A DERBYSHIRE village has been a victim of a spate of burglaries.

Cash was stolen from a house in Vincent Close, Kilburn, after thieves gained entry through the rear patio doors.

The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday, between 5.30am and 6am.

On the same night, officers were alerted to an incident after a resident disturbed an offender attempting to gain entry into their property by reaching through the kitchen window.

It took place in Mayfield Avenue, where the would-be thief ran off empty handed.

Officers from the local safer neighbourhood team will be carrying out increased patrols in the area and are asking residents to report suspicious activity to them.

PC Neil Hopwell, from the policing team, said: "I would encourage residents to consider their home security to better protect their property from being targeted by thieves.

"Make sure that windows and doors are kept locked, even if you are at home, as is it only takes seconds for an opportunist burglar to get into your property and make off with your valuables.

"If you would like further crime prevention advice or your property security marked then contact us on 101. Anyone with information should also call that number."

A FORMER Derby man has been jailed for 11 years for a string of sexual offences, including rape.

Vincent Baker was found guilty of two counts of rape, one attempted rape, three indecent assaults and one sexual assault, which all took place after he had moved away from Sinfin.

Police say the "catalogue of sexual crimes" happened after he had moved to the Orkney Islands, in Scotland, in the late-2000s.

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said: "We are aware that at Aberdeen High Court, Vincent Baker, formerly of Derby, was convicted of a number of sex offences.

"He was handed an 11-year custodial sentence and placed on the sex offenders' register.

"The offences took place in the Orkney Islands, but we have no further information beyond that as this was an investigation that was led by Police Scotland,"

Baker, 45, of Orkney, was found guilty of rape and an attempted rape.

The High Court, in Scotland, did not reveal how many victims there were or their ages and sexes and their identities are protected by law.

Baker was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Police Scotland, which led the investigation, said it acknowledged the sentence handed down in relation to six charges "including rape, lewd, indecent, libidinous practices and behaviour, attempted rape and sexual assault".

Detective Inspector Scott Macdonald said: "This case came to light following an initial report from one of the victims, which then led to further victims being identified and an 18-month inquiry carried out by local criminal investigation department and uniformed officers based in Orkney.

"The courage shown from the victims in this case should be commended, the perseverance and resilience shown by the victims being required to travel to and from Aberdeen on a number of occasions to give their evidence has undoubtedly assisted in the conviction of Vincent Baker.

"We recognise that victims of crime undergo distressing experiences and we hope that this sentence received by Vincent Baker can give them some sort of comfort and a sense of justice.

"It is hoped that this conviction should give other victims of such sensitive crimes the confidence to come forward safe in the knowledge that their case will be investigated sensitively and thoroughly."

Chief Inspector Les Donaldson, the Chief Inspector for Orkney, said: "As part of Police Scotland, the Orkney command area will continue to pursue anyone engaged in the perpetration of sexual offences against vulnerable victims, utilising the support of specialist team, as we focus on keeping people safe."

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A PILE of rubbish that built up outside flats for older people has been cleared by the city council after the Derby Telegraph stepped in, the manager of the site has said.

Veronica Cornish said the rubbish built up around the bins for Heath Court, in Grampian Way, during the period between Christmas and New Year, when rubbish was not collected by the council.

And the authority has now revealed it expects not to run collections at the same time next year.

The move is to save £100,000 a year towards the millions it needs to trim from its budget each year in the face of cuts to its grant from the Government.

Mrs Cornish said refuse collectors came to pick up the rubbish yesterday but, at first, only emptied two of the site's large bins and not the other two or the rubbish around them.

She said: "There were about 60 or 70 bags piled up. I'm 5ft 2 ins and the pile was taller than me.

"Luckily, because of the time of year, it didn't smell too bad but foxes were getting in and there were sure to be rats."

Mrs Cornish said she had two calls from the council saying that rubbish collectors would be back to pick up the rest of the sacks on Monday. But, after the council had been asked about the situation by the Derby Telegraph, the rubbish was cleared.

She said: "I think it was a reaction to the paper asking questions.

"They said we've got to get another bin and that, if it happened again, they wouldn't be picking the rubbish up."

Mrs Cornish said she would now request another bin for the site from the council.

A council spokeswoman said: "The two weeks after Christmas are our busiest time of year. We run extra vehicles to clear up all the excess waste generated by the residents of Derby. However, we do not have an unlimited number of resources – men and vehicles – to facilitate this clear-up.

"We also have to ensure that the rounds are complete within the crews' working hours and the driver's legally-binding driving hours."

The spokeswoman agreed that Mrs Cornish had originally been told the rubbish would be collected on Monday.

She said: "We emptied two 1,100-litre bins this morning and collected approximately 30 bags of waste that had been thrown both on the floor and on top of these two bins. This took the crew approximately 40 minutes.

"The crew reported that they may not complete their scheduled work for the day if they spent another 40 minutes on site clearing the remainder of the waste. We contacted the scheme manager and explained the situation to her, assuring her that we would return on Monday.

"Due to receiving assistance from other crews, the regular collection round returned and cleared the remainder of the refuse within their working hours."

A LIFELONG Nottingham Forest fan who lives in Derbyshire has avoided a football banning order after making an obscene gesture towardDerby County fans when he ran on to the pitch during a game between the sides.

Twenty-year-old Joshua Brough, of Heanor, ran on to the City Ground pitch during the Forest v Rams match on September 14 and made a crude hand signal after opposition supporters chanted "you fat b*****d" in his direction.

Brough, who hugged another pitch invader before being tackled to the ground by stewards, said he was caught up "in the heat of the moment".

PC Jon Sleigh – who is Nottinghamshire Police's football intelligence officer for Nottingham Forest – said Brough was one of three fans who ran on to the pitch during the game and that the behaviour merited a football banning order, which has a minimum term of three years.

Banning orders had not been sought for the other fans.

He said: "In the last 25 years I have never seen anything like that from Forest fans either at home or away. Had he [Brough] got any closer to the Derby fans there would have been more incursions.

"It's a very, very difficult fixture to police and behaviour such as that makes our job more difficult."

Brough, of Peatburn Avenue, Heanor, told Nottingham Magistrates' Court yesterday that he had gone to the game with his dad and had five pints of lager before kick-off but that he was not "wasted" and could not explain why he had invaded the pitch.

The court also heard that Brough had never been involved in any football-related incidents before.

In his defence, Shabeer Qureshi said: "A football banning order should be used if the court feels it's necessary to prevent any further violence or disorder. A one-off incident would not be enough. It seems rather odd that my client appears to be singled out simply because he's had banter with the Derby fans."

Sentencing Brough, District Judge Morris Cooper said Brough was not deserving of a banning order. 

He said: "It seems to me that the defence was right. The offence did not involve any violence or provocation."

Brough – who pleaded guilty to going on to the playing area at a football match – was fined £150 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

A spokesman for Nottingham Forest said the club would review whether any further action was necessary.

A FORMER world champion boxer has joined the fight to save an award-wining motivational scheme in Derbyshire.

Johnny Nelson has joined Derby fighter Chantelle Reid in urging Derbyshire police to keep OzBox open. The Sky Sports pundit was the undefeated WBO welterweight champion for seven years between 1999 and 2006 and successfully defended his title 13 times.

He said: "Keeping OzBox open in Derbyshire is a very important task. The gym staying open for 2015 and beyond will help thousands of young people in Derbyshire and carry on serving those who have benefited from it so far."

Nelson, from Sheffield, has also taken to Twitter to spread the word. On his page, which has almost 80,000 followers, he tweeted: "Help me to keep OzBox open in Derbyshire. OzBox helps thousands to succeed and support boxing."

More than 900 people have signed a petition to save OzBox.

A separate Facebook page urging Derbyshire police not to stop the scheme has more than 1,350 likes.

Among those who have signed the petition are Derby-based boxer Chantelle Reid, who now represents Great Britain and learned the sport at the OzBox gym in Allenton.

She said: "Since training with OzBox, I have become a European and multi-nations boxing champion. However, how will I reach my goal of becoming a representative for GB at any future Olympics if I have nowhere to train? My friends, family and dreams are at this gym. Please, please don't take it away from us."

Derbyshire police last month announced that OzBox, which has been running across the county for 11 years, will close its doors for the last time on January 31 due to a cut in funding. The scheme offers free boxing sessions to young people and was set up to get them fit and keep them off the streets.

OzBox founder Sgt Steve Osbaldeston was awarded the MBE in June 2011 for starting the scheme. It currently runs nine permanent and five mobile gyms.

Derbyshire police say the scheme is being axed because Big Lottery Fund money which is used to run it comes to an end on March 31 and the constabulary and the county council are being hit by Government austerity measures.

Another person to sign the petition to save the scheme is Tim Vallis, of Belper. He said: "OzBox gives kids something to do, encourages and inspires them, helps with their confidence, motivates them, and improves their social skills and interaction allowing them to build bonds and friendship they wouldn't have done otherwise."

John Spencer, of Ilkeston, has also lent his support to the petition. He said: "My daughter loves OzBox and goes to it every single week. Help!"

Georgia Moore, 15, of Woodville Road, Overseal, has been attending OzBox sessions at Woodville Community Centre for four years. The William Allitt School pupil has started a Facebook page called Save OzBox which so far has 1,491 likes.

She said: "I am overwhelmed by the response I have been getting and hopefully they have had a change of heart because now they know what OzBox means to people."

A HI-TECH engineering firm making parts for the automotive and aerospace industries says it has experienced an "explosion of growth" since moving into a new £6 million factory in Derby.

Composites firm EPM: Technology said it had landed three major contracts in recent months, following its move from Draycott to a 60,000 sq ft purpose-built site in Raynesway.

Revealing details for the first time, managing director Graham Mulholland said the value of the new contracts, over the next five years, was likely to exceed £17 million.

As a result, the company – which makes parts for a number of Formula One cars – is now looking to increase its workforce by almost a third.

Mr Mulholland said: "We've got around 100 employees and that needs to become 130 as quickly, but under control, as possible.

"The move was not without its challenges.

"But we dusted ourselves down and we had an incredibly strong exhibition in November at the NEC in Birmingham, where we were run absolutely ragged.

"On the that back of that, we've really pushed on as a business. The new building has done its job in that it has attracted new business that we wouldn't have got if we had not moved here.

"We've had an explosion of growth."

For confidentiality reasons, Mr Mulholland was not able to name the companies from which it has landed contracts.

However, he could say the first contract was with a German manufacturer and was for 25,000 parts a year.

This will create 10 jobs and will be worth about £1.2million a year.

The second contract will see the company enter the "brave new world of aerospace" where it will make a "rotating part of an aircraft".

The contract will be worth £7-8 million to the company over the next five years, Mr Mulholland said.

And the third contract, worth £800,000 a year, will see the firm make parts for a vehicle being developed for a new race category called LMP3.

Mr Mulholland said it was an exciting time for the company, which started in 1996.

He said: "We've just had the strongest December we've ever had as a business.

"We've outperformed all previous Decembers by 35-40%. Our numbers for January are going to be incredible as well. We're pulling trees up.

"When we were at Draycott, our skips were emptied every three weeks. Here they are emptied every three days.

"We've been forced to move very quickly on our feet.

"I've been getting e-mails with quotes for parts all the way through to 10.45pm.

"We've now got Formula 1, IndyCar, LMP1, LMP2, LMP3 and GT3 all in the building. We've never had that before.

"We are now finding ourselves exporting to Italy, America and Germany. It's happening so quickly."

IN the opinions page of the Derby Telegraph, December 13, Margot Parker UKIP MEP for the East Midlands, agreed with a previous writer saying "politicians are out of touch, their policies are flimsy and often there is nothing to choose between them, hence the apathy and, in some cases total anger and frustration at what is going on".

I would agree with these sentiments but I would include UKIP in the reference to "politicians".

In March 2011, 750,000 people marched in London against the Con-Dem austerity programme. Two weeks later 350 people attended a pro-cuts protest. This was organised in part by UKIP and was addressed by Nigel Farage. At one point, people chanted: "What do we want? Cuts! When do we want them? Now!"

One of the most vocal supporters of the rally, the author Toby Young, apologised for missing it because he had a previous engagement at a pirate exhibition.

It seems to me that UKIP are as much out of touch as all the others.

UKIP is led by a former stockbroker and bankrolled by millionaires.

So what is the Commons voting record of UKIP's newest MP, Tory defector Douglas Carswell?

He voted for: £9,000 a year tuition fees; the bedroom tax; reducing the rate of corporation tax; ending financial support to 16-19-year-olds in further education and training; the privatisation of Royal Mail; restricting the scope of legal aid; capping civil service redundancy payments; privatising forests...

He voted against: a bankers' bonus tax; restrictions on fees charged to tenants by letting agents; a mansion tax; equal gay rights; raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices; slowing rise in rail fares...

Not much support for the working and middle classes here then!

UKIP are just another establishment party and will offer no way out for ordinary people in next May's elections.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) opposes all cuts to jobs and services and calls on councils to use their reserves to prevent the immediate cuts to our services.

They should then launch a mass campaign to win funds from central government to meet the needs of the local community.

TUSC is aiming to stand nationally in over 100 parliamentary seats and 1,000 council seats next year on the programme above.

We aim to offer a real alternative to all the establishment parties.

Charlie Taylor

Derby TUSC

DERBY has been left with an 8.5-acre headache following supermarket giant Tesco's decision to scrap plans for a new supermarket.

Yesterday, the troubled chain informed the city council that, because of its recent poor financial performance, it had decided to abandon its plan to build the 60,000 sq ft store in Osmaston Park Road, near Spider Island, Allenton.

The store, which would have been built on the site of Allenton Market, the Mitre pub, empty retail units and a handful of houses, would have created between 300 and 400 jobs.

But in a letter to Derby City Council leader Ranjit Banwait, Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said that the firm was unable to proceed with the project.

Tesco had been planning to build the store in Osmaston Road for a number of years. It originally received permission for the development in 2011.

But it has decided not to push ahead with 49 planned developments – of which the Allenton store is one. It is understood that a proposed Tesco in Shirebrook in the north of the county has also been scrapped.

In his letter, Mr Lewis wrote: "As you will have read in the media, our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be.

"As a result, the financial resources we have available for new investment are severely constrained and we have had to critically review all current and future investment decisions.

"It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that we are unable to proceed with 49 new planned store developments across the country, including our planned store in Allenton.

"I am very sorry that we have not been able to deliver the investment that we intended.

"I know this news will be a real disappointment to many people in your community and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received for our plans."

The scheme could have seen the current outdoor Allenton Market, which has about 90 stalls, replaced with a permanent indoor one with 65.

Tesco said the building would have had a cafe and attractive public space outside.

But Andy Allsop, treasurer of Allenton Market Association, said: "They were going to open it every day instead of two or three days a week, there were going to be fewer stalls and it was going to be covered.

"Really it would have been like a little shopping centre which we didn't want.

"It's a traditional open-air market, the only one in Derby and we want it to stay that way.

"Tesco would have hit business for some of the smaller shops nearby and I think they will be pleased about it."

Blair Pepper, 76, who has lived in Osmaston Road, since 1961 said Tesco pulling out was "brilliant news".

He said: "The traffic would have been mayhem and it was going to be a 24-hour store so it would have been continual.

"They are already building an Aldi near here, there's a Co-op beyond Spider Island and one in Osmaston Road. Did we really need another supermarket?"

The question facing the city council now is what can be done with the site, parts of which have become an eyesore.

Tesco has said it plans to "work closely" with the council "to find the right solution".

Councillor Martin Rawson, deputy leader and cabinet member for planning, environment and regeneration, said: "We are extremely disappointed that plans for a new Tesco store at Allenton have been cancelled.

"We will continue to work with Tesco and other partners to try to find an alternative use for the site, as soon as possible."

When asked about the site, a spokeswoman forDerby Homes, the city council's social housing arm, said: "Derby Homes are working with Derby City Council to investigate all feasible options for the future provision of social housing."

Russell Rigby, of Derby-based commercial property specialists Rigby and Co, said: "It's a shame that Aldi have committed to a new store in Coleman Street. The Tesco site would have been preferable for discount food retailing.

"That said, I envisage a smaller scheme will be created eventually with probably some housing above the retail."

Tesco has had a traumatic last 12 months, which started with the revelations that it had overestimated its half-year profits by £250 million.

In a trading statement issued yesterday to the London Stock Exchange, Tesco announced a number of cost-cutting measures.

These included the closure of 43 unprofitable stores – a "significant proportion" of which will be convenience shops. It is not yet known if any of these are in Derby. It also intends to close its staff pension scheme. 

TESCO TAKES ON COMPETITORS WITH 'NICER ENVIRONMENT IN-STORE 

A DERBY business expert said bosses at Tesco were attempting to take on their competitors by creating "nicer environments" in their stores.

Charles Hancock, senior lecturer in marketing and sustainable business at the University of Derby, said he felt Tesco had faced "the biggest knocking over the last three years" of all the major supermarket chains.

But he said it appeared its bosses were taking action to impact on the threat from German discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl.

Mr Hancock said: "The German discounters have swiftly taken market share and seized the opportunity during the period of recession – offering customers food at an affordable price.

"The larger supermarkets will have to work hard on their relationships with suppliers to maintain good prices and ensure they can meet customers' demands, because the customer has shown they are shifting allegiance and shopping around.

"Tesco is shifting its offer and now providing nicer physical environments, stepping it above the other stores. Their fruit and vegetable offerings now resembles a market stall and they have also reorganised their home offerings with much more of a department store feel.

"These differences are where Tesco is taking on both its immediate competition and the recent German stores – by differentiating itself.

"The drop in petrol prices will also draw the customers back to the large stores, with customers opting to take advantage of the discounts – especially with Tesco's saving of up to 20p per litre."

But Mr Hancock said Tesco were not alone in the supermarket price war. It comes after Asda said it would commit £300 million to lowering prices in the first quarter of 2015, while Sainsbury's said it would lower prices on 1,000 products by investing £150 million this year.

Mr Hancock said: "The large supermarkets have been hit hard by the smaller German stores and there has been a shift in the customer base. Many new customers who previously wouldn't have shopped in Aldi or Lidl have swapped allegiance, enjoying the cost discounts available for quality produce.

"These stores have undercut the large-format superstores by keeping operational costs low, with less frills in terms of the physical environment – but providing the customer with what is needed since money in the pocket has been tight over the last three years.

"But, going forward this year, I think people will shift to shopping both in the discounted stores – yet also maintain their shopping in the larger supermarkets." 

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DERBY Collegewill unveil its new £3.1 million extension to the Joseph Wright campus at an information event tomorrow afternoon.

The four-storey extension has brought all the creative arts faculty under one roof, with vocational arts staff and students moving from the Roundhouse campus to the centre in Cathedral Road.

The new facilities include specialist art studios as well as equipment for print-making, photography, ceramics and industry-standard IT facilities,.

Prospective students are being invited to the information day, which will include taster activities, demonstrations and presentations.

The centre was Derby College's first major building project in September 2005 and was then expanded in 2008 due to high demand for courses.

Funding for the extension has come from a £1 million Skills Funding Agency grant, with the remainder from the sale of land at the former site in Prince Charles Avenue, Mackworth.

The event is taking place between 2pm and 4pm.

THE following people have all appeared before magistrates charged with watching television without a licence:

GILLIAN Stevenson, 57, of Alexandra Gardens, Derby, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 2.

KELLY Stuart, 35, of Wheatley Avenue, Somercotes, was fined £37 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on June 26.

CLAIRE Sutton, 46, of Oxford Street, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 3.

VIKKI Szemruk, 26, of Dodburn Court, Sinfin, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 7.

DOMINIC Szperka, 34, of Somerset Street, Chaddesden, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 8.

ISABELLA Tancogova, 41, of Chatsworth Street, Derby, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence between February 10 and March 11.

LINDSEY Tebbitts, 22, of Alfred Street, Alfreton, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 10.

ASHLEIGH Thomas, 21, of Chalkey Close, Alvaston, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on March 5.

JULIAN Thompson, 49, of High Street, Chellaston, was fined £37 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on March 17.

DOUGLAS Thornhill, 33, of Victory Avenue, Ripley, was fined £37 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence between August 8 and September 9.

AIMEE Thornton, 24, of Marlborough Road, Allenton, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 7.

DANIELLE Thrower, 24, of Halstock Drive, Alvaston, was fined £400 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £40 victim surcharge for an offence between May 27 and June 28.

ANNE-MARIE Toal, 32, of Cheviot Street, Derby, was fined £400 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £40 surcharge for an offence on July 17.

ZOE Todd, 21, of No Man's Lane, Risley, was fined £37 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on July 4.

ALAN Upton, 59, of Holcombe Street, Derby, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence between April 7 and May 8.

WAYNE Wadsworth, 41, of Luccombe Drive, Alvaston, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence between January 29 and February 20.

FAY Watson, 36, of Frederick Avenue, Ilkeston, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £120 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for an offence on April 30.

AN 84-year-old woman who fell at the Derby care home where she lived died as a result of an accident, a coroner has ruled.

Joyce Harrison was found lying on the floor outside her room at Elvaston Lodge Residential Home, in Alvaston Lane. An inquest heard she had dementia and had experienced "recurrent falls" at the home in the lead-up to the accident.

The hearing was told that she suffered a brain haemorrhage as a result of the fall on August 12, her condition deteriorated while she was in hospital and she died six days later. A post-mortem examination found she died from bronchial pneumonia brought about due to the head injury suffered in the fall.

Louise Pinder, assistant coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, said she was satisfied staff at the home had done all they could to prevent Mrs Harrison from falling.

A BULLY who was previously jailed for trying to gouge a woman's eye out with a teaspoon has now been sentenced to three years in prison for threatening to kill her while squeezing her throat.

David Bell, 39, made this threat to the woman, as well as slamming her head against a wall and throwing her onto the sofa, while at her home in Derby.

As well as admitting making threats to kill, Bell pleaded guilty to being in breach of a restraining order and not complying with the notification requirements of a sexual offences order. This latter offence related to an order imposed in 2009, when he was convicted of sexual activity with a child, that he must register his address with the police, which he failed to do.

Derby Crown Court heard that Bell had only been released from prison two months prior to the latest attack in December. He had been ordered not to contact the woman.

Recorder Timothy Raggatt QC said: "You have an appalling record – it stretches back to the mid-1990s. You continually commit offences for damage, for violence, you have a conviction in 2009 for an unpleasant sexual offence with a child under 16 and were placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

"You have a persistent history of domestic violence, when you assault girlfriends and partners."

He told Bell he accepted that he had not actually intended to kill the woman but "you behaved in such a violent way that you convinced her the threat was absolutely real and you terrified her".

Recorder Raggatt said that Bell,

of no fixed address, had indicated he had no intention of obeying orders imposed by the court and the only way to make him learn was to hand him a significant sentence.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said Bell had been jailed on August 11 for criminal damage and battery.

"He assaulted her (the woman) with a teaspoon – tried to gouge her eye out," said Mr Thomas.

Bell was released from prison on October 10 and sometime later was in contact with the woman after she sent a Facebook messagethis ok to include?.

Then one evening last month at her home address, Bell became violent.

Mr Thomas said this involved "pulling her hair, slamming her head into a wall and throwing her on the sofa".

He said: "During the course of the assault he said he was going to kill her. He was in drink and applied pressure with his hand to her throat. She said she couldn't breath and repeatedly begged him to let go."

She went to the police the following day to report it.

Roger Wilson, in mitigation, said: "When in drink he commits stupid and nasty offences."

Your Derby Telegraph has joined forces with Capital FM Arena Nottingham to offer readers a chance to see the much loved BBC show live!

Readers will have the chance to experience Strictly's glitz, glamour and breath-taking choreography in this supersized arena spectacular, as some of the celebrities and professional dancers from the latest series of the BBC hit take to the dance floor to recreate their dazzling moves.

With the likes of Caroline Flack, Frankie Bridge, Mark Wright, and Alison Hammond signed up to the tour, it's sure to delight and entertain fans of all ages.

How to Enter: To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the matinee performance on January 21, simply answer the following question, complete the entry form, and submit your entry.

Question: Which of the following celebrities was the first contestant to leave the most recent series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing?

Answers:

A. Greg Rusedski

B. Greg Wallace

C. Greg James

Closing date for all entries is noon on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.

Terms and Conditions: Local World Promotions Rules apply. By entering, you are agreeing to receive occasional SMS messages from Local World informing you of promotions, offers and services. You will not be charged for receiving these messages, and you may opt out by texting STOP to the originating number at any time. Text entry into this competition is available via information printed in the Derby Telegraph on Saturday, January 10, 2015. The Winners will be the first five correct entries drawn at random from all SMS and online entries received before the closing date and will each win a pair of tickets to see the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour at the Capital FM Arena Nottingham at 2.30pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Strictly one winner per household. Prize cannot be transferred. No cash or alternative prize will be offered. No transport or accommodation is provided as part of this prize. Entrants agree that, in the event they are drawn as a Winner, their details may be passed onto Capital FM Arena in order that they may be contacted and their prize arranged. Capital FM Arena will only use Winners' details for administrative purposes related to this competition. Winners will be notified via phone within two working days of the competition closing. Winners' tickets will be held at Capital FM Arena Box Office for collection prior to the event. Photographic identification will be required to collect the prize. Promoter: Capital FM Arena

JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink expects to trim his Burton Albion squad next week – with Ian Sharps and Lee Bell two players set to leave the Pirelli Stadium.

The experienced duo were told at Christmas they were going on the transfer list, with both linked with moves to Mansfield Town, among others, in the last week.

No move has yet materialised for either but that could change next week.

"It's an ongoing process," said Hasselbaink, who has already snapped up Dutch-Bosnian defender Stefan Maletic.

"We are waiting at the end of the phone.

"We've had certain enquiries and I think certain things will happen after the weekend.

"Nothing is set in stone yet, but there have been a few enquiries."

Sharps, 34, and Bell, 31, have been loyal servants to the Brewers but Hasselbaink has decided it is time for them to move on.

He says their reaction to being transfer listed is spot-on – and exactly what he expects of a model professional.

The Brewers chief also reckons both players will do a good job for another club.

"They've been brilliant putting the work in," he said.

"I can't say a bad word about them.

"It's just one those things that I have to do to take it forward.

"It's unfortunate and it's nothing to do with their attitude, which has been absolutely magnificent and still is now.

"For instance, they played on Wednesday in the reserves and normally they would've got Thursday off but they had to come in and work with the other boys and they did well.

"They are good lads and good professionals and they will make another club very happy I think. They will be able to do a good job."

As for players coming into the Pirelli, Hasselbaink is still looking at various targets but will not move just yet.

"We're always looking for other ins but I think we need to just concentrate at the moment on what we've got and look at what we can do and take it from there," he added.

IT appears that asylum seekers are now being let into Britain without the Government making any background checks.

This means that many "undesirables" – those with criminal records, are being given shelter over here.

Believe it or not, this includes murderers, rapists and child abusers.

This sorry state of affairs was admitted by the Home Office Minister, Lord Bates.

Apparently the Government has decided not to examine a person's background, be it criminal or otherwise, in case it causes problems for them in their home country. It is no wonder that British people have been attacked and even murdered by those we welcome into our society.

The Government, in its wisdom, feels it is sufficient for would be asylum seekers to voluntarily declare whether or not they have a criminal record. Needless to say, these declarations are not corroborated.

This sorry state of affairs runs contrary to the Government's own stipulations. Its "Life in the UK" handbook declares that citizens should "respect the rights of others..." and "treat others with fairness". Where is the fairness in all of this? One might ask whether or not Mr Cameron's Government is looking after us or simply looking the other way!

Colin Murphy

Wembley Gardens

Mackworth

WORK to redecorate, rewire and fit new lights at Derby Cathedral – costing more than £500,000 and funded with the help of the Government – is due to start after Easter.

Last year, the cathedral received cash from the First World War Centenary Cathedral repair fund – set up as part of the 2014 Budget in recognition of the "powerful symbol cathedrals are of Britain's shared history".

On top of the £535,000 they received for essential maintenance work, members of Derby Cathedral also launched a £40,000 appeal to raise money for its redecoration.

And they have already collected £29,000 in eight weeks.

The cathedral has now appointed a new chapter steward – whose job it will be to act as administrator for the building, its 30 staff and 250 volunteers – to oversee the "extensive upgrading".

Rachel Morris will take up the position on January 19 and be made a member of the cathedral foundation on January 25.

Dr John Davies, the Dean of Derby, said: "This is a very positive time for the cathedral – we have new people arriving with fresh ideas and a fresh vision for the building.

"We were obviously pleased to win the bid for funding – it was terrific news at the time.

"And people have also been very generous over the past few weeks, helping us towards our target so we can help make the cathedral look as clean and fresh as possible again.

"Over the Christmas period, nearly 10,000 people attended services and events at the cathedral, which shows how clearly valued and supported the place is."

Dr Davies said the upgrade included new lighting, new wiring, a new boiler and decoration of the main space.

He said: "The lighting at the cathedral is good but more is needed to lighten the ceiling and give it a fresher feel. The wiring won't last the decade and the boiler is on its last legs.

"The decoration is a bit tired too, so, when it's all done, everything will look much cleaner and brighter.

"The money received from the bid will go towards the rewiring, new lights and boiler but the cathedral is paying for the redecoration, hence why we launched the appeal.

"People have made donations and we have held several events to raise money, so we are just so grateful to everyone who has contributed so far."

Dr Davies said Ms Morris was appointed as chapter steward after doing a similar job at YMCA Derbyshire.

He said: "Rachel will be a great asset to the cathedral, given her strong track record of administrative skill, financial awareness and business acumen."

To find out more about the cathedral's appeal and how to support it, contact Derby 341201.

A "LEGENDARY" school teacher and basketball player will have a sports hall named in his memory.

PE teacher Clarence Wiggins worked at Noel-Baker School, Alvaston, and died last month, aged 58.

He taught for 30 years and had a formidable reputation as a basketball player and was a coach at Derby Trailblazers.

Friend and colleague Matt Shaw, who teaches at the club and school, said naming the sports hall after Mr Wiggins was a "fitting idea".

Mr Shaw, 36, said: "It's very special because he was such a special teacher to so many people across Derby. He was legendary.

"A lot of the pupils will really miss him so to have a hall named after him will be great. It's what the school wants to do to pay tribute.

"The atmosphere at the school has been sad but a lot of people have been sharing tributes to him.

"Pupils have also been upbeat when talking about Clarence and sharing nice comments and memories about him.

"There have been assemblies about him and what people have said has been great. Everybody has been helping each other stay positive."

The coroner's office at South Derbyshire Coroner's Court revealed yesterday Mr Wiggins died of natural causes and an inquest will not be held into his death.

Mr Wiggins is to be buried in America this month but Mr Shaw said a memorial event would be held in a few weeks in Derby, although official plans have not been revealed.

Although he made Derby his home shortly after coming to play basketball in the city in 1983, his widow, CJ Marriott, has decided that his body should return to North Carolina, where he grew up.

Mr Shaw said "hundreds and hundreds" would attend the memorial service.

He said: "It will be good to celebrate what was a fantastic life and I expect it to be packed.

"He will be buried in America and we entirely respect that. But it will be nice to do something in Derby for people to pay their resects."

Derby Telegraph content editor Rachel Butler was in Mr Wiggins' form at Noel-Baker from 1999 to 2004. She said Mr Wiggins was one of her favourite teachers.

She said: "It's a lovely idea and is very fitting. Clarence meant a lot to many people who went to Noel-Baker and who still go there now, and this is a wonderful way to keep his memory alive for future generations."

A Facebook page set up to pay tribute to Mr Wiggins has attracted more than 3,800 likes.

Eddie Wynne said: "Brilliant bloke. So much respect for him, because he gave you so much too. Rest in peace Mr Wiggins."

Hazel Devils-angel Binding said: "The privilege is all ours to have had such an outstanding and inspirational man in our lives. R.I.P Mr Wiggins."

Emily Evans said: "Amazing teacher and person. RIP you will never be forgotten. Love and thoughts are with your family xxx."

Sarah Marsh said: "Fly with the angels. A great man taken too soon. Thank you for touching my boys' hearts xx"

Kerri Pearch said: "His memory will live on in many hearts forever. Good night and god bless Sir xx"

Tracey Day said: "R.I.P Mr Wiggins. My blessings go out to your wife and family x"

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THE chief executive of Derby City Council, Adam Wilkinson, is to take voluntary redundancy – leaving the leader of the Tory opposition "saddened and concerned".

Mr Wilkinson's shock departure will cost taxpayers about £140,000 – £100,000 in compensation and about £40,000 pay in lieu of notice.

He was one of the main players behind major city projects like Pride Park's Derby Arena and Infinity Park, Sinfin, which will create up to 8,000 jobs.

Now opposition councillors say they fear the pace of regeneration in Derby will stall with Mr Wilkinson's departure.

And Tory opposition leader Councillor Philip Hickson said he believed Mr Wilkinson's job was being "made impossible" by the current Labour leadership.

Mr Wilkinson will officially leave his post on January 31, but it is understood he will take "special leave" until then and he will not return to the Council House.

A statement from the city council said he had decided to take voluntary redundancy on the back of a need "to reduce the number of senior management roles and reconfigure responsibilities".

The comment has inevitably raised questions over whether the council plans to operate without a chief executive.

The statement added: "In respect of the terms agreed for Mr Wilkinson's exit, the council's external auditors have been informed and are content, as are we, that the value for money test is being met.

"He will receive three months' pay in lieu of contractual notice and a compensation payment of £100,000.

"These payments are well within the affordability test that the council applies when considering all voluntary redundancy applications."

Mr Wilkinson, who may look to take a job in another sector, was on about £160,000 a year, so the three month's pay will amount to about £40,000.

Council leader Ranjit Banwait said: "Adam has served the council and the city for over five years, and leaves a positive legacy of regeneration across the city.

"He has recognised that his departure at this stage will enable the council to undertake a more fundamental review of its options for the future shape of its senior management structure that will be required to meet the challenges that lie ahead."

This is a reference to the authority needing to save £69 million in he next three years.

Mr Hickson said he was "extremely saddened and concerned Adam is leaving".

He said: "Adam is a very talented, capable, and motivated chief executive who has transformed this council from where it was to where it is now.

"I don't feel surprised if Adam doesn't want to be part of the Mickey Mouse administration currently in charge at the Council House.

"The council will now stall and possibly go backwards. Adam raised the profile of the city and to a considerable degree was instrumental in most of the positive things that have happened at the council in the past five years.

"I think the Labour leadership made his job impossible. I think they treated him in a disrespectful and unprofessional way."

Mr Hickson said this had involved moving him out of his office, cutting him out of decision making processes and not inviting him to meetings where he should have been.

Labour group spokesman, Councillor Baggy Shanker said there was "no need to respond to Mr Hickson's comments".

Mr Hickson said he believed the £100,000 seemed a "fairly low" settlement for someone of Mr Wilkinson's calibre.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Hilary Jones said Mr Wilkinson's departure made her wonder if the council might be considering operating without a chief executive.

She said: "It's happened in other councils in the country.

"My guess is that perhaps it might work at smaller councils, a small borough for example, but I think it would be more problematic at a larger council because we've got such a varied range of services."

Mrs Jones added: "He's been a figurehead for the city for many years so I'm sure it will have a negative impact on the city's regeneration."

Neither UKIP city councillor was available for comment.

Mr Wilkinson took over as chief executive from Ray Cowlishaw in 2009, and, according to council figures, his pay has not risen since then – despite agreeing a three-year extension to his contract in May 2013..

He was earning about £18,000 a year more than Mr Cowlishaw though he took a pay cut, thought to be in the region of £10,000, when he left his previous position as interim director of neighbourhood services for York Council.

His focus was to be on regeneration, which had dominated his previous 26-year career in local government and was the reason he was drawn to take up the role.

His tenure in Derby was marred by major cuts to the council's services in the face of austerity. Between 2010 and early December last year, the council lost 1,051 full-time equivalent posts through voluntary redundancy and 153 through compulsory job losses.

And, in December, the authority announced another 256 full-time equivalent posts were to go.

But Mr Wilkinson was heavily involved in a string of major projects aimed at improving Derby. It is a legacy that included the controversial £32 million revamp of the city's Council House and the soon-to-be-opened £27.5 million Derby Arena at Pride Park.

Work has also started on the first phase of Infinity Park, Derby, a 250-acre commercial and technology park aimed at providing a home for high-tech companies, particularly those involved in advanced manufacturing and engineering.

Other significant regeneration moves during his tenure have included the £3 million refurbishment of the former magistrates' court, Full Street.

He also oversaw the £1 million revamp of the point in the city centre where East Street, St Peter's Street and St Peter's Churchyard meet, now known as St Peter's Cross, putting in new paving, lighting and benches.

CITY MORE OPEN ON PAYMENTS THAN WAS DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

THE city council's decision to make Adam Wilkinson's redundancy settlement immediately public is in stark contrast to what recently happened at Derbyshire County Council.

It was finally revealed in June last year that the authority's ex-chief executive, Nick Hodgson, received a £219,000 golden goodbye after he left the authority 12 months earlier.

The Derby Telegraph had been pushing for the figure to be revealed since his departure was first announced.

In April, the Labour-led county council appealed against a decision from the Information Commissioner that details of Mr Hodgson's pay-out should be made public.

The authority had always maintained that the figure would appear in its annual accounts in June as it was obliged to by law.

Mr Hodgson clocked up 38 years at Derbyshire County Council – 16 of them as chief executive.

He was replaced by Ian Stephenson, who is on a lower salary.

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THE windy weather is set to continue this weekend with winds of up to 50mph expected across Derbyshire.

Forecasters say today will see a combination of strong gusts of wind, heavy rain as well as sunny spells – typical "unsettled" weather for this time of year.

And temperatures are set to be "noticeably colder" this afternoon, falling from 12 degrees to as low as four.

Mark Wilson, meteorologist for the Met Office, said: "What we are seeing is a heavy band of rain coming from the north.

"The winds won't be as strong as they have been in places such as Scotland but the weather will be unsettled."

Tonight, Derbyshire is expected to see a further drop in temperatures to as low as freezing in rural parts of the county.

Mark added: "It will feel pretty cold for anybody going out in Derby on Saturday evening."

However, the outlook for tomorrow is a brighter picture.

The Met Office is predicting a dry day with maximum temperatures of seven degrees.

Mark said: "Sunday is going to be a generally dry day in Derbyshire, milder than Saturday. There will be wet patches but there will also be brighter spells too."

Next week is expected to be another unsettled week, with a variety of heavy rain, sunny intervals and cloudy spells.

The Met Office said frost was also possible on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, with temperatures as low as zero degrees.

Paul Carfoot, amateur weatherman based in Burton, also said the "unsettled, mild to cool, windy at times theme" would continue this week.

He said the bright spells tomorrow would be replaced by cloud and rain on Monday.

He said Tuesday would feel colder but would be bright with wintry showers.