Retired detective Paul Greaves leaves Warwickshire Justice Centre where he denied stealing £113k

A retired detective who was at the centre of a ‘secret justice’ storm after police refused to name him following his arrest has denied stealing £113,000.

Paul Greaves, 54, is accused of swiping the cash from Warwickshire Police’s HQ in Leek Wootton, Warks., where he worked for the force’s financial investigations team.

He was arrested and charged with stealing the money between June 2009 and September 2011 but the force sparked outrage from the public when they refused to reveal his identity.

Warwickshire Police chiefs performed a U-turn less than 24 hours later after claiming their rules on naming suspects had changed in the wake of the Leveson inquiry.

Yesterday he denied one charge of theft when he appeared at Leamington Magistrates Court.

Prosecutors said they had not established the exact amount taken because the confiscated money included foreign currency.

JPs declined jurisdiction over the case due to the large amount of money involved and adjourned the case to be committed to Warwick Crown Court.

During the 15-minute hearing Greaves, wearing a dark suit and silver tie, spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter a not guilty plea.

Prosecutor Robert Meinert said: “The dates on the charges are extensive, over a 27-month period.

“Mr Greaves has an allegation levelled at him he stole cash from police headquarters.

“The amount is not stated in the charges but the prosecution say that Mr Greaves stole a sum in the region of #113,000 in cash.

“The cash was recovered by police in June 2009 and is mostly sterling but includes some foreign currency within that cash.”

Greaves was granted bail and ordered to reside at his new address in Dale Avenue, Carlton, Nottingham.

He was ordered to return to court for the next hearing on July 1.

He was also forbidden from contacting wife Adele, 50, who lives in the couple’s #220,000 semi-detached property in Harbury, near Leamington Spa.

The court heard the couple are currently going through marital proceedings.

Warwickshire Police was forced into an embarrassing U-turn earlier this month after it refused to name Greaves when he was charged.

It later back-tracked and apologised for withholding Greaves’ identity.

His court appearance came a day after Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer slammed controversial proposals to keep arrests secret.

He said he had ‘deep concerns’ about recommendations from the College of Policing which said there should be a blanket ban on naming those arrested.

He said: “I’m not for a blanket rule on arrest. I would certainly want wriggle room to name in certain types of cases.”

Little over half the student population – 57 per cent – admitted trying drugs compared with 85 per cent of those at Leeds, the highest users.

Rivals Oxford with 67 per cent also come towards the lower end of the list compiled by national student news website The Tab.

They were slightly more than undergraduates at Durham, another of Britain’s most prestigious universities, where 64 per cent confessed to experimenting with drugs.

Philosophy students emerged as those most likely to take drugs, with medical students the least inclined.

Cannabis topped the list of most popular drugs with hallucinogens like ‘magic mushrooms’ and LSD the least favoured.

Nationally, 70 per cent of students admitted trying drugs at least once in their lives, but only four per cent said they need drugs to have a good night out.

The Tab surveyed 5,126 students at 21 UK universities in the second term of the 2012/13 academic year.

Depressed Michelle Jannetta, 21, took an overdose in a cry for help – but not enough of the painkillers to prove lethal if the correct medical procedures had been followed.

But her blood samples were mixed up with another patient, notes were scribbled on surgical gloves and she was wrongly allowed to sleep on her back.

Michelle Jannetta, who died after hospital staff though she was faking a coma following an overdose

Michelle’s family said they were now pursuing a claim for medical negligence against the hospital where she died.

The 21 year-old was rushed to the A&E department at Milton Keynes Hospital, Bucks at midnight on March 7 by concerned friends.

Initially she showed no signs of an overdose and refused to tell nurses she’d taken anything before admitting taking an overdose of Tramadol.

She was kept in overnight for observation but medical staff mixed up her blood samples with those of another patient.

As a result no traces of the drug were found and staff assumed she was faking her condition when she had in fact slipped into a coma.

Medical notes were scribbled on the back of plastic SURGICAL GLOVES and failed to show the dangerously high saturation levels.

The inquest at Milton Keynes heard that Michelle from Bletchley was put on her back to sleep – obstructing her breathing and contributing to her death.

Nurses also admitted to hearing her snoring – a known symptom of a Tramadol overdose – but she was given no antidote and died at 11am the day after being admitted.

Tom Osborne, the coroner for Milton Keynes, voiced concerns that unqualified staff could still be putting patients at risk all over the country.

He said he would be writing to both the Hospital Trust and Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, with a Rule 43 ruling.

That requires a written response within 56 days addressing what measures will be put in place to prevent similar failings in the future.

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Osborne said: “There was a failure to undertake and report on her regular observations and a failure to recognise her deteriorating condition or the seriousness of her situation.

“That resulted in a lost opportunity to render further effective treatment before she went into respiratory arrest caused by obstruction of her airway.”

After the inquest Michelle’s family said they were pursuing a claim of clinical negligence against Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Her sister Nicola Rose said: “We adored her and will never forget her.

“She should have been monitored closely.

“She was a frequent visitor to the hospital and we think they definitely disregarded her visits as if she was an inconvenience to them.

“I believe they thought she was time-wasting.

“It is a small consolation to us that in reporting the problems she hasn’t died in vain.

“If it helps people across the country then that is a benefit without a doubt.

“We hope her death changes attitudes towards mental health patients in hospitals.”

Martin Wetherill, medical director at Milton Keynes Hospital, said: “Our thoughts are with Michelle’s family at this difficult time.

“We have put together an action plan following our investigation, which has now been delivered.

“We will be continuing to improve our service in regard to emergency patients and ensuring lessons are learned.”

It also emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service carried out their own investigations into the level of care afforded to Michelle.

It was revealed that Michelle was only checked TWICE despite being at the hospital for ELEVEN HOURS, the solicitor for her family claims.

Carolyn Lowe, clinical negligence partner at Henmans Freeth law firm, also claimed vital time was wasted when checks should have been carried out because medics thought Michelle was faking her condition.

But because no one individual could be held responsible it meant that no charge of gross negligence could be brought forward, the lawyer said.

Ms Lowe said: “I can only hope that the family can take some comfort from knowing that as a direct result of Michelle’s death the Coroner has written to the Secretary of State for Health asking him to consider changing hospital policy so that observations taken in patients who are seriously ill, like Michelle, are to be carried out by trained nurses.

“As the Coroner said, this should mean that Michelle has not died in vain.”

Nathan Foley, who appeared to be a healthy teenage, was having a kickaround with friends after lessons when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Panicked pals raised the alarm and an air ambulance flew him from the school field at Marlow, Bucks to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he died later that day.

Staff and friends at Great Marlow School said they were stunned by the death of Nathan who had only ever suffered ‘snuffles’.

Headteacher Geralyn Wilson said: “Nathan was a great young man: talented and bright, with an easy going nature, he was much liked and respected by his peers and by his teachers.

“His death touches all of us.”

Owen Hollyman, Head of Sixth Form, added: “As a student Nathan was impeccably polite and motivated.

“He was planning to study Criminology and Forensic Psychology at university.

“He had achieved very promising exam results and was preparing for his final A level examinations, which start this week.

“Nathan was an extremely popular member of the Sixth Form and underneath his calm, mature exterior, he had a wicked sense of humour.

“He never boasted about his musical abilities but will be remembered amongst his peers for his creative rapping and guitar playing.

“The positive effect of Nathan upon the lives of his family and friends was enormous.

“His death has been a devastating blow to the school community, testament to his universal popularity.”

Friends took to Facebook to pay their respects and have since been asked to wear football shirts to Nathan’s funeral next Tuesday (28/5).

Carol Letterman wrote on a tribute page: “Now with your Mum xx RIP Nathan xx”

Another tribute read: “R.I.P thoughts and prayers. Burning a candle for you x”

An inquest is to be held to determine the official cause of death.

Lori Murdock, 57, wants Betty the Patterdale terrier to become the first canine to travel all the way around the UK by sea.

Brave Lori began planning her voyage when doctors told her there was no cure for her aggressive form of skin cancer and gave her nine months to live.

Lori Murdock with her dog Betty at the Falmouth Marina in Cornwall

The mother-of-three set sail from Topsham, Devon, this week on board a restored 1950s wooden yacht with two-year-old Betty and her partner Stephen Rodwell, 60.

She will stop off at various locations around the coast, hoping to raise cash #10,000 for cancer charities, before returning to Devon three months later.

Solicitor Lori, who has previously sailed across the Atlantic, said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to sail to some wonderful places but I realised that I did not know my own island.

“Nine months is no time at all so I realised I needed to make this trip happen and I only hope that I’m alive long enough to get all the way around.

“Betty is a seasoned sea-dog and shouldn’t be too fazed by a few months at sea.

“It might sound traumatic but she loves the boat and she has her own lifejacket which she has been wearing since she was a puppy”.

Mum-of-three Lori was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in September 2009 two years after she first expressed concern to her doctor who failed to spot the cancer.

By then the illness had spread to other areas of her body leaving her with no hope of survival.

Lori will use her voyage to highlight the importance of getting an early cancer diagnosis.

She added: “Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer but it can be cured in most cases if you catch it early.

“I’m hoping that by doing something like this I can raise awareness and if it helps one person then it will all be worth it”.

The giant panda, red panda, Tibetan stump-tailed macaque, takin and leopard are all regarded as endangered by the WWF.

So to gain a better understanding of them, the wildlife charity set up a dozen camera traps in the mountainous giant panda reserves of the Sichuan Province in China.

A giant panda photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

A giant panda sits next to a tree

It is believed by setting up special conservation areas for the giant panda – China’s national animal – other endangered animals within the same natural habitat will also be protected.

The WWF released the images today to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity.

In the pictures, the likes of giant pandas, red pandas, golden pheasants and Tibetan stump-tailed macaques are all seen wandering around the wild terrain.

The benefit of camera traps is that there is practically zero human interference which helps give scientists a more accurate idea of how the species behave in the wild.

More than 100 infrared camera traps were placed in six nature reserves by WWF and its partners from the local forestry authority as part of the monitoring effort under the giant panda conservation programme.

A Takin photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

A group of Takin together in the wild

A Sambar photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

A wild boar photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

A red panda photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

An Asiatic black bear photographed by WWF using camera traps for International Day for Biodiversity

The WWF says its conservation officers have gained a better understanding of the identification of animal traces and areas of their activities.

Fan Zhiyong, director of WWF species programme in China, said: “The images demonstrate that through the conservation of the giant panda, a flagship umbrella species, we can also protect other threatened wildlife from the same habitat and preserve biological diversity.”

Jiang Zeyin, species programme officer at WWF China, added: “The multimedia materials are obtained under circumstances where there was little external disturbance and therefore they truly reflect the conditions of those species in the wild.”

There are more than 6,500 species of vertebrates in China, representing 14 per cent of the global total – making it one of 12 globally recognised “mega diversity” countries.

However, because of habitat loss and human development, the overall biodiversity in China is in decline, despite improvements in some places.

The population of more than ten flagship species in China, which include Amur tigers, musk deer and the Yangtze finless porpoise, are among a number of creatures which have undergone a marked decline.

Pretty Carmel, 24, works as a learning development tutor but in the evening dons a figure-hugging outfit to teach her rivals a lesson in the ring.

Carmel took up wrestling lessons when she was aged just 16 and turned professional two years later.

Pro-wrestler Carmel Jacobs

Carmel is also a college tutor

Carmel, of Edinburgh, said: “At work, I’m nice and helpful to people but in the ring I beat people up.

“I’m professional at work and professional in the ring but I keep both characters separate.

“I have a degree in psychology and I always wanted to get into counselling. I wanted to help people with their learning.

“Sometimes its hard to balance both my job as a lecturer and my passion for wrestling.
Obviously, there is a massive difference between both characters.

During the day, pretty Carmel, 24, works as a learning development tutor at Edinburgh College but in the evening she swaps her smart business suit for a sexy, figure-hugging outfit

“As a wrestler I play a stereotypical bad girl, who cheats and does anything to win a fight. Being in the ring allows me to let out aggression which I would not be able to let out during the day.

“When I was growing up, I watched a lot of wrestling and always said I was going to do it one day.”

Glasgow-based wrestling promoter Michael Gilbert added: “She is one of the top three female wrestlers in Europe.”

Reckless Amanda Chambers, 40, ploughed her Audi TT head-on into a Renault Clio being driven by Susan Moseley, 50, leaving her with life-changing injuries.

Mum-of-one Susan had been giving friends a lift home after a New Year’s Eve party when the horror crash happened in the early hours of January 1.

Susan Moseley, 50, who has been left paralysed following a car crash on New Years day

Chambers’ car strayed onto the wrong side of the road as she turned the corner on Lichfield Road, Walsall, West Mids., and smashed into Susan’s car.

The mental health nurse fractured her back, all her ribs and broke both ankles – and has been left wheelchair bound and told she will never walk again.

Police quizzed Chambers on suspicion of drink-driving but she was unable to provide a sample for an alcohol test because she was also injured in the crash.

The Crown Prosecution Service then decided to charge Chambers with careless driving rather than dangerous driving.

On Tuesday, Chambers pleaded guilty when she appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court who admitted their sentencing powers were restricted as a result of the CPS’ decision.

She was fined £90, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. She was also banned from driving for 12 months.

After the case road safety charity Brake slammed the decision and called on tougher sentences for similar cases in future.

Ellen Booth, senior campaigns officer at the charity, said: “Brake believes that whenever a driver’s bad driving has resulted in a crash that either kills or leaves someone with life-changing injuries, it should be considered ‘dangerous driving’, and the driver should expect to face tough penalties to reflect the seriousness of the crime.”

Susan’s civil partner Susan Dunning, 57, from Burntwood, Staffs., added: “I don’t believe #90 is enough of a punishment but the magistrates were restricted as to what they could impose.

“And I suppose the CPS can only go with what evidence they have – but this incident has changed our lives upside down.

“Susan is really up and down. She missed her son’s 21st birthday because she was in an induced coma and we had to cancel a holiday to Marrakesh to celebrate her 50th birthday.

“But friends have been very supportive about everything.

“She also loved her job, visiting senior schools talking to children and adolescents with mental health problems.

“She had recently gained some some extra qualifications too – but she may never work again.”

Susan will be discharged from hospital in June but she will not be able to return home immediately as adaptations have to be made to their bungalow.

Mrs Dunning added: “Every doorway will have to be widened, ramps have to be put in and she hasn’t even got a wheelchair yet.

“There is a whole load of equipment that she is going to need.

“She will still need physio every day. It’s going to tough for both us but we will have to battle on.”

The 43-year-old from Penryn, Cornwall, was found by police in the street bleeding heavily from his crotch.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said his injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

The African grey bird – called Whitney – regularly reels off global superstars like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

She picked up her amazing soccer knowledge after watching her owner play a FIFA video game – and repeating the commentary.

Whitney the missing grey parrot who can say the names of famous footballers

But Claire Milward, 38, and her football mad sons Kieran, 12, and Kane, 15, are heartbroken after Whitney escaped from her cage and flew off.

Claire, of Newquay, Cornwall, said: “Kane loves football and is always playing Xbox. She hears all the names on the commentary and picks them up.

“We’ve been out looking for her. People might mistake her for a wood pigeon because she’s grey, but she’s got a red tail.”

The family are offering a £100 for her safe return.

Councillor Terry Buckle, 73, was trying to park in a disabled bay for his weekly shop when he lost control of his Vauxhall Vectra.

The automatic lurched forward and went straight through the automatic double doors of his local Tesco Express.

A new town mayor has made one hell of an entrance after he drove his car through the doors of a Tesco

Cllr Buckle squeezed his motor through the opening with inches to spare and came to a halt in the fruit and veg aisle after knocking down a display.

No-one was hurt inside the shop but he suffered whiplash and bruising and was taken to hospital in a neckbrace.

Cllr Buckle had been appointed mayor of St Edmundsbury in Suffolk, last Thursday just five days before the incident at the branch in Bury St Edmunds.

He said yesterday: “Thankfully the doors just opened up for me as I lurched forward so I didn’t smash them or anything.

Cllr Terry Buckle, 73, lost control of his automatic Vauxhall Vectra and ploughed through Tesco

“I knocked down a display but that was it.

“It was all very confusing for me because I drive into that car park every week.

“I just drove into the disabled parking space in first gear and then all of a sudden I just lurched forward.

Cllr Terry Buckle, 73, had only been mayor of St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, for a week before the embarrassing incident

“It’s the first accident I’ve had but luckily nobody has been badly injured – except my car of course.”

Cllr Buckle said his car has since been written off and thanked staff at the hospital and Tesco for the way they treated him.

One local claimed it was the second time a car had ended up inside the same store.

They said: “Someone has done it before, but that time it was in the middle of the night so there wasn’t any risk to anyone.”

Police said: “Officers were called to reports of a car stuck in the doors of a Tesco Extra in Lawson Place, Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday.

“It appears he has driven into the door, there doesn’t seem to be any reports of serious damage and the driver had only minor injuries.”

The huge lump of stone fell from the back of a transporter lorry after it entered the road off a roundabout at rush hour.

It tumbled off the truck and landed in the middle of the road causing traffic chaos for drivers on their way home from work.

A huge rock blocks the A303 near South Petherton, Somerset, after falling from the back of a transporter lorry

Luckily there were no cars travelling close to the HGV at the time, preventing a serious accident.

The strange incident happened at around 5pm on Tuesday on the A303 near South Petherton, Somerset.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police arrived at the scene and managed to deal with the situation as the boulder just sat in the middle of the dual-carriageway.

The rock was as big as a car

The road was shut for more than an hour with the boulder eventually removed at around 7pm.

Clive Hearn, 38, from Wellington, Somerset, was driving on the A303 when he came across the huge rock.

He said: “The boulder was massive, just sat there in the middle of the road making everyone’s trip home an absolute nightmare.

“It was such a bizarre sight, it looked as if a giant had just picked it up and placed it there.”

One in five women believe their men are high maintenance (file picture / Foter)

One in five women reckons their man is ‘high-maintenance’, a study revealed today.

Researchers found the rise of the ‘metrosexual’ is leading to a wave of high-maintenance men in modern couples.

Despite women stereotypically being the most attention-seeking in a relationship, women now say men are more likely than ever to sulk when things don’t go their way.

Ladies say men are the ones demanding instant replies to text messages and spending longer in the bathroom than they do.

Spending a long time on their looks, wanting to be told ‘I love you’ several times a day and not leaving the house without their hair immaculately styled, were also among the list of high-maintenance traits in the modern men.

Andy Oldham, Managing Director at the UK’s biggest cashback site www.Quidco.com, which commissioned the study, said: ”Traditionally, it’s women who are thought to be high-maintenance in a relationship, but it seems men have not only followed in their footsteps, but actually taken over.

”The rise of the metrosexual has led to men taking more pride in their appearance and enjoying the finer things in life more than they ever have before.

”So it looks like the days of men not caring about their looks, what or where they eat, or how much their partner says ‘I love you’ are in the past.

”This has started to creep into our relationships and it’s no longer the women who want constant attention, or expect expensive and luxurious dates and holidays.

”This all comes at a cost though – women may need to make sure they are prepared financially if they are going to date a high-maintenance man.”

The study of 2,000 Brits found that half of all women have had a boyfriend or husband who was ‘high-maintenance’ with 19 per cent saying their current partner is difficult to manage.

Having a strop whenever they don’t get what they want was named as the most common high-maintenance trait among men, followed by needing to have an immediate response to a text or email and hearing ‘I love you’ from a partner several times a day.

Always being late came fourth followed by spending longer in the bathroom than their other half and taking too much time on appearances also featured.

Seventh in the list of high-maintenance signs was refusing to wear anything which isn’t branded or designer, with demanding to have phone calls answered within a certain number of rings close behind.

Constant worrying about how they look and refusing to go camping completed the top ten for men.

Avoiding public transport, only eating in ‘nice’ restaurants and wanting a present bought for them at least once a week also featured in the list.

Women don’t escape though as one in four men say their current wife or girlfriend is high-maintenance, with 57 per cent saying they have had at least one ‘demanding’ partner in the past.

Researchers also found that Brits who have dated a high-maintenance partner spent almost #112 on gifts, extravagant dates and luxurious holidays each month to live up to their expectations.

And more than a third ended up going into debt trying to keep their high-maintenance partner happy – to the tune of #1,426 on average.

Seven in ten also admitted they worry about the cost of keeping up with the wants and needs of their other-half.

And another three quarters fret about the amount of time they have to put into making sure their high-maintenance partner is happy.

It doesn’t always work though as 80 per cent of people in a high-maintenance relationship admitted it regularly caused rows between them, with more than half eventually splitting because of it.

Andy Oldham, from Quidco added: ”Putting up with a high-maintenance partner isn’t cheap – constant showering of gifts and keeping up with their demands can add up to a massive amount over time.

”Searching for discount codes and shopping around can really help – not only can you keep your partner happy, but you can do it on a budget too.”

Top 25 ways women say a man is high maintenance

1.      Have a strop/fit when they don’t get their own way
2.      Needing a reply to a text message/email straight away
3.      Need to be told ‘I love you’ several times a day
4.      Always late
5.      Spends longer in the bathroom than you do
6.      Spend a lot of time on their looks/appearance
7.      Won’t wear anything which isn’t branded or designer
8.      Need to have their calls answered within a certain number of rings
9.      Always worrying about how they look
10.     Refuses to go camping
11.     Refuses to use public transport
12.     Won’t step outside the house without their hair styled
13.     Need kisses/a certain number of kisses on the end of a text or email
14.     Refuses to walk anywhere
15.     Need their home to be spotless
16.     Constantly looking at themselves in a mirror
17.     Will only eat out at ‘nice’ restaurants
18.     Not liking to get dirty
19.     Will only stay in 4 or 5* hotels
20.     Not likely to get sweaty
21.     Will only drink bottled water
22.     Changes outfits several times a day
23.     Need to have a present bought for them at least once a week
24.     Constantly pouting
25.     Will only drink fine wine

Drug addict Nicholas Lovell today faces a maximum of 14 years in prison for killing Ross and Clare Simons.

But fellow inmates say he is treating the case as a ”joke” – and has shown no remorse.

Nicky Lovell admitting killing the couple

Lovell’s partner Louise Cox lied to police for him

Cowardly Lovell, 38, hit Ross and Clare and left them dead in the road while he was being chased by police in Hanham, Bristol, in January.

He has admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and is being held on remand in Bristol’s Horfield Prison.

Former friend John Fleming said another inmate told him that Lovell – who has a long history of motoring offences – was cockily talking about the case.

He said: “He’s been up there laughing about it and telling people he’s only going to get four or five years. He thinks it’s all a joke. He hasn’t shown any remorse.”

John, 40, added that two weeks before the tragedy Lovell had challenged him to a high-speed road race, boasting: “I don’t care if I go 90mph and hit someone.”

The families of Ross, 34, and Clare, 30, who would have celebrated their second wedding anniversary this week, said they feared Lovell would kill again.

In a statement ahead of today’s sentencing they said: “Nicholas Lovell has shown no remorse, he has no regrets, he hasn’t learnt his lessons from the past.

Ross Simons, 32, and Clare Simons, 30, died after being knocked off their tandem bicycle by speeding driver Nicky Lovell in Bristol

“Our fear is not only for us, but for the parents who will lose their children and the children who will lose their parents to this man in the future.”

Lovell, of Oldland Common, Bristol, killed Ross and Clare after police spotted him behind the wheel of a Citreon Picasso which belonged to his lover Louise Cox, 35.

He fled the scene and left Cox behind and she lied to police about who was driving.

She has admitted perverting the course of justice and will also be sentenced today.

Ross and Clare, who were planning to start IVF treatment, were described as ‘a perfect couple’ by relatives who held candlelit vigils at the scene of their deaths.

Ross’ sister Kelly Woodruff said: “They were two amazing people and so, so loved.

“To have them taken away from us is heart-wrenching.

“They were the perfect couple. They loved each other unconditionally, they were made for each other.”

Ballet dancer and Tae Kwon Do black belt, Ava May Llewellyn

A schoolgirl has become the first person with a martial art black belt to muscle her way into the prestigious Royal Ballet School.

Ava May Llewellyn, 11, has been awarded the top honour in Taekwondo and scooped a place at the world famous dance academy.

She took her first dance steps when she was just two-years-old and packed her first punch at martial art classes aged four.

Ava May was one of the youngest fighters at her club to pick up the esteemed belt when she was awarded the accolade two months ago.

She has now beat off competition from 1,000 applicants across the world who were vying for just 24 sought-after places at the Royal Ballet School in London.

Ava May, of Downend, Bristol, will begin boarding at the elite Royal Ballet Lower School at White Lodge in the capital’s Richmond Park in September.

Mum Michele, said her toe-tapping daughter has been prancing and pirouetting ever since she took her first lesson.

“Pretty much since she could walk she has been dancing,” said Michele, 42, a council fostering manager.

“Ava doesn’t walk anywhere – she dances and pirouettes everywhere.  That’s just the way she is.

“Dancing really is her great passion and she has always wanted to do it.

“We are so very proud of her because she has worked so hard to achieve both of these things.

Ava has become the first martial arts black belt to muscle her way into the prestigious Royal Ballet School

“It is such an incredible achievement – particularly the ballet because neither me nor my husband has any background in dance.

“If you had told me a few years ago that my 11-year-old daughter would be going off to boarding school – I would say there was no way.

“But she has done it and we are going to support her.

“It will be strange not having her in the house.  She only has the one brother and she does fill the house with her singing and her dancing, but it is her dream to be a world famous dancer.”

Ava dances at Dance Station in Fishponds, Bristol, and trains at North Bristol Taekwondo School.  She lives with mum Michele, dad John, a store manager at B&Q, and big brother Theo, 13, who also has a black belt in the martial art.

Ava May got hooked on the sport after watching Theo during his lessons.

Michele said there were crossovers between the two disciplines.

She said: “There’s flexibility and both need core strength. We were delighted but in total shock as well.”

Martial arts teacher Richard Thornton added: “She’s a very talented young lady and I wish her all the best.”

Tennis star Andy Murray at Frenchay hospital in Bristol

Tennis star Andy Murray is spotted looking glum in a hospital car park – just hours before he was forced to drop out of the French Open with a back injury.

Murray, 26, was seen downbeat and surrounded by his training team after a visit to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

The Scot was pictured at the hospital at around 5.30pm on Tuesday - and by 10pm he had announced he would not play Paris “after seeking medical advice”.

It is thought Murray was visiting a specialist at the hospital’s orthopaedic department before making his final decision to withdraw from the Grand Slam event.

On Sunday the Wimbledon winner tweeted: ”Thanks a lot for all the messages of support…seeing specialists on Monday and Tuesday… Will let you know how it goes”.

One witness said: ”Andy came out of the hospital with his team and he looked really glum. He was doing some stretching while they chatted.

”He didn’t look happy at all, it looked like he’d had some bad news. Later on I heard he’d  pulled out of the French Open.”

Murray’s decision to pull out means he will miss a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2007.

Britain’s world number two retired in his first match in an Italian tournament last week and has opted against playing on the Paris clay.

Murray will hope to be fit for the start of the grass-court season at Queen’s Club on June 10.

Speaking last week he said: ”It’s been a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice I’m not fit to compete.

Murray with his training team at the hospital where he saw see a specialist doctor about his back injury before pulling out of the French Open Grand slam tennis tournament

“Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible.”

It will be the first Grand Slam tournament Murray has missed since Wimbledon in 2007.

The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, starts at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Murray looked troubled throughout his match with Marcel Granollers on his 26th birthday in Rome.

He withdrew with a lower-back problem after winning a tie-break to square the match at one set all.

At the time the Scot said he would be “very surprised” if he would be fit for the French Open.

His only previous mid-match retirement coincidentally came on his 20th birthday, when he snapped a tendon in his wrist at the 2007 Hamburg Masters.

Karim Bousaboun, 25, and Mehamad Maddahi, 22, made £51,488.71 by stealing expensive smart phones from handbags and pockets.

The duo targeted revellers in bars and nightclubs in Nottingham before passing the handsets to a criminal gang in their native Algeria who sold them on the black market.

Phone thief Karim Bousaboun

Phone thief Mehamad Maddahi

Police uncovered the scam by chance after a student at the University of Nottingham had her iPhone 4 stolen in the city’s Stealth nightclub.

Bousaboun and Maddahi were unaware the 21-year-old had downloaded an app called ‘Find My iPhone’ which allowed her to lock it and even track its location.

The student, called Georgina, logged onto her laptop and found her phone was at an address on Radford Boulevard in Nottingham.

Detectives then raided the address and found her phone as well as 58 others that had been stolen from nightclubs in Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield between January and November 2012.

Maddahi was jailed for three years at Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal mobile phones.

Meanwhile Bousaboun was sentenced to four years after being found guilty of the same offence following a trial.

Jailing the duo, Judge Andrew Hamilton told them: “The two of you acted as a gang. You target young people in Nottingham clubs.

“They were easy prey. Young people have their phones about them at all times these days.

“As a gang you worked out a system whereby in fact one of the gang would take the phone out of the nightclub and hand it to the person waiting outside.

“The fact is this netted you a considerable amount of money and this was clearly done as a very sophisticated scam.”

Prosecutor Ian Way told the court a third man had been bailed and was believed to have left the country.

Speaking after the hearing, the student who helped expose the scam said: “The night was ruined, so I went home and got straight on my laptop to see if I could find it on the ‘Find My iPhone’ app.

“They must have turned the phone off because the app couldn’t find it, but at midday the next day they must have turned it on for a few minutes because I got a hit.”

Detective Constable Perveez Rashid, from Nottinghamshire Police, said 60 per cent of the phones they found had not been reported stolen and were presumed lost.

He said: “With Bousaboun and Maddahi now in jail, and their illicit enterprise dismantled, we have gone a long way to reducing this type of crime.”