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A man who exposed himself to two girls at a seaside resort claimed he had taken off his trousers because he spilled Coca Cola on them. Martin Lewis was already a registered sex offender when he drove to Exmouth beach and got out of his car wearing nothing below his waist. When police intercepted him nearby he was still half naked. He said he has spilt a drink over his trousers but the officer found them totally dry on the back seat. Lewis was also found to have broken a ban on using the internet and posted an obscene picture on Facebook under the pseudonym Devonguy. He was banned by a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) from using social media but started accounts on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook, Exeter Crown Court was told. Lewis, aged 44, of Hookhills Grove, Paignton, admitted three offences of exposure and six of breaching a SOPO. His case was adjourned by Judge Phillip Wassall to enable the prosecution more time to present evidence about posting of indecent an image of himself on social media. Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said two young women visiting a beach hut in Exmouth were shocked to see Lewis get out of his car naked from the waist down. He drove off but came back a few minutes later and did the same thing. Police were called and found him nearby, still in his car. Mr Bowen said:"The officer approached the car and saw he was again naked from the waist down, thus exposing himself for the third time. He said he had spilt Coke on his trousers but the officer found them in the car and they were dry. "One of the girls said she was sure Lewis was directing his behaviour towards them. She thought it was weird." He said inquiries showed Lewis was subject of a SOPO and had broken its terms by using Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. Mr Gareth Evans, defending, said the charges he faces for these offences do not include the allegation of posting an image of his private parts on Facebook and merely refer to him breaking the SOPO by using social media. Judge Wassall said he needed to know why this charge was not before him and adjourned the case for the prosecution to bring it to court. He said:"This is disturbing behaviour, bizarre and unusual in the extreme. There is reference in the offence analysis about him linking a connection to Facebook with images of him exposing himself. "This is probably the most aggravating feature and I am not going to be able to deal with this case without this being resolved."

Man who exposed himself to girls on Exmouth beach claimed he had spilt Coke on his trousers

A decorator who stole 20 tablet computers from a school where he was working gave one to his son as a birthday present. Farese Dowrah took the iPads from Ilsington Primary School near Newton Abbot while he was painting classrooms during the summer holiday and was left unsupervised on a Saturday. He sold all but two of the tablets in a pub in Newton Abbot but kept two which he gave as presents to his girlfriend and his son. Each of the machines had a number on it and he tried to hide the fact the computer was stolen from his son by giving him the one with four on it and telling him it was put there specially because it was his fourth birthday. Dowrah, aged 33, of Sherwell Lane, Torquay, was told his offence was a low sort or crime and that he was motivated by avarice when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court and admitted theft and handling. He was jailed for six months, suspended for two years, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work and pay the school's £250 insurance excess as compensation. Judge Erik Salomonsen said:"This was a low offence. You were given the privilege of working at the school but saw it as an opportunity of stealing the iPads. It was simple avarice. "You only pleaded guilty on the morning of your trial and you made false assertions against wholly honest witnesses. If you go into custody you will come out without a job. I hope a suspended sentence will put pressure on you to live an honest life. Miss Beth Heaton, prosecuting, said Dowrah was working as a painter and decorator at the school when he stole the 20 iPads, which were worth a total of more than £6,000. The only two which were recovered were the ones he gave as presents to his son and girlfriend. Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, said Dowrah is in full time employment running his own painting and decorating business and has a stable home with a new partner. He said:"He was working at the school and saw the iPads and the temptation was put in front of him and he could not resist it."

Thief gave school's stolen iPad to his son as birthday present

PATIENTS have again recognised Devon Doctors as one of the country's leading providers of out-of-hours [OOH] GP care. The results of NHS England's latest GP survey rank the OOH care it provides in South Devon and Torbay as the eighth best in the country, while North East and West Devon, which includes Exeter, ranks 10th of the 214 areas assessed. The Exeter-based organisation has been a regular fixture in top 10 nationwide providers over the course of the past decade. What is more, across the two areas 87 per cent of those surveyed said they had confidence and trust in their clinician – a figure which could be bettered in only nine other areas and none in the southern half of the country. Nationwide 79.1 per cent of patients reported that they had faith in their clinician. Seventy one per cent of respondents said that the time it took to receive care from Devon Doctors was 'about right', compared with just 58.9 per cent across the country as a whole, while 85 per cent said it was 'easy' to contact the OOH service, as opposed to 74.5 per cent nationwide. "We attach huge importance to the satisfaction of our patients and are thrilled they have given us such a glowing endorsement," enthused chief operating officer Ian Parsonage. "It's good to rank highly in any kind of survey but it's especially good to rank so highly in one which is informed by the opinions of thousands of people who have used our service and which is widely regarded as the most accurate measure of excellence in the OOH sphere. "What is more, we have attained this level of excellence with a per-patient cost that is less than the national average and our rate of referrals to hospitals is one of the lowest in the country." "At the same time, there is no room for complacency – we can always do better and, rest assured, we will be doing everything in our power to ensure we perform even better in the 2015 GP Patient Survey." The chairman of Devon Doctors, Dr Bruce Hughes, a practising North Devon GP, said: "As a social enterprise, unlike a great many OOH providers, Devon Doctors is not motivated by the pursuit of profit and, clearly, this is borne out by these findings, which also reflect the hard work, commitment and dedication of our staff, who strive to provide a safe, high quality OOH service at all times." Devon Doctors is a social enterprise owned in partnership by every GP service in the county. It is commissioned by NHS North, East, West Devon CCG and NHS South Devon and Torbay CCG to provide OOH GP care to 1.2 million people across the county.

Devon Doctors recognised as one of country’s best providers of out-of-hours care

A fence was caught selling thousands of pounds of stolen machinery on eBay after an undercover detective posed as a buyer and entered a successful bid in the online auction. Ryan Bright was acting as receiver for a burglar who was targeting sheds and garages around East Devon but he was trapped after one of the victims spotted his stolen set of alloy wheels on the auction site. He alerted the police who carried out a sting operation in which they bought a stolen piece of garden machinery for £275 and arranged to pick it up from Bright. He offered the detective, who was using the cover name of Nigel, other stolen items and promised he would be getting new supplies of similar tools soon. Bright was operating out of a friend's home in Exeter and no sooner had 'Nigel' left than colleagues arrived armed with a search warrant and recovered thousands of pounds worth of kit. He claimed he had bought all the items from a mystery man in a white van who had pulled up next to him and his friend Jamie Channing as they were fixing a car in the road and offered them the cut price goods. Bright, aged 27, of Langstone Drive, Exmouth, and Channing, aged 25, of Burnthouse Lane, Exeter, admitted eight charges of handling stolen goods. Bright was jailed for 18 months and Channing was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years and ordered to do 300 hours unpaid community work. Judge Phillip Wassall told them:"These goods were being sold on eBay and the police did a thorough investigation including buying certain items, coming round and engaging in discussions which revealed your offending. "Handling stolen goods is in many ways more serious than theft because without people to assist in the disposal of stolen items thieves would have nowhere to go." Mr Gareth Evans, prosecuting, said £7,296 worth of power tools, garden machinery, mountain bikes and car parts were taken in a series of eight burglaries of outbuildings in February last year. The burglaries were at Clyst St Mary, Woodbury, Exton, Lympstone, Whimple, Ottery St Mary and the Knowle Cross Cricket Club. Many of the stolen items were found when police raided Channing's home in Exeter after one of the losers found their stolen items on eBay. Mr Evans said:"A tilling machine which was up for sale on eBay came to the attention of the police and it was established the seller was Bright. "An undercover officer contacted him and offered to buy the item for £200 but he refused and the police then bid for it successfully and arranged for payment and collection. "The seller gave the name of Ryan and the officer, using the under cover name of Nigel went to pick it up. Bright said it belonged to his brother who was selling it because he was joining the army. "The officer asked about a lawn mower and Bright said he had other items including a strimmer, chain saw and hedge trimmer and said he would have more items soon." Mr Warren Robinson, for Bright, said Bright has found a job as a sous chef and has now settled down and is keen to be a good father to his young son. He said he had been working on a car in the street when a man in a white van pulled up and offered him items at a very good price, which he could not resist. Miss Mary McCarthy, defending Channing, said he did not have the know how to sell anything on eBay and had been drawn into the scheme out of naivety and immaturity. He works as a self employed mechanic doing up cars and is due to become a father for the first time in the next week.

Exmouth thief jailed after police go under cover on eBay to catch him

The owners of three horses that are thought to have been stolen from a farm near Exeter are appealing for the public's help in being reunited with the world champion bred animals. The horses, thought to be worth £25,000 in total, went missing from the farm in Rackenford in the early hours of this morning. Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for information on the theft. Police believe the incident took place between 6am and 8am this morning. The three horses are described as high-class animals and are described below: Brown with white blaze, 16.3hh mare 6yo Brown 16hh with white blaz 2.5yo filly Chesnut with white fleck 2.5yo filly A fourth horse was left behind which led the owners to believe they have been. Anyone with information or saw any suspicious activity in the area is asked to call the police on 101 quoting crime number C5/107751/14.

Can you help? Appeal after three horses stolen from farm near Exeter

THE father of one of the defendants in the murder trial of an Exeter man has told the jury another one of the accused came to his home and confessed. Steven Quilivan claims that Darren Twigger turned up on his doorstep in the days after Stephen Crook was killed and told him he had stabbed someone. He said that Twigger also told him another of the defendants, Ryan Singleton, had "gone mad with a knife" during the incident. He was giving evidence during the on-going trial of five men at Exeter Crown Court for the murder of Mr Crook at his home in Alphington Road, Exeter, last November. Steven Webster, aged 40, of East Street, Okehampton; Ryan Singleton, aged 26, of Howcotte Green, Canley, Coventry; Darren Twigger, aged 40, of John Rous Avenue, Canley; Bradley Richardson, aged 18, of Prior Deram Walk, Canley; and Anthony Martin, aged 22, of Gerard Avenue, Canley, all deny murder and robbery. The jury were today (Friday) told that the defendants had borrowed Mr Quilivan's car to travel from Coventry to Exeter and shortly after the car was returned it was destroyed by fire. Mr Quilivan said the meeting on his doorstep came sometime between his car being returned on November 22 and Twigger's arrest on November 26. He said: "I spoke to him (Twigger) on the doorstep of my home. He just turned up without any notice and was a mess. He told me he had been involved in something and that he had stabbed someone. He also said Ryan (Singleton) had gone mad with a knife. "I think I was in shock. I did not believe him and I did not want to believe him. I did not want to know. It was nothing to do with me. I was not there and I wish he had not told me." Mr Quilivan , who is the father of the defendant Anthony Martin, said he had been close friends with Twigger for many years. He confirmed they had borrowed his car and returned it to the road outside his house the next day. He said that when he first gave a statement to police he did not tell them of his meeting with Twigger. "I did not know what to believe," he added. "Darren was in that much of a state. I don't think he realised what he said. I was in shock and disbelief. That was the only time I spoke to him before his arrest." Mr Quilivan said that another close friend Jim Singleton, who is the father of Ryan, also showed up at his door in May this year. He confirmed he told him what Twigger had said about stabbing someone but did not tell him he was told Ryan had "gone mad with a knife." The prosecution say former neighbour Steven Webster, who is now living in Okehampton, identified Mr Crook as a potential target for a robbery by four men from Coventry who had come to Devon to buy and take drugs. Mr Crook was attacked in his home in Alphington Road, Exeter, last November, while his partner was out buying a Chinese take away. She returned to find him dying from loss of blood. The jury have been told the five men believed he had £20,000 in cash or drugs at his house but escaped with only around £1,000, jewellery, a laptop and other valuable. The prosecution allege Webster helped the other four gain access to the flat, which was guarded by a CCTV system, and the other four then carried out the attack with knives they had just bought at the nearby Sainsbury store. They say after the attack the group went to Okehampton to buy drugs and then went to'celebrate' at the Spice Lounge restaurant in Exmouth and the Exeter Arms Hotel at Middlemoor, Exeter. Ryan Singleton was arrested at a Tesco store in St Thomas, Exeter, the next morning and a pair of blood-stained trainers were recovered from his feet. The other three men were arrested after they had left Exeter. The trial continues.

Father tells court that defendant confessed to Exeter killing on his doorstep

Exeter City have confirmed that striker Alex Nicholls will remain with the club on loan for another month. The Northampton Town player's deal had been due to expire this Sunday. However, the 26-year-old will now remain at St James's Park until Sunday, October 26, when the Grecians travel to Morecambe. During five games with the Grecians so far, his only goal proved to be the winner away at Cambridge - which his first for almost two years after returning from a lengthy spell sidelined with injury. However, Northampton have the option of recalling Nicholls at 24 hours' notice at any time during his loan spell.

Alex Nicholls to remain at Exeter City for another month

An eviction order is likely be served on squatters who inhabited a countryside pub near Exeter. The Twisted Oak, on the rural outskirts of Ide, ceased trading last month after its landlord decided it was too expensive to run. A group of settlers moved into the empty building last week, and placed notices in the window claiming their occupation of the building is legal. One sign reads: "We are not junkie freeloaders. We are homeless. We are not breaking the law." A man, who appeared to be one of the squatters, said: "We've been here just over a week. But we're not planning to stay much longer – you usually get moved-on pretty quickly these days." Devon and Cornwall Police has been informed about the settlers, but said it was the responsibility of the premises' owners to consider making an eviction order. Pub operator Enterprise Inns has confirmed it will try to get an eviction order served on the squatters. A spokesman said: "We have applied for a court order to have the squatters legally removed. Our application will be heard shortly. "We are committed to the pub, and are engaged in a recruitment process so that we can reopen it as quickly as possible."

Update: Eviction order set to be served on squatters at empty Exeter pub

A Plymouth mum has been found guilty of assaulting her four-month old son by slashing his feet with a razor blade. Rachel Thompson, 40, was found guilty at the end of a week-long trial. The jury deliberated for two and a half hours. Thompson, of Channel Park Avenue, Efford, aged 40, had denied deliberately assaulting the boy, claiming he had been injured in an accident. Mum-of-three Thompson, has gbeen found guilty of child cruelty which took place between September 14 and September 18, 2011. The baby was found to have two very similar wounds on each heel, with "partial thickness" skin loss measuring about 1.5cms by 0.75cms. Thompson took the boy to hospital two days after she said the accident happened. Medical staff immediately suspected that the wounds had been caused deliberately – partly because of the delay in taking him to the casualty department. But her mother Angela Thompson, a former nurse, told the jury she had told her daughter on the night of the accident that the boy did not need to go to hospital. She added that Thompson decided to take him two days later because the wounds looked worse. The court heard Thompson had self-harmed previously and suffered from a personality disorder caused by childhood abuse in the home and bullying at school. She has suffered from the eating disorder bulimia for most of her adult life, the court heard. The jury has heard that the boy is still living at home with Thompson and partner Trevor Parkins. The couple also have a 15-month-old boy. Thompson, a former nursing auxiliary and dental nurse, has a 22-year-old son from an earlier relationship. Thompson has been released on bail and will be sentenced on November 7.

Devon mum found guilty of slashing baby son's feet with a razor blade

Exeter Cathedral's magnificent century organ is returning home, after its 18 month long refurbishment. The organ, including its thousands of pipes, was sent up to master organ builders Harrison and Harrison in Durham, who have looked after the Exeter organ since the 1930s. The organ will be built back into its iconic 17th century case, which dominates the inside of the Cathedral, piece by piece. Each of the pipes will have to be 'voiced' or tuned, a process that will go on throughout the autumn. The Cathedral's Director of Music, Andrew Millington, said : "It is really exciting to see all the pipes returning and in a few weeks we will start to hear sounds from the organ once again." Work on the organ has been funded thanks to generous donors of the Cathedral's Third Millennium Campaign, money raised from events and from the Friends. A large grant has been awarded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company .

Almost 250 cannabis users are set to openly smoke in Exeter tomorrow during a drug picnic protest. The Devon Cannabis Club is holding its annual Harvest Picnic at Flowerpot Playing Fields in Exeter between 2pm and 6pm with 240 people currently signed up for the event on Facebook. Last year a similar protest was held in Exeter that was attended by around 60 cannabis users. Although there was a strong police presence in the park there were no arrests. This year's event is being promoted on facebook and the page states: "Come and join us for a picnic and to consume herb to lift the blanket of stigma and these ridiculous laws." Daryl Sullivan, is the South West regional admin for The United Kingdom Cannabis Social Clubs, a national NGO made up of grass-roots movements all over the country. He said: "Our aim is to raise awareness of the benefits of cannabis and to address the bias and misinformation so often seen in the mainstream media. "To this end we have, for the past two years, been holding public 'protest picnics' around the country. "These are gatherings where people get together and openly smoke cannabis to prove that it can be done sensibly and without harm to anyone, and to show the absurdity of its illegal status. We also provide leaflets and information regarding cannabis, the harms of prohibition and why we believe a legal, regulated system would take away many of the problems we see now. "The protests have been quite sucessful at pushing this issue into the public eye." Police had pledged to monitor the event and said that while anyone smoking cannabis would be breaking the law, they recognised the right to peaceful protest. And police confirmed that last year the protest passed without incident and no arrests were made.

Cannabis users to smoke openly at Exeter park protest tomorrow

A tourist at an animal sanctuary who dropped a mobile phone into a pool got a 'paw' reception and had it retrieved by an otter. The hapless visitor feared the iPhone would be lost for good after it fell into the murky depths - until Starsky the Asian short-clawed otter dived into action. He swam down to the bottom of his tank before hauling the brightly-coloured handset to the surface - between his paws. Starksy calmly handed it back to speechless animal care assistant Jenny Lewis at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, in Gweek, near Helston. The attraction tweeted: "#phonegate - catastrophic loss of phone #Gweek Starsky the otter." Nine-year-old Starsky arrived at the sanctuary in January 2009, along with his brother Hutch. Starsky's usual tricks include juggling stones and climbing up the mesh sides of his enclosure - although he's too afraid to come down by himself.

Pictured: Moment otter retrieves tourist's iPhone

A DISTRESSED woman has avoided jail after she pulled out a kitchen knife when two police officers visited her home over a neighbour dispute. Suzanne Wilkinson, 47, fetched the knife from a drawer as police were about to arrest her in front of her children. Exeter Crown Court heard she was extremely agitated and she then cut her own wrist. She pleaded guilty to one charge of affray following the incident at her home on Coronation Avenue, Kingsteignton, on May 5 this year. Judge Philip Wassall sentenced her to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months, but said it was only by "luck" that the incident did not turn more serious. He said: "This offence involved you producing a knife while the police were at your home. They wondered what you were going to do. When anyone picks up a knife in a volatile situation almost anything could happen. "It is often then a question of luck what happens next. In your case there is a great deal of mitigating circumstances and the right sentence is suspended sentence." Prosecuting, Janice Eagles said the officers attended Wilkinson's home following a complaint from a neighbour. Having taken a statement from the neighbourhood, the police decided there was sufficient evidence to arrest the defendant. She said: "Two officers attended her home and were aware there were children under the age of 18 present. They wanted to give her time to arrange childcare. It became clear that as they tried to handcuff her she had become very distressed. One officer said he smelt alcohol on her breath. "She went and got a knife out of the kitchen drawer. She picked it up and was extremely agitated. "She ended up cutting her own wrist and there was blood pouring everywhere. But the officers were afraid for their own safety and the children's safety." Ms Eagles said one of Wilkinson's children then went into the kitchen to help calm her down. She was taken to hospital and subsequently arrested. The court heard there was a long history of problems between Wilkinson and the neighbour. No charges were brought in relation to the original complaint. The neighbour has now moved away and the court heard there had been no issues since.

Distressed mum fetched kitchen knife as police try and arrest her

A mammoth hoard of 22,000 Roman coins – that was unearthed by a metal detecting enthusiast in East Devon – has been unveiled in Exeter. The Seaton Down Hoard is believed to be one of the largest and best preserved 4th Century collections to have been found in Britain. After being a closely guarded secret for almost a year, the collection was showcased on Friday at Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM). The spectacular discovery was made at the Clinton Devon Estate by builder Laurence Egerton, using a metal detector. He then slept in his car for three nights to guard the collection. Video:

Mr Egerton, 51, who lives at Colaton Raleigh, said: "Initially I found two small coins the size of a thumbnail sitting on top of the ground. I decided to dig the earth at that spot and immediately reached some iron ingots which were laid directly on top of the coins. "The next shovel was full of coins – they just spilled out over the field. I had no idea how far down the coins went so I stopped immediately and phoned my wife to come to the site with a camera." After reporting the find to the estate and archaeologists, he removed the loose finds and back-filled the hole. "Between finding the hoard and the archaeologists excavating the site I slept alongside it in my car for three nights to guard it," he added. Mr Egerton unearthed the hoard – the equivalent of a worker's wages for two years – near the excavated site of a Roman villa at Honeyditches in November 2013. It was then removed in its entirety by a team of archaeologists. He added: "It's by far the biggest find I've ever had. It really doesn't get any better than this. It is so important to record all of these finds properly because it's so easy to lose important insights into our history." Over the past 10 months the coins have been lightly cleaned and the process of identification and cataloguing has begun by experts at the British Museum. County archaeologist Bill Horner said the Roman copper-alloy coins date back to between AD260 and AD348 and bear the images of Emperor Constantine, his family, co-Emperors and immediate predecessors and successors. "Our archaeologists and the team at the British Museum have reported that the majority of the coins are so well preserved that they were able to date them very accurately," he said. "This is very unusual for Devon because the county, as a whole, has slightly acidic soil which leads to metals corroding. The soil in this area is chalky which is why they've survived so well." Experts believe the collection of coins could have been the savings of a private individual, a soldier's wages, or a commercial payment. But their financial value would have been low – amounting to just four gold coins that would have provided rations for two soldiers for one year, or a worker's pay for two years. Mr Horner added: "There were no high street banks, so a good, deep hole in the ground was as secure a place as any to hide your savings in times of trouble, or if you were going away on a long journey. But whoever made this particular deposit never came back to retrieve it." Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) is aiming to keep the hoard in the city, so that it can be seen by the public for the first time in more than 1,500 years. The hoard was declared as treasure at an inquest earlier this month, which means it will be eligible to be bought by the museum after valuation by a group of independent experts. RAMM, which already houses a large collection of local Romano-British objects, has launched a fund-raising campaign for the treasure. Exeter City Councillor Rosie Denham, who is responsible for culture, media and sport, said: "This extraordinary hoard will add greatly to our picture of life in Roman Devon. "It would be a wonderful addition to RAMM's collection of local Romano-British objects which includes finds from nearby Honeyditches. "Adding it to RAMM's world-class collections will let the people of Devon share in one of the most significant archaeological finds to have been made in Britain for many years." Online donations can be made at www.don8.to/RAM002 and £5 donations by texting RAM002 to 70970.

Pictures: Massive hoard of 22,000 Roman coins found in East Devon is unveiled in Exeter

Pioneering research involving the University of Exeter Medical School suggests that many women under 30 with cervical cancer fail to treat symptoms of a killer disease seriously in the first place. The study suggests the women are diagnosed more than three months after first having symptoms and in many cases this was because they did not recognise the symptoms as something requiring urgent action. Professor Willie Hamilton, co-author from the University of Exeter Medical School, said:"This study matters as we know screening in the much younger age groups is problematic- so we have to try and diagnose young women by considering their symptoms." Approximately 1 in 134 women will get cervical cancer at some point in their lives. It is most common in women in their thirties. Cervical cancer is nearly always caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection is very common, especially in young women, but for most, the infection resolves completely on its own and does not lead to cervical cancer. In England, the NHS offers screening to prevent cervical cancer to women aged 25-64. As part of this study, researchers interviewed 128 women under 30 with a recent diagnosis of cervical cancer. This represents approximately 37% of all women under 30 diagnosed in 2010 in England. Of these, 40 had been diagnosed after going to the doctor because they had symptoms, 86 had been diagnosed as a result of routine NHS screening and 2 were diagnosed during management of an unrelated condition. Over a quarter of the women had waited for more than three months to see a doctor; 10 of these said that they had not known what the symptoms of cervical cancer were. Women under 25 were more likely to delay compared with women aged 25-29. Many women also reported that it had taken more than three months to be diagnosed after first going to the doctor. There was some evidence that women did not re-attend quickly after their first consultation despite symptoms persisting. Dr Lindsay Forbes, senior author of the study, from the Promoting Early Cancer Presentation Group at King's College London, said: "Our study suggests that women, especially women under 25, are often not aware of the symptoms of cervical cancer and delay seeing their doctors. "A better understanding of the importance of these symptoms could help promote earlier diagnosis and improve survival in this group. "Cervical screening tests aim to prevent cancer from developing – the test looks for changes caused by long-standing HPV infection in women without symptoms. "Women who have persistent symptoms need to be offered a proper examination, not simply a cervical screening test." The study was funded by the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes and is published today in the British Journal of General Practice.

"Absolutely charming" James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore dropped in for lunch at a top East Devon pub yesterday. The 86-year-old, who played the 007 secret agent for seven films between 1973 and 1985, enjoyed a homemade scotch egg and scampi with his wife and two friends at the award-winning Jack in the Green pub in Rockbeare. He posed for a photo with owner Paul Parnell and explained he was en route to his one man show in Torquay and had read out how good the food was at the pub beforehand. Sir Moore arrived at around 12.15pm and enjoyed half a local ale over lunch. "He was an absolutely charming chap," said Paul. "We had a booking under the name of Moore but you never know who the customer is until they arrive, so it was a complete surprise. I recognised him straight away. "We always respect the privacy of our customers and let him enjoy his meal, but afterwards I couldn't help but chat to him and ask him for a photo, which he was delighted to do, as he's my son's favourite Bond! "He's an absolute legend." Sir Roger Moore is the oldest actor to play Bond and appeared in more of the spy films than any other actor.

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore enjoys lunch in East Devon pub

A DRUG user has been told by a judge it is time to "grow up" after he admitted growing cannabis plants at his home. Police followed their noses to the home of Andrew Jacobsen after members of the public had reported a strong cannabis smell in the area. When officers arrived they discovered two tents in a bedroom growing a total of ten mature cannabis plants. They also uncovered amphetamines in his freezer. At Exeter Crown Court Judge Phillip Wassall sentenced Jacobsen to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He must also carry out 100 hours unpaid work and was given a 12 month supervision order. Judge Wassall told him: "You need to get out of the drug environment otherwise you are going to come back to court committing more and more offences. "It is about time you give yourself a chance to grow up .The problem with cannabis growing is this. If the court accepts that it is for personal use the over production means some of it will get back into the chain. "Why a 50-year-old would want to take speed, I just don't know." Jacobsen pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamines and the production of cannabis. Prosecuting, Janice Eagles, said: "On March 27 this year, police attended Sutherland Drive in Torquay after members of the public reported a smell of cannabis from the property. "They followed their nose, which took them to the defendant's home. Police attended and were allowed in. They saw him try to dispose a cannabis grinder and saw a bong and fragments of cannabis on the shelf. "They launched a search of the property and discovered a cannabis grow upstairs in the second bedroom. "They found two grow tents and in each there were five mature cannabis plants." The court heard that there was a discrepancy with the estimated street value of the cannabis between £4,000 and £8,000. "It was substantial none the less," said Ms Eagles. "The defendant was asked if he had anything else, and said there was amphetamines in the freezer. There were three half ounce deals with a value of £437." In mitigation, the court heard that Jacobson was producing the cannabis for his own consumption.

Exeter judge tells drug user to

A CAR fire next to Tiverton Castle was believed to have been started deliberately, police have confirmed. Plumes of black smoke were sent into the sky and neighbours were woken by a series of noises following the fire which broke out shortly before midnight on Thursday, September 25. Dramatic video footage of the fire was captured by neighbour Vincent Wilson, who shot the footage from outside his front door in Park Hill as the fire blazed opposite. Firefighters from Tiverton and police were called to the scene at one minute to midnight and Vincent began recording the footages just minutes after. Vincent, 38, a video editor and website designer said: "I first heard some noise outside at about midnight and went to investigate and saw there was a fire across the road. " After calling the fire brigade he grabbed his mobile phone and recorded footage as the fire and the arrival of the emergency services. He said the quick response of the crew had prevented fire spreading to the historic Tiverton Castle, a nearby wooden bus shelter and St Peter's Church. He said; "Even from where I was stood on the other side of the road I could feel the heat from the fire. After it was out, I went and touched my own car which was parked nearby, thankfully it wasn't damaged, but it was still so hot, I couldn't touch the car for more than a second." He added: "Several neighbours came out to see what was happening, but everyone stayed at a distance, because we could hear all these small bangs and we were worried the engine was going to explode." Fortunately no one was injured, but Vincent said one neighbour's car had been damaged by heat, in addition to the convertible Peugeot which police and fire crews believe was deliberately set on fire. Crews used breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera to assist in extinguishing the blaze but the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. Police confirmed to the Gazette they were treated the fire as suspicious. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Sometime between 11.50pm and midnight, the offender appears to have smashed the side window of a Peugeot parked in the Park Hill area and set light to an object and thrown it into the vehicle. "We have traced the owner of the vehicle and are keen to speak to anyone who may have information or may have witnessed the incident." The officer dealing with enquiries into the fire is PC Ella Penwill, who can be contacted on non-emergency number 101 quoting ref 109/556/14.

UPDATE: Police confirm Tiverton car fire being treated as suspected arson

AN Exeter man has been jailed after he attacked his partner and ripped out a clump of her hair when he went berserk the morning after a drinking session. Aaron Murby was a new father who was struggling to cope with the strain of having a seriously ill child in hospital. He woke up in a violent mood the next day and started smashing up his partner's Exeter home before assaulting her. She escaped but her head and body were badly bruised and police later found clumps of hair at the scene of the attack. Murby, 32, of Browning Close, Exeter, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on the first day of his trial at Exeter Crown Court. Judge Philip Wassall sentenced him to seven months in jail. The court heard that the couple had been in a relationship for about eight years at the time of the incident in October last year. Prosecuting, Beth Heaton said: "They woke on a sofa about 9am the next day and an argument ensued. There was a difference of opinion over how the argument started. The defendant later snapped and smashed items including a television, glass and picture frames. "She left and returned home 30 minutes later hoping he had calmed down. But he was still agitated and an argument ensued. He pushed her back against the bannister and she hit him with a broom. He pushed her and grabbed her hair. He pulled it so hard a clump of her hair come off her scalp. "She went back to her friend's house and was very upset and in pain. She had several bruises and was persuaded to call the police." Defending Nigel Wraith said: "He acknowledges that he has a problem with his temper, particularly in a domestic setting. He is sorry. He is a hard-working man who owns a business in the construction industry. "The couple's daughter was born prematurely in July last year and went straight to Bristol Hospital where she remained for seven months, which is where she was at the time of this incident. "His business suffered as he stayed up in Bristol as much as he could. Their daughter was extremely unwell. She had open heart surgery and has a very rare condition. She is the only child who has this condition in the country. "She was moved to HDU in Exeter in January this year where she remains to this day." Mr Wraith said the defendant was undergoing nursing training so he could care for her when she comes out of hospital. "His number one priority is his daughter," he added. "He accepts the relationship is over and he needs to move on and needs some education on how to behave in a domestic situation." Judge Wassall rejected a plea from the victim not to send the defendant to prison. He said: "You were both under a great deal of pressure because of the situation with your 13-month old daughter. If you were of previous good character I would have a great deal of sympathy for you. But I have to take into view of the way you behaved in the past "This was about control and terrorising her. She has come under your hands before. You have previous convictions for domestic abuse using control over her and violence to get your own way. "Considering your previous history of violence, there is no wonder she hit you with a broom. She must have been terrified. "I was told your number one priority was your child. It is not. In my experience from family courts the impact on a child of seeing of or hearing their parents being violent to each other is worse than if physical harm is done to themselves. It is enormously emotionally disruptive. If you got that then maybe you would start putting your child first. "This matter is so serious only an immediate custodial sentence is justified."

Exeter man jailed for

A former National Farmers Union (NFU) leader has been charged with producing cannabis from his Dartmoor home. John Shears, 70, a former chairman of the NFU and a member of the Dartmoor National Park's planning committee, has been bailed by police to appear in court in October. It follows a police raid on his home at Lower Nattadon Farm, Chagford in May. Daniel Perryman, 26, of Kingsteignton, has been charged with the same offence and was also bailed. Two other men who were arrested have been released without charge.

Former National Farmers Union chairman charged with growing cannabis at his Chagford home