A rare 18th-century diary, documenting the tales of Captain Skottowe, has been sold at auction. The 240-year-old diary was written by Skottowe when he was commanding the East Indies trading ship Bridgewater and was sold at auction for £4,900. It was found during a house clearance in Burton by Charles Hanson, owner of Hanson Auctioneers in Etwall. Mr Hanson, who is pictured with the diary, said: "It was just written paper from the 18th century but the context, voyage, the journey and the love it gave the audience of buyers is fantastic and that is what happens when history talks."

THERE is an ever-growing list of rich people saying if the "mansion tax" becomes law they will leave the UK.

Let them leave as quick as possible. Among the many things when this happens, let the councils buy these mansions at a fixed market price, less a discount for quick sales. Turn them all into flats, houses in the large grounds.

It would not cure the housing shortage but it would help to solve some problems of moving ordinary people into smaller properties, leaving larger ones for families.

D G Betts

Ashley Street

Derby

MORE than 2.6 million people in the UK live with coronary heart disease.

Everyone has a heart which means every one of us is at risk of having heart problems.

February is the British Heart Foundation's Heart Month, which aims to make people a little bit more aware of the problems that can occur and the sort of things each of us could to reduce the risk of ending up in hospital and seeing someone like me.

One of the main things many people worry about is chest pain and whether or not it means they are having a heart attack.

This is a reasonable concern and should be discussed with your GP, if not a cardiologist.

Chest pain can be due to heart problems but there are number of non heart issues that can cause discomfort, such as muscular pain, indigestion, infections, anxiety & blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli).

Chest pain due to heart problems can be due to:

Angina: This is chest pain or shortness of breath which occurs because the fuel pipes to the heart (coronary arteries), are narrower than they should be due to cholesterol building up inside the artery.

Heart attack: This occurs if one of the arteries becomes blocked, as a result a certain area of the heart doesn't receive any blood and the heart muscle starts to die. It depends on the amount of muscle that dies whether the heart can continue working and whether the person survives.

The symptoms of a heart attack normally include chest pain – but not always.

People can feel unwell, short of breath, sweaty and feel they want to vomit. The pain/heaviness can travel into the shoulder, down one or both arms and up into the neck and jaw.

These can all occur with no previous history of heart problems and you should call 999 if you have these symptoms lasting longer than 10 to 15 minutes.

Why do people have heart problems?

We are all obviously aware about the risks of smoking, bad diet and lack of exercise but there are some things we cannot do anything about, such as:

Family history If your parents and siblings have had a heart attack, stents put in or a bypass operation below the age of 65, this will increase your risk. Episodes in other family members, such as grandparents, uncles and cousins, are relevant but not as significant.

High cholesterol Cholesterol is an important component in the body and we could not live without it. However, cholesterol also causes problems by building up in our arteries and causing issues like angina and heart attacks. However, a person's cholesterol level isn't completely due to their diet (although eating deep fried Mars bars every day won't help!). Most of the time it depends on how a person's body deals with the cholesterol. Two people can have exactly the same diet but very different cholesterol levels. But you should try to have a sensible low cholesterol diet, especially if there are concerns about heart problems. A good diet can reduce your cholesterol by up to 30%. If your starting cholesterol is above seven or you have a number of risk factors or have heart problems, you will normally need tablets to help reduce your cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure. Over a period of time, having a persistently high blood pressure results in damage to just about every organ in the body. It puts you at higher risk of having a stroke, can lead to blindness, damages the liver, kidneys and spleen and puts you at higher risk of having a heart attack.

Diabetes Here your body doesn't manage the level of glucose well. High glucose levels for long periods of time can damage every organ in the body, from your brain, eyes, heart, gut, liver, kidneys, immune system, nerves & blood vessels.

Next week: What can we do to prevent a heart attack?

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A DERBYSHIRE donkey sanctuary is to hold a lunch to raise money for its residents.

The Derwent Valley Donkey Sanctuary, in Cromford, will be serving homemade soup on Saturday, February 28.

The event, in Cromford Hill, will run from 11.30am to 2pm.

There will be a choice of homemade soups, each served with a cob, plus tea or coffee.

There will also be the opportunity to select two books from a large selection to take home. The lunch and books cost £4.50.

All proceeds will be used for the care of the sanctuary's old donkeys and ponies

MEMBERS of Derby Phoenix Swimming Club have backed moves by the charitable trust that runs Lonsdale swimming pool in Mickleover to find another site to build a new pool.

The swimming club, which is based at Lonsdale Pool, has been established for 50 years

Lonsdale Swimming and Sports Trust Ltd is looking for a 1.5-acre site to build a new £4 million 2,500 sq m leisure centre with an eight-lane 25m length pool, a 200-seat viewing area and a second training pool. They also plan to include a gym and fitness studio in the centre.

This will replace the ageing 45-year-old pool, which is currently the base for a number of local schools and clubs, as a venue for swimming lessons for about 600 children a week and for members of the public.

The pool's extensive running costs are currently supported with £100,000 a year grant by the developers building Varsity Grange on the former university site.

Nottingham Forest footballer Jamaal Lascelles has tweeted to say he has been cleared of all charges.

The England under-21 player, who lives in Oakwood, appear in court over charges in a nightclub in Derby.

Lascelles was charged with assaulting a man, occasioning actual bodily harm, in Lola Lo, in Victoria Street, on April 23. A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "We have advised all concerned parties that the CPS is discontinuing the prosecution of Jamaal Lascelles, who had been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 23 April 2014. "Following an in-depth review and careful analysis of the evidence we have taken the decision to discontinue the case. Once we had received and viewed CCTV evidence first-hand, it became apparent that this did not show that the defendant had been responsible for the injuries sustained by the victim. It was therefore deemed that there was no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction, and so the case was stopped."

After being wrongly accused and charged with assault, I can now happily say all charges have been dropped and my name has been cleared

— Jamaal Lascelles (@Lascelles16) February 22, 2015

Lascelles is currently on loan at Forest from Newcastle United until the end of the season.

A CARE worker was caught falsely accusing a man of rape because he recorded their sexual encounter.

But Pauline Muir's lies still led to the man being arrested and held in custody for more than two hours. He was on bail for seven weeks and said later: "She could have ruined my life."

Single mother Muir even contacted the man's 16-year-old son via Facebook to tell him of the allegation, Derby Crown Court heard.

She was jailed for 14 months after admitting perverting the course of justice by making an allegation of rape on September 1.

Judge Hilary Watson told her: "This is a serious perversion of the course of justice. It was a pre-planned, pre-meditated and wicked allegation to make.

"The audio on the recording shows it was entirely consensual and enjoyed by both parties.

"It is unacceptable to say you were emotionally confused at the time," the judge told Muir, 43, of Maple Avenue, Littleover.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the pair had been in a relationship which came to an end. The man wanted to get some items returned but failed to do so despite the involvement of the police.

"He decided to get the items back by pretending they were rekindling their relationship. He made an arrangement to arrive at her home in the early hours. She was under the impression he would be staying.

"They engaged in a consensual sexual act but he thought there might be repercussions and decided to record it," said Miss Allen.

The man set up his mobile phone to do this. The pair later began to argue when he told her he planned to leave the house, with him calling her "a mad bitch, a dumb bitch".

A few days later, Muir called police to say she had been raped by the man, who was arrested on September 15. He told officers about the recording and was given bail until November 4 while enquiries continued.

Muir sent him 200 texts and he replied seven times. "On December 1, she contacted him, saying she would get him into trouble for driving matters," said Miss Allen. Muir also falsely claimed he had made her pregnant.

After the rape enquiry ended, the man said: "She could have destroyed my reputation and my life.

"I work with children as an informal educator and run workshops in schools. I am experienced and respected in this environment. I rely on trust.

"It was a very depressing time during the case and while I was on bail. I had to take time off work. My [police] interview was very traumatic. She persistently continued to contact me and people I know. All I ever wanted was for her to leave me alone."

He said the "most traumatic" time was when he discovered she had lied to his son about the incident and he told the teenager what had really happened.

Stuart Newsam, mitigating, said: "This was a relationship the defendant found volatile, emotionally confusing and undermining.

"The injured party's behaviour prior to the complaint was at least somewhat cynical, when the relationship as far as he was concerned was at an end."

Muir looked after her mother as well as her son while also having a job as a care worker, Mr Newsam added.

A driver was threatened with violence after a  road rage incident that started on the M1.

The victim was driving his Honda Civic up the slip road at junction 25 of the M1 when the driver of a blue BMW began gesturing at him.

Both vehicles carried on towards Bostocks Lane, where the driver of the white Honda Civic got out of his car. 

Police say the BMW was then "driven towards him" but the driver was not hit or injured.

Shortly afterwards, the victim drove off and later turned into Gough Grove, where he was stopped by the BMW driver and the driver of a silver estate car, believed to be a Volvo. Both drivers confronted the victim and threatened him with violence.

Police want to hear from any witnesses to any part of the incident, which happened at about 7.45pm on Friday, February 20.

Anyone with information should call PC Sarah Carlile on 101, quoting crime reference 7509/15. You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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The offender was described as white, of medium build, around 6ft tall and clean shaven.

He was wearing glasses, a blue hat, orange jacket and blue waterproof trousers at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident or who saw a man fitting that description in the area is asked to call PC Neil Taylor on 101, quoting crime reference 7211/15.

To report a crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

DERBY County's next opponents, Charlton Athletic, have signed French international Alou Diarra.
The defensive midfielder has joined the Addicks on a deal until the end of the season.
Diarra, who was a free agent, should be available to make his debut against the Rams at the iPro Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old has won 44 caps for France and played in two World Cups, captaining his country at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
His previous clubs include Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lens and West Ham United.
"He will add some height, experience, and most of all, quality to the midfield," said Charlton head coach Guy Luzon.
"We lost Milos (Veljković) to injury and Johnnie Jackson is out for a month, so he will help us to bring results and more points.
"It's a coup for us that we can attract a player with so much international experience and I'm sure he will be fantastic for us."

DERBY County's promotion rivals Brentford have extended the loan of Everton forward Chris Long.
The 19-year-old will remain with the Bees for another month, until March 21.
Long scored his first goal for the club in Saturday's 3-1 victory over title-chasing Bournemouth at Griffin Park.
"I am delighted with Chris' contribution at the start of his loan," said Brentford boss Mark Warburton.
"I feel confident all parties will benefit from the loan being extended."

Charles Clowes, one of Derbyshire's most successful developers who was responsible for a number of key buildings in the region, has died.

Mr Clowes, chairman of the CWC Group, based at Brailsford, died at his home yesterday.

It is understood that Mr Clowes, who was one of the county's most successful and influential property professionals, had been unwell for some time.

He founded his business in 1964, building it into one of the strongest and largest privately owned property development groups in the UK, with an impressive record of commercial, retail and residential development.

Over the years, the company's development arm - Clowes Developments - has been involved in some key local projects, including industrial parks, which now employ thousands of people.

Five years ago, Mr Clowes bought a 300-acre industrial and distribution portfolio from Wilson Bowden Developments for £46 million, increasing the value of Clowes Developments overnight.

And in 2011, his firm handed over a giant distribution warehouse in Castle Donington to Marks & Spencer to service their online operations.

Today, the one million sq ft distribution centre is providing jobs for up to 1,000 people.

In a statement, the company said: "It is with deep regret that the CWC Group announces that Charles Clowes, chairman and founder of the group, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday.

"Charles founded the group in 1964 and has built a large and highly successful property business in the UK.

"He worked tirelessly throughout his life and was still doing deals almost to the day he died.

"He is succeeded by his son David Clowes as chairman of the group.

"In accordance with the group's continuity planning and the sound foundations laid down by Charles Clowes, the group will continue to prosper under the control of the current board."

The firm is currently building a new business park in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, over the border in Leicestershire. The buildings include a new head office for estate agents and chartered surveyors Fisher German.

Thirty years ago, the firm started to do more work in London, which prompted it to open a second office in the capital.

CWC Group, which employs 37 people, also owns more than 120 properties across the UK - including a mix of industrial, commercial, office, retail and residential property in and around Derby.

The success of Mr Clowes as a businessman helped make him one of the wealthiest people in the region.

His name regularly appeared in the Sunday Times Rich List. In 2013, it was reported that Mr Clowes had a personal wealth of £182 million.

He was also a keen Derby County supporter and in 2004, when the club was £30 million in debt, he put together a consortium bid, along with former Rams chairman Stuart Webb.

However, he later withdrew from the bidding.

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Drugs dealer Anthony McDonagh has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half years for his part in a Derby-based cannabis operationy.

McDonagh was arrested during a wave of warrants in the Cambridge Street area of Normanton a year ago. In total 16 people were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences surrounding the dealing of cannabis in the city.

Fifteen of the offenders admitted various charges and were sentenced in December, but McDonagh denied a charge of conspiracy to supply the class B drug.

The 24-year-old was found guilty by a jury at Derby Crown Court and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

His term brings the total jail sentence handed out to members of the gang to 31 years - two were handed community orders.

Sergeant Kam Sanghera, from Derbyshire police, said: "The actions of this gang were a blight on the community and had a severe impact on the lives of people living there.

"Every member of the gang played their part in rising anti-social behaviour and crime, and contributed to making Cambridge Street a no-go area.

"The difference since this gang was shattered has been remarkable. Our efforts to bring them to justice show just how seriously we take this type of offence, and reinforces our dedication to removing these criminals from our streets."

McDonagh, of Ashorne Close, Coventry, was arrested during 12 simultaneous warrants at addresses in Cambridge Street, Baseball Drive, Reeves Road, Leacroft Road, Shaftesbury Crescent and Walbrook Road.

The joint operation between police and the National Crime Agency also saw the seizure of class A and B drugs, stolen property and large sums of cash.

Ringleaders Anthony and Deano Dharam ran the operation out of their homes in Cambridge Street and Baseball Drive. They commanded a network of street dealers who operated throughout the area delivering cannabis and collecting payment for the drugs.

Anthony, 26, was jailed for five years and four months for conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs, while Deano, 21, was jailed for six years for possessing class B controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Their father Paul Dharam, 47, of Cambridge Street, was locked up for three-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. Danielle Dharam, 24, of Pittar Street, Derby, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for the same offence. Tammy Thomas, 29, of Helston Road, Leeds, also received a 21 month sentence after admitting the same charge.

Among the other offenders was a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, who was given a four-month detention and training order for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

Anyone who wants to give information on drugs activity in their area can do so anonymously by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. People can also call Derbyshire police on 101.

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