK and to this date he has not paid that fine." Mr Ashouri had informed the council of his intention to stay away from the hearing. In a strange twist, the hearing was told he no longer wished to pursue the application as he was planning to sell up. Councillor Barbara Jackson, chairman of the sub-committee, said the hearing needed to go ahead as the police objection had not been withdrawn. Mrs Jackson said grounds for refusing the application included a lack of confidence that Mr Ashouri would uphold the licensing objectives. Mr Ashouri was not available for comment.

Derby takeaway which hired illegal staff has licence refused

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Half-time: Rapid strike from Patrick Bamford puts Derby County 1-0 up at Ipswich Town

March 25, 2014, 1:24 pm
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A GOAL after only 35 seconds from Patrick Bamford has given Derby County a 1-0 half-time lead against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Bamford's early strike, his sixth for the Rams, separated the sides after a bad-tempered opening period in Suffolk. Ipswich attacked from the kick-off but Derby broke through Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell. Russell found Craig Forsyth on the left and his low centre from the bye-line was neatly turned in first-time by Bamford at the near post, eight yards out. There was not too much else in the way of goalmouth action for the remainder of the half, with Bamford sending a shot straight at keeper Dean Gerken and Richard Keogh blocking shots from Anthony Wordsworth and Aaron Cresswell at the other end. There was a flashpoint after 15 minutes when Chris Martin reacted angrily to a challenge from Christophe Berra, pushing the defender to the ground, but the Derby striker escaped with a booking. The home fans were unhappy with the decision, as well as the treatment of midfielder Jonny Williams, with Craig Bryson eventually booked for persistent fouling.

Half-time: Rapid strike from Patrick Bamford puts Derby County 1-0 up at Ipswich Town

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Who's been in the courts?

March 26, 2014, 10:30 am
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STEVEN Lodge, of Birches Lane, South Wingfield, was fined £800, with £80 victim surcharge, and told to pay £400 costs, for failing to remove rubbish from his garden between April 30, 2013, and January 29, 2014.

JOHN Foster, 26, of Nelson Street, Ilkeston, was given a two-year conditional discharge, and told to pay £15 surcharge, for possessing mephedrone on December 27. He must pay £85 costs.

THOMAS Andrew Steel, 50, of Mill Moor Close, Chellaston, was given a community order, told to pay £100 compensation, £60 surcharge and £85 costs, for indecent exposure on January 15.

JAMIE Walton, 23, of Macready Place, Alvaston, was fined £65, with £20 surcharge, for using a mobile phone while driving on August 12. His licence was endorsed with three points.

Who's been in the courts?

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Derby County fan and One Direction star Niall Horan meets The Queen

March 26, 2014, 11:08 am
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Derby County fan Niall Horan has met The Queen after she hosted a reception for more than 300 Irish people including X-Factor judge Louis Walsh and former boxer Barry McGuigan. The One Direction star was invited to the event yesterday which was held to mark the contribution made by Irish people in Britain. He said thank you to the organisers in a tweet:

Derby County fan and One Direction star Niall Horan meets The Queen

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'My 6am shock in finding little boy in hedge in his pyjamas'

March 26, 2014, 11:20 am
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A FITNESS fanatic heading for a 6am workout was stunned to spot a six-year-old boy wearing only pyjamas hiding in bushes. Raj Sandhu discovered the youngster as he arrived at the Virgin Active Gym, in Derby. Father-of-four Raj saw the bushes move and the boy – who was clutching a teddy bear – crouching down. The 50-year-old, of Chellaston, said it was a mystery how the boy came to be there. He said: "He was hiding in the corner. He was in his pyjamas and he was carrying a teddy with him. It was raining slightly and I think he was shocked from the rain. "I did not want to frighten him so I went straight to the reception at Virgin and told them. "I was tempted to stop the car and tell him to get in but I did not want him to be scared and run off." Mr Sandhu, who owns ARC Car Wash at Asda Spondon, said he usually goes to the gym before starting work each day. He said: "I left my house at about 5.50am and was at the gym just before 6am. "The car in front of me must not have seen the boy but he was crouching down. "I have four children aged three, five, seven as well as a nine-month old baby. "It was not nice seeing the little kid. It shocked me and my first reaction was that I panicked. "You would never expect to see something like this. "I thought he must have been sleep-walking. All sorts of things were going through my head." Mr Sandhu said he immediately went to the front of the gym and alerted staff. "There were people waiting to go inside the gym," he said. "I told the receptionist straight away that there was a little boy outside in the bushes. She did not believe it at first. I told her it was true and I pointed to where the boy was." Mr Sandhu said when he later left the gym he asked the reception staff about the boy and was "relieved" to be told he had been reunited with his parents. Jamie Falivena, who is a service manager at Virgin Active, said staff had no idea how the boy came to be out at such an early time in the day, although he was clutching the keys to his house. Police later said there was no indication of neglect or the child being in danger. Mr Falivena said he was one of the first staff on the scene. "We had just opened the doors at 6am when a member came in and said there was a little boy in the bush. "I thought it was odd so I went straight outside and saw him running behind one of our members. "I then tried to speak to him but he was not responding. "I asked him his name and he just said 'yes'. "He was wearing slippers and pyjamas and looked like he had a school t-shirt on underneath. He also had a whole set of house keys in his hands. I'm guessing he let himself out. "We took him inside and gave him some toys to play with." Mr Falivena, 27, of Sinfin, said he then went back outside to see if anyone was looking for him and that is when the police arrived. He said: "The boy wanted me to go with him but I could not leave the building. "I managed to get him in the police car and he seemed okay. "I had no idea how long he had been there for. It was surreal. We had a call later on from police to say that he was home safe, so I felt happy about that." A spokesman for Derbyshire police confirmed the boy, from Chaddesden, was "dressed in his pyjamas with his house keys in his hand". He said staff took the boy inside and looked after him in the gym's cafe until police arrived. He said: "The boy let himself out of the house with his keys and walked to the gym. "Within 20 minutes of the call coming in to police he was back at home with his parents."

'My 6am shock in finding little boy in hedge in his pyjamas'

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Mother of Kadeem Blackwood fights back tears at murder trial

March 26, 2014, 11:30 am
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THE mother of tragic Kadeem Blackwood fought back tears in court today as her statement of evidence was read out to a jury. Nottingham Crown Court is hearing the retrial, for murder, of Michael-Paul Hamblett-Sewell. He is charged with the murder of Kadeem, who died in November 2008 at the age of 15. Supported by Maria Needs, a Derbyshire Police family liaison officer, Helen Smith had to hear the words she gave to officers that dated back more than five years. Read out by Sarah Knight, prosecuting, Miss Smith told how Kadeem had lived partly with her in Blagreaves Lane, Littleover, and partly with his father, Stephen Blackwood, in Chellaston. Hamblett-Sewell is accused of being a party to, being behind or ordering the shooting of Kadeem Blackwood at Caxton Park, Sunny Hill, Derby, in November 2008. Callum Campbell, who was 19 at the time, has already admitted to being the gunman. This morning prosecutor Peter Joyce QC outlined the case to jurors. Kadeem attended Chellaston School where he enjoyed sports including rugby and basketball, but had been excluded from school after his work suffered. In her statement, Miss Smith said she tried to get Kadeem into Littleover School but was not successful. She said: "Kadeem felt let down by his father and his behaviour deteriorated. "He became angry, abusive and aggressive, causing damage to then house. "He was angry with everything and everyone." Miss Smith said Kadeem became known to the youth offending service and was sent to a secure unit in early 2008. She said he became a member of the Younger Browning Circle Terrorists and that she believed his involvement started when he lived with his father in Chellaston. Two days before his death, Miss Smith said she heard her son on his mobile phone. She said: "I heard him say 'who'd this blood? I heard you got beat up by a 14-year-old Chad lad'. "He was angry and agitated. "Every time he heard a noise he shouted to me 'what's that noise mum?' The following day, November 10, 2008, Miss Smith said she heard Kadeem on the phone again the same night. She said: "I heard Kadeem say to someone on the phone 'you've got a strap (a gun)? "He said 'are you mad?' I don't know who he was talking to." On the day of his death, Miss Smith said she woke at 7am, went to the hairdresser's and returned home at 5pm. She said Kadeem and two friends left the house at 6pm and at 9pm she went to watch TV in bed. Ms Smith said: "I heard Chante (Kadeem's sister) scream. "She ran into my room and said 'Kadeem's been shot' she was still on the phone. "I took the phone off her and said to whoever was on the other end 'don't mess about this is his mum' and the girl said 'he's been shot you need to get to the DRI straight away, I am not lying'. Miss Smith said she went to the hospital where she identified her son's body.

Mother of Kadeem Blackwood fights back tears at murder trial

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Derby magistrate and city councillor Ajit Atwal pictured in national newspaper holding assault rifle

March 26, 2014, 11:30 am
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A MAGISTRATE and Derby city councillor has been pictured in a national newspaper holding an assault rifle. Ajit Atwal's photograph, which was taken seven months ago while he was on holiday in India, has appeared in The Sun. In the piece a speech bubble coming from his mouth says "Vote Lib Dem or else". This morning Mr Atwal, 43, and who represents Abbey ward said he has taken the picture down from his Twitter feed and believes whoever has told the newspaper has done so "for political reasons". He said "I am someone who urges people to go to the gym, keep fit and stay away from crime. "I realise that the picture may cause offence to some people and so I have removed it. "The gun was not loaded and I asked someone to take a picture of me holding it last September when I was on holiday in India. "It has been my profile picture on my Twitter page for seven months and no-one has complained during that time but now, in the run-up to an election on May 22, someone has told The Sun about it and they have published the story. "I am absolutely convinced that whoever has done this has done so for political reasons." Mr Atwal, of Burton Road, hit the headlines last month when he and his son chased a would-be burglar from their home after he tried to break in. They managed to follow the offender alerting police to the incidence who found Darren Richardson cowering under a car.

Derby magistrate and city councillor Ajit Atwal pictured in national newspaper holding assault rifle

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Snow in Derbyshire

March 26, 2014, 12:00 pm
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THE Met Office has said there is a chance the county could see snowand sleet tonight. Heavy rain is also forecast for tomorrow afternoon and Thursday morning, before things change dramatically for a lovely weekend of warm weather in time for Mother's Day on Sunday. A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Tonight will be wintry and there could be some rain, snow and sleet in higher places." Mark Smith, manager at Swarkestone Nursery, said the business was gearing up for the weekend after the threat of snow. He said: "There is a chill in the air which feels like snow and after all the years in this industry I do have a feel for these things. "But we're more optimistic for the weekend and there is a real buzz, especially with it being Mother's Day."

Snow in Derbyshire

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HS2 Europe link decision disappoints Derbyshire business leaders

March 26, 2014, 12:43 pm
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BUSINESS leaders in Derbyshire have said they are disappointed that the HS2 rail route will not be linked to the Eurostar train line.

This week, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin confirmed that HS2, which will run through parts of Derbyshire, would not connect with the HS1 Channel Tunnel rail link, ruling out the prospect of direct trains from the north and the midlands to Europe.

HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins reported last week that a link from the planned HS2 terminus at Euston to the nearby St Pancras Eurostar terminus would be too expensive at an estimated £700 million. The cost of the total project is currently estimated at £42.6 billion.

The Chamber of Commerce for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire had previously highlighted the importance of HS2 improving connections to mainland Europe.

Chris Hobson, the chamber's head of information and representation, said: "The decision not to put the link in at this stage is disappointing.

"The chamber would urge decision-makers to take full and proper account of all options and ensure that decisions taken now on the connection between HS2 and HS1 in London do not undermine the future benefits that HS2 will bring to the rest of the country."

HS2 Europe link decision disappoints Derbyshire business leaders

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YouTube sensation Peter Oakley whose tears wooed the stars dies at 86

March 27, 2014, 12:25 pm
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A DERBYSHIRE grandfather who became an internet sensation after posting YouTube video diaries has died at the age of 86.

Peter Oakley first discovered YouTube accidentally after searching on the internet for more information about videos.

And his first blog in 2006, called First Try, received more than two million hits.

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph in 2007, Mr Oakley said: "It was pretty amateurish, my first try. I don't rehearse or edit anything, I just sit there and talk."

The pensioner, of Bakewell, took to the internet under the pseudonym Geriatric1927.

He posted more than 400 videos and had more than 43,000 subscribers worldwide to his channel.

After his first video, he received more than 4,000 e-mails – with celebrity fans, including Star Trek's William Shatner, later e-mailing the pensioner to find out more.

Mr Oakley also produced his autobiographical series, Telling It All, which gained worldwide recognition.

The topics he spoke about in his video diaries revealed that he served as a radar mechanic during the Second World War, was a fan of motorcycles and he was a widower.

By mid-2006, he was the most subscribed user on YouTube.

Unable to answer every message, he posted another video, which showed him tearfully thanking people for their messages of support.

In an interview in the Derby Telegraph, he said: "That video of me crying is always the one shown on telly if they do a piece about me now. People say I am a celebrity now."

But, despite Mr Oakley's internet success, one of his greatest moments was singing with the pensioners group, The Zimmers.

Their cover The Who's My Generation – to highlight the isolation of older people – reached number 26 in the UK singles chart in 2007.

The group also performed across the globe, including a show in Munich which attracted 12 million TV viewers.

The news of Mr Oakley's death was posted on his website, www.askgeriatric.com.

It stated that he had cancer "too advanced for treatment" and had been taken to a nursing home.

His final video, posted on February 12, ended with the words: "In conclusion, I would say my possibly final goodbye. So goodbye."

He died on March 23.

YouTube sensation Peter Oakley whose tears wooed the stars dies at 86

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Man lay dead in Derbyshire house for two weeks

March 27, 2014, 12:44 pm
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A MAN in his 80s is believed to have been lying dead in his house for a fortnight. Police forced entry to the house in Queen Elizabeth Way, Ilkeston, at about noon today after being told by a neighbour that the man had not been seen for around two weeks. A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "We found him deceased at the address. There are no suspicious circumstances expected. "His relatives have been informed."

Man lay dead in Derbyshire house for two weeks

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