A Lympstone-based Royal Marine commando has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to threatening to kill a former girlfriend.
Bobby Burnett was due to be tried at Exeter Crown Court this week but the case was adjourned and it hoped the case will be heard next month.
Burnett, aged 30, whose address was given as the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, denies two counts of making threats to kill his ex partner Samantha Chudley.
He also denies putting her in fear of violence by harassment between July 31, 2012 and August 13, 2014 and assault by battery on April 26, 2014.
Judge Phillip Wassall adjourned all the cases at Exeter Crown Court and fixed a provisional trial date for late March.
He refused an application by defence barrister Mr Brian Fitzherbert that Burnett be allowed to return to the Royal Marine barracks at Lympstone. He was remanded in custody.
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Threat case Lympstone Marine remanded in custody
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Dawlish youth denies having sex with girl of 15 in woodland hideout
A youth allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old girl after meeting her in a makeshift den in woods in Dawlish.
Lewis Stewart, aged 19, was banned from meeting the girl but paid for a taxi to take her to the rough ground behind the fire station in the seaside town.
He had been stopped by police from having any further contact with the schoolgirl after her family found she was having under age sex and called in the police.
The pair continued exchanging secret text messages over a website and the girl agreed to meet him on Fathers Day last year, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Stewart, of Third Avenue, Dawlish, denies sexual activity with a child and breaching a restraining order.
The jury at Exeter Crown Court have been told he has already admitted six other offences of sexual activity with a child which relate to the same girl.
Miss Anna Midgley, prosecuting, said the girl's family had called in the police after finding out the relationship and as a result Stewart was served with a restraining order forbidding any further contact.
She said:"The girl had disclosed a sexual relationship and so he was arrested, charged and released on bail. This case concerns what happened after that.
"The police were contacted by her mother again and the girl said Stewart had contacted her on her phone by messages and by Kick messaging. She also disclosed they had met on June 15, which was Fathers Day last year.
"He asked her to meet up and paid for a cab for her to meet him in Dawlish and she agreed and went to a hideout in the woods where they had sex.
"She told police the taxi took her to the edge of woodland behind the fire station in Dawlish and in the woods there was a den with wooden planks on the floor.
"It was covered with cardboard and twigs and sticks so it was not visible to people walking past. She said the defendant told her he was lonely and they ended up having sex.
"She agreed to sex and it went on for about ten minutes before it began to hurt her. She asked him to stop and he did."
Miss Midgley said the girl remained at the den from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm and her mother recalls she was late for a family Fathers Day party and she was trying to find out where she was.
She said Stewart agreed he had sex with the girl on earlier occasions but denied meeting her on Fathers Day or breaching the restraining order by doing so.
He said she had contacted him two days later by text and he had responded but had spent Fathers Day at home in his garden or in Dawlish.
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Job: Council looks for Devon beach seaweed clearer
If you're searching for a job that involves sea air, sand, and seaweed, then you could be just the person Teignbridge District Council are looking for!
A rare opportunity has arisen for a Seaweed Clearance Operator to take to the sand and remove seaweed off the beaches in Teignbridge.
The ideal candidate will need to be very flexible and happy to work unsociable hours - they will not be able to clean the beach between 10am-5pm and must be happy to work either early mornings or late at night - often being called out specifically by the Council, who will provide a special rake.
The position will run from the beginning of May until the end of September, and will focus on the main beaches at Dawlish Warren, including Coryton Cove, which collects a lot of seaweed over the summer months.
The role is open to bids, but the successful candidate can expect to earn around £35,000 over five years.
For more information and an application pack, please phone Sarah Leech on: 01626 779770 or Laura Cooper on: 01626 215861.
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Grant approved for safety work on St James' allotments
JILL Owen, county councillor for the ward, has approved a grant from her locality budget fund for important safety work needed at the allotments by St James' Park station.
A grant is also being made from the city council ward grants' fund to help pay for the materials required.
Network Rail, who own the site, are also assisting the allotment holders with the project.
Ward city councillor Keith Owen, whose council portfolio includes allotments, said: "Although this is not a council allotment site, I am pleased that the two councils are supporting this.
"Allotments are a valuable amenity in the city and must be protected and helped to develop."
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Join Gilbert Stephens for a Great Devon Breakfast to help Force cancer charity
Exeter law firm Gilbert Stephens LLP is hosting another Great Devon Breakfast in aid of local cancer charity Force.
The event on Wednesday, February 11, which forms part of a county-wide fundraising campaign, will be held at the City Gate Hotel, on the corner of St David's Hill and Bartholomew Street East and starts at 8am.
Breakfast costs £8 and includes a choice of eggs Benedict or scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, on a toasted muffin, with tea or coffee and a glass of orange juice.
Philip Luckham, CEO for Gilbert Stephens, said: "Force is one of Gilbert Stephens' nominated charities for 2015. This event marks the start of our fundraising efforts for 2015 and we look forward to supporting them further with many other exciting events during the year."
To book a place, email events@gilbertstephens.co.uk or call 01392 424242.
Force's Spring Great Devon Breakfast event is taking place on Saturday, April 18, and Saturday, September 19. For a full list of venues and dates, visit www.forcecancercharity.co.uk
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Flood solution for Exeter's Oak Close
LOCAL councillor Emma Morse believes the end may be in sight for the flooding problems experienced in Oak Close.
The problem is that during extreme, and not too extreme weather, Main Road has a tendency to flood at the end of Oak Close and this often leads to the flooding of the cottages on the other side of the road.
Cllr Morse said: "I have been working with the residents for some time to achieve a resolution to this issue, as it is not right that people living away from a water course should need their front doors to be permanently covered by sand bags.
"Devon County Council has flushed the gully but within hours the drain is filled again. "The county council has done some exploratory work and believes that they have tracked the problem, with cameras, back to a blocked culvert on network Rail land. The county council is now negotiating with Network Rail to clear the blockage."
Cllr Morse added: "'I am pleased that it looks as though an end may be in sight to the flooding experienced by the people of Main Road. They, and I, have always maintained that there was a bigger issue and it would appear that the blockage has been found. I hope that Network Rail are quick to respond to the highways team as at the present time we have a solution that we are unable to implement without network Rail's cooperation."
A spokeswoman for Network Rail told Community News: "Having spoken to the local maintenance team they have informed me that we have carried out drainage work twice in this area and as we have joint responsibility for this issue with the council (because of the areas of land affected) we are continuing to work with them to resolve the issue."
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Exeter Allotment forum to be set up
A SUCCESSFUL meeting has been held to help establish an allotments' forum, an idea that came out of last year's city council allotments' review and consultation exercise.
The purpose of the forum is to facilitate a regular dialogue between allotment users and the council on how best to co-manage and promote the interests of the allotment sites.
The meeting was attended by tenants from a large number of the city's allotments and city councillors from several wards which contain allotment sites. Cllr Keith Owen, whose portfolio includes responsibility for the allotments' service, said: "Some very useful suggestions were made at the meeting which we will be taking on board.
"We are now working on these so that they can be discussed at a further meeting which will formally establish the forum."
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Tipton St John care home residents moved out after concern over quality of care
Residents of a well-known Devon care home are being moved out amid concerns over the quality of care provided.
Angela Court Nursing and residential home at Tipton St John, near Exeter, has been the subject of a multi agency safeguarding process since early December
A spokesman on behalf of NEW Devon CCG (Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical
Commissioning Group), and Devon County Council, said the "safeguarding" followed concerns from the county council, NEW Devon CCG and the Care Quality Commission, regarding the quality of care being provided there.
The spokesman said: "As a result of the process it has been agreed that the residents' needs will be better and more safely met by alternative care providers.
"We are working with residents, their families or representatives, to help them find suitable alternative accommodation that meets their individual care needs and preferences.
"The owners of Angela Court Nursing and Residential home have since informed us of their intention to refurbish and redesign the service."
The home is registered for 37 beds and provides nursing and dementia care.
It is owned by PSP Healthcare whose chairman is Prakash Dewani, the father of Shrien Dewani who was cleared of plotting his wife Anni Dewani's murder on their honeymoon in South Africa four years ago.
Prakash Dewani, said he had received messages of comfort from people in Sidmouth following the shooting of Anni.
They were four days into their honeymoon when the incident occurred
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Get the Coronation Street look in Exeter
CORONATION Street fans will have noticed this week that Nick's Bistro has had a refit.
And, if you like the new shabby chic look you can get it in Exeter.
Many of the accessories used in the design have come from The Range, the South West company which has a branch in the city.
"With famous actors and actresses such as Antony Cotton and Gail McIntyre gracing the set The Range is delighted that our products are featured," said a spokesman.
"We are thrilled that the set designers at Coronation Street chose a number of our fantastic products to be featured through the numerous sets, specifically in Nick's Bistro."
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Exeter "axe man" hunt turns out to be a piece of scrap
A police hunt was launched in the Stoke Hill area of Exeter this afternoon following reports of man wandering about with an axe.
The police helicopter was called in, roads were closed around Mincinglake Park and the area searched with dogs.
1500hrs attended report of male with axe in Minchinglake Park, Exeter. Contain area and search of park - male located in nearby street.
— NPAS Exeter (@NPAS_Exeter) February 4, 2015
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Chris Bentley: Parling and Woodburn are tasty additions to Exeter Chiefs menu
I never knew a burger could taste so good, until I judged the Urban Burger #whatsyourbeef competition. It was a truly eye-opening and mouth-watering experience.
Whoever heard of burgers made with whale spouts, owls toots and hedgehog liver? Well dear reader those are just some of the amazing ingredients that went into the culinary delights I have savoured before awarding the 2015 Urban Burger Oscar!
It was a close call but in the event a delicate duck and hoisin sauce won the day. It was truly a gastronomic delight, well worthy of a Bentos Big Burger Bong. In the final analysis it came down to the ingredients in the mix. My point being that new heights were achieved by thinking outside the box, bringing much more than basic minced beef and ham to the party.
You may ask 'what has this to do with rugby?' Well, by way of an answer I know we're going well with a quality squad but, just as duck and hoisin sauce raised the bar of burger excellence, Geoff Parling and Olly Woodburn bring additional talent to the mix we have in our squad to bring to rugby's elite-level party.
The recruitment of two such outstanding players gives further evidence to Rob's astute management skills and makes a big statement of intent by the Chiefs' directors.
It was not so many years ago that one Chris Bentley was hailed as the new beef in the sandwich to boost the Chiefs' County Ground squad. I agree, it was not a bad addition, but to attract British Lion Geoff from Tigers and Olly from Bath are moves of a totally different order to that of my modest recruitment in 2004. The Chiefs continue to dine at rugby's top table and have just added to the menu a new level of culinary excellence.
Let's take a moment to applaud the performance of our current Chiefs playing for England Saxons last Friday. To a man they did well. Messrs Ewers and Waldrom showed just why they are two of the most formidable back rowers in the nation, with wrecking-ball Dave perfectly complimenting the guile of Thomas. The huge energy of Luke Cowan-Dickie brought a massive impact from the bench and it was a combination of Chiefs players' power and guile that resulted in the Saxons' first score.
However, the major plaudits have to go to 'our Enry! The mercurial Henry Slade did enough to prompt his promotion to the full England squad, scoring nearly all the points and setting up Christian Wade for the killer try. Well done to all our lads on international duty!
Moving on to the Chiefs' LV= squad, what a try-scoring feast they served up in the Principality on Sunday.
Rodney Parade is a difficult place to go, with traditional Welsh fervour running deep in the fabric of the famous ground. We made a great start and managed to stay ahead of a determined Celtic challenge that went all the way to the wire. A good result for the lads and another LV= semi-final to look forward to on the fantastic journey the Chiefs are leading us on.
We've a trip to Sarries on Sunday before returning to Sandy Park for a Premiership rehearsal of our European Challenge Cup quarter-final with Newcastle Falcons the following weekend.
Wow, have I woken up in a dream? The Chiefs in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup, the semi-finals of the LV= Cup and sitting strongly in the Premiership top six! No, it's real, its happening and we're all invited to join the journey and enjoy the ride. Don't you just love his game?
The last weekend in January was good all-round for South West rugby. My man Jim Scaysbrook took his inimitable passion and power to Plymouth on Saturday and added to the mix that saw Albion score an inspirational 22-6 bonus-point win over Rotherham in the Championship. Has anyone noticed that since the arrival of Mr Scaysbrook as a defence coach things seem to have taken a turn for the best down at Albion?
Well done Graham Dawe & Co, it appears the lights are coming on again at Brickfields and, with seven games to go, perhaps the great escape may just be on the cards.
Moving on to September's swimming jamboree, I've developments to report. Boasts and taunts have been flying thick and fast from my opponent in the swim.
Taking advantage of my lack of sleep, all parents with two children under 40 months will know that score. However, having no sympathy, understanding or mercy, Graham Cridland has been demanding that I "man up, stop moaning and get on with it!"
Adding to the mix, Mr Cridland has been chest-thumping, boasting his swim training will continue in Spain, supporting his intentions to humiliate me in the water. I've time and opportunity to do a little training myself and invite any suggestions and swim partners to help yours truly build some basic aquatic ability.
And finally to Exmouth. Facing fourth-placed Bracknell on Saturday, we knew it was a game that could knock them out of contention for the all important second spot on the log.
Following an explosive start that saw us race into a 16-0 lead, we ended up having to defend like mad following the dismissal of talisman George Savage.
Hang on we did though, and following the 16-11 win take the trip up to Weston to play Hornets who are, on paper, the only other team with the chance of catching the Mighty Muff.
With the Chiefs away, this will be another chance to stretch my legs and hopefully expunge the loss to Brixham in the Devon Senior Cup completely. If the Allianz is a jaunt too far, we would certainly appreciate a few voices as we head to Weston-super-Mare.
Until the next time, stay safe and enjoy your rugby.
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Golf: Derek Cruwys and Andy Bolt make quarter-final stage
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Hockey: Exeter resume relegation battle
Resurgent Exeter University resume their bid to avoid relegation from Men's Conference West this weekend when they take on second-placed Cardiff & Met.
They travel to the Welsh Institute of Sport to face the defending champions, who beat them 5-1 at home in October.
The Greens are now in their toughest run of fixtures – away to Cardiff and then at Team Bath Buccs on Sunday, February 15.
Any points collected on the next two road trips will be an unexpected bonus for Exeter ahead of their first home league game of 2015, against Cheltenham on Sunday, February 22.
In Women's Conference West, fifth-placed Isca University host seventh-placed Oxford Hawks.
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City opinion: Exeter City unlikely to have an early spring in their step after Groundhog Day performance
As Exeter City crashed to a 2-1 defeat at home to struggling Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, it must have felt like Groundhog Day had arrived two days early for season ticket holders at St James's Park.
Like Bill Murray's character in the 1993 film named after the American festival, City supporters must have felt like they were stuck in a time loop, repeating a tedious 24 hours over and over again.
That is because Accrington and Northampton have already won at St James's Park this year, while Hartlepool United managed the same feat when they were bottom of the table in October.
However, I think talk of the dreaded home form coming back to haunt City this season is premature. I know City's record at St James's Park has been a problem in the previous two campaigns, but it is not something you can label at them this campaign.
I admit that the Park has been far from a fortress – the Grecians' current standing of 15th place in the table for home results allude to that. But, prior to Christmas, they had gone six games unbeaten at home and recorded victories against Shrewsbury and Wycombe Wanderers in that time.
They have lost their first three matches on their own patch in 2015, but I think that has more to do with their overall form rather than results at the Park alone.
I thought City were unlucky to lose against Accrington on January 2 and put in a decent first-half display against Tranmere. On the flipside, they performed badly in a 4-1 defeat away at AFC Wimbledon, were extremely fortunate to get a win at Mansfield and deserved no more than a draw at Oxford.
If City can re-discover the form they showed in the autumn, I have no doubt they will be just as capable of getting results at St James's Park as they will away from home.
That brings me nicely on to my next point, though. Manager Paul Tisdale saw signs of improvement in the performance against Rovers on Saturday, labelling the first-half display as one of the best he had seen at St James's Park for a long time.
He obviously sees an early spring for his Grecians.
However, I currently see a shadow over City's promotion bid. I agree that the Grecians were good in the first half against Tranmere, but the game lasts for 90 minutes and they were poor for 30 minutes of the second half.
They conceded a soft second goal and, had Max Power done better with his penalty and Shamir Fenelon not fired hopelessly over the top from eight yards out with 20 minutes left, then we might have been looking at a scoreline similar to the one that City suffered at Wimbledon rather than trying to argue that they came close to a result.
The Grecians wobbled, like they have done numerous times this season. Good sides – sides that are capable of getting promotion – don't do that. They don't necessarily control a game for 90 minutes, but when they are put under pressure they are resilient. City are not. They are good going forward, but put them under pressure at the back and they concede too many goals.
That is not to say they have under-achieved as a group though – complaining about them not going up this season would be incredibly harsh as they have done remarkably well to even get into promotion-challenging position.
But if, like the groundhog, I'm asked to predict if City will have a spring in their step sometime soon, I would have to say no.
Having said all that though, I had Portsmouth down as favourites to go up and Wycombe as a team that would struggle at the start of the season. Therefore, I've proven myself to be about as capable of predicting what is going to happen in League Two this season as a giant squirrel is at predicting the weather.
So, here's to three points on Saturday.
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Women's hockey: Bridie Marlow and Helen Tully on form for Exe
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Tennis: Jo Louis collects top senior prize
Jo Louis was named the senior player of the year at the Devon LTA awards evening.
The reigning over-45 national grasscourt champion from Exmouth Tennis & Fitness Centre was a member of the GB team that won gold at the Senior World Teams Championships. Two weeks ago, she won the 2015 national over-45 indoor title.
Senior county colours were awarded to Sue Wiltshire, Kendal Brown and Rachel Williams, with Budleigh's Isabella Brown among the junior recipients.
The 10-and-under player of the year was reigning county champion Ben Johnson, also from Exmouth T&FC.
It's been a great year for Exmouth T&FC, with Derek Blackmore taking the coaching award and Liam Storey among the nominees.
A special award went to Will McNally, director of tennis at Exeter Tennis Centre, who has stepped down as County Cup captain after many years.
Justin Kraushar has taken over the captaincy of the men's indoor and outdoor senior county cup teams.
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Exeter neighbours fight to keep green space
EXETER residents are banding together in a bid to save a treasured field and protected trees which could be lost if new luxury homes are built.
The green space was a major attraction for those buying houses at Great Woodcote Park, between Topsham Road and the golf and country club.
Now the residents have learned that developer Persimmon want to build one four-bedroomed and two five-bedroomed homes – each with double garages and space for two more cars – on the site which was designated green space.
As well as taking up the site, the new homes would mean the removal of five mature trees that are protected by tree preservation orders.
Residents believe the homes, which may well sell for more than £500,000 apiece, are being built to offset money Persimmon paid to the nearby Exeter Golf and Country Club to move three holes following a long dispute over the threat of errant golf balls.
The planning application makes no mention of the relationship to the golf club. But a city planning officer said: "We are certainly considering it in the context of it being an enabling development."
Those living near the threatened site say they were sold houses on the basis that the area would always be a green open space.
Amanda May, 43, one of the leading campaigners against the plan said: "It is really the only open green and natural area here.
"It was designated an open play area and, with a two-year-old daughter, was one of the reasons I bought my home here. My neighbour has two little girls and she bought her house for the same reason.
"There are 26 occupied houses in the area, with five fronting on to the space. Twenty five are supporting the protest.
"We see a great deal of wildlife, including foxes, using the area. There is no play equipment, it is all quite natural, and it would be terrible to lose it.
"Open spaces are at a premium here. The developer is obliged to provide 10 per cent and I believe it currently stands at 11.3 per cent, so that is how they can do it."
Mrs May said residents had the support of local councillors and the Newcourt Community Association for their campaign, and objections having to be with the city council by February 12.
Last month the Echo reported that the Exeter Golf and Country Club had secured funding from Charles Church, part of the Persimmon Group, towards the redesign of its golf course.
It spelt an end of an earlier proposal to erect a massive safety net to protect people from golf balls.
The deal came after two years of negotiations between the club and housebuilder. The redesign of the golf course overcame the problem by repositioning three holes of the 18-hole course.
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Elderly Exeter care home residents face having their mattresses taken
ELDERLY residents of Exeter care homes face having their mattresses repossessed.
An arrangement that saw Devon County Council and the NHS provide a free loan service of community equipment, such as beds, pressure care mattresses and hoists, to private sector residential and nursing homes, has been stopped.
Air pressure mattresses are used to help stop the bed-ridden from developing painful bedsores.
Care homes have been told they will be taken away in two weeks' time. The mattresses can then be re-hired on a weekly or monthly basis – with the residents or his or her family picking up the bill.
On the open market an air-pressure mattress can cost as much as £2,000.
Among those set to lose his mattress is dementia-sufferer Geoffrey Southcott, 85, a former road worker and Exeter milkman, who has been a resident at the Dene Court Residential Home, in Butts Road, Heavitree for the past three years.
His son Mark said: "It really is awful that this should be happening and I don't think people are aware of it. My brother Kevin went to visit our father and while at the home was handed a photocopied letter which said that Devon County Council would no longer be providing the air mattresses and they would have to be funded by the families. They have given us just two weeks notice before they come and collect them. It is incredibly short notice. People need these mattresses to stop bed sores, it's a medical requirement and yet they are being taken away.
"What happens to those who cannot afford them? My dad's savings are right down as it is. We are talking £500 a week."
He added: "He has been there three years and we are very happy with the care he receives at Dene Court but they are caught in the middle of this.
"I understand that there are seven residents out of 24 at Dene Court who use air mattresses."
A spokeswoman at Dene Court said: "It seems we will be able to hire them back on a weekly or monthly basis but that cost will have to fall on the residents and their families.
"They are medically required but of course we are a care home, not a nursing home. We have tried to get them on prescription but it is not possible."
With all Devon care homes borrowing as much as £750,000 worth of care equipment at any one time from Devon Community Equipment Service – equipment that was often not being returned at the end of the loan period – the county say the level of expenditure was jeopardising the future of the service and could not be sustained.
A spokesman for the council, which jointly commissions the service with the NHS, said: "The problem is that homes were not honouring the temporary nature of the loans, and were often keeping the equipment to use with residents other than those it was issued to."
"It's meant that the service, which has a primary function to provide care equipment to people in their own homes, was effectively giving equipment away to care homes, when those homes should be making their own longer term arrangements to buy or hire the equipment they need for their residents."
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Tomorrow's Express and Echo front page revealed
Five reasons to buy this week's Echo:
1: News – the latest on the Cathedral's plans to create a multi-million pound tourist attraction, the residents battling to save the green space outside their homes and the mystery of the low flying military plane all feature heavily.
2: Sport – mixed fortunes for the Chiefs and Grecians, previews of the weekend fixtures and all the local sport.
3: Echo2 – your indispensable guide to what's on in Exeter and beyond over the coming week.
4: Offers - free coffee for every reader
5: Competitions – win a family pass to Crealy and a £300 date for your valentine
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