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SCHOOLGIRL 'RUNS OFF' WITH PC A missing 15-year-old Worcester schoolgirl has run off with a serving police officer, it has emerged. Naomi Mills has disappeared with 22-year-old Matthew Brooks, an officer with West Mercia Police, a spokesman for the force said. A car in which the pair may have driven north was found empty in water at Tongue on the north coast of Scotland. HELICOPTER IN SEARCH FOR GIRL Aberdeen Coastguard is searching for a runaway Worcester schoolgirl Naomi Mills, who vanished with a policeman. A Stornoway rescue helicopter was searching for the pair after a car in which they fled was found in the water on the causeway at the Kyle of Tongue. It was scrambled to assist search teams from Melness, Durness and Melvich scour one of the UK's most unpopulated spots. RACIST E-MAIL PEST SENTENCING A 56-year-old Buckley man who bombarded a veteran BBC radio presenter with anti-semitic e-mails is due to be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court. Philip Norman, of Chapel Lawn, admitted hounding Ed Doolan, a consumer champion at Birmingham-based BBC WM. The defendant pled guilty to racially-aggravated harassment over the 32 e-mails sent between 1999 and 2002. SLIMMER HALF THE WOMAN SHE WAS A Cheshire woman who lost more than half her body weight has won Slimming Magazine's Slimmer of the Year title. Just 20 months ago at 21st 3lb, Vanessa Hodkinson could not fit into airline seats. Now the 30-year-old accounts manager weighs just 10st 6lb. The former size 32 battled the bulge after a clairvoyant predicted she would achieve her dieting dreams. HALF OF TRUANTS WITH ADULTS Government figures have shown half of all children caught playing truant from school in the West Midlands during last December's crackdown were with adults. Across the region 525 truants were found; 204 primary and 321 secondary pupils. About 300 were with an adult. The Government aims to reduce truancy rates by 10% with local authorities piloting "fast-track" prosecutions. PM'S GREEN POLICY CRITICISED Friends of the Earth members in the West Midlands have accused PM Tony Blair of hypocrisy after he committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The group said the pledge to cut emissions by 60% by 2050 was at odds with consultations to expand air travel by building new airports. The group opposes plans to bulldoze two villages near Rugby for a new airport CITY SKYLINE HAS NEW FEATURE A unique building in Birmingham centre is making its mark on the skyline. Selfridges department store, clad with more than 15,000 spun aluminium disks, is emerging day by day as the £500m Bullring redevelopment takes shape. Developers say the building is an iconic 3D curved structure, appearing as an enormous sculpture rising from the ground in one continuous movement. £11.7m FUND FOR SCHOOLS Warwickshire County Council's cabinet has agreed to allocate £11.7m to improve school buildings. The cash will fund several sites, including £2.5m to Alcester Grammar School and £1m to Alcester High School Technology College. The money will help replace temporary accommodation and was allocated after successful bids to central government. MP WELCOMES CONVENTIONS Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has welcomed a list of parliamentary conventions and courtesies aiming to stem the rising tide of "ill manners". The Tory MP said he was glad Speaker Michael Martin issued guidance on the etiquette required by members sitting in the House of Commons. Mr Fabricant earlier claimed customs of the Commons had been "degraded". MP WELCOMES COURT RULING A West Midlands MP has welcomed a High Court ruling which recognises a woman's dead husband as her sons' legal father. Labour's Steve McCabe is pushing a Private Member's Bill through the Commons and said Diane Blood's victory was "a triumph for common sense". The Birmingham Hall Green MP said: "The law as it stands denied women like Diane Blood their human rights". 4th.March 2003 MISSING PAIR TO RETURN HOME The families of a schoolgirl and her policeman friend who went missing from their Worcester homes are set to be reunited with the pair. Naomi Mills, 15, and PC Matthew Brooks, 22, were found by a police dog-handler in woods in the far north of Scotland. A reporter spotted the couple walking beside a country road on Monday evening and tipped off Northern Constabulary. SCHOOLGIRL DISAPPEARED BEFORE Worcester teenager Naomi Mills had disappeared from her home on two previous occasions, West Mercia Police have revealed. The 15-year-old and her policeman companion, Matthew Brooks, were found in Scotland by a police dog-handler. But Inspector John Beddows stressed that Pc Brooks was not linked to either of the previous disappearences. VIOLENCE MARS DERBY GAME Police are trying to track down football supporters involved in trouble around the Premiership derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City. West Midlands Police said 15 people were arrested for disorder offences before the Villa Park match, but there was trouble during and after the game. A police spokesman described the behaviour of some fans as "atrocious". BISHOP TAKES ANTI-WAR STANCE The Bishop of Worcester has signalled his opposition to military action against Iraq by distributing anti-war posters to every parish in his diocese. The posters feature a lighted candle and carry the slogan "No to this war. Pray for peace." The Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby said his stance reflects the concerns of his diocese and that of the General Synod. WOMAN 'INJURED DURING ABORTION' A woman suffered horrific internal injuries when a Birmingham gynaecologist performed a botched abortion, a GMC hearing was told. The woman was taken to hospital and had to have a kidney removed after consultant Andrew Gbinigie, of Barnt Green, realised something was wrong. Gbinigie, who works at the city's Calthorpe Clinic, denies misconduct. MINISTER FACING STUDENT PROBE University of Wolverhampton students are due to confront Education Secretary Charles Clarke over tuition fees when he opens a new technology centre. The minister is set to open the new campus technology centre, which has been named after him. Last month, Mr Clarke suggested full £3,000-a-year tuition fees could be scrapped for the poorest students. TEENAGER RAPED ON TOWPATH A teenage woman has been raped on a canal towpath in the West Midlands. The 19-year-old victim was walking along City Road in Tividale, when she was grabbed from behind and dragged to the towpath and assaulted. The attacker is described as white, about 5ft 10in, of slim build and with sandy-coloured greasy hair. He also spoke with a local accent. IRISHMAN DENIES BLAST CHARGES An Irishman accused of taking part in a Real IRA terror plot to bomb a target in Birmingham came to England to "start a new life", the Old Bailey has heard. Noel Maguire and two other men deny conspiring to cause explosions in 2001. The prosecution alleges they were part of a cell which planned a blast in Birmingham. Maguire claims he came to the UK to "get away from women". VENDORS TARGETED BY LITTER PLAN Birmingham council chiefs could adopt a policy to curb city centre litter after traders were warned that excess rubbish could see their businesses closed down. Late-night burger bars and other fast food vendors are being targeted in a bid to curb litter louts. Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Alan Woods said that traders should pay a levy to get the rubbish cleaned up. SIX HELD AFTER DRUGS SWOOPS Six people have been arrested and released on bail following police drugs raids at homes across the Redditch and Bromsgrove areas. The suspects were detained after West Mercia officers discovered quantities of what they believe to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis. A police spokesman said the arrests will act as a warning to drug dealers.
5th.March 2003 WARNING OVER AIRPORT EXPANSION New airports at Rugby and Coventry would cause "vast" damage to the countryside, rural campaigners warn. The Government is due to make final decisions on airport expansion in a White Paper expected in the autumn. The Council for the Protection of Rural England said ending the airline industry's tax exemptions would negate the need for new airports and runways. Pc ABDUCTION QUIZ CONTINUING Detectives are continuing to question a probationary police constable over the alleged abduction of Worcester schoolgirl Naomi Mills. Matthew Brooks, 21, of West Mercia Police, was arrested after he and 15-year-old Naomi were found in Scotland following a four-day search. They were discovered in woodland after apparently sleeping rough. JOBS TO GO AT INSURANCE FIRM Birmingham-based life insurer the Britannic Group is to axe 150 jobs in a move to improve policyholder returns. The losses will affect the Birmingham office, which employs 1,500 people, but the firm hopes most will come from temporary roles and natural wastage. In January, Britannic warned it is likely to freeze annual bonuses and axe its dividend. COUNTY NAMED 'WORST IN ENGLAND' Staffordshire is the worst place to live in England, according to a survey by Country Life magazine. After examining what gives us quality of life - from the number of birds to the standard of binmen - Staffordshire came bottom with Hertfordshire. Staffordshire was awarded 0 out of 10 for sport, the arts and education and just one out of 10 for sunshine hours PRINCE TO LAUNCH FOOTBALL EVENT The Prince of Wales is to get play under way in an annual no-holds-barred football event in Derbyshire. Organisers of the Royal Shrovetide football game in Ashbourne said Charles will ceremonially "turn up" the ball as guest of honour at the event. Participants in the competition will try to get a leather ball into one of two goals at opposite ends of the town. JEALOUS MAN 'MURDERED WIDOW' A jealous husband murdered a 72-year-old widow after discovering her son was having an affair with his wife, Birmingham Crown Court has heard. The jury was told Stephen Buckle battered Doris Millward and strangled her during a confrontation over the relationship at her home in Bearwood. The 44-year-old mechanic, of Amington, Tamworth, Staffs, denies murder. PATIENT 'WOULD HAVE DIED' The victim of a botched abortion at a Birmingham clinic would have died without immediate surgery, the General Medical Council heard. The woman had some of her internal organs removed by Andrew Gbinigie, of Barnt Green, Birmingham, during his first day at Calthorpe Clinic. Gbinigie denies serious professional misconduct. SALES REPS GET BEST PAY RISE Sales representatives in the West Midlands have enjoyed a 13.2% inflation-busting pay rise over the past 12 months, a new survey reveals. The average salary for sales reps jumped from £17,241 to £19,520 compared with a national average rise of 1.8%. Adecco, which compiled the figures, said they reflect the demand for a skilled workforce in the West Midlands. MINISTER TO EXAMINE BUS FARES Worcester's Labour MP Michael Foster has won a promise that the Government will examine the cost of bus travel in the town. Transport Minister John Spellar told MPs he would look into the issue after Mr Foster said Worcester bus users face the highest fares in Britain. Mr Spellar said he is aware of problems with the local bus services. INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR PROJECT A £40m development aimed at transforming the appearance of West
Bromwich has won an award at an international conference. The c/PLEX centre
took the Future Projects prize at the MIPIM International Commercial Real
Estate Market in Cannes. The complex of shops, restaurants and offices
is due to open in two years. 6th.March 2003
NAOMI PROBE: POLICEMAN RELEASED A police officer questioned over the alleged abduction of a 15-year-old Worcester schoolgirl has been released on bail pending further inquiries. Matthew Brooks, a probationary Pc with West Mercia Police, was arrested on suspicion of abducting Naomi Mills. The teenager was allegedly taken to northern Scotland by Mr Brooks after disappearing from her home. PUPILS THREATEN NEW PEACE RALLY Birmingham pupils who walked out of their school to demonstrate against the possible war against Iraq have said they may repeat their protest. Around 350 pupils from Queensbridge School in Kings Heath skipped lessons to protest in the city centre. Protestor Emily Churchill, 15, said: "We are considering staging a future demonstration. We feel we have to." TOP DOGS GATHERING FOR CRUFTS Top dogs from all over the world are gathering near Birmingham for the start of the 100th Crufts show. The four-day event at the National Exhibition Centre is expected to draw more than 22,000 dogs, 15,000 owners and 120,000 visitors. The event will be a showcase for dogs to demonstrate obedience and agility and has more than 300 foreign entrants. CAR PLANT STRIKE GOES AHEAD Thousands of workers at Peugeot's car plant near Coventry will go ahead with a strike this weekend after talks failed to solve a dispute over pay. Amicus boss Duncan Simpson said Peugeot refuses to raise its 7.3% pay offer for the Ryton workers because it does not want "amended" written on ballot slips. Mr Simpson said: "Never have I been confronted by something so stupid." MAN STABBED IN ROW OVER CAR A man is in hospital after being stabbed when he confronted two men tampering with his car in Smethwick. The 29-year-old was stabbed in the back near his home in Devonshire Road and later underwent surgery for a collapsed lung, police said. Detectives want to speak to a white man and a black man, both about 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in, who wore baseball caps. STUDY SHOWS GRADUATES EARN MORE A study by University of Warwick researchers has shown a university degree adds 25% to your earnings. Professor Ian Walker and Dr Yu Zhu found graduates make an average of £220,000 more over their careers than people who finish education at 18. The findings, published in the Labour Market Trends, showed business, law and medicine give the most financial gain. KIDNEY 'REMOVED AFTER ABORTION' A woman lost so much blood during an abortion at a Birmingham clinic that one of her kidneys had to be removed, the General Medical Council has heard. The 21-year-old was at Calthorpe Clinic when several organs were damaged and she was taken to the city's Women's Hospital for life-saving surgery. Surgeon Andrew Gbinigie denies charges of misconduct and improper behaviour. REPORT RECOMMENDS ASYLUM OFFICE A report commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council claims an asylum support centre should be created in the area. The study said the city is not "overrun" with asylum seekers, who make up about one in 200 of its population. Mayor Mike Wolfe said: "At a time when the population is falling, we need to see if there are skills amongst asylum seekers that we need to retain." CHARLES CARRIED SHOULDER HIGH The Prince of Wales was hoisted into the air by players at an annual no-holds-barred ancient football match which he was starting in Derbyshire. Three men carried Charles at shoulder height as he arrived in Ashbourne for the Royal Shrovetide Football game. The prince gave a grimace as he was hoisted aloft and breathed a sigh of relief as he was planted back down.
CAR WORKERS CALL OFF STRIKE A strike by workers at a Peugeot plant in Coventry has been suspended after the car giant tabled a new pay offer. Union officials said they would put the new deal to a members' vote and called off the weekend walkout at the company's factory in Ryton. Employees at the plant have already held one strike after rejecting a 7.3% two-year pay offer. MINISTER TO OPEN NEW RAIL LINK A new fast rail service integrating Birmingham International Airport with other transport links is to be opened by transport minister John Speller. SkyRail allows transfers from the airport to bus, coach and rail stations. It also provides a fast link to the nearby NEC. The service can carry up to 1,500 people an hour. EU REGIONS COMMISSIONER VISITS West Midlands MEP Michael Cashman (Lab) is bringing the European Commissioner for Regional Policy to Coventry. Commissioner Michael Barnier will spend the morning in Coventry visiting Tower Court and Electric Wharf. In the afternoon he will meet MPs and other stakeholders in Birmingham who will brief him on the region's improvements and future needs. REWARD FOR CAPTURE OF ARSONISTS A £100 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of arsonists in a village in Northamptonshire. The reward has been offered by Weedon Parish Council following a spate of fires in litter bins and bus shelters. The village's community beat officer Pc Scott Bennett said: "These are mindless acts of vandalism." POLICEMAN ON PORN CHARGES A policeman from south Warwickshire has been charged with four offences of downloading internet child pornography. The Gloucestershire officer, 39, has been accused of allegedly making an indecent image of a child and attempting to make an indecent image. The Alcester man has been bailed to appear at Mid-Warwickshire Magistrates' Court in Leamington Spa on March 12. 84 HELD IN PORN DRAGNET Eighty-four people have been arrested in the West Mercia police force area as part of a nationwide inquiry into internet child pornography. Suspects from Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire were detained over the past four months as part of Operation Ore, said police. They were traced from a list of people suspected of paying to view the sites. 'MISCONDUCT' OF ABORTION DOCTOR A West Midlands doctor responsible for an abortion leaving a patient fighting for her life had never terminated such a large foetus, the GMC has heard. The 21-year-old woman was 20 weeks pregnant when she had the operation at Calthorpe Clinic in Birmingham. Dr Andrew Gbinigie denies serious professional misconduct and behaving improperly to female hospital staff. ABDUCTION CASE Pc QUITS FORCE Matthew Brooks, the Worcester policeman arrested over the alleged abduction of his 15-year-old girlfriend, has quit the force. West Mercia Police confirmed that the probationary constable had tendered his resignation after being cautioned on suspicion of abducting Naomi Mills. Brooks, 22, has been released on police bail after being arrested in Scotland. YOUNG ROBBER BANNED FROM TOWN A 15-year-old Stafford teenager locked up following a string of violent street robberies is to be banned from the town centre once he is released. The five-year ban is part of an anti-social behaviour order imposed on Lorien Smith, who has been sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders' centre. The order is one of the first in the UK to be handed out with a custodial term.
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