A PAEDOPHILE who preyed on a 15-year-old girl was turned in by his friends when they discovered his obscene messages to the teenager.

Ian May, 39, who bombarded the youngster with messages on Facebook, was arrested after his friend, Lauren Whatley, became suspicious about why he was hiding his laptop.

Now, after May was jailed, police are asking any other youngsters who think they may have been preyed on by him to come forward.

Lauren, for whom May was a babysitter when she was a child, said: "I just couldn't believe some of the things he was saying.

"It disgusted me, for somebody I had known for such a long time. It was a shock."

May was living at Lauren's mother's house, in Chellaston, but was out when police came looking for him in connection with another offence.

Lauren said he then asked another friend if he could "stash" his laptop at their house.

Lauren's mum, Maria, became suspicious and asked her to check the laptop.

Lauren said she found the messages to the 15-year-old and told her mum, who was "absolutely furious".

Lauren said May used to look after her and her sister, "although he never did anything untoward".

"We just thought he was a little bit strange."

A police spokeswoman said: "Officers are now investigating whether May contacted other girls and want anyone who believes they were contacted by him, to get in touch."

Jailing May for 14 months, Judge Andrew Hamilton said that when the girl he contacted had told him she was 15, he had continued to "pester her, asking her to expose herself".

Judge Hamilton said: "You continued to make obscene comments to her."

Derby Crown Court was told that the girl had received a friend request from May, in June this year, and she had accepted it because he said he was from the Ilkeston area and she thought she might know him.

Grace Hale, prosecuting, said May had then sent her a message saying: "Oh, you're so fit."

"She had responded by calling him 'a paedo' and asked him to stop sending messages," said Miss Hale.

But May continued to contact her, with the messages each time getting more offensive. She told him she was only 15 and threatened to call the police.

She then did call the police. But May was not arrested until September, after the Whatleys contacted officers themselves.

Miss Hale said: "He asked some friends of his, he said he wanted to move his laptop because he didn't want police to find it.

"But his friends checked the laptop and reported it to the police."

She said May had a "troubling" history, which included "making obscene calls to nursing homes and business premises, wanting to speak to women. And he has various offences for harassment".

May, of no fixed address, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Justin Ablott, for May, said: "He was horrified by any suggestion that he would actually have met the girl. It was an anonymous way of finding interaction with a woman.

This defendant has feelings of inadequacy following the breakdown of two serious relationships he has had."

May must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and obey a sexual offences prevention order, which includes banning him from using the internet to contact any girl under the age of 16.

Anyone with information about May can contact police on 101 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.

NIGEL Clough believes his Derby County team is in good shape for a run in the FA Cup.

Derby face League One leaders Tranmere Rovers in a third-round tie at Pride Park Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Clough has warned his players of the threat Tranmere pose and the manager is expecting a tough test.

The Rams go into the clash on a high following Tuesday's impressive performance and victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship.

The win lifted them to 10th and only three points outside of the play-off places.

"We want a Cup run and we are in as good a shape as at any time in the last three years to have a run in the Cup," said Clough, who believes a cup run is important to the club on two fronts.

"Financially it is important and for confidence as well," he said.

"Financially, it can make a huge difference.

"You don't budget for cup runs and so anything you do make is a bonus.

"Of course, wins are always good for confidence.

"This is a tough tie but if we can get another positive result, it will take us into the Brighton game in good heart."

TWO city restaurants are fighting it out to be crowned the best in Derbyshire for dishing up cuisine from other countries.

Anoki (Indian) and Thaiboran (Thai) make up two of three finalists in the best international restaurant section of the Derbyshire Food and Drink awards.

They face competition from Zayka – an Indian restaurant in Whaley Bridge.

The trio are among 50 finalists spread across 12 categories. The winners will be announced at a glitzy awards night at Chatsworth House on Monday, January 14, hosted by TV chef Simon Rimmer.

The awards are run by Derbyshire County Council and are held to recognise the best local catering businesses.

A panel of expert judges from within the catering industry decide the winners after making undercover visits to the various venues.

County councillor Kevin Parkinson, cabinet member for regeneration, said the standard of finalists was high.

He said: "We're lucky to have some fabulous talent in the food and drink industry in Derbyshire and our awards celebrate the county's many excellent restaurants, pubs, cafes and bistros.

"Our judges had a difficult time shortlisting and those named as winners will be very deserving of their awards."

It will be the first time the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards dinner will have been be held at Chatsworth.

The Duke of Devonshire, who owns Chatsworth, said: "We are delighted the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards will be held at Chatsworth. Derbyshire has an excellent culinary heritage and I wish all the nominees the best of luck."

Venues are judged on a number of criteria including the quality of food and drink, customer service and use of county produce and acknowledgement of it on menus.

Gary Brockway, director and hospitality specialist at HSKS Greenhalgh, which sponsors the event, said: "The standard of entries into the awards is always of the highest order and we wish all those on the shortlist the very best of luck."

NIGEL Clough admits that cup results have been disappointing in his four years as Derby County manager.

The League Cup has been particularly painful with defeats at the hands of Rotherham United, Crewe Alexandra, Shrewsbury Town and Scunthorpe United.

Clough has yet to win a tie in the competition as Rams boss, although the club's awful history in the League Cup stretches back many, many years and well before his reign at Pride Park started in January 2009.

The FA Cup has been kinder during Clough's time.

He guided Derby to a memorable fourth-round replay win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground a month after he was appointed but the Cup journey was ended by Manchester United in the next round.

Derby reached the fifth round the following season, 2009-10, when they ran Premier League opponents Birmingham City close before losing 2-1.

Last season, Theo Robinson's goal was enough to beat Crystal Palace in the third round but Stoke City just had too much for them in the fourth round.

"I think we have had some tough draws in the FA Cup in Birmingham and Stoke and a lot of it is down to the draw," said Clough ahead of tomorrow's third round home tie against Tranmere Rovers.

"It is not that long ago that we almost reached the quarter-finals," added Clough.

"We played Birmingham in the fifth round and Kevin Phillips scored a late winner for them. We were a bit unfortunate on the day and we didn't do too badly against Stoke last season.

"Most of the disappointing cup results have been in the League Cup rather than the FA Cup, although Crawley Town certainly springs to mind when we got knocked out there in the last minute."

That defeat happened two years ago on a wet and windy night in West Sussex.

Crawley were non-League at the time and Miles Addison looked to have spared the Rams' blushes with an equaliser 18 minutes into the second half, only for Sergio Torres to hit Crawley's winner in time added on.

Only three of the 14 players used by Derby at Crawley are currently at the club – Shaun Barker, John Brayford and Gareth Roberts. Midfielder James Bailey started the game but he is now out on loan at Coventry City.

Tranmere arrive at Derby as League One leaders, having recorded three consecutive wins on the back of a five-goal defeat by Swindon.

Ronnie Moore's team have beaten Braintree Town and Chesterfield to reach this stage and Clough says the draw is as tough as it could have been for Derby outside of meeting opponents from the Premier League and Championship.

"Tranmere are top of League One and we will need to be at our best, or close to it, to get a result," added Clough.

"Ronnie has done a remarkable job there because at the start of the season, Tranmere were not fancied to be up at the top of League One and their budget is not huge.

"It is the sign of a good side to bounce back from a 5-0 defeat like they had at Swindon a few weeks ago.

"Ronnie has got them organised. They have a nice mix of experience and youngsters and they are a good competitive side, so it is going to be tough.

"But the best thing is that we are at home and our home form has been good.

"We have played 13 homes games in the League and the performances have all been of a high standard. We want to keep that going.

"We had a good win against Middlesbrough on Tuesday and we don't want this game to be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show.

"We don't want our standards to drop. It is an extremely important game for us.

"We've told the players not to underestimate Tranmere.

"We cannot afford to do that against anybody."

Clough, of course, has happy memories of the FA Cup from his time as manager at Burton Albion.

The Brewers drew Manchester United in the third round in 2006. They held them to a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium and lost 5-0 in the replay at Old Trafford.

Clough recalls the tie and the moment in the first game at Burton when United were forced to turn to substitutes Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"There were over 30 minutes to go," said Clough. "I remember it was 59 minutes played when we looked at the clock – that was a long old 30 minutes!

"We hung on for a 0-0 and that is a very special memory.

"Saul Deeney made a great save for us right at the end, I think from Wayne Rooney. Somebody headed the ball down and as Saul went one way for the shot, the ball hit him on the leg and stayed out.

"You need a break like that in the FA Cup, although I remember we should have had a penalty. Gerard Piquet came over the top and fouled Shaun Harrad but referee Howard Webb gave the decision the other way!

"When you look at some of the names that played for United that day, some of them are world stars now."

A MOBILITY aid salesman who conned vulnerable people, including Derbyshire pensioners, out of £50,000 is due to be sentenced today.

Darren Sharpe conned his 35 victims, many of whom were elderly or disabled, by working under the company name of Ideal Mobility Solutions.

He mainly mis-sold ordinary mattress covers that he claimed had health benefits for ailments such as bad backs and stiff joints.

They were sold for up to £300 each when they were only worth about £30.

A pensioner in Sunny Hill and an elderly woman in Quarndon paid out £300 each for mattress covers, which were not even delivered.

DC Jennifer Brocksopp, who helped investigate the case, said: "He targeted elderly victims to gain a lot for himself. Victims were distraught that they had been tricked or felt silly for believing this man."

Sharpe, 42, also sold mobility aids such as scooters and stair lifts at an inflated price or did not deliver the goods, while unauthorised transactions from credit cards were taken as part of the scam.

George Withnall, 81, and his 78-year-old wife, Patricia, from Long Eaton, bought a bed from Sharpe in March 2011 at a cost of £1,545.

Their old bed was taken away but the new bed was not what they ordered and was very uncomfortable. They complained but got neither a refund nor their old bed back.

Mr Withnall has arthritis and two crushed vertebrae, while his wife suffers from Parkinson's Disease, thyroid and heart problems.

Mr Withnall said: "The salesman had the gift of the gab and was very forceful. He made out the bed would help cure my back problems.

"The money we spent on the bed was a large part of our savings and as pensioners we could have done a lot with this money. It felt like the earth fell beneath us when we realised we were not going to be getting our money back."

Sharpe, of The Park, Mansfield, has admitted participating in a fraudulent business between January and April 2011 and fraudulent trading dating from April 2011 to January last year.

He also pleaded guilty to nine offences of fraud put to him by Derbyshire police and five fraud offences put by South Yorkshire police.

Derbyshire and South Yorkshire police worked alongside Nottinghamshire County Council's Trading Standards, which instigated the investigation. He will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court.

THE Derby Telegraph's life-saving target of finding 500 new blood donors has been smashed in only two months.

An incredible 753 people across the county have responded to our Save a Life campaign by volunteering to give blood for the first time.

And they have the potential to save more than 2,000 lives – as one donation can help save up to three people.

The new donors have all registered since we launched our appeal on October 31 and 220 others have become life-savers by learning first-aid.

Derby Telegraph editor Neil White said he would like to see even more people become involved.

He said: "Now we want to see if all of our readers can become life-savers in 2013."

Among the first-time blood donors was Sam Ince, whose daughter, Darcey, has had 14 life-saving transfusions.

Sam said: "Darcey would not be here today without blood donors."

SAM Ince will never forget the look of pain on daughter Darcey's face every time her little girl has a blood transfusion.

It was those images which came to Sam's mind as she lay back in a chair and donated blood for the very first time.

Five-year-old Darcey has endured six blood and eight platelet transfusions in a battle against cancer.

Although they cause her daughter pain, Sam also knew the donations of blood were saving Darcey's life.

"Any discomfort I had giving blood was nothing compared to what Darcey has been through," said Sam, 41.

"I was a little bit nervous about becoming a donor but this was overridden by the fact that I wanted to do it – I wanted to give back.

"Darcey would not be here today without blood donors or platelet donors and I knew it was my turn to do the same for someone else."

Sam, of St Edmund's Close, Allestree, is one of 753 people in Derbyshire who has signed up to became a first-time donor since the launch of the Derby Telegraph's Save a Life campaign.

We originally set out, with NHS Blood and Transplant, to find 500 new donors in the county in the run-up to Christmas – and ended up smashing our target in two months.

Another part of our campaign was to turn our readers into life-savers by getting them to learn first-aid skills.

Teaming up with St John Ambulance, we have been offering discounts on the charity's training courses – meaning readers could learn to save lives from just £10.

And more than 200 people have already taken us up on this offer.

Sam – who gave blood for the first time at a donor session at Pride Park Stadium – said: "Before the Derby Telegraph's campaign, I had not really considered giving blood before.

"Darcey's condition has inspired us to do some charity drives and raise money for the organisations which supported her but donating blood is just not something we thought about.

"But I know how important it was for Darcey, which is why I realised it was an important thing for me to do."

Darcey is now in remission after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – cancer of the white blood cells – when aged two.

Her treatment has seen her undergo sessions of chemotherapy and 19 lumbar punctures – to take fluid from inside the lower back – as well as the transfusions. As a result, she has spent most of the past three years in hospital.

Last year, charity Cancer Research UK gave Darcey a trophy as part of its Little Star awards – which recognise the courage of children who have cancer. She also enjoyed the trip of a lifetime in December when she, Sam and her twin brother Harrison were taken to Lapland by charity When You Wish Upon a Star to meet Father Christmas.

Reaching this phase of Darcey's recovery was an important step for both Sam and her husband, Sean, 45 – which was why he also decided to give blood at the same time.

Sam also invited two of her work colleagues from Ashgate Primary School, in Ashbourne Road, Derby, to give blood. Emily Ragan and Dajit Sahota have registered to become donors and hope to give blood later this month.

Sean – who was already a blood donor but had not given for about six years – said: "This campaign has not only prompted Sam to give blood for the first time but actually got me back into doing it.

"I'd given at least 10 times but then, when the kids came along and everything happened with Darcey, I fell out of the habit.

"Donating blood is something which has always been done in my family though. My father had given 44 times, so it was natural I'd take up the opportunity."

Sam said she would definitely give blood again. She added: "It was a bit painful at first but only because my vein was a bit small.

"The blood came through slowly and, most importantly, we got there in the end. I would have been more disappointed if it hadn't worked.

"At the end, I asked if they could donate my blood to the children's E38 oncology ward at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre , which was where Darcey was treated.

"They told me it didn't work like that, as it becomes part of the general stock. But, that's ok, because my blood can now mean there's more available for wards like that."

As a result of the new 753 blood donors coming forward, an additional 2,259 lives can be saved or improved because one donation can be used to help three people.

This is because, when blood is donated, it is usually split into its components – plasma, platelets and blood cells.

Holly Mason, lead donor relations manager for marketing for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We are delighted with the response from the readers of the Derby Telegraph to our campaign.

"We hope that all those who registered take the opportunity to donate blood for the first time and this is the start of many years to come of donating and saving lives.

"And, if you have not yet registered to become a blood, what better new year's resolution could you make than to sign up and save a life?"

Meanwhile, St John Ambulance's regional director, Chris Thornton, thanked the Telegraph for encouraging people to take part in first-aid sessions. Mr Thornton said: "Since the campaign's launch in November, St John Ambulance has trained 220 readers in first aid, which is an incredible result.

"We're thankful to the Derby Telegraph for working with us to raise awareness of this issue, so we can equip more people with these life-saving skills.

"We'll be continuing to run courses into the New Year and hope that we can increase that figure, with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of needless deaths due to a lack of first-aid knowledge."

JEFF Hendrick has been Derby County's star performer in the past five matches, according to manager Nigel Clough.

Hendrick struggled earlier this season to reproduce his form of last season when he won the club's Young Player of the Year award.

The 20-year-old midfielder was taken out of the firing line for the home games against Birmingham City and Cardiff City at the end of November after he had endured a tough afternoon in the 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.

But the youngster has dug deep and stormed back to form.

So much so that manager Nigel Clough described Hendrick's display in Tuesday's victory over Middlesbrough as "imperious".

Clough says the consistency shown by the player in recent weeks has been remarkable.

"It has been, especially after his rough start to the season," added Clough.

"Things started to turn for him against Leeds last month and since then he has looked stronger and six inches taller.

"He looked imperious at times last season and he looked imperious again in the Middlesbrough match.

"He has been our star performer in the last four or five games."

Clough believes Hendrick's resurgence is down to the player rediscovering the physical side of his game.

"Maybe after his first season he thought he could have a little strut around midfield and not get involved in the physical side – the heading, the tackling, the running with and without the ball – all the important things midfielders have to do," said Clough.

"He has just started doing that in the last few weeks, and he looks a different player.

"We can talk to him and other players can help him but as a player you have to get through it yourself. That is where you get your strength of character.

"He has come back brilliantly and it is nice to see.

"He looks a very mature midfielder at the moment."

Hendrick and 17-year-old Will Hughes formed the central midfield pairing in Derby's last two games.

"Look through the Championship or through any professional football and you will struggle to find two such youngsters playing in central midfield," said Clough.

"I am sure a few teams look at us and think the central midfield two are only 17 and 20. I don't think opposition managers and coaches think that but some opposition players might think 'let's get at these two kids' but that doesn't happen.

"They have both got very, very bright futures."

AN influential panel of MPs has called for "greater transparency" into the finances of the rail industry.

In a report published today, the Transport Select Committee said it embraced the Government's quest to make the industry more efficient – something which, on the whole, has been welcomed by Derby's rail industry.

But the report, which sets out the committee's vision for the railway by 2020, has called on Ministers to give up financial information that could reassure taxpayers they were getting value for money.

The Government currently provides a £4 billion subsidy to the UK railway.

An example of its support came last year, when Derby train-operator East Midlands Trains received a £46 million bail-out after making losses which, under the terms of its franchise agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT), made it eligible for taxpayer-funded "revenue support".

On Wednesday East Midlands Trains' passengers were hit by an average fare increase of 4% – above the current rate of inflation.

Unions say this is a "kick in the teeth" to rail users.

Bob Crow, general secretary the RMT union, said: "These inflation-busting fare increases will do nothing other than fatten the profits of the greedy train operators."

Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP said: "There are good economic, social and environmental reasons for the Government to provide a £4 billion subsidy to the railway.

"But to drive efficiency savings across the sector the Government and the regulator must shine a light on complacent management, waste and profiteering by ensuring greater transparency in the finances of the rail industry.

"It is vital we know far more about how public money is spent so that there is confidence it does not leak out of the system in the form of unjustified profits.

"The Government should publish and consult on a clear statement of what the subsidy is for and where it should be targeted. Commercial confidentiality should not be used to block legitimate requirements for information."

Campaigners for Derby train-maker Bombardier would welcome the same clarity when it comes to rolling stock contracts.

When the DfT decided to award the £1.4 billion Thameslink contract to German manufacturer Siemens, instead of Bombardier, the Government defended the decision, saying the Siemens' bid was better value.

But when faced with calls to release figures, the Government said it could not disclose the sums due to "commercial confidentiality".

Also in its report, the committee said it saw "merit" in longer rail franchises – something that suits train-makers like Bombardier as they increase the likelihood of train companies ordering more rolling stock as they would see them as a more long-term investment.

But following the West Coast Main Line debacle, the committee recommends that the letting and management of rail franchises be left to an "arms-length body with more commercial expertise that the Department for Transport".

Last year, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who is also MP for Derbyshire Dales, halted the West Coast franchise competition after "fundamental flaws" were identified in the way bids had been assessed.

The cancellation of the competition will cost taxpayers millions of pounds.

Mrs Ellman said: "A new arms-length franchising body could employ staff with the appropriate specialist and commercial skills required to let and manage effective franchise contracts.

"However, ministers must remain fully accountable to Parliament for the railway."

Meanwhile, Bombardier has secured a £140 million order to supply Germany's Abellio Rail with 35 Talent 2 trains. But the trains will be built at its factory in Hennigsdorf, Germany – not its Derby site.

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WINGER Michael Jacobs has given Nigel Clough food for thought by forming a new-look strike force with Conor Sammon.

Jacobs started up front with Sammon in Tuesday's convincing 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

He scored the opening goal, had a hand in Derby's third and was named man of the match.

Nigel Clough is keen to take another look at the pairing and he is likely to stick with it for today's FA Cup third round tie against Tranmere Rovers at Pride Park (3pm).

Derby started the season with Jamie Ward as Sammon's strike partner before Ward tore a hamstring in September and spent three months out.

He returned to action briefly at Charlton last week only for his hamstring to tighten.

Theo Robinson and Nathan Tyson have been paired with Sammon on occasions and Derby have also used a 4-5-1 formation at times.

But Jacobs' lively display against Middlesbrough has given Clough another option.

"Initially, we started with Conor and Jamie Ward," said Clough. "With Michael up there it's the closest combination we can get to that.

"It is interesting to see Michael up there.

"The way he takes the ball is great. He likes running with the ball and he is not restricted by a touchline like he is when he plays out wide."

Jacobs has made 12 starts since he signed from Northampton Town in the summer and the 21-year-old has scored in each of the last two home games.

Sammon was impressed with Jacobs' performance in the Middlesbrough game.

"I thought he did brilliantly," said Sammon.

"He has had to be patient for his opportunity and he has taken it.

"Playing out wide is his natural position but as a striker he attacks defenders and has got a really good strike on him, as we saw with his goals against Hull and Middlesbrough."

FIREFIGHTERS were called to Mercia Marina tea room earlier today after decorative logs surrounding a wood burning stove ignited.

The Willow Tree log cabin tea room, in Findern Lane, Willington, was closed at the time and no-one was hurt by the small blaze.

Crews from Kingsway and Ascot Drive stations attended the 10m by 5m cabin at about 1.50pm
 

A DONATION to help prevent blindness in Africa has been given in memory of a Derby journalist and trades union activist.

The money was given by the Derby and Burton branch of the National Union of Journalists in memory of blind colleague Mary Beilby, of Long Eaton, who died in August, aged 76. She had been secretary of the branch for more than 25 years and lost her sight in her 40s.

The donation of just over £30, which will help 200 people, was given to the overseas disability charity CBM to help distribute medicine to people in South Sudan who suffer river blindness caused by microscopic worms.

Branch chairman Kevin Palmer said: "Members felt this was something that Mary would have approved of."