Armed Forces Launch New Recruitment Drive

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The British Armed Forces have launched a new recruitment campaign in an attempt to reverse the dwindling number of new entrants, particularly to the Army Reserve.

Television, radio, cinema and print adverts will be broadcast and published nationally.

Titled 'More Than Meets The Eye', the ads aim to demonstrate the wide range of roles available in the military after a survey carried out by the Ministry of Defence revealed that nearly one in four Britons were unhappy with their current career.

The research, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the army, also found that many people were unaware of the diversity of jobs on offer.

Of the 2,000 people polled, 28% thought Army Reserves would not get paid, while 40% did not think a commitment to the reserves was flexible, and 40% also thought signing up to the army was a lifetime commitment.

The campaign hopes to capitalise on New Year's resolutions which see people wanting to transform their lives and careers.

Commenting on it, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said: "The Army offers people unique opportunities for challenge and adventure, both at home and overseas, during peacetime and on operations.

"It develops personal qualities that are key to success in any walk of life: leadership, judgement, determination, and physical stamina."

A new simplified online application form, a more streamlined medical clearance process, and an Army fitness app, will all also be launched this month.

The campaign is just the latest attempt by the military to boost recruitment numbers and there is much riding on it.

The Ministry of Defence's last Quarterly Personnel Report showed that the number of Reservists decreased between July and September 2013.

By the end of that period there were 1,630 fewer Reservists than at the beginning.

The total strength of the Reserve Force, which includes the Maritime Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force is 21,870, of which the Army Reserve makes up 19,090.

The MoD has committed to increasing the size of the Army Reserve to 35,000 by 2015 - despite recent poor figures, senior officials are adamant they will achieve that target.

A total of £1.8bn has been committed over 10 years to supplement training and equipment for reserve soldiers in order that they receive the same level of kit as their regular counterparts.

A fourth tranche of redundancies will be announced later this month.

Around 5,000 people will be affected, almost exclusively in the Army.

Although running a recruitment campaign alongside a redundancy scheme might seem illogical, the MoD explains that it must always maintain a constant flow of younger, junior recruits to train for the future.

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Heart Stutter Condition Affects One Million

By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

A condition that causes the heart to stutter, leading to strokes and heart attacks, now afflicts more than a million people in the UK, campaigners say.

Those with atrial fibrillation often experience irregular and often abnormally fast heart rates, dizziness, breathlessness, palpitations and tiredness.

However, some people who have it display none of these symptoms and are completely unaware of it.

Without treatment, the disease can significantly increase the risk of a blood clot forming inside the heart, which increases the risk of stroke five-fold.

Rates of the illness have soared 20% in the past five years, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which says it is responsible for 22,500 strokes a year in the UK.

High blood pressure, heart valve disease and binge drinking are all blamed for the increase, as well as the fact people are living longer.

Richard Elgar, 43, from Dorset, was diagnosed with the condition last September.

The father-of-two, who is a builder, said: "I'd already had a heart attack when I was 36, so finding out I had atrial fibrillation was another blow.

"I didn't tell my wife about the risk of stroke until I was on medication to help prevent it. I didn't want to worry her and the children.

Richard Elgar, 43, and his eight-year-old son Alfie

"But every tiny ache or twinge still makes me panic that something could be starting that could devastate my family. It's incredibly stressful."

Mr Elgar's eldest son Alfie, eight, completed a 40-mile bike ride last summer to raise funds for the BHF.

He continued despite falling off his bike twice because of the heat and exhaustion.

The schoolboy has said he wants to be a heart surgeon when he grows up so he can "fix Daddy".

BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie said more research into the illness was urgently needed.

"The real danger with atrial fibrillation is that some people don't realise they have it," he said.

"You can be going about your daily routine oblivious to the fact you're five times more likely to have a devastating stroke."

Professor Nicholas Peters, consultant cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare, said: "The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases dramatically with age so an ageing population, along with better awareness and diagnosis, are the main reasons for the rise in the number of people known to have it.

"In addition, improvements in the treatment of other causes of heart disease means that more of these patients survive to get atrial fibrillation.

"We have a research programme, funded principally by British Heart Foundation, focussed on helping large numbers of patients by combating this important medical challenge."

:: The BHF is leading a fundraising event on February 7 to raise money for research into AF and other heart conditions. Visit www.rampupthered.org.uk to sign up.

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Teachers 'Should Face Regular Classroom MOTs'

Teachers should be made to have licences and will face the sack if they fail to pass checks on their abilities, the Labour party has said.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said he wants teachers to be reviewed every few years to improve standards in England's state schools.

A similar proposal was floated by the previous Labour government - and dubbed "classroom MOTs" by former schools secretary Ed Balls - but was opposed by some unions and dropped before the 2010 general election.

Mr Hunt told the BBC: "Just like lawyers and doctors they should have the same professional standing which means re-licensing themselves, which means continued professional development, which means being the best possible they can be.

"If you're not a motivated teacher - passionate about your subject, passionate about being in the classroom - then you shouldn't really be in this profession."

Labour previously said it would insist on all teachers having Qualified Teacher Status, with staff already working in academies given a deadline to acquire a formal qualification.

The plan has not proved popular with teachers. Deputy Secretary General of the National Union of Teacher Kevin Courtney said there had been much reaction on social media.

He told Sky News: "If this turns out to be the same as (previous proposals), that hostility will be there from teachers and won't be supported by the National Union of Teachers.

"We've seen reaction overnight from teachers. There is a large degree of scepticism that Tristram Hunt is going to have to overcome."

A Conservative spokesman said the Government was willing to look any proposals which will "genuinely improve the quality of teaching".

He said: "We have already taken action by allowing heads to remove teachers from the classroom in a term, as opposed to a year previously, and scrapping the three-hour limit on classroom observations.

"We are improving teacher training, expanding Teach First and allowing heads to pay good teachers more.

"Thanks to our reforms, a record proportion of top graduates are entering the profession.

"Fixing the schools system so young people have the skills they need is a key part of our long-term economic plan."

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Duggan Vigil: Police Fear Disorder In Tottenham

Protesters plan to "provoke disorder" at a vigil for Mark Duggan in London, police have warned.

Scotland Yard said it had extra officers on standby and would be ready to "intervene immediately" if trouble broke out.

Relatives and supporters of the 29-year-old will gather outside Tottenham police station from 2pm and have appealed for those taking part to remain peaceful.

The event has been arranged in protest at the "perverse" inquest finding that Mr Duggan was lawfully killed by police, despite jurors also finding that he was unarmed when he was fatally shot.

His killing by armed police sparked riots across the country in August 2011.

Mark Duggan's killing sparked riots across Britain

The statement issued by the Metropolitan Police said: "Today is a busy day in the capital and we have a policing operation in place across London.

"This includes having additional officers on standby that could respond to any incident that occurs.

"Part of this operation includes assessing all available information and intelligence, and we are aware of a limited amount of information that indicates a small number of people are expressing their desire to use this vigil as an opportunity.

"This information includes the intention of protest groups to attend and of people looking to provoke disorder. We will be ready to intervene immediately if required."

"The family has expressed that they wish this vigil to be held in a dignified and peaceful manner.

"The MPS has met with the organiser to ensure that we can appropriately facilitate their plans."

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Parking Tickets: Five-Minute Grace Period Plan

By Tadhg Enright, Sky News Reporter

A five-minute grace period for motorists who overstay their parking is on a list of proposals being considered by the Government to make parking enforcement fairer.

Many councils say they already allow motorists to stay for a few minutes longer before writing a ticket but it is a grey area which would be cleared up if written into law.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: "The Government is committed to reining in over-zealous parking enforcement and unjust parking practices. It is not fair to motorists and needs to stop.

"We have also recently launched a public consultation proposing a number of changes to make sure local authorities are not short-changing motorists and operate in a fair manner.

"These changes could see the end of CCTV being used for on-street parking, unnecessary yellow lines and the introduction of compulsory 'grace periods' at the end of paid on-street parking."

The proposed changes follow a report by MPs on the Transport Select Committee into problems with parking enforcement that give motorists the perception that fines are imposed simply to raise revenue for local authorities.

Chairperson Louise Ellman MP told Sky News: "People get very concerned when they're paying out penalty charges. Sometimes they think that they were misled and that signs were not clear. 

"And often they believe that those charges are levied for the purpose of raising revenue. It would actually be illegal to do that so councils have to be much more transparent about what money they raise."

The Government is also planning to make signage clearer so motorists do not get confused about local parking enforcement rules.

Councils will have to prepare annual reports in which they reveal how much income they make from parking charges and fines.

They will also be reminded that parking fines are not a "cash cow" and should not be used to raise money for council spending.

Cllr David Simmonds, chair of the Local Government Association, told Sky News: "Local councils receive about £500m a year in income from motorists for parking and penalty charges, all of which is spent on roads and transport. 

"The Treasury received about £45bn a year in taxes from motorists, of which about £10bn goes back into transport, so it's pretty clear that the taxpayer isn't getting as great a deal from central government as they are from local government."

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Benefits Asylum Seekers Have TVs And Ipads

Asylum seekers given homes and benefits were found to have iPads, mobile phones and flat screen televisions despite claiming they were "destitute", a report has found.

The National Audit Office found migrants seeking permanent asylum in Britain were earning an income above legal levels required for them to be given housing and pay-outs.

The report warned that these families were taking flats and houses from those asylum seekers whose need was far greater.

Housing officers who saw evidence of wealth, such as tablet computers or expensive plasma screen televisions, suggesting a high level of income, have a duty to inform the Home Office within a day.

The report said: "During the fieldwork for our investigation, we visited a sample of properties used to house asylum seekers.

"In some of these, it was clear that the occupants may have a level of income above that expected of someone receiving the minimum level of support."

Flat screen televisions indicate asylum seekers could have a greater income

It added: "There is a risk that individuals or families may be occupying properties to which they are not entitled, thus taking resources away from those more in need."

An NAO spokeswoman said evidence of prosperity included iPads, mobile phones and flat screen televisions, although he stressed that simply owning expensive gadgets did not necessarily disqualify an asylum seeker from being entitled to accommodation.

She said that inspectors had made around 10 visits in three areas - the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and London - and in at least one instance in each area they had found "indicators of prosperity". 

An asylum seeker qualifies for housing and financial support if they are "destitute", which means they earn no or very little money.

The extent of the problem emerged during an NAO investigation into the ways the private firms G4S, Serco and Clearel were carrying out the contract to provide the accommodation.

The report found that the conditions of the properties being provided for asylum seekers did not meet sufficient standards and that the Government was trying to recover rebates of as much as £7m because of poor performance.

Already under fire, G4S and Serco were again found wanting by the report

Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said: "Failure to provide adequate accommodation is always unacceptable. It's essential the Home Office sets clear standards, provides the resources required to deliver them and is tough on contractors who fail to meet them."

A Home Office spokesman added: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications are considered."

G4S and Serco are already under fire for overcharging the Government by millions of pounds for its criminal tagging service.

The private firms admitted they had even charged for tagging of criminals who had died.

Despite the damning findings in the NAO report and their vexed relationship with the Government, G4S and Serco are pushing to be allowed to expand their provision of asylum seeker housing to other areas.

As of April 2013, the Home Office provided accommodation for around 23,000 asylum seekers with around 60% receiving financial support from the department. 

A G4S spokeswoman said: "We agree with all recommendations made and many of these have already been implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to service improvement."

James Thorburn, managing director of Serco's home affairs business, added: "We accept that there remains scope for further improvement and we are committed to working with the Home Office and our partners in local government, the NHS and the voluntary sector to achieve that."

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British Woman Dies In Canada Snowmobile Crash

A British woman has died in a snowmobile accident in Canada.

Charlotte Mei Ling Lee, 31, from Bristol, was with her boyfriend, Domynique Tamaire, who was also injured in the incident in Quebec.

According to reports, her snow vehicle smashed into a tree.

Quebec Provincial Police told the Bristol Post that Miss Lee suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident, which happened around 2pm last Saturday.

The court worker and her boyfriend were apparently rushed to Montreal Hospital, which is around 100 miles from the scene of the accident.

Mr Tamaire's injuries are not thought to have been life threatening.

Miss Lee is understood to have been a former student of a sixth form college in Portishead, where her family are believed to still live.

Messages of support to Mr Tamaire have been left on Facebook.

Bon Rayment wrote: "I don't know what to say to you Dom as no words will make this tragedy any better but I wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and send you lots of love.

"I hope you make a speedy recovery from injuries. Thank you for making Charlotte so happy since she met you."

Another, from Annabel Stewart, said: "I'm so sorry she is gone as you made each other so happy. We are all thinking of you and sending you love."

The Foreign Office said it was aware of an incident on January 5 and was providing consular assistance.

Around 20 to 30 people die in snowmobile accidents in Quebec every year, according to the regional government.

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Plebgate Police Officer Admits Misconduct

A police officer involved in the Plebgate scandal has pleaded guilty in court to misconduct in public office.

PC Keith Wallis has admitted sending an email in which he lied when he said he had witnessed an incident between the former Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell, and a police officer at the gates of Downing Street in 2012.

During the incident, Mr Mitchell was alleged to have called the officer a "****ing pleb" after they became embroiled in an argument when the PC refused to let him cycle through the main gates.

Details of the row appeared in the national newspapers and Mr Mitchell was forced to resign.

The Tory MP has always maintained that he never used the word "pleb" - the word judged to have caused the political damage - but admitted swearing during the altercation with PC Toby Rowland.

Mr Mitchell with his bike at the gates of Downing Street

Following the incident Wallis, a member of the Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group, sent an email to the deputy chief whip, John Randall, who was his MP, saying he had been sightseeing in the capital when he saw the row.

Wallis sent the email from a private address but it was quickly established that he was a serving officer and that he was not present at the streets of Downing Street during the incident.

At the Old Bailey today, Wallis, 53, of West Drayton, pleaded guilty to misconduct and the court heard that he would offer his resignation from the police force. He will be sentenced on February 6.

Andrew Mitchell at a press conference in November

Mr Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, said: "I am pleased that justice has been done in a criminal court today.

"It is very sad and worrying for all of us that a serving police officer should have behaved in this way. There remain many questions unanswered, in particular why Pc Wallis wrote this email and who else was involved in this process."

The case and the subsequent police investigation into the incident have been acknowledged by the Metropolitan force to have significantly damaged the public trust in it.

The guilty plea comes as the Met is facing a fierce backlash over the case of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by officers on the streets of Tottenham and whose killing sparked the London riots in 2011.

An inquest jury this week concluded Mr Duggan was lawfully shot but there remain significant questions over the police handling of the case and claims regarding collusion over the evidence of officers.

Mr Mitchell's resignation letter to David Cameron

Speaking after the guilty plea, Met Police Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said: "This investigation has been a ruthless search for the truth as at the heart of this are extremely damaging allegations that officers have lied and falsified statements against a Cabinet Minister.

"The evidence against PC Wallis was such that he has entered a guilty plea. To lie about witnessing something and provide a false account falls way below the standards that I and PC Wallis's colleague expect of police officers. His actions have also negatively impacted upon public trust and confidence in the integrity of police officers.

"I would also like to apologise to Mr Mitchell that an MPS officer clearly lied about seeing him behaving in a certain manner. I will be writing to him offering to meet and apologise in person.

"I expect my officers to serve the public without fear or favour, where officers break the law they must expect to be held to account and answer for what they have done."

The investigation into the Plebgate incident has cost the public more than £300,000 and involved 1,100 statements being taken and 439 exhibits seized.

Mr Mitchell has always claimed he was "stitched up" and that he was a victim of police revenge for Government-led cuts.

In November, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had no evidence to suggest that PC Rowland was involved in any wrong-doing and there is nothing to suggest he knew about the Wallis email.

Last month the officer announced he was suing Mr Mitchell for libel over comments made in the fall-out of the Downing Street incident.

Wallis and four other officers, all from the Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group, are all facing gross misconduct disciplinary proceedings. The four other officers could lose their jobs.

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Third Of Drivers Admit To Nodding Off At Wheel

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Correspondent

Almost a third of drivers admit to "nodding off" behind the wheel, according to a survey.

A poll by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line has found that nearly half of men (45%) say they have momentarily "head nodded", compared to one in five (22%) of female drivers.

One in fourteen people overall (7%) have actually fallen asleep while driving -  14% of male drivers and just 2% of female drivers.

Also, 49% of the 1,000 drivers surveyed said they had driven after less than five hours of sleep.

Men (55%) were also more likely than women (45%) to drive after less than five hours sleep.

Vicki Radford's husband died after falling asleep at the wheel

Vicki Radford's husband Andrew, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, died after falling asleep at the wheel in 2008, just minutes from home.

Mrs Radford said: "Before he lost consciousness he did actually say to the guy who was treating him, the paramedic, he said 'I was so close to home I thought I would be ok'.

"That's why he didn't stop, if only he had stopped the car and been late home, that would have been much better than not coming home."

Dr Louise Reynor, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, says people should not be driving if they are "head nodding".

"You first of all start by taking lots of blinks then you have head nods then eventually you fall asleep and that period can last up to 20 minutes ... that's a very dangerous situation to be in when your head is nodding you're on the verge of going to sleep."

The Sleep Research Centre's Dr Louise Reynor

Brake says studies show that tired driving kills at least 300 people on UK roads every year.

Deputy chief executive of the road safety charity, Julie Townsend, said: "The fact that so many drivers - especially men - have head-nodded at the wheel is horrifying, even more so that many don't recognise this means they have fallen asleep briefly.

"Brake urges all drivers to pledge to get a good night's sleep before driving, take breaks every two hours, and never try to 'plough on' when they're tired, because sleep can ensue so quickly."

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Duggan: Met Transparency 'Could Be Better'

One of the Metropolitan Police's most senior officers has told Sky News the force could have shown "better transparency" in its response to the shooting of Mark Duggan.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley was responding to allegations that officers may have colluded when they put together their notes of the incident.

He told Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt: "We've already made some changes and I think there's more we can do.

"Every officer has to give their own account of what they recollect, so while they're witnesses, they're sitting down, they're making statements and they put hundreds of pages of evidence into the IPCC - it has to be their own accounts.

"Clearly, the way that was done, there's ways we could have better transparency, more clear supervision and we've put some changes in place."

Mr Duggan, whose death sparked protests that led to riots and looting across the country, was shot and killed when police stopped the taxi in which he was travelling in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011.

Following a four-month inquest, on Wednesday the jury found that although the 29-year-old had a gun in the cab, he probably threw it onto a nearby grass verge as soon as the car came to a stop.

An aerial shot shows the taxi in which Mr Duggan was travelling

Assistant Commissioner Rowley, who was heckled outside the Royal Courts of Justice by Mark Duggan supporters, said he had not had any response to an offer to meet Mr Duggan's family.

He told Sky: "They're angry at the verdicts, I can understand they might not want to meet me. I'd rather express our sympathy and have a conversation in private."

Firearms officers will trial the use of body-worn video cameras to improve public confidence in the wake of the Mr Duggan's killing, it has emerged.

Senior officers want to use the camera technology from April, to avoid the dispute and uncertainty which has dogged the Duggan investigation.

Assistant Commissioner Rowley said earlier: "There are great benefits to having these incidents on video. Look at the Lee Rigby case - everyone knows what happened.

"We don't need all these different opinions and conjecture - it's much easier to get to the facts."

The cameras are already used by some US police forces.

Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley was heckled as he spoke outside court

During his weekly LBC phone-in, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said there were "questions that need to be asked" about the handling of complaints about the police.

He said: "I was struck when I went there (Tottenham) that locals said about how when the IPCC gets involved the details aren't allowed to be publicised at the time when people need to talk to each other." 

Wednesday's verdict sparked angry scenes outside the Royal Courts of Justice, which Mr Duggan's family called "perverse", claiming he had been "executed" by the police.

Mr Duggan's aunt Carole Duggan said: "The majority of the people in this country know that Mark was executed. We are going to fight until we have no breath left in our body for Mark and his children."

Their solicitor Marcia Willis-Stewart said: "On August 4, 2011 an unarmed man was shot down in Tottenham. Today we have had what we can only call a perverse judgement.

"The jury found that he had no gun in his hand and yet he was gunned down. For us that's an unlawful killing."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the shooting had led to a "significant reduction in trust" between the capital's black communities and the police.

He said: "I know that we have much work to do with black Londoners to build trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police.

"My officers do not set out to run an operation that results in someone dying. They are brave people who risk their own lives to keep the public safe."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was looking at new evidence that had emerged from the inquest, and the Duggan family are now considering whether to try to get the inquest conclusion judicially reviewed.

Mr Duggan was being followed by officers who believed he planned to pick up a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and then move on to Broadwater Farm, also in Tottenham.

Hutchinson-Foster has since been found guilty of supplying a gun to Mr Duggan.

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Online Driving Licences To Cut Insurance Costs

Drivers could see their insurance premiums drop £15 from March as driving licences go online.

Insurers will be able to check a digital database for drivers' licence details, including endorsements for speeding offences.

Firms are at present unable to check these details when they sell policies so end up factoring in the risk that applicants may have lied to them. The online register could also see a reduction in the price of car hire.

The system, which will be launched by the DVLA, is part of the Government's push to move services on to the internet.

Cabinet Minister Francis Maude says this is part of a digital drive

The Association of British Insurers estimates it will save motorists up to £15 each year in their car insurance payments.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: "To win the global race and save hard-working taxpayers more money, we need world-class public services available online 24/7 from anywhere.

"That is why it is great news that DVLA is about to launch online driving records which can be used by anyone with a driving licence as well as by the insurance industry."

Motoring organisation AA said that an overwhelming number of drivers backed the move saying it would also help to tackle fraud.

In a poll of its 17,883 members, 92% supported the online database and most of those who responded said they had no problem giving their driving licence to insurers to check their motoring records.

AA president Edmund King said: "We welcome any efforts to bring down the cost of car insurance and being able to accurately check driving licence records will help insurance companies to overcome fraud and hence offer lower premiums."

Last month the Competition Commission announced that motorists were paying too much for their insurance and that car repairs after an accident were not carried out to sufficiently high standards.

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Man Jailed Over Stun Gun Disguised As Phone

A drug dealer has been jailed for five years for possessing a stun gun disguised as a mobile phone, Hampshire Police have said.

Wesley Walters, 26, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing the section 5 firearm.

Police said Walters was arrested after the gun was discovered in the back of a drawer at his home in Southampton, Hampshire.

"The weapon, which was capable of discharging 50,000 volts, will be destroyed," police said.

Walters was also sentenced to three and a half years in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of supplying heroin. He will serve the two terms concurrently.

More follows...

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Suspected Child Sex Offender Hunted By Police

Police are hunting a suspected child sex offender who poses a "significant risk to children".

Saber Haldari, who is believed to be in the country illegally, is wanted in connection with child sex offences in Bristol.

The offences are alleged to have been committed against a young boy between January and August last year.

Haldari has links to both the Afghan and Iranian communities and may have travelled to Birmingham, London or Leeds since August.

His date of birth is not known, but officers believe he is around 30-years-old.

Detective Constable Katherine Flanagan, of the public protection unit in Bristol, said: "Haldari is wanted in connection with serious offences and we believe he poses a significant risk to children.

"He is described as about 5ft 8in, of medium build, with short dark hair. He is clean-shaven and has a square face.

"If anyone has seen him or knows where he is, please call us via the 24-hour non-emergency number 101."

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Sheffield: Family Jailed Over 'Slave' Beatings

Three members of a family have been jailed for keeping a vulnerable man as a "slave" and subjecting him to daily beatings.

Ice cream man David Rooke, 44, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after admitting falsely imprisoning and assaulting 34-year-old Craig Kinsella.

The family had used him like a "punchbag", said the judge at Sheffield Crown Court.

Disturbing CCTV of the family beating Mr Kinsella was shown in court.

The abuse took place over a six-week period between May and July 2013 and the court heard how Mr Kinsella was kept in "grotesque" conditions in a garage, had to use a bucket for a toilet, and scavenged for food in bins.

David Rooke admitted false imprisonment and five counts of ABH

Rooke's wife Donna, 40, was jailed for four months for battery, while their son Jamie, 19, received four-and-a-half years for five counts of actual bodily harm and affray.

"He was just your punchbag, all three of you. If you were in a bad mood you would just go and kick and punch Craig Kinsella," said Judge Kelson.

"It is staggering that this is happening in our society, absolutely staggering. It is almost unbelievable."

Police found Mr Kinsella in a shocking physical state after responding to reports of a man being abused outside the Rooke house on July 6 last year.

David Rooke's son, Jamie, was jailed for more than four years

He had a broken right arm, a fractured rib, extreme bruising to his back and around his kidney, a fractured chin and cuts, as well as lumps and bruises on his head and legs.

Prosecutors said Mr Kinsella was beaten with weapons that included a pick-axe handle and crowbar.

They said he was so scared of the beatings he would work from 7.30am to midnight for no money, cleaning the family's garden and vans.

Mr Kinsella had learning difficulties, and had first worked for the family a number of years ago, receiving £40 a week so he could keep claiming benefits.

Donna Rooke admitted a charge of battery and received four months in jail

David Rooke was also ordered to pay Mr Kinsella £15,000 that police found in his home.

Detective Inspector Vicky Short, who led the investigation, said: "It is hard to understand how any human being could treat an individual in such a grotesque, callous and inhuman manner.

"I am confident that if we had not received that phone call that day last July we would have been investigating a murder."

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Shock Pay Statistic On 'Fat Cat Wednesday'

A campaign group suggests top executives who returned to work on Monday had earned more money by mid-morning on Wednesday than the average worker does in a year.

The High Pay Centre has dubbed January 8 "fat cat Wednesday", based on average remuneration figures for FTSE 100 bosses compared with the wider average UK worker.

It found chief executives of firms in the FTSE 100 were paid an average of almost £4.3m in 2012, equivalent to an hourly wage of well over £1,000, compared with the country's average annual wage of £26,000.

The study said executive pay increased by 74% over the past decade, while wages for ordinary workers remained flat.

High Pay Centre director Deborah Hargreaves said: "Fat cat Wednesday highlights how insensitive big company executives have become.

"When top bosses take home more in two-and-a-half days than the average worker earns in a year, there is clearly something wrong with the way pay is set for both bosses and workers."

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady added: "Soaring pay inequality, with top bosses now taking home more in a few days than most workers earn in a year, is damaging our economy.

"Workers need better pay rises so that the recovery is built on growing incomes, rather than falling savings and mounting household debts. But Britain's fat cat bosses are hoarding earnings owed to staff for shareholders and themselves.

"That's why we need workers on remuneration committees to knock some sense into top bosses' pay."

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PC David Rathband Took His Own Life - Coroner

The policeman shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

PC David Rathband was found hanged at his home in February 2012. 

The 44-year-old was out on patrol when Moat shot his former partner Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown.

Raoul Moat was killed after a six-hour stand-off with armed police

The inquest into his death heard that his encounter with Moat was the "first step" in a series of events which led to the father-of-two's suicide.

PC Rathband became desperate after the breakdown of his marriage and struggled to cope with his disability, the hearing was told.

More follows...

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Govt Warned Over Cutting Military Spending

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Government must set out its vision of where it wants Britain to stand in the world before cutting the defence budget, an influential cross-parliamentary body has urged.

A report released by the Defence Select Committee suggests the imminent end of operations in Afghanistan provides an opportune moment for the Government to produce a comprehensive national security strategy which would then inform the next strategic defence and security review (SDSR).

It must then clearly articulate to the public what they can expect of the armed forces at home and abroad.

Committee chairman James Arbuthnot told Sky News: "The last defence and security review (in 2010) was strategic only in the sense that it was aimed at reducing money.

"The next one has got to be based on, we say, a prior discussion by the country about what place we want the country to have.

"Obviously money has to come into it, but the first thing that needs to come is the national security strategy, then there needs to be a discussion between the Ministry of Defence and Treasury about how we're going to achieve that strategy.

"There is no point, it seems to us, in having the process we had in 2010 of simply pretending you can achieve things without having the money to do so."

The Defence Select Committee also warned the Ministry of Defence needs to foster a better and more transparent relationship with the public if it wants to win support for future operations to bridge a "disconnect".

"There is a lack of understanding amongst the public of what HM Armed Forces should be for, and this represents one of the greatest strategic threats facing the armed forces," the report concludes.

"Public sympathy and support for the armed forces is to be welcomed, but it must not obscure or undermine a hard-headed understanding of what they are for."

However, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was critical of the report in his response.

He said: "We welcome the committee's focus on a strategic approach, but it is unrealistic to think that Defence can operate in a vacuum, without having regard to the fiscal challenges the country faces.

"A meaningful SDSR has to balance strategic and fiscal challenges to find a sustainable solution for Defence.

"Public understanding of the wide range of tasks our armed forces undertake to defend our security and interests is vital to maintaining support for defence spending in the future."

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Hundreds Of NHS Direct Staff Face Job Losses

Hundreds of people working for NHS Direct, a failed provider to the NHS helpline, have been told they face losing their jobs.

NHS Direct announced in July that it was planning to pull out of its contracts due to severe financial problems.

In October it said it would close after projecting a £26m deficit for this financial year.

Some 200 of its 700 staff have already been told their jobs are safe, as they move to other providers.

Of the remaining 500, many may also escape redundancy, with back office staff most likely to lose their jobs.

A spokeswoman said: "NHS Direct has today written to around 500 employees, including around 140 nurses, giving them formal notice that they are at risk of redundancy at the end of March.

"The final number of redundancies is likely to be less than this, since we are seeking to mitigate as many redundancies as possible by supporting these staff to find alternative employment within the wider NHS.

"At this stage we do not know what the final number of redundancies will be as it is dependent on several factors including the number of 'at risk' staff who obtain suitable alternative employment elsewhere."

The 111 line, which replaced NHS Direct as the number to call for urgent, but non-emergency care, has been riddled with controversy since its inception on April 1 last year.

Patients complained of calls going unanswered, poor advice being given and calls being diverted to the wrong part of the country.

A month after its launch, leading medics warned the "problematic" roll-out of the system had left many patients not knowing where to turn.

An investigation was launched by NHS England after a number of incidents, including three deaths, were linked to the service.

NHS Direct originally won 11 of the 46 contracts across England to provide the 111 service.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, claimed 158 nursing staff at NHS Direct would lose their jobs.

He said: "This is sad news indeed for the individuals affected, and could to lead to patients seeing their NHS 111 service stretched even further.

"After the dismantling of NHS Direct, we've been left with a fragmented, localised NHS 111 service that offers uncertainty and inconsistency across many parts of the country."

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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Obese Pregnant Women 'Putting Strain On NHS'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

NHS chiefs have ordered the first official survey of older and fatter women giving birth following new evidence that maternity units are under increasing pressure from complex pregnancies.

Figures obtained by Sky News show there has been a boom in pregnant women who are obese or over the age of 40.

Some units reported that the number of obese mums had more than doubled in just two years.

And NHS England revealed it will for the first time monitor the data to ensure women are receiving appropriate care.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, NHS clinical director for maternity, said: "Knowing this data is one of the most important things to improve the outcomes for these women and their babies.

"So we are investing in that with a new audit for the first time."

Sky News sent a Freedom of Information request to all maternity units in England.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, NHS clinical director for maternity

Of the 104 that replied, 67 were able to supply data on obesity between 2010/11 and 2012/13.

On average there was a 12.5% rise in women with a body mass index (BMI) over 30.

But Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust reported a rise of 192% and Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said obesity had risen 177%.

Our survey also shows an upward trend in the number of older mums, with an average 7.5% rise in the number of women aged over 40 over the two years.

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust has been at the forefront of one of the biggest baby booms in the country.

Our statistics show that the number of obese mums rose by 59% in two years. Women aged over 40 rose by 33%.

Nicky Griffin, maternity ward manager at the hospital, said obese women need additional care.

"It is a consideration you need to make for their safety when they are in labour," she said.

"There is a risk of deep vein thrombosis, clotting in the leg.

"We have to give medication to prevent that because bigger ladies can be less mobile."

Obese women are also more at risk of diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure and having a premature delivery. Older mums face similar risks.

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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Motorist With 45 Points Still On The Road

A motorist who chalked up a record 45 penalty points on his driving licence in a nine-month offending spree is still on the road.

The driver, from Liverpool, was given the points between October 1, 2012, and June 20, 2103, for eight offences of either failing to disclose the identity of the driver or for speeding.

His total exceeds the previous still-driving record of 42 points, revealed the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) which obtained the figures from the DVLA under the Freedom of Information Act.

Drivers who tot up 12 points within three years can be disqualified.

Failing to give the identity of the owner, speeding, and driving uninsured were the most common reasons for points, the IAM said.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Last September, we highlighted a driver with 42 points on their licence and we were told that more would be done to address the issue.

"Incredibly, we now have someone driving with 45 points.

"DVLA must rapidly overall their systems and working relationships with the courts to ensure that the whole principle of 12 points and you are off the road is not undermined."

He went on: "Any suggestion that some drivers may be able to speed with impunity and then talk themselves out of a ban puts our whole approach to enforcement into question.

"The police and the motoring public need to have confidence that those caught speeding or breaking other motoring laws will be dealt with equally."

Laura Woods, spokesperson for road safety charity Brake told Sky News: "It is appalling that people who commit offence after offence, racking up so many points, are allowed to keep driving.

"Drivers who repeatedly flout traffic laws have shown complete disregard for the lives of other road users.

"They have also had ample opportunity to desist breaking the law before reaching 12 points and facing disqualification.

"Brake is calling for all drivers who clock up 12 points to be automatically disqualified.

"Allowing these dangerous and irresponsible drivers to stay on the road puts innocent members of the public in danger and makes a mockery of the system."

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Jimmy Savile Victims Call For Single Inquiry

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

A single, judge-led inquiry should replace the multiple investigations currently taking place into Jimmy Savile, according to the lawyer representing some of the people abused by the late BBC presenter.

There are now at least 30 inquiries into the activities of Savile - who escaped justice after sexually abusing young people for half a century.

These take in the NHS, Crown Prosecution Service, Independent Police Complaints Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Solicitor Alan Collins, who represents 60 people abused by Savile, told Sky News Online: "There should be one, single inquiry, that's the view of the victims.

"There are now so many inquiries taking place, there is a danger that an opportunity to get to the whole truth may be lost.

"But there has to be a political will for this to happen because it will need to be sanctioned by Parliament. It's make-or-break time now.

"Many of the victims have had to give evidence to the police and to some of these inquiries.

"People want the truth, they want two questions answered: How? And why? That's all they want."

The former DJ and TV presenter died in 2011, but a year later an ITV programme exposed him as a serial abuser.

Within weeks of it being broadcast, hundreds of people had contacted various police forces across the UK to claim they too had been abused by Savile.

Children's charity the NSPCC has received 326 calls about Savile to date since that programme aired.

There has been an 81% increase in contact to its helpline about sexual abuse and a rise of more than a quarter (30%) in calls about all types of abuse.

A NSPCC spokesman said it agreed there needed to be some way of bringing together all of the lessons learned from the inquiries currently taking place.

But the charity believes that the current inquiries should not be stopped or merged into one all-encompassing investigation, the spokesman added.

Peter Watt, the helpline's director, said the NSPCC was still receiving calls from victims and witnesses about Savile, the most recent of which was just before Christmas.

He said: "The emerging picture is that the key to stopping abuse like this is helping children to speak out and then taking them seriously when they do.

"Savile escaped justice because people didn't want to hear or believe what children were saying.

"If one glimmer of hope is to come from this torrid affair, it is that children today will be safer because we all learn to listen."

The BBC's independent inquiry into what the Corporation knew about Savile is due to report its findings this month.

Led by Dame Janet Smith, it has contacted 720 people and spoken to 140 witnesses.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed in November that 19 hospitals are carrying out their own inquiries into Savile.

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Parliamentary Sketch Writer Simon Hoggart Dies

Simon Hoggart, the broadcaster and Guardian parliamentary sketch writer, has died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.

The journalist, who had written for the newspaper for 45 years, was diagnosed with the illness three and a half years ago but kept writing columns until December 19.

Hoggart, the elder son of literary and cultural academic Richard Hoggart, had returned to his family home for Christmas Day but went back to the Royal Marsden hospital shortly afterwards and died on Sunday, the newspaper confirmed in an obituary.

The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, said: "Simon was a terrific reporter and columnist – and a great parliamentary sketch writer.

"He wrote with mischief and a sometimes acid eye about the theatre of politics. But he wrote from a position of sophisticated knowledge and respect for parliament.

"A daily reading of his sketch told you things about the workings of Westminster which no news story could ever convey. He will be much missed by readers and his colleagues."

Hoggart, who has published 20 books, appeared regularly on radio and television, including on Sky News, and chaired Radio 4's The News Quiz for 10 years. He joined the Guardian straight from university in 1968.

According to his obituary in the Guardian, Hoggart's final parliamentary sketch appeared in the newspaper the day after Chancellor George Osborne's autumn statement. In it he likened Mr Osborne to Mr Micawber and said of David Cameron that "he smiled like the Cheshire Cat after a large sherry".

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Storms: UK Braced For More Flooding And Chaos

A violent storm brewing in the Atlantic has brought more flooding and travel chaos as Britain returned to work after the Christmas holidays.

Forecasters warned gusts of up to 70mph will hit western coasts, while officials around the country urged people to remain vigilant and to stay away from high-risk areas with high waves crashing on to land.

A rock fall in Porthcothan Bay, Cornwall

As winds whipped up rough seas in the Atlantic, there were fears of further coastal flooding with 10-metre-high waves potentially striking southwest England, Wales and western Scotland.

Aberystwyth seafront - including 600 rooms of the university's student halls of residence facing the beach - was evacuated before the high tide as more strong winds approached.

A severe flood warning is in place near Bournemouth

Sky's Mike McCarthy, at the scene, said: "It does look as though the worst predictions are being realised. We have seen waves bringing rocks and stones forward over the fencing."

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - for heavy rain, along with hail and thunder, in southern and western parts of Scotland, across Northern Ireland, north Wales, northwest and northeast England and the South.

Harry Martin went missing in the storms

Up to 40mm of rain could fall in higher ground.

With the ground saturated already following recent storms, the Environment Agency (EA) has issued one severe flood warning - near Bournemouth, Dorset - and more than 320 flood warnings and alerts covering every region in England and Wales.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 32 flood warnings and alerts in place.

Environment Secretary was in Maidenhead to inspect the town's flood defences and reiterated the Government's commitment to expand schemes to protect homes and businesses.

He said: "It is absolutely awful being flooded and I really do offer my real sympathies to those that have been flooded. It is really shocking for young families and terribly disruptive for businesses.

This is the latest storm front to hit Britain

"I can reassure those people we are determined to carry on long-term flood schemes. We will be spending £2.3bn in the course of this parliament. We have an even more ambitious programme going up to 2020, and over time, we will protect over 165,000 properties during this period and a further 300,000 up to 2020."

The EA has urged communities in Dorset and Oxfordshire to prepare for "significant flooding" in the lower reaches of the Thames, Dorset Stour and Frome rivers.

More flooding is expected on the Somerset Levels and rivers in the South East, including the Severn, remain "very high" after recent rainfall.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson inspects flood defences in Maidenhead

The EA said some 220 properties have been flooded so far, miles of coastline battered and roads and fields across the country left under water.

The severe weather has already taken its toll on the transport network and more disruption is expected for commuters with roads closed and trains delayed or cancelled in areas.

First Great Western warned passengers there was a risk to services in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset.

Southern Railway services between Horsham and Dorking in Surrey will be out of action until early February after a landslip in Ockley.

The scene where the man on his mobility scooter fell into the river

And with hail providing an additional hazard, driving conditions are expected to be difficult too with the RAC expecting Monday to be one of the busiest days of the year for breakdowns, with 11,000 call-outs expected.

Residents in Wales are bracing themselves for more flooding and damage after the worst storms in 15 years battered the coastline on Friday.

Sky News weather producer Jo Robinson said: "As the UK returns to work after the Christmas and New Year holidays, some travel disruption is likely on Britain's roads and railways.

A yellow warning has been issued for the whole of west Britain

"Also, there's likely to be more flooding, with coastal areas at greatest risk as winds gust up to 70mph in the West.

"The storm system out in the Atlantic has whipped up the sea creating a large swell which is heading towards us early on Monday morning, so that combined with strong winds could cause flooding at high tide.

"The spring tides are past their peak now, but the high-tide waters are still likely to cause concern."

Tewkesbury is underwater due to floods again

The weather conditions that brought misery over the festive period continued to prove treacherous at the weekend - with a 47-year-old man becoming the third person to die in the storms.

The unnamed victim died when his mobility scooter fell into the swollen River Thames at Osney Lock, Oxford, at 6.30pm on Saturday.

A search is continuing for missing 18-year-old student Harry Martin, who was last seen leaving his home in Newton Ferrers, near Plymouth, on Thursday afternoon to take photos of the storms.

A 27-year-old man from Surrey was found on Porthleven Sands beach in Cornwall after he was swept out to sea on New Year's Eve night and a woman died after being rescued from the sea in Croyde Bay, north Devon.

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NHS 'Needs £1bn' For Longer GP Opening Hours

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

More than 20,000 extra GPs, nurses and other NHS staff are needed if the Prime Minister wants his plan for longer surgery opening hours to work, the head of the Royal College of GPs has warned.

In her first major TV interview since taking up the post, Dr Maureen Baker told Sky News that GPs needed an extra £1bn of taxpayers' money to recruit sufficient staff to keep practices open seven days a week.

Without the extra money, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable as GPs and hospitals struggle to cope with the extra demand from patients over the winter months, she said.

"If we were to move to seven days a week we would need 10,000 more GPs.

"We probably need the same number of practice nurses and a proportionate number of support staff.

"We don't think seven days a week is realistic."

Dr Baker took over as head of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in November, a month after the Prime Minister declared his intention to get GPs to work more hours.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA), there are just over 40,000 GPs currently working in the UK.

The RCGP wants that figure to rise by a quarter.

In a dire assessment of the current state of GP practices, Dr Baker said family doctors feel "besieged" as they struggle to deal with the influx of patients, particularly in the winter months.

"It is constant demand with very little let-up," she said.

"We know our colleagues are working 11 to 12-hour days, and that is really difficult to do day after day when it is a job you need to be on top form for.

"They are feeling pressurised and besieged and looking for a bit of respite."

She said GPs need more resources, adding: "The consequence (of not having extra resources) will be the winter pressure effect that comes up every year gets longer and longer.

"My fear is the whole of the NHS becomes unsustainable due to the failure to properly invest in general practice."

She also criticised the Government's £500m handout to hospitals to help them cope this winter.

David Cameron wants longer opening hours for GP surgeries

"It wasn't the best use of money. It was a short-term fix, finger-in-the-dyke stuff," she said.

"There is nothing about the use of that money that will stop the same pressures emerging again and again."

In October, the Prime Minister said he would like GP surgeries to open from 8am until 8pm and at weekends to fit in with the lifestyles of working people.

He told Sky News: "Sometimes people using accident and emergency really just need to see a GP.

"But for hard-working people it is often too difficult because you are at work, you can't get an appointment at the time that fits."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "GPs do a vital job which is why we increased their overall budget last year as part of our protection of NHS funding.

"We have made £50m available to help innovative GPs to extend their services and stay open longer - either on their own or by working with other local practices.

"We have also asked Health Education England to see how we can get 50% of medical students to become GPs."

Some GP surgeries are testing out new ways of working to improve waiting times for appointments.

Under a system devised by the organisation Patient Access, GPs call back patients within an hour of them ringing the surgery.

Within a week of introducing the system GPs at the Phoenix Surgery in Swindon were dealing with 60% of patients over the phone.

The rest were given same-day appointments for a face-to-face consultation.

Dr Peter Swinyard said: "I can deal with two or three patients in the time it used to take me to deal with one.

"I was terrified. You have been working in a certain pattern for 29 years and now you're doing something different.

"But we are providing a better service, a service that patients have a right to expect."

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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