Latest updates: East Midlands Live Tuesday 19 March

Summary

Amber Peat's death 'could not have been predicted'
Man arrested after Southwell gas canister ATM raid
Stab victim's mum's 'heart torn to pieces'
Horses being dumped due to 'overpopulation'
Leicester man 'revealed terror plan to US agent'
University empty shoes highlight student suicides
Football: Mansfield Town move into automatic promotion slot
Updates for Tuesday 19 March

Live Reporting

Nick Smith and Gavin Bevis

Derby venue 'pulled plug on hip hop gig'published at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
BBC Entertainment and Arts
A grime artist has told MPs a rapper friend recently had a gig cancelled by a Derby venue when it realised he was a hip hop performer.
The comments, by London-based ShaoDow, formed part of a report by a group of cross-party MPs into discrimination faced by urban music artists.
Image source, DIY Gang Entertainment
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee said it had "uncovered evidence of persisting prejudice against urban music and grime artists", which it warned was putting the future of the genre at risk.
ShaoDow told the committee his rapper friend "does not swear in any of his music and is about as positive as you could possibly be", but had a venue in Derby cancel on him recently after they "suddenly realised he is a hip hop artist".
DCMS Committee chairman Damian Collins said: "When it comes to live performance, it's shocking to hear that grime artists are continuing to face prejudice, which risks hampering the success of one of our most successful musical exports."
Stationery retailer in administrationpublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Retailer Office Outlet has gone into administration, putting 1,200 jobs at risk.
The company has branches in Leicester, Nottingham and Derby.
The retailer's 90 stores will continue trading while administrators try to find a buyer.
The company, formerly known as Staples, isn't connected with the online business which currently trades under that name.
Image source, Google
Woman killed in Cotgrave crashpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
A 55-year-old woman has died in hospital, external following a crash in Cotgrave yesterday.
Police said two cars and a lorry were involved in the collision in Stragglethorpe Road at about 15:40.
The woman was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
There were no reports of any other injuries in the crash, which led to the road being closed for more than ten hours.
George Formby ukuleles fetch thousandspublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Two ukuleles played by comedy legend George Formby have sold for thousands at an auction in Derbyshire.
The instruments formed part of a private collection of Formby memorabilia owned by one of his biggest fans, who died last summer.
Image source, Hansons
A Keech ukulele played by Formby in the 1935 movie No Limit was bought by a private UK buyer for £11,414.
And a Dallas D ukulele-banjo used on stage by the star sold to Anthony Mason, a painter and decorator from Salford, for £12,493.
Mr Mason said: "I would have paid more. I’ve liked George Formby for years, since I was a boy."
Wildlife experts criticise hedgerow nets at new estatepublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Wildlife experts have criticised a decision to put netting over hedgerows that are being removed as part of a housing development in Nottinghamshire.
The orange-coloured covering in Radcliffe-on-Trent is to stop birds nesting there ahead of construction work but Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust says developers should plan ahead so the removal of greenery is completed outside of nesting season.
In a statement, William Davis Homes said the work was being done under the supervision of a qualified ecologist and the hedge had been regularly inspected to monitor for any trapped wildlife.
The netting has also been used by developers in parts of Derbyshire - including Hilton (pictured below).
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust stopped short of calling for a ban but urged developers to give more consideration to nature when planning building work.
Police and Army 'failed' stalking victimpublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Alice Ruggles was murdered in her Gateshead flat by her soldier ex-boyfriend Trimaan Dhillon.
Read More
Van crash scatters pallets across roadpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Not the best of days for this van driver after a crash left wooden pallets scattered across a slip from the A50 eastbound in Castle Donington.
The slip road is currently closed while the pallets and van are removed.
Image source, Highways England
Pro-Brexit activist denies harrassing MP Anna Soubrypublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
BBC News
A pro-Brexit activist has pleaded not guilty to harassing Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry outside Parliament.
James Goddard, 29, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, is accused of calling the MP a "Nazi" and a "traitor".
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and denied three charges before the case was temporarily adjourned due to a disturbance at the hearing.
Image source, PA
Mr Goddard is accused of causing harassment between 18 December and 7 January; and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, and harassment, alarm or distress on 7 January.
Mr Goddard was remanded on bail until 19 July when he will face a two-day trial at the court in London.
Concern for missing manpublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Concern is growing for a man who went missing from Carlton.
William Pastuszka, 39, was last seen yesterday morning and is distinctive as he has no right eye.
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Woman found dead after shed firepublished at 11:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A woman's body has been found following a shed fire.
Emergency services were called to the blaze in Aspley, Nottingham, at 09:45 yesterday morning where they found a woman's body.
Police have said they are not treating her death as suspicious.
The woman's family have been informed and a file has been prepared for the coroner.
Image source, Google
Melton Mowbray crash clearedpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Good news for people travelling in Melton Mowbray this morning...
A crash at the junction of Thorpe Road, Saxby Road and Norman Way has been cleared, external and congestion is starting to ease.
Image source, Google
Woman taken to hospital after crashpublished at 10:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries following a crash in Cotgrave last night.
Police were called at around 15:40 to the crash on Stragglethorpe Road, which involved two cars and a lorry.
Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended the crash.
Image source, Google
Caterpillar fungus 'reduces arthritis'published at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
University of Nottingham scientists testing a caterpillar fungus on rodents have found it can be effective in treating arthritis pain.
They said cordycepin has reduced osteoarthritis pain and inflammation in rats and mice.
Dr Cornelia De Moor, from the university, said the new findings are "hugely significant" as it could lead to developing a "new class painkiller" for patients.
Image source, Getty Images
"There is a long way to go before a cordycepin derived medicine reaches patients, but our work is very promising," she said.
Dr Stephen Simpson, from the charity Versus Arthritis, said: "The study has great potential for helping people suffering pain of musculoskeletal conditions."
Image source, Science Photo Library
The age-related joint disease affects about a third of people over 45 in the UK.
Many patients have joint replacement surgery to tackle the disease.
Cordycepin is widely used in East Asia for its medicinal properties.
Police investigating 'suspicious' caravan park firepublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Police have said they are treating a caravan fire in Melton Mowbray last night as "suspicious".
Seven caravans were found alight at 21:20 last night at a disused caravan site off Sandy Lane.
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: "Enquiries are still ongoing but the cause is believed to be suspicious."
Fire officers are due to carry out an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Image source, LFRS
Amber Peat: Review recommends safeguarding improvementspublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Breaking
A serious case review into the death of 13-year-old Amber Peat has said lessons have been learnt.
Amber was found hanged in bushes three days after she walked out of her home in Mansfield on 30 May 2015.
The Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board published its review, external into agencies in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and identified ways to improve the safeguarding of children.
Image source, Handout
Chris Few, independent chair of the board said: "We owe it to Amber to learn from what happened and Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board commissioned an independent serious case review to examine what would lead to improvements in the way that agencies work to keep children safe.
“Action was commenced to address learning from the review as soon as it was identified and extensive work has been undertaken to ensure that safeguarding systems are as robust as they can be."
Delays expected after crashpublished at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
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Mixed response to town's tree sculpturepublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
East Midlands Today
A sculpture celebrating Ashby de la Zouch's place in the National Forest has got people talking.
The £50,000 art work was commissioned by North West Leicestershire District Council and installed in the car park off North Street.
Three arrested after nightclub attackpublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A man was taken to hospital this weekend after he was assaulted at a nightclub.
The 18-year-old has since been discharged after the attack, which happened at Revolution, Baxter Gate, Loughborough at around 01:10 on Sunday.
Three men, all aged 18, were arrested on suspicion of causing grevious bodily harm and have since been released on bail.
Image source, Google
Empty shoes highlight student suicidespublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
A petition asking the University of Nottingham for more mental health support has also been started.
Read More
Biker taken to hospital after crashpublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a crash with a car this morning.
The man, in his early thirties, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
Emergency services remain at the scene in Southwell Road, Lowdham, while the vehicles are recovered and the road is expected to re-open shortly.
Image source, Google