Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A 65-year-old man has been jailed, external after admitting raping and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl.

Darren Robinson, of Southwell Road East, Rainworth, was arrested in November 2017 after concerns were raised to police.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

He initially denied the abuse but at Nottingham Crown Court pleaded guilty to rape of a child under 13, two charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two charges of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He was jailed for 13 years and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life.

Det Con Mark Kimberley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Robinson abused the trust placed in him and carried out horrifying abuse of a young girl who didn't fully understand what was happening."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

More than 100 pairs of shoes representing the women who are killed every year in England and Wales through domestic violence were displayed on a Nottinghamshire bandstand today.

The Broxtowe Borough Council project in Beeston is part of the annual White Ribbon Campaign to raise awareness of the deaths.

Image source, Broxtowe Borough Council

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has acquired Derby's former BHS store from Intu on a long-term lease.

The shop, which has its main entrance on St Peter's Street, has stood empty since BHS went out of business in 2016.

Last week Mr Ashley vowed to close his stores in Intu buildings after the company refused to accept his proposals for rent reductions at four House of Fraser branches.

Mr Ashley has not indicated what he plans to do with his new acquisition in Derby.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Derbyshire have signed batsman Tom Lace on loan from Middlesex for next season, external.

The 20-year-old will be available for all forms next summer, except for any fixtures against Middlesex and can only be recalled as an injury or international replacement.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Severe delays are expected between London and the East Midlands, due to a signalling fault in the St Albans area.

Alternative travel arrangements are in place and tickets remain valid.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Earlier this month Nottingham City Council announced its homeless prevention strategy claiming that nobody should have to spend even one night out sleeping rough.

Despite beds being available in city hostels some homeless people claim they are better off on the street.

One man said he'd tried staying in a hostel but the drug use inside made it worse than being outside.

Every morning a team of outreach workers fro the Framework charity carry out morning checks on rough sleepers.

One of the team told the BBC part of their checks is to make sure the homeless people are still alive: "In the past there have been deaths on the street so this is a welfare check."

While checking on homeless people in the city evidence of drugs use is also found.

This huge collection of drug paraphernalia was found by an air vent in a car park just off Kent Street - an area known to be popular with drug users and rough sleepers.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Ellis Genge is back from injury to make Leicester Tigers starting 15 for their match against Bristol tomorrow. The prop has been out all season recovering from a knee injury.

He wasn't expected to return to play until the New Year.

But as one returns another is out - captain Tom Youngs is out after getting injured last weekend against Saracens.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man accused of spreading terrorist documents around mosques in the midlands has appeared at the Old Bailey.

Omar Ashfaq from St Thomas Road in Derby is charged with eight counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication to mosques in Loughborough, Luton, Coventry, Birmingham and Derby.

He is also charged with three offences of possession of a document likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Image source, Getty Images

The 23-year-old wore a suit and tie, and glasses at the preliminary hearing in London and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality, which is British.

Mr Justice Sweeney set a provisional trial date of 13 May 2019 at Nottingham Crown Court. Mr Ashfaq remains on unconditional bail.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Firefighters continue to tackle a "serious" fire at a house in Mansfield and are warning neighbours to keep doors and windows closed.

The blaze broke out in Ruddington Road at about 9:00 and crews from across North Nottingham rushed to the scene.

Investigations into the cause will be carried out once the fire is out.

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A Christmas tree festival, which claims to be the biggest in the country, opens in Melton Mowbray today.

More than 1,300 trees of all shapes and sizes have been put up at St Mary's Church in the town. They've all been donated by local people, schools, businesses and charities.

This one is BBC Radio Leicester's. It's made from wood and has been decorated with radios - one of them works and is playing out the radio station.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A 32-year-old walker has been rescued by Derby Mountain Rescue after a fall in Draycott.

Image source, Derby Mountain Rescue

The woman was walking her dogs at about 20:30 last night when she fell on a small embankment and injured her leg.

Image source, Derby Mountain Rescue

She was carried to the road on a stretcher and handed over to the East Midlands Ambulance Service crew who took her to hospital.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been found dead at a flat above the Victoria Centre in Nottingham.

Police went to the home at about 09:20 after reports of concern for a man's safety - his body was found inside. His death is not being treated as suspicions.

Image source, CBJ News

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Derbyshire police will name every drink driver caught during advent in a bid to tackle the rise around the festive season.

They will also be bringing a smashed-up car wrapped in a big bow to the intu shopping centre in Derby from today to highlight the dangers.

The vehicle – a Ford Mondeo – was written off earlier this year when a drunk driver crashed into a parked car and garden wall.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Bruce McLean is convicted of sexually assaulting boys at care homes in Derbyshire and Cheshire.

East Midlands Today

A charity is asking all Derby County fans to bring their unwanted shoes to the Rams match against Swansea tomorrow.

Organisers from Shoe Aid will attempt to lace together 24,000 pairs to break a Guinness world record.

It would also help homeless charities, and provide free footwear for underprivileged children and their families across Derbyshire.

Rob Sissons
East Midlands Today Reporter

Nottingham's hospitals are heading towards a £33m overspend by April.

The latest report shows Nottingham Hospitals NHS Trust overspent by £28m at the end of September - that's double what was forecast. When the budget for the trust is almost a billion pounds the overspend is still big money.

The trust has admitted that the deficit is expected to grow if it does nothing. In an attempt to save money jobs are not automatically being filled. This is mainly non-clinical staff - nurses are like gold dust and it always needs to recruit more.

The trust is also trying to make sure the average length of stay in hospital is reduced - something that is easier said than done with the pressures in social care. Staff are being asked for money saving ideas.

Looking at other hospital trusts in the area - Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust currently has a £12m deficit that's also expected to be £33m by the end of March.

The independent think tank The King's Fund doesn't believe more money will sort out all the NHS problems.

If trusts like Nottingham can't sort the finances, people may be brought in from outside to cut costs - so the pressure is on. If they don't hit savings or clinical targets they miss out on bonus money.

To some in the NHS it feels like the system penalises struggling trusts even more. Some want an overall of the the financial system.

Kona Gamble fell while apparently trying to get to his hotel balcony from the roof above.

BBC Weather Watchers

The last day of November 2018 started with a beautiful sunrise across the East Midlands.

This was taken by Emmyloo in East Bridgford.

Image source, Emmyloo

It was a very similar scene for Stormrockman13 who captured this in Hoton on their morning journey.

Image source, Stormrockman13

Stoneyford View was out in Heanor at 08:00 to see this beautiful sky.

Image source, Stoneyford View

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A 23-year-old man is due in court later charged with armed robbery.

It's after an 18-year-old was threatened with a knife and punched in the head earlier this month.

The 23-year-old, of St Ann's, Nottingham, is due before city magistrates later charged with robbery and possession of a bladed article.

A 17-year-old girl has also been charged with robbery in connection with the incident and will appear at Nottingham Youth Court at a later date.　

Image source, Google

Anna Thornton is said to be in a "stable but serious condition" in hospital in the US.