HONITON town councillors are due to debate East Devon District Council's offer to fund an independent audit into finances relating to the town's £2m community complex.
Councillors will debate the district council's offer of the Beehive Community Complex audit, dubbed a "mediation exercise" at tonight's full council meeting.
The purpose of the audit is to "resolve the ongoing concerns from some quarters with regard to the compliance and governance of the Beehive".
The audit would be undertaken by the South West Audit Partnership.
The mediation exercise would provide an independent objective assessment of the Beehive process in order to:• Assist those involved to clarify and understand the issues which have led to the need for mediation• Examine the process and the propriety of the decisions taken• Provide those involved with confidence in the robustness of those decisions• Provide the taxpayers of Honiton and the community as a whole with the assurance that public finance has been used correctly and appropriately
A district council spokesperson, said: "Officers at East Devon District Council suggested mediation as an option to assist the town council in resolving the differences of opinion regarding the future of the Beehive."
The council is also due to debate a motion, backed by five councillors, for the intervention of the police to investigate concerns over the way finances related to the Beehive have been handled.
The motion states: "Given matters impacting on risk to the Precepting Authority Honiton Town Council and relating to the Beehive Community Centre, this council resolves to approach a truly independent body, namely the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to investigate concerns relating to public finances and contractual matters".
Honiton councillors to debate East Devon's offer to fund audit into Beehive complex funding
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Bond Offshore Helicopters MD becomes latest former Easyjet executive to join Flybe
Flybe has announced the appointment of Luke Farajallah as chief operations officer.
He will join Flybe on April 1 from Bond Offshore Helicopters, where he has been the managing director since 2012.
Luke has over 25 years of aviation experience, having spent 17 years with British Airways in various operational roles. After BA, Luke held senior operations roles with a number of airlines in the UK and mainland Europe, including Wizz Air and Easyjet.
He is the latest former Easyjet executive to join Flybe since Saad Hammad, former chief commercial officer of Easyjet, took over as CEO of the Exeter-based airline in August 2013.
Chief commercial officer Paul Simmons and director of communications and public affairs Andrew McConnell also previously held senior positions at Easyjet.
Luke is replacing John Palmer, current director of operations, who is leaving Flybe at the end of March to take up a role with Boeing.
Chief executive Saad Hammad said: "I am delighted to welcome Luke to Flybe – he brings with him a wealth of aviation experience and will play a key role in our journey to becoming Europe's best regional airline.
"I would also like to thank John for his leadership, contribution and commitment over the years and wish him luck for his new role."
Luke added: "This is an exciting time to be joining Flybe, as the business continues to undergo transformation.
"I look forward to working with Saad and the rest of the team to help deliver Flybe's true potential, connecting more people and families across the UK's regions and Europe."
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Countess Wear petrol station applies for license to sell alcohol 24 hours a day
THE Shell filling station on the Countess Wear roundabout has applied to the city council for permission to sell alcohol, for consumption off the premises, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The station is located on 399 Topsham Road, Exeter, and is open 24 hours.
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Exeter's sea battle survivors honoured at dinner
TWO survivors of the first major naval battle of the Second World War, which saw HMS Exeter play a brave and central role, are to be honoured with a civic dinner at the Guildhall.
Jim London and Basil Trott were serving on the cruiser Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate which was fought out on December 13 1939 and ended with the sinking of the German battleship Graf Spee.
After the battle HMS Exeter returned to Devon and was granted the Freedom of the City.
On February 29 1940, a leap year, her crew marched through Exeter, from St David's Station through High Street, cheered on my huge crowds.
Now the Lord Mayor of Exeter Councillor Percy Prowse has organised a special civic dinner for Saturday, February 28, to mark the anniversary of the 'freedom' march with veterans Mr London and Mr Trott being given pride of place.
They will even be treated to the same menu they enjoyed in war-torn Exeter all those years ago – cream of tomato soup, followed by cod with lobster sauce, followed by roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, baked potatoes and green vegetables, followed by apple tart with cream or Devonshire junket and cream, followed by biscuits and cheese, followed by coffee.
Cllr Prowse said: "I met both men at the 75th anniversary memorial held last year and they are two wonderful men.
"It is fitting that we remember the Freedom of the City award anniversary in this way and we are delighted that Mr Trott and Mr London are able to be here for the occasion.
"We will be getting the civic silver out for them."
The day will also include a buffet and the White Ensign Club and the laying of a wreath at Exeter Cathedral.
The Battle of the River Plate saw ships from the Royal Navy's South American Division take on the might of Germany's Graf Spee which had been attacking British merchant ships in the South Atlantic.
Commodore Henry Harwood, commanding Hunting Group G, ordered the cruisers HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter to an area east of the River Plate – an estuary between Argentina and Uruguay. On the morning of December 13, Exeter investigated smoke and signalled: "I think it is a Pocket Battleship."
The Graf Spee initially fired on Exeter while Ajax and Achilles closed in causing significant damage to the German vessel.
Able Seaman Jack Napier, who was aboard Exeter said at the time: "The first thing I realised, that most of the bridge personnel were wiped out, was when a head came rolling down the ladder. And I recognised the head."
Exeter had to retire from the battle after suffering damage while Ajax and Achilles shadowed Graf Spee into Montevideo, Uruguay. Graf Spee's commanding officer, Captain Hans Langsdorff requested 14 days to repair her damage but Uruguay only allowed 72 hours.
Knowing that escape was no longer an option Graf Spee was scuttled in the River Plate on December 17. The battle brought the first Royal Navy victory of the Second World War and gave a much needed lift to the country's morale.
In Winston Churchill's regular radio broadcasts to the nation, he said: "This brilliant sea fight takes its place in our naval annals and in a long, cold, dark winter it warmed the cockles of the British hearts."
HMS Exeter, built at Devonport in 1931 and the fourth to carry the name, carried between 600 and 630 men
On March 1, 1942, she was sunk by the Japanese during the Battle of the Java Sea.
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Exeter soldier raises more than £2,000 in 24 hour cycle for Blind Veterans UK
An Exeter soldier has raised more than £2,000 for a military charity after cycling for 24 hours straight on a stationary bicycle.
Steve Tonking, aged 34 and from Exeter, took on the Herculean challenge to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women.
The target set was to cycle a distance of 1000 km, which is equal to cycling from Nottingham to John O'Groats. The soldier, now based in Nottingham, and his team of 12 friends and colleagues supporting him, easily went past this target reaching 1202km, with Steve riding an incredible 500km himself.
Throughout the 24 hour challenge, without leaving the local branch of Tesco's, Steve burned an incredible 18,000 calories. The equivalent of more than a week's worth of a normal man's intake.
Steve said: "This is one of the hardest challenges I have ever taken on. The physical challenge was one thing, particularly the strain on my backside, but the mental strain staying awake for that long was much more difficult than I predicted. There's no way I would have been able to complete it without the twelve guys riding with me.
"I am so pleased that we've been able to raise this much money and I know that it will be put to such great use by Blind Veterans UK.
"My grandfather was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during the Second World War and received support from Blind Veterans UK after he lost his sight. They have helped so many more like him and will continue to for as long as they're needed."
Originally founded in 1915 and previously known as St Dunstan's, the charity originally helped war-blinded World War I veterans. Today, Blind Veterans UK provides free services and help to veterans no matter what the cause of their sight loss, be it due to accident, illness or medical conditions such as Macular Degeneration. The charity currently provides rehabilitation, training, care and recreational activities via its three centres (in Brighton, Llandudno and Sheffield) and a network of welfare staff spanning the UK.
Steve joined the Army in 2000 and became part of the Royal Engineers. He is a Warrant Officer Class II, which is the second highest rank for a non-commissioned officer. With the Army he has been stationed in Germany and the United Kingdom and has completed multiple operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Steve's physical challenges to raise money for Blind Veterans UK have not finished and he is set to take on the London Marathon to raise even more money for the military charity.
He said: "I'm passionate about keeping fit so taking on these challenges to raise money for Blind Veterans UK is a great motivator for me. The marathon will be tough, but at least I won't be running for 24 hours!"
You can still sponsor Steve for the cycle or the upcoming marathon for Blind Veterans UK, please visit www.justgiving.com/SteveTonks/.
For more information on Blind Veterans UK, please visit www.blindveterans.org.uk.
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Seaton landlord stabbed DJ after seeing him kissing wife on pub cctv, court hears
A pub landlord stabbed a disc jockey in his bar after spotting him on the CCTV system kissing his wife at the bar.
Raoul East had gone to the flat above the Vault Bar in Seaton after closing time but used the CCTV system to watch what was going on downstairs, Exeter Crown Court was told.
He came down and attacked disc jockey Andrew Hinds with a bar stool before going back to his private quarters and allegedly returning with a knife.
The victim was already lying unconscious but the jury were told he stabbed him in the chest as his wife Debra grabbed his arm to try to stop him.
Mr Hinds suffered a knife wound and which came close to his heart and the prosecution say he was lucky not to have been more serious hurt.
The entire incident was caught by the same CCTV system East had been watching upstairs and has been shown to the court.
Former cricketer East, aged 38, of Marine Place, Seaton, denies attempting to murder 45-year-old Mr Hinds. The jury have been told he has admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Miss Mary McCarthy, prosecuting, said East was the landlord of The Vault in Seaton which he ran with his wife Debra.
On the night of the attack in January last year Mr Hinds had been at the pub and stayed downstairs after it closed while East went upstairs.
She said East saw his wife with Mr Hinds on the CCTV in the early hours and came downstairs where he attacked him with a bar stool, leaving him apparently unconscious on the floor of the pub.
She said East went back upstairs and came back about five minutes later armed with a knife.
Miss McCarthy said:"He was holding a knife in his right hand and walked to where Mr Hinds was still lying on the floor. His wife tried to stop him but could not do so.
"He can be seen on CCTV stabbing at the prone body of Mr Hinds. The knife penetrated his sternum to a depth of 3.5 centimetres. At the time his is doing the stabbing his wife is pulling at his arm, clearly trying to prevent the knife penetrating further.
"East seems to have come to his senses and went upstairs once again. His wife continued tidying up the bar with the man still prone on the floor. After a while she gets a towel to try to stem the bleeding.
"Underneath the site of the wound lie the heart, lungs and major vessels of the chest. East says he had no intent to kill..
Miss McCarthy said the prosecution say this is a case of attempted murder because East returned to attack the victim again when he was already prone on the floor after the first attack.
She said:"He brought the knife to kill him. The reason he did not penetrate further was due to the efforts of East's wife who was pulling his arm."
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Exeter Uni dig discovers fifteen ancient skeletons in South Devon Roman cemetery
Fifteen ancient skeletons have been discovered on an Exeter archaeological dig in South Devon.
The discovery is described as a major Romano-British settlement in Devon and now the best preserved Roman cemetery in the county.
University of Exeter archaeologists and a team of students and volunteers uncovered the human remains during an excavation of a Roman Road and found a roadside cemetery, the like of which has never been seen in the region.
The significance of the discovery took on further importance when one of the skeletons was found to date from around 250 to 350 years after the Roman period, an era often referred to as the 'dark ages'. These discoveries are of both national and regional value in providing a glimpse into Romano-British life and how the settlement continued into post-Roman times.
The project team are still in the early stages of analysis, and it is hoped that research will be able to provide valuable information about the life of individuals including age, diet, and disease. The team are also hoping isotope analysis will indicate the geographic origin of individuals. Stable isotopes in water are taken into tooth enamel when a person is young. As the isotope signatures in water vary geographically, it is possible to indicate where a person grew up. The team hope to be able to see if individuals are from the area we now know as Devon or from further reaches of the Roman Empire. Additional radiocarbon dating is also needed to help determine when the roadside cemetery first came into use.
Danielle Wootton, the Devon Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, based at the University of Exeter's Archaeology Department said: "The geophysics results indicated the features were interesting, but we didn't know what the level of preservation or the extent would be until we started excavating last summer. As the excavation progressed, it became clear that we were dealing with one of the most significant Romano-British cemeteries discovered in Devon and that it had huge potential to develop our understanding of settlements and how people lived in the southwest 2,000 years ago. Then the radiocarbon date of AD 655 – 765 brought even further revelations; everyone was very surprised. It suggests continuation of the settlement after the Roman period and shows that life carried on at Ipplepen rather than falling out of use."
Sam Moorhead, National Finds Adviser for Iron Age and Roman coins at the British Museum said: "We always thought that Ipplepen was special, but the excavations continue to throw up new surprises."
Danielle Wootton added: "The site was originally discovered by Jim Wills and Dennis Hewings, who reported their metal-detected finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Since then, the excavation has gone from strength to strength; it's been great to have the support of the community; hundreds of people visited our open day last year and villagers have been fantastic."
This summer the Ipplepen site will be excavated on 6- 31 July, providing another opportunity for archaeologists and volunteers to further explore the location where the cemetery and Roman Road were found. This year additional archaeological knowledge and expertise will be brought to the dig by University of Exeter archaeologists Dr John Davey and Professor Stephen Rippon. The project is able to offer 20 free volunteer places (five each week) to Devon residents. Excavation volunteers must be able to commit to a week and enjoy working outdoors in all weathers. There will be a site open day for visitors with guided excavation tours and opportunities to see some of the finds. Further information for the Ipplepen Field School is on the University of Exeter, Archaeology website and the date of the Open Day will be announced in the local press at the end of June.
County Archaeologist Bill Horner commented: "This is one of the most important discoveries in Devon in recent years. The concentration and range of finds and archaeological features is really exciting. It is also a very good example of how a real partnership can get so much more than just objects and reports out of archaeology. It has been great playing a part in the discovery of such a site, to work alongside the University staff and students, and British Museum experts, but it has been a real delight to see the local community embrace the project and get so hands-on in exploring their own and the county's heritage."
BBC 4's Digging for Britain new series will feature the huge Roman settlement in Ipplepen and show the results of this exciting find as part of the series 3 West of England programme on Tuesday 10 February at 8pm. Archaeologists from the University of Exeter feature in the popular programme which focuses on Britain's best excavations of 2014.
The Ipplepen project is supported by the University of Exeter, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the British Museum and Devon County Council. The radiocarbon testing was generously funded by Teignbridge District Council.
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Devon cub leader jailed for abusing seven-year-old boy
A former cub scout leader has been jailed for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy during a game of hide and seek.
Clive Williams locked himself in a room with the victim, who was so traumatised he refuse to go to the cub scout meetings which his abuser ran in the 1980s.
The boy told his mother what had happened at the time and although Williams was stopped from working with the cubs or scouts, no complaint was made to the police.
The victim finally reported the offence more than 30 years after it happened as a result of counselling he received for the continuing psychological damage he suffered.
Ex soldier Williams assaulted the boy twice when he went to his home to play with his own son, who was also aged seven at the time.
Williams, aged 66, now of Hameldown Way, Newton Abbot, admitted two offences of indecent assault and was jailed for two years by Judge Phillip Wassall at Exeter Crown Court.
The Judge told him the assaults had caused long term traumatic effects to the victim and had been committed in breach of trust.
He told him:"The boy's parents permitted him to play with your son and he ended up with this happening. At the time you were a cub leader. This offending did not happen at the cubs but the fact is that you held that position in society.
"People who send their children to the cubs do not expect the cub masters in their private lives to be doing these sorts of things."
Mr David Evans, prosecuting, said Williams assaulted the boy in an alley way next to his home and in a bedroom during a game of hide and seek, in which he locked him inside while other children were looking for him.
When they knocked on the door he put the boy on top of a cupboard to hide him and then let them in. After the first assault he bought the boy sweets to reward him.
He said the boy told his mother what had happened and she told another cub leader. The result was that Williams was excluded from the organisation but neither the mother nor the cubs called in the police.
The boy remained haunted by his experiences and confronted Williams in the street outside his home in 1997, only for him to reply 'oh, yeah, sorry' and walk on.
He denied anything happened in police interviews and maintained his denial until the morning of his trial, when he changed his plea.
Mr Deni Matthews, defending, said the offences happened at a low point in Williams' life, when he was under a lot of domestic pressure, and were the only blemish in an otherwise blameless life.
He said his client had served his country during a career in the infantry during which he saw active service and has always helped others.
He said:"The real Clive Williams is a kind, compassionate and selfless man."
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Council gives go-ahead for Exeter's Eagle Yard student flats plan despite English Heritage objections
ENGLISH Heritage may still not be happy with the plans but the city's planning committee has given the go-head for 21 student flats at Eagle Yard in Tudor Street.
The development will sit next to the Tudor House which was built either late in the 16th century or early in the 17th.
Part of the buildings adjacent to the Tudor House will be demolished to make way for the new flats.
Although the plans had been revised English Heritage still took the view that they were unacceptable because they made 'no attempt to incorporate existing historic fabric on the site'.
Councillor Rachel Sutton, a member of the committee, said: "What's there now is not adding greatly to the historic building, at least we could get nothing that is worse."
Some of the committee members questioned if the development should be allowed for students.
Cllr Marcel Choules said: "Why are we building more and more student accommodation?
"It is like land grab for students when we have got young people going to work and who have to live with parents, friends because they have nowhere to live."
However fellow committee member, Cllr Pete Edwards, said that providing purpose built homes for students meant that residential streets could return to homes for families.
Committee member Cllr Rosie Denham voted for the scheme saying that she thought it would be an improvement on what is there now.
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Calls to cut more Exeter councillors as city wards set to decrease from 18 to 13
EXETER City Council has recommended to the Boundary Commission that the number of its councillors drops from 40 to 39 and that the number of its wards should decrease from 18 to 13 and each ward should have three councillors.
This was in spite of a motion put forward by St Loye's councillor, Andrew Leadbetter, that it would be preferable to have 36 councillors and retain 18 wards with two councillors per ward. The motion also called for all out elections every four years instead of the current practice of having elections every year to elect one third of councillors.
Cllr Leadbetter said: "We are all being asked to save money and this would have sent out a strong message to the electorate of Exeter that the city council was doing its bit - surely less politicians would be welcomed by all.
"We also felt that elections every four years would give stability and the chance for a council to set a fair course, as well as give the good people of Exeter a break from constant city elections."
The Boundary Commission is currently asking Exeter residents for their views on the re-drawing of the boundaries.
Residents have until March 31 to submit their views. Further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing wards can be found at www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.
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Devon parents warned of "dangerous" fake Frozen toys that could cause cancer
Devon's Trading Standards agency is warning members of the public after 'dangerous' fake Disney Frozen merchandise was seized in the county.
The toys have been found to contain high levels of plastic softening chemicals which, if chewed, could lead to damage to the reproductive system and an increased risk of asthma and cancer.
The authority is issuing a warning alerting people to the dangers of letting children play with the items, including dolls and costumes.
"We are concerned that children could be playing with these potentially dangerous dolls or wearing costumes which are highly flammable," added councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for the trading standards service.
"We're asking people to exercise caution when buying "Frozen" merchandise, and to look out for some of the tell-tale signs that could indicate that a product is counterfeit; such as missing Disney logos on the labelling, a suspiciously low price, poor quality and labels that appear to have been poorly copied."
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Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth to play doomed Devon yachtsman in new film
THE story of a Teighmouth sailor is set to be played by Hollywood actor, Colin Firth, who is rumoured to take on the role of doomed Westcountry sailor, Donald Crowhurst, in a new film to showcase his fake voyage around the world.
The Royal Air Force veteran never made it past the Atlantic when is boat was found adrift the ocean, minus the sailor who is thought to have committed suicide after his failed attempt.
Mr Crowhurst, who was the owner of a fading electronics business that sold marine navigational equipment, entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race to sail nonstop around the world in 1968, with the dream of winning the £5,000 prize to save his failing business.
However, the South Devon based resident, who set sail on October 31, pulled out of his quest early after getting into difficulties. He then continued to fake results before ending radio contact while he sailed around the Atlantic for 111 days.
It is thought humiliation and failure were the reasons for his false log entries and radio silence, and by December 8 he had claimed to have travelled more than 240 miles. But luck soon ran out for the British born sailor when his wife informed him seven other sailors had dropped out of the race due to extreme conditions. It was then the game was up for Crowhurst, who decided taking his own life was his only option. His craft was eventually found by a Royal Mail ship, 600 miles west of the Azores, with the yachtsman nowhere to be seen.
The race was won by Sir Robin Knox Johnson, who donated his £5,000 prize money to an appeal fund for Mr Crowhust's widow. Mrs Crowhurst said she had believed for many years that her husband had survived and was in hiding, and admitted that even decades after the incident, she still thought of him every day.
The saga has inspired several novels, poems, plays and even an opera. A previous attempt to depict it in film was abandoned in the 1970s, but a documentary, Deep Waters, was released in 2006.
Discussing his role in the upcoming production in a recent interview, Mr Firth cautioned that nothing was ever "set in stone until it's ready to go".
With filming set to start in the Spring, word is the true story will be written by Bourne Ultimatum writer, Scott Z Burns. There are whispers Mr Firth will be joined on set by Oscar winner, Kate Winslet. The blockbuster movie will be directed by The Theory of Everything director, James Marsh.
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Jamie McAllister keen for Exeter City home debut against Cambridge United
Jamie McAllister his hoping to get his first start at St James's Park this evening as Exeter City take on Bury.
The 36-year-old Glaswegian
The 36-year-old Glaswegian signed for the Grecians during the January transfer window after returning from a stint playing in the Indian Super League but, with the ink still drying on his City deal, which runs until the end of the season, injury struck.
He made his debut on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Bury, but is keen to start back that up with another start tonight.
"I've been itching to get playing. I came in and signed, got injured the next day and missed the next ten to 12 days of training through injury," McAllister said.
"I trained all last week and felt good. It was nice to get out on the pitch and play. I just want to keep playing games now."
McAllister played in an unfamiliar holding midfield role on Saturday, but he said he doesn't mind where he plays as long has he's on the pitch.
"I don't mind where I am, central defence, left-back, midfield or goalkeeper. I just want to play," he said.
"Tis (Paul Tisdale) spoke to me and said do you mind playing that holding role in midfield and I enjoyed it.
"It may take me a few more games to get used to it if he wants me to keep playing in there, but I enjoyed it. It was good.
"I am happy to play in any role Tis asks me to fill. I will go in and I'm more than happy to do a job. I just want to do my bit to help the team.
"It is about the team and getting three points because we want to get into those play-offs."
City did their chances no harm with a point at Gigg Lane, which meant the gap between them and Bury, who occupy the last of the play-off places, remains three points.
However, if City are to get into that top seven, then they really must start picking up victories, especially at home, where they have lost their last three matches.
"The point keeps us in there and it stopped Bury from widening the gap," McAllister added. "I thought they were decent, a good side, but I thought we dealt with their threat and caused them a few problems, especially at the end.
"We defended well and a lot of their shots were from 30 or 35 yards out. So I thought we defended well and we were unlucky not to get a winner in the last ten minutes.
"I think it was a good point and, if we can win at home on Tuesday, then it will be an even better point.
"We need to be stronger at home and start winning our home games. We need to start keeping clean-sheets and be hard to beat and, hopefully, that can start on Tuesday and we can get three points."
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Teenage girl jailed for taking knife to skate park argument
A teenager has been jailed for brandishing a knife at her abusive boyfriend during an argument in front of other children in a North Devon skate park.
Kelsey O'Grady gave up her studies in Ireland and moved to Devon when she was just 16 because of her relationship with Kieran Jones but it turned sour within weeks.
She armed herself with a knife during a violent confrontation at the skate park next to his home in Torrington which ended in him receiving a stab wound.
O'Grady, now aged 18 was jailed for eight months at Exeter Crown Court but was freed immediately because she has already served the time on remand.
She sobbed with relief and thanked Judge Phillip Wassall after he told her it was time for her to get on with her life.
O'Grady, of Mostyn, Manchester, admitted having a knife in a public place. She denied a more serious charge of wounding, which was dropped after 22-year-old Mr Jones told police he had no intention of giving evidence.
Jones himself was jailed last month for an incident in South Molton in which he took a dinner knife from a café during a confrontation with a man he thought had been seeing his girlfriend.
O'Grady moved to Torrington to be with him in 2012 but returned to Ireland after the incident at the skate park in May and was arrested on her return to Britain last year.
Mr Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said Jones has told the officer in the case he had no intention of coming to court or supporting the prosecution. Others who were at the skate park are now abroad.
He said the offence happened when O'Grady was in a relationship with Jones and they were both staying with his aunt in Torrington, very close to the skate park at Calf Street.
He said:"They were both at the skate park when an argument developed and she punched him a couple of times. His response was to laugh. She stormed off, pushing a young girl out of the way as she went.
"She returned with a knife which was seen by other members of the public at the skate park."
Mr Nigel Wraith, defending, said O'Grady had excellent references from her old school and friends in Ireland which showed she had thrown away a bright future to move to Devon when she was just 16.
He said:"She has been in custody since September, which is the equivalent of a nine month sentence. She started a relationship with Jones when she was 12 or 13 and when she was just 16 he invited her to Devon.
"He promised her a good life in England but she found the reality was far from that. He was not a good choice of partner and has recently been sent to jail for other offences.
"At the time she was sofa surfing and wanted to return to Ireland. She was 16 and had no money and that was the cause of the argument that led to this incident."
Judge Wassall told:"You had a bladed article in really dangerous circumstances which you took to a skate park after an argument.
"You were only 16 at the time this happened and I am passing a sentence which will enable your immediate release. You have spent a good deal of time in custody and I have read good references about you.
"People who know you speak of your underlying qualities and make it clear the extent to which moving to England was a massive mistake. The time has come for you to get on with the rest of your life."
Jones, aged 22, of Kingsway, South Molton, appeared at the same court last month.
He admitted affray and having a knife in a public place and was jailed for nine months by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, at Exeter Crown Court, who also activated a 12 week suspended sentence.
In that incident he was eating in the Welcome Fryer in the Square in South Molton when he grabbed a knife and chased another man down the street.
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Exeter City v Cambridge United: Matchday live
Follow live updates from Exeter City's match at home to Cambridge United on Tuesday night.
Exeter City will be looking to improve on Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bury and could recall Scot Bennett and Ryan Harley to the starting line-up.
Updates to start from 7.15pm.
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One in a million chances as quintuplet lambs born on East Devon farm
An East Devon farm is celebrating a one in a million birth today of an amazing FIVE LAMBS.
It's an incredibly rare experience for a ewe to give birth to five lambs and is said to happen to one in a million. It is an unusual occurrence in this country or indeed the world. Never-the-less it happened this week at Peradon Farm, an organic beef and sheep family-run farm, in Devon.
Farmer Jonathan Burrough, 36, said: "Our farm really is a remarkable place so it seems fitting that we've had these exceptionally rare quintuplets born here."
Jonathan added: "My 81 year old mum Shirley delivered the quintuplets and couldn't believe her eyes. She still lambs 60 ewes at Peradon, working day and night, as she absolutely loves it and this has really made her year. She's never had quintuplets or heard of anyone else having them."
The ewe is doing well after her multiple birth and amazingly is doing a great job of feeding all the beautiful, white fluffy Lleyn breed lambs herself with some support from a bottle.
Incredible things do indeed happen at Peradon - it was only two years ago the farm hit the headlines when two lots of quad lambs were born to the same ewe in one year. Whether the quintuplets have been born to the same mum is unknown, but it is possible.
"I'm sure the organic grass here is extra nourishing because we've a number of quads born in the last few years and now a set of quintuplets! We don't have a large flock so the odds were really stacked against us for sure."
The farm is very much a family affair and Louise and Jonathan took over the reins from Jonathan's mum and dad Shirley and Alec Burrough. Louise and Jonathan gave up their 9 to 5 professional jobs a few years ago to farm and have three young sons - Harry aged 6, George aged 4 and Jack aged 2 (pictured with the quintuplet lambs).
Peradon has gone from strength to strength in recent years - scooping a national 'Most Beautiful Farm' award at the House of Lords and national awards for its mouth-watering burgers. Only last year Peradon won top catering awards at both the Devon County Show and Royal Cornwall Show.
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Topsham residents fear loss of "lifeline" bus service
RESIDENTS in Topsham have expressed their anger at the possible loss of the town's "lifeline" T bus service, which they say is heavily relied on to get in and out of the town.
The proposed cut comes after Devon County Council prepared to reduce its public transport budget in the coming financial year. It is the first time they have suggested making service reductions in four years. To help meet the £50 million budget reduction required by Government spending cuts next year, DCC now face making savings of £1.7m from their annual public transport budget. If the cuts go ahead it could leave many residents, including the elderly, without transport.
Despite the County Council setting up a three year fund of £100,000 per year to help support Community Transport providers expand their services in local communities, the cuts have sparked deep concern for the Topsham community.
Dave Fuggle, of Lower Wear Road, says he believes the route is essential. Mr Fuggle, who uses a wheelchair, said:
"As far as I'm concerned a route is a route, and that small route is vitally important to me, and an awful lot of other people who live in Topsham and work in Exeter. If it happens I will find it extremely awkward to get to Topsham because the nearest bus stop isn't wheelchair friendly. I would have to go out of the estate and all the way around the roundabout to catch the bus – and as you can imagine, in an electric wheelchair it makes it more difficult.
"My frustration is that Stagecoach is being awarded public money, while we are losing a vital route. Public transport was privatised to improve the service and competition. In Exeter we have one company running all city services that seems to only want to run the most profitable routes and, despite making £100's of million profits each year, they want the taxpayer to subsidise the less profitable. I see this as the taxpayer subsidising their shareholders dividends, which is surely not the original idea when public transport was privatised."
"The 57 route in the evening is hourly, not every 15 minutes."
Mary Ogley, 85, of Exe Vale road area, says she was incensed when she first heard of the plans to eliminate the T bus.
She said: "It means that every evening after 7pm on weekdays, as well as Sundays and bank holidays, there will be no bus that goes through Topsham from Countess Wear. It's the only bus that runs after 7pm and if it stops it means the only bus will be the one that runs at the top of the road, by the bus station. I wouldn't want to walk in the dark and hang around at the bus station.
"I go to a lot of things in the lower end of town, and I've always caught the bus. At the moment the T bus stops right outside my doctors' surgery in Topsham. It is so convenient. I can't see why they have chosen this route to go – it's essential to people living in Topsham."
Mrs Ogley says the loss of the T bus doesn't just affect the elderly.
"It will mean all the mums will have to get up to the main road. A lot of people don't drive their cars because there's nowhere to park, so getting the bus is easier. It affects so many people in so many ways."
If the cuts go ahead they are set to hit rural villages the hardest, including Otterton, whose Exmouth – Sidmouth 157 service is currently operated by Stagecoach and subsidised by DCC. Other towns and villages expected to experience reductions and cuts to their services include Service 53 Exeter to Colyford, Service 397 Hemyock to Tiverton, Service 656 Riddlecombe to Chulmleigh, and Service 149 Totnes to Torquay. Changes to services in East Devon would also severely reduce the number of services, including the complete withdrawal of the 53 Exeter – Seaton service, and the 357 Exmouth – Budleigh Salterton route on Sundays and Bank Holidays, as well as town buses in Honiton and Ottery St Mary.
Cllr Gill Tippins, from Priory of Ward, said the proposed cuts to the T Bus in Topsham will take mobility away from those in most need, and who are reliant on public transport.
"I echo residents' concerns that public money being given to Stagecoach is wrong. My main worry is that it's taking a bus service away from vulnerable people with no other means of transport, and frequently not the finances which will enable them to use taxis.
"The bus service is a lifeline to many and the cut will cause problems for those who regularly use the route to travel in and out of Topsham."
A spokesperson for Stagecoach South West said: "We are aware that Devon County Council is, as part of its tendered bus services consultation, proposing changes to the 'T' service. We would urge anyone who is concerned about these changes to visit www.toughchoices.co.uk to ensure their views are heard.
"In addition, for anyone who wants to travel between Topsham and Exeter, our 57 route runs up to every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday and up to every half hour on Sundays."
The consultation for Devon County Council closes on Monday, April 20, 2015.
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Seaton landlord says knife was used to scare, not injure
A former cricketer has denied trying to kill a disc jockey in a jealous rage after he saw him on CCTV kissing his wife during an after hours drinking session.
Pub landlord Raoul East attacked victim Andrew Hines with a bar stool before returning to his flat above the bar and coming back five minutes later with a knife.
He told a jury at Exeter Crown Court he fetched the weapon to threaten rather than injure Mr Hines as he lay motionless on the floor of his bar at 5.30 am.
East, aged 38, is a former Somerset and Worcester Second XI cricketer who also played for the MCC at Lords but who became a publican at the Vault Bar in Seaton, East Devon after being forced to give up playing by a back injury.
The prosecution say he tried to kill 45-year-old Mr Hines with a steak knife on January 5 last year after seeing him kissing his blonde wife Debra on the pub's CCTV system.
The jury have been shown footage from the same system which shows two different attacks. In the first he punches Mr Hines eight times, stamps on him four times, and slammed an upside down bar chair onto him before leaning on it.
The CCTV shows him going upstairs and returning with a steak knife in his hand. He stamps on the victim again and can be seen leaning over him with the knife as his wife tries to pull his arm away.
East, of Marine Place, Seaton, denies attempted murder. He has admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He told the jury he had been the landlord of The Vault for ten years and run it with his wife Debra for five or six.
On the night of the attack he had been drinking but was not drunk and had gone upstairs to his flat to watch cricket on television in the early hours, leaving Debra in the bar with Mr Hines.
He said the CCTV monitor was under the television and he was shocked to see his wife kissing Mr Hines.
He said:"I glanced down at the CCTV and I could not believe what I saw. He was my mate and it was not a nice thing to see. I thought we were friends.
"I went straight downstairs. I reacted and went straight down. I intended to hit him. I was angry. I felt betrayed. It should not have happened.
"I grabbed him and got him on the floor. I stamped on his stomach and punched him to his head and stamped on his chest. I aimed the bar chair at his chest and not his head.
"I admit I intended to hit him and to hurt him but I did not want him going into a coma or going to hospital. I did not intend to kill him and I stopped because I did not want it to get any worse.
"He was conscious but disoriented and there were a few moans."
East said he went back upstairs to call his aunt to ask her to come round to look at Mr Hines and went back downstairs with the knife.
He said:"I picked up the knife to scare him. I was pointing at him and shouting at him that I wanted him to stay away from my wife and leave town. I did not want him around.
"I did not intend to hurt him with the knife. He was consciously and got up. Debra saw the knife and would not have known what I was doing.
"She was trying to stop me using it and she grabbed my right arm but I was 25 stone at the time and she was about eight and a half stone.
"I was pointing the knife in his direction and telling him to stay away from my wife and get across to him I did not want him around.
"Debs was pulling at my arm. I was trying to point the knife with a jabbing motion. I was just trying to scare him. I wanted to deter him from coming around.
"I did not intend to cause a wound and when I saw what I had done I went upstairs and watched out for my aunt to come."
Under cross examination by Miss Mary McCarthy he denied being out of control and in a jealous rage and insisted he would have killed Mr Hines.
He said:"If I had been trying to kill him I would have done the job. It was a very sharp steak knife and it would have gone right in if I had used force."
He insisted the stab wound was caused accidentally as his wife was pulling his arm back and he was jabbing it forward.
East played for the MCC Young cricketers, Warwickshire and Somerset Second XIs in the late 1990s, playing with or against future stars including Matthew Hoggard, Graeme Swann and Peter Trego.
He comes from Birmingham and played club cricket with Moseley but his professional career was cut short by injury and he spent four years coaching inner city children before moving to Devon to become a publican.
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Family claim pensioner choked on meat at 'understaffed' Sidmouth home
A retired banker died after choking on a large piece of meat at a rundown care home which his family claimed was under staffed, an inquest has been told.
Geoffrey Burnand had choked two weeks before the incident which was to end his life – but no details of that had been written on his care plan which should have been done.
His daughter Ann Logan told the inquest in Exeter, Devon, that when her dementia sufferer father moved into Arcot House in Sidmouth, Devon, his condition 'suddenly deteriorated'.
She said:"He lost weight, he became more confused and unsteady on his feet and was more likely to fall."
She said the home, run by Guinness Care and Support, failed to meet his needs by 2012.
She said:"There were no enough staff. My stepmother was aware of the understaffing but it was the best place for him at the time."
She said sometimes the staff were not qualified or were agency staff.
She said after the first choking incident her father was not given urgent therapy, his meals were not chopped up into small pieces because of the problems he had swallowing and meal times were not supervised one on one.
The 84 year old's family also complained about the crumbling state of the Regency building, broken toilet, having to provide furniture for his room which was on the first floor. She accepted though that these problems did not cause his death.
The female manager at the time of his death had also been suspended, the coroner was told.
Mrs Logan said an interim manager said Mr Burnand had 'to stay in his room 24 hours a day' because the staff had difficulty getting him downstairs.
She saw him hours before he choked on his meal and said:"He was in very good form, cheerful and coherent. We had a couple of hours together and we had a good old chat about things."
His GP Dr Joanna Kinder said he suffered from advanced dementia and was at high risk of falling and spent some parts of a day 'crawling on the floor'.
The inquest heard claims that there was a high turnover of staff and a Care Quality Commission inspector said his care plan had not been updated for nine months.
The inspector said in October 2012 the home failed to meet certain standards after a relative tipped off the CQC about the staffing levels and cleanliness of the home.
And she said 'care plans were strewn on the office floor' but she said the 21 residents were being looked after by the registered manager, a senior carer and two junior carers – which she said met the standard for staffing.
She said warning notices were issued and the home did make immediate improvements including building works.
A consultant pathologist,, Dr Paul McCulloch, said Mr Burnand, from Carshalton, London, died the day after he choked on some food and suffered a heart attack which caused brain damage.
He said people with dementia and Alzheimers can be affected in their ability to swallow.
He said his cause of death was asphyxia contributed by aspirated food and the dementia.
The inquest, which may last all week, continues.
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Exmouth man, 23, appears in court charged with sex offences against girl of nine
A 23 year old Exmouth man has appeared in court charged with sex offences against a nine year old girl.
Jamie Coombs has been charged with four counts of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity between January 2014 and November last year.
Coombs, of New North Road, Exmouth, has also been charged with assaulting the same girl at Honiton, Devon, and the touching was sexual.
He entered no pleas when he appeared at Exeter magistrates court.
He was bailed to appear before a judge at the city's Crown Court on March 6th.
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