Children Murders: Mum Sent To Secure Hospital

A woman accused of murdering three of her children has been released from prison and sent to a secure hospital for immediate treatment.

Tania Clarence, 42, sobbed quietly as she appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey, accused of killing three-year-olds Ben and Max, and four-year-old daughter Olivia, at their home in the southwest London suburb of New Malden.

In an unusual move, Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker ruled Clarence could be released from prison and put into a secure hospital under the Mental Health Act.

"It seems to me, having heard submissions on both sides and having discussed the matter with medical experts, there is an overriding need for immediate treatment in a secure setting," he told the court.

"There is a combination of circumstances here that makes this an exceptional case and allows this court to take an exceptional course.

Gary Clarence, centre, at court last week

"It isn't bail, but what we are doing is ordering for her to be subject to a Section 35 order under the Mental Health Act, so she can then be remanded effectively for review of her condition."

The judge said the order should be processed by the end of the day and the case would be reviewed again in 28 days' time.

Looking pale and emotional, Clarence spoke in a strong South African accent as she confirmed her name and watched the proceedings from HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.

Her husband, Gary Clarence, sat in the public gallery during the bail hearing.

He was away with the couple's eldest daughter, Taya, at the time of the deaths.

His wife is accused of three counts of murdering a child aged over one year old between April 20 and April 23 this year.

All three young children suffered from type 2 spinal muscular atrophy - a genetic condition also known as floppy baby syndrome.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Economy Grows 0.8% In First Quarter

The UK's economic recovery continued in the first quarter of 2014, with the first estimate of GDP growth coming in at 0.8%.

The figure, while weaker than the 0.9% most economists had expected, meant that output was 3.1% higher than on the same period the previous year, marking the fastest annual growth since the last quarter of 2007.

However, the economy remains 0.6% smaller than at its peak in the first quarter of 2008, after the recession wiped 7.2% off total output.

News of the economy's latest performance, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed growth across each major sector of the economy, though construction output was damaged by the impact of the winter storms.

The ONS said while widespread flooding appeared to have no overall effect on output it said bad weather in January and February did hit efforts to meet demand for new homes, with construction recording just 0.3% growth.

Mr Osborne says the figures show Britain is "coming back"

Output in the service sector - which makes up more than three quarters of UK GDP - rose by 0.9% and continued to be driven by consumer spending.

Manufacturing grew by 1.3%, its strongest quarter for nearly four years, bolstering hopes for a rebalancing in the recovery away from its reliance on consumers.

Industrial production rose 0.8% though mining and quarrying, electricity and gas production and agriculture shrank over the quarter.

The GDP figures were seized upon by the union organisation the TUC as evidence the recovery was not gaining enough momentum to sustain a raise in interest rates, which is widely expected next year.

The figures were released at the same time as statistics showing a 2.5% rise in the number of people being declared insolvent in England and Wales over the same period.

There were 24,931 individual insolvencies recorded during the three months - a period when wage increases finally caught up with inflation for the first time since the recession.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Today's figures show that Britain is coming back - but we can't take that for granted. We have to carry on working through our long-term economic plan.

"For the first time in a decade all three main sectors of the economy - manufacturing, services and construction - have grown by at least 3% over the last year.

"The impact of the great recession is still being felt, but the foundations for a broad-based recovery are now in place.

"The biggest risk to economic security would be abandoning the plan that is laying those foundations".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "Now that growth has finally returned, the question is whether ordinary working people will properly feel the benefit and we have a balanced recovery that's built to last."

He told Sky News: "Most people are experiencing a cost of living crisis, which David Cameron and George Osborne try to deny. Its a reality for most people in our country".

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

School Stabbing Prompts Teacher Tribute Tweets

The fatal stabbing of Ann Maguire at a school in Leeds has led to a public outpouring of tributes among social media users remembering their teachers past and present.

As staff and students at Corpus Christi Catholic College struggled to come to terms with the death of the 61-year-old, the hashtag #thankyouteacher set up by the @PeopleofLeeds Twitter account prompted a flood of posts.

Many were motivated to tweet their support and respect for the teaching profession in the wake of the tragedy.

Chloe Potter posted: "Such a moving, important and positive hashtag to come out of yesterday's tragedy. #thankyouteacher."

In another tweet, Emma Langley wrote: "So saddened by Mrs Maguire stabbing. Not inevitable I'd end up spending so much time in books, let alone as a career, so #thankyouteacher."

Another user tweeted: "To all my teachers, I wouldn't be here without you all. Inspired me to become one. #thankyouteacher."

The hashtag #thankyouteacher has attracted a flood of posts

Labour MP Diane Abbott also tweeted her respect for teachers, describing them as "pillars of communities across the UK".

Another user wrote: "Teachers everywhere, what you do is plant a seed that blossoms when we are adults. We thank you."

As the school in Leeds opened on Tuesday, children began arriving early to add tributes to the 200-plus bouquets of flowers covering the railings outside the gates.

Many of the students described Mrs Maguire, who had taught at the school for more than 40 years, as an inspirational teacher who went out of her way to help pupils.

One of the notes left with the flowers at the school in Leeds read: "You inspired countless generations.

"You taught four generations of our family and you were simply a totally fantastic teacher, always caring and always there to make us smile (even if you were speaking Spanish)."

Tributes have been left at the school gates as well as on social media

Former pupil Kerrianne Ayward, 17, said: "She was just lovely. She was helpful and caring and you could have a laugh with her.

"She was always there for you, even if she didn't know you very well. No one had a bad word for her - I mean no one."

Pupil Georgina Kilroy, 16, said: "I don't know anyone who didn't like her. She was spot on. You couldn't ask for a better teacher."

As she was laying flowers, former pupil Aine Arnold added: "It's more like losing a family member than losing a teacher. She was just lovely. She was wonderful. I am devastated."

Peter Masefield, 18, described Mrs Maguire as the "school's figurehead", while Georgina Kilroy, 16, added: "I don't know anyone who didn't like her. She was spot on. You couldn't ask for a better teacher."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Leeds Teacher Died From Multiple Stab Wounds

A post-mortem examination has found a teacher killed at a Leeds school died from multiple stab wounds.

Ann Maguire, 61, who taught at Corpus Christi Catholic College for more than 40 years, had been due to retire in September.

Headteacher Steve Mort and pupils lay flowers in honour of Ms Maguire

Police say they will be interviewing the 15-year-old held in connection with her death at some point during the day.

Due to his age, officers said this would have to be handled sensitively.

The students who witnessed the incident are being interviewed by specialist officers.

Pupils have been leaving tributes and photographs outside the school

The authorities have also stressed the fatal stabbing is an isolated incident.

Detective Superintendent Simon Buldon said: "This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident that's left the school and wider community in a state of shock."

The school's chair of governors Martin Dowling said: "This has been a shocking but isolated incident.

The school community has been stunned by the murder of the popular teacher

"Ann was a wonderful, dedicated teacher and will be remembered fondly by all of us."

School head Steve Mort said: "Ann Maguire was a wonderful, caring individual. She was an outstanding teacher and an outstanding leader.

"She'd been a cornerstone of the school community for 40 years, she'd touched the hearts of three generations of pupils."

Monsignor Paul Fisher conducted a mass at Corpus Christ Catholic Church

Mr Mort also did not think detectors were necessary, adding that the school was a "safe environment".

He added: "And I think ultimately Ann Maguire herself, if she was asked that question, would strongly oppose any suggestion that we should have metal detectors in this school."

The school opened as normal on Tuesday to allow staff and students to remember Mrs Maguire, and support each other.

Head teacher Steve Moat and students lay flowers in church

Children began arriving early to add tributes to the more than 200 bouquets of flowers that cover the railings outside the gates.

Mrs Maguire was also remembered at a service in the neighbouring Corpus Christi Church.

Monsignor Paul Fisher said: "Today we pray for the light of hope: hope for ourselves that eventually we will come to terms with what has happened.

Some 30 pupils are understood to have witnessed the killing

"We offer prayer too for the family of the man who unfortunately did what he did."

Officers were called to the school just before noon on Monday after a report a member of staff had been stabbed. A knife was recovered from the scene.

Around 30 pupils witnessed Mrs Maguire, who is believed have two grown-up daughters, being stabbed repeatedly in class.

Some reported hearing screams as other members of staff rushed to her classroom and restrained her attacker.

Pupils arrive at Corpus Christi College which opened as normal this morning

Her death is the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom.

Head teacher Philip Lawrence was murdered outside a school in Maida Vale, London, in 1995 when he went to help a pupil who was being attacked.

A recent Sky News investigation revealed almost 1,000 pupils were caught with weapons including guns, axes and a meat cleaver in schools in the last three years.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman Trapped After 30ft Fall At Cathedral

A woman became wedged between two turrets after falling as much as 30ft during a tour of a cathedral.

The victim, who is in her 60s, was inside the tower at Wells Cathedral when she fell and was trapped.

She suffered arm and pelvic injuries, according to Avon and Somerset Police.

The woman suffered the fall at Wells Cathedral

A rescue operation to free the woman was launched by firefighters. Paramedics, a doctor and an RAF helicopter also joined the effort.

The victim was moved to a stable platform at the cathedral in Somerset.

She was winched up by a helicopter from RAF Kinloss in the north of Scotland and then airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

Dr Paul Richards, from Wells Cathedral, told Sky News: "It occurred in one of our regular, what we call 'high part' tours, where a group of no more than a dozen go and see some of the more hidden places of the cathedral.

The cathedral is in Somerset

"You go up inside the cathedral, we would go up through a number of spiral staircases, and reach some of the roof spaces.

"I think there was an unfortunate point, I don't know exactly how it happened, but she slipped through some gaps that meant she fell down to a floor level slightly below."

A police statement said: "A rescue operation is under way after a woman fell 20-30ft during a tour of Wells Cathedral.

"The woman, in her 60s, was wedged between two turrets, and suffered arm and pelvic injuries.

"An RAF helicopter assisted in the operation. The woman has now been moved to a stable platform at the cathedral."

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "Appliances from Wells, Shepton Mallet, Bridgwater and Street are in attendance at an incident where a female casualty has fallen within the cathedral tower and is trapped.

"Crews are at work alongside paramedics and a doctor, with a Sea King helicopter standing by."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Children Over Five 'Wearing Nappies In Class'

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

Children are still wearing nappies in class after the age of five in hundreds of schools across the country, a Sky News investigation has found.

Teachers have reported pupils as old as 15 who have no medical conditions or developmental issues, but who are unable to use the toilet on their own.

In what is believed to be the first survey of its kind, Sky News commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to ask head teachers and staff in England about their experiences of children coming to schools wearing nappies.

Almost one in 10 heads and senior staff who responded said in the past year a child aged between five and seven had worn a nappy to school.

The figure was 5% for classroom teachers.

Almost one in 20 heads and senior staff said that in the last year a child aged seven to 11 had worn a nappy to school.

And 1% of classroom teachers surveyed had experience of older children in nappies.

The survey was completed by 602 teachers in primary schools and 561 teachers in secondary schools.

The figures suggest that head teachers and senior staff at a substantial number of England's 16,000 primary schools have experience in the past 12 months of at least one pupil above the age of five still wearing nappies.

There has been growing evidence in recent years that increasing numbers of children are starting school in nappies.

But this is the first research to suggest the problem extends beyond the Reception year.

And experts say it is not just pupils from deprived backgrounds who are not being toilet trained, but those who have working parents too busy to address the issue.

Anne-Marie Middleton, a deputy head teacher from Dover, says many pupils are too embarrassed to admit they still wear nappies.

She said: "We're seeing more and more children wearing nappies. We find that more and more children have an issue with toilet (training) further up the school.

Ms Middleton says that the busy lives of parents are often at the root of the problem, with pupils arriving at school without many basic skills including toileting, or being able to use a knife and fork.

Janet Marsh says it is an 'incredibly serious situation'

Janet Marsh runs a programme on behalf of Kent Community Health NHS Trust to try to help pupils toilet train.

She said she knew of 14 or 15 year olds without medical problems who still had toilet-training issues.

"It's an incredibly serious situation," she said.

"There are children who miss 25% of their education in Reception because they're being taken out to be changed. How are they going to catch up?"

Asked if teachers are being asked to do too much by expecting them to act as surrogate parents, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, replied: "I do think hard about how much we ask of teachers, because we do ask a lot."

Mr Gove said the Government needed to support frontline teachers and listen to their concerns.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Suspects In Cyril Smith Sex Abuse Case

Police are to investigate a cover-up of the alleged sexual abuse of children at a Rochdale school by Sir Cyril Smith and up to 11 others.

Police said new suspects and a number of new victims had been identified in the course of the ongoing investigations into sexual abuse at the Knowl View residential school.

Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said officers were also investigating whether there was a case of a criminal cover-up of abuse allegedly carried out by the 29-stone politician and urged further victims or witnesses to come forward.

He said: "There are a significant number of people we are trying to trace, obviously made more difficult by the passage of time.

"I would just like to point out that investigations into abuse are extremely difficult. They do take a long time because of, often, the damaged effects on the particular victims and the need for corroboration.

"But we are determined to do a very thorough investigation and obviously when we are carrying out investigations into abuse at institutions, clearly we look at the liability of those who may have been running those institutions."

Rochdale Council has announced an independent inquiry to investigate the cover-up claims that will examine allegations of sexual and physical abuse of boys under the age of 18 by Smith between 1961 and 1995.

Sir Cyril's family has always denied the allegations against him

It will look at whether there was a culture at the council that "tolerated, facilitated or promoted" the alleged abuse.

Announcing the review, Rochdale council leader Colin Lambert said the QC appointed to head the review would investigate whether council staff or members did anything to stop the alleged assaults being "prevented" or "exposed".

The announcements follow information contained in a newly published book by the Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who now has the Rochdale seat the late Lib Dem MP used to hold.

In the book, Mr Danczuk claims police repeatedly investigated sex abuse allegations against Smith, a former Labour councillor in Rochdale who served as an MP from 1972-92.

He said attempts to prosecute Smith were blocked and police officers threatened with the sack in corruption that could be traced back to the "very top of the establishment" despite 144 complaints by victims.

Mr Danczuk told Sky News: "Everyone has known for 20 years that there has been a cover-up."

He said it was time arrests were made.

Greater Manchester Police said in 2012 that Smith abused boys at the Cambridge Hostel in Rochdale in the 1960s when he was secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association.Three files were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions but none was pursued.

Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats denounced Smith, who died aged 82 in 2010, as "repugnant" but claimed they knew nothing of the allegations.

The party has come under increasing pressure over the matter from those who say the accusations against Smith were so widely known it is a "nonsense" to suggest no one knew about it.

Smith's family has always denied the allegations against him, details of which were first published in 1979.

Mr Lambert said he expected the review by Neil Garnham, which will also look at whether any culture at the council continued after 1995, would be completed by the end of July.

The council had previously announced an independent inquiry into the allegations, however, Mr Lambert said it was clear this now needed to be widened.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Once 'Untouchable' Clifford Now Faces Jail

By Tom Parmenter, Sky Correspondent

Celebrity publicist Max Clifford was found guilty of eight indecent assaults following a five-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

A series of women accused the PR guru of either indecently assaulting them or forcing them to commit sex acts between 1966 and 1984.

In court, Mr Clifford accused them of being "liars and fantasists" who were looking for compensation.

But women who do not know each other and who live in different parts of the UK said strikingly similar things about his lewd behaviour.

The 71-year-old has had a long career representing some of the biggest names in showbiz including Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Muhammad Ali and Simon Cowell.

Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC earlier told the jury: "He has been at the top of the media game for many years. He knows the strings to pull. He knows how to manipulate, lie and get what he wants."

Many of the women said Clifford seemed obsessed with his own penis and made prank phone calls using bogus identities to ask the women about his size.

The defence argued the varying descriptions they gave in court meant the allegations were bogus, but Rosina Cottage QC told the jury: "It is what he did with it that is important, not the size."

She described his former office on New Bond Street in central London as Clifford's own "sexual fiefdom" where he manipulated and bullied young women.

The PR man had already admitted to extra marital affairs, wild sex parties in the 1970s and sexual practical jokes, but Clifford's method of bullying young women into doing exactly what he wanted had remained hidden.

One of the women described in court how, in the 1990s, she tried to speak to one of the national newspapers about her allegations.

The voice at the other end of the line told her: "You will not get a paper to print a story on Max Clifford. He is untouchable."

Clifford was cleared of two further charges, while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on another.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teacher Stabbed To Death At Leeds School

School Pupils Caught With Weapons

Updated: 12:07am UK, Wednesday 23 April 2014

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

Almost 1,000 pupils were caught with weapons including guns, axes and a meat cleaver in schools in the last three years, a Sky News investigation has found.

New figures show 981 children have had weapons confiscated on school premises since 2011.

They include at least 80 primary school children, the youngest of whom was an eight-year-old caught with a knife.

Some 36 pupils were found with an assortment of guns, including two hand guns, seven air-powered weapons and 27 BB guns.

Of those found with weapons, 329 caught with items including an axe, a cut-throat razor and a stun gun were charged with a criminal offence.

One 18-year-old, who is taking part in a young offender's programme in London, said: "I carried a weapon ... but only because of the environment I was in.

"My generation is a bit wild ... so it's a normal thing to carry a weapon because you know everyone else is. It's making it fair, basically."

Campaigners warned the scale of the problem is likely to be much worse, as 21 of the UK's 52 police forces did not supply figures requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

Data from West Midlands Police, which alone recovered weapons from 538 people during the same period, was not included because it also accounts for colleges and universities.

The figures raise questions about whether schools and the Government have failed to tackle the problem.

Jayne Walmsley, whose son Luke was murdered at a Lincolnshire school in 2003 aged 14, said: "Something is happening to the society we live in.

"We need to think and educate these kids. It's got to stop. We've got to do something about it."

Patrick Regan, CEO of charity XLP, which was founded in response to a school stabbing, added: "There's a culture of fear that needs to be broken down."

The Government said it had given teachers powers to take action if they suspect a pupil has brought a weapon into school.

"Teachers can now search pupils without consent, confiscate prohibited items and use force to remove disruptive pupils from the classroom when necessary," a spokesman for the Department for Education said.

"We've also given heads the final say on expulsions by removing the right of appeal panels to put pupils back in the classroom."

However, Chris Douglas, a youth worker with St Giles Trust, which engages with young people caught up in crime, warned the use of weapons is a growing problem.

"We're not hearing about stabbings because they're becoming more common," he said.

Last year, a study by UCL and charity Kids Company found half the young people working with the organisation had seen someone shot or stabbed in their community in the past year.

In 2009, the then-Government announced new measures to curb the problem of weapons in schools after a spate of attacks against children.

There were plans to introduce airport-style metal detectors as part of a violent crime action plan.

But campaigners are concerned the issue has disappeared from public discourse, leaving children vulnerable.

"Sometimes it's a bit like banging your head on a brick wall," Mrs Walmsley said.

"Schools won't admit to the problem because all they want is more pupils for more money."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Max Clifford Found Guilty Of Sex Charges

PR guru Max Clifford has been found guilty of a string of sex attacks on teenage girls.

The 71-year-old became the first person to be convicted under the high profile Operation Yewtree sex crime investigation at Southwark Crown Court.

He was found guilty of eight indecent assaults, cleared of two and the jury was unable to reach a verdict on one other.

The guilty verdicts relate to four women, aged between 15 and 19 at the time of the offences, between 1978 and 1984.

The verdicts were taken in a hushed but packed courtroom, given by the forewoman of the jury on its eighth day of deliberations.

Clifford sat still in the dock as the jury forewoman returned the verdicts.

Max Clifford getting into his car after the verdicts

He could be seen breathing deeply as he listened through a hearing loop.

The publicist walked out of the courtroom with friends and supporters in complete silence, one of them patting him on the shoulder as he walked.

He walked outside to face the media, with his daughter Louise to his right, and said he had been "told not to say anything".

As he walked to his car, he was asked what it felt like to be the story, and Clifford replied it was "not the first time".

Clifford was released on bail until his sentencing on Friday, but Judge Anthony Leonard QC warned him this was no reflection on the sentence that will be passed.

He said: "You must realise that the fact I have given you bail is no indication of what the final sentence will be."

Clifford repeatedly denied the claims, calling his arrest and prosecution "a nightmare" and protesting his innocence.

Clifford has described the charges as a 'nightmare'

Jurors in the trial - six men and four women - had started an eighth day of deliberation this morning.

They were sent out on April 15 at the end of a six-week trial in which Clifford was accused of manipulating seven girls and women into performing sex acts between 1966 and 1984.

He was arrested by detectives from Operation Yewtree in December 2012, and charged in April the following year.

The court heard from a string of women who testified about Clifford's behaviour, romping naked in his New Bond Street office.

Prosecutors portrayed him as a well-practised manipulator, who promised to boost his victims' careers and get them to meet celebrities in exchange for sexual favours.

He offered to get them casting appointments, pretending to be Hollywood bigwigs including Steven Spielberg, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Michael Winner on the phone.

He even bizarrely bragged about having a tiny penis, telling one victim: "Is it the smallest you've ever seen?"

The trial heard from Clifford's daughter Louise who said he was 'her rock'

The exact size of his manhood became a matter of contention during the trial, and his defence team asked a doctor to measure his penis as part of the evidence.

Victims included a dancer who received a phone call while she was at a nightclub from someone pretending to represent producer Broccoli, and was told to find out whether Clifford was circumcised.

She then "froze" and realised she was "stuck", and feared she would be raped when Clifford took her into the toilet and assaulted her.

Another girl, a teenage model, said Clifford groped her when she went to his office for career advice in 1983, bragging that he could get her a part in a James Bond film.

He then masturbated while he was on the phone to his wife, and tried to put his penis in her mouth.

The court also heard from a woman who claimed Clifford had impressed her parents with celebrity tales and went on to abuse her from the age of 15.

She said she was driven to contemplate suicide when he falsely told her he had a photograph of her giving him oral sex, and in 2011 sent him a letter claiming he had made her life "a living hell".

For his part, Clifford branded his accusers as "fantasists and opportunists".

The investigation, Scotland Yard's inquiry into historic allegations of sexual offences, was prompted after claims were made against the late DJ Jimmy Savile.

DCI Michael Orchard, of the Metropolitan Police, thanked victims for coming forward, while Jenny Hopkins, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Monday's verdicts had given victims a "long, denied justice".

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More