Latest updated 5th February 2012

Girl Rona trawler recovery continues in Teignmouth

Work is continuing to recover a fishing trawler which hit a sandbank and capsized off Teignmouth on the south Devon coast. Five fishermen were rescued from the Girl Rona after it capsized at the entrance to the harbour on Monday. The boat was carrying about 2,000 gallons of diesel and nearly 20 tonnes of fish. A salvage company has been contracted to recover the trawler after attempts made locally were unsuccessful.

Devon and Cornwall cancer patients' in poverty crisis

Increasing numbers of sick and terminally ill people across the Westcountry are being forced to rely on charity handouts to heat their homes, a cancer group has revealed. New figures have revealed a sharp rise in the number of cancer sufferers devoting their efforts to dealing with spiralling fuel bills rather than fighting the disease. A third more patients have resorted to Macmillan Cancer Care grants in some parts of the region, with 332 people claiming almost £65,000 last year in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Cancer survivor Rose Woodward said the majority of people lost their jobs following diagnosis. Mrs Woodward, the former chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Cancer Patient and Carer group, said the surge was "a reflection of the economic climate", adding that patients in rural areas, particularly the elderly, were hit harder by high living costs and low wages. "When your health is compromised by a chronic or terminal disease the last thing you want is the extra stress of worrying about heating," she added. "It is so important that people are warm – stress puts extra pressure on the immune system when you need to keep as healthy as possible – it becomes a vicious circle. There is not much [help] around and that is the terrible thing that people have to rely on charities for things that other people might class as normal when they are working such as over-the-top heating bills." Macmillan Cancer Support said seven out of ten people under 55 saw their income halved after falling ill. However, this is made worse as bills often rise as people spend more time at home and feel the chill more because of their treatment. The charity helps 600 cancer patients a week in the UK with a one-off payment to help meet living costs.

Boyfriend 'lost control' after row over affair

A cheating boyfriend attacked his girlfriend and smashed her computer after she learned about his affair on Facebook. Christopher Kelly, 44, was seen on webcam attacking the screen with a hammer because the victim's 15-year-old son was online when he went berserk at his homKelly "behaved like a complete lunatic" after his girlfriend Nicola Smith used Facebook to uncover his infidelity, Exeter Crown Court was told. A judge told him he escaped jail "by the skin of his teeth" after he was sent on a course to address his domestic violence. Kelly, of Dornafield Drive, Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot, admitted actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was jailed for 26 weeks, suspended for two years and ordered to undertake 18 months' supervision, which will include a domestic abuse programme. Judge Barry Cotter, QC, told him: "You behaved like a complete lunatic. You lost all control and punched Nicola Smith in the face. "You struck the computer with a hammer and the effect on her and her son are aggravating features. The impact of this happening in their own home cannot be understated. "You have a real propensity for serious violence and are a volatile character but society is best served by you addressing this as far as possible." Howard Phillips, prosecuting, said Kelly and Miss Smith had lived together for four years and had a 15-month-old daughter together. She also had older children from an earlier relationship. He said: "It had been a volatile relationship. In September she discovered through Facebook he had been unfaithful and there was a confrontation. He went out drinking and came back after four pints and a further argument developed. "He then went over and punched her in the face. "He then turned his attention to her 15-year-old son who was upstairs on the computer with a web cam talking to his girlfriend, whose mother saw him on the screen with the hammer. "He produced a hammer and attacked the computer screen while shouting threats. Then his behaviour changed again. He took his baby daughter in his arms and burst into tears." Niall Brooks, defending, said the victim was standing by Kelly, who has cut down on his use of cannabis and was now keen to address his violent behaviour. He said: "He is very devastated by what he has done and very remorseful."

Police set to lose dedicated helicopter

A dedicated police helicopter to cover Devon and Cornwall is likely to be lost in favour of a shared national scheme which officers warn could compromise safety. Policing Minister Nick Herbert told forces they had to share cover under the National Police Air Service scheme, which would save £15 million across the board. Those who do not want to sign up may be forced to. It would mean Devon and Cornwall’s own helicopter, currently based at headquarters at Middlemoor, Exeter, would be replaced with an aircraft based at Exeter Airport. The new helicopter will be operated from a national central command centre, and will be available for anywhere in England and Wales. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said the arrangement would mean “business as usual”, as the force already shared its helicopter with neighbouring counties when needed. But Nigel Rabbitts, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, voiced concerns that West Cornwall could be “neglected even further” because of demands on the helicopter from as far east as Bristol and beyond. He said: “The number of police on the ground is being reduced so there’s more reliance on the helicopter. “If that’s not available, then there’s an implication for public safety and the safety of officers.” Overall, the number of force helicopters will be slashed from 32 to 24, with the number of bases cut from 30 to 22.

Teignbridge District Council gets funding for nature reserve

Teignbridge District Council has received nearly £9,000 to help create a new grazing project at Churchills Local Nature Reserve in Newton Abbot. The money's come from the Landfill Communities Fund and will enable officials at the authority to create a special sheep grazing area at the Reserve. It's been described as an important habitat for local wildlife. The steep slopes make it difficult for the grass to be cut so the sheep will be brought in four times a year to keep it in check. The project is due to be completed by the middle of next month.