Criminals with hundreds of convictions given bail by judges

Criminals with hundreds of convictions - including numerous bail breaches - are being given bail by judges, it was reported today.

Jonathan Vass and Jane Clough

One was given bail despite having 382 previous convictions and cautions, including 125 of failing to surrender to bail.

The man then breached his bail again, was convicted for the 383rd time and was still not locked up, according to figures obtained by The Sun.

They also showed that bail was granted to a criminal with 304 convictions and cautions, including 60 for breaching bail - who then broke his bail conditions again but was not jailed either.

Conservative MP Philip Davies uncovered the details from the Ministry of Justice through parliamentary questions.

Mr Davies told The Sun: "It's simply astonishing. These are the cases that drive the police mad.

"They catch a criminal, he's let out on bail, he breaches his bail, he's hauled back to court and the judge gives him bail again.

"The only people who benefit from this pathetically lax regime are the criminals."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The decision to grant bail must always be a matter for the police and courts based on the full facts of each case.

"Reoffending on bail is taken into account and can lead to a longer sentence."

Figures last month showed that more than 350 killings were carried out by people who were out on bail for another crime.

In October 2010, ambulance technician Jonathan Vass was jailed for a minimum of 30 years for murdering his ex-girifriend Jane Clough while on bail for her rape.

Home Office accused of cover up on extradition evidence

The Home Office was yesterday accused of a cover-up over its failure to publish the evidence behind a controversial review of extradition laws.

Christopher Tappin insists he is the unsuspecting victim of entrapment 

Dominic Raab, the Tory MP, warned the public might think there “was something to hide” as he called on the department to release the information given to Sir Scott Baker’s review.

It came as retired businessman Christopher Tappin was today due to hand himself over to US officials after losing his battle against extradition to America.

Mr Tappin, a grandfather and county golf club president, claims he was a victim of entrapment after the Americans accused him of trying to sell missile parts to Iran.

He is one of a series of cases, including that of alleged hacker Gary McKinnon, which has fuelled concerns over the extradition arrangements between the UK and US.

Campaigners have argued that the deal is biased in favour of America while the US has insisted it is balanced and fair.

A review by retired judge Sir Scott Baker last year concluded the arrangements were not biased and did not need reform.

Mr Raab has repeatedly asked for all the evidence given to the review to be published but in vain.

In the Commons yesterday, he told the Leader of the House Sir George Young: “The Baker review into extradition was published in October.

"Four months on the publication of all of its evidence has been blocked by Home Office officials with no explanation.

"Having tried all the usual channels, can I ask you to convey to ministers the risk that this lack of transparency undermines the ostensible independence of the review as well as parliamentary scrutiny and risks, however unfairly, creating the perception that there may be something to hide in the evidence."

Sir George said Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was reviewing the report and added: "I will bring to her attention the specific issue you have raised about the non-publication of certain documents which are in the Home Office's possession."

Critics argue that it is unfair for the US to require "sufficient evidence to establish probable cause" before agreeing to extradite anyone to the UK, while Britons are not afforded the same protection.

But Sir Scott Baker’s report said: "There is no practical difference between the information submitted to and from the United States."

A Commons debate led by Mr Raab in December passed a motion calling on the Government to review the 2003 Extradition Treaty.

Mr Tappin, 64, was due to surrender to US Marshals at Heathrow airport this morning after the European Court of Human Rights last week rejected his plea to hear his case.

He retired from his import and export company in 2008 but was arrested two years later after the US asked for his extradition.

He is alleged to have tried to buy five industrial batteries, which he claims he thought were for use in the car industry, between 2005 and 2007.

However, they were actually EaglePicher brand batteries, a key component of the US Army's Hawk Air Defence Missile, which were being sought by Iran.

It is alleged the batteries were to be shipped from the US to Tehran without the necessary US government approval.

Lawyers for Mr Tappin claim he was entrapped by US agents who set up a fictitious company to ensnare innocent importers.

MEP Nikki Sinclaire arrested in expenses probe

West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud the European Parliament.

The MEP was arrested and bailed with three other people yesterday as part of a probe into expenses by West Midlands Police.

Properties have been searched by officers investigating an allegation made in 2010 over the use of allowances and expenses.

Ms Sinclaire, 43, was elected as a UKIP MEP in June 2009 and came third in the contest to succeed Nigel Farage as party leader later that year.

But she had the whip withdrawn in 2010 for refusing to sit with the party's Italian allies Liga Nord in the European Parliament. Ms Sinclaire, a lesbian, said the party were homophobic.

She won a claim for sex discrimation against her former colleagues at an employment tribunal and now sits as an independent.

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A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Officers from West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit arrested four people yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud the European Parliament.

"Two women aged 55 and 39 and a man aged 19 were arrested at addresses in Solihull, Worcester and Birmingham and were taken to a police station for questioning. A 43-year-old woman was later arrested at a police station in Birmingham.

"All four have since been released on police bail.

"Searches have been carried out at the addresses involved by officers conducting an investigation into an allegation made in 2010 regarding allowances and expenses."

National Trust comes out against 'public menace' of wind farms

The National Trust is now "deeply sceptical" of wind power, its chairman said as he launched an outspoken attack on the "public menace" of turbines destroying the countryside.

National Trust comes out against 'public menace' of wind farms

For years the conservation charity has been a supporter of renewable energy, including wind, to reduce carbon emissions and help fight global warming.

But in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Sir Simon Jenkins warned that wind was the "least efficient" form of green power, and risked blighting the British landscape.

He said “not a week goes by” without the charity having to fight plans for wind farms that threaten the more than 700 miles of coastline, 28,500 acres of countryside and more than 500 properties owned by the Trust.

“Broadly speaking the National Trust is deeply sceptical of this form of renewable energy,” he said.

At the moment the Trust is fighting against at least half a dozen plans to build wind farms or turbines that could damage the view from a stately home or stretch of countryside, including a massive offshore farm in the Bristol Channel and plans by the Duke of Gloucester to install a wind farm on his property.

Louise Mensch, the Tory MP and author, is backing the fight against turbines near Lyveden New Bield, Northants which she fears could “destroy one of the finest examples of Elizabethan gardens in England”

In the past the Trust, that now has four million members, fought plans for one of Europe’s largest wind farms in mid Wales and the National Trust for Scotland has spoken out against turbines marching over the hills.

The official position is to support renewable energy, including wind, although only in places where the turbine will produce the maximum amount of energy and “with regard to the full range of environmental considerations”.

The landowner already has 140 renewable energy projects installed on castles and farmland around the country, including a few small individual turbines.

The Trust’s climate change target to cut energy use by 50 per cent by 2020 will go beyond national targets and could save more than 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 4,500 cars off the road.

But Sir Simon said most of the renewables will be hydroelectric plants, especially in Wales, as the Trust has access to many miles or rivers and properties that were once water mills. An Archimedes screw is being installed at Morden Hall Park, London similar to the hydroelectric plant installed by the Queen in Windsor Castle.

Also biomass - the burning of plant matter - will cut oil use to virtually zero as the Trust has acres of woodland that needs to be managed anyway. Woodchip boilers have been installed in draughty castles around the country and some even have solar panels on the roof.

“We are doing masses of renewables but wind is probably the least efficient and wrecks the countryside and the National Trust is about preserving the countryside,” said Sir Simon, a former national newspaper editor.

His view is a blow to the Government who have already installed more than 3,500 turbines and are planning to complete 800 this year alone.

The Government can ill-afford another clash with the Trust - which has more members than all the major political parties combined - following its prominent role in the widespread revolt against the coalition's unpopular planning reform proposals.

Ed Davey, the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, has come out strongly in support of wind, opening the world’s biggest offshore wind farm off Cumbria last week.

The Lib Dem minister said wind power will ensure energy security as fossil fuels run out, cut carbon emissions and provide jobs.

RenewableUK, the main lobby group for the wind industry, think by 2020 there could be as many as 10,000 turbines onshore and 4,300 offshore.

However campaigners argue that wind turbines ruin the landscape and are less efficient than other forms of electricity because more back up is required for when the wind is not blowing.

Another blast of snow could hit the UK as the big freeze extends its grip

Another blast of snow could hit the UK in the coming days as the big freeze shows no sign of melting away. Sub-zero temperatures will also continue to send a shudder down the spine of Britain leaving severe cold weather alerts and warnings over treacherous conditions on the nation's ice-covered roads firmly in place. Forecasters say there is the potential of up to 3-6cm of snow as a weather front moves in from the North West over the next three days. The worst hit areas are expected to be East Anglia and the Midlands with southern areas of England set to experience a light dusting.

Mark Proud from Weardale looks at the icicles at Gibson's Cave at Bowlees, Middleton-in-Teesdale

Burnham man pleads guilty to explosives charges

A man has admitted making explosives found at a house in Burnham-on-Sea in January.

Philip Leonard, 36, pleaded guilty to four charges at a hearing, at Taunton Crown Court, and was remanded in custody.

Leonard, of Beatty Way, carried out his activities between 31 December 2011 and 21 January 2012.

About 30 people were evacuated from their homes and a cordon was set up after a police raid in the street.

'Serious injury risk'

Leonard's defence lawyer told the court he did not any malicious motive and had not intended to use the explosives to cause damage or injury.

After the raid, police set up a 100m cordon evacuated the properties when they discovered chemicals at Leonard's home.

Explosives experts have said what he had made could have caused serious injury and damage to properties within a 50m radius.

Leonard was remanded in custody while pre-sentence reports are prepared.

Heathrow cancels 50pc of flights as snow and ice blanket Britain

Half of all flights have been axed at Britain's busiest airport - hours after it stopped snowing.

More planes were grounded today at London's Heathrow airport following yesterday's adverse weather and the airport's decision to axe 30 per cent of its flights.

The decision came as wintry showers ceased across the country and forecasters predicted dry conditions and a partial thaw.

A spokesman for Heathrow said the move was designed to minimise disruption and in anticipation of possible freezing fog.

While the runways, taxiways and stands have been cleared of snow, only 50 per cent of the 1,300 scheduled flights are now going ahead.

But the airport insisted its "snow plan" had worked "far better" than in previous years.

A spokesman said the airport - which operates at 99.2 per cent capacity - was "getting back to normal" as it worked to clear the backlog of flights.

"We took the decision with airlines and air traffic control yesterday to reduce the flight schedule in advance," the spokesman said.

"By cancelling flights in advance airlines have been able to rebook some people on to flights that are departing, and passengers have had better quality information about whether they can fly or not."

extra staff were being drafted into terminals to help passengers rebook flights.

While there is no further snowfall expected today, freezing fog was forecast from 6pm, the airport said.

Heathrow's usual flight schedule is due to operate tomorrow but passengers were warned there may still be cancellations because of today's disruption, with aircraft and crew needing to be repositioned.

Travellers were advised to check the status of their flights ahead of departure. At the airport, free sandwiches and roll-mats were handed out as people bedded down for the night.

A full schedule of flights is planned for Gatwick Airport, but passengers were warned of possible disruptions because of the weather.

Stansted, Birmingham and Luton airports were forced to suspend operations for a period last night as snow piled up on the runways, but operations resumed today with some delays.

Snow fell over Scotland, northern England and the Midlands yesterday before moving down to London and East Anglia.