Updates on Monday 7 March 2016
Two disgraced nurses from Worcestershire are making thousands of pounds a week illegally prescribing Botox to patients
A vulnerable woman, seduced by a West Mercia Police Officer, speaks out about her ordeal
Energy firm Npower, which employs around 600 people in Worcester, has announced big job losses
James Pearson
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Live updates for Herefordshire and Worcestershire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Tuesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Alexandra Hamilton
The BBC website also has the latest weather forecast for the area whenever you need it.
The weather for the West Midlands.
Matthew Bone
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
This afternoon's announcement that West Mercia Chief Constable David Shaw is to retire opens up the possibility that the police force could share its boss with Warwickshire in future.
Though there are currently no official plans to share the leadership role, the amount of shared work done by both forces has increased dramatically in recent years.
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Fraudsters are sending out virus-infected emails which claim the recipient's parcel has been seized by customs officials.
Action Fraud, the UK's centre for reporting fraud, say the scam emails, which claim to be from the Royal Mail, contain a link to a document which will then install malicious software on your computer designed to steal credentials like account names, email addresses and passwords.
The Conservative MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, has welcomed today's news that the government has started to look at the funding formula for schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has started a consultation into the formula which has traditionally given more money per pupil to inner city schools than to ones in more rural areas.
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James Pearson
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
This afternoon's main headlines include:
- Two disgraced nurses have been warned about their actions after an undercover investigation revealed them offering illegal Botox treatments
- The Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, David Shaw, is to retire at the end of July
- A vulnerable woman, seduced by a police officer, has spoken out about how he began an illicit relationship with her
Budding astronomers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire could have a chance to spot the Northern Lights tonight.
The colourful phenomenon was visible last night in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but was also spotted as far south as Oxfordshire.
Just odd patches of cloud are expected this evening.
Image source, Mary SpicerThe sky turned a vivid shade of purple as far south as Oxfordshire, as snapped by Mary Spicer
The Aurora Borealis occurs when electrically-charged particles from the Sun enter the Earth's atmosphere.
A woman seduced by a West Mercia Police officer, has spoken out about how he exploited his role and began an illicit relationship with her.
PC Jordan Powell illicityly started a relationship with 'Claire' (not her real name), a victim of domestic abuse, after he was put on her case and started to text her.
Quote MessageHe asked if he could come round and see me before he started his shift... He was in his uniform and I trusted him because he was in his uniform."
'Claire', victim of domestic abuse
'Claire' was just one of several female victims of crime PC Powell sent sexual text messages to.
After he was convicted of misconduct in public office, he was sacked by West Mercia Police in 2013 and sent to prison for 15 months.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police, Bill Longmore, has praised outgoing Chief Constable David Shaw's "exceptional leadership".
“Throughout decades in policing I have worked with many chief constables and David Shaw is right up there with the very best.
Quote MessageHe has handled everything that has come his way, and always maintained his focus on the things that matter most.
Bill Longmore, Police and Crime Commissioner, West Mercia Police
The responsibility of selecting Mr Shaw’s replacement will fall to whoever replaces Bill Longmore as the next police and crime commissioner, after he retires in May. The election for the next commissioner takes place on 5 May.
Bill Longmore will also step down as police and crime commissioner in May
A Grade II-listed church in the centre of Worcester is getting a £1.3m renovation in a bid to "save our nation's heritage".
The Churches Conservation Trust hopes to make St Swithun's a city landmark.
Image source, GoogleOnly occasional services are held at the church, which sits on Worcester's High Street
Only occasional services are held at the venue but its hoped it will become a focus of community life.
The Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, David Shaw, is to retire at the end of July.
He's been in charge of the force since 2011 and says the eight years he has spent with the West Mercia force have been among the toughest but happiest of his service.
"The successes we have delivered together have only been possible with the outstanding support of colleagues of every role and rank... I will be leaving with a feeling of genuine affection for this force, the people I work with and the area I serve," he said.
It's just been announced that the Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, David Shaw, is to retire on 31 July.
David Shaw, Chief Constable of West Mercia Police
School children at Hereford Cathedral School presented West Mercia Search and Rescue with a new boat this morning.
Pupils raised more than £1,000 to pay for the vessel, which will be based in the county.
Image source, Hereford Cathedral SchoolWMSAR's Andy MacAuley and James Whitehurst with pupils, Sophie Clark and Ellie Glover, and teacher Alex Mynors by the new search and rescue boat
A man sustained injuries after he was reportedly stabbed, external at a petrol station, in Kidderminster, after an altercation between four men.
Kate West
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
This is the moment we confront James Kearsey, a suspended nurse who's making thousands of pounds a week illegally prescribing Botox to patients.
He's one of two men we've discovered are staging "Botox parties" in homes and beauty salons for people desperate to banish wrinkles.
When we approached him outside a clinic in Blackpool, Mr Kearsey said "no comment" and ran away.
James Kearsey operates from a clinic at his home as well as private homes and beauty salons
James Kearsey advertises his services via Facebook, and also describes himself as a nurse. But in November 2015 he was suspended by the Nursing & Midwifery Council after hiding a conviction for assault from his bosses.
The NMC has said it will now investigate Mr Kearsey.
A campaign group has been given more time to come up with a new plan for the future of Hereford Library.
Hereford Library Users' Group had put forward an £8m plan to turn the building into a learning centre, museum and hub for community services.
The proposals would see most of the building demolished, with the listed, historic front kept.
Image source, Herefordshire CouncilThe library on Broad Street has been closed to the public since asbestos was discovered last year. It's currently being removed.
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Reports of trespassers on the line.
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Residents have expressed their shock and sadness on social media over the announced closure, external of Bromsgrove’s beloved children’s play centre Imagination Street.
The regulator for nurses, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, says one of the men from Worcestershire who have been illegally offering Botox to clients, is committing a criminal offence.
Both men, James Kearsey and Jonathan Henk, have previously been banned from practising by the NMC. Both were caught on camera illegally offering our reporter injections, which are a prescription-only medicine.
The NMC said it would investigate Mr Kearsey, adding: "As he is currently temporarily suspended from the register he should not be undertaking any activity that would be done by a registered nurse, including prescribing medicines."
A spokeswoman added: "In relation to Mr Henk who has been struck off the register, he should not be claiming to be a registered nurse or undertaking any activity that would require him to be on the professional register, including prescribing medicines, to do so is a criminal offence."
