Latest updates: East Midlands Live Thursday 5 April

Summary

Hostel murders accused 'of unsound mind'
Ex-PC avoids jail in fraud case
Visitors queue 'for hours' outside zoo
Shopkeeper admits child sex offences
Male PC choir changes name under pressure
Police investigate woman's 'sudden death'
Missing tortoise found after nine months
Updates on Thursday 5 April 2018

Live Reporting

Sandish Shoker and Calum McKenzie

What do Nottingham drivers make of pavement parking fines?published at 15:01 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Hayley Compton
Reporter, BBC Radio Nottingham
We've been asking drivers in New Basford, Nottingham, for their thoughts on parking on the pavement after the Department for Transport said it's looking at introducing a £70 fine.
One motorist told me: "They should make the street wider then!"
Another said: "It wouldn't work round here. You have to park on the pavement to fit traffic through. There's nowhere else to park."
The government said it is considering the new law to de-clutter the streets and make it easier for pedestrians, wheelchair users and the visually impaired.
It's been illegal to park on pavements in London since the 1970s.
Football fans to get free drinkspublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
Fans heading to Leicester's match with Newcastle this weekend are to be offered a free beer or bottle of water., external
Image source, @LCFC/Twitter
It is a gift from Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this week.
Police puppies 'grow in size and confidence'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Look how much this litter of Leicestershire Police puppies has grown.
The force's dog section said they are, "growing in size and confidence every single day".
Image source, Leicestershire Police
They're the first litter to be bred by the force and were born seven weeks ago.
They might look harmless now but it's hoped they will soon be helping officers catch criminals.
Crews tackling car firepublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
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Backpacker's mum says she has to 'trust professionals'published at 14:13 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
The mother of backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been at court in Brisbane, Australia, where she heard all 16 charges have been dropped against Smail Ayad.
He was accused of murdering 20-year-old Mia and 30-year-old Tom Jackson from Cheshire, but the court decided he was of "unsound mind" and was suffering from psychosis brought on by long-term cannabis use.
Ms Ayliffe said: "If he is mentally ill and he needs treatment there is no point fighting that judgement. There were points during the procedure where I felt angry but I am not prepared to dwell in that place.
"I have to put that aside, I have to trust the professionals, I have to trust that those procedures were followed, and if I can do that, then I will find peace."
Leicester director brings new film to citypublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Namrata Varia
BBC Radio Leicester producer
Leicester-born film director Amit Gupta will be in Leicester on Monday, April 9 for a question and answer session following the screening of his new film One Crazy Thing, external.
The romantic comedy stars former EastEnders actor Ray Panthaki and Daisy Bevan and tells the story of a former daytime TV star whose life has hit rock bottom after a leaked video turns him into an internet sensation.
Image source, Amit Gupta
It's Amit Gupta's third film as a director and follows Jadoo, external, which was set on Leicester's Golden Mile.
One Crazy Thing will be shown at Leicester's Phoenix Cinema, external followed by a Q&A hosted by Amit Gupta.
Hostel murders accused 'of unsound mind'published at 13:55 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Psychiatrists said a man who stabbed two British backpackers was suffering from schizophrenia.
Read More
Market Harborough church goes 'cashless'published at 13:52 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Bridget Blair
BBC Radio Leicester Reporter
An historic church in Market Harborough is now taking payment for things like weddings and books using card, contactless and wearable technology. The St Dionysius team of churches has taken part in a pilot project by the Church of England for both security and convenience.
Sue Macdonald, the team administrator for five churches in the Harborough area, says the scheme has gone down well. She's not handling large amounts of cash, payments are secure and most people use cards instead of cash and cheques. Visitors can also make donations by text.
James out until the end of the seasonpublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Breaking
Owynn Palmer-Atkin
BBC Radio Leicester Sport
Leicester City manager, Claude Puel has confirmed that Matty James is out until the end of the season due to injury.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
It’s not a big problem. He’s unlucky"
Claude Puel, Leicester City manager
The midfielder has had surgery on his achilles tendon, and won't be available until the beginning of the 2018/19 season.
Blue skies in Derbyshirepublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
BBC Weather Watchers
The sun is definitely shining across the East Midlands today. Here's the view from Wingerworth.
Image source, Villages Tales
District council 'in a mess' after walk outspublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Tony Roe
BBC East Midlands political editor
As we reported yesterday Labour lost overall control of Ashfield District Council after eight councillors quit the party in recent weeks and opted either to sit independently or defected to the Conservatives.
According to Labour insiders, what’s happened is a mess. But don’t make the mistake of assuming this is a story about a Momentum or left-wing takeover of the local party. It’s more complicated than that. It’s more likely a tale of individuals who don’t get on and disagree on policies.
Image source, Google
One idea which caused grief was the introduction of smaller household waste bins which were designed to encourage recycling. Opponents claim £3m has been spent and all it’s done is increased fly-tipping.
The present leader was elected for four years and can only be ousted by a vote of no confidence at a full council meeting. The next meeting on 26 April will be one to watch.
Shopkeeper admits child sex offencespublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Samantha Fisher
BBC News at Derby Crown Court
A Derby shopkeeper has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Image source, Google
Dilan Amin, 27, of Pear Tree Road, Normanton, also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Derby Crown Court.
Amin, who ran a shop called the Famous Shop (pictured) on Pear Tree Road in Derby, was remanded in custody until the sentencing on 27 April.
Amin will be sentenced for these four charges as well as a number of others he has already pleaded guilty to or was convicted of at trial.
Judge Jonathan Bennett said: "It is inevitable you are going to prison."
Hostel murders accused 'of unsound mind'published at 13:25 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
A man accused of murdering Derbyshire backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, and Tom Jackson, from Congleton, Cheshire, in an Australian hostel will not stand trial after he was ruled as being of "unsound mind".
Psychiatrists told a court in Australia that Smail Ayad was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Image source, Facebook
Mr Ayad, a French national, had been charged with a total of 16 offences.
The 30-year-old was remanded to a mental health facility after appearing at the Mental Health Court in Brisbane.
Contactless payments introduced at car parkspublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
If you're parking in Leicester, you may be able to make use of one of these updated pay and display machines that allow drivers to purchase tickets via contactless payments.
Image source, TFL VISUAL IMAGE SERVICES
The council has altered 20 payment machines to accept credit and debit cards.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "It is much easier for people to make contactless payments... than it is to try to have the right change available."
On-street parking meters will continue to only accept cash, the council added.
Police seek man after sexual assaultpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
Police have released some CCTV images of man they would like to speak to following a sexual assault in Derby city centre last year.
Image source, Derbyshire Police
The images are from Friday 29 December and Saturday 30 December 2017, external and were taken in City Bar, on Albert Street.
Det Con Nathan McMahon said: "We are releasing these images in the hope of jogging the memory of anyone who may have been in City Bar that evening."
Villagers victims of ram's 'vicious reign of terror'published at 12:43 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Derby Telegraph
A marauding sheep which is being kept in a Derbyshire field has attacked and injured at least three people, according to villagers., external
Football: Puel nominated for March awardpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
Leicester City boss Claude Puel has been nominated for the Premier League manager of the month award for March.
Image source, Getty Images/AFP
The Foxes boss has listed alongside Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Sean Dyche.
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have also been nominated for the goal of the month award, for their strikes against Bournemouth and West Brom respectively.
Two taken to hospital with knife woundspublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Witnesses are being sought to a fight between a group of men in Nottingham that saw two taken to hospital with knife wounds.
Image source, Google
Police said a 23-year-old man was stabbed and a 20-year-old suffered a minor slash wound in the fight at the Bridgeway Centre, The Meadows, at around 12.30 yesterday.
The 23-year-old's injuries are not life-threatening and he remains in a stable condition. The 20-year-old has since been discharged.
'Ripple effect' in knife crime says campaignerpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Nottingham campaigner Marcellus Baz has said he has never seen knife crime "so bad" in the city.
Mr Baz was stabbed by a rival gang member when he was 23 and now runs boxing classes to help young people stay away from crime.
He said: "There's a lot of aftermath, retaliation and a ripple effect with families and friends affected by the trauma."
CBeebies Ben to open librarypublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
A BBC presenter is to read stories and meet children at the official opening of a new library next month.
Image source, CBBC
CBeebies regular Ben Cajee, who has also appeared on Blue Peter and Match of the Day Kickabout on CBBC, will be in Glossop for the unveiling of the town's new library on 31 May - an extension of the adult education centre.
It will replace the library in Victoria Hall, which closes on Saturday 14 April.