Falmouth Packet

Defying the recommendation of the council's case officer, Cornwall councillors have approved plans for Penvose Student Village by 12 votes to two., external

Cornwall Live

Firefighters found an empty car in an "awkward position, external" in a ditch after heavy rain.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A serial rapist has been jailed for 18 years after he left a 13-year-old girl "broken".

Jack Browne, 51, from Copplestone Drive in Exeter was already under investigation for rapes on two other teenage girls when he carried out the abuse, the city's crown court heard.

He has already served a 13-year sentence for those in the 2000s.

Judge David Evans, told the former lorry driver: "These offences were perpetrated over four years and only ceased when you were sent to prison. You continued to rape her when you were under investigation."

"You have broken her and left her life in ruins," he said.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A serial child abuser has been jailed for 18 years for "ruining the life" of a girl who he raped when she was 13.

Jack Browne, 51, has already served a 13-year sentence for attacks on two other girls in the 2000s and he has now been sent back to jail for raping another victim at about the same time.

Exeter Crown Court heard Browne abused the girl for four years and continued while police were investigating offences on the other victims.

The former lorry driver, of Copplestone Drive, Exeter, was found guilty of seven rapes, one attempted rape and three indecent assaults, all of which he denied.

Police say a man who died on the M5 on Tuesday is believed to be from Bulgaria.

Officers say they think he had been a passenger in a Citroen van travelling on the motorway in Devon and are not treating his death as suspicious at the moment.

Police say the man had travelled to the UK to find a job.

Family members in Bulgaria are aware of his death and will be helping with the formal identification process, which officers say may take several weeks.

The M5 was closed between junctions 28 and 29 southbound at Cullompton for about eight hours after the incident.

BBC Spotlight

One breeder of Exmoor Ponies says he's culled dozens of his own animals over the last few years - because of delays in getting them registered.

Rex Milton said: "We're looking at huge delays and in that time people look elsewhere and buy ponies from elsewhere, so it's a huge impact."

Two breeders have also told the BBC they've had ponies shot because they can no longer afford to keep them while facing long delays for DNA results following inspection.

The Exmoor Pony Society, which oversees the inspection and registration process for the rare breed, said the vast majority of herd owners don't encounter problems or delays but laboratories testing the ponies' DNA are sometimes delayed by inconclusive results.

The South West has seen the biggest rise in the number of children in public sector families living in poverty, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC)., external

The union umbrella group says one in seven children in the UK with a parent in the public sector will be living below the official poverty line as a result of the public sector pay cap, plus tax and benefit changes.

Image source, PA

According to the TUC's research, the South West has seen a 55% rise in the number of children in public sector families who have fallen into poverty since 2010.

The analysis shows that almost 43,000 children in the South West with at least one parent working in the public sector are now living in poverty.

In a similar story in November, the government said it was committed to supporting families.

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for the public's help after the disappearance of 20-year-old Rory Cattermole, who is studying in Exeter.

He is described as white, 6ft (1.8m) tall with short brown hair and is clean shaven.

He was wearing a red and white check shirt over a white T-shirt with black trousers and black trainers.

Det Ch Insp Stuart Cavin, said: "Rory was last seen leaving Fever Boutique on Mary Arches Street in Exeter at about 02.40 on Tuesday.

Image source, Devon & Cornwall Police

"It is believed that he left the club and headed towards Exeter city centre.

"He was out with friends but we believe he left the club alone.

"We have been told that Rory was on Snapchat during the early hours of the morning to his friends."

Image source, PA

Six police officers are to face misconduct proceedings over the death of a man in police custody.

Thomas Orchard, who had schizophrenia, died in hospital a week after he suffered a cardiac arrest in a cell at an Exeter police station in 2012.

Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “We note the correspondence from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the direction within it to convene gross misconduct panels for six officers and staff.

“This is lengthy and complex correspondence for the force, and the officers and staff concerned will need to take the time they need to consider their position and the subsequent response to it.

“We continue to offer support to the staff involved in these proceedings but the effect this has had on them and the Orchard family since October 2012 cannot be underestimated.

“We will now further discuss the matter with the IOPC.”

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

A man had to have his finger amputated after an assault at Teignmouth railway station in Devon on 23 December.

The victim, a 45-year-old man, was assaulted by a group of people outside the station at about 22:45 and says he remembers regaining consciousness in the car park.

He thought he had minor injuries but noticed what appeared to be a bite to his little finger the next day.

A few days later, he was admitted to hospital and had to have his finger amputated because if was badly infected.

He also had cuts and bruising to his face and body.

BBC Spotlight

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service now has pet oxygen masks on all its engines.

The organisation Smokeypaws provides the masks to fire services across the UK.

With so many homes having a pet, it is hoped the masks will give more animals a better chance of survival after a fire.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service received 31 pet oxygen kits in December, external.

Thomas Orchard, who had schizophrenia, died after suffering a cardiac arrest in a police cell.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has been accused of trying to 'retain a monopoly'.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The owner of Tresco Island Robert Dorrien-Smith has described a move by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company to reinstate a helicopter service to the islands as a "spoiling tactic".

In a surprise announcement, the company said it would start eight flights a day from Lands End in May.

Mr Dorrien-Smith has been planning his own helicopter service from Penzance and has said he will be pressing ahead with it.

Image source, Isles of Scilly Steamship Company

The original helicopter service between Scilly and Cornwall ceased in 2012 with many islanders claiming trade has suffered since.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Staff at the National Coastwatch Institution in Polruan are celebrating the arrival of high strength binoculars for the station.

The long range binoculars cost £4,000 and were paid for by donations and community fundraisers.

With the watch station covering an area from Dodman Point to the Eddystone Lighthouse the volunteers say they're a vital addition to their work.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A pedestrian has a serious head injury after being hit by a motorbike in Newton Abbot.

Police and an ambulance were called to Queen Street at 06:10.

The man in his 60s was taken to hospital and the road re-opened at about 09:00.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

Image source, Family handout

Six Devon and Cornwall Police officers and staff are to face misconduct proceedings following the death of a man in Exeter.

Thomas Orchard, 32, who had schizophrenia, died in hospital a week after he suffered a cardiac arrest in an Exeter police cell in 2012.

A Devon and Cornwall Police sergeant, two detention officers and three police constables will face misconduct hearings following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death in 2012.

The IOPC has directed the force to bring disciplinary hearings for gross misconduct against the officers and staff due to their involvement in the restraint of Mr Orchard at Heavitree Police Station in Exeter.

It said it submitted a report which included its investigator’s opinion that seven Devon and Cornwall Police officers and staff had cases to answer for gross misconduct, but that Devon and Cornwall Police’s response disagreed with this view.

After careful consideration and further discussions with the force, Regional Director Sarah Green has directed the force to hold misconduct hearings for six of the officers and staff relating to allegations over their use of force.

BBC Radio Cornwall

South West Water says the effects of the torrential rain this winter would have been much worse if farmers across Cornwall had not been part of a scheme to stop soil erosion.

Called Upstream Thinking, external, the water company pays farmers to reduce soil erosion.

It means fewer chemicals and slurry are washed into streams and rivers, and will not end up polluting the county's reservoirs and killing wildlife.

It says it is planning to expand the scheme after 2020.

Peter Warman from Cornwall Wildlife Trust says changing some farming techniques can make a big difference.

"If you can imagine that soil is like a washing up sponge, if it's been pressed down by excessive machinery or livestock movement.

"It's not very good at holding water and it's more prone to being lost to rivers, which isn't good for anyone.

"So well managed soil means looking after it in a way which allows it to retain its spongy structure with lots of pores and lots of life, like lots of worms and microbes."

Plymouth Herald

The love-struck Romeo behind the huge 'I ❤ U Leah' message that appeared on a hillside overlooking a Devon town on Valentine's Day , externalhas been revealed - and it isn't her boyfriend.