Trial over Alphington Road murder set to start at Exeter Crown Court today

September 8, 2014, 12:02 am

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The trial of four men and a teenager accused of murdering an Exeter man is set to begin in the city today. Ryan Singleton, Darren Twigger, Anthony Martin and a 17-year-old youth – all from Coventry – and Steven Webster, 40, from Okehampton, Devon, deny murdering 43-year-old Stephen Crook. The defendants also deny robbing Mr Crook of money and jewellery. Mr Crook was found stabbed to death at his home in Alphington Road, Exeter, last November. The trial at Exeter Crown Court is expected to last for around six weeks.

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Warm start to the week in Devon - and tomorrow is looking good as well

September 8, 2014, 12:15 am

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After a chilly start, today will see a bright and sunny day with great temperatures and the Exeter-based Met Office say this theme will continue for most of the week. Some early patchy mist will soon disappear thanks to the sun, with blue skies around. There might be the odd bit of light cloud during the afternoon but for nearly all of the region it's going to be a warm and beautiful day. Gentle south-easterly winds will keep temperatures around 21°C. It will be another chilly night with clear skies likely for many. This could lead to isolated mist and fog patches developing with a minimum temperature of 7°C. Tuesday will be another dry day, with long warm sunny spells and light winds and only a small amount of cloud developing later in the day. It will feel warm too, with a maximum temperature 22°C.

Site meeting organised following concerns that lorries are 'cutting corners' at Stoke Hill roundabout

September 8, 2014, 12:30 am

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A SITE meeting between councillors and highways officers is to be held at the Stoke Hill roundabout because of heavy lorries cutting corners. Local councillor Richard Westlake told Community News: "I have had complaints that lorries are cutting the corners as they don't seem to be able to get around the roundabout properly and it is getting all churned up and is looking a mess."

Changes made to Exeter box junction to help vehicles turning right from Heavitree Road onto Barrack Road

September 8, 2014, 12:36 am

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DEVON County Council is to spend £25,000 this financial year amending the yellow box junction at the top of Heavitree Road/Livery Dole. The change is to help vehicles when turning right into Barrack Road and to reduce vehicle conflicts. The issue was raised by Cllr Westlake, who pointed out that problems were being caused by drivers who do not realise that they can enter a box junction if they are turning right. Cllr Westlake said: "This means that they are trying to quickly cross the whole of the junction even although the light they are waiting at has already changed. In addition, in a bid to reduce conflict between drivers and cyclists at the junction of Heavitree Road and Spicer Road, Devon County Council is to spend £25,000 on a scheme to introduce a right turn filter into Spicer Road.

London Welsh 0 Exeter Chiefs 52: Match reaction

September 8, 2014, 1:13 am

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Rob Baxter praised the efforts of assistant coach Ali Hepher as Exeter Chiefs got their Aviva Premiership campaign off to the best possible start. Baxter's side ran in seven tries as they hammered newboys London Welsh 52-0 at the Kassam Stadium to go top of the table after the opening weekend. No. 8 Thomas Waldrom claimed two tries on his debut, with Jack Arnott and Chrysander Botha also dotting down on their first appearance in the Premiership. Dave Ewers, Sam Hill and Ian Whitten notched the other tries. Gareth Steenson converted Exeter's opening six tries, with Henry Slade slotting five points as the Chiefs went through the 50-point barrier for the first time in the top flight. "We got a lot of things right today," Baxter said immediately after the final whistle. "I have to give a lot of credit to Ali Hepher, our attack coach, as he's worked on a lot of things in pre-season. Sometimes you have to keep the faith when things don't always go right from minute one, but the boys certainly rammed it home for him today. "I thought the efforts of individual players and how much we wanted to play, plus things Ali put together in pre-season, really came off out there today. I thought we also showed a lot of fight in defence and if anything that last minute of play, when we were on our own line, kind of epitomised the effort and energy we brought today and that kind of moulded everything together for us." Having led 17-0 at the break, it was during the second half where the power and the precision of the Chiefs really came to the fore. Baxter believes his squad – which was minus the likes of key stars such as Dean Mumm, Jack Nowell, Phil Dollman, Tom Johnson and Luke Cowan-Dickie due to injury – underlined the strength and quality that now exists within the ranks, as well as the fitness levels the players have worked tirelessly on during pre-season. "We think we're a very hard working side and we think we're fit," continued Baxter. "But to do all that, you also have to try and wear the opposition down. Looking at the game, it was tough out there for a while and although we scored points at regular intervals, it was a very good contest for a while. "We tried to up the tempo, keep it high and felt by almost breaking ourselves, we might break the opposition at some stage. That's a little bit what happened in the end and those efforts are what brought us our points ultimately. "Right now I'm delighted with the effort from the players because they have put in a big stint in pre-season. Also I'm pleased for this group because there are a few heads missing and you could have some doubts over decision-making, but they went out there, stuck at it and by doing that they got their just rewards."London Welsh: Jewell (Crane, 60); Stegmann, May, Molenaar, Scott; Barkley (Roberts, 63), Weepu (Lewis, 63); Reeves (Henn, 53), Britton (Vella, H/T), Vea (Gilding, 59), Schofield (Corker, 47), Down, P Browne, Thorpe, McCaffrey (Stedman, 60)Yellow card: Henn Exeter Chiefs: Botha; Whitten, Slade, Hill (Arnott, 59), Jess; Steenson (Sweeney, 63), Thomas (Chudley, 34-40; 47); Rimmer (Moon, 52), Yeandle (Taione, 62), Francis (Low, 52), Lees (Armand, 61), Caldwell, Ewers, White (Horstmann, 60), Waldrom (White, 70)Scorers: tries - Waldrom (2), Ewers, Hill, Whitten, Arnott, Botha; cons - Steenson (6), Slade; pen – Slade Yellow card: White Referee: Dean Richards Attendance: 2,776

Kevin Bryan's record reviews

September 8, 2014, 1:42 am

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Ewan McLennan,"Stories Still Untold" (Fellside FECD 263)- Ewan McLennan's  rousing rendition of his own "Whistling the Esperanza" was one of the highlights of BBC4's excellent "Transatlantic Sessions" series, and the Scottish singer-songwriter's third Fellside album is another musical tour de force,showcasing a finely judged assortment of self-penned songs and haunting traditional material. "A Beggar" and the Chartist hymn,"Song of the Lower Classes"  are particularly memorable efforts,  and Ewan also invests compelling ditties such as " Prince Robert" and "Granite Cage"  with a power and passion which puts me in mind  of the great Dick Gaughan in his pomp,and you can't really ask for a higher recommendation than that.
Mike Zito and the Wheel,"Songs from the Road" (Ruf 1206)- Missouri born Mike  Zito was  a founding member of the highly regarded Royal Southern Brotherhood and  his new solo career should continue to  flourish on the evidence presented by  "Songs from the Road," a highly enjoyable CD/DVD package which captures the singer-guitarist in his natural element,regaling his euphoric Texan audience with a live set featuring some of the most visceral bluesy rock that you'll be likely to hear in this or any other year.  Zito's interplay with saxist Jimmy Carpenter is a joy to behold as he serves up fine tracks such as "Rainbow Bridge" and "Pearl River" alongside a surprisingly effective cover of Prince's "Little Red Corvette."
Mark Harrison,"The World Outside" (available from www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com)- Roots music enthusiasts won't need me to remind them about this stylish guitar picker's  timeless approach to  the charms of the acoustic blues. Mark's third album is arguably his finest offering to date,tackling topics  as diverse as New Orleans funerals, the optimism of youth and the arcane workings of the economic system with grace,subtlety and charm,aided and abetted by the excellent backing band who've served him so well in the past. "Panic Attack," "Your Second Line" and the autobiographical "Long Long Way To Go" are particularly fine efforts.
" Ruf Records 20 Years Anniversary" (Ruf 1208)- Thomas Ruf's excellent blues label celebrate their twentieth birthday with the release of a nicely varied 2CD anthology focussing attention on some of the top notch performers who've recorded for them over the years,including luminaries such as Jeff Healey, Spin Doctors and Kim Simmonds' Savoy Brown. Ruf Records was originally founded to create an outlet for the under-valued talents of the late  Luther Allison, and the soulful Chicago bluesman closes proceedings with what proved to be his final recording,a spirited cover of the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" incorporating the backing vocals from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side."

Exeter Royal Marine who lost his leg after accident in Norway selected to row in Invictus Games

September 8, 2014, 2:25 am

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An injured Royal Marine from Exeter has been chosen to represent Britain in the rowing events at the forthcoming Invictus Games. Ray Lowrie, 33, sustained a severe fractured ankle while on Exercise in Norway that ultimately led to his leg being amputated. He turned to specialist armed forces injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell for help and support and his legal team has since secured interim payments from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to pay for an adapted bungalow to help him live independently. Following the accident Ray discovered that he had a flair for rowing after taking up the sport to keep fit. He is now involved with the Exeter Rowing Club and is delighted to be involved in the upcoming Invictus Games. The event, championed by Prince Harry, will feature over 400 competitors from 14 nations competing in an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women. The Invictus Games highlight the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. Ray, from Exeter, said: "After the accident and the amputation it was extremely difficult to come to terms with my injury and it changed my life forever. Getting the support from Irwin Mitchell with my adapted house has given me the encouragement and independence I needed to get out there and find other things I am interested in. "At first I just wanted to do something to keep fit but I soon discovered that I was had a talent for rowing and it's given me a whole new set of goals to work towards. "Being involved in the Invictus Games is important not just for the competition but to raise awareness of the injuries and illnesses that servicemen and women have to overcome."

Lorry driver released on bail after cyclist dies on A38 Exeter-bound carriageway

September 8, 2014, 2:38 am

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A lorry driver has been released on police bail following a fatal road traffic collision on the Exeter-bound A38. Following the collision on Friday, a pedal cyclist, a 58 year old local male, died at Derriford Hospital. The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has now been released on bail until November, 4. A detailed investigation was carried out at the scene by Police Collision Investigators and staff from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The deceased male has not yet been named. Police are still appealing for witnesses. Contact 101 quoting ref 0252 05914.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announce they are expecting their second baby

September 8, 2014, 2:50 am

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that they are expecting their second baby. The Queen and members of both William and Kate's families are "delighted" with the news, Kensington Palace said. Kate is said to be suffering from acute morning sickness, as she did with her first pregnancy, and is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace. She is no longer joining her husband on a planned engagement in Oxford today. Prime Minister David Cameron offered his congratulations to the couple today, saying: "Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby." The couple's first child, Prince George, was born in July 2013.

Eviction order set to be served on travellers at Exeter's Hamlin Lane playing fields

September 8, 2014, 2:58 am

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THE chairman of the club which runs the Exeter playing fields that have been occupied by travellers said he expects an eviction notice to be served today. (Monday) Around 20 caravans set up camp on the Hamlin Lane playing fields on Friday morning. This led to the cancellation of all weekend adult and children football matches scheduled to take place there - leaving scores of youngsters devastated. Exeter City Council are expected to be granted an eviction order today. Paul Howe, chairman of Stoke Hill AFC, which runs the fields on a 25-year lease from the city council, said he hopes things will return to normal over the next few days. He said: "I understand the travellers will be visited on Monday, accompanied by Police officers, to check on their welfare, and then served with an eviction notice. "Unfortunately there is nothing we can do until then. Hopefully with a council clear up on Monday if they leave, we can resume training on Tuesday and Wednesday and get back to football next week."

Mid Devon man facing jail for £300,000 Help for Heroes fraud sets up website to claim he did it for "the greater good"

September 8, 2014, 3:14 am

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A MID Devon garage owner, who has been told by an Exeter judge that he faces a lengthy jail sentence after admitting a £300,000 Help for Heroes fraud, has set up a website claiming his intentions were to raise "millions" for the charity. Christopher Copeland, 51, from Copplestone, near Crediton, organised charity collections all over Britain using teams of volunteers from Devon and targeted shoppers at large supermarkets. He told his helpers he was passing on the money to the Help for Heroes charity but put it straight into his own bank account. He was caught when one of the volunteers became suspicious and tipped off Devon and Cornwall Police, who discovered that almost nothing had been paid to the charity. Copeland admitted fraud and concealing criminal property. Both charges relate to a period between February 1, 2010 to August 17, 2011. The charges specify he made £300,000 by representing to members of the public that money they donated would be passed on to the Help for Heroes charity. He transported his teams in a military style 4x4 vehicle which displaying Help for Heroes posters. Detectives believe he used much of the cash to build up his 4x4 dealership in Mid Devon. He is due to return to Exeter Crown Court on Monday, September 15, when he faces sentencing. But he has created a website claiming to explain the "truth" behind his actions. On the website he described himself as a former member of the RAF and Land Rovers Defenders enthusiast. He wrote: "I am not a thief, had I been inclined to steal money from Help for Heroes it would have been easy, the donations are cash, untraceable cash, if I wanted to steal from them that would have been the time to do it and no one would have known, I didn't, I paid the money in the bank, put it through my accounts, paid tax on it, if I wanted to steal why would I do this?" He explained that in 2009 he was earning his living from people having their photos taken in a military helicopter he had restored and displayed. He said on learning about the work of Help for Heroes he "loved everything they stood for". He said he initially hosted a helicopter display for the charity, as he had done on several occasions for the Poppy Appeal in Exeter. And from that event, he said he had the original idea to acquire a fleet of military vehicles and exhibit them to generate "millions over the years" for the charity. He admitted that he "should have" gone to the charity first. He said his plan was to raise enough money with the helicopter to buy the Land Rovers and then to cover the repair work on them. Copeland said that if the trucks could raise millions over the years for the charity then spending a few thousand initially could be justified. But he admitted that he did not give enough consideration to the charity's "opinion". "This is mainly where I went wrong," he wrote. "I truly believed the ends justified the means, that I was doing something for the greater good. "I look back on it now and cringe not believing I could be so stupid, at the time it all seemed so right." He explained that he decided to hire a crew of employees, advertising for the positions via the Job Centre, instead of volunteers to ensure reliability at events, initially paying them £40 a day plus food. He then claims some of the employees would "demand" far more wages. And he also heavily criticises the handling of the situation by detectives. He said: "I pleaded guilty because despite raising £300,000 I only managed to pay Help for Heroes £40,000, the majority of the rest being spent on buying and running the displays and wages for the crews manning the displays. The view of the CPS is simple, "you raised £300,000 claiming it was for Help for Heroes and didn't pay that amount across to them. It's that black and white to them. "I should have pulled the plug almost 12 months earlier but for my arrogant belief that I was doing the right thing, every week I thought things would get better, I should have been stronger with the staff and not given in to their demands for large pay packets. "I was so desperate to help, I wanted to be the heroes' hero and I did lose sight of what was right and wrong. "I swear on my soul that I tried to make this work but got it very wrong and to my wife and my daughter who have suffered so much over the last three years "I will do all that is humanly possible to make this right."

Tour of Britain: Marcel Kittel takes first stage

September 8, 2014, 3:24 am

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Marcel Kittel drew first blood in the Tour of Britain as he sprinted clear of his rivals to win stage one in Liverpool on Sunday. The German pipped Italy's Nicola Ruffoni into second, with Britain's Mark Cavendish third after a thrilling finish to the 104.8km eight-lap contest. Defending champion Sir Bradley Wiggins finished comfortably among the peloton in 76th as he bids to become the first rider to defend the title since the tour was reintroduced in 2004. Monday sees the peloton tackle a 200.8km leg from Knowsley to Llandudno. The tour comes to the South West on Thursday with the stage going from Exmouth to Exeter. Speaking of Sunday's win, Giant-Shimano rider Kittel said: "It is good to win the first stage and to see the reaction from the crowd. "It was pretty hectic and messy with the crash at one kilometre before the finish. "Luckily after that crash we could move up and go to the front. Tom Veelers chose a really good moment to go right to the front. He timed it well to protect me from the wind so I could save myself for the sprint." It was a mixed afternoon for Manxman Cavendish, with the Omega Pharma–QuickStep rider crashing into a car at one stage as he swerved to avoid a traffic island. That looked to have jeopardised his chances of a strong showing, but the 29-year-old rallied well to push Kittel hard for the win. "Someone had to stop for a puncture so the car slammed on its brakes, and there was an island in the road. If I went right, I would hit a traffic island, so I went left and I whacked another car," explained Cavendish. "It took me a lap to come back even because our team car couldn't assist me immediately because it was on the front. At that point I wasn't planning to sprint either, it was painful. But after a couple of laps we decided to just try anyway, but sprint seated because I was in pain. "I still got third but it's a shame because I really wanted to try and win in front of the British public."

Trio accused of trying to kill Exeter woman kept in custody

September 8, 2014, 4:30 am

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A Judge has authorised the continued detention of one man and two women accused of attempting to murder a woman during an alleged robbery at her home in Exeter. Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, extended custody time limits on three of the four defendants who are to face trial later this year accused of the attack on Carly Kelly. The fourth is already on bail. Leigh Yeo, aged 22, Ragnar Dunn, aged 48, Kate Williams, aged 34, and Natasha Clarke, aged 26, all from Exeter, will all stand trial at Exeter Crown Court in November. They are all accused of attempted murder and related charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit fraud by using stolen bank cards. All the offences are alleged to have taken place on or shortly after March 12 and the defendants were arrested shortly afterwards. Their case was listed at Exeter Crown Court because any detention prior to trial is restricted to six months, after which it must be reviewed. Yeo, Williams and Clarke were remanded in custody until the trial date of November 24. Dunn is on bail.

Armed police response after Exeter binge drinker with two large knives banged on takeaway door

September 8, 2014, 4:51 am

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A binge drinker has been curfewed after he terrified staff a fast food shop by knocking on their door in the early hours while armed with two knives. Luke Larkin, aged 23, took two large kitchen knives from his home after having an argument with a stranger in a night club. He wandered round the streets of the St Thomas area of Exeter at 2 am searching for the man who he suspected of following him home. An armed police response unit was sent to Cowick Street after he knocked on the door of a closed fast food outlet and demanded to be let in. Larkin claimed he armed himself for his own protection and staff at the shop confirmed he had been seeking refuge when he hammered on their door. He was arrested nearby without a struggle and by that time he had dumped one of the two knives on the ground and the other on a window ledge, Exeter Crown Court was told. Larkin, of Oxford Street, Exeter, admitted two offences of having knives in a public place and was jailed for three months, suspended for 18 months, curfewed for four months, and ordered to pay £420 costs. Judge Phillip Wassall told him:"You are before the court for the first time and are a hard working man who has developed a habit to go out binge drinking. "This is not the first time it has got you into difficulties. The first time it caused emotional problems and this time it has caused you to act in a criminal way which was potentially dangerous. "I am far from sure you would have used these weapons even if you had found the person you were looking for because you do not have a tendency for violence. "It is drink that is the problem and it has caused you to act completely out of character and in this bizarre and dangerous way. "The purpose of the curfew is to keep you in when you might otherwise be out binge drinking and getting into further trouble." Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said the incident started in a night club in the St Thomas area where Larkin had an argument with a man he did not know. He went home but thought he saw the same man in the street nearby and so went inside and armed himself with two knives. He went looking for the man but later told police he had the knives for his own protection and did not know what he would have done if he had found him. Mr Bowen said:"He knocked on the door of a fast food outlet at around 2 am and said 'I am going to get killed. He asked them to call the police. Staff saw him with a knife in his hand and another in his pocket. "He dropped the knife he was holding and left the area. A police armed support unit attended and he was located. The second knife was found on a window sill nearby." Mr Greg Richardson, defending, said Larkin is a young man with a good job earning about £300 a week and had pleaded guilty to the offence at the first opportunity in the Magistrates' Court.

Probe into how police dealt with assault complaint by Devon man who was subsquently murdered criticises failings

September 8, 2014, 5:44 am

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A probe into how Devon and Cornwall Police dealt with an assault complaint by a man who was subsequently murdered has criticised the actions of officers. The actions of a police call handler and two officers in dealing with an assault complaint by a man who was subsequently murdered by his friends in a frenzied "revenge" attack has been criticised by independent investigators. Keith Dance suffered more than 70 injuries when he was savagely attacked in his Devon bedsit by drinking partners Jacqueline Cooke and her ex-lover Ian Gollop. However an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the way Devon and Cornwall Police handled an assault reported by Mr Dance a few days earlier identified individual failures. IPCC Associate Commissioner Tom Milsom said the lethal "brutal and callous" attack to which Mr Dance had been subjected "could not have been predicted when he initially telephoned police." However, he said that a call handler who dealt with Mr Dance when he rang to make an allegation of assault had been guilty of misconduct in failing to identify that he was vulnerable. Two police officers, who were initially said to be diligent, were also criticised for failing to follow-up leads from the initial complaint. Mr Milsom said: "Keith Dance's murder was a brutal and callous attack that could not have been predicted when he initially telephoned police. "Our sympathies remain with Keith Dance's family. The months that have passed since his death must have been extremely difficult for them. The family raised several concerns at the outset of our investigation and we have sought to address these in the report." On Friday, March 8, Mr Dance called police and spoke with the call handler to report that he had been assaulted by Ms Cooke with a knife and had items stolen from his home. She was accompanied by Mr Gollop who had keys to his flat. The investigation concluded that the 30 minute call – although difficult – was handled poorly. The call handler did not adequately consider all the available evidence which should have resulted in her identifying Mr Dance's vulnerability. Although officers acted with some diligence initially by visiting Mr Dance and taking a statement from him the following day, the investigation thereafter was not progressed adequately. After visiting Ms Cooke's address shortly after this, police did not appear to make any further attempts to locate Ms Cooke until Tuesday March 12, 2013, when she called to inform them she had stabbed Mr Dance to death at his flat two days previously. The IPCC investigation found a case to answer for misconduct for the call handler for the way in which she handled the original call. Unsatisfactory performance was identified for the two police officers – a detective sergeant and a detective constable – who were responsible for conducting the investigation. Mr Milsom said: "It is clear from the evidence that the call handler did not recognise Mr Dance's vulnerability during his call to report the assault. The call handler did not conduct enough research to gain further details which could have improved her judgement; as such her decision to record the assault as a crime instead of opening an incident log was not appropriate. It also had the unintended consequence of future police contact with Mr Dance and Ms Cooke not being systematically recorded in one place." "The detective sergeant was diligent in picking up the crime quickly and their initial decision making in relation to risk factors affecting Mr Dance was logical. The review undertaken the next day was also appropriate. However neither the detective sergeant nor the detective constable made any further proactive attempts to locate Ms Cooke and that is disappointing. " Devon and Cornwall Police has accepted the findings of the IPCC's report and have since introduced further measures and training for call handlers to identify and record caller's vulnerability. Misconduct was proven against the call handler and she has since received management advice. The detective sergeant and detective constable are being monitored to ensure their future performance.

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Exeter Braves to face Saracens

September 8, 2014, 5:45 am

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Exeter Chiefs' second team get their A league campaign under way this evening with a trip to Saracens (7.30pm). The Braves line-up includes senior player Brett Sturgess, Greg Bateman, Alex Brown and Adam Hughes as well as triallists Pat Phibbs and Jerry Sexton. Academy prospect Sam Skinner captains the side from No. 8, with fellow youngsters Joel Conlon, Sam Simmonds, Tom Hendrickson and Max Bodilly also handed a start. Exeter Braves: Wick; Wilcockson, Bodilly, Hendrickson, Hughes; May, Phibbs; Sturgess, Bateman, Brown, Holmes, Sexton, Conlon, Simmonds, Skinner. Reps: Innard, Davies, Stanley, Eliet, Ledger, Townsend, Holdsworth, Gabbitass

BH Live ticket email is Malware - do not open

September 8, 2014, 6:09 am

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Computer users were today being urged not to open an email purporting to be offering tickets for Peter Pan in Bournemouth.

The emails claim the user has ordered tickets for the pantomime at the Bournemouth Pavilion and in many cases contains the correct final four digits of a credit card.

However a link to download the tickets, which are priced £145, is actually a link to a file which downloads a virus.

The BH Live ticket office has been inundated with calls this morning, as thousands of the emails landed. many were unable to get through.

But experts say the emails are not coming from BH Live's system but from computers as far afield as Korea and Vietnam.

Martijn Grooten, editor at Virusbtn, advised anyone who has received the email to delete it and run an anti-virus scan on their computer.

"It is obviously a scam and it looks fairly convincing," the expert said. "When you click on the attachment, which looks like a PDF, if downloads Malware onto your computer.

"This type of scam is really common. It's nothing to do with BHLive. They have obviously used their email address but BHLive is not involved, I'm certain about that."

Matt Goode, BHlive head of Marketing said they were looking into the issue but that the emails had not come from BH Live itself.

He said: "We're in the process of letting people that the email did not come from BHLive or our network. We are advising are customers not to open the emails.

Many users are reporting the email includes the last four numbers of their real credit card, making the scam even more convincing.

Emails were sent out from 

City council confirms it could still be "several days" to get eviction order for travellers at Hamlin Lane playing fields

September 8, 2014, 6:23 am

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IT could still be several days before travellers move on from Hamlin Lane playing fields in Exeter, the city council have confirmed. There had been hopes that a eviction order would be served today. Chairman of Stoke Hill AFC Paul Howe, which runs the fields, was hopeful teams could return to training on Tuesday. But a spokesman for Exeter City Council has said the group of around 20 caravans could remain in situ for a few more days yet. In a statement released this afternoon, Exeter City Council said that it would do everything possible to clear travellers from playing fields at Hamlin Lane. Locks to the site were cut on Friday morning and the travellers' arrival forced the cancellation of a number of football matches over the weekend. It is understood the city council applied for an eviction order hearing today but has not been given a date by the courts. If the eviction order is granted, it then needs to be served on the travellers. They can then either leave on their own accord or removed forcibly. The whole process could still take several days. Council Leader Pete Edwards said: "We understand the frustrations of the football clubs and are doing everything possible to clear the site. We are moving as quickly as we can but there are certain hurdles that need to be cleared before we can gain a possession order from the courts." "We will be applying to the county court seeking a possession order from immediate effect. This may however take a few days but we are hopeful that we can get the pitches back into use by next weekend after the site has been cleared of travelers and any the site cleaned up, " said Cllr Edwards.

Bosses of Topsham boatyard 'swindled customers' to prop up failing business, court hears

September 8, 2014, 8:18 am

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The bosses of a Devon boatyard told 'lie after lie after lie' as they tried to prop up their failing business by allegedly swindling their customers, a jury has been told. Andrew Bowden and Paul Randle ran their Exe Leisure business on Topsham Quay but sold boats which belonged to clients and used the money to pay business debts. The company finally went into administration in 2006 and left boat sellers and hire purchase companies more than £100,000 out of pocket. Brokerage clients were told their boats were still up for sale at Topsham when they had been sold weeks before and the money paid into the bank. When vendors discovered the boats had been sold and demanded their money they were told 'lie after lie after lie' to fob them off. Bowden and Randall also bought six boats worth a total of more than £100,000 on hire purchase and sold them even though they still belonged to the finance company, Exeter Crown Court was told. Randle, aged 48, of Exeter Road, Topsham, denies fraudulent trading. The jury have been told Bowden does not form any part of this case. Randle says he was not involved in handling money within the business and left all financial matters to his fellow director. Mr Malcolm Galloway, prosecuting, said both men ran a boat repair yard and a brokerage called Exe Leisure and Solent Management and 'robbed Peter to pay Paul' when they ran into financial problems in 2005 and 2006. The directors should have kept clients money secure in a separate account but instead used it to cover losses which mounted to £403,000 a year. The business made profits of up to £40,000 a year until 2005 but then started to make heavy losses and went into insolvency in July 2006. He said brokerage agreements included a clause which required proceeds of sales to be kept in a segregated client account but all but £20,000 were instead paid into the company's main trading account. Between August 2005 and June 2006 the brokerage sold 13 boats for a total of £154,390 but passed on just £29,500 to customers. They also sold boats which were owned by finance companies, two of which have never been traced. Mr Galloway said:"This was a company with significant financial difficulties. Bowden and Randall used unlawful and illegal ways to keep it afloat. "They were trying to realise cash by selling boats which were subject to hire purchase agreements. This was plainly dishonest. If they had asked the finance company of they could sell them they would be told no. "When it came to brokerage, they were keeping other people's money and putting into their main business account rather than keeping it separate." He cited the case of one owner, whose Searay 215 speedboat called Mr Bubbles was sold for £17,500 in August 2005 but were told it was still on the market months later. Randall finally told them the boat was sold in January 2006 but said Exe Leisure were still waiting for the money to arrive in full. Mr Galloway said:"That was an utter lie. In March Randall wrote an e mail assuring the client the money had not been used to finance their business. "We say the client was plainly defrauded and eventually lost £8,855. They were plainly using her money for their own company and the vendor was told lie after lie after lie. "Other clients were not even told about sales when the money was used for general trading. It would have been clear to the two directors they were in trouble. "They were using other people's money to try to keep the company going for another month in the hope things would improve. They were robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Emergency services attend bus crash in Newton Abbot

September 8, 2014, 10:26 am

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Emergency services attended a road traffic collision involving two cars and a bus in Newton Abbot this afternoon. Fire crews attended the scene at Ashburton Road at 3.50pm and reported oil leaking. A spokesman said: "Crews confirmed on arrival all persons were free and clear of the vehicle and used an environmental pack to help contain the oil spill and awaited recovery for the bus."