96.2 Touch FM: Local News

BREAKING NEWS: Charges dropped against Warwickshire fire service manager

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:54:38 +0100

A fire service manager on trial in connection with the deaths of four Warwickshire firefighters in a warehouse blaze has had the charges against him dropped.

Paul Simmons was accused of gross negligence manslaughter but today a judge at Stafford Crown Court ordered the jury to acquit him.

Two other fire service managers, Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward, remain on trial in connection with the deaths of Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates Badley, Ian Reid and John Averis in the warehouse fire in Atherstone on Stour back in November 2007.

Hawkesbury mystery solved

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:41:22 +0100

It's baffled some local people for a number of weeks...but now the mystery behind a strange gunshot sound in a village near Coventry has been solved

Some people on Facebook have been questioning a regular loud banging noise over the past few weeks.

Hawkesbury Residents Association have been investigating and say it's coming from a nearby bird scarer at a farm and isn't expected to last much longer.

Anger over Warwick University job cuts

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:50:26 +0100

Warwick University's being criticised over plans to axe 36 jobs from its business school.

The University and College Union says cutting jobs linked to its Masters course, while also increasing fees for students on it to a minimum of 20 thousand pounds is unacceptable and amounts to profiteering.

It also says it's unfair to expect those who survive the job losses to deliver the same standard of service as before with fewer resources, and is calling on the University to withdraw its plans and start talking to them.

The University says its staff are their number one priority and they've started consulting with trade unions.

Thieves target elderly Coventry man and his disabled son

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:35:42 +0100

Coventry Police are hunting three people who stole cash from an elderly man and his disabled son.

The man had seven hundred pounds swiped from his pocket by thieves as he waited to pay seven hundred pounds into an account used by his son who has Downs Syndrome.

It happened at Santander in Smithford Way on 26th April.

Investigating officer DC Catriona Green, said: "These thieves have no morals…they have targeted an elderly man and his disabled son. The victim is deeply upset and shocked by what happened and truly believed he had kept the money safe as he walked through Market Way. If anybody recognises either person in the CCTV images, or if they notice them out and about, I'd ask them to contact me as soon as possible"

The male suspect is described as being of eastern European appearance, in his late 30s or early 40s, short dark hair, around 6ft tall and muscular build with broad shoulders; he was wearing a dark grey suit, with a light blue open necked shirt.
His female accomplice is believed to be a similar age, around 5ft 4ins tall, medium build and thick dark hair, pulled off her face and held in a loose bun; she was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket with a sleeveless white jacket on top and white socks underneath black wide strap sandals.

The other man detectives believe was acting as a look-out was wearing distinctive diamond-patterned jumper.

Det Con Green, added: "We'd advise people wherever possible to make sizeable cash transfers electronically although we appreciate older member of the community are used to dealing in cash.
"If you want to withdraw a significant sum if money, in excess of £100, then ask to take it out in private in a back room away from potential prying eyes. We';ve raised the issue with banks and they are happy to accommodate these requests."

Anybody with any information should contact PC Green at Coventry Police CID on the non-emergency 101 number, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Appeal for witnesses after woman is groped on train through Coventry

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:31:29 +0100

A woman's been touched inappropriately on a train through Coventry.

It happened on the London Euston to Birmingham New Street back on the morning of Wednesday 15th February when she woke up to find another passenger had his hand on her chest.

The 29 year old wasnt hurt but was extremely upset by what happened.

British Transport have released a photo of the suspect and are urging anyone who knows who this man is, or his current whereabouts, to contact them straight away.

Run in memory of Coventry policeman

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:37:29 +0100

Friends of a Coventry policeman are gathering to remember him today, to mark 30 years since he was killed on duty.

Around sixty people are expected to take part in a 5K run in memory of PC Joe O'Brien, who died while directing traffic during a fun run in November 1982.

The city's chief inspector Kerry Blakeman is one of those taking part in today's run at War Memorial Park.

Coventry Bees meeting cancelled after former rider's death

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:53:20 +0100

Coventry Bees' meeting with Lakeside tonight (Monday) has been called off after the death of rider Lee Richardson.

The Hammer captain and former Bees team member was killed in a track crash in Poland yesterday.

The former world under-21 champion was just 33.

Coventry owner Mick Horton said: "We extend all our sympathies to Lee’s family and friends, and also everyone associated with Lakeside at this awful time. I feel it’s appropriate that Monday’s meeting is postponed, and it’s fully understandable that there are riders from Lakeside who would not be in the right frame of mind to race in these tragic circumstances.”

The Elite League meeting will be re-scheduled for a later date.

Coventry rejects idea of directly elected mayor

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:00:37 +0100

Nearly two thirds of Coventry residents vote against having a directly elected mayor.

People in Coventry have rejected the idea of having a directly elected mayor.

Just over 62,000 people turned out to vote in a referendum on Thursday, but just over 63 per cent of those taking part voted against the move.

10 cities have held a polls on whether to have a directly-elected mayor chosen by voters.

Manchester and Nottingham have also rejected the proposal along with Coventry.

Meanwhile, in the City Council elections a hird of seats were up for grabs.

Reflecting the national picture, Labour retained control and gained eight seats across the 18 wards while the Conservatives lost six seats, the Lib Dems and Socialists both lost a seat each.

Labour now have 43 seats on the City Council, with the Conservatives on 11.

Teenager sentenced to life in prison for murdering a Hampton Lucy man in Florida

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:13:30 +0100

Shawn Tyson has been found guilty of murdering James Cooper and his friend James Kouzaris in Florida

The 17 year old was convicted of two counts of first degree murder by a jury at Sarasota County Court on Wednesday.

He shot dead 25 year old James Cooper from Hampton Lucy and his friend James Kouzaris from Northampton in a Sarasota street last April.

It's thought the two friends, who were on a night out, accidentally wandered into the rundown neighbourhood and Tyson shot them in a bungled robbery.

In a DVD played to the court just after the guilty verdict the families and friends of the two Jameses told how their lives had been shattered and their hearts broken by their deaths.

Shortly afterwards the judge sentenced Shawn Tyson to life in prison without parole.

Police hunt cash-point con couple.

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:34:18 +0000

A thief has been caught on camera laughing as she steals hundreds of pounds from a pensioner from Coventry

Together with an accomplice they are alleged to have taken more than a thousand pounds out of the sixty six year old's account at an ATM in Binley.

It's thought the pair struck up a conservation with their victim before swiping the card on February 14th

Police want our help to catch the people responsible.

Officers have also traced two further withdrawal attempts from ATMs in Buckminster Road, Leicestershire, but both were unsuccessful.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Chris Milburn at Coventry Police on 0345 113 5000 (ext: 7934 6101).

HS2: Listen again to our documentary

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:06 +0000

Find out more on the plans here.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening has given the green light to the £32 billion project. The scheme known as 'HS2' will cut journey times between London and Birmingham to 49 minutes but will could change some of our communities forever as it ploughs through the countryside on its route.

The first phase is expected to be complete by 2026 with an extension north of Birmingham complete by 2032/2033.

Last year our reporter Nick Jewers spoke to people involved in the HS2 project....those who want it built and those who could lose their homes because of it.

Listen again to the documentary here...

Part 1

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Part 2

{flaAud_http://29.mm.g-media.com/220705.mp3_260}