Give Cannabis Drug To MS Patients, NHS Urged

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Reporter

Multiple sclerosis patients in many parts of England are urging health bosses to make a cannabis-based medication available on prescription.

The NHS in Wales recently agreed to fund the drug, Sativex.

But the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which advises the NHS on the cost effectiveness of treatments, is not recommending it in England.

Jacquie Langham, from Norfolk, has been using the drug to ease the pain and spasms which are common symptoms of MS.

Jacquie Langham says the drug has helped with symptoms

She says she is lucky to have a friend who pays for the treatment privately, as she could not afford it herself.

"I can't believe it's not available," she told Sky News.

"MS sufferers have no medication that really does them a whole lot of good and this is the first.

"I'm just so frustrated as are many others - and for the younger people in particular."

Tony Wiggins, who lives in Cardiff, will get the drug on prescription.

After taking part in a trial, the benefits were so great that he even broke the law, buying cannabis from dealers in order to alleviate his symptoms.

The MS Society in Wales now wants NICE to recommend Sativex so it is prescribed to patients in the rest of the UK.

At the moment, a handful of English health authorities do make Sativex available on prescription.

But even they may withdraw the funding if NICE's final report, due in October, suggests that they do. 

In a statement, a NICE spokesperson said: "A detailed analysis of the evidence of costs and benefits of the drug led us to conclude that Sativex should not be recommended by NICE, as the drug does not currently represent cost effectiveness for the NHS."

The only hope for English MS patients like Jacquie is that fresh evidence can be found to make NICE alter its stance before publishing its final recommendations.

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Man Fakes His Own Kidnapping To Keep Partying

Police carried out a major search for a man who told his girlfriend he had been kidnapped - but he was actually lying to stay out late partying.

The 32-year-old claimed he was being held hostage and his "captor" would only release him if a £50 debt was paid.

The woman was "beside herself" and called police after speaking to his "kidnapper" on the phone and receiving a number of text messages.

But her boyfriend was in fact enjoying himself at a house party in Bolton in the early hours.

One detective said it was "one of the most foolish and irresponsible incidents" she had encountered.

After the alarm was raised, more than a dozen officers carried out house-to-house enquiries, checked CCTV and analysed mobile phone data in an attempt to find him.

A number of properties were searched and a man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap.

But he was later released when he admitted it was a "ruse" to allow his friend to stay out longer.

Greater Manchester Police then tracked down the man at the party in Shurmer Street shortly before 1.30am on Saturday.

Detective Inspector Jo Clawson said: "The man's girlfriend was absolutely beside herself with worry and genuinely concerned that he would come to harm.

"Considerable resources and time then went into finding this man, who it transpires made the entire thing up so he could stay out and party.

"This is without doubt one of the most foolish and irresponsible incidents I have been involved in.

"Significant resources were taken off the front line on a Friday night, which is without exception one of the busiest times of the week."

She added he was "fortunate" to not have been charged but officers decided not to waste more police resources and public money by putting him through the court system.

Instead he was given a fixed penalty notice for wasting police time and the matter was recorded as a criminal conviction on his record.

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Burglary Suspects Identified From Bus Ticket

Two burglary suspects have been identified after leaving a bus ticket at the scene of the crime.

The 61-year-old victim confronted the intruders at his home in Greater Manchester and managed to pull off one of their jackets during a scuffle.

In the pocket was a bus stub which police used to track down CCTV of the bus they had been on.

Images of the two suspects have now been released to the public.

The men escaped with valuable jewellery from the home in Churchstone Walk in Baguley on May 17.

PC Rob Crossley said: "The victim, a man in his 60s, was obviously taken aback to find two men rummaging through his bedroom.

"In the melee following the initial shock he has been able to remove a jacket from one offender and this has given us some positive lines of inquiry.

"From the jacket we recovered a ticket and from the ticket we identified a bus used by the offenders.

"Now we are releasing CCTV images of two suspects we would like to trace.

"We have made numerous efforts to identify the pair and we are now keen for any further help from the public."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4882, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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'Asbos For Extremists' To Tackle UK Jihadists

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Home Secretary Theresa May is planning to bring in new laws to tackle the threat of British jihadists - including "anti-social behaviour orders" for extremists.

Mrs May will announce a three-point plan to counter British Muslim extremists, warning that the security threat to the UK will continue for decades.

The measures would target the activities of radical preachers, such as Anjem Choudary, whose extreme rhetoric currently does not constitute a crime.

Full details are yet to emerge, but the new power will be designed to restrict extremists' behaviour and language.

As with an Asbo, it could result in a criminal conviction carrying a jail term if breached.

Mrs May has unveiled her crackdown in an article in the Daily Telegraph.

Theresa May's warning echoes recent comments from David Cameron

She discloses that she will make it illegal to join extremist groups that preach violent views, but are not directly involved in terrorism.

Currently, the threshold for banning membership of organisations, such as the Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIL), requires the Home Secretary to prove that the group is directly involved in terrorist acts.

The new power could target Islamist political organisations and other Muslim groups that tacitly support extremism.

In addition, state-funded organisations such as councils and schools will be given a new legal obligation to combat extremists.

Mrs May uses the Telegraph article to echo a warning about extremism made by the Prime Minister in a newspaper report last weekend.

The Home Secretary writes: "We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a deadly extremist ideology.

Cardiff students Khan (L) and Muthana (C) appeared in an IS video

"We will be engaged in this struggle for many years, probably decades. We must give ourselves all the legal powers we need to prevail.

"I am looking again at the case for new banning orders for extremist groups that fall short of the legal threshold for terrorist proscription, as well as for new civil powers to target extremists who seek to radicalise others."

The measures proposed by Mrs May are similar to recommendations for legislation made by the Government's Extremism Task Force last December.

Those recommendations were surprisingly omitted from the Queen's Speech this year.

But there is no suggestion yet that the Home Secretary plans to introduce emergency legislation when MPs return to the Commons on September 1.

David Cameron said during his brief return to Downing Street from his holiday after the murder of journalist James Foley that there would be "no knee-jerk reaction".

Radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary

The problem of radicalisation was highlighted in June when two Cardiff students - Reyaad Khan, 20, Nasser Muthana, also 20, - were identified in a propaganda video for IS posted on YouTube.

The two men along with Muthana's younger brother Aseel, 17, were lured to join extremists fighting in Syria and Iraq.

And a jihadi fighter in Syria told Sky News in July that he was training British teenagers as young as 16 to fight in the war.

Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, said: "More action is needed to respond to the serious problem of people travelling to fight with ISIL.

"The Home Secretary's confirmation that she is continuing to look at the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Taskforce, announced last December, is welcome.

"Though there remains no detail on things like civil powers to tackle extremists or extremist groups for people to consider.

"However I remain concerned that the Government is not addressing the gaps in the Prevent programme - especially the lack of support for community led approaches to preventing radicalisation.

"And the Home Secretary also needs to respond to the concerns raised by the current and previous Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation about the decision to weaken control orders, where they have advised that stronger measures should be put in place."

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Football Ground Standing Pledge By Lib Dems

Fans of football clubs in England's top two divisions would be able to stand at games under plans put forward by the Liberal Democrats.

The party wants to change the law to allow standing areas to be brought back at the grounds of Premiership and Championship teams.

All-seater stadia were introduced more than 20 years ago in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster which left 96 Liverpool fans dead.

All-seater stadia were introduced in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster

The party stresses it does want a return of the terraces of the 1980s, but says safe standing areas could be introduced using "rail seating", which have been successfully used by top tier clubs across Europe, including in Germany, Austria, and Sweden.

These can be locked in an upright position to allow fans to stand and lean against a barrier, but can also be converted back into seating as required.

Many fans say standing provides a better atmosphere, and the Liberal Democrat's point out 70% of clubs support the move.

It also claims safe standing would enable clubs to cut the cost of tickets.

However, there remains strong opposition with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which has said previously it would need to be convinced over whether it could work.

The Hillsborough Family Support Group is also against a return of standing at matches.

While the Liberal Democrats stand little chance of winning the next election, the return of another coalition government could see the safe standing proposals form part of negotiations in any power-sharing agreement.

Liberal Democrat sports spokesman John Leech said: "The Liberal Democrats believe football clubs should be allowed to introduce safe standing areas where there is a desire to do so.

"Safe standing is allowed in many other sports and we do not believe that the top level of football should be an exception.

"We are not calling for a return of the terraces of the 1980s. Modern safe standing areas using 'rail seating' operate very successfully in top tier football across Europe.

"When clubs and fans are in favour of safe standing and it can be done safely, then the Government shouldn't get in the way.

"That is why Liberal Democrats want to change the law to let clubs introduce safe standing.

"Safe standing offers supporters more choice, a better atmosphere and cheaper tickets."

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Fast And Furious Pirate Jailed For 33 Months

A computer programmer who filmed Fast & Furious 6 from the back of a cinema then uploaded it to the internet has been jailed for almost three years.

The pirate copy of the film was downloaded 779,000 times, costing one of Hollywood's biggest film-makers almost £2.5m.

Philip Danks, 25, from Walsall, West Midlands, was the first person in the world to record and distribute the movie illegally after filming it on its release day on May 17 last year.

A court heard a special "webwatch" team - set up by LA-based Universal Pictures because the film was so valuable - spotted his copy spreading across the internet.

He was caught when fraud investigators noticed that his online tag 'Thecod3r' attached on the video was identical to his profile on dating website Plenty of Fish.

He was arrested at his home on May 23.

Two days later, he bragged on Facebook: "Seven billion people and I was the first. F*** you Universal Pictures."

Danks boasted on Facebook: "Seven billion people and I was the first"

On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to three charges of distributing pirate copies of films and was jailed for 33 months.

The court heard that he made just £1,000 from selling copies of the film for £1.50 - while the cost to Universal was estimated at £2.3m.

Sentencing Recorder Keith Raynor said: "This was bold, arrogant and cocksure offending.

"Your approach to the film industry was made clear in the posting you made on Facebook two days after your arrest.

"I accept the personal profit was modest but the real seriousness of this case is the loss caused to the film industry as a whole."

Prosecuting on behalf of the Federation Against Copyright Theft, Ari Alibhai said: "The film was Universal Picture's most significant release of that year with both the biggest production costs and expected revenue.

The pirated film was recorded at a cinema in Walsall, West Midlands

"The estimated loss to the industry caused by the defendant's actions is conservatively estimated at £2.3m but he did not receive money from the online distribution."

The court heard that although he made money from selling versions of his copy via Facebook or by personal delivery his real motive was "street cred."

Mr Alibhai added: "The first person with a pirated version attracts much kudos. He wanted recognition from the community."

Mr Christopher Loach, defending, said: "He has no real qualifications and is not a man of means.

"He has no substantial assets of any sort and his financial gain has been extremely limited but he was obviously aware that it was a popular film that would be of interest."

Following his arrest, Danks was freed on police bail pending further inquires but continued to offer a dozen films he had copied.

Danks kept people posted on the case through Facebook - but while awaiting sentence he conceded: "Not loking (sic) good"

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Mackay: 'No Excuse' For Offensive Texts

Former Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has apologised for sending a string of racist, sexist and homophobic text messages.

Mackay said there was "no excuse" for the texts, sent while he was boss of the Welsh club.

He said: "Out of 10,000 text messages in and out of someone's phone, I sent three, and that being the case, looking at them, they are completely unacceptable, inappropriate, and for that and any offence I've caused, I sincerely apologise.

"That's something that I did, and for that, there is no excuse."

Mackay was accused of sharing the texts with Iain Moody (L)

Mackay and Cardiff's ex-head of recruitment Iain Moody had been accused of sharing the offensive texts, which were included as part of a dossier of allegations sent to the Football Association by the club.

Both men were sacked by Cardiff last season, long before details of the messages emerged.

Cardiff said LMA chief Richard Bevan should stand down over its statement

The emergence of the dossier appeared put an end to Mackay's hopes of landing the Crystal Palace manager's job, while Moody has resigned as the London club's sporting director over the affair.

The former Celtic and Watford player said he would co-operate with an FA inquiry into the allegations and insisted the texts did not represent his true views.

He said: "I've been in a multicultural football environment for 20 years and I love British football.

"I am no racist and I am no sexist, I'm no homophobe and I'm no anti-Semitic."

Earlier, the League Managers Association (LMA) was forced to backtrack after it was widely criticised for dismissing the messages as "friendly banter".

The initial LMA statement said Mackay had been under pressure when the messages were sent and that he was "letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter".

Cardiff chairman Vincent Tan sacked Mackay and Moody last season

In a new statement on Friday, the association said: it said: "The LMA apologises for some of its wording, in its release yesterday, which was inappropriate and has been perceived to trivialise matters of a racist, sexist or homophobic nature.

"That was certainly not our intention. It is beyond argument that any comments that are discriminatory, even used in private, are totally unacceptable.

"The LMA remains absolutely aware of our responsibility to the game and to promote and uphold the highest standards of behaviour."

Despite the apology, Cardiff have demanded LMA boss Richard Bevan stand down, describing his position as "untenable".

Young footballers told Sky News of their shock at Mackay's behaviour.

Temisan Pop said: "I aspire to be a footballer... It hurts that someone in that position is saying these things. It kind of means, what hope do I have?"

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Hospitals Told To End 'Unfair' Parking Charges

Hospitals have been told to give free or cheap parking to the relatives of chronically ill patients.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said new guidelines for English hospitals have been created in order to end the stress of "unfair" charges.

Patients with disabilities, those who have frequent appointments and members of staff working shifts will also benefit from the changes, Mr Hunt said.

The guidelines state hospital trusts should waive fines when an overstay is beyond the control of the driver, for instance if treatment takes longer than planned.

Jeremy Hunt has come under pressure from Tory backbenchers on the issue

Mr Hunt last month admitted he was concerned about parking fees being charged at some hospitals after being pressed by backbenchers to end "rip-off" costs.

The guidance sets out for the first time that hospital trusts are responsible for the actions of any private firms they use to run parking facilities.

It also calls on hospitals to look at introducing pay on exit systems so those visiting only pay for the time they have used.

Mr Hunt said: "Patients and families shouldn't have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges.

"These clear ground rules set out our expectations, and will help the public hold the NHS to account for unfair charges or practices."

Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: "The Tory-led Government scrapped Labour's plans to phase out car parking charges for patients and Jeremy Hunt needs to take responsibility for the fact that, since then, one in four hospitals have increased parking fees.

"Any action to ease the burden of car parking charges on patients and their visitors is welcome. When people go to hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is parking fees."

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Two Men Remanded After Tilbury Docks Death

Two lorry drivers have been remanded in custody after appearing in court in connection with the death of a migrant found in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks.

Essex Police said Stephen McLaughlin, 34, and Timothy Murphy, 33, both from County Londonderry, were charged with people smuggling.

The charge sheet said that the pair "together with other persons unknown" jointly conspired between August 1 and 17 "to do an act, namely clandestinely convey 35 Afghan nationals by sea in to an English port, which facilitated the commission of a breach of immigration law".

Thirty-five people were discovered in a container at the Port of Tilbury, south Essex, on August 16.

Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, from Afghanistan, was found dead inside the airtight container on a ship that had arrived from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Murphy, from Derry, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in Essex where he spoke only to confirm his name and personal details.

He was remanded in custody and told he must appear at Basildon Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on a date to be set during the week beginning November 17.

McLaughlin, of Limavady, also spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and personal details from the dock.

He was also remanded to next appear by video-link for a hearing at the same place and at a time to be determined in the same week.

A post-mortem examination on Mr Kapoor had failed to establish the cause of his death and inquiries are continuing.

The rest of the group of Afghan Sikhs from Kabul, including 13 children, survived the ordeal.

They are believed to have fled Afghanistan after suffering persecution and are in the process of claiming asylum in the UK.

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EU Migrants Urged To Back Scottish Independence

Campaigners for a Yes vote in the Scottish referendum have launched an appeal for EU migrants to support independence.

There are 160,000 people from the EU living in Scotland who have the right to vote on the country's future.

The Yes campaign argues that those people could have their residency put at risk if Scotland stays part of the UK.

It follows Prime Minister David Cameron's promise to seek an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU if he wins the 2015 General Election.

Several EU migrants have formed small groups campaigning for Scottish independence to help ensure their residency in Scotland continues. Among them are Polish For Yes, Italians For Yes, French For Yes and EU Citizens For An Independent Scotland.

Addressing a meeting of Polish For Yes, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "With the Westminster parties dancing to UKIP's anti-European tune, Scotland faces the very real prospect of being ripped out of the EU against our will in the event of a No vote.

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond

"With independence we will finally be able to take our place around the European top table, building on our positive relationships with our European partners and ensuring we get the best possible deal for Scotland."

Pro-independence Polish actor Tomek Borkowy, who is now living in Scotland, said: "Westminster is treating Polish nationals as freeloaders and scroungers who are coming to the UK to receive benefits. But Poles are hard-working and valued employees.

"The Scottish Government, on the other hand, values the contribution we make to Scottish society."

A spokesman for Better Together, which is campaigning against independence, said: "The facts are clear - if Scotland votes to leave the UK, we would have to reapply to join the EU.

"This would be a very long and complex process, putting at risk the special EU deals we enjoy today as part of the UK.

"Our opt-outs on the euro and the no borders immigration scheme would also be at risk. That's a risk we simply don't have to take.

Mr McConnell said the Yes campaign on the NHS was a "big lie"

"Alex Salmond is the man who told us he had legal advice on the EU and a separate Scotland. It turns out that wasn't true and he spent thousands of pounds of public money trying to cover that up. Nobody trusts a word he has to say on this issue.

"We should say No Thanks to independence on 18 September." 

It came as the Yes and No campaigns in the independence referendum set out rival visions on the NHS.

Ms Sturgeon and Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie argued a Yes vote would "save Scotland's NHS".

"Scotland's budget has already been subject to Westminster cuts and now Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said that the NHS south of the border will be pushed 'off the cliff edge' by Tory privatisation and cuts," she said.

But former first minister Jack McConnell, speaking at a Better Together event in Edinburgh, called on the Yes camp to withdraw their "big huge lie" about the health service. 

"It is because the Scottish Parliament has power over the health service that the NHS in Scotland is not following the privatisation route favoured by Westminster," he said.

"Scotland's NHS has been safe in the hands of the Scottish Parliament. Even the SNP boast about that."

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