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A PENSIONER with 21 convictions for assault has been jailed for breaching his anti-social behaviour order.

Frederick Amery (right), of Mapstone Cottage in Lustleigh, pleaded guilty at Torbay Magistrates' Court to a double assault.

The court heard that 75-year-old Amery was at the village's summer show when he struck a man and a woman, breaching an Asbo which was imposed last year for his violent conduct.

Shaun Tipton, prosecuting, said: "His record speaks for itself. Since 2004 he has 21 convictions for matters of assault or battery.

"The defendant attended the annual Lustleigh show and removed some items from the Veggie Deli stall. The stall proprietor asked another for assistance.

"The defendant then attempted to strike the stall owner, but she saw it coming and blocked the punch, which caused the defendant to fall to the ground.

"Mr Amery was escorted from the show, but he then struck a man to the face.

"This behaviour puts him in direct breach of his Asbo."

The court heard that Amery's conduct in recent years had earned him notoriety in Lustleigh.

Mervyn Williams, mitigating, said: "His health isn't particularly good and he has developed this tendency to strike out at people when things don't go his way.

"Stall-owners used to let him have free potatoes or carrots, but that certainly wasn't the case at the Veggie Deli.

"Times have changed for him.

"He's lived in Lustleigh all his life. He used to live in a property with his mum, but she died and he carried on there.

"He's seen mental health practitioners, and they've said they can't do anything.

"His doctor said attempts had been made for him to see a psychiatrist, but it wasn't possible."

Amery was sentenced to 70 days in prison. Magistrates said the jail term would have been 105 days but this was reduced because of his early guilty plea.

Jeff Beer, chairman of the bench, said: "We often say as magistrates that our hands are tied, but in this case they're tied right behind our backs.

"It's sad, but we have no option."

A BIKER has been left fuming being issued with a parking ticket.

Andrew Taylor was fined £50 for leaving his 1400cc GSX Suzuki motorbike at the wrong angle along the white line on Market Street, Torquay, even though motorbikes are allowed to park for free so long as they do not take up an entire car parking space.

Mr Taylor, 51, a biker of 30 years and a clay pit worker from Paignton, said: "So much for being a bike-friendly town.

"Market Street is quite steep which is why I had to park the bike at a 45-degree angle or it would have fallen over.

"I was told motorbikes can park for free if they don't take a whole space.

"My back wheel was touching the kerb. I went to the shop to sort out a problem with my mobile phone and when I came back I had a parking ticket."

Mr Taylor rang the number on the ticket and was told to take a picture of the motorbike and its position on the road before contesting the fine.

He said: "There aren't any signs anywhere warning bikers of what they can or can't do."

Officials in the council's parking department confirmed motorcyclists were able to park within street pay-and-display bays free of charge provided the motorcycle was parked at right angles to the kerb on the white lines which demarcate each of the bays.

A spokesman said: "Parking this way allows for other vehicles to still park within the designated bays and make payment at the machine.

"Maximum stay and No Return periods at each location must be adhered to also, as failure to observe this will result in the issue of a penalty charge notice.

"If a motorcyclist wishes to place a motorcycle within a marked bay taking up the entire bay, he can purchase a ticket from the pay-and-display machine to do so.

"If the ticket cannot be clearly displayed then the ticket can be kept on their person.

"If a penalty charge notice is subsequently issued to the motorcycle, the pay-and-display ticket can be provided as evidence of correct payment having been made."

The spokesman added: "Parking for motorcycles is free in council-run car parks, provided it is within the designated area or parked safely outside of a bay, and not within a marked bay."

A Torbay Council spokesman said: "We have an appeals process for motorists and motorcyclists who feel there are mitigating circumstances which have led up to a penalty charge notice being issued.

"We would therefore urge the motorcyclist in this instance to follow these procedures, which are stated on the rear of the penalty charge notice.

"We will investigate the matter by considering the comments from the motorcyclist and reviewing all the data captured by the civil enforcement officer at the time the penalty charge notice was issued, and respond in due course."

WORK using proceeds from last year's Animals in Distress Rescue Centre fun day is nearly completed, it has been revealed.

The centre ploughed the £4,100 raised through last year's annual fun day into the costs of building a new state-of-the-art puppy centre which is due to be opened next month.

Bosses hope that this Sunday's fun day will raise even more cash, this time towards their £1million annual running costs and also future redevelopment schemes.

Animals in Distress Rescue Centre spokesman Simon Veasey said: "We are literally adding the finishing touches to our puppy care centre.

"As well as dogs, we take domestic cats and rabbits.

"We look after them until they get into a fit state and we know that they can be suitably rehomed.

"We are looking to redevelop parts of the rescue centre. That will take funding but it also takes more than a £1million to run the centre a year."

Dog owners have a chance to raise money and also have their pooch star in the Herald Express.

Every dog taken to the show on Sunday, from noon, has a chance to have its photograph taken, then be featured in a special 'top dog' supplement.

Members of the public will then be able to vote for their favourite, with great prizes up for grabs for the winners.

The centre is also running its own set of competitions, with rosettes available.

They include the most handsome dog as well as the one with the waggiest tale, the dog most like its owner, and the dog most unlikely to win a beauty contest.

Judging takes place from 1pm, and entry to the Herald's photo competition and/or the centre's competitions costs £1.

THERE were tales of uncollected bins, maggots and recycling waste left in black boxes on the side of the streets as the new recycling scheme was rolled out across Torbay.

Thousands of homes are still without the new bins which have been introduced to help the council save £14million a year in new landfill waste taxes and fines, says Tor2.

Worried pensioner Kay Glover, 72, from York Road, Paignton, said she was in 'such a state' about the new bins as she had maggots in her food waste and was struggling to get through on the phone line.

She also receives the special assisted service and says she has phoned the special helpline and even the Mayor's office to try and find out what is going on with the new service.

"I have maggots in my bin. It is horrible. All week I have been trying to find out what is going on," said Kay, whose bins are due to be collected on Friday.

Derek French, 56, from Vicarage Road, said he had put his rubbish out on Sunday night, but only the black bins had been collected on Monday while the recyclable waste, including food waste, was still in the street.

"I have just counted 10 houses with all their food waste and all the small black bags are full and we don't know when they are going to be collected because they are full."

One shocked resident from Torquay said there was traffic chaos and congestion in Babbacombe Road with a tailback about a mile long.

In the Shorton Valley area of Preston, bins placed outside odd numbered houses at 6am on Monday morning were still outside at 7.30pm — more than 12 hours later.

There were also complaints that at the junction of Preston Down Road and Rowcroft Road there were traffic delays as the lorries stopped and blocked the road as the waste was processed.

In Redburn Road, Paignton residents reported their waste had not been collected and some had not started to use the new box system.

Similar reports came from Mead Road too.

A Paignton resident in New Park Road said they had put their recycling bins outside before 6am on Monday morning and at midnight they had still not been collected.

A resident from Court Road, off Nut Bush Lane, Chelston, said her rubbish had not been collected either and her father who lives in Innerbrook Road did not have his waste collected.

She had also tried to get through to the helpline but did not have any success.

A Tor2 spokesman said the remaining bins would be rolled out by the end of the week and further information had been put on the company's website.

For more information on the new waste collection service, visit www.tor2.co.uk, or e-mail wastedoctors@tor2.co.uk or people can write to the Tor2 Customer Centre, Aspen Way, Yalberton Industrial estate, TQ4 7QR.

A MAN whose computer contained thousands of 'sick' images and videos of child sex abuse has been jailed for five years.

Richard Holt, aged 50, of Torquay Road, Paignton, was found with up to 60,000 images and more than 500 films of young children and babies being abused after an undercover police operation, Exeter Crown Court heard.

During the course of the investigation, one police officer said the levels of depravity displayed in the images and the videos were 'among the worst he had ever seen'.

Letters from children, along with children's underwear, were also found at his home along with pictures and videos ranging from level one to level five on the scale of child sex abuse.

Holt appeared in court after previously pleading guilty to 11 charges of making, distributing and possessing child sex abuse images.

The charges relate to thousands of images and a collection of videos which were found on his laptop computer anda hard drive after his home was raided by police officers.

They were alerted to his activities after an undercover police officer struck up a conversation with Holt on a peer-to-peer online chat network.

Holt sent the police officer 42 images of child abuse.

During the police raid, a laptop and a hard drive were found containing 60,000 images and 512 videos depicting child sex abuse.

The children, who have not yet been identified, are thought to be aged up to five years old.

Police are investigating to identify the children subjected to the abuse, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Brian Pixton said police found other items at Holt's house which also caused them concern.

He told the court: "There were pairs of knickers, five of which were child-size, and a number of notes and cards from children. The notes had three boy's names and six girl's names on them.

"That is under investigation to ascertain the identity of the children who have been in touch with him."

In mitigation, David Evans said Holt had admitted he was sexually attracted to children and was relieved to have been caught because it meant he could receive treatment for his condition.

Mr Evans said: "If there are any clues to the sparse facts of his existence, there does seem to be some degree of isolation from other adults.

"Perhaps his motivation is in that, plus other, darker problems."

Judge Graham Cottle said the quantity of images and videos found was massive and ordered the forfeiture of all the items seized from Holt's home.

In sentencing him to five years in jail and subjecting him to a sexual prevention order, Judge Cottle told Holt: "You are a substantial risk to children and young people."

The only way the case could be properly dealt with was by a sentence of imprisonment, he said.

POLICE are appealing for information after a Dawlish burglary in which electrical goods were stolen.

Computers, mobile phones and a digital camera were stolen from a multi occupancy house in Stockton Hill, between the hours of 3am and 9am on Friday, August 20.

Burglars smashed a ground-floor window before gaining access to the three storey property through a bedroom.

A police spokesman said: "Entry was gained through a ground-floor window which was damaged by the burglars.

"The property was searched and a PlayStation with controllers and four games, a BlackBerry phone and Canon digital camera were stolen."

It is not known whether any of the occupants were in the house at the time.

Police are appealing for anyone who may know who is responsible for the theft to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact police on 08452 777 444 quoting crime reference JG/10/1448 or call crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

TWO men accused of stealing a lurcher puppy from a Newton Abbot house had their court hearing adjourned while their case is being prepared.

Euan Gayle, 40, and Michael Latouche, 37, both from Birmingham, had been due to appear before Torbay magistrates to face a charge of trespassing into a Newton Abbot home and stealing the £170 dog, threatening unlawful violence towards another and being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a pole.

The hearing will now take place at Torbay magistrates court on September 24 when the prosecution case will be ready.

The two men have yet to enter a plea.

FIREFIGHTERS from Newton Abbot were called to reports of a cooker fire yesterday.

They went to Brownshill Road just after 1pm. The fire was out when they arrived and crews made the area safe.

POLICE are investigating an alleged dog attack. A German shepherd is claimed to have leapt out of a car in Totnes and bit a 53-year-old man in the groin.

A Totnes woman has been reported for having a dangerous dog out of control and been seen by police.

A 20-YEAR-OLD Totnes man was given a formal police caution for being drunk and disorderly in the town centre on Saturday night.

The man was arrested on The Plains at 11.40pm.

THE former boss of a troubled waste firm has been criticised by a Crown court judge for not providing 'satisfactory' answers to questions around his financial circumstances.

Ruby Waste Management Ltd's former boss Anthony Small came under fire from Judge Graham Cottle, who said he had to 'drag' financial information out of the defendant.

Judge Cottle made his comments when Small, 42, of Littlehempston, appeared before Exeter Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of depositing controlled waste at Ruby Farm, Abbotskerswell, otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit.

Judge Cottle expressed his displeasure with Small's answers to questions regarding his finances when he took to the witness stand.

Judge Cottle said: "I expect to have more assistance about his financial position from him without it having to be dragged out of him."

The complex case dates back three years and revolves around Ruby Waste Management Ltd, Small and Ruby Farm landowner Frederick Charles Down.

In October 2007 Ruby Waste Management Ltd was fined £24,000 plus £2,000 court costs for breaching recycling regulations, in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency served notices with deadlines, later extended, for the removal of the waste.

When officers visited the site they found the waste had been moved elsewhere within the site in breach of the environmental permit, the court heard.

That led to the prosecution of Down, as the landowner and permit-holder, and Small, who was the site manager and company managing director.

Down appeared before magistrates in Newton Abbot last November and pleaded guilty to three counts of contravening the requirements of the environmental permit and failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

He was fined a total of £25,000.

Small pleaded not guilty to depositing controlled waste otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit, and elected for his case to be heard at Exeter Crown Court. At Monday's hearing he changed his plea to guilty.

In mitigation Small said he had every intention of trying to dispose of the waste but was beset by problems.

He claimed waste company Viridor terminated a waste removal agreement in 2008 and provided an email in evidence, but no further documents to substantiate his claim.

The availability of a site in Plymouth also ceased and he ran into problems with transport costs after striking a deal with Dorset-based Biffa, he said.

The waste was eventually removed after the Viridor agreement was reinstated.

Judge Cottle said the defendant's case had some 'odd features' and the alleged dispute with Viridor would remain a mystery.

"There really isn't any satisfactory explanation as to how that state of affairs may have come about," he said.

"The upshot is, I can't safely draw any conclusions to this aspect of the case and it remains unexplained and uncertain."

Small said he pumped £190,000 of his own money into keeping Ruby Waste Management afloat but the firm later went into liquidation.

While under oath, Small said he could only pay back any court fine in £100 monthly instalments because his financial commitments meant there was 'not a lot left'.

Small said he was paid £3,100 a month by Antrac, a skip hire company trading as Cox Waste Management, based in Kingskerswell.

He said outgoings, including maintenance of £1,800 to his wife and £825 in rent, left him with a personal allowance of £475.

In financial documents submitted to the court it was revealed Small was the sole director of Antrac and annual accounts up to June 2009 showed it had a turnover of £2.1million.

Accounts and a balance sheet to June 2010 painted a 'larger picture' of Small's financial circumstances, Judge Cottle said.

Papers revealed it had total assets of £218,000, as of June, and £13,000 in a bank account.

Judge Cottle said: "In assessing the level of fine imposed I must take into account the financial circumstances. That has been an unsatisfactory aspect of this case.

"It is perfectly clear from the evidence that he is the sole director of a business with a substantial turnover.

"It is incumbent on the defendant to provide the court with his financial circumstances in cases of this sort.

"He has pleaded guilty to an offence that traditionally carries with it a substantial fine.

"The offence was clearly perfectly deliberate, in that Mr Small was not prepared to pay the rates required to dispose of this waste.

"The breach was against a background for conviction of keeping waste on land without a licence.

"A very large volume was on the site — 24 times the permitted amount — for something like three years."

He fined Small £10,000 with £3,500 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

A GRANDMOTHER is proving she is hot stuff by walking across fire for charity.

Meg Jolliffe, 69, is joining members of the Lions Club of Babbacombe and St Marychurch for the charity event to raise money for local community projects.

The Lions Club is holding the fire walking event on Friday, October 1 and more volunteers are needed.

In preparation for the fire walk, fundraisers will psych themselves up an hour before.

They are advised to think that they are walking through a cool pool of water.

Meg is trying to raise some money for a girl named Francesca Moss who suffers from slow limb development.

Meg previously raised £7,000 for Francesca in a parachute jump a couple of years ago.

Meg said: "I wanted to do it to raise money for Francesca because her money pot is empty again and her needs are really expensive.

"I am getting a little nervous now that the fire walk is only four weeks away.

"I have no idea what it is going to be like.

"My daughter has done it in London and she seems to think it is OK.

"She didn't get burnt so I am hoping I won't either."

The Lions Club is holding the event, their biggest yet, to prove they can exceed their comfort zone by organising a major charity fundraising project.

The event will include fire-eaters on stilts, jesters, gymnastics displays, live music, stalls and refreshments.

One hundred places are available for the fire walk.

Eighty spots have already been filled.

The volunteers must raise at least £100 of sponsorship take part.

If you would like to walk on fire, call Wendy on 01803 328242 or email jwcthen@yahoo.co. uk

WORK on the first phase of £4.1million improvements at Tweenaway Cross, Paignton, is due to start a week on Monday.

Torbay Council says that it will try to limit traffic disruption, although some delays should be expected.

The work will start on September 20 and is expected to last until mid-June next year.

The Government-funded scheme, part of the Bay's transport plan, is intended to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion.

The first phase should be finished ahead of the main tourism season, with the second phase due to start in the autumn next year.

Some advance work has already been carried out, including demolition of houses and diverting underground services for the widening of the junction.

The plan is to create extra approach lanes in Totnes Road, Kings Ash Road and Brixham Road.

Additional islands are planned to improve crossing for pedestrians, especially for pupils at Paignton Community College.

There will be new traffic lights and the junction will also be resurfaced.

Transport councillor Chris Lewis said the scheme represented a major investment in one of the Bay's busiest junctions.

"Tweenaway Cross has been in need of improvement for some time and this scheme will provide for future increases in traffic at the junction," he said.

"These works highlight Torbay Council's commitment to improving the highway network to meet the needs of both residents and business communities."

The council says the next phase will include widening Totnes Road between the zoo car park and the Noah's Ark pub.

Compulsory purchase orders to buy land and gain access rights have been advertised but there have been no objections and the council is waiting for the Government to confirm the orders.

A council spokesman said: "We are still intending to acquire all the properties by agreement and this is progressing well.

"If any are not be acquired by this route, we would look to serve notice on them after we have received confirmation from the Secretary of State."

TWO men were attacked in Torquay town centre by a gang of six after an argument over music.

One of the victims, a local man aged 25, underwent surgery for facial injuries after his head was stamped on by one of the offenders.

The attack, being investigated by detectives, happened in Union Street between 3am and 3.30am on Saturday.

The badly hurt victim was taken to Torbay Hospital where two operations were carried out on injuries to his broken jaw. He was discharged from hospital on Monday.

His friend, who escaped serious harm, said: "We were having a good-natured chat about music when some of the group took offence at what we said.

"My friend got knocked to the ground and his head was stamped on.

"I got chinned once, but I can look after myself because I'm quite big and do martial arts.

"I had to pick my friend up off the ground."

Footage from CCTV cameras which cover the area where the attack happened — between River Island and McDonald's — are being examined by police.

The friend, who gave his name but did not want it printed, said they had spent the evening at the Bohemia club.

"We drank about three pints each. The six were hammered," he said.

He revealed that the names of those allegedly involved had been passed to Torquay CID.

Det Con Dan Ritson appealed for information from any independent witnesses.

They are being asked to ring 08452 777444, quoting crime reference FT/10/6251.

"This would appear to be a very nasty assault which we will investigate thoroughly," said Det Con Ritson.

"It's believed about three of the six were directly involved in the incident."

A MAN who stabbed two others in a Paignton street has been sentenced to five and half years behind bars.

Paul Spurling (above), 35, admitted wounding Samuel Wootton and Benjamin Hume with a vegetable knife outside the Nationwide Building Society in Hyde Road.

He attacked the two men shortly after they had been in a street fight following a verbal exchange at a bar in the town, the court heard.

Spurling pleaded guilty to one count of wounding and one of wounding with intent at Exeter Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Barry Cotter told him it was only 'good fortune' that no-one had died.

In the early hours of April 11 Mr Hume and Mr Wootton were in Winston's bar drinking together. Spurling, apparently in the club alone, approached their table.

The club's CCTV showed him engaged in some sort of 'exchange' with Hume, said David Evans for the prosecution. Cameras showed Mr Hume standing up before Spurling threw a drink over him.

Mr Evans told the court: "There was no violent reaction from Mr Hume at that stage."

Spurling was thrown out of the premises and Mr Hume was also asked to leave.

Mr Wootton went with him, the court heard.

The three men encountered each other again outside Costcutter in Station Square where they exchanged blows before a store security guard broke the fight up.

The court heard Spurling went home, armed himself with a kitchen knife and went back out looking for the two men.

He found them at the cash machine outside Nationwide and the stabbing was captured on the building society's CCTV.

Mr Evans said: "It shows the defendant jog or run towards Mr Wootton — perhaps mistaking him for Mr Hume — and without any warning and from behind stab Mr Wootton not once but four times."

Mr Wootton sustained wounds near his spine and to his left side at the back of his chest cavity.

Mr Hume was also stabbed, in the upper abdomen.

Mr Wootton was unaware he had been stabbed until he saw the blood dripping on to his shoes and the pavement as he tried to chase Spurling, who fled the scene and dumped the knife on a wall as he made his escape.

Passers-by called the emergency services and the injured men were taken to hospital.

Mr Hume required three stitches and Mr Wootton was also treated for his wounds, but was referred back to the hospital at a later date after it was found one of the stab wounds had penetrated the surface of his spleen, resulting in some bleeding around the organ and in his pelvic area. He needed surgery to remove the blood.

Mr Evans said after the attack Spurling had confessed to his girlfriend.

"He told her what had happened and they decided to call the police," said Mr Evans.

"He told them he was the person they were looking for and when officers attended he went with them to where the knife was. When he was being taken to the police station he said, 'They hurt me. I thought: I will hurt you too'."

Spurling, who now lives in South Wales, had a history of violence which includes spells in prison for burglary, robbery and violence, the court was told.

Judge Cotter said the case was 'alarming but straightforward' and it was only by 'chance and good fortune' no-one had died as a result of their injuries.

A PENSIONER with Alzheimer's disease was found injured and distressed in a remote beauty spot by coastguards in Dawlish Warren on Monday night.

The man, aged 74, had wandered off from his caravan park home in Cockwood earlier in the evening.

Teignmouth Coastguard's station officer Glen Mayhew said: "It was very lucky that he was found. If we had not discovered him when we did, the outcome could have been quite tragic."

He added: "We were searching what we regarded as a high-risk area and found him after hearing his very quiet moaning noises. We followed the sound and found him stuck in brambles and pampas grass. He could not get up."

The alarm was raised at 6.30pm with the Teignmouth team of ten getting involved two hours later. Just over 90 minutes later, the man was found about 12 metres from the water's edge in a confused state.

Mr Mayhew said the casualty was not in danger of being swamped by a high tide, despite his proximity to the water.

But he added: "The place where we found him is not used by members of the public.

"No one walks there. It was very fortunate."

The man, who has not been named, was put in a Coastguard four-wheel-drive vehicle and taken to an awaiting ambulance in Dawlish Warren just after 10pm.

Mr Mayhew said: "He had walked through lots of undergrowth to get where he was. There was no path nearby. It was a very detailed search."

He revealed that the team had been briefed that the man had favoured the spot for bird-watching trips. The scene of his discovery was some four miles from his home.

"He was very cold and didn't know how long he'd been there," said Mr Mayhew.

The search also involved the police helicopter and a local lifeboat crew. Coastguard rescue teams from Dartmoor and Exmouth were being lined up to join in the search when the man was discovered.

A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard, which co-ordinated the search, said: "The team did very well to find the man. He was very lucky indeed."

The casualty was taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital for a check-up.

TORBAY Council was flooded with 6,000 calls on the first day of the new rubbish collection system.

Some people were unable to get through to the number issued by Torbay Council as it launched the new Tor2 service with its private partners May Gurney.

The new collections were beset by problems which included:

Uncollected rubbish.

The length of time it is taking the collection teams to sort the separated rubbish.

Traffic delays caused by the new lorries making the collections.

Refuse collectors working 12-hour shifts.

Maggots in food waste bins.

Problems with assisted collections.

Tor2 revealed it had drafted extra bin lorries in from Somerset to help cope with the introduction of the new system which is designed to save Torbay Council money.

A Tor2 spokesman said: "We are getting high call volumes.

"Unfortunately not everyone is getting through and we can only apologise for that."

He said additional information was also being put on the newly formed company's website to help answer people's queries.

The spokesman explained each truck had a crew of three on board and May Gurney have used this structure on 20 similar waste and recycling schemes UK wide.

He said: "On Monday the weather was appalling which didn't help with the speed of collections and that will be something that will be overcome as the service gets up to speed."

He said now the scheme was up and running, residents would get used to segregating their rubbish and the collections would be faster. "It is early days," he said.

Additional vans have been drafted in from Somerset Waste Partnership for the first six to eight weeks of the new collections.

This had been previously agreed before the launch as an 'insurance plan' to ensure that all the waste was collected, added the Tor2 spokesman.

Elderly and disabled residents have also said they have not received the assisted service to help them remove their waste.

Worried pensioner Kay Glover, 72, from York Road, Paignton, was among the residents who was struggling and said she could not get through to the Waste Doctor helpline.

Tor2 confirmed on Monday that the 7,000 people who currently receive the assisted lift service would automatically continue to receive it, while the new company was currently processing 3,000 new applications for help.

They also said from now on the food waste collections would be weekly which would help deal with problems with maggots.

Residents reported problems with rubbish being left uncollected on Monday in Court Road, Innerbrook Road, Highland Road and Mead Road in Torquay and Redwell Road, Shorton Valley Road, New Park Road and Redburn Road in Paignton.

Problems with traffic were experienced in Preston Down Road, and Rowcroft Road in Paignton and Babbacombe Road in Torquay.

One Paignton resident raised concerns that emergency services would be unable to pass the large recycling lorries if they were responding to an emergency.

But the Tor2 spokesman said lorries could fit down all of the roads and that there had been trials and surveys to ensure they could get to where they needed to.

The Mayor of Torbay Nick Bye had been out seeing how the new service was working for himself yesterday morning but he was too busy to speak to the Herald Express.

The creation of Tor2 — Torbay Council's money-saving move to have a private sector company running services such as bin collections cost £2million to set up — five times more than the original budget after it took five years to create.

A Tor 2 spokesman confirmed that crews had been out for 'longer periods of time' than normal and said that was part of the 'mobilisation plan' agreed with Torbay Council before the scheme was launched.

Tor 2 director Alistair Campbell said the new company had launched a 'huge scheme' for 60,000 homes and 130,000 people being introduced to a new recycling scheme.

Mr Campbell said he was out on the recycling trucks with the Mayor Nick Bye yesterday morning and accepted some areas needed to be 'fine tuned and developed' but said that was 'entirely expected'.

"I keep stressing why we are making the changes because it is so important for the economy of Torbay going forward," said Mr Campbell.

"Our experience is it takes time, and we find people quickly become familiar with the routine.

"The speed with which we can increase the portion of waste that is recycled rises quite quickly and that is what we are trying to achieve."

A SOUTH Devon youngster who could not tap dance is now a star of a West End musical.

Reece Barrett (left), who turned 12 a day before leaving for London for his rehearsals, has now appeared on stage as Michael in Billy Elliott.

The Exeter lad received all the training necessary to turn his lack of dancing and tap-dancing skills into a genuine asset to wow the London crowds from Pollyana Buckingham, the owner of Buckingham Dance Studio in Paignton.

Mrs Buckingham said Reece had passed the selection auditions back in March and was asked by Billy Elliott talent scouts to get some training from her.

The gruelling and intensive training took place between March and June.

After a week's wait to see if Reece had been selected, he was told he would be Michael and would have to undergo tough rehearsals in London throughout the summer.

Mrs Buckingham said: "I'm so proud of him. He had his first show on August 23 and it went brilliantly. I'm sure he needs to ease into the role but for someone who a few months ago couldn't even dance or tap-dance to be in a big West End musical in the same year, is absolutely fantastic."

The show had been due to open in September but was brought forward.

Reece is now under contract for one year and will appear in the show several times a week.

He is the second dancing prodigy discovered by Mrs Buckingham.

The Paignton dance teacher also had a hit when she turned former Billy Elliott dancer Ollie Taylor, from Paignton, now 16, into a West End star.

Mrs Buckingham said: "Reece received some great reviews after his first performance. He was over the moon. He was quite chuffed having to sign his first autograph.

"I can't wait to see him on stage now."

Mrs Buckingham said she would wait until the October mid term break before going to the Victoria Palace in London to see the show.

IT IS fair to say that the new refuse collection arrangements for households in Torbay have not gone down well in some quarters.

Residents have been busy calling a hotline with queries and complaints about the new service, which began yesterday.

The Herald Express has been fielding calls for some days now.

But in reality the system makes good sense.

And, once the furore has died down and the arrangements have been put in place to cater for around 10,000 people who need help collecting their new plastic boxes, local people will surely see the sense in it.

Councils must recycle, and they must do it far more than they have up until now.

There are stringent financial penalties for those local authorities which fail to recycle properly, and genuine benefits for those that do.

In these times of extreme financial pressure on local services, it makes sound common sense for councils to find ways like this in which to save some money.

It also makes sense in the longer term for councils to find a way around the business of simply shovelling rubbish into the ground.

Last year Torbay Council sent 37,800 tonnes of household waste to landfill in Teignbridge at a cost of £2.4 million.

That money can now be saved, and that land can now be left unfilled.

What we have to do in return is to spend a little extra time sorting our rubbish, and find a little extra room for our bins.

If you ask residents in Teignbridge about the recycling system they will tell you they don't know what all the fuss is about.

In Teignbridge they have been doing this for years, and many people are even asking for more opportunities to recycle.

And we suspect that the vast majority of people in Torbay are perfectly happy to make the new system work, too.

It will take a little getting used to, but from a financial and environmental point of view, it boils down to simple common sense.

A DAWLISH father of three with a history of violence repeatedly hit a pub landlord in a scene likened to something 'from the Wild West', a court heard yesterday.

Ian Mitchell, 28, of Newlands, was jailed for 15 months after he admitting punching the landlord of the now closed Ferret and Radiator Pub during an altercation last December.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to the affray charge when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

The incident was caught on the Dawlish pub's CCTV network when it happened at about 1am on December 7.

Mitchell is seen on the pub's camera remonstrating with the landlord and as he leaves the pub he turns and punches the man in face with such force the victim falls into another man who crashes to the floor and loses consciousness.

The pubgoer, who declined to make a complaint to police, lies on the floor amid the pandemonium which includes a separate fight between two women.

Mitchell is seen coming back into the pub where he attacks the landlord again.

Prosecuting Howard Phillips told the court: "Police arrived on the scene and found Mr Mitchell drunk and abusive. He was arrested. On the way to the police station he said that he hit the landlord and he would do time for it."

In mitigation Rupert Taylor said the pub fight was like scenes from the Wild West and his client thought his niece, who was involved in a fight with another woman, was having "inappropriate" advances made from another man in the pub.

Mr Taylor said: "Whatever the reason behind it, the violence was not justified."

The court was told Mitchell has 11 previous convictions relating to violence.

Sentencing, Judge Graham Cottle told Mitchell: "You have a very bad record for disorderly behaviour, drunken behaviour and violence. You are seen to carry out an unprovoked attack on the landlord. The consequences were he bumped into another customer who was put to ground and remained there for some time. Behaviour of this sort will result in an immediate custodial sentence."

Not guilty verdicts were returned for criminal damage and assault by beating.

THE annual Fishstock music festival to celebrate the fishing industry has unveiled its line-up for the weekend.

The bands and celebrity chefs who will entertain the crowds during Fishstock Brixham 2010 festival have been announced for the event which will also celebrates 150 years of fish and chips.

Jim Portus, who manages the event and chairs the organising committee, said: "All appears to be ready for a fantastic celebration of fishing and seafood, with chefs demonstrations, cookery classes for children and a mix of musicians and performers that will knock your socks off.

"We're marking 150 years of fish and chips and the International Year of the Seafarer, as well as celebrating the wonderful fishing and seafood industries based in South Devon.

"By charging the public a very modest entry fee, we are hoping to raise funds for the local and regional welfare work of the Fishermen's Mission".

In 2008, the first Fishstock Brixham donated £8,000 to the Mission.

Doors will open on Saturday at 10am, with bands, food tasting and cooking demonstrations.

Dartmoor band, Jiggerypipery will close the show at midnight.

Among the chefs will be Dartmouth-based Mitch Tonk and chef Richard Hunt, the head chef of the Grand Hotel in Torquay.

David and Holly Jones of Manna from Devon will also demonstrate seafood cooking. Meanwhile David Galpin and his team of five chef tutors from South Devon College will perform demonstrations on stage.

There are two music stages, one featuring local rock and Celtic-rock bands. The other will have cabaret artists and folk musicians.

Brixham's own Maggie Duffy will be joined on stage by Mike Weed. Young singer Rachel Jones appears with her Quartet. Mad Dog McCrea have a big following in Devon and so too have the finale band Jiggerypipery.

Between bands Beats of Polynesia and Kalash, a troupe of American Tribal Style Bellydancers, will also entertain the crowds.

Tickets are £5 and under 15s go free.

For more information visit www.fishstockbrixham.co.uk or call Jim Portus on 07860542071.

NINE men and a woman arrested as part of a police operation against street drug dealing in Torbay have appeared before resort magistrates.

They were all arrested as part of Operation Tucker which saw police continue their crackdown on dealing in Class A drugs on the streets of Torquay and Paignton.

Six men and one woman pleaded guilty to drug charges and have been committed for sentence at Exeter Crown Court on October 4.

Prosecutor Christopher Bittlestone said: "Covert officers went into town centres to be part of the drugs scene, to seek people and establish contacts.

"People gave the information, pointed them in the right direction and people supplied them drugs."

Robert Bradley, 60, of Dartmouth Road, Paignton, pleaded guilty to three charges of supplying heroin in Paignton.

Darren McLaughlin, 20, of Bampfylde Road, Torquay, pleaded guilty to two offences of being concerned in the supply of heroin.

John Kinghorn, 34, of Factory Row, Torquay, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and to possession of heroin.

Darren Batchelor, 40, from Colley End Road, Paignton pleaded guilty to supplying heroin.

Lisa Devine, 39, from Lichfield Avenue, Torquay pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin.

Matthew Jackson, 30, of Winner Street, Paignton, admitted one charge of supplying heroin, two counts of being concerned in the supply of the drug and two counts of offering to supply the drug.

Mark Gyacsek, 35, of Garfield Road, Paignton pleaded guilty to two counts of offering to supply heroin and two counts of being concerned in its supply.

Bradley, Batchelor, Devine and Jackson were remanded in custody until sentence at Exeter Crown Court on October 4.

McLaughlin, Gyacsek and Kinghorn were remanded on bail.

Simon King, 28, of Barton Drive, Paignton, entered no plea to a charge of possession of heroin. Magistrates declined jurisdiction of the case which was adjourned to October 29 for committal to Exeter Crown Court. He was granted bail.

David Barlow, 33, of Church Street, Paignton, entered no plea to two counts of supplying heroin. Matthew Taylor, 33, of Park Hill Road entered no plea to one charge of supplying heroin. Both were remanded in custody until a further video-link hearing at Torquay magistrates today.

A TOTNES veterinary practice is looking at pumping hundreds of thousands of pounds into giving a new lease of life to a former pub which has stood empty and derelict for almost five years.

The Seymour Vets practice is negotiating with the owner of the old riverside Smugglers Inn with the aim of buying the site and turning it into a state-of-the-art veterinary practice — complete with operating rooms and X-ray and ultrasound facilities.

The practice has already gained planning permission for the necessary change of use of the sprawling former pub building — which comes with its own car park.

It is hoping to seal a deal with owner Graham Bishop within the next few weeks.

Seymour Vets practice manager Sharon Haley explained that the practice has outgrown its current site in Seymour Road, where it has been based since 1986.

The practice started as a 'one- man band' with just one vet. It now has six and employs 20 people from veterinary nurses to admin staff.

She said: "We want to make the move down there because the premises here have become too small. We don't have parking here. It is somewhere we will be able to expand operation facilities and consulting rooms."

The Smugglers Inn opposite Steamer Quay was once a popular pub with large bars and two restaurant areas.

It closed almost five years ago and planning consent is in place to knock it down and replace it with 13 new homes.

Earlier this year there was a problem after squatters took over the building for a short period of time.

Police are currently investigating the cause of a fire which gutted a caravan parked in the empty pub's car park.

Ms Haley explained that the vets practice is looking at turning the ground floor of the pub into a waiting area, dispensary, three consulting rooms, two operating theatres, an imaging suite with X-ray and ultrasound facilities, an isolation unit and separate car and dog kennelling facilities.

She said that the old inn would provide three times the amount of space the current practice boasts.

She added that the first floor would remain as residential.

"We got to the point where we have outgrown the current practice and have had to look to relocate," she said.

The practice had been looking around for alternative premises for the past two or three years.

She said the refurbishment costs would run into the 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' and be likely to take more than six months.

POLICE arrested a man suspected of supplying girls with Class A drugs during a night-time operation to protect teenagers on Torquay harbourside.

The arrest took place in Fleet Street after plain clothes officers saw a man apparently handing a substance to a girl who then put it in her handbag.

Police Constable Chris Moore, who headed the ongoing operation, code-named Stay Safe, said: "The man has been identified as providing illegal substances to young girls. He was located and arrested.

"Despite extensive inquiries, checking CCTV and speaking to door staff we could not find the girl, who we believe was about 15 years old.

"He was in possession of what we suspect were Class A drugs."

During Operation StaySafe, patrols of officers, street wardens, PCSOs and representatives from the Youth Offending Team, confiscated alcohol from under-age drinkers as young as 10 on Torquay's Harbourside.

Police also spoke to 16 youths and took one vulnerable 15-year-old girl back to the safe house at the security office at Fleet Walk's multi-storey car park last Friday night.

They patrolled car parks and alleyways in and around Torwood Street, Union Street and Winter Gardens.

They confiscated four two-litre bottles of cider and eight cans of lager and informed parents of the whereabouts of their children, arranging for them to be picked up and taken home.

One man was charged and bailed for possession of Class A drugs.

Constable Moore said: "We want to raise parents' awareness and ask them 'do you know where your child is?' A lot of the time they think they are staying the night at a friend's house and they are completely unaware that they are in the town drinking."

Sergeant Seth Saunders, who has recently joined the harbourside team, said young people 'gravitate' towards the harbourside having consumed alcohol at home first. They then get into licensed premises using false identification.

"If young people are going to come out drinking, it's likely they will gravitate towards the harbourside," he added.

"The problem is exacerbated when young people drink at home or go out and about drinking with friends before coming into town and they are already under the influence."

Sergeant Saunders said police worked with licensed premises in a 'joint approach' to tackle under-age drinking and antisocial behaviour.

Parents were often 'relieved' when they found their children's whereabouts and were pleased they had been given the chance to collect them from town rather than the police station.

The patrols also work closely with CCTV officers who help to identify vulnerable youths and to catch offenders.

Officers also spoke to a Welsh stag group who were ejected from The London Inn and Mambo.