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A police sergeant and two civilian staff from Devon and Cornwall Police have appeared before magistrates in Exeter this morning charged in connection with the death of a mentally-ill church caretaker who died after being held in custody. Sergeant Jan Kingshott, 43, and custody detention officers Simon Tansley, 37, and Michael Marsden, 54, are accused of the manslaughter of 32-year-old Thomas Orchard in October 2012 in Exeter. Magistrates granted an application to exclude their addresses from the public domain. Mr Orchard, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, died a week after being arrested and then restrained at Heavitree Road police station. The three, who have been suspended from duty, are accused of manslaughter by using "unreasonable force". They also face separate charges of manslaughter by "gross negligence". The three also face a charge of being the holder of a public office they wilfully neglected to perform their duty/wilfully misconducted themselves. No pleas were entered and magistrates sent the case to Bristol Crown Court, and the defendants were bailed to appear at the court on February 26.

Pictured: Exeter police sergeant and two police civilian staff appear in court charged with manslaughter over the death of Thomas Orchard

A London drug dealer has changed his plea and admitted being part of a large scale operation to bring heroin and cocaine to Devon. Fahad Hassan was part of a gang of organised criminals of Somali and Eritrean origin who recruited Exeter addicts as their sales force. He changed his plea and admitted being part of a drug plot in a case at Exeter Crown Court in which the prosecution dropped charges against two co-defendants. Hassan, from South London, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and he will be sentenced alongside six Londoners and seven drug users from Exeter in March. Mustafa Raage, and Mzikayise Mbalo, both in their late 20s and from Tooting, London, both denied conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine and were found not guilty after the Crown offered no evidence. Christopher Edworthy, aged 38, Nicola Martin, aged 33, Robert Doyle, aged 34, John Gill, aged 39, Richard Lewis, John Acres, aged 44, and Lee Haine, aged 26, all from Exeter, have all admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs. Said Mohamud, Yahya Hashi, Fathi Ahmed, Hassan Hassan, Shafie Afrah, and Sakariye Yasim, all from South London, have all admitted conspiracy. Judge Erik Salomonsen asked the prosecution to prepare a document outlining the different roles which the defendants played in the operation. Hassan changed his plea after hearing Mr Adrian Chaplin, prosecuting, explain to the jury how months of police surveillance led to the operation being busted last May. The gang were based in London but used a house in Longbrook Terrace, Exeter, as their headquarters in the city and recruited local users to sell their drugs on the streets. They used the trade name of AJ and employed a single phone to take orders and arrange deliveries over a five month period. In that time the phone sent or received 20,000 calls and 14,000 texts and members of the group were caught on CCTV buying pay-as-you-go top ups in Exeter and London. The men from the Tooting and Wandsworth areas of London hired 37 different cars to throw the police off their track but detectives set up a surveillance operation at the Exeter house which was their headquarters. Mr Chaplin told the jury:"The investigation involved a large number of people who came under the scrutiny of the Devon and Cornwall police between December 2013 and May 2014. "There was in operation a criminal conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine in Exeter and people including these three defendants travelled regularly from London to Exeter for the purpose of selling drugs. "Users from Exeter sold the drugs on the streets. They were mainly individuals local to Exeter who were not of the same ethnic background and those who came from London. "It is another feature that they were themselves drug users. The group had the collective identity of the initials AJ. "The conspiracy required the transport of drugs to Exeter in a variety of vehicles and it is out case they were changed regularly to make detection less easy than if the same cars had been used regularly. "In all, 37 different cars were hired by five London based individuals. Communications were also used and texts sent to potential customers, frequently in bulk quantities, mostly by the AJ phone. "There were more than 20,000 calls and 14,000 texts and an address at 16 to 19 Longbrook Terrace in Exeter was used by those involved in the conspiracy and appears to have been a base for operations. Mr Chaplin said surveillance had been carried out and showed the jury images from a shop and garage at Birchy Barton, Exeter, which showed some of those involved in activities including topping up the AJ phone. Hassan and Mbalo had also been arrested in Blackboy Road, Exeter on suspicion of drug dealing and although nothing was found at the time, they were wearing some of the same clothes as a group of men who had topped up the phone in Tooting two days earlier.

Dealer admits being part of operation to bring heroin and cocaine to Exeter

A judge has ordered a pre sentence report on a drug dealer who sold hundreds of pounds worth of heroin on the streets of Exeter every day. William Walsh sold drugs in £70 deals after moving to the city from his home in East London at the behest of a gang of organised criminals. He was caught by a police undercover operation in which officers posed as addicts and made test purchases from him on three different occasions in as many days. Walsh, aged 54, from the Isle of Dogs in London, admitted three offences of supplying class A drugs on June 11, 12 and 13 last year. Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, adjourned his sentence and ordered a probation report. He remanded him in custody until February 27. He said:"The defendant should submit a basis of plea. It would appear from the papers he was selling at £70 a time several times a day on behalf of an operation known as Scouse Frank and topping up a phone to do so." Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said:"He has pleaded guilty to three offences of supplying drugs to under cover police officers. There is some evidence he was working for an organised crime group, selling drugs on the street to support his own habit." Mr Nigel Wraith, defending, said the court would be helped by a pre sentence report.

A former Exeter MPs home has gone up for sale for over £9million. In the pictures above we have a look inside the home and read the agents description of the home below. Mamhead House has a fascinating history and there has been a house on this site for many centuries. Mamhead is mentioned in the Domesday Book and the ownership has passed through several distinguished families. In 1547 it was bought by the Balle family. In 1672 Peter Balle, an attorney to Queen Henrietta Maria, was awarded a Baronetcy for his services to her. Later William of Orange billeted his supporters on the Estate. Mamhead then passed into the hands of the Earls of Lisburne who sold the Estate in 1822 to R W Newman, MP for Exeter. Today Mamhead House combines reception rooms of fine proportions with exquisite plaster ceilings that flow from one to another. It has a peaceful and relaxing environment and the reception rooms, bedrooms, terraces and garden make the most of the stunning views over the parkland, open agricultural land and along the East Devon coast to Portland Bill. The house, which is built of mellow Bath stone and is approached by a long winding drive through woodland, has five principal reception rooms, five additional reception rooms, galleried halls, landings and corridors, a main kitchen/breakfast room, a secondary kitchen/butler's pantry and extensive domestic offices and cellars. There are 16 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms and an attic with a further 11 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.The property is being marketed by Strutt and Parker

Pictures: Former Exeter MP's home is one of region's most expensive

The Devon public is being warned to prepare for a blizzard over the next few days. A yellow weather warning for ice and snow across the region has today been extended by the Met Office to include Monday February 2. Residents will have noticed the recent drop in temperature, which has already resulted in some wintry showers across the region today. Snow has been reported on Dartmoor and Haldon Hill. This is predicted to continue, and possibly worsen, into the weekend and the early part of next week. The Met Office issued a weather warning for Sunday at lunchtime yesterday, and now it appears that the blizzardy weather is set to continue. The Met Office will continue to monitor the developing weather situation, and the Yellow warning means that it is important to keep an eye on the latest forecast and be aware that the weather may change or worsen, leading to disruption in the next few days. The icy blast that has already hit the north of the country is set to move south, particularly along the western coast, bringing ice, snow and wind. The temperature is set to drop today until it feels as cold as -7C The rapid change comes as the jet stream shifts, dumping cold air across much of the UK. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for Devon this weekend saying blizzard conditions will make driving difficult and dangerous. The forecast predicts showers with: "...strong winds, so drifting and temporary blizzard conditions are possible as well as icy stretches. The public should be aware of the potential for disruption from these conditions." The chief forecaster said: "A very cold airmass will continue to spread southwards from Scotland and Northern Ireland across the remainder of the UK on Sunday accompanied by strong winds. "Frequent showers are likely to form in this airmass, primarily affecting northern parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland but also running along eastern and western coastal districts of England and Wales at times. "With the cold air snow is likely to accumulate even to low levels wherever showers affect. "Periods of enhanced snowfall are possible within this general flow but details of these are very uncertain at this time. "As such this alert is likely to be updated and refined in the coming days to better represent individual features. "There is the potential for disruption throughout this period due to the accumulating snow and ice but also with temporary blizzard conditions leading to very difficult driving conditions."

Snow and wind weather warnings extended as Devon prepares for blizzard

A Devon family who saved vouchers so they could go on a £10 holiday have been fined £350 for taking their children out of school. Simon and Karen Richardson could not afford an expensive break with their four children collected vouchers to save money. But they returned from the five-day trip to Perranporth, Cornwall to discover they had been fined £369 for taking Jodie-Ann, 9, Aiden, 6, and Alex, 7, out of school. The Richardson family from Bideford, Devon saved vouchers for a £10 holiday - but were hit with a £369 fine for taking their children out of school Mrs Richardson, 35, said they took the risk of going on the trip during term time as they believed the maximum fine they would receive would be £60 and a similar trip during holidays would have cost in excess of £400. But instead both parents have been charged for each of their three children that all attend East-the-Water Community Primary School in Bideford, Devon. The costly break has left Mrs Richardson - who also took her two-year-old son Liam with her - upset and angry. She said: 'I think it is appalling. The school has got it so wrong. We are both working parents and we don't get much family time and we simply can't afford to go away during the school holidays. 'If we had known it was going to cost us this much, we would never have gone.' The family have been told the fine must be paid within 28 days or it will be doubled. If that is not paid they could face a fine up to £2,500 and three months in prison. Mrs Richardson, from Bideford, said: 'I am concerned that we won't be able to pay the fine and worried that any court action could jeopardise my husband's job as an electrician visiting local schools.' She said she did write to the school to make the request to take the time off but Devon County Council say it stands by its decision and claims its procedures were followed correctly. Its policy states that leaves of absence during term time can only be granted by the head teacher and is only allowed in exceptional circumstances - which do not include trying to avoid expensive holidays. A spokesman said: 'If the school refuses your request and the child is taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and this may make you liable to a penalty notice for each child, payable by each parent or carer.' The school have yet to comment on the row.

Family who went on £10 holiday after collecting vouchers are fined £350 by Devon County Council for taking children out of school

A shop manager who looted £26,000 from her bosses to feed her gambling addiction tried to blame her thefts on threats from sinister loan sharks. Sally Hall took the takings from the safe at the Spar shop in Budleigh Salterton and claimed she had been put under pressure by two mysterious men who had come to her home demanding money. She said she stole the cash to pay off debts owed by her ex husband but when police checked with him he told them they did not exist. Hall had an online gambling addiction and had also run up debts looking after her grown up children, two of whom were suffering physical or mental illnesses. She had been the manager in charge of the shop until internal accounting checks showed that money was not being banked. She made a full admission which her line manager senior recorded on her iPhone but later blamed her actions on pressure from debt collectors. Hall, aged 56, of East View Cottage, Honiton and formerly of Pebble Reach, Budleigh Salterton, admitted theft and was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years with two years supervision by Judge Phillip Wassall at Exeter Crown Court. He told her:"This was a serious breach of trust and at first you lied to the company to cover it up. You gave an explanation to the police which completely lacked credibility. "It is highly likely your motivation was an addiction to online gambling. You admit you had taken money before for this reason which you paid back, borrowed in your parlance, and was not detected. "You later took this money and gambling seems to be the most likely cause." The judge set a timetable under the Proceeds of Crime Act which is likely to result in Hall being forced to sell her share of a house in France to repay the stolen money. Miss Eleanor Purkis, prosecuting, said Hall had been manager for two years and had been promoted from assistant manager. She was trusted to reconcile and bank the takings. The company noticed an anomaly which she explained by saying the money was in the safe but when it happened a second time an investigation was started and she admitted taking cash rather than banking it. She said she took two lots of £13,000 in two different weeks, having previously stolen and repaid £800. She told police that she took the money to repay debts owed by her estranged husband, who she had not lived with for five years. Hall claimed t have been visited by two debt collectors who demanded the money, which she stole because she was worried about the safety of her children. Miss Purkis said police checked with the husband who told them he had no outstanding debts and had never had any dealings with loan sharks. Miss Kelly Scrivener, defending, said Hall no longer stands by that account. She said she was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time. She said she had a difficult background in which she suffered abuse in her first marriage and had split from her second husband after they moved to France and then returned to Britain. She said Hall has heavy responsibilities in the care of two of her adult children, who would suffer more than her if she went straight to jail.

Budleigh Salterton Spar manager stole £26,000 from safe

Two collisions on roads around Exeter are causing traffic problems for commuters this evening. Emergency services have been called to the scene of both incidents during rush hour. A road in Pathfinder is blocked between the village and Tedburn St Mary because of a collision. In Cowley there has also been a collision on the A377 at Newbridge Hill.

Flora tributes have been laid at the scene of a crash in Exeter in which a 80-year-old man was killed. The pensioner from Broadclyst, named locally as Les Baker, was struck by a heavy goods vehicle on Pinhoe Road near the junction of Exhibition Way. It is understood he worked as a grounds maintenance worker for the county council before his retirement. He was apparently known in the village, where he lived for about 40 years, for driving a Robin Reliant and for his love of gardening. A number of flower bouquets – some accompanied by written messages – have been left near the scene of the accident happened. One read: "Rest in peace. Our thoughts are with your family." The accident took place close to Sainsbury supermarket, Pinhoe at around 2.30pm. Officers, along with paramedics, were called to the scene following reports that a pedestrian was seriously injured. The pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene. Children from local schools were walking home soon after the collision took place. Police said the heavy goods vehicle did not stop at the scene, but was located a short while later at Cullompton. A 53-year-old man from Street, Somerset, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. He was taken to Heavitree Road Police Station and later released on police bail until March 25. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the collision, and police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. The B3181 Pinhoe Road was closed at Exhibition Way and Cumberland Way for seven hours while a forensic examination of the scene took place. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 380, of January 27. Two hours earlier a 57-year-old woman from Halberton, Tiverton, named locally as Jan Johnstone, died when her car was in a collision with an HGV on the northbound carriageway of the M5, at junction 28 near Cullompton.

Floral tributes made to Broadclyst man, 80, who died after collision with lorry near Pinhoe, Exeter

An awayday gang have been jailed after a sharp eyed motorbike owner spotted their van outside his home and realised they had stolen his 600 cc machine. Householder John Stevenson became suspicious when he heard noise in the street in Shaldon, South Devon in and early hours and noted the livery on a hired white van parked outside. He alerted the police when he looked out of his window again a few minutes later and saw that his Honda superbike had vanished. The four-strong gang from Cardiff were intercepted on the A 380 near Exeter by police and found with a second bike in the back which had been stolen from Queensway in Newton Abbot. The four men all had criminal records and one was on bail after being found with two more stolen motorcycles hidden in his garden a few weeks earlier. They had driven to Devon in a hired van and brought a theft kit consisting of bolt croppers, wrenches and screwdrivers. The men told police they were on their way home to South Wales from a fishing trip in Teignmouth but later admitted they had been looking for high value motorcycles to steal. The gang were all jailed at Exeter Crown Court after a judge branded their trip to Devon and a professional and pre planned criminal enterprise. Luke Spinks, aged 22, of Vachell Road; Dean Lace, aged 29, of Llandover Road; Warren Snell, aged 33, of Cwrt Yr Ala Rd, and Jamie Arnold, aged 26, of Snowden Rd, all Cardiff, all admitted two counts of theft. Arnold also admitted handling two stolen motorcycles found at his home. Spinks was jailed for 23 months, Lace for 18 months, Snell for 20 months, and Arnold for 28 months by Judge Phillip Wassall. He told them:"You came to Devon from your homes in Wales equipped with bolt croppers and other items to steal motorcycles, which you did in the middle of the night in Shaldon where the owner Mr Stevenson heard a noise and noticed your vehicle. "Your white Ford Transit was stopped and police found two motorcycles in the back, an almost new Yamaha 125 and the Honda 600, which although slightly older was still a valuable vehicle. "They were both stolen in the same escapade and this was clearly a pre planned, organised expedition. It was a professional operation motivated by financial gain." Miss Eleanor Purkis, prosecuting, said Mr Stevenson was alerted by noise at about 12.30 am outside his home in Fore Street, Shaldon, and noticed the Transit with yellow lettering. He alerted the police when he saw it driving away and it was stopped at 1.45 am on the A 380. The Yamaha was found to have been stolen from Newton Abbot. The van had been rented from Charter Hire in Cardiff two days earlier. She said Spink was subject to a suspended sentence for an affray in Cardiff while Arnold had also admitted handling two bikes which were found in his garden after police followed a tracker device on one of them. Mr John Lewis, Miss Emmi Wilson, and Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, asked for their clients to be given credit for their guilty pleas. They all have family responsibilities and Lace worked as a van driver and had hired the Transit for his work as a delivery driver rather than for the trip to Devon.

Away day motorcycle theft gang jailed after being trapped by sharp eyed owner near Exeter

A GP practice in Exeter has been rated 'outstanding' following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission. St Thomas Health Centre was one of just three practices given the rating in reports which looked at 75 GP practices from across the country. Inspectors visited the practice, which serves 34,500 people across three sites, and looked at how it performed in five different areas. These were whether the practice was run safely and effectively, and whether members of staff were caring, responsive and well-led. Practice Manager Gill Heppell says the inspectors were most impressed by the staff's responsiveness to patients' needs. "I think what they really liked was how we do things above and beyond to make things easier for patients. This includes training our nurses in specialist skills such as complex leg ulcer dressings and flushing lines for our chemotherapy patients. We also have a successful carers' support network." Gill says inspectors were also impressed with the practice's same-day illness clinic. "Winter is a busy time for the NHS. Having a same-day facility is a lifeline for patients who need to be seen urgently and also helps us, because we can deal with many of the illnesses winter brings quickly and effectively to keep people out of A&E." Inspectors also looked at the quality of care the practice provided for several different groups before coming to a decision. These were older people, people with long-term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people, people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health. All 7600 registered general practices in the UK will be looked at under the CQC's new programme of inspections. So far, the CQC has published reports on 143 practices.

Exeter GP practice rated ‘outstanding’

The Westcountry Tourism Conference will be returning to Westpoint Arena near Exeter on February 4 and 5. Each morning will have a different themes with 4th Feb focussing on 'Developing & Making Your Business Pay' and 5th Feb on 'Marketing, PR and Digital'. Organiser Robin Barker, director of Services for Tourism and chairman of Tourism Society Westcountry, said: "Tourism has proven itself to be one of the world's most robust industries in these difficult times, playing a huge role in getting this country out of recession and employing ever more skilled staff. "We must build on this momentum, and the conference is intended to help do just that by sharing top tips amongst industry leaders and advisors." With continuing uncertainty over the state of UK finances, Wednesday's speakers will include Stephen Collins from the Bank of England, sharing his perspective on the state of the South West economy. Delegates will also hear tips on 'Winning' from top tourism businesses and will receive an update from Visit Devon on their activities and planning for this year's rugby events. Tom Moore from Stephens Scown will remind the audience of the importance of looking after their assets, and there will also be a major push from VisitEngland's Ross Calladine on the importance of being accessible. Thursday will focus on the fast-changing world of Marketing, PR and Digital, with e-Strategy's Dean Breyley 'headlining' with his perspective on Storytelling, and how tourism businesses can use it to increase sales. Delegates will also hear from national travel writer Alison Rice with her take on the media and what they are looking for. There will also be essential insights into the power of video, social media and the importance of getting the right media mix and – of course – staying legal. The conference is sponsored by e-Strategy and Stephens Scown solicitors and is hosted by Expowest Exhibitions as part of the Source Trade Show at Westpoint. Places at the conference are just £20 + VAT per day for members of partner organisations and £30 for non-members. Refreshments and a sandwich lunch are included. More details can be found at www.westcountrytourismconference.org.uk and @WCTConf on Twitter.

Westcountry Tourism Conference returns to Westpoint next week

A campaign has been launched to help an Exeter family whose Grade II listed country home on the outskirts of Exeter was destroyed by a large fire.

The blaze at Underwood House, near Ide, broke out on January 23 at around 8.30am, and 70 firefighters from across Devon battled to save the building.

Some 12 fire engines were deployed to the 17th-century thatched property from Exeter, Topsham, Crediton, Honiton, Newton Abbot, Cullompton, Exmouth and Torquay.

Eighty-year-old owner Peter Smith watched helplessly as the blaze took hold.

He described the fire as an "absolute disaster".

Mr Smith lived at the six-bedroom house with his son, his son's wife, their two children and other tenants.

No one was hurt in the blaze.

It is hoped at least £2,000 can be raised to assist the family, as they count the cost of the fire.

Friend Andy Smith, 36, said: "This Exeter family lost all their worldly possessions in the fire. What has happened to them made an impact on us, and we wanted to do what we could to help them rebuild their lives.

"The daughter of the family stayed with us on Friday night and only had the clothes she was wearing to college."

Emergency services was called to the property following reports of a report of curtains on fire.

The blaze spread from a first-floor room to the thatched roof.

Thatch is designed to repel water which makes extinguishing such fires difficult.

Incident commander Jon Miller said: "We knew as soon as we realised the fire involved thatch it would be a big incident and very hard to put out.

"In the initial stages we were working exceptionally hard in very unpleasant conditions with a lot of smoke and heat.

"We tried hard to salvage everything we could belonging to the owner.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus, a water carrier, an air foam jet, and an aerial ladder platform to tackle the blaze.

Some of the walls collapsed as the fire raged – hampering efforts to control it.

Fire crews sprayed foam onto nearby thatched properties to prevent them igniting.

Investigators went to the scene in an effort to establish what caused the blaze.

Mr Miller added: "It's a real shame, because it's a gorgeous building and there's virtually nothing left. Thankfully this kind of incident is rare."

Smoke billowed into the air from the scene and could be seen from several miles around.

City residents reported smelling the smoke in Alphington, Exwick and St Thomas.

It is believed the historic property may have once been owned by the Earl of Devon.

For more information on the campaign and to donate, click here

Campaign launched to help Exeter family after thatched house destroyed by huge fire near Ide

Soon we may never have to worry about losing our house or car keys again, or forgetting entry codes into work or pin numbers now that a company Sweden is fitting a chip under its staffs skin. It might sound like the stuff of futuristic films, but at Epicenter, a new hi-tech office block where Felicio de Costa is one of the tenants, its workers arrive at the front door and hold their hand against it to gain entry. Inside they do the same thing to get into the office space they rent. Staff have a tiny RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted in their hand. The technology is also used so they can wave their hand to operate the photocopier, and it aims to give them the ability to pay in the cafe with a touch of a hand in the future. Could this be the start of things to come for us all and would us Brits be receptive to the idea? The Echo wants to hear what you think and whether you would let your employer implant a chip into your body?

Is This Goobye to Keys, Codes and Pin Numbers?

SO Jamie's Italian is in town. But what's it like? It was a tough job, but ahead of the launch on Monday, February 2, a bunch of people were invited along to try it out, and I managed to get on the list. This is what I found.

Atmosphere

The restaurant is next to Coal in Bedford Square, Princesshay, in a purpose-built block. The design inside is funky-rustic, with wood panelling and wine bottles in cabinets lining the walls, old school chairs around scattered zinc-topped tables, and booths and benches around the side. The bar is tucked to the side on the right, and at the back you can see right into the kitchen the width of the whole restaurant. Upbeat music and conversation provide a buzz, with the occasional shout of "Service!" from the kitchen as dishes are ready. It's loud enough not to worry about being overheard by the next table. The lighting is low, one up from dim, provided by gigantic shimmering low chandeliers. It's romantic enough to propose, busy enough to dump your partner, and fine to just chat. Somewhere between a barn, a canteen and a banqueting hall. Perfect.

Food

Forget your standard Italian fare of pizzas and lasagne. The menu is simple, rustic, and big on freshness and flavour, with a few surprises, and a long wine list. There is huge choice across the menu, from light bites and starters to sharing platters, a signature burger, pasta, mains, and delightful desserts.

The staff are smartly turned in white or grey shirts and aprons, and one friendly server explained that they had all tried everything off the menu so they talk about the food with knowledge.

The house red was excellent, as was the refreshing homemade lemonade, and we nibbled on amazing, warm, proper pork scratchings, with fennel salt and a sweet dipping sauce, along with sweet mini chilli peppers with Colwick cheese, ricotta and mint – £3.95 each.

We then shared deep fried cripsy squid (£5.95), which came with crushed garlic mayo, chopped chilli and lemon. So far so excellent – the squid was the best I've had in a restaurant, well seasoned, delicate and firm, not chewy at all, perfect with the mayo and chilli.

Mrs O, not a fan of pasta, was recommended the Turkey Milanese (£13.50) for a main, stuffed with prosciutto and fontal cheese, breadcrumbed and fried with a free-range egg and wild truffle. I went for Fresh Crab Spaghettini (£13.50) from the pasta menu, with capers, chilli, fennel, parsley, anchovies and lemon. It was a brilliant combination, with the powerful flavours of the capers and fennel and delicate crab. I slurped my way through the pile of spaghetti, with plenty of sauce left at the end to spoon up from the bowl. Lovely food.

Puddings were Sour Cherry and Almond Tart and Epic Brownie (both £5.45). The tart was nothing special, but the brownie was perfection – warm, light, and yes, very, very chocolatey – with a splurge of chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream, and topped with toffee popcorn.

Finally, a special mention for the remarkable decor in the corridor leading to the toilets, like walking into a surrealist absinthe-inspired dream, completed with dancing baby tigers.

Verdict

A great dining experience, with verve and style, excellent food, reasonably priced, what's not to like?

Restaurant review: Great food with verve and style at Jamie's Italian in Exeter

Tomas Francis will make his return from injury when Exeter Chiefs resume their bid to defend their LV= Cup title on Sunday. Head coach Rob Baxter takes his side to Rodney Parade to take on the Newport Gwent Dragons (2.30pm). After back-to-back European Challenge Cup wins against Connacht and Bayonne in the past fortnight, Baxter has made 14 changes to his starting line-up. Ian Whitten is the only player who started against Bayonne to also start this weekend, but even he has a new position as he lines up in the centre alongside Dragons old boy Adam Hughes. Byron McGuigan and Brett Sturgess, who were replacemts last weekend, also start in South Wales. There is a lot of experience in the backs as former Wales internationals Tom James and Ceri Sweeney are joined by Tongan ace Fetu'u Vainikolo and the long-serving Haydn Thomas. Up front internationals Tom Johnson and Elvis Taione feature, with a first senior appearance of the season for England flanker Johnson after neck surgery. But Francis' inclusion is good news for Baxter, who was without his two first-choice tighthead props for the final two European group-stage encounters. Francis was struggling with a back injury and Moray Low was out with an ankle injury. Scotland international Low is expected to be fit next month. Hooker Greg Bateman provides the experience on the bench, with six academy players waiting for a chance to show what they can do.Exeter Chiefs: McGuigan; Vainikolo, Whitten, Hughes, James; Sweeney, Thomas; Sturgess, Taione, Francis, Sexton, Carrick-Smith, Johnson, Simmonds, Skinner. Reps: Bateman, Woolmore, Stanley, Holmes, Conlon, Townsend, May, Bodilly

Newport Gwent Dragons v Exeter Chiefs: Team news

Tributes have been left at the scene of the suspected murder of a 36-year-old Dawlish woman. The woman was discovered dead yesterday after an extensive late night search. Police are still standing guard at the property in Iddesleigh Terrace while on Friday detectives in Exeter are expected to resume their questioning of a local man on suspicion of murder. The woman is yet to be officially identified by police, although next of kin have been informed. By this morning bunches of flowers had appeared on the front steps of the four-storey property. Among the handwritten tributes are words of condolence to the woman's family and children. One of them reads: "RIP - You will be sorely missed. "Our thoughts go with you. There's another shining star in the sky, another angel looking after us down here." Another message says simply: "Beautiful lady. Thinking of your family x." The woman's body was found at 3am on Thursday when officers went to the house, which located on the hill leading out the town towards Exeter. A Dawlish man, who was known to the woman, was arrested on suspicion of murder at the house. The 36-year-old local man is currently in custody in Exeter. A police spokesman confirmed on Friday morning that no charges had yet been brought. Scenes of crime officers will be in the house today continuing their investigation of the scene, with a police guard remaining on the doorstop. The discovery of the body followed a major air and land search operation by specialist officers and volunteer search and rescue groups which was launched in the Dawlish and Dawlish Warren areas after family members raised concerns for the woman's safety at tea time on Wednesday afternoon. Officers went to the property at 3am. It is understood the man and deceased woman were known to each other, but not in a relationship.

Tributes left for Dawlish woman found dead on Thursday

It's almost your final chance to see Four Swords new adaptation of its sell-out version of Christopher Marlowe's classic play Doctor Faustus. The Exeter theatre company will perform it at The Devon and Exeter Institution in Cathedral Close, on January 30 and again on February 13 for the final time. There have been just three exclusive performances of Dr Faustus Presents An Evening of Renaissance Magic. It is not a re-run, but a new kind of play which blends story-telling with music, film projection and nuggets of historical information on Renaissance views and practices. Following the Four of Swords formula, there will also be magic, theatrical spectacle and entertainment. Unlike many of the company's shows, it is a seated event, although audience sizes are even more intimate than usual. As intriguing as the theatre company is The Devon and Exeter Institution. It was founded in 1813 by some 200 gentleman of the county and city to promote 'the general diffusion of science, literature and art, and for illustrating the natural and civil history' of the county and city. A lease, later to be followed by a freehold, was obtained from the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral of the former town house of the Courtenay family and one-time home of the Parliamentary general, Sir William Waller. Retaining part of the Tudor house at the rear, which still stands, and the gatehouse range fronting the Close, the founding fathers demolished the old hall and kitchen and in their place and on the former courtyard built two lofty libraries lit by domed lanterns, each library with its own gallery, glazed cupboards and extensive shelving. The building, unchanged except for the installation of electric light and gas-fired central heating is Grade II listed. The library, by gift and purchase, has reached a size of some 40,000 volumes. These include long runs of nineteenth century journals, many early scientific books, the works of local authors, and a great deal of printed historical source material. The collection of bound volumes of local newspapers, some dating from the eighteenth century is unique. Performance of Dr Faustus at the venue start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15. Visit www.four-of-swords.com

History Combines with Theatre at Unmissable Exeter Show

Could Katie Hopkins time in the house be about to come to an end? The opinionated Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who lives in Exeter, is one of four housemates up for eviction in tonight's show on Channel 5. Among the fellow housemates who voted for her were glamour model Katie Price who said she was 'two-faced', and accused her of 'playing a massive game'. Who remains in the house is up to the public vote. Katie is up against Nadia Sawalha, Keith Chegwin and eternally nominated Perez Hilton. Katie has been listed as the bookies favourite to win, but do you think she should stay or go?

Can Exeter's Katie Hopkins Escape Eviction?

Tickets from £8 A cracking programme of one-night-only shows will be taking place on Monday nights at The Bike Shed Theatre throughout the Spring Season – the perfect antidote to those dark winter evenings! With so much going on, we thought we would guide you through our pick of the best coming up throughout February and March. To further sweeten the deal, the theatre has dropped adult ticket prices to £10 with all concessions at £8. The February/March line-up includes: compelling wartime drama - Waiting for Stanley; psychological thriller exploring Stockholm Syndrome - Inside; the humorous and poetic portrayal of a homeless man - Mr Sole Abode; and the curiously named Britney Spears Custody Battle vs Zeus in Swan Rape Shocker. Waiting for Stanley, by Finger in the Pie is a touching comedy, based entirely on real-life experiences, and described by Fest Magazine as ʻan exquisitely realised ode to the women of WWIIʼ. Taking audiences back to 1945 and a railway station platform - a wife is anxiously waiting for her husband, Stanley, to return from the front. The train arrives full of homecoming soldiers but her Stanley doesn't appear... In the year that marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Waiting for Stanley is a poignant reminder of the crucial role women played.   Promisingly described as "one of the most unforgettable pieces of theatre" by Broadway Baby - Inside by Stawberry Blonde Curls is a psychological drama. Inspired by true stories, the play explores the effects of Stockholm Syndrome on a victim of kidnap, desperate to keep hope alive. Locked in a basement for 12 years, she has survived physical and psychological abuse by escaping to her childhood and recording a series of video messages to her Mum. Reeling from her latest beating, and in the most critical hour of her captivity, the play unfurls as the victim discovers not everything she's been told is true. To find a way out, she'll have to break through something much stronger than just the basement door. Mr Sole Abode by Unfinished Business is inspired by Ben Okris award-winning novel; The Famished Road. It is a humorous and poetic story of a world-renowned architect, a master chef and an outlandish inventor, who lives in a fridge under a bridge. Unable to function with the trials of contemporary urban living, Sole leaves behind the everyday world to create his own unique reality, inviting the audience to join him in seeing the world through the eyes of a homeless man. Britney Spears Custody Battle vs Zeus in Swan Rape Shocker by Lucy Hutson – an intriguingly titled show, is an autobiographical confession in which creator Lucy draws on her own experiences of trying to find Jesus, battling with her consumerist choices, filling in mental health forms, protesting/not protesting, attempting to chat up women and watching televised talent shows. The performance is a humorous and starkly honest depiction of modern day ethics. To book tickets or find out more about The Bike Shed Theatre one-nighters Spring Season, please visit www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk, or contact the Box Office on 01392 434 169

One Night Only Shows at Exeter's Bike Shed Theatre