THE mayor of Driffield has spoken of her embarrassment at the lack of support shown by fellow councillors during a host of civic events which put the town in the public spotlight.

Thousands of people descended on the town centre to witness the official switch on of the Christmas lights last Thursday.

But the mayor, Coun Joyce Fletcher, said she had been embarrassed that only four town councillors turned out to support the event.

“It is an ideal opportunity to show a united front – that we all work together for the good of the town,” she said.

Late night shopping – which was attended by Councillors Joan and Tony Cooper, Paul Rounding and Phil Stocker – was one of several events in the recent past at which the 16 strong council was said to be poorly represented.

Only Paul Rounding, Phil Stocker, Georgina Lucas and Heather Venter attended the mayor’s own civic church service.

And just a “handful” were present at the town’s Remembrance Service events, which honour Driffield service personnel who lost their lives during wartime conflicts.

Critics have accused the authority of being divided not by party politics but by personality politics, and the situation came to a head during a full meeting of the council on Tuesday when Councillor David Credland raised the matter of attendance at civic events, arguing that it should be a matter of individual choice. Deputy mayor Coun Joan Cooper said: “We cannot go to everything but there are times when we should be going out there talking to people who are bringing issues to us.

“If we are not prepared to go out there and meet people and talk to people, what are we doing sitting around this table.

“It’s the people out there who put us in here and we should remember that.”

Coun Tony Cooper also believed that meeting the public was important: “We do not get paid for it, but volunteer to do it.”

Coun Fletcher said it had been embarrassing when only four councillors turned out for later night shopping.

“As mayor, you need the support of your council,” she explained. “We are all on the same side here and it is important to get out there and meet people.”

Coun Neal Pearson said he could not see any mileage in attending some events unless the aim was to meet sponsors or businesses.

“We are a business”, he said

But the mayor disagreed and stressed: “We are not a business.”

Coun Paul Rounding said: “We have to represent the town and we do it voluntarily.

A councillor for many years, he said that in the past the whole of the town council used to turn out for civic functions.

“Networking is the most important thing,” he explained.

Coun Steve Poessl said during his time as mayor he was active in meeting councillors from other areas and still maintained contact with past mayors in order to “pick their brains”.

After the meeting Coun Credland said he did attend some civic events, but at his own discretion.

“I would reserve the right to think for myself rather than have someone else tell me.”

A man of deep religious conviction, he questioned the amount of money spent on hospitality for some civic events - such as the £700 spent on the civic service reception - and said: “Would I be prepared to drink sherry at the public expense while there are people in Driffield who cannot afford sherry?

“I do not feel that I am any less of a councillor because I take a moral stand on certain things.

“My idea is to get on quietly helping to efficiently run the town. We can do things in a much simpler, plainer, less expensive way.”

“We can network without drinking sherry”.

*READERS – Is it the civic duty of councillors to attend major town events? Write to Views from The Wolds, Times House, Mill Street, Driffield. YO26 6TN or email editorial@driffieldtoday.co.uk

A PETITION has been launched by villagers in Fridaythorpe to fight plans to build two wind turbines at a farm.

Farmer Nick Horsley wants to erect the turbines, measuring just over 34 metres high, at Holme Farm, on Fimber Lane to power a potato store.

But villagers have vowed to fight the planning application amid concerns over potential noise, their proximity to the village, as well as the impact they could have on house prices and the visual landscape.

And some residents are worried that if given the go ahead it could set a precedent for future wind turbine developments in what is the highest village on the Yorkshire Wolds.

Chairman of the Parish Council Richard Pinder said: “They are remarkably close to the village. I can’t think of anywhere else in the East Riding that has them this close.”

Last Thursday over 50 villagers crowded into St Mary’s Church for an ‘extra-ordinary’ Fridaythorpe Parish Council Meeting to discuss the plans.

Steve Milner, managing director of renewable energy firm Earthmill Ltd - the company who would be responsible for erecting the turbines - addressed the meeting to offer further information on the plans.

Mr Milner said the turbines - each measuring 24.6 m to the hub and 34.6m to the tip - would generate power directly into the family run farm, replacing generators that are currently being used.

He reassured residents that they would not be getting “another Lissett” in reference to the 12-turbine commercial wind farm at the former RAF Airfield.

But one Fridaythorpe villager asked: “Why do we have to look at these, why do we have to put up with them?, while another said: “They’re a load of trash”, and “put them in Wetwang!”, a comment which was met with laughter from the crowd.

“It’s going to effect the price of our houses as well. Come on, lets be fair!” said another villager.

One resident said: “It’s going to devalue all our properties,” adding: “In theory it’s agreed that if you allow it, it’s starting a precedent, could more come?”

Mr Milner advised residents to consider the accumulative effect of such planning applications because the existence of smaller turbines in an area could stave off larger developments.

“Wind turbines are happening, it’s a national thing and there are over 31 applications currently in the East Riding,” Mr Milner said.

“What we are finding is smaller scale turbines, from a developers point of view, tend to keep the bigger ones away,” he added.

Concerns were also raised about the noise that the turbines could generate.

But Mr Milner said the proposed turbines were the “quietest turbines on the market” and they would be at least 300 metres from the nearest dwelling.

Mr Milner invited residents to visit a similar turbine at another site.

Comments made at the meeting will go back to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, who has the final decision, before the consultation ends tomorrow (December 9).

The Parish Council also advised residents to send their independent views into the ERYC while some villagers decided to draw up a petition to circulate around the village.

AN out of work self employed building trade worker was said to have committed a catalogue of crimes borne out of financial desperation.

Steven Johnson, 27, of Eastgate North, Driffield, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft, one of fraud and one of burglary – all committed in October, none of which according to his mitigating solicitor he had any chance of getting away with.

Prosecutor Michael Waudby told Bridlington magistrates court the first two offences committed on October 1 and October 3 involved the theft of bicycles, one valued at £300 and the other £200, one of which he took to a local cycle store who only offered him £10.

He wanted more and advertised the bikes for sale in a local newsagent’s window, leaving his address. Acting on information, police found both bikes in the garden at that address.

“Johnson admitted they had been stolen and said he needed to make ends meet,” said Mr Waudby.

The next two offences were committed on October 11, when he visited the Original Keys pub in Driffield while on police bail for the earlier incidents.

He asked at the pub if there was any casual work and when told there was none remained there drinking.

At around midnight it was noticed a Blackberry mobile phone was missing from a shelf behind the bar. Also 500 Mexican pesos were missing from a jacket in the private area.

Johnson was seen to have gone to the toilets where the phone was discovered on the window ledge. The money was also in his possession.

Finally on October 19, when he had found work with a company installing a wood burning stove at an address in Mayville Avenue, Scarborough, he stole a Barclays bank card from the address the company was working at and a cheque book.

Mr Waudby described how Johnson had tried to get £20 credit on his mobile using the stolen card and had tried to obtain £600 by saying he was the owner of someone else’s cheque book.

Bob Vining, mitigating, said Johnson had been in the building trade almost all his life but the current depression had left him out of work.

“He has lost his property and has been staying with friends, his relationship has broken down and the last 12 months have been a nightmare. He tried to keep his head above water and turned to crime to do that,” said Mr Vining.

He referred to Johnson as “never having any chance of getting away with it”, saying when he advertised the bikes for sale he gave his own address.

“Everybody in Driffield knows Johno,” he said.

He said when he had gone to the pub to seek work the girl behind the bar knew him. When there was no work he started drinking and was depressed.

“He leaned over the bar and took the phone. He saw a jacket and grabbed some paper from it, he did not even look at it. Realising he had been seen he goes to the toilet. The property was recovered and the money was worth around £30,” said Mr Vining.

He said when Johnson finally got employment, helping a company install a wood burning stove he was allowed by the owner of the house to make a brew in the kitchen and to go to the toilet but was heard in an upstairs room.

On the way to the job he had told the man he was working with that he had not even enough money to put credit on his mobile phone. At the house the man heard him ring up for credit but gave the name of the man they were working for. “He also wrote a £600 cheque out to himself and tried to pay that in, which wasn’t very successful,” said Mr Vining.

Magistrate Sue Ackrill told Johnson: “Most of these offences were just sheer stupidity. Crime does not pay.”

She sentenced him to four months imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently making a total of four months in all, suspended for two years and ordered he pay £120 costs.

A CAMPAIGN aimed at keeping youth worker Annette Ellis in Driffield is continuing to gather momentum.

Annette, who has been working with youngsters in the town for almost two decades, is being re-assigned to work in Pocklington by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

A petition aimed at halting the move has been launched by students at Driffield School and a group on the social networking site Facebook has attracted 796 supporters in just two weeks.

But the authority insists that the restructure of the Council’s Youth Support Service will continue to provide a service that meets the needs of young people while being cost effective.

A statement from ERYC said: “While local authorities across the country are making significant cuts to their Connexions and youth services, the new structure at East Riding of Yorkshire Council will maintain current staffing levels while achieving savings in the region of £750,000.

“The restructure has affected the whole of the youth support service and the savings have been made through a programme of vacancy management, including some from managerial posts but there have been no staff redundancies.

“Costs have been significantly reduced relating to IT software and management information systems.

“The structure will see youth worker and Connexions posts amalgamated into new youth advisor posts and there will be teams of youth support staff based at locations around the East Riding.”

The council said staff were consulted on the proposed new structure, which was agreed in April, and agreement was made with the unions about a process to be followed by which staff would move into new posts.

The implementation of the new service is on-going but is expected to be completed by March next year.

Kevin Allen, youth support service manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We are not reducing the level of support provided in any area of the East Riding.

“We have guaranteed that there will be no redundancies through this process but because job descriptions and levels have changed, we have not been able to give a guarantee that all staff will remain in their present location.

“Staff have been asked to give a first, second and third preference of location and posts have been offered methodically, according to ranking in interview and preference.

“Following this process, a small number of staff have been offered posts that are not in their present or preferred location.

“In these cases, staff have indicated they will accept the new post offered and we will be ensuring that support is given to enable them to continue to support the young people in those new areas.

“Young people will still continue to be able to access youth support workers in their locality.

“By ensuring that staff are able to work in a more flexible manner, we can respond to the needs of young people more quickly and in a more focussed manner.

“As a result, young people will see an improved service.”

A STAFF member at Farmway in Driffield has raised £13,000 for a farming charity by doing a skydive.

Julie Foley has taken to the skies over Grindale in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), a grant-making charity that supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress.

Julie chose to support RABI after she saw how their work benefitted her grandfather who suffered with respiratory diseases.

“I wanted to do something for the RABI because not only do I work for a farming charity myself, the RABI really helped my grandfather when he was suffering with respiratory diseases,” Julie said.

WHEN a driver swerved to avoid a fox his car spun round in the road.

No other vehicle was involved in the early morning accident and the driver decided to warn oncoming traffic his car, a blue Audi A4, was facing the wrong way by waving them down with a white towel.

Among the cars was a police patrol vehicle. The officer breathalysed Trust Gangata, 38, who turned out to be almost twice the legal drink drive limit.

Gangata, of Lindsey Road, Leeds, currently unemployed as a carer, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before Bridlington magistrates.

Prosecutor, Michael Waudby, said around 2.35am on November 19 the police saw Gangata standing in the middle of the A614 at Nafferton flagging down traffic with a white towel. A car in the road was facing the wrong way.

Gangata told them he had been driving along when a fox ran out in front of him. He tried to avoid it but collided with a triangular central island near the roundabout.

He failed a roadside breath test and a later test at the police station showed he had 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

At the time he refused to say anything in answer to questions about the incident, including to confirm he had been driving the car.

Ed Cunnah, mitigating, said Gangata had been driving for 20 years and had a clean licence.

“He is so distressed to have found himself in this situation,” said Mr Cunnah who described Gangata as having worked as a home carer travelling to people’s homes in his own vehicle.

In May this year he had returned to Africa for two months and lost his job. He has been unable to find work since.

“Mr Gangata said nothing at the police station because he had telephoned a solicitor who advised him to make no comment. He was trying to wave down traffic because he had an accident. He had braked suddenly and the car struck an island in the middle of the road on the approach to the roundabout and spun round.

“He behaved quite properly to ensure other drivers were aware of the obstruction,” said Mr Cunnah.

He added Mr Gangata, married with three children, had been drinking due to the stress of trying to find work.

Magistrate Sue Ackrill told him: “This is just an unfortunate incident, we understand you were just trying to help people. We have reduced the driving ban down to 16 months plus offer you a Reform course which can bring it down to just 12 months. This is as low as we can go.”

Gangata was also fined £100 with £65 costs and £15 victims surcharge.

A DRIFFIELD store has the best window display in Yorkshire, according to a top fabric company.

Janice Walker Interiors, situated on Middle Street North, has been chosen as one of ten winners of the country wide Villa Nova High Society Window Display Competition, winning tea for two at the Ritz.

The competition was run by fabric company, Villa Nova in a bid for interior shops to display their latest fabric collections in their windows.

Janice Walker said: “It is every fabric company’s desire to have their latest collection in a shop window so every now and then they hold a competition to inspire us to put their fabric in the window.”

The winning entry was installed in the shop in October and Janice Walker Interiors was the only shop in Yorkshire to be chosen as a winner of the competition.

Janice is thrilled to have won and has thanked all of her staff for their help in putting the window displays together, saying: “I’m so pleased to have won, it was a joint effort, everybody who worked here got involved.”

The staff at Janice Walker Interiors take a lot of pride in their windows and are always encouraged by compliments from the towns folk of Driffield.

“We take a lot of trouble and time over our windows, one of the great things about moving to this property was the windows.

“Sometimes passers by will pop in and say, ‘Oh, your windows look great’ or ‘lovely windows’ and that really encourages us,” said Janice.

The prints and colours of fabrics inspire Janice’s window displays, her winning window display featured a mannequin as the focal point surrounded by umbrellas and fans created using Villa Nova’s latest range, High Society.

“The sewing room made umbrellas because one of the fabrics reminded me of parasols and another fabric reminded me of fans so we made fans.

“We used the mannequin as the main feature because of the fabrics with the ladies on,” Janice explained.

Janice Walker Interiors has also made the last six of the Romo Fabrics Window Display Competitions in which another window display achieved a ‘highly commended’ status and were awarded a bottle of champagne.

I have been doing walk-abouts in Driffield this past week going over the highways and by-ways.

I was checking for those things that can make a difference but do not demand a big spend because there is just not the money these days.

I am referring to tasks like replacing a damaged tree in the high street: replacing some litter bins; speaking with Network Rail about making safe the fencing adjacent to the station; and discussing with East Yorkshire Motor Services about painting the bus station doors.

In addition, I have been planning some basic highway maintenance works to be carried out in the spring that will enhance the appearance of the high street.

I also checked some of the side streets in Driffield that were part of this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom route.

Overall I want to improve the work we do in partnership with Driffield Town Council, Driffield in Bloom and other local groups.

I make visits to other towns across the East Riding and at regular intervals.

Even a drive in the countryside for me is also about looking at the roads, keeping an eye open for fly-tipped waste and checking the general appearance of the area.

We have just prosecuted a businessman for not making sure the person he paid to take away his waste had the proper disposal licence.

It was waste connected with his business and was found dumped on a grass verge.

His appearance in court cost him more than £1,000, some of which came to the council to help pay for the clean up.

Quite right, too!

I find it indefensible that council taxpayers’ money, which could be put to better use, is spent on clearing up after someone who should know better.

If you think you have seen someone leaving waste around the place, please do not hesitate to call us on 01482 393939.

A vehicle registration number is a real bonus.

We will investigate and if it is innocent, that will be an end to it.

But if it is illegally fly-tipped, then we will go after them.

CHILDREN from a Driffield playgroup have been lighting up the town centre.

Accompanied by parents and staff, youngsters from Driffield Methodist Playgroup have taken part in a Lantern Walk.

The children made lanterns with glo sticks at playgroup in the lead up to the walk. They carried the lanterns on the walk, which followed a route that took in Westgate, York Road and Middle Street North to the Market Place, where they sang carols and Christmas songs.

The event was inspired by a similar Lantern Festival which takes place in Germany.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular former Driffield School teacher who died after being hit by a car while crossing a busy dual carriageway.

Malcolm Knight, 62, was crossing the A43 in Northamptonshire after the Seat Ibiza he was driving collided with the central barrier.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said the car stopped on the northbound carriageway of the A43 between the Barley Mow and Evenley roundabouts at around 8.25am on Saturday December 17.

Mr Knight got out of his car and started to cross the carriageway on foot. He was then involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Cavalier which was travelling in the same direction.

Mr Knight was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford but died from his injuries a short time later.

The inquest into Mr Knight’s death has been opened at Northampton Coroners Court and adjourned to be heard in full next year.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a 42-year-old man from Winchester, Hampshire was uninjured.

Mr Knight taught geography at Driffield School for over 20 years before he moved to Bournemouth to run a hotel with his partner.

Mr Knight will be remembered by many for producing countless plays at Driffield School and for his involvement in organising the annual school hiking holiday to the Lake District.

Retired Driffield School history teacher Ross Weekes said: “He was a terrific teacher, a very nice guy, lovely man. A very good teacher who was incredibly conscientious with his drama.”

“He was sadly missed when he left the school because he contributed so much,” Mr Weekes added.

Mr Knight was also a talented tennis player who played for the Driffield Rec Tennis Club for many years.

Former Nafferton Primary School teacher Barbara Vincent has fond memories of joining Mr Knight on the Lake District trips and of his time with the tennis club.

“We had great times,” Mrs Vincent said.

“He was a really nice guy and will be sadly missed. We had some super times,” she added.

Janet Woodcock, who used to be on a quiz team with Mr Knight and remembered him from his tennis days, said: “He was very kind, he would do anything for anybody, he was that type of man.”

Tributes from Mr Knight’s former pupils have been pouring onto a page called ‘Driffield The Good Old Days’ on the social networking site Facebook.

Mike Harris said: “He was a great teacher and a mentor to me. Still can’t get my head around it. R.I.P Malc and thanks for everything.”

Alyson Chambers said: “R.I.P Mr Knight, you made geography much more interesting for me.”

Jolyon Lawson said: “RIP Malcom. Many happy memories of “treading the boards” under your expert supervision!”

Steve Dixon said: “The make-up star of many school plays and my geography teacher rip sir and many thanks for all you did.”

Janina Cairns said: “One of the nicest teachers I had. He will be remembered fondly.”

What are your memories of the late Malcolm Knight, and his time teaching at Driffield School?

Send your tributes to editorial@driffieldtoday.co.uk

or send letters by post to:

Driffield Times & Post

Times House

Mill Street

Driffield

YO25 6TN

Alternatively if you want to leave a tribute to Malcolm Knight, you can add one here.

You will need to register as a user on the website - click on the button at the bottom of the page to do this and follow the instructions.

Or if you would prefer, you can post a tribute on the social networking site Facebook - Just follow the link above and join the group ‘Driffield The Good Old Days’

town councillors believe it is vitally important to the future of the main street that free car parking is available in Driffield.

So they propose to quiz the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on their long term plans for the Cattle Market car park on Beckside.

Several years have passed since a planning application was granted for a supermarket on the former Driffield Cattle Market site, which stands adjacent to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council owned car park.

It was anticipated at the time of the application that the Cattle Market car park would be eventually sold to developers.

But there has been little or no movement with regard to the planning application and it seems highly unlikely that work to create a new retail development will begin any time in the near future

The disused Cattle Market remains in place and is now regarded as a derelict eyesore, while the adjacent free car park is still used on a daily basis by hundreds of motorists.

The town council was told by clerk Claire Binnington: “That car park is essential for shoppers who can park for free and come into town.”

She said that she understood that the East Riding Council was working hard to ensure the area known as Drif9 was eventually developed but felt the town council should be kept in the loop as to what was happening.

“At the end of the day, we take that car park for granted but it could well go and become something like we have at Tesco where parking is limited to two hours or so.”

The matter of car parking was raised as the council discussed a Government sponsored independent review into the future of high streets by business guru Mary Portas, who recommended the establishment of a town team - a visionary, strategic and strong operational team for high streets.

Coun Mark Blakeston said that a town management team outside the town council was something the authority should look at in the absence of a chamber of trade.

Coun Neal Pearson said that car parking charges of £1.30 an hour at other Driffield car parks such as Cross Hill hour seemed “rather a lot”.

“East Riding is taking the mick,” he said. “It is a revenue stream, a taxation.”

Following a proposal from Coun Paul Rounding, the town council agreed to write to the East Riding authority to inquire about their current policy and intentions with regard to the cattle market car park.

“Car parking is essential in a rural area and we need it,” he said.

POLICE in Driffield investigated 19 cases of criminal damage last month, the town council has been told.

This compared with just three burglaries and six incidents of anti social behaviour.

The figures were revealed to the town council in a police update report for November.

In one of the most outrageous incidents of criminal damage, drunken youths entered the St Catherine’s Hospice charity shop and jumped on furniture on display, damaging a television table.

Police said that in the same month, damage was caused to 13 cars in the town.

In one half hour period, six vehicles parked in Victoria Road, Westgate, Church Street and Church Lane were damaged by a group of youths. Officers say that enquiries are underway to identify the offenders.

As part of the criminal damage tally, three property windows were broken and damage was caused on the Driffield showground when graffiti was sprayed on some of the buildings. A vehicle parked at the rugby club was also broken into and damaged at the same time.

During November, there were just three burglaries – down from eight the previous month.

They included a raid on Blockbusters, when display items were stolen, and a break in at the Yorkshire Bank, when the front door was forced open and a post bag was taken.

The bag was later returned and police said it appeared the burglary had been a drunken prank.

Between November 11 and 17, the former doctors’ surgery on Bridge Street was entered. Nothing was stolen but a window at the point of entry was damaged.

There were just six calls to the police about anti social behaviour during November - down two compared to the previous month.

They included problems with youths congregating outside Costcutter on Mill Street, youths banging on windows at Tesco, youths banging on house windows in Bridge Street, youths messing about with lifebelts on Riverhead, a noisy party at Northfield Crescent and youths skateboarding in the car park at the medical centre on Eastgate North.

Appeals were launched following six offences, including several thefts, an assault on Middle Street North and an incident when four males entered a pub and, after distracting staff, used a key to open a fruit machine before removing the cash.

THE highways authority has said that there is thought, planning and science behind its road gritting procedures - “even though it doesn’t appear to make sense at the time.”

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council defended its actions after Driffield town councillor Jolyon Lawson voiced concern that gritters were on the roads too early in the day, which meant that the grit had often dispersed by the time it was needed.

The authority wrote to the ERYC, asking them to reconsider their gritting schedules.

The area engineer for streetscene services, Mr Dave England, wrote back to explain that there was “A bit of thought, planning and science behind our actions, even though it doesn’t appear to make sense at the time.”

He explained that the authority’s winter maintenance unit followed a set procedure which involved monitoring conditions across the East Riding’s five separate climate zones via roadside weather stations.

The council also acted on Met Office forecasts and weather warnings and consulted with neighbouring local authorities, the Highways Agency and other organisations.

“When certain criteria are met - eg plus two degrees centigrade and falling, or a road surface close to freezing with a warm wet front on its way which would result in black ice - we treat the precautionary network regardless of time.”

It takes four hours to complete gritting.

“If your observer remained on the road to Howden or any other precautionary route they would have noticed that the night shift were on their routes again at 7pm following any rainfall, to ensure surfaces were treated for overnight freezing conditions and the next morning’s rush hour.”

A FORMER Northfield Infant School pupil has been cleared of a murder which involved the victim being tortured with a red-hot poker.

Corrina Lowe, 28, stood trial at the Old Bailey, in London alongside two other people charged with the murder of Anthony Bates. All three denied murder.

Following the trial which spanned several weeks Miss Lowe, who gave her address as no fixed abode, was acquitted by the jury while her co-accused - Gary Speight, 31, and Dean Swift, 44 - were found guilty and jailed for life.

Anthony Bates, 36, was found dead at a flat where Speight was squatting on Fentiman Road, in Vauxhall, London on Tuesday February 1 last year. He had been beaten, burnt with a hot poker and boiling sugar, and cut with a knife.

The court heard that Mr Bates had become involved with the ex-partner of Speight while he was in prison and he bore a grudge against the victim as a result.

Speight, of Vauxhall Bridge Road, Pimlico, Central London will serve a minimum of 30 years while Swift, of no fixed address, will serve at least 28 years in prison.

Judge Charles Byers told the pair: “Anyone who listened to the evidence in this case could come to no other conclusion than that this was a brutal and callous murder.

“Committed over a long period during the course of one day, and causing the deceased Anthony Bates to die in what was described by one expert witness as exquisite pain, I’m quite satisfied that you tortured him and that you tortured him for your own sadistic pleasure.”

He went on: “I’m satisfied you Gary Speight when in drink are a reckless and dangerous bully, and Dean Swift that you behaved in a depraved manner given an encouragement to torture, and that you relayed to one witness that you really enjoyed it.”

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said a number of alcoholics had gone to the flat and witnessed the ordeal. One had recorded the victim’s screams on his mobile phone.

Mr Bates had started a relationship with a woman a few months before but learnt later that Speight, her previous boyfriend, was angered by their affair.

He returned to his father’s home in Stoke-on-Trent for a few days, saying he had to leave London because people were after him, the court heard.

Mr Altman said Mr Bates told his sister that the man had been released from prison “and was threatening to kill him”.

The judge told the jury that there must have been times “when you have wondered whether you would ever get over some of the things that you heard”. He excused them from doing jury service for the next 10 years.

Speaking after the verdicts CPS London Reviewing Lawyer Navnit Dosanjh said: “Mr Bates was brutalised and physically abused until he eventually died from his injuries. As part of this repeated and persistent torture the victim was stamped on, punched and kicked and he also sustained burn injuries from the use of a hot poker.

“There were also cutting wounds to his neck. Speight was the ring leader in the attack, but Swift was a willing accomplice, assisting in the torture. I hope these successful convictions provide some small comfort to the family of Mr Bates.”

Miss Lowe was sleeping rough in a derelict building on the outskirts of Driffield town centre in early 2009. She said at the time that she and her partner had moved to Driffield from London in the hope of finding somewhere safe and warm to live.

Miss Lowe is originally from Bridlington but came to live in Driffield - where she had family and attended school at Northfield - to avoid the embarrassment of sleeping rough in her home town. Miss Lowe later returned to live at an address in Driffield with a family member.

To those of us who are parents, the most obvious answer to the question “What is the most valuable thing to you?” is “my kids”.

As they grow up, we the take time and effort to guide, help and protect them at every opportunity: we take them to school when they’re little; we drop off and pick them up at activities; we ensure that we know where they are, and give them times to be back home; we worry when they’re late home; we warn them about the dangers of talking to strangers.

In short, we do all in our power to keep them free from harm.

And yet as the darker nights come along, so many parents seem quite content to let their children go riding around on bicycles in the dark without lights, thereby allowing them to risk death or serious injury.

A while ago, I witnessed a teenager on a bike out one dark evening who cut across the front of a vehicle.

The rider was wearing dark clothing and had no lights displayed and seemed totally oblivious to the danger he was in.

Whilst the poor car driver was forced to brake suddenly, the cyclist simply carried on as if nothing had happened. The cyclist was simply not visible to the driver.

If you’re a driver yourself, you’ll know that the worst times for accidents on the road are in the early morning, when people are tired, and in the evening, when folk are coming home after a hard day at work.

Yet these are exactly the times when our kids can be engaged on paper rounds or coming home from school themselves.

And these are the times when they’re in the most danger as a result!

Remember, you can’t always rely on the driver being as alert as you might be! I’m sure the mum and dad of the young man involved in the incident I’ve described would have been mortified to know how close their child had come to serious injury by not being visible.  

So this week I’m asking all mums and dads to think about their children’s bikes during dark winter nights:

1. Do your children have lights on their bikes? If not, why not spend a fiver and get some? (And yes, decent ones are available as cheaply as that!)

2. Do your children have a paper round? Then make sure that they go out clearly visible, not just with their fluorescent paper bags, but with lights and reflectors on their cycles too. It could save their lives!

3. Newsagents - Check that the young people you employ are visible when they’re working for you. Do you check and advise? If not, why not give it a go?

As we all know, legal penalties exist for riding pedal cycles without lights. But this is more serious than a £30 fixed penalty ticket: this is the welfare of our children we’re talking about!

So come on mums and dads! Make sure your kids are safe on their bikes this winter!

Driffield-based firm, Dodds Solar, one of the North’s fastest growing solar PV specialists, is to create more than 20 new jobs this year.

The recession bucking move will mark the largest and most important recruitment campaign in the company’s 17 year history.

A number of opportunities are available immediately as the firm continues to grow, largely on the back of the solar PV boom.

The company has recently completed a refurbishment of its office and warehouse complex on the Kelleythorpe Industrial Estate and increased its commercial vehicle fleet.

Managing Director Graham Dodds said: “The past 18 months have seen a near complete transformation of our business.

“Just over a year ago, we were still focussed heavily on providing roofing services, mostly to large-scale developments such as business parks, factories and academies.

“Since we switched emphasis to the solar PV sector our expansion has been considerable to the point where we are now one of the region’s largest providers.

“We are still providing specialist roofing support through Dodds Roofing Services but our future growth is almost certainly going to be in the energy sectors as more home and commercial property owners realise the value of natural and renewable energy sources.”

Dodds Solar is looking to recruit a range of skills, including mechanical engineers, design engineers, electricians, project managers and administration and sales staff and is currently researching other energy products with a view to expanding its product and service range this year.

Graham said: “This is good news for Driffield and East Yorkshire at the start of a new year – a local company creating new jobs hopefully to be filled by local people”.

The company’s solar PV success story began in 2010. Its order book remained strong throughout last year as property owners took advantage of the Feed in Tariff offered on installations. The original cash-back rate of 43p per kilowatt hour was reduced to 21p for orders placed after 12 December but the Government could be forced to reverse its decision following a High Court ruling that the decision was “legally flawed”.

Dodds Solar, and others in the industry, are hoping for clarification from the Government. Meanwhile, according to Graham Dodds, whether the rate is 21p or 43p, solar PV remains high on the public’s shopping list for 2012.

The 122nd AGM of the East Riding Valuers was held on January 6 at the Bell Hotel, Driffield.

Andrew Houlden was in the chair as President. The Association welcomed as its guests James O’Brien, Junior Vice President of the CAAV, Jeremy Moody, Secretary and adviser to the CAAV, Michael Glover, Chairman of Northern Group, Edward Stephenson, Secretary to Northern Group, James Holdroyd, President of Yorkshire Association, Philip Coles, Secretary North Yorkshire and South Durham Association.

The Association was also welcomed John Leese of McParland Finn Limited as guest speaker.

Ralph Ward of Frank Hill & Son, Patrington was elected President for the forthcoming year. This will be Mr Ward’s second term of office, having previously held the position in 1987.

There was a good attendance at the meeting and members listened to updates on current issues affecting agriculture such as CAP Reform, renewable energy developments and tax reliefs. Education and Agronomy Reports were received from Martin Swann, Edward Stephenson and Mark Caley.

The Association congratulated Georgina Horsley of Dee Atkinson & Harrison who had passed the rigorous examinations in November to be recommended as a Fellow of the Association.

Thomas Campion of Garrowby Estates had also achieved success in part of the exam. The meeting concluded with its annual luncheon in the Bell Hotel’s dining room.

A DRIFFIELD man lashed out and assaulted another man outside a town centre garage following years of alleged taunts from his landlord, a court has heard.

A court has heard how Edward George Robson, 43, of George Street punched electrical engineer David Wilson several times in the head outside the Ellis Brothers Garage on the afternoon of December 7.

Robson pleaded guilty to assault by beating when he appeared at Bridlington Magistrates Court last Wednesday (January 4).

Victoria Mills, prosecuting, told the court that at 4.15pm Mr Wilson, who is a freelance electrical engineer was on a job at the garage when he was approached from behind by Robson.

Mrs Mills said Robson swore at Mr Wilson before punching him in the head 10 times causing bruising to his face.

Robson was recognised as the tenant who was living in the flat above the garage.

Mrs Mills said: “He (Mr Robson) was interviewed by police and during the interview he said he had been suffering from depression since he had problems with the garage owners.”

In mitigation Richard Drew said the matter was not as straight forward as Robson had made out.

“Mr Robson has resided in the flat above the garage for the last seven years. He rents this flat from Chris Ellis, one of a number of Ellis’s who live and work in the area,” Mr Drew said.

“From pretty much immediately after he moved into the flat he was subjected to almost systematic harassment.

“He would suggest he had been a victim of numerous personal slogans and verbal abuse from Chris Ellis and other members of the Ellis family.

“This harassment has accelerated in the last four months or so,” Mr Drew added.

Mr Drew said Robson had called the police after he overheard some verbal abuse directed towards him in a conversation between Norman Ellis and Mr Wilson at the garage.

Mr Drew told the court that a harassment warning was given to Norman Ellis who was told by police to stop the taunts.

“The baton was handed to Mr Wilson and he subjected Mr Robson to taunts and abuse,” Mr Drew added.

Mr Drew told the court that Robson, who suffers from depression and anxiety, plans to move to York where he hopes to secure employment.

Robson was given a six month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay court costs of £40.

Christine Bennison has been made ‘queen for a day’ by pupils of Middleton on the Wolds Primary School to celebrate her retirement after ten years as headteacher at the school.

The school hall, adorned with a ‘Happy Retirement’ banner made by pupils, played host to a surprise assembly during which Mrs Bennison was provided with a crown and throne fit for a queen and presented with books containing pictures of the beloved lady drawn by students and sentences marking her time at the school.

Staff and pupils enjoyed refreshments and Christine was presented with gifts before spending the afternoon playing board games.

Sheranne Low, a teacher at Middleton school said: “It was a lovely day, Mrs Bennison thoroughly enjoyed it and it managed to stay a surprise - trying to hide the banner was difficult but the children managed it.”

Christine has also retired from the position of headteacher at Beswick and Watton School which is in federation with Middleton.

A MAN tried to steal a bottle of whiskey from a Driffield supermarket days before Christmas after he spent a fortnight’s worth of benefits cash on a week-long drug binge, a court has heard.

Benjamin William Brickwood, 26, of New Walk, Driffield picked up a £16.99 bottle of Jim Beam whiskey from the drinks aisle in Lidl on the morning of December 23 and put it into a ‘Lidl’ carrier bag.

He then made for the exit without paying but had been spotted by store staff and stopped.

Brickwood pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop when he was brought before magistrates in Bridlington last Wednesday.

He also admitted breaching a 12 month conditional discharge which had been imposed by Hull Magistrates Court on October 28 last year.

In mitigation Mike Farr said: “Mr Brickwood has a drug problem which is now pretty much under control and he lives with his parents in Driffield who are very suppportive. He’s getting support from a drug intervention programme and has a drug worker.”

Mr Farr said that prior to the offence for which Brickwood received his conditional discharge he had not offended for over two years and had found employment at a Cranswick Foods factory.

“He was employed for just over a year but due to the current climate lost his job and returned to drugs. The drug worker went on holiday and then fell ill, he didn’t have the support and lapsed back into drug use.

“During a week he spent his two weeks benefit money and savings. That led to this offence of stealing a bottle of whiskey as a present for his father. He felt guilty because he’s living with his parents,” Mr Farr said.

Presiding magistrate Ann Farnsworth said the bench were prepared to give Brickwood a chance and handed him a further conditional discharge for a period of two years. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs.