Updates from Friday 15 July 2016
A man's died after his car hit a stationary lorry in Warwickshire yesterday morning, says the ambulance service.
It happened near to the Nightowl Truckstop in Clifton-upon-Dunsmore at around 05:35.
Image source, GoogleWest Midlands Police says the expenses case against ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire has been "long and complex".
Outside Birmingham Crown Court earlier, after being cleared of fiddling travel expenses, the 47-year-old claimed £1.5m of public money had been spent to build a case against her - a figure as yet unsubstantiated.
Superintendent Maria Fox said: "This long, complex inquiry has been investigated in a diligent and professional manner."
Quote MessageIt resulted in extensive evidence being presented to the Crown Prosecution Service which they accepted as significant enough to charge Nikki Sinclaire. Our criminal justice system quite rightly demands a very high standard of proof and we acknowledge the verdict from the jury today."
Maria Fox, Superintendent, West Midlands Police
Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live
These are some of our headlining stories in the Coventry newsroom today:
- Report finds failure of key services in Coventry to 'recognise and prevent the exploitation of children'
- Ex-MEP Nikki Sinclaire cleared of expenses fraud
- Chimneys at a former Coventry brickworks demolished
Ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire has criticised what she claims has been a public spend of £1.5m on the case against her.
She was cleared by a jury earlier of fiddling travel expense claims while in office and laundering the cash.
She criticised West Midlands Police's handling of the criminal inquiry, saying that the 10 claims upon which the Crown's case rested - and of which she was cleared - were now nearly "seven years old", dating to October 2009.
The force defended its handling of the investigation and has declined to say how much the inquiry cost.
Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live
A review into the violence, intimidation and sexual exploitation to which five Coventry children were subjected found there was a "failure of key service to recognise and prevent" their ordeal.
The young people - aged between 13 and 15 at the time of their abuse which began in 2010 - were know to social services and today, Coventry City Council has issued an apology.
A statement from the authority reads: "It is clear from the review that five young people, who should have expected better care and support, were let down and for that we are sorry".
The statement continues: "We will never be so complacent as to say child sexual exploitation (CSE) is now being completely prevented, but it is encouraging the review concludes 'changes can reasonably be expected to have had a genuine impact on prevention and reduction of CSE in the city."
The RSC has revealed attainment levels among low achieving pupils, particularly boys, can be raised through exposure to Shakespeare. , external
Image source, Stratford Herald
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
The sun could break through from behind the clouds, but we're due more rain this afternoon.
As a court clears former MEP Nikki Sinclaire of misconduct in a public office and fraud the BBC profiles her eventful private and political life.
Read MoreVanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live
A serious case review into the treatment of five children known to Coventry social services has found they experienced "appalling violence, intimidation and sexual exploitation" over a "considerable period of time".
Image source, Science Photo LibraryIt found that services provided to the children, aged between 13 and 15 at the time, "fell short" and featured a "lack of meaningful assessment" and a "failure to recognise the seriousness of some risks facing these children".
The report concludes: "The children's vulnerability was not recognised and adequately acted on at an early enough stage, making effective intervention increasingly difficult to achieve as they became more vulnerable to exploitation."
Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM
Today's verdicts clear Nikki Sinclaire of allegations that have been hanging over her since she was arrested almost four years ago.
At times tearful and angry as she gave evidence, it was clear the suggestion she had abused the trust of voters was what hurt her the most.
Ms Sinclaire admitted there were errors in her expenses claims, but her lawyers maintained they had been "deliberately corrupted" by office aide John Ison in an atmosphere of political "hostility" - a defence that convinced the jury.
There had been an atmosphere of "hostility" between ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire and party leader Nigel Farage, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
The jury was told John Ison, Ms Sinclaire's former office aide, had passed information about her to the senior figure.
Ms Sinclaire and her lawyers said Mr Ison had "deliberately corrupted" her expenses.
The 47-year-old has been cleared of making false travel expenses claims.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire has been cleared in court of making false expenses claims.
Image source, PA
BBC Sport
Liam Dawson's maiden first-class century of the season put Hampshire in firm control over Warwickshire on day one at Edgbaston.
Image source, Getty ImagesDawson batted superbly throughout the day and reached his ton off 169 balls before falling to Barker for 116.
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Nuneaton's Andy Sullivan finished joint sixth, eleven under par, at the Scottish Open.
His closing round of 67 earned him a share with Scotland's Richie Ramsay who'll also compete at the British Open at Royal Troon.
The competition was won by Sweden's Alex Noren, beating England's Tyrrell Hatton by one stroke at Castle Stuart.
Image source, Getty ImagesChimneys at a former Coventry brickworks have been demolished by controlled explosion.
Loud bangs could be heard on Sunday before the stacks came tumbling down at the site on Stoney Stanton Road.
The footage was filmed by demolition group Blucon.
The first Coleshill Carnival in 20 years took place over the weekend.
Conservative MP, Craig Tracey, said the re-launched event had a "huge turnout".
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Two “nasty and venal” Coventry thugs, caged for ambushing and robbing a kind-hearted bouncer , externalin a darkened alley, have had their sentences slashed.
Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live
These are some of the main stories in the newsroom today:
- Travellers in Warwickshire say the council needs to provide more permanent sites
- Donations to repatriate the body of holiday rep Lydia Lewinson reach £10,000
- Giant chimneys at former Coventry brickworks demolished
Liam Dawson's maiden first-class century of the season puts Hampshire in firm control over Warwickshire on day one.
Read MoreAlexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
A cloudy day with scattered showers and the chance of some brighter spells at times with highs of 20C (68F).
