A burglar has been jailed for 32 months after breaking into three houses and stealing two cars.

Wesley William Westbrook was sent to prison for the burglary spree he committed to fund his heroin and crack cocaine habit.

The 32-year-old, who had 43 previous convictions for dishonesty, was told by the judge he should contact the drug counselling service while behind bars.

Judge Philip Head, sitting at Leicester Crown Court, told Westbrook: "While you are in you have the opportunity to get in contact with the drug team.

"I think that is your best hope."

Wesley William Westbrook, of Linney Road, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, had pleaded guilty to breaking into a home on All Saints Road, Thurcaston, when a laptop computer, two digital cameras, a wallet, a purse and car keys were taken, on November 14.

He also admitted theft of a Saab car from outside the property.

Westbrook also pleaded guilty to burglary at a detached house in Luke Jackson Way, Stanton under Bardon, when a laptop, a mobile phone, a television and vehicle keys were taken, along with a Mazda car, also on November 14.

Westbrook further admitted burglary at a house in Curlew Close, Syston, when two laptops, a mobile phone, jewellery, a television, a bicycle and a wallet with cash were stolen on November 16.

Prosecutor Alan Murphy told the court that during the burglary at Stanton under Bardon there were two young children upstairs in the house.

Defence counsel Mara Silva-Romefort said her client had had a difficult past.

She said: "He has had a drug habit heroin and crack cocaine.

"That is the reason he does this."

Judge Head told Westbrook he had committed a burglary spree.

He told him: "I am told that this offending is largely driven by drugs.

"You do this to fund the drugs.

"You abuse drugs when your life is downward."

Teenager Joseph Asante was yesterday put behind bars for five years and four months after stabbing a man with a carving knife outside a Leicester nightclub.

The 17-year-old, from Leicester, stabbed the man in the chest and the abdomen following an incident outside the Canvas nightclub in the city centre at about 3.30am.

Prosecutor Ben Isaacs told Leicester Crown Court how Asante pulled the knife, described by a witness as a "carving knife or bread knife" out of his waistband.

He said: "There is no medical evidence with this case but the stab to the abdomen caused air and fluid to collect.

"The stab to the chest damaged the lung which partly collapsed."

Mr Isaacs said the stabbing happened on August 29 after the victim and a group of men were involved in an incident.

He said: "The victim was upset and angry. He said he would fight anyone but one on one.

"The defendant was part of that group. He approached the victim and removed a knife from his waistband."

Asante, of Windley Road, Saffron Lane, Leicester, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and to the possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was sentenced to 64 months in a Young Offenders' Institute.

Mr Isaacs said that Asante had a previous convictions of dishonesty and one for battery in 2013 in which he brandished a knife.

Philip Gibbs, defending, said his client had faced the music.

He said: "He will now have a significant period of time to reflect on the error of his ways.

"He will have to use his time well to try to turn things around for the future."

Judge Philip Head said Asante had committed the offences while drunk and under the influence of drugs.

He told him: "You have a record that suggests a fascination with knives.

"It is your tragedy. Your mother's tragedy is that you have a relatively supportive mother who has done her best in raising you."

A mother is on trial accused of carelessly causing the deaths of her daughter and son's girlfriend in a car crash, when she was high on cannabis.

Anastasia James (37) allegedly lied about having taken the drug, which was detected in a blood sample she gave after the tragedy.

She denies causing the death of 14-year-old daughter, Destiny James-Keeling, and 18-year-old Megan Marchant, by driving without due care and attention, while unfit through drugs, on the northbound carriageway of the M1, at just after 7pm on Saturday January 4, 2014.

Michael Evans QC, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "The deaths were unnecessary and avoidable.

"Miss James was driving her Vauxhall Astra convertible back to Leicester from London.

"She'd been to her nephew's first birthday party."

Her son, Wade James-Keeling, then 18, sat behind his mother and next to his girlfriend, while Destiny was in the front passenger seat.

Mr Evans said witnesses saw the vehicle move right towards the central reservation before veering left across all three lanes and disappearing out of view.

The Astra became airborne, landed on the other side of a ditch, tipping over and collided with tree.

Mr Evans said: "The main area of damage was to the nearside and soft top roof, which had crushed into the passenger compartment.

"Destiny and Megan died within minutes."

Mr Evans added: "This is a tragic case; there's no way Miss James wanted this to happen but as I said, it was avoidable."

"She's lost a child.

"Another family also lost a child.

"They placed the care of their daughter, Megan, in the hands of Miss James, who betrayed their trust."

He alleged police sergeant, Nicholas White, who attended the scene noticed an "unmistakable aroma of cannabis" coming from the Astra.

A bag containing 1.5 grams of cannabis - with a high THC content - was found in the defendant's son's pocket at hospital.

{ THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects.}

A blood sample taken from the defendant was positive for THC and experts alleged James consumed cannabis within two hours of the crash, either before she left London or during the journey.

In interview, James, of Thornton Close, Braunstone, said she thought something was wrong with the car or had possibly a blown tyre; which was not the case.

Mr Evans said: "She said she had not used cannabis and had taken no drugs of any type since the New Year, three days before the incident – this was a lie.

"She specifically said she'd not smoked cannabis on the day of or on the days before the crash – that was a lie."

James told the police she last smoked cannabis "ages ago," and said: "I would never go on the motorway if I was high and I wasn't stoned on the way back."

Mr Evans said: "To summarise; she smoked cannabis shortly before the accident.

"She's not a regular user of cannabis and is more likely to be affected significantly.

"She was willing to take that risk.

"She didn't want this to happen and you'll have sympathy for her but she had the care of children and to make the choice that she did is simply unforgiveable."

The trial continues.

A Leicester council tenant has been evicted from her home following nearly 180 reports of crimes centred on the property over a decade.

Maxine Ellis, 41, her partner and four children, were removed from their home in Pollard Road, Braunstone, yesterday morning in an operation involving Leicester City Council and the police.

The eviction follows a series of crimes and continuing anti-social behaviour connected with occupants of the property.

These include burglary, theft, affray, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, criminal damage and public order offences.

Officials say problems had escalated in recent weeks with neighbours suffering nuisance behaviour at all times of the day and nigh prompting the action.

The council successfully applied to the county court for warrant of possession.

This gave the authorities powers to evict the Ms Ellis and other occupants from the property.

She had been a tenant at the home since January 2002

The eviction was carried out by county court bailiffs.

The council says it has not rehoused Ms Ellis and her family elsewhere as they have made their own arrangements.

Assistant city mayor for housing councillor Andy Connelly said: "Eviction of tenants is not an action we take lightly.

"However, when neighbours are living in fear of the sort of crime and anti-social behaviour that the occupants of this property were involved in, we have to take action to put a stop to it. No-one should have to tolerate this sort of persistent anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods."

Inspector Nicky Preston, from the West Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: "This family caused a great deal of distress within the local community.

"They were responsible for a number of offences and committed anti-social behaviour at all times of the day and night.

"We will continue to work with the local authority and support further evictions where individuals are causing alarm and distress within our communities."

Anyone who has concerns about anti-social behaviour in their area can report incidents to the police on 101.

A son who stabbed his mother 18 times is to be detained indefinitely at a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Taylor Lopez-Kerr attacked Leona Lopez (52) without warning as she watched television in the living room at home.

It was 7pm on Sunday September 20 when she suddenly realised he was standing next to her holding one of her kitchen knives.

Bizarrely, he kept calling her "Nathan" as he inflicted multiple injuries to the left side of her body, on her leg, arm, side, breast and back.

The knife was left embedded in her lower back and had to be surgically removed.

Ms Lopez, of Pitchens Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, screamed for help but her younger son, Mason, then 18, had fallen asleep upstairs.

Her partner, George Kerr, had just popped out to fill his car with petrol ready for work the next day.

When he returned, he found Ms Kerr bleeding heavily on the floor and gasping to breathe, with a punctured lung.

Taylor immediately handed himself into the police, asking to be arrested, saying he had just stabbed his mum and it was "attempted murder."

Leicester Crown Court heard that Taylor, 23, who suffers from schizophrenia was too mentally ill to enter a plea to a wounding with intent charge and could not stand trial to establish guilt or innocence.

However a jury heard the facts of the case and concluded Taylor had committed "the act" of stabbing his mother.

Sentencing Taylor, Jude Michael Stokes QC said: "What you did last September to your own mother could have resulted in her death.

"She has a permanent disability now as a result; happily not the most serious.

"You have a history of aggressive and violent behaviour.

"From your mother's evidence, when you attacked her you were seriously mentally ill.

"In her words it wasn't as if it was you attacking her and it appeared to be someone quite different.

"You suffer from a mental disorder that requires you to be detained in hospital you require treatment at Arnold Lodge (a medium psychiatric hospital, in Leicester).

"But given the violence, particularly to members of your own family, you pose a risk not only to yourself but members of the public.

"It's necessary for the court, supported by two psychiatrists, that you remain the subject of section 41 of the Mental Health Act, without limit of time."

Judge Stokes told Taylor he would not be released until "you no longer present a risk to yourself or anyone else."

Earlier consultant psychiatrist, Dr Gillian Bennett, of Arnold Lodge, told the judge that Taylor had been diagnosed with a psychotic mental disorder and was being treated for schizophrenia.

Ms Lopez's statement, video recorded from her hospital bed the day after the attack, was earlier played in court.

She said: "I thought he was going to kill me."

"He was just not Taylor; like he was possessed and I couldn't reason with him.

She was off work for a month; but has scars and nerve damage in her leg.

She said Taylor's personality changed after he began taking cannabis in 2013, resulting him being aggressive.

He also fell off his bike and banged his head in May 2013.

Two consultant psychiatrists' reports stated his former cannabis use could have precipitated or exacerbated his mental illness.

An alert bank cashier has helped police arrest a suspected rogue trader.

The trader allegedly tried to con a pensioner out of £3,000 for unnecessary roof repairs at his home in Market Harborough.

But a suspicious clerk at Lloyd's Bank in The Square in the town called in the police.

The fraudster had first called at the retired man's home in Burnmill Road, on Friday March 4.

Police said the trader told the elderly man his roof needed repairing. In fact, no work was required.

The anxious householder visited his bank in Market Harborough to withdraw £1,500 to give to the alleged fraudster.

Then on Monday March 7 the suspected rogue trader called back at the man's home.

This time he told the man he needed another £1,500 before he could start the work.

The elderly man visited the town bank again but this time a suspicious cashier at the bank questioned the retired man and then contacted the police.

A suspected rogue trader has since been arrested by Market Harborough police in the town.

Pc Malc Roberts, based in Market Harborough, said: "This incident only came to light after diligent work from a local bank in Market Harborough.

"When the elderly man visited to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank for the second time in four days, the cashier questioned him, and after consulting her manager, called the police in."

One 20-year-old man has been arrested and released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Police suspect there was more than one man involved.

Anyone who saw suspicious activity on Burnmill Road should contact the police.

Police believe the elderly man was visited twice by suspected rogue traders - on Friday March 4 at about 2.30pm, and on Monday March 7 at about 10.30am.

Members of the public with any information should contact Pc 1149 Thomas on 101.

Fraud gangs hit people in Leicestershire to the tune of £1.2 million last year, according to police estimates.

Leicestershire Police believes 8,000 people fell victim to various forms of fraud in the city and county, collectively losing £1.27 million.

Criminals use stolen details to remove money from victims' accounts, take out loans or mobile phone contracts and even obtain documents, such as passports or driving licences.

The average victim loses £1,200 and the total value of losses is estimated to be £3.3 billion a year in the UK.

In a report to Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board, to be held at County Hall, Glenfield, tomorrow, police warned of an increase inof "courier" fraud.

In their report, senior officers said: "It has been identified that there is a re-emergence of courier fraud offences targeting vulnerable people.

"There is a common theme to these offences, where offenders call the victim purporting to be a police officer investigating counterfeit currency.

"They offer to send a courier to collect the victim's bank cards or arrange a taxi to collect the victim to take them to the bank to withdraw the money."

The police report adds: "It is not known to what extent this criminality is being under-reported."

Last summer, the force supported a nationwide campaign, organised by the City of London Police, to encourage people to take simple steps to prevent their personal information falling into the hands of fraudsters.

At the time, Commander Steve Head, of City of London Police, said: "What many of us do not appreciate is the sheer scale of the problem.

"To get to grips with identity crime requires us all to come together and share advice on how to protect our personal information."

Police advice includes:

• Be careful who you give personal details such as full name, age, address and banking information to.
• Create strong passwords on all devices and for online accounts.
• Destroy or safely store all documents such as bank statements.
• Don't respond to unsolicited telephone calls or e-mails.
• Protect devices such as computers, tablets and phones with security software and passwords.

Further information is available at:

www.cityoflondon.police.uk

Armed police were called after a man who had been shot walked in to Leicester Royal Infirmary and asked to be treated.

The 20-year-old, who had been wounded in the arm, attended the accident and emergency department yesterday afternoon.

Armed officers remained on the scene as a precaution as it was unclear how the man came to be injured and the gunman was still at large.

Later, two men, aged 19 and 22, were arrested in connection with the shooting.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said detectives were hoping the injured man would be able to give a full account of what had happened.

Police said it was unclear where and exactly when the shooting had taken place.

However, Parry Street, off Humberstone Road was cordoned off earlier today as part of the investigation.

Residents said the road was open as usual throughout yesterday.

One said: "It's really bad to hear that a young man has been shot. I hope he makes a full recovery.

"I was here last night and this morning but there was no police cordon here.

"I came back in the afternoon and most of the street was taped off.

"Nobody I know down here knows anything about this boy being shot here."

Another added: "I've lived her for 20 years and there have been some bad crimes, including stabbings, but never a shooting as far as I can remember.

"The police officers down here aren't able to tell us much even though everyone want to know what's going on."

The Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to LRI after a man presented himself at the hospital with what were believed to be gunshot wounds.

"In the interests of public safety, firearms officers were deployed to the hospital.

"Two men, aged 19 and 22, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

"They remain in police custody and inquiries are ongoing."

A spokesperson at Leicester's Hospitals said: "We worked with the police when a man presented himself in our emergency department with what was believed to have a gunshot wound.

"In those circumstances we are able to step up security and call for police assistance for the safety of our staff and patients."

"None of this caused disruption to patient care."

Cases heard before Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Christopher Dean Cornell (26), of School Street, Syston, pleaded guilty to damaging or destroying a door, lighting and plates, value unknown, at a house in Syston on February 29. He was given a community order including six months' alcohol dependency treatment and rehabilitation activity requirement to attend appointments or take part in activities for up to 10 days. A restraining order was made preventing him from contacting a named person or going to a specified address. Cornell was ordered to pay £50 compensation, £80 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. The sentence also covered a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog on the same date to which he also pleaded guilty.

Kathleen Everett (39), of Bates Close, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to driving without third party insurance in Lind Road, Loughborough, on December 30. She was fined £180 with a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and given six penalty points on her driving licence.

Helen Noon (52), of Boulder Lane, Leicester, pleaded guilty to exceeding 30mph on the A6030 Stoughton Drive, Leicester, on July 30. She was fined £20 with a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and given three penalty points.

William Henry Cook (34), of Hillcrest Road, Knighton Park, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Syston on November 8. He was jailed for 20 weeks concurrently, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to comply with a drug rehabilitation requirement including six months drug dependency treatment, participating in an accredited building better relationships programme for 30 days, and a rehabilitation activity requirement to attend appointments or take part in activities when required for up to five days.

A restraining order was made preventing him from contacting a named person or going to three designated places.

Cook was also ordered to pay £50 compensation, an £80 victim surcharge and £400 costs.

Abdirashid Rashidcumar (23), of Baseball Walk, Belgrave, Leicester, pleaded guilty to exceeding 30mph on the A6 London Road, Leicester, on August 1.

He was fined £135 with a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and had four penalty points put on his driving licence.

A prolific offender who carried out a ram-raid at a Harborough jewellers during a two-week crime spree has been jailed for five and a half years.

Darren Williams used a stolen Chevrolet on the raid on Steffans jewellers in Market Harborough.

A total of 30 "high value" watches were stolen from the store and £10,000 was caused during the raid, Northampton Crown Court heard.

It was the last in a series of crime carried out by Williams (36) during a fortnight in November 2014.

Northampton Crown Court heard Williams admitted carrying out a ram-raid at Nolan's jewellers in Northampton town centre on Sunday, November 2, 2014, when £21,000 worth of damage was caused.

The Rover car used in the burglary had been stolen from The Plough Hotel the day before and new number plates had been put on the vehicle.

Two days later Williams stole a Vauxhall Astra from Europcar in Northampton and this was later used in the burglary of a house in Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire.

Caroline Bray, prosecuting, said the two occupants were both in bed when Williams broke in and carried out an 'untidy search" of the property.

The court heard Williams stole the keys to a Land Rover and filled it up with items from the house including computers and jewellery.

But, as Williams was leaving in the Land Rover, the male occupant woke up and chased the vehicle in his underwear.

The homeowner managed to open the front door of the vehicle and push the steering wheel hard right so it crashed in to some bushes.

Ms Bray said he also punched Williams and managed to ensure he did not escape with any stolen items.

On November 8, 2014, Mr Williams then stole a Lexus car from a house in Kingsthorpe and this vehicle was then used in a ram-raid of the Mobile Phone Centre in Gold Street, where £800 worth of stock was taken.

Four days later, Williams entered the staff area of St Andrew's Hospital and stole a Chevrolet, which was then used to ram-raid Steffans jewellers in Market Harborough.

Williams was later arrested at an address in Northampton and found in possession of 30 of the stolen watches.

The court heard Williams was a "prolific" offender who had served a number of prison sentences during his adult life.

Ms Bray said he made "full and frank" admissions about the thefts and burglaries he had carried out.

Catherine Howell, mitigating, said Williams's had committed the offence to fund his drug addiction.

Judge Rupert Mayo sentenced Williams to five-and-half years in prison, including three years for the burglary of the residential properties and two-and-a-half years, concurrently, for the ram-raids.

Williams, formerly of Collyweston Road, Northampton, has been in custody since he was arrested in November 2014.

Three members of staff have been arrested following an incident at a city school which left a male pupil with serious injuries.

The staff members at West Gate School for people with special educational needs were arrested and have since been bailed pending further inquiries by Leicestershire Police.

The role of the staff members at West Gate is not known.

A police spokeswoman said the arrests related to "neglect" after a pupil got into difficulty during an activity on January 27.

The council's adult safeguarding team is also believed to be investigating the matter alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The pupil was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary immediately after the incident and has since been transferred to the General Hospital where he remains in a "stable condition" according to the police spokeswoman.

The full nature of his injuries is not known.

Rev Canon Peter Taylor, chair of governors at the school, said: "A number of investigations, including a police inquiry, are being carried out into the circumstances of this tragic incident.

"Three members of staff have been suspended while these take place.

"Staff and parents have been given as much information as the investigations will allow, but until all inquiries are concluded we won't be able to comment further."

West Gate School, in Glenfield Road, moved location across the road into £9.3 million building in October 2014 as part of Leicester City Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.

It looks after pupils aged four to 19 years who have a wide range of learning difficulties and disabilities.

Its last Ofsted inspection took place in 2013 when inspectors from the education watchdog judged it to be "good" overall with some outstanding features.

A message on the school's home page says: "We have a skilled and dedicated staff team who are deeply committed to providing the best possible education and care for all our pupils."

The school is part of a charitable trust alongside The Children's Hospital School, at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and Nether Hall School.

Child grooming gangs are carrying out acts of sexual abuse in a network of budget hotels and guesthouses in Leicester, according to police.

The children or young people – some of whom have been manipulated via social networking sites, others in person – are often ferried to the locations by taxi drivers.

Others are driven there by their abusers.

The acts of sexual assault are, according to a police report, carried out "very late at night or in the early hours of the morning".

The insight into abusers' methods was given in a police assessment of the scale of child sexual exploitation, (CSE), in the city and county.

Detectives are working to identify perpetrators and to warn hotel and guesthouse staff and taxi drivers to spot potential victims and to report all concerns to police.

The report was presented to county politicians and civil servants today.

Police said grooming gangs in other towns and cities employed similar methods.

The "vast majority" of victims, it says, are white girls aged 12 to 17, although it adds "all ethnicities and genders are affected".

The report said: "From intelligence and crime reports, a number of budget hotels or guesthouses in Leicester are being used by offenders to meet and abuse their victims. Rooms are usually paid for in cash.

"More than half of those identified as at risk of CSE have been reported missing in the past.

"There is no clear link between victim ethnicity and offender ethnicity."

The report came out as Leicestershire Police marked National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day tomorrow.

The force is running a campaign called Commitment to Eradicate Abuse and Sexual Exploitation, or Cease, to encourage people to sign a pledge to do all they can to eradicate sexual exploitation and to report their concerns.

It aims to get at least 100,000 people to pledge their support.

Previously, the pledge has had to be made online, now the force has launched a service which will enable people to do so by text message.

Also, thousands of hand-shaped Cease forms will be distributed to public places such as community centres, libraries and doctors surgeries, for people to sign.

The signed 'hands' will be put on display in public areas as a visual representation of the city and county's commitment to tackling the crime.

Chief Constable Simon Cole said: "The key to tackling CSE is greater public awareness of the issue and the signs that may indicate a child is in danger. We hope the text service will make it even easier for people to show support.

Police hope the new ways to sign the Cease pledge – unveiled today – will result in a surge of support for the campaign. Since its launch last month, the campaign has received more than 700 online pledges, including Gary Lineker, Bend It Like Beckham actress Parminder Nagra, BBC Apprentice star Melody Houssaini, X Factor winner Sam Bailey, Leicester City goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Leicester Tigers players Tom Croft, Sam Harrison, Freddie Burns and Oli Bryant. Police and crime commissioner Sir Clive Loader said: "Sadly it remains an inescapable fact that exploitation is all too often a 'hidden crime' due to reluctance on the part of the victim, or those closest to them, to come forward.

"It's so important those who have suffered this type of abuse, or fear they are at risk, report it."

"They can do this either to the police or another support organisation where they can get help, and whichever route, they can be assured that they will be treated with respect and sensitivity."

To sign the pledge, text CEASE to 87007

Advice on recognising or report child sexual exploitation is available at

www.lcitylscb.org/

www.lrsb.org.uk/children

www.leics.police.uk/CEASE

A woman accused of causing the deaths of her daughter and another girl in a car crash told a jury she may have "unknowingly" taken cannabis the night before the tragedy.

Anastasia James, a private investigator, has always denied smoking cannabis, although admitted taking a legal high alternative, Mamba, a week before the tragedy.

But giving evidence in her defence, at Leicester Crown Court, she changed her original account and told the jury she may have got her dates "mixed up" and taken what she thought was Mamba, on Friday January 3, 2014.

The following day, at just after 7pm, her convertible Vauxhall Astra spun off a northbound straight stretch of the M1, near junction 19, and hit a tree.

Two passengers, her 14-year-old daughter, Destiny James-Keeling, and her son's 18-year-old girlfriend, Megan Marchant, died almost immediately.

James (37), of Thornton Close, Braunstone, denies causing the death of both girls, by driving without due care and attention, while unfit through drugs (cannabis).

The court heard there was evidence of THC, a cannabis component, in a blood sample taken from James at 1am – but no traces of Mamba.

Two toxicology experts allege the THC level indicated the defendant took cannabis within two hours of the crash - either before setting off to Leicester from a family party in London, at about 5pm, or during the journey.

James, a graduate and former good-parenting co-ordinator, told the court: "I'm really shocked by these (toxicology) results.

"I didn't smoke earlier that day or in the car.

"I wasn't aware I had cannabis in my system."

She disputed a police officer's claim to have smelled cannabis near the wreckage.

She said she was unaware her son, Wade James-Keeling, then 17, who survived the crash, had a 1.5 gram bag of cannabis on him, which was found by the ambulance crew.

She denied having taken any cannabis before or during the journey, saying it would have been morally wrong to have done so.

She said: "I hadn't knowingly smoked cannabis, I thought I smoked Mamba (the night before)

James said she believed her car may have hit debris in the road causing loss of control.

She said: "I remember going straight in the middle of the lane then this feeling of pulling and that's when I'm holding on really tight to the wheel.

"It was like a wobbly sensation and I couldn't stop it from pulling to the right (onto the central reservation).

The car then spun across all three lanes and left the road.

She said: "The steering wheel was spinning out of my hands and I couldn't hold it anymore .

"I was still trying to straighten it, I remember going towards the tree.

"It was shocking to hear I wasn't braking."

Under cross-examination Michael Evans QC, prosecuting, accused her of being "in denial" and urged her to tell the truth for the sake of Megan's family in the public gallery.

James said: "If I was guilty, I would have gone guilty."

A mother twice left her seven-year-old daughter home alone at weekends - once with just cake and juice - while she visited a boyfriend in London.

She told the youngster she was "going a long way away" and not to touch anything dangerous or the computer, a court heard.

The woman locked the girl in their flat in Knighton, Leicester – and was only caught after concerned neighbours alerted the police.

Leicester Crown Court was told the police broke in to the property to rescue the child in July 2014.

All she had been left was "juice to drink and some cake," said Philip Gibbs, prosecuting.

The little girl and two younger siblings - who were not locked in the flat - are now all being cared for by relatives, following social services intervention.

The mother, 31, has recently given birth to her fourth child.

She pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty, by neglect, between January and July 2014, when the youngster was six and seven-years-old.

The woman, who cannot be named because of a court order protecting the child, was given a 10 month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with supervision.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Stokes QC said: "You left this child alone so you could fulfil your own self-gratification, both sexually and otherwise and you put that before your duty to your daughter - and that's really unforgivable in a mother.

"To leave a seven-year-old child locked in a flat with no means of access or exit; anything could have happened – a fire, an electrical fault or the child falling.

"There's a dozen things that could have happened to the child and that must have passed through your mind when you went to London."

The judge said he was suspending the sentence, "Given the enormous amount of work and investment Social Services have made, it would be counter-productive to send you to prison.

"You now have a tiny child who you are breastfeeding and the last thing the court would want to do is send you to prison in those circumstances."

The charges relate to the defendant leaving the youngster, then aged six, alone in the flat for 20 minutes and then going away overnight.

On two separate weekends, she left her home alone, aged seven.

Mr Gibbs said: "She was barely able to open a window a few inches and the front door was locked with a mortise.

"She conversed with a neighbour through the slightly open window."

When questioned, the mother admitted leaving the child with just "cake and juice" for the entire weekend, whilst she visited her boyfriend.

She said she "felt ashamed."

The pre-sentence report stated the mother "can't be trusted with children.''

She has been the victim of domestic abuse from former partners.

She is still with the boyfriend she neglected her child for, and both are now living with his parents, in a different area, as they supervise the care of the new baby; also being monitored by agencies.

The social service conditions include the defendant and her partner not being left on their own with the baby.

Callinan Clodaghmuire, mitigating, said multi-agencies were intensively involved and the defendant has been undergoing courses, counselling and programmes.

She has monthly access to two of her three other children, including the victim, and is applying to the court regarding seeing her son.

Cases heard before Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Gurmail Singh Landa (29), of Dorset Street, Belgrave, pleaded guilty to assault by beating on October 21 last year. He was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Jarolslaw Jakub Janusz (34), of Windley Road, Saffron Lane, was proved guilty in his absence of using a vehicle without third-party insurance on Saffron Lane, Leicester, on June 23 last year. He was fined £360 with a £36 victim surcharge and £30 costs. He was banned from driving for 12 months.

Mohammed Rob (27), of Thomas Cook Place, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without third-party insurance on November 5 last year at Bishop Meadow Road, Loughborough.

He was fined £240 with a £24 victim surcharge, £85 costs and handed six penalty points on his driving licence. Rob was given no separate penalty after pleading guilty to driving other than in accordance with a licence – without supervision and without L-plates – on the same date and place.

Paul Samuel Abbott (50), of Saffron Lane, Leicester, was proved guilty in absence of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence on Saffron Lane, Leicester, on July 23 last year. His licence had been revoked for not returning it for penalty points to be added. Abbott was also fined £220, with a £22 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Richard Bull (41), of Dawsons Road, Osgathorpe, pleaded guilty to driving on the M1, between junction 22 to 21, on October 7 last year without reasonable consideration for others by travelling at excess speed, flashing his headlights and waving his arms. When requested by a police officer to pull over into lane one, he continued to drive, failing to pull over until he was held up in traffic and the officer shouted for him to follow him into services. He was fined £120 with a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and given five penalty points on his driving licence.

Police investigating a crash last week which killed two men have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The man has been interviewed by detectives about his driving prior to the collision at the junction of Fosse Road South and Upperton Road last Wednesday night.

A Peugeot 206 which was being followed by an unmarked police car crashed into a Ford lorry shortly before midnight,

The force of the collision pushed the Ford into the front of Snutch Convenience Store, on the corner of the two roads.

Police have referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because its officers were present at the time of the collision.

The two passengers in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. Two people in the van suffered minor injuries, police said.

The seriously injured driver was taken to hospital in Coventry but has now been discharged.

A Leicesteshire Police spokeswoman said the force would not identify the arrested man and said it was not yet in a position to release the names of the deceased.

In a statement issued today, the force said: "The man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

"The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and we are supporting them in their independent investigation."

The police and the IPCC have declined to say why officers were following the car.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting incident 782 of 9 March.

Feuding neighbours ended up side-by-side in the dock after a fight in the street.

Stephen Gyles and Joden Smith had to sit next to each other at Leicester Crown Court after the bad blood between them boiled over into violence.

Prosecutor Alan Murphy told the court how the men, and Smith's younger brother, came to blows after a fall-out in the Leicester street where they all live.

He said Gyles (59) and Joden Smith (19) had words then Gyles drove off in a van on November 28 last year.

Mr Murphy said that Gyles then returned minutes later and attacked Tommy Smith (16) with a steering lock.

Joden Smith took the steering lock off Gyles and proceeded to attack him with it.

Then both brothers punched and kicked Mr Gyles, who was knocked unconscious in the assault.

Mr Murphy said: "It is lucky that all the injuries were relatively minor."

Gyles of Herrick Road, off Welford Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to common assault on Tommy Smith.

Miss Vasanti Vaitha, representing Gyles, said her client was a man of previous good character.

She said: "So far as Mr Gyles and his partner are concerned they want to draw a line under all this and make a fresh start."

Joden Smith, also of Herrick Road, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm on Mr Gyles.

Gregor Purcell, representing Joden Smith, said his client regretted his involvement in the matter.

He said Leicester City Council had become involved to relocate Mr Smith's family.

Mr Purcell said: "It has been an unhappy situation for both sides."

Tommy Smith, aged 16, also of Herrick Road, was given a caution for his part in the altercation.

Judge Philip Head made Gyles the subject of a year-long community order and to pay £270 costs.

He was given a three-month Saturday curfew between 6pm and 6am.

Joden Smith was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £400 costs.

He was ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work.

Gyles was made the subject of a restraining order, banning from contacting the Smiths for two years.

Both Smiths were banned from contacting Gyles for two years.

The judge said: "This is a case that has an unhappy history.

"Gyles went back looking for fight. He got one. He came off worst. It was six of one and half a dozen of the other."

One of the killers of a Leicester businessman, who was beaten and suffocated during a raid on his home, has failed in an Appeal Court bid to clear his name.

Sarwar Mejal Gader was one of three men jailed for life for the murder of Dogan Dogan at Birmingham Crown Court in November 2012.

The 36-year-old, of Gleneagles Avenue, Leicester, was also found guilty of robbery and was ordered to serve at least 28 years behind bars.

He challenged his conviction at London's Criminal Appeal Court, arguing he did not receive a fair trial, because jurors were told he had previous convictions for robbery and burglary.

But his complaints were thrown out by three of the country's top judges, who said the jury was 'entitled' to know about the earlier crimes, as they were 'clearly relevant'.

Mr Dogan's body was found at his flat above Aladdin's Pizza, in Linton Street, Evington, in January 2012.

He had been beaten and tied up, with a towel and several layers of clothing tied over his face.

The businessman, who was married with children, died of aspyhxiation and also suffered broken ribs and a black eye during the attack.

Takings of about £1,000 from the takeaway and from Mr Dogan's other business, Pizzaman, in Lutterworth, were missing from the flat.

A car belonging to another of the killers, Naveed Naveed, was seen being driven away from the area around the time of the murder and a witness saw keys - which belonged to Mr Dogan - being thrown from the moving vehicle.

Wali Khan, 33, of no fixed abode, and Naveed, 29, of St Stephens Road, Leicester, were also ordered to serve at least 28 years behind bars after being found guilty of murder.

Naveed was also found guilty of robbery, which Khan had admitted at an earlier stage.

Dismissing Gader's appeal, Lord Justice Davis said the other two were entitled, as part of their defence, to include evidence of their partner-in-crime's previous convictions.

Sitting with Mr Justice Turner and Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing, he added: "The previous robbery was one involving serious violence and the burglary had also been an unpleasant offence.

"His criminal record was plainly of significant probative importance.

"Accordingly, the trial judge's decision was entirely correct."

A man who walked into A&E at Leicester Royal Infirmary with a gunshot wound last week has been allowed home.

The 20-year-old was released after treatment to a wound to his arm.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, who were arrested in connection with the shooting, which is thought to have happened in Parry Street, off Humberstone Road, Leicester last Wednesday have been released on bail.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said the investigation was continuing.

Armed police were called the hospital as a precaution as it was unclear how the man came to be injured and amid fears the gunmen were still at large.