Tuesday 25 May 2004

By Amy Taylor, Shirley Kumar, Clare Jerrom and Alex
Dobson

Drug addict stole Carr’s papers

Drug addict David Jacobs admitted stealing the
confidential release papers of Maxine Carr a court heard.

Jacobs, whose drug habit costs him £120 a day, admitted two
charges of theft after he broke into the Home Office vehicle in
Hampstead, North London.

The papers, detailing Carr’s new life were found on Hampstead
Heath a few hours later. Highbury Corner Magistrates Court remanded
Jacob in custody for sentencing on June 7.

Source: The Times, Tuesday May 25, page 9

Teenager sentenced for seven years for killing
baby

Christopher Phillips, 17, was jailed for seven years for
manslaughter after he swung nine-month old Harley Rogers against a
chimney breast.

Bristol Crown Court also jailed his brother Craig, 24, for three
years for punching the baby in the face.

Source: The Times, May 25, page 9

Thirteen-year-olds to get morning after pill without
parental knowledge

Schools are offering children as young as 13 the morning
after pill without their parent’s knowledge in an attempt to
cut pregnancies.

Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust, which covers Kidderminster,
Bewdley, Stourport and parts of Hagley, launched the scheme at an
unnamed high school in March. It hopes to extend it to four other
schools.

Source: Daily Mail, May 25, page 16

Witness told of his HIV infection while in court

A man has discovered his HIV infection after being
questioned about it by a defense lawyer in a court in Leicester
where he was a witness.

Unbeknown to the witness and without his consent the Crown
Prosecution Service ordered the police to hand his blood sample to
defense lawyers for HIV testing.

The Crown Prosecution Service had ordered police to hand over a
sample of his blood that they had taken in September when the man
was arrested on suspicion of a crime which he was later released
without charge.

Source: The Guardian, Tuesday, May 25, page 9

Prison Service finally admits fault over suicide of
teenager

In what is believed to be the first case of its kind in
this country the Prison Service has admitted that its investigation
and inquest into the death of an 18-year-old inmate breached the
European Convention on Human Rights.

It is thought to be the first such case since the Human Rights Act
became law in October 2000. Colin Williamson was found hanged in
his cell at Portland young offenders’ institution in Dorset
June 3 2001.

Source: The Guardian, Tuesday, May 25, page 9

Scottish newspapers

Council house investors target the elderly
tenants

Older council house tenants are being approached by private
investors who are offering to buy their homes and are then selling
them on at a huge profit.

Older people are told they can live rent free for the rest of their
lives, provided they hand over the deeds of their property. Housing
officers can do nothing to combat the private investors but tenants
have been advised to seek legal advice before entering into any
arrangements over property.

Source: The Scotsman, Tuesday 25 May

Prostitution tolerance zones backed by
council

Margo MacDonald’s bill to allow tolerance areas for prostitutes
is set to be officially backed by council leaders in
Edinburgh.

The leaders believe the new statutory framework could “definitely
assist” in tackling the problem. The bill would allow councils to
establish red light tolerance zones where it would not be illegal
to solicit and where health checks and other support services could
be offered to women.

Source: The Scotsman, Tuesday 25 May

Glasgow nursery nurses near to deal

Public sector union Unison and Glasgow Council are close to
agreeing a pay deal for nursery nurses. Unison leaders have put
forward proposals for a settlement which they believe is acceptable
to members.

Source: The Herald, Tuesday 25 May

Welsh newspapers

Breaking the cycle of violence

Children in south Wales are being helped to overcome the effects
of witnessing domestic violence by a project run by NSPCC
Cymru.

The initiative aims to help young people who are often the silent
victims of such abuse, cope with a range of problems that stem from
the effects of experiencing domestic violence in their own
homes.

Source: South Wales Argus, Monday 24, May page 14

Doctor quits NHS to set up as first private
GP

A Welsh GP is leaving the NHS to set up a private practice for
workers who are too busy to attend appointments dictated by
surgeries.

The Independent General Practice, run by Cardiff GP Dr Joanna
Longstaffe, is believed to be the first of its kind in Wales. Dr
Longstaffe said that the new practice would help to take pressure
off the NHS.

Source: Western Mail, Tuesday 25 May, page 1

Ten-year-old school children of are getting
drunk

Welsh children as young as 10 years old are getting drunk, a
local health board has warned.

Pembrokeshire Local Health Board says that it is not unusual to see
children of that age drinking alcohol in parts of the county and
that it is damaging their health and leading to anti-social
behaviour.

Source: Western Mail, Tuesday 25 May, page 3

Body of man, 95 exhumed for care home abuse
inquiry

The body of a former resident of a Welsh care home is to be
exhumed as part of police investigation into allegations of
abuse.

Police have obtained an order to exhume the body of William
Pettener, 95 who was a resident at Bodawen Nursing Home in
Porthmadog, following allegations of physical and verbal abuse at
the home and the suspension of a member of staff.

Source: Western Mail, Tuesday 25 May, page 3