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Teenage cyclist punched and robbed on Derbyshire canal path

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A 14-YEAR-OLD cyclist was punched and had his bike stolen as he travelled along a canal path. The teenage victim was cycling along the Erewash Canal, near Pasture Lock, in Sandiacre, when his path was blocked by a cyclist who had just overtaken him. He was then punched to the face and his bike – an Apollo Kanyon model – was stolen. The robbery happened at about 2.30pm on Sunday. Police have just released details. The victim told detectives the man who assaulted him was black, in his mid-20s, around 5ft 8ins, of average build and was clean shaven. He wore a black-hooded top, with the hood up, and black trousers. He had been riding a black mountain bike, which he then pushed into the canal after taking the victim's bike. Police want to hear from anyone who saw either the victim or a person matching the description of the offender, or anyone who might know the whereabouts of the stolen bike. Witnesses or anyone with information should call Derbyshire police on 101.

Teenage cyclist punched and robbed on Derbyshire canal path


Derby Telegraph comment: Remarkable that crime drop lasted so many years

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THE annual reduction in Derbyshire's crime figures, which ran for nine years, simply could not last for ever.

The remarkable thing is that the statistic continued to drop for as long as it did.

Read the original story here.

It was astonishing because, if you drew up a basic graphic, it would show that as police funding was going down annually, so was the crime rate.

All logic would indicate that those two should have been heading in opposite directions.

The fact that they did not do so for so long bears witness to the astute use of resources by successive police chiefs and the great work of uniformed, detectives and civilian staff throughout the Derbyshire force.

Now we have to face up to the fact that crime in the year ending March 2014 was up by 1,094 offences, compared with the previous 12 months.

It is an increase of 2% and, we would submit, can be largely put down to two factors.

One is what Chief Constable Mick Creedon describes as "the significant reduction in police and other agencies' budgets".

This, he says, "has meant hundreds fewer police officers, police staff and big reductions in partners' staff numbers".

The other factor must surely be the general decline in the country's economic state in the past decade.

That has impacted on people's incomes and so more people have turned to crime. It's an inevitable fact and nobody should pretend otherwise.

The decline in staff numbers has meant that while the Chief Constable and his colleagues have done their best to maintain the force's front-line presence in bobbies on the beat and in their patrol cars, fewer resources can be allocated to preventative work.

One figure which leaps out of the annual statistics is an increase of 25% in allegations of rape.

This would normally be the headline-grabber of the day – but Mr Creedon actually draws encouragement from it.

He believes it does not reflect a rise in the number of offences committed, but rather an increase in awareness of the need to report them.

For too long – decades and probably centuries – the numbers of court cases for serious sexual assaults has almost certainly represent only the tip of the iceberg of the number of incidents.

If that is changing, it has to be a good thing.

Derby Telegraph comment: Remarkable that crime drop lasted so many years

Derby's Eagle Market raided: Shops cordoned off after being hit by thieves

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PART of Derby's Eagle Market has been cordoned off after three shops were hit by thieves overnight. Police believe the raiders entered through the balcony entrance, before targeting a jewellery store and a mobile phone repaier shop. The identity of the third shop has not yet been revealed but officers said cash was stolen. They were called at 6am about the incident by the owner of the jewellery shop. A police spokesman said Derbyshire police were carrying out inquiries into the incidents.

Derby's Eagle Market raided: Shops cordoned off after being hit by thieves

Fire means Derby Assembly Rooms will be shut for 18 months

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DERBY'S Assembly Rooms will be closed for a minimum of 18 months following a blaze which tore through the roof of the car park four weeks ago. Derby City Council has announced that the venue, which is 36 years old, will be out of action due to an "ongoing assessment of damage" following the fire. Now, the authority is working on ways to either refurbish or replace it. Find out which shows have been affected here.
Last night, the council said it could not evaluate a cost to repair or refurbish the building and said that the matter was "subject to on-going assessment of damage after the fire", but leader of the council Paul Bayliss said it would cost "millions" to put right. The closure will mean hundreds of performances will be cancelled, although people will be refunded. The council has also announced that the Assembly Rooms car park will remain closed until further notice "to ensure safety of the public". An investigation into the fire, which happened on Friday, March 14, found that the blaze started in an air conditioning unit on the top floor of the car park and is believed to have been caused by overheated machinery. At its height, 75 firefighters and 16 engines fought 40ft flames and a huge plume of dense black smoke was left hanging across the city. Adam Wilkinson, chief executive of the council, said: "Due to the on-going assessment of damage after the fire, it has become clear we cannot reopen the building as quickly as we would like. "We are continuing to work through the various options open to us, based on either refurbishing or replacing the current building." The Assembly Rooms was opened by the Queen Mother in the Jubilee year of 1977 – the year Derby became a city. The first concert was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, of which she was patron. The building cost £4.5m at that time and has since brought big names to the city, including Elton John, Iron Maiden and The Smiths. After the fire broke out, council officials said the venue would not host a show until May and Derby Live rescheduled a number of shows which were initially cancelled. Comedian Sarah Millican had been due to appear at the venue last month and her performance was rescheduled to Monday to Wednesday, May 26 to 28. It has not been confirmed whether she will still perform in the city. The latest news also means that events such as Derby's Comedy Festival will not take place in the building. The city's first comedy festival was due to kick-off on June 13 with comedy queen Dawn French. Her new show, 30 Million Minutes, based on her life and career, was set to be the headline and opening act. The council has said customers who have bought tickets for shows later this year at the Assembly Rooms will be reimbursed in due course and those with tickets for shows in April/May will be contacted first by Derby Live box office. The council says that it still hopes to be able to hold the annual pantomime at an alternative venue in the city. The venue also plays host to thousands of University of Derby graduates each year who attend the city's Assembly Rooms to collect their degrees. The Derby award ceremonies for the class of 2014 were scheduled to be held at the venue from January 14-16, 2015 but last night the University could not say what would happen. Mr Bayliss said the work was a "much bigger job than anybody thought". He added: "The main problem is that we have got a 1970s building and two floors of the car park which have effectively been destroyed." He said the cost to sort the damage would be "millions of pounds" and said that the council was insured for "most of it". Anton Rippon, Derby Telegraph columnist and Derbeian of 69 years, said he had long thought that the Assembly Rooms was a "real blot on Derby's townscape". He said: "The fire might actually present a wonderful opportunity to bulldoze the lot – tourist information office and all – and build something really worthwhile. "That said, Derby's planners haven't covered themselves in glory over the years. "I wouldn't leave it to them. If there is to be a complete rebuild, I'd run a competition and ask the people of Derby to judge it. "There can be no complaint then." Local historian and author Maxwell Craven said: "I imagined there would be extensive damage to the building. "I just hope they can find an alternative venue to host the planned events. "If the building is replaced, then I hope the design would fulfil modern requirements. "And if it is refurbished, then it means the facilities would hopefully be upgraded, which cannot be a bad thing."

Fire means Derby Assembly Rooms will be shut for 18 months

Dawn French, Joe McElderry and Jimmy Carr among Assembly Rooms shows cancelled

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DETAILS of which former Assembly Rooms shows have been fully cancelled and which could take place at alternative venues have been revealed. Derby Live, the city council's entertainment arm, has released the two lists after today's announcement that the venue will stay shut for 18 months. This follows a blaze which tore through the roof of its car park four weeks ago. Read more here. A statement from Derby Live says it is "exploring opportunities to move some events to other venues, including some Derby Comedy Festival events, Derby Folk Festival and this year's pantomime, Beauty & the Beast". It adds that refunds for cancelled shows will be processed in date order of event, so ticket holders should be patient. It says: "We'll write to all ticket holders for affected events to advise them of the cancellations and of details of a new venue if and when one is confirmed - or to advise of a refund if a suitable new venue has not been found." Fully cancelled shows include: Ian Anderson 13 May 2014 Professor Green (previously cancelled) 14 May 2014 Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra 18 May 2014 Jon Richardson 24 May 2014 Sarah Millican 26-28 May 2014 Old MacDonald Had A Farm 28 May 2014 Superslam Wrestling Spectacular 30 May 2014 Grumpy Old Women 2 June 2014 Masterclass Concert 7 June 2014 Black Dyke Band Concert 7 June 2014 That'll Be The Day 8 June 2014 Bless 'Em All 12 June 2014 Dawn French 13 June 2014 Joe McElderry in Concert 14 June 2014 Morecambe 18 June 2014 The ELO Experience 19 June 2014 Jimmy Carr 20 June 2014 Knightmare Live! 21 June 2014 The Hallé 22 June 2014 Peppa Pig's Big Splash 25-26 June 2014 Sing-a-long-a Grease 27 June 2014 Evolution 29 June 2014 New Jersey Nights 1-5 July 2014 Paul Carrack 18 July 2014 Billy Joel Songbook 20 July 2014 Sinfonia Viva 22 July 2014 Rhapsody Queen 25 July 2014 Northern Soul All-Dayer 26 July 2014 Angelina Ballerina 1 August 2014 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story 18-23 August 2014 A Night of Dirty Dancing 12 September 2014 An Evening of Burlesque 13 September 2014 Beyond the Barricade 16 September 2014 Psychic Sally 19 September 2014 Halfway to Paradise 20 September 2014 The Good Old Days 23 September 2014 Gervase Phinn 28 September 2014 Jane McDonald 12 October 2014 Charlie Landsborough 14 October 2014 The Elvis Years 16 October 2014 Grimethorpe Colliery Band 26 October 2014 Superslam Wrestling Spectacular 27 October 2014 Ross Noble 28 October 2014 An Evening with Noel Fielding 30 October 2014 Festival of Remembrance 2014 2 November 2014 Dave Gorman 4 November 2014 La Traviata 6 November 2014 The Drifters 7 November 2014 Viva La Drag! 8 November 2014 The Sensational 60s Experience 9 November 2014 The Nutcracker 19 November 2014 Dancing Queen 20 February 2015 Madama Butterfly 7 April 2015 Stewart Francis 3 June 2015 All forthcoming Tea Dances Affected shows, for which Derby Live is exploring the possibility of a new venue include: Mark Grist 23 May 2014 Funhouse Comedy Club 31 May 2014 Andrew O'Neill 6 June 2014 Doug Segal 8 June 2014 Ben Norris 13 June 2014 Comedy Club 4 Kids!14 June 2014 Funhouse Comedy Club 14 June 2014 Norman Lovett 15 June 2014 Comedy Moves 17 June 2014 Interrobang: Improv Comedy 18 June 2014 Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre 20 & 22 June 2014 Derby Pomp and Stomp 21 June 2014 Steve Hewlett 22 June 2014 Anti Capitalist Roadshow 27 June 2014 Joel Dommett 25 July 2014 Son Yambu 5 September 2014 Preston Reed 13 September 2014 Blofeld and Baxter 17 September 2014 Derby Folk Festival 3-5 October 2014 The Smyths 17 October 2014 Chris Ramsey 22 October 2014 Mark Watson 6 November 2014 Monsters of Mock 2014 8 November 2014 The Noise Next Door 18 November 2014 Bellowhead 22 November 2014 Beauty and the Beast 3 December 2014 – 4 January 2015 Faulty Towers - Dining Experience 16-18 December 2014 Tony Stockwell 28 January 2015

Dawn French, Joe McElderry and Jimmy Carr among Assembly Rooms shows cancelled

Thameslink 'fiasco' has caused electrified line chaos elsewhere, claims union

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A UNION has claimed that a shortage of trains to run on an electrified stretch of line between Liverpool and Manchester could have been avoided if Derby train-maker Bombardier had been selected for a lucrative Government contract.

Yesterday, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union criticised the Government after it was announced that just two electric passenger trains would be "cascaded" from First Capital Connect's Thameslink network to run on the Northern Rail line in December.

Due to long delays in ordering replacement Thameslink trains, passengers using the Liverpool to Manchester service will have to wait until next year for the remaining 12 electric trains on the route.

The RMT claims the logjam could have been avoided if Bombardier had been selected to build the new Thameslink trains.

The deal, worth £1.6 billion, was awarded to Siemens, which is building the trains in Germany.

Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: "The Thameslink fleet shambles rolls on. RMT always said that this fiasco would continue to haunt this rotten Government and we have been proven right as they face up to the embarrassment of only having two aging units to start on the much-trumpeted and much-needed electrified Liverpool to Manchester service.

"This chaos could have been avoided if the Thameslink fleet job had gone to Bombardier from the off rather than allowing the EU to dictate the terms of the UK's rolling stock replacement programme.

"Those responsible for this shambles should be hanging their heads in shame and it goes right to the heart of everything that is wrong with Britain's fragmented and privatised railways. There must be no repeat of this nonsense ever again."

Bombardier bounced back from missing out on the Thameslink work by securing the £1 billion Crossrail deal.

Thameslink 'fiasco'  has caused electrified line chaos elsewhere, claims union

M1: Road reopened after severe delays for Derbyshire commuters

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A STRETCH of the M1 has been reopened after an earlier crash involving two lorries - caused widespread travel chaos. All three lanes are now open on the southbound carriageway at Leicestershire between junction 23, at Loughborough, and junction 22, at Coalville. There were reports of delays of one hour and 30 minutes for Derbyshire drivers heading south towards London. Police said this was because of a "serious accident" involving two lorries. Tailbacks were reported to be as far back as junction 23a, near East Midlands Airport.

M1: Road reopened after severe delays for Derbyshire commuters

Derby magistrate Ajit Atwal to be investigated over assault rifle Twitter picture

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A DERBY councillor and magistrate who was pictured holding an assault rifle is now being investigated by the body which looks into who is fit to be a magistrate. Councillor Ajit Atwal has apologised for any offence the picture might have caused but has insisted he was the victim of a smear campaign in the run-up to council elections in May, when he will be standing in the Abbey ward. The image was taken in India last September and was posted on his Twitter account but it was taken down last month after it made national news. The Liberal Democrat group in Derby has launched an investigation into the actions of Mr Atwal. Now an investigation has also been launched by the Derbyshire Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace. Mr Atwal has said the gun was not loaded and that no-one had complained about the picture until the story broke last month.

Derby magistrate Ajit Atwal to be investigated over assault rifle Twitter picture


Hartington Street killing: Teen again appears in court charged with murder of Derby woman

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A TEENAGER accused of murdering a woman has appeared in court.

Mateusz Kosecki, of Hartington Street, spoke through a Polish interpreter to confirm his name, address and date of birth at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday.

The 18-year-old was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at the same court on April 29.

Yvette Hallsworth, 36, was found dead just after 11am on Sunday, April 6, at Hartington Street, Normanton.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died as a result of stab wounds.

Hartington Street killing: Teen again appears in court charged with murder of Derby woman

Sex offence charges: 61-year-old man appears in Derby Crown Court

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A 61-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court after being charged with historical sex offences.

Barrie Pickles, walking with the aid of crutches, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared at Derby Crown Court yesterday. The details of the number of alleged offences, victims or when they allegedly happened were not read out during the five-minute hearing.

Pickles, of Green Lane, Tutbury, was given unconditional bail and is due to appear at the same court again on June 27.

Sex offence charges: 61-year-old man appears in Derby Crown Court

Football: How Derby County's Championship rivals are faring

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MIDDLESBROUGH are set to open talks with Greek goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos over a new contract.

The 35-year-old has been first choice under Aitor Karanka since Shay Given's loan spell at The Riverside ended.

Karanka has preferred Konstantopoulos to home-grown Jason Steele and on-loan Real Madrid keeper Tomas Mejias.

LEEDS United are set to make a summer move for Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley, according to reports.

The 20-year-old is highly rated at Roots Hall and is set to be offloaded to a bigger club in the summer.

Leeds are expected to move for a keeper in the summer, with Jack Butland returning to parent club Stoke City, and former number one Paddy Kenny set to move away from the Elland Road outfit.

REPORTS in Italy suggest AC Milan are considering a bid for Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Rossoneri aim to sign at least another keeper ahead of the 2014-15 and it is suggested that the Dane, who will be out of contract in the summer, is a target, despite the Foxes booking their return to the Premier League.

QUEENS Park Rangers are said to be keen on signing Aston Villa forward Darren Bent.

The striker, who is currently on-loan at Felix Magath's Fulham, is reported as being a key summer target for QPR manager Harry Redknapp as he shuffles his side.

Rugby union: Melbourne up to sixth after Loughborough win

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MELBOURNE climbed to sixth in Midlands Two East (North) after beating Loughborough in their final home game of the campaign.

They leapfrogged their opponents in the process, courtesy of a fine team display from a much-changed side.

Melbourne opened up a 22-6 lead at half-time.

Jacob Watts, Rob Foster, Dale Bilson and Jack Fisher all touched down for the home side to secure a bonus point, with Euan Holden adding a conversion.

Holden kicked a penalty after the break and then converted Joe Stuart's try.

Rugby union: Melbourne up to sixth after Loughborough win

Nearly-blind Ripley runner Tom Briggs' London Marathon triumph

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A VISUALLY-IMPAIRED runner was among thousands who took part in the London Marathon.

Tom Briggs, 26, was tethered to Amy Bradley from Jog Alfreton for the race and ran for the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

He completed the marathon in just over five hours and six minutes.

Tom, of Ripley, runs with Ripley Running Club and Jog Alfreton and said running in a crowd is difficult.

He said: "My vision isn't too bad close up. I can see what's in front of me to a degree but there's a lot I can't make out – like steps. It is more difficult to see people and objects at a distance.

"That makes crowd situations like busy bank holidays difficult because I don't see other people until I'm up close."

He said it was difficult being between sighted and blind.

"People often don't know what to do or say," he added.

"If we go on a route that's familiar, I find it a lot easier. When it's nice and flat I'm fine but when there are obstacles I need some guidance.

"Everyone's very friendly and as people get to know you, they become much more confident in offering support.

"If they don't know you, then they wonder what to do. It's a difficult thing to approach sometimes."

Tom is registered blind and will soon be getting a guide dog.

Amy, 31, of South Normanton, said Tom's partial sight has never been a barrier.

She said: "Tom's really confident and he just gets on with day-to-day life like a sighted person.

"In fact, you wouldn't even know he was blind. So it's been difficult for me to learn how to give him enough guidance without being offensive or patronising him.

"The crowds do slow him down. When things appear from the side or there's an obstacle like a wall or wheely bin sticking out, that is difficult."

Tom, who works as an equality development officer for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said he never set out to be a marathon runner.

He said: "I started with trying to jog about half a mile and thought, 'If I can manage that, I can go a bit further'.

"But I was still struggling so I invested in a few sessions with a personal trainer. It was quite expensive but very beneficial."

Tom said he likes to pace himself for big races.

He said: "When I'm running a race, I like to set myself markers – like to overtake people but it will be someone who is quite close to me who I can see.

"I run with a Garmin watch and download the data after a run but I can't see the watch face during a run so I can't pace myself. Amy's taught me that it's much better to keep a constant pace."

Nearly-blind Ripley runner Tom Briggs' London Marathon triumph

Derby County rivals Burnley 'won't choke', says Mee

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BEN Mee insists Burnley will not choke in their automatic promotion quest despite seeing their healthy advantage cut to eight points by Derby County over the weekend.

The Clarets could have gone up with victory over Middlesbrough at Turf Moor, where they had lost just once in the Championship all season, if the Rams had not defeated Huddersfield.

Mee claims nerves will not get the better of his team-mates at this stage.

"We are actually really calm and not even thinking about it at the minute," the full-back said.

"Because we've kept on such a level all season, we're just carrying on.

"You'd be surprised how relaxed everyone is. We played really well but we just couldn't score.

"It wasn't a nervy performance by any means – we went out there and we wanted to win.

"We just wanted to put on a performance and win the game, we weren't concentrating on anything else.

"Like we have done all season, we just focused on the game ahead."

Named and shamed: Who's been in Derbyshire's courts?

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The following people have all appeared before magistrates charged with using a colour television without a licence:

MARIA Templeton, 46, of Shaw Street East, Ilkeston, was fined £400 with £40 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs for an offence on October 14.

CHARMAINE Tipler, 24, of John Street, Heanor, was fined £83 with £20 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs for an offence on December 9.

ANNE Marie Toal, 36, of Cheviot Street, Derby, was fined £110 with £20 victim surcharge and £120 costs for an offence between November 10 and December 11.

AMANDA Toone, 45, of Cornwallis Close, Long Eaton, was fined £75 with £20 victim surcharge and £160 costs for an offence between May 20 and June 11.

SARAH Walsh, 33, of Walbrook Road, Derby, was fined £138 with £20 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs for an offence between December 1 and 19.

STEPHEN Warren, 37, of Addison Road, Derby, was fined £110 with £20 victim surcharge and £120 costs for an offence on December 17.

ELIZABETH Wheeldon, 30, of Kingsfield Court, Wirksworth, was fined £55, with £20 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs for an offence between October 1 and 15.

DAWN Williams, 54, of Wilmot Street, Long Eaton, was fined £400 with £40 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs for an offence between November 2 and December 3.

REBECCA Williams, 30, of Nerissa Close, Chellaston, was fined £110 with £20 victim surcharge and told to pay £120 costs, for an offence on December 16.

MANJEEV Mundi, 25, of Sunnyhill Avenue, Derby, was given a 21-week prison sentence suspended for a year, with 200 hours of unpaid work, and was told to pay £200 compensation, £625 costs and an £80 victim surcharge for assault on June 3 and failing to surrender to court on March 6.

CARL Francis, 49, of Blackmore Street, Derby, was fined £37 and ordered to pay £35 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for failing to comply with the direction given by a traffic sign in Normanton Road on August 10.

MARK Baber, 49, of Cape Court, Derby, was fined £150 and told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for breaching a restraining order on October 27.

And the following people have appeared before magistrates on other charges:

PETER Ennis, 42, of Crewton Way, Alvaston, was given an 17-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and told to pay £1,000 compensation for causing almost £2,000 of damage to a bathroom belonging to Friendship Care and Housing, and stealing a central heating system, worth £3,500, belonging to the same organisation, on September 2.

RYAN Hemstock, 20, of Hands Road, Heanor, was disqualified from driving for 15 months, fined £110 and told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for being over the drink-drive limit when driving in Cromford Road, Langley Mill, on February 22.

ALEXANDER Rolling, 25, of Chapel Street, Derby, was disqualified from driving for 14 months, fined £175 and told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for drinking excess alcohol before driving on the A52 on January 12.

STEFAN Balaz, 41, of St Augustine Street, Derby, was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £240 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £24 victim surcharge for being over the drink-drive limit when driving in Princes Street, on December 26.

WAYNE Wadsworth, of Luccombe Drive, Alvaston, had his licence endorsed with six penalty points, was fined £110 and was ordered to pay £35 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for driving while uninsured in London Road on July 4.

JAMES Birks, 39, of Cobden Street, Derby, has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order and to pay £40 compensation a £60 victim surcharge and £200 costs for having in his possession criminal property – namely two mobile phones – on December 24.

AIDEN Madden, 62, of Queen Street, Long Eaton, was given a community order with a 56-day curfew and ordered to pay £150 costs and a £60 victim surcharge for failing to notify Erewash Borough Council on February 27, 2012, of a change in circumstance which he knew would affect his entitlement to housing and council assistance, namely that he was in receipt of a private pension.

DAVID Gothard, 49, of St James Road, Derby, was given a 12-month community order, with 180 hours of unpaid work, told to pay £85 costs with a £60 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for four years for failing to provide a breath sample to police when driving on February 15.

ABIODUN Anjorin, 34, of Hartington Street, Derby, was disqualified from driving for 46 months, fined £385 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving uninsured and without a valid licence and exceeding the alcohol limit when driving in Bradshaw Way, Traffic Street and Pride Park on February 24.

Named and shamed: Who's been in Derbyshire's courts?


Rugby union: Long Eaton beat Bingham in final home game

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LONG Eaton won the final home game of their Midlands Four East (North) season against Bingham.

Tries from Paul Wakefield, Tom Teece, Myles Costello and Tom Martin secured a bonus point for the hosts at West Park.

Elsewhere in the division, Amber Valley won 28-15 at Worksop, Belper triumphed 34-7 at Nottinghamians and Leesbrook went down 50-17 at home to champions Chesterfield Panthers.

Rugby union: Matlock sign off with high-scoring defeat to Kettering

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MATLOCK'S final league match of the season ended in a high-scoring defeat at home to Kettering.

With relegation from Midlands One East already confirmed, Matlock only had pride left to play for.

Before kick-off at Cromford Meadows, there was a minute silence in memory of John Siddall, past player, former president, honorary life member and one of the club's much-loved characters.

Kettering ran in four converted tries in an open first half, with Matt Goodall replying for the hosts after good work from Chris Atkinson.

Goodall scored again after the break, emerging with the ball after the Matlock pack drove the visitors back over their own line.

Tom Morton converted and later added a penalty.

Kettering maintained their lead with further scores but Matlock at least secured a bonus point thanks to tries from Henri Packard, converted by Morton, and James Cooper.

Matlock still have a chance of silverware – they host Glossop in the semi-final of the Derbyshire Cup on Saturday.

Rugby union: Matlock sign off with high-scoring defeat to Kettering

East Midlands Airport expecting bumper Easter passenger numbers

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East Midlands Airport has said it expects to handle around 10% more passengers this month compared to April last year. The Castle Donington airport said that it expects more than 280,000 passengers to have passed through its terminal between April 4 and April 28. This would be an improvement on the 259,000 who used the airport during the same period last year. The airport said that, over the Easter weekend alone, it expects to handle around 45,000 passengers, which is 5.4% more than Easter 2013. This year, the most popular destinations are Alicante, Malaga, Palma, Faro and Tenerife. Managing director Andy Cliffe said: "We're incredibly pleased with the growth in our passenger numbers. "Alongside the airport's £12 million terminal redevelopment - the second phase of which was completed earlier this year - and the launch of the summer season, these are exciting times for East Midlands Airport." The airport said that work on the terminal redevelopment was "progressing well". A new security hall was opened in December and a brand new food court was revealed in February. Completion is expected by the end of 2014.

East Midlands Airport expecting bumper Easter passenger numbers

Defender Jake Buxton an 'old-school pro', says Derby County boss Steve McClaren

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STEVE McClaren says "old-school pro" Jake Buxton has made great strides this season. Buxton has been named player of the year by the Derby County Supporters' Clubs. The 29-year-old centre-back has proved a rock at the heart of the Rams defence and his form has delighted McClaren. "Jake won the award by a landslide, I heard, and credit to him," said the head coach. "He is what you call an ideal professional, kind of old school – low maintenance, gets on with his work and you know what you are going to get day in, day out. "He's got that kind of old-school honesty that should never go out of the game. "Jake is a winner. He wants to win and is playing well. "His performances have been excellent – not just that but his leadership on and off the field, in the dressing room and around the place. "He has really improved since the first day we came in." Some supporters questioned whether Buxton would be good enough to make an impact at Derby following his free transfer from Burton Albion in 2009 but he has silenced his critics. He has made 126 appearances for the club and is established along with Richard Keogh in the first-choice centre-back partnership. His contribution this season has been key in helping the Rams reach the Championship's top six. "Bucko has been a rock at the back, along with Richard Keogh," said McClaren. "He did not start the first couple of games after we arrived but he trained hard, got his opportunity against Watford and has not looked back." Buxton replaced the injured Zak Whitbread after 33 minutes of the 3-2 victory at Watford on October 19 and has made 31 consecutive starts since.

Defender Jake Buxton an 'old-school pro', says Derby County boss Steve McClaren

No-one Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday: Novel lifts Derbyshire author Tracy Bloom into big time

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A ROMANTIC comedy called No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday has given a huge lift to the career of Derbyshire author Tracy Bloom. And the success of the novel has now landed the 43-year-old a major four-book deal with Penguin Random House. Tracy, from Duffield, says she cannot believe she has come such a long way since enrolling in an evening class in writing. Tracy's writing career began shortly after the birth of her first child, Tom, now seven, when her husband Jon, a commercial director for Rolls-Royce, landed a three-month contract to work in Connecticut in the US 2007. Leaving behind her friends and the career she called her "dream job" in marketing for Alton Towers, Tracy decided to write a novel. Tracy said: "I enrolled on to an evening class in writing in America – I absolutely loved going. "I took a chapter in every week and they seemed to love my British sense of humour." Her first novel, No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday, is a romantic comedy which follows the story of two childhood sweethearts, Matthew and Katy, who meet at a reunion, have a one-night stand and agree to never see each other again. "It's about a one-night stand that leads to chaos," she said. Tracy, a mum-of-two, originally self-published No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday as an e-book on Amazon. She said: "It just went crazy, and it got to number one in the Kindle chart for three weeks last June. Seeing it shoot up the charts was so exciting." Selling more than 220,000 copies of No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday, Tracy received rave reviews for her novel. "The best thing was seeing all the reviews come in and having people saying that they liked it and that it made them laugh out loud." Since then, Tracy was approached by Penguin Random House to pitch for a UK book deal. She said: "When my agent was approached by Penguin Random House, we got invited down to London. Walking through the doors of a publisher – that, as a writer, was just fantastic. I was all starry-eyed." Tracy now has to complete four books in the next two years. "It's not quite as bad as it sounds. I have already written the first two – No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday and Single Woman Seeks Revenge. "I will be releasing a new book in October. It's called I Will Marry George Clooney (by Christmas)." Tracy's editor, Jenny Geras said: "Her writing is smart, fresh and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny." No-One Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday by Tracy Bloom is published in paperback by Arrow on April 24, £6.99.

No-one Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday: Novel lifts Derbyshire author Tracy Bloom into big time

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