FOUR Sheffield Wednesday fans have been given football banning orders for a fight at a Derbyshire pub on the way to a Derby County game.

The men were in the White Lion in Ripley when they became involved in an affray which saw punches, chairs and glasses being thrown. The incident was caught on CCTV.

Watch the video here:

The incident began after Scott Matheson, "who is known to police for his activity related to Derby County", made a comment to one of the Sheffield Wednesday fans – Danny Fields – and then pushed him, before throwing a glass in Fields' direction.

Jonathan Dee, prosecuting, at Derby Crown Court, sitting at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, said: "The violence was instigated by Matheson." However, the court heard Matheson, 27, had been acquitted of committing an offence on November 9 by a jury at Derby Crown Court a few weeks ago.

Handing Fields, 31, and his three accomplices suspended jail sentences, after they admitted affray, Judge Jonathan Gosling said: "You didn't start this incident. I have no doubt about that, but you were ready to take Mr Matheson on and you in the end charged at him, having thrown your beer glass at him in retaliation."

To the others, Jonathan Fisher, 29, Mark Harrison, 44, and Lee Marsden, 38, Judge Gosling said: "You three joined in and laid into Mr Matheson with fists and chairs being thrown. I accept you weren't looking for trouble but this was a sudden and unplanned episode of drunken thuggery."

Fields, of Angel Yard, Saltergate, Chesterfield; Fisher, of Middle Lane, Stannington, Sheffield; and Marsden, of St Matthew's Close, Renishaw, Sheffield, were given nine months in prison, suspended for two years. Harrison, of Delves Road, Killamarsh, Sheffield, who has had football banning orders imposed twice previously, was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

They were given three-year football banning orders, banning them from Sheffield city centre on match days and requiring them to hand in their passports whenever England play abroad.

Fields and Fisher must do 120 hours of unpaid work, Harrison was told to attend an offender behaviour programme and Marsden was given an order to help him with an alcohol problem. They will all be supervised by the probation service for 12 months and must all pay £120 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Following sentencing, PC Roger Brown, football intelligence officer for Derbyshire police, said: "This is a reminder that football-related disorder doesn't just happen inside football grounds or even just in the immediate vicinity. Derbyshire police are committed to reducing disorder – whether football-related or not."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A LEADING councillor battling a plan for up to 400 homes on fields between Allestree and Quarndon says he will try to get the Government to step in if the development gets planning permission.

This would lead to a public inquiry, chaired by a planning inspector, who would make a recommendation to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles on whether the permission should be upheld.

Conservative Councillor Philip Hickson, who represents Allestree, was speaking after developer Catesby Estates made its application for the homes to Amber Valley Borough Council. They would be bordered by Kedleston Road to the east and Memorial Road to the south, just outside the city boundary.

Catesby says the site, which the borough council wants to officially earmark for a housing development, is "ideally located" to deliver much-needed homes.

The plan is controversial, with protesters fearing new homes would cause traffic and flooding problems, and that there would not be enough places in schools and GPs' surgeries for newcomers.

English Heritage and National Trust have both raised concerens over the effect that the Catesby homes could have on the setting of historic Kedleston Hall.

Mr Hickson's plan to involve Mr Pickles is known as "calling in" a planning application.

The leader of the city's Tory opposition party, said: "We will continue to oppose this application and will, if necessary, take steps to ask the Secretary of State to call in the planning application.

"The fact remains that Kedleston Hall and the estate that it is set in is a substantial heritage asset which is one of a kind in the UK.

"Development of the type proposed cannot enhance the setting or contribute to the architectural and landscaped merit of Kedleston Hall so, by its very nature, it will be both intrusive to the surroundings of Kedleston Hall and harmful to its overall beauty and historic value."

Mr Hickson said he and fellow Allestree councillors had already asked if the planning application could be called in – but were told this could not happen unless the borough council had given it permission.

A spokeswoman for Kedleston Hall owner National Trust said it remained "concerned about the potential impact of this scheme on the historic estate landscape".

She said: "We recently raised these concerns through a consultation on Amber Valley's local plan. We will also respond to the current planning application. Amber Valley council has given until early December to do this."

The borough council needs to allow 7,395 homes to be built by 2028 to meet local needs. Mr Hickson said he believed there was an ample supply of both brownfield and greenfield sites in Amber Valley without including the Kedleston site.

A Catesby Estates spokesman said the application had been put together after "many months of careful preparation".

He said: "Our application is supported by robust evidence to demonstrate that a high quality and sustainable development can be achieved and make a positive contribution to the area. There's a pressing need for housing in this location, which is why the borough council has identified the site for housing in its emerging local plan."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A retired gynaecologist who helped thousands of childless couples become parents has died.

Consultant gynaecologist Joe Darne worked at the Royal Derby Hospital until his retirement in 2012.

Mike Cust, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital, paid tribute to his former colleague:

He said: "We're all extremely sad to hear about the death of our former colleague and friend Joe Darne.

"Joe worked as a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Derby for over 20 years.

"He set up and led the fertility services in Derby, developing the new Fertility Unit into the highly successful operation it has now become.

"He helped thousands of childless couples to get pregnant, as well as looking after them during their pregnancies and helping to bring their babies into the world.

"He was an extremely popular and dedicated consultant, and will always be remembered by his patients and colleagues with happy memories and great fondness."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

THOSE going out for Halloween tomorrow will be in for a treat with the weather, according to forecasters, who say the warm spell will continue for a few more days.

The Met Office said no rain was expected for tomorrow night and forecast temperature highs of 18C from noon until 3pm and then 17C from 6pm until 9pm.

A spokesman said: "It looks like Halloween will be very pleasant. There will be some rain earlier in the day but this will clear for the people wanting to go out at night.

"After Halloween, there will be rain on Saturday morning but it will clear at lunchtime and then feel fresher.

"Sunday will be a similar day, with rain in the morning before it becomes fresher and there will be highs of 15C."

Burton weatherman Paul Carfoot said the average temperature for this month had been 11.9C.

But he said, despite the warm weather, this month will not be warmer than October 2001, which had an average of 13C.

"Friday will see more mild weather and bright and sunny spells. Despite this there will be more cloud in the afternoon.

"Temperatures will be 17C and 18C and the wind will be quite moderate. Overnight the temperatures will reach lows of 11C, which is still warm at this time, and there is no sign of any rain."

He said the weekend looked to be cooler and would be the start of more "winter-like" conditions as November arrives.

He said: "On Saturday it will be cloudy with a little light rain and drizzle and then some drier and better spells will arrive by the morning. There will be highs of only 13C, which is lower than what we have been experiencing.

"On Sunday, that rain will clear to sunny spells and a few showers. There will be highs of 12C and the wind will be moderate."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A TEENAGER from Derby who went missing on October 10 has been found safe.

Slovakian man Lubomir Sana went missing from his home address on Belgrave Street in Normanton almost three weeks ago.

The 18-year-old was found in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Officers would like to thank the public for the information received in trying to locate Mr Sana.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A NEWSPAPER chief cited a case in which a council spied on a meeting between its staff and a Derby Telegraph reporter as he raised concerns about the erosion of protection for journalists' sources.

Lord Black of Brentwood, executive director of the Telegraph Media Group, which includes the Daily Telegraph, told the House of Lords about the case during a debate on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), which gives local authorities the right to watch and record people covertly.

The incident was back in 2010 when then local government reporter, Kirsty Green, met current and former employees of Derby City Council at Starbucks in Pride Park.

The meeting, set up as part of an investigation into allegations of wrong-doing at the authority, was uncovered when one of the council's senior staff went in to buy a drink.

He then alerted colleagues back at the Council House to the gathering and they dispatched two members of the internal audit department to conduct the surveillance.

The pair were known to people around the table and were immediately recognised as they lurked outside the café. They left minutes later.

At the time, the council said: "The RIPA process was used on this occasion as an immediate response by individual officers to a set of circumstances.

"Officers acted believing they were protecting the council's interests. It is now clear we no longer need to rely on these powers where matters relate to internal functions of the council."

Lord Black told the House of Lords that confidential sources, like the ones Miss Green was using, were "crucial for day-to-day reporting on matters of public interest".

He said: "In a democratic society, people need to be able to talk to the media about current debates without fear of reprisal or retribution."

Lord Black said the council had spied on Miss Green. He said: "That council used RIPA powers to do that because they give local authorities the right to watch and report people covertly.

"Just think about the disastrous impact on local press reporting of local authorities if such sources of information dried up."

RIPA was ostensibly aimed at helping with things like protecting national security and public health, and detecting or preventing crime.

Speaking yesterday, Miss Green, now a press officer for Nottingham Trent University, said she recalled being shocked by what happened.

The authority originally said it was coincidental that our reporter was there and they were interested in the activities of their own staff.

But it then released details that showed our reporter's role as recorded in the official outcome of the surveillance.

Miss Green said: "I thought the law was intended as an anti-terrorism power. Using it to spy on journalists speaking to contacts is not the reason it was brought in."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A 20-YEAR-OLD man suffered a knife wound to his chest during a fight in a Derby park.

At about 9.30pm on Monday, a 20-year-old man was approached as he sat on a bench in Sunnydale Park off Willson Avenue, Littleover.

An argument broke out which resulted in a fight.

The victim sustained a knife wound to his chest and was initially taken to the Royal Derby Hospital for treatment.

He was later transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham and has since been discharged.

The suspect is described as being slim, in his 20s and wearing dark clothing.

Anyone who was in the area at the time should contact the police on 101 and quote incident number 803 of October 27.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A 24-YEAR-OLD woman was robbed as she walked in the street in Derby.

On Sunday at 1.50pm she was walking along Village Street when she was approached by a man.

He pushed her and grabbed her mobile phone from her hand and then ran off along Village Street and on to St Thomas Road.

He was described as Asian, aged 20 to 25 years old, between 5ft 4ins and 5ft 6 ins tall and was of a slim to medium build.

He had short dark straight hair and was clean shaven.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Paul Taylor on 101.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was assaulted by a man in a Derby street.

The teenage victim was walking in the vicinity of Mill Hill Lane and Gordon Road when she was attacked.

Officers investigating would like to speak to a number of men.

The first is described as tanned, approximately 20 years old, 5ft 6ins tall of a slim build with short dark hair which was shaven at the sides and longer on top.

He was wearing a grey zipped hooded sweatshirt with a white letter on the front and jeans.

The second man is 20 years old with short dark hair and was wearing a dark coloured Nike top.

The third is also described as approximately 20, with short dark hair with a pattern shaved into the side.

He was carrying a red and black bag.

The incident took place on Thursday, October 23, between 6pm and 7.25pm and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Debbie Yoxall on 101.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

THE mother of a teenage cyclist fatally injured in a road collision has made an emotional plea to other riders saying "Please don't do this to your own mums, wear a helmet".

In a statement, Maxx Church's mother, Nikki Blount, said she would "rather you looked like an idiot than look like Maxx did when he died in my arms".

And she said she had read every message of support she and her family had received since the tragedy and that they had been "a welcome distraction to losing my baby boy".

Eighteen-year-old Maxx, of Wolfa Street, died after the bike he was riding collided with an Audi A3 at the junction of Abbey Street and Mercian Way at 6pm on Tuesday.

He sustained serious injuries and died in the Royal Derby Hospital.

Ms Blount said: "I am completely overwhelmed by the number of messages I have received, and the kindness of everyone's words is a huge comfort to me. There is no way I could reply to every single one, but I have read them all and appreciate every single word of comfort.

"Reading messages is a welcome distraction to thinking about how I feel about losing my baby boy.

"Please don't do this to your own mums. Wear a helmet. I'd rather you looked like an idiot than look like Maxx did when he died in my arms.

"My heart goes out to his poor friend, Josh, who witnessed the whole thing and stayed with him until the ambulance came, then waited at the hospital for news.

"I also want to thank all those of his friends who joined Josh to wait for news."

Ms Blount has told police she does not wish to make any further statement to the media at the moment following the death of her son.

Meanwhile, further messages of support and tribute have been paid on social media.

On the Derby Telegraph's Facebook page, Paul Hitchcock said: "I'm extremely sorry for the family.

"I live very close to the scene.

"My 19-year-old son rides to work and back every day and I cannot imagine how the family are coping with this sad news.

"That junction is terrible. I have witnessed and been involved in many near-misses and accidents.

"Please do something before we read about another fatality.

"RIP dear boy."

Another reader to leave a message was Rachel Plimmer.

She said: "RIP such a tragic loss.

"Some of the speed people drive at that junction/road is awful.

"I had a near-incident myself with a taxi driver driving straight through a red light in front of me."

And Lynne Land said: "My sincere condolences to his poor family. My daughter is 18, it's just no age."

A spokesman for Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court said Maxx's inquest was due to open tomorrow morning.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the police on 101.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

THE UK's biggest artificial grass firm was in the pink after rolling out a coloured lawn to raise awareness of the Breast Cancer Campaign.

The Derbyshire LazyLawn team, based at Burton on Trent, took the charity's "look good, do good" motto to heart after donning pink shirts to install the pink turf and took to social media by donating £1 for every like or share on Facebook and Twitter.

The amount raised is still being counted and managing director of LazyLawn Andy Driver said: "We are always keen to get involved with good causes and Wear it Pink is a great campaign to support. Installing the pink turf and having our Derbyshire team wear pink shirts was a fun way to raise awareness of the Breast Cancer Campaign."

Wear it Pink is a cause close to the hearts of the LazyLawn team. Its Derbyshire licensee, Amanda Ford, said: "I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and my twin sister was diagnosed in 2005; we carry the same BRCA gene as Angelina Jolie and both took the decision to have a double mastectomy. Raising awareness is very important to me, so I was keen to get involved in the campaign and we hope to raise as much money as we can for the charity."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

AN organised criminal gang operated a high-security "24-7 drugs shop" in Derby – selling thousands of pounds of heroin and crack cocaine.

The "business director", David Stewart, known as Wolverhampton Yankee, has been convicted of conspiracy to supply the drugs between January and September of last year, along with nine other men and five women.

Adrian Langdale, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court that the case involved the "retail of a large amounts of drugs" to people in Derby through a "well-organised and sophisticated operation".

He said a conservative estimate of the combined amount of crack cocaine and heroin sold by the gang during the nine months was 5kg. But Stewart's lawyer, Pavlos Panayi QC, said this value was an overestimate and close to "pure guesswork".

Stewart, a man of "large stature" being 6ft 6in tall and weighing 25st and described as intimidating, "tightly controlled the gang", said Mr Langdale. "We put him very much at the head and heart of the operation.

"He ultimately controlled the other defendants. He used violence to control this operation."

He added that Stewart had criminal links to the West Midlands and Scotland.

Mr Langdale said Stewart obtained premises by selecting drug-addict customers and would then "bully his way into the premises and take control".

He would then set up his "drug shop", installing CCTV, which would be monitored by a gang member while others acted as lookouts.

Mr Langdale said: "The addresses would be chosen with considerable care – usually flats with at least two sets of doors before access could be gained and preferably on an upper floor with a direct view over the external front door, so the access could be visually monitored and advance warning given."

The drugs shop moved premises frequently, operating from addresses including St Chad's Road, Grange Street and Drewry Court.

Police carried out surveillance on the different premises and an undercover officer, who "ingratiated himself with a number of drug users", visited the "drugs shop" at its various locations on 22 occasions.

During the course of the nine months, officers carried out raids on "active drug shops" and, despite making various arrests and seizing some heroin and crack cocaine, cash and paraphernalia, at no time did they recover a large amount of drugs.

Mr Langdale said this was because "the security system worked sufficiently well", giving them time to dispose or remove the drugs before officers entered.

Mr Panayi argued that this could actually have been because there were never any "large stocks" inside the premises.

In mitigation, Mr Panayi said: "There's no evidence of high profits and no indications of wealth. He's not someone who was living the high life, driving around in fast cars. He employed a motley crew – prostitutes, drug addicts and others who were his friends." He said Stewart himself was addicted to crack cocaine.

All members of the gang are due to be sentenced today.

THE GANG MEMBERS

The following pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

DAVID STEWART, 41, of no fixed address: ring leader

IMOGEN MELLOR, 25, of Mostyn Avenue, Littleover: second-in-command from January to May.

TROY BROWN, 21, of no fixed address: part of inner circle.

RICKY STEADMAN, 28, of City Road, Derby : part of inner circle.

SIMON WRAY, 47, of Parker Street, Derby: part of inner circle.

NICOLA WARD, 38, of Highfields Park Drive, Derby: high-end significant role

BALDEEP BAINS, 25, of Cannock Court, Derby: significant role between June and September and allowed his address to be used.

SIMON WILSONCROFT, 31, of Ashwood Close, Derby: became part of inner circle between April and September.

JOHN WALKER, 53, of Buckland Close, Derby: predominantly responsible for transportation of gang members and drugs and allowed address to be used.

MICHAEL GEORGE, 33, of Mortimer Street, Allenton: significant role but not part of inner circle.

KIRSTY BRATBY, 24, of Elmtree Avenue, Derby: significant role.

NICOLLETTE ATTENBOROUGH, 26, of Bainbridge Street, Derby: allowed her address to be used.

KELLY THOMPSON, 32, of Appian Way, Alvaston: lesser role.

FRANCIS RENNER, 29, of Siddals Road, Derby: allowed his premises to be used.

ALAN SAUNDERS, 51, of Masson Walk, Derby: part of inner circle. He denied the charges but was found guilty after trial.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.