Liam Barnes
BBC News

A stalker who sent pictures of himself holding a gun to a couple has been jailed for 18 months.

Victor Unczur sent a number of threatening messages on Facebook to two people living in Nottinghamshire, culminating in a video of himself with a handgun on 10 June.

The 24-year-old, of Derby Road in Long Eaton, was charged with stalking and use of threatening or abusive words, and pleaded guilty to both offences at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday.

PC Louise Palfrey, who led the investigation, said Unczur is "a nasty individual who held no regard for the distress and alarm he was causing".

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A Derbyshire street fair which has been held since the 13th Century is likely to be cancelled for the first time since wartime.

Erewash Borough Council has said the 768th Ilkeston Charter Fair is set to be called off, with confirmation due at a council meeting next week.

Image source, Erewash Borough Council

The October event, which attracts thousands of people, is due to be pulled "in line with safety advice on mass gatherings and the ‘red risk’ they pose for the spread of coronavirus," a council statement said.

The authority said the annual fireworks display in Long Eaton's West Park, the town's Chestnut Fair and Christmas lights switch-ons in Ilkeston and Long Eaton are also likely to be cancelled at the meeting on 27 August.

Remembrance Sunday wreath-laying events in both towns are expected to go ahead on 8 November with restricted attendance.

Councillor Mike Wallis said these were "extremely difficult decisions but the safety of all has to be our number one priority".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The A38 has fully reopened between Ripley and Alfreton following a serious crash this morning.

The road was closed in both directions after a collision involving a cyclist and lorry at about 05:20.

The southbound carriageway reopened earlier this afternoon.

Police said the 44-year-old cyclist has been taken to hospital with serious injuries, while the lorry driver, 34, has been held on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Image source, Google

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Nottingham City Council has published an action plan setting out how it intends to make changes to its loss-making energy firm.

Last week, not-for-profit Robin Hood Energy - set up by the authority to provide cheaper energy - was strongly criticised in a report by external auditors Grant Thornton.

The report said the troubled company had lost £34.4m by March 2019, despite large loans from the council.

It also criticised the authority for how it handled the company. The council said it "fully accepts" the findings of the report and the recommendations made to tackle failings in its governance of the company.

The council has proposed a number of actions, including reviewing the council's approach to ownership of companies, councillor membership of its company boards, and providing training for councillor and officer representatives on its company boards.

The authority added in 12 months, there will be a report back to the council on progress, with quarterly reports in public to the council's executive board.

A full council meeting will take place virtually next Thursday to discuss the report's findings.

Leader of the Labour-run council, councillor David Mellen, said: "We are fully committed to implementing a range of changes and improvements which will address the recommendations made by the auditor, in respect of Robin Hood Energy, our other companies and the council as a whole.

"We will learn from the mistakes that have been made with Robin Hood Energy and from good practice in other companies we run, to find improved ways to serve the people of Nottingham."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

One man has been arrested and another taken to hospital after a crash on the A38 in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Police said the crash, between Ripley and the Watchorn Island, happened at about 05:20 and involved a cyclist and a lorry.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

The 44-year-old cyclist has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The lorry driver, 34, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The northbound carriageway remains closed but the southbound side has since reopened.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for information after an elderly man was found injured and unconscious in Derby last month.

The 81-year-old was found on Shakespeare Street, near the junction with Macauley Street, in Sinfin at about 11:00 on Saturday 25 July.

He was taken to hospital with a head injury.

Police said they would like to hear from anyone with information or who saw the man or any vehicles around the time it happened.

Image source, Google

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A gelateria in Leicester has decided to close in the evenings for safety reasons after the owner was attacked.

Daniele Taverna, co-owner of Gelato Village, said he was at the threshold of the shop in St Martin's Square at 19:20 on Tuesday when a man - who had been sitting in front of their window - "got up and without any reason attacked me, just punched me in the face".

Mr Taverna said he was able to push him out of the shop, get him to the floor and restrain him, then "staff from neighbouring businesses came to help".

He said police were called but first went to the wrong address and by the time they arrived, the attacker had fled the scene.

Image source, Gelato Village

In a statement on their website, he and his business partner Antonio De Vecchi said, external "years of underfunding have left Leicester without decent provision for destitute people".

"They are not being helped and this is making the city feel increasingly unsafe in the evenings. This has become even more noticeable since lockdown," the statement added.

Leicestershire Police said a 41-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of assault and inquiries were ongoing.

Insp Adam Archer said: "We do not tolerate violence in any form – particularly against business owners in their place of work.

"Officers are continuing to carry out patrols as the city centre night-time economy continues to reopen following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions."

A Leicester City Council spokesman said: "We work closely with the police and businesses to help the city centre remain a safe and enjoyable a place for people to visit."

The two-day unlicensed event was promoted on social media and could have hosted "hundreds of people".

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 20-year-old man was stabbed in his car in Leicester.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds in the attack in Burleys Way on Sunday 9 August while he was driving in slow moving traffic.

Leicestershire Police said a number of people wearing masks opened the door to his vehicle and stabbed him.

He managed to drive away but stopped in St Peters Road at about 17:45 where he was found by a member of the public and taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged.

Image source, Google

A 20-year-old man has been arrested and remains in custody.

A 60-year-old man, who was previously arrested on suspicion of the same offence, has been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.

Police have appealed for anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area at the time to get in touch.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A well-known East Midlands bakery chain has confirmed it has permanently closed three stores in Derby and Nottingham.

Birds Bakery on Iron Gate in Derby city centre, on Walbrook Road in Normanton and on The Poultry in Nottingham did not reopen after the coronavirus lockdown.

The company - which has 60 stores across the region and employs 800 people - said the closures had been planned for many months in the run-up to the stores' lease renewals.

Birds - established in 1919 - added it was continuing to invest in its bakery and retail outlets.

Image source, Google

Director Lesley Bird said: "The Iron Gate store needed a major refit but as the lease was coming to an end, we felt the time was right to close it.

"Our tiny shop at The Poultry in Nottingham was always planned for closure – given that we opened a much larger, more modern shop in Lister Gate."

It added most staff have been redeployed to other stores and voluntary redundancy has been discussed with those interested.

Simon Ward
East Midlands Today Reporter

Students at Bemrose School in Derby have been receiving their GCSE results.#

Tejal Baliya said she got nine 9s in her GCSEs and a Level 2 Distinction star.

She said: "I'm really pleased with my results. I'm now going to apply to study at Littleover Sixth Form in Derby."

Khizra Hussein said she was "generally" pleased with her results.

"I got a 4 in maths, but I really needed a 5 to get on to the course I want at Derby College," she said. "I'm going to talk to them about my options and am hoping for some leeway."

She said the uncertainty over exam grades this week had been "worrying", but she's hopeful of getting the place she wants in further education.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Planning permission has been granted for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Nottingham's historic Guildhall building.

Councillors on Nottingham City Council's planning committee approved the designs unanimously at a meeting on Wednesday.

The Grade-II listed building and Fire Station House are set to be restored, while more modern extensions at the back of the building will be demolished and rebuilt.

The development, put forward jointly by Locksley Hotels Ltd and hotel group Ascena, will house a hotel with 162 bedrooms, a rooftop fine dining restaurant, a spa, and wedding and conference facilities.

The existing courtrooms in the building will be converted into bar and restaurant facilities, retaining the original listed features.

Image source, Ascena

The Guildhall was built in 1887 and has been home to a magistrates' court, police station, fire station, and most recently council offices.

It is thought the development will create 250 jobs for the city.

John Wilby, from Ascena, said: "After it has sat vacant for the best part of a decade, we're pleased to have hit this significant milestone in breathing new life into it.

"The development will not only bring jobs to the area but will also help elevate the city as a tourist destination."

Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "This investment in the city shows ongoing confidence in Nottingham."

Image source, Ascena

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

The weekly coronavirus infection rate has risen again in Melton.

According to data, external released by Leicestershire County Council, the infection rate has increased from 15.7 per 100,000 people in the two weeks up to 8 August, to 27.4 per 100,000 in the two weeks up to 15 August.

The number of cases in the borough recorded by the council in the last two-week period was 20, down from 23 in the fortnight up to 8 August.

The authority said numbers remain relatively low and testing was increased following a recent spike.

The director of public health for Leicestershire County Council said there was no clear single source of infection.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Two 16-year-old boys who were caught on camera having a fight at Chatsworth House have been placed on a four-month restorative justice programme, external.

The teenagers were identified through a public appeal after footage of the 26 June violence began circulating online.

Image source, Sam's House

Derbyshire Police said the Youth Offending Service concluded the teenagers should attend the Divert programme, an intervention specifically designed for young people.

Restorative justice is an approach used for low-level offending as an alternative to more formal criminal justice proceedings.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

An air bed, a bicycle wheel and baby mattress were among numerous "highly contaminated" items found within household recycling collected by Erewash Borough Council in July.

It meant none of the 22-tonne load was able to be recycled, at "high cost" to the authority.

Other items found among the recycling were a car wheel trim, clothes, nappies and food waste.

Image source, Erewash Borough Council

Casepak - the firm that processes the recycling - said it has seen a 20% increase in recycling since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

It says it is now receiving amounts it would expect to get around Christmas.

Georgina Cullen, from Casepak, said: "The current situation has proved challenging with regards to higher levels of contaminated items being mixed with recyclable goods.

"Lockdown has indeed exacerbated the issue, therefore we urge residents to be extra careful with their recycling habits and think before they place an item in their recycling bin."

League Two side Mansfield Town sign former Southampton centre-back Aaron O'Driscoll on a two-year contract.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The A38 has been closed in both directions between Ripley and Alfreton due to a crash.

Highways England said there are "long delays" in the area of about 40 minutes.

Traffic is queuing for about three miles.

Derbyshire Police are asking drivers to "avoid the area" where possible.

Image source, Google

BBC Weather Watchers

The day starts with sunshine and it will be largely dry with sunny spells for most of the day, although one or two showers may be possible at times in places.

It will also be a breezy day with a brisk southerly wind.

Image source, LindafromBelper

John Allen "could have been the best climber in the world" in his youth, a coroner hears.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Police in Derby are investigating after reports a number of dogs have fallen ill and died in recent days.

Officers were called on Saturday after a dog died when they became ill in Finsley Walk, Sunny Hill.

They were told by the caller another dog had recently died and one other had also become ill.

Lee Rogers, from Finsley Walk, said his pug Lilly was the first in the area to die and believes all the dogs that have fallen ill or died lived either on the same street or in nearby Caxton Street.

Two-year-old Lilly became ill about three weeks ago with sickness and diarrhoea and died a fortnight ago.

The 34-year-old said his vet "suspected poisoning" after finding the dog had a ruptured bowel.

Image source, Lee Rogers

He said: "It was pretty horrendous. She was passing blood and being sick. This is a dog which is normally happy-go-lucky.

"All the other dogs have the same symptoms. It's clearly related."

He added he understands from speaking to neighbours that as many as five dogs could have died with four or five "fighting for their lives".

A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said inquiries are continuing "to determine if there are any suspicious circumstances around the dogs falling ill".

The RSPCA added it has not received any information relating to the reported dog deaths.