Police were called to a petrol station in Long Eaton at around 10pm on Monday after an attempted robbery.

The incident happened at the Junction Service Station, in Wilsthorpe Road.

Three youths were reported to have threatened the cashier in the shop but left empty-handed.

Police cordoned off the petrol station but have since left the scene.

The petrol station will still be open on Tuesday but the shop will be closed and customers will be served through the hatch. This is for the forensics investigation.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said: "There was an attempted robbery at the service station just before 10pm last night. It involved three youths who threatened the cashier but made off without anything."

A customer who attacked a McDonald's worker was told by a judge yesterday: "You are still a young man who turned into a complete and utter violent yobbo."

District Judge Tim Devas told Logan Hamlett that his conduct was "disgraceful", adding: "Do something about it".

He watched the incident unfold in footage from a security camera and said: "I can't bear watching any more."

The judge imposed a ten-week prison term, suspended for a year, on Hamlett, 22, of Ash Grove, Stapleford, who appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

The film showed Hamlett and another man enter the Chilwell branch of the fast-food chain at 4.30am on December 28. Hamlett, who had been drinking, bought a meal and "appeared to be messing about, going behind the counter and acting silly".

"Words were said and they left," said Lee Shepherd, prosecuting. But Hamlett was seen returning to McDonald's and grappling with an employee who spoke to them about the earlier incident when he had gone behind the counter and played with the electronic till. Hamlett's friend remained outside.

Hamlett pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour with intent to cause a person to believe violence would be used. He was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the McDonald's worker as well as £85 prosecution costs and a government surcharge of £80.

The judge said compensation was being ordered because Hamlett's "behaviour caused great distress."

He said Hamlett needed to thank solicitor Finn Butler for "doing a superb job" in persuading the prosecution to accept the defence view of the case. He felt that Hamlett could have faced a more serious charge.

The judge said: "This young man is 100 percent to blame."

Hamlett must attend 20 sessions organised by probation officers as part of his sentence. If he fails to take part, he was warned that he could be sent to prison.

The judge added: "If you commit any other offence whatsoever in the next 12 months, you are bound to serve the ten weeks, unless the court considers it unjust. That would be very unusual.

"Likewise, if you don't comply with the rehabilitation activity, you will be brought back to court. Any breaches of the order and you are bound to go to prison."

Eastwood: A woman sent another woman threatening Facebook messages at the Queen's Medical Centre on August 1. Emma-Claire Haron, 24, of Wellington Street, was conditionally discharged for 12 months after she pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. JPs imposed a restraining order and she must pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85.

Basford: A community order was given to a man who assaulted a woman in Nottingham last July. Magistrates found Benedict Golding, 25, of Pulborough Close, guilty. He also admitted failing to surrender to custody on November 27. He has to attend a "building better relationships" course, complete unpaid work of 60 hours and pay compensation of £100, a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £630. He was banned from contacting the victim.

Daybrook: A 52-year-old man has been ordered to appear at court by video link. Harold Parrish, of Frobisher Gardens, allegedly committed arson. He has been remanded in custody to appear at court via video link on March 15.

Newark: A teenager failed to provide police with a specimen of blood for analysis under the Road Traffic Act on January 22. Ellis Brooks, 19, of Mather Road, pleaded guilty. He was fined £120 and must pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months. A £25 fine was imposed for possessing cannabis.

Cotgrave: Jordan Kirkby, 21, of Ringleas, pleaded guilty to possessing 22 wraps of cannabis on January 28. Magistrates conditionally discharged him for 12 months and told him to pay a victim surcharge of £15. JPs ordered the cannabis be destroyed.

Arboretum: Eight gaming machines and 15 televisions, valued at more than £11,500 and belonging to a Betfred betting shop, were allegedly damaged in Radford Road, Nottingham. Kulwinder Singh, 55, of Addison Street, is charged with causing criminal damage on February 14. Singh has been bailed to appear at court on March 8.

A millionaire businessman drove off with a police officer hanging from his driver's window after being pulled over for speeding, a court heard.

Sir Harry Djanogly, who became a textiles entrepreneur in Nottingham, was stopped after police saw his silver Jaguar XK speeding at up to 70mph on The Westway, Hammersmith, west London.

The 77-year-old, the father of Tory MP Jonathan Djanogly, was allegedly seen undertaking vehicles on three or four occasions and weaving from lane to lane.

PS Robert McDonald and fellow officer PC Robert Stewart said they followed him for several minutes in their marked police car before he pulled over.

He allegedly told PS McDonald his wife, Lady Carol Ann Djanogly, had an appointment at a private hospital.

The millionaire is alleged to have said: "I have a medical emergency, my wife is having chest pains and struggling to breathe.

"I'm not stopping, you can follow me if you like."

Djanogly, the name behind some of Nottingham's biggest academies, continued at speeds of up to 60mph, it is said.

The two officers caught up with him again when he was forced to slow down for traffic lights.

Sergeant McDonald said he approached the driver's door of the Jaguar and rested his arm on the window.

He reported that Lady Carol had no sign of breathing difficulties and did not appear to be in distress.

Djanogly repeated that he was not going to stop, at which point the officer told him he was under arrest for failing to stop for a constable, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

He said he then heard Djanogly revving his engine and grabbed the steering wheel to avoid being run over.

The court heard that when Djanogly refused to stop he lifted his legs off the ground to avoid being dragged under the wheels.

He was dragged 50 yards down the roads before his weight on the steering wheel pulled the car to the right and the defendant braked, it is said.

David Malone, prosecuting, said: "This defendant drove dangerously in that when lawfully stopped and indeed arrested by a police officer, he drove away causing the police officer injury.

"The prosecution intend to argue the circumstances of this incident that action of the defendant driving away also constituted an assault on that police officer."

He added: "The sergeant skinned both knees and suffered substantial swelling and stiffness, he was caused significant pain and suffered significant mental distress."

Djanogly said the movement of the car had been accidental and denied revving the engine.

After her husband was arrested, an ambulance was called for Lady Carol.

The crew noted that while she had a chest and heart condition, she was not suffering a medical emergency at the time of the incident.

The businessman, who is believed to own the world's largest collection of work by artist LS Lowry, denies any wrong doing.

Djanogly, of Angel Court, Pall Mall, central London, denies dangerous driving and one count of common assault, claiming the officer had been aggressive to him and was shouting.

The textiles manufacturer fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1936 and started out as a supplier of hosiery in Nottingham, which benefited from charitable donations of £1m to fund the City Technology Centre.

This later became the Djanogly City Academy, while he also contributed £750,000 towards the University of Nottingham's arts centre at Highfields.

He has an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University and has a lecture theatre named after him in Shakespeare Street.

The trial continues.

A Nottinghamshire couple accused of murdering a 21-month-old girl were heard arguing by a neighbour.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court heard evidence from Tracey Roberts who said she frequently heard noises coming from the flat of Matthew Rigby and Kathryn Smith, when they lived in Britannia Drive, Stretton, Staffordshire.

She said it was a mixture of arguing between the couple and music being played.

Smith, now of Sandfield Drive, Annesley, Nottingham, and Rigby, now of Sloan Drive, Bramcote, Nottingham, both deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.

The couple moved into the flat two months before May 1, 2014, the day baby Ayeeshia died. The witness said she had never seen the child and only heard her once, sometime between April 10 and 17.

She said: "I heard what sounded like an argument, and screaming, then I heard what I thought was a child's voice. It was a short, different voice, and sounded young. I could hear the voice say 'stop mummy, stop daddy' and sounded upset."

On May 1, Tracy Roberts said she had left the flat to go shopping at around 1.30pm to 2pm and saw Smith in the car park.

She later returned and put her shopping away and believes that around 3.05pm to 3.10pm she heard shouting coming from next door within the flat. She heard a man shouting in a raised voice for about five minutes.

She never heard anything more until around 4.30pm to 5pm when a policeman knocked on her door.

Earlier in the hearing, it was revealed that Miss Smith made three 999 calls to the police in the weeks leading up to the death of her daughter Ayeeshia.

She called the police at 9.27pm on March 11, and at around 5am and 7am on April 4, 2014. During the 5am call Smith told the 999 responder that her partner, Matthew Rigby, was going to cut himself and blame her.

Later, Smith told police: "He is getting me killed within a week."

PC Jonathan Minshull, of Burton Police, revealed during a visit to the flat he had been told by Smith that Rigby had made threats to kill her and had allegedly damaged Ayeeshia's cot by setting fire to it.

Gary Phillips, a watch manager at Burton Fire Station, also revealed that following a visit to the flat to review safety measures he noticed a distinct smell of cannabis and that Smith 'was very glazed over' and slow to respond to conversation.

Her daughter was in the flat at the time.

Mr Phillips later sent an email to the officer in charge of fire safety concerned about the property.

The trial continues.

A jury has heard how two Hungarian women were trafficked into the UK on the promise of finding work – but were sold for sex or to enter into a sham marriage.

Istvan Vinter and Maria Gaspar are accused of being the human traffickers of the two women, and organising the sale of other women to the UK.

Gaspar, 23, of Woodborough Road, St Ann's, has admitted her role in a conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, after she organised sham marriages.

But Nottingham Crown Court heard yesterday that her partner, 57-year-old Vinter, also of Woodborough Road, and co-accused Shomsu Miah, 44, of Russell Road, Forest Fields, deny this charge.

Prosecutor Adrian Langdale explained the allegation covered "the trafficking of numerous women from Hungary to the UK for the purpose of marriage".

It is alleged that the couple's primary interest was to traffic women for sham marriages.

Mr Langdale said £2,000 to £3,000 could be paid for a human being to be transported.

The couple deny a second human trafficking conspiracy charge involving sexual exploitation of one of the women who was promised work here.

Mr Langdale said when she arrived here she was "sold" in London before she escaped.

A linked charge, count three, said Mr Langdale, has been admitted by the couple, where there was a plot to assist the unlawful immigration of the woman.

Mr Langdale said both defendants now say they did bring her into the country "not for legitimate reasons but for a sham marriage".

"But the Crown don't accept that," he said. "The live issue is; it was more than a sham marriage. It's covered by count two – for sexual exploitation."

A fourth charge involves the couple and Miah denying a conspiracy to traffic the second woman, after she was taken to Nottingham and put to work as a prostitute.

All three defendants and a fourth man, 52-year-old Ajit Singh, of Kettering, deny conspiracy in relation to putting her to work as a prostitute.

The trial continues.

The mum of a 28-year-old killed by a single punch on a night out in Nottingham has described the heart-wrenching moment she came face-to-face with her son's killer.

Joan Scourfield's 28-year-old son James Hodgkinson died after being hit in an unprovoked attack outside Yates' Wine Lodge, Old Market Square, in July 2011.

His killer Jacob Dunne was charged with manslaughter, sentenced to 30 months in jail, and released after 14 months.

Last year Joan and James's dad David Hodgkinson agreed to meet Jacob, now 23, so he could apologise to them in person for what he did.

It was an experience that transformed Jacob's life. Now Joan and David even send him letters of support as he studies for a degree in criminology.

The couple, of Ipswich, also shared a meal with Jacob as they discussed a campaign to prevent similar killings.

Joan, 53, says: "After James died I would have been happy to see Jacob jailed for 25 years – to see his life snatched away just as our son's was.

"But when he walked into the room I was shocked. I remembered him from the police mugshot, but he looked so different in real life. He was a young man, not a monster.

"When I asked him why he hit James and told him what James was like, I saw his eyes fill up. We all shed a few tears. That gave me hope he could change, because I could see he regretted what he had done.

"It's hard to say I have forgiven Jacob, because nothing will ever change what he has done. But I certainly don't feel that bitterness any more."

Joan's world came crashing down when she finished her night shift as an A&E nurse and received a phone call from her younger son Phil, telling her that trainee paramedic James had been attacked.

James had spent that summer day watching cricket in Nottingham with Phil, their dad and friends, before having a few drinks in fancy dress in the city centre.

An argument broke out when a gang of youths began stealing their costumes.

Jacob, who had been drinking heavily, punched James outside a bar. He fell down, hitting his head so hard he suffered a bleed on the brain. James had emergency surgery but never woke up.

After he had been in a coma for nine days his heartbroken family accepted that his life support machine should be switched off.

Joan says: "We tried to stay strong and kept talking to James in the hope he could hear us... We could see he was failing.

"His body was starting to swell and he couldn't breathe very well. They tried to do things with his lungs, but it wasn't working, so we agreed he had been through enough.

"Turning off his life support machine was the hardest thing we've ever done.

"We sat by his side till the end, watching our beautiful boy slip away."

Joan struggled to fill the gaping hole in her life, her heart breaking every time she looked at her mobile phone and saw there were no missed calls or texts from James.

At night she lay awake wondering why James died and why Jacob had hit him.

She says: "I lay in the dark racking my brain, searching for answers. It drove me mad. James was very laid back, he wasn't confrontational. I couldn't understand why something so awful happened.

"Nottinghamshire Police were great but they were only interested in catching their guy and sentencing him. They couldn't give me the answers I needed."

Victim Support told Joan that the way to get the answers was to take part in a restorative justice scheme, which brings victims face to face with the criminals who tore their lives apart, giving them the chance to ask questions and explain how they feel.

Joan and David, whose amazing story is being told tonight in ITV show Meeting My Enemy, would only get to meet Jacob if he agreed to take part.

By this time Jacob had been released but was homeless, unemployed, and sleeping on friends' sofas. He also had little memory of the attack because he was so drunk that night. Even so, he agreed to answer Joan's questions.

Jacob, formerly of Whickham Court, The Meadows, says: "I knew Joan and David would spend the rest of their lives asking themselves those questions, so answering them was the least I could do.

"In prison I felt hard done to. I thought my friends had betrayed me when they snitched on me. But Joan showed such courage to come forward and ask those questions.

"It made me realise for the first time that someone else was in more pain than me, that they were the real victims here, not me." At first Joan wrote her questions for the
restorative justice team to pass on to Jacob.

After he answered them, Joan had another question. And it stopped Jacob in his tracks.He says: "She asked me what I was doing with my life now. That blew my mind. How could they even be interested in what I'm doing after everything I put them through?

"That's when I decided to do my GCSEs and make something of my life. It was my way of saying sorry to them, because words weren't enough."

Joan sent Jacob letters urging him to continue his studies.

Many mums would have felt bitter watching their son's killer rebuild their life, but Joan had a special reason for wanting Jacob to turn things around. When James was 21 he was mugged in Felixstowe, Suffolk, where the family were living at the time. He was slashed across the face with a knife, and needed 32 stitches. The robber had only just been released from prison.

While he was on bail awaiting trial he headbutted a barmaid. On the day he was released after 18 months in jail he stabbed a man who was walking with his family.

Joan says: "Some people might be surprised that we cared what Jacob was doing, but I was scared he would fall in with the wrong gang and go back to his old ways. I wanted to stop that happening, so he didn't put anyone else through what we had been through."

Joan continued to send Jacob letters of encouragement as he completed a Certificate of Higher Education then applied for university.

And shortly before he started his criminology course at Nottingham Trent University, they met for the first time in September.

Jacob says: "I was so nervous about meeting Joan and David that at first I couldn't walk through the door. But I was determined to apologise to them face to face.

"I also wanted to thank them because basically they saved my life. When I came out of prison I was worse than before I went in.

"Having contact with Joan and David was the turning point. Because I have their support I feel I can take on the world. Their opinion is the only one that matters to me."

They have since met for a second time after speaking at a conference on restorative justice and discussed plans to work together to support the One Punch campaign, which warns that a single punch can kill.

Jacob also works with the youth offending team in Nottingham, giving talks to encourage youths to avoid the mistakes he made.

Funding for the restorative justice scheme that helped Jacob transform his life ends this month, and no decision has been made on whether to continue the programme.

Joan says: "When Jacob was sentenced, if someone had told me that one day I would sit down and share a meal with him, I would have said they were crazy. It shows what restorative justice can achieve."

• Meeting My Enemy is on ITV today beginning at 7.30pm.

A mum-of-three who was jailed for life for the murder of an uninvited guest at a party has had her conviction referred to the Court of Appeal.

Kerry Holden, from Clifton, applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a review of her case.

Now the commission has sent the case to the appeal court – because it considers that new evidence, relating to an alternative suspect, has emerged since the trial.

Holden was aged 36 when she was sentenced for murdering Luke Moran.

Previously of Farnborough Road, she was sentenced in March 2012, following her conviction by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court for the killing.

Mr Moran, 25, of Southchurch Court, Clifton, died after she stabbed him in the heart with a kitchen knife after an argument at a house party.

Mr Moran was sat defenceless on his bike in the front garden of the house when Holden attacked him, leaving a fatal 10cm chest injury.

The court heard Mr Moran was one of several who turned up, uninvited, to the party in Eucalyptus Avenue, Barton Green. He got into an argument with Holden, who stabbed him. He was found bleeding by the side of a road.

Holden has always denied responsibility, and had previously taken her case to the Court of Appeal, where judges took ten minutes to reject her case.

More than 200 staff at Nottinghamshire Police are expected to leave over the course of the next year – and will not be replaced.

As the force tries to fill its £12 million budget black hole, new finance director Paul Dawkins said that a recruitment freeze would save £3 million, as between 90 and 100 police officers are expected to retire or leave the force.

A further £2million is likely to be saved as a similar number of police staff – such as call handlers and office workers – move on, and £370,000 will be saved through the departure of an estimated 15 PCSOs.

Nottinghamshire Police employs around 4,000 people, meaning a five percent drop in the number of staff is likely.

Last year, 21,000 people signed a petition against reducing the number of PCSOs at Nottinghamshire Police by 80, to 251.

Mr Dawkins, who was previously in charge of Leicestershire Police's coffers, now looks after Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, managing a total budget of more than £480 million (£190 million for Nottinghamshire).

He said: "Together, we are not going to give you a lesser service, we are going to give a better service."

Despite the council tax precept being raised by the maximum 1.99 per cent to generate £1.2 million for the police, £12 million is still needed.

Along with expected reductions in jobs, the force wants people to report crimes – except for rapes, murders and urgent 999 calls – via social media and at public meetings – which will begin to take place in libraries and supermarkets with more police station front counters expected to close.

"We need to modernise," said Mr Dawkins, whose £93,000 salary pays him to cover the work that used to be done by three people – at roughly £300,000.

"You will still see us, but you will contact us differently," he added. "But, of course, if it's urgent you still dial the 9s. That service will never change."

Mr Dawkins said Nottinghamshire's force control room could in future merge with Leicestershire and Northamptonshire – but ruled out any private companies taking over.

In the autumn statement, Chancellor George Osborne said he would "protect" police spending in "real terms". But Mr Dawkins said he expects to have to save a further £25 million over the next four years.

This is due to staff pay rises, the increasing cost of utilities and equipment and "top slicing" from the Home Office.

"Think of police funding as a cake," he said. "[The Home Office] take a slice of that cake away to fund national initiatives."

They include firearms departments in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, new radio systems and "next generation" communications systems for the country's police, fire brigade and ambulance services – including Nottinghamshire.

Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said he estimated police officer job losses to be closer to 80. He said: "It's an incredibly big challenge.

"Over the past four years, we have had to save £54 million, which is 25 percent of our budget. There have been some tough decisions but combining more closely we think we can make major efficiency savings."

Nottinghamshire Police's new finance director Paul Dawkins said the force needs to be "careful" it doesn't become over-reliant on special constables.

A recruitment drive is currently ongoing for the voluntary officers since it was announced that the force wanted to increase numbers from 350 to 500.

Currently, there are more than 400 special constables working for Nottinghamshire Police.

"The special constabulary provide an exceptional service," said Mr Dawkins. "They are really committed individuals, often working two or three jobs. How they do it I don't know.

"But there is a concern that if you become too heavily reliant on volunteers you become vulnerable.

"The very fact that they are volunteers means you can't order them to turn up for duty. We have to get the balance right."

Mr Dawkins also suggested roles for special PCSOs could be created. He said: "There are individuals out there who don't want to be full voluntary police officers, so we are exploring the option of special PSCOs."

Nottinghamshire Police needs to save £12 million in the next 12 months. This follows £54 million of savings made over the last four years and they are expecting a further £25 million cuts in the next four years.

Here's where most of the money will be saved:

£3 million – up to 100 police officers could leave without being replaced.

£2 million – up to 100 less civilian staff expected in a year's time.

£370,000 – 15 PCSOs expected to move on without replacement.

£500,000 – new case preparation system called Niche will improve efficiency.

£250,000 – ten percent reduction in overtime budget.

£500,000 - less temporary agency staff employed.

£3.5 million – scaling down of use of buildings (including Central Station) and vehicles, general office costs and streamlining staff. Could result in job losses (voluntary redundancy scheme currently ongoing).

An unemployed taxi driver denied intimidating a witness due to give evidence in a court case yesterday.

Kamran Wardak, 27, of Staplehurst Drive, Nottingham appeared at the city's magistrates court. The incident is alleged to have taken place on Hucknall Road, Nottingham on February 25.

He was ordered to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on April 5.

District Judge Leo Pyle remanded Wardak in custody.

Stapleford: Brandon Shepherd, 18, of Hartwood Drive, used threatening behaviour towards another person at Larry's Bar on New Year's Day. After pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, Shepherd was given a community order, told to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85.

Bestwood Village: Richard Hobson, 48, of Park Road, denied assaulting a male last August.

Hobson has been ordered to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 14.

Basford: Reuben Tucker, 18, of Constance Street, has been bailed to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 18. The teenager is accused of assault in Radford on January 27.

Stapleford: Sacha Roe, 37, of Pinfold Lane, denied assaulting a woman by beating her on August 30.

Roe has been bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court today at 2pm.

Police are still searching for the masked men who stole cash in a robbery at a petrol station.

A male security guard suffered a blow to the head during the attack at the Tesco Express in Nuthall Road at 6.30pm on Thursday, January 28.

The raiders fled over woodland and open ground behind the service station in the direction of Basford Hall College and Basford Miners' Welfare as the police helicopter circled above.

Police believe they then made off in the white Vauxhall Insignia driving a route which may have included Goldcrest Road, Bagnall Road, Nuthall Road, Broxtowe Lane and Exbourne Road.

Empty cash boxes were found dumped in wheelie bins in nearby Exbourne Road.

An image of an attacker wanted in connection with a blade attack has been released by police.

Officers investigating an assault in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on January have issued a picture of a man they would like to trace.

The attack took place in New Line Road at around 5.45pm on January 18.

The victim received slash injuries when he was attacked by two men. The force would not confirm what type of weapon was used, but said it was a "bladed article".

A Pro-Fit image of the main offender has now been released.

Police say the man is described as white, aged around 15-17 years old, 5ft 6in tall, of "scrawny" build and with a local accent.

Nottinghamshire Police has asked anyone who recognises the man or has information about the incident to call 101, quoting incident number 633 of 18 January.

Alternatively, you if you have any information you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sex traffickers from Nottingham have been jailed for a total of 14 years.

Istvan Vinter, 57, received a total sentence of eight years for his role, and his partner, Maria Gaspar, 23, got six years at Nottingham Crown Court.

The couple, of Woodborough Road, St Ann's, trafficked women into the UK for sham marriages.

Judge Michael Stokes, who sentenced them, said they were engaged in a scheme, the object of which was to breach the UK immigration laws, by arranging the trafficking of the women, principally from Hungary, for the purpose of taking part in sham marriages.

"These marriages were designed to give the potential groom a perceived advantage in any application to remain in the UK," said the judge.

"It is unclear, on the evidence, how many women were so trafficked, but it is quite clear that several were brought into this country for that purpose.

"Your simple object was to make money, without a thought being given to the exploitation of these usually vulnerable individuals."

Two Hungarian women were brought to the UK by Vinter and Gaspar believing they would find work here.

But one was sold to a man at Ilford Railway Station in Essex, and her friend was put to work as a prostitute, first in London and then in two flats in Nottingham.

"What happened to them in this country is a clear illustration of the evil and very serious exploitation of vulnerable individuals," added Judge Stokes.

"In my judgement, both of these women were tricked into coming here thinking they would earn money in lawful, decent employment."

The woman who was sold had no idea she was going to be placed in "this dilemma", said the judge.

Her travel documents were taken from her and she was "effectively under the control of this individual", so that the couple could make money out of her.

"For someone to use another human being in this way is simply unacceptable and harkens back to the days when some people were regarded as less than human," added the judge.

Gaspar received four years in prison and Vinter five years, after they admitted the general trafficking of women for sham marriages.

Gaspar got five years and six years concurrently for the specific trafficking of the two women.

Vinter received six years and eight years on these charges - both admitted and all to run concurrently.

A drunk partygoer stole from unlocked cars as he walked home through Nottingham after downing a bottle of vodka, magistrates in the city heard yesterday.

Neighbours became suspicious of two men trying car doors and Kelvin Barratt was detained on Charlbury Road at 3.45am on February 21.

In his pockets were two stolen pairs of sunglasses, a claw hammer and a Tom Tom satellite navigation system, said David Miles, prosecuting. The items were returned to the owners who discovered the thefts that morning.

Jobless Barratt, 28, of Cinderhill Road, Nottingham admitted theft. He was fined £110 with £85 prosecution costs and a £20 government surcharge.

He told police that he had been to a party where he drank a litre of vodka. He came across the cars as he walked to his aunt's house, added Mr Miles.

James Buckley, mitigating, described it as "an unusual matter" because Barratt could not remember the incident.

"He accepts a guilty plea by dint of the circumstantial evidence against him. He was very heavily in drink, having had a litre of vodka and does not have much recollection.

"It seems he came across cars which were insecure and the offence was opportunistic. He has been out of trouble for two or three years," added Mr Buckley.

One of the country's most wanted criminals– on the run after being caught in Nottingham with £29,000 of class B drugs – is hiding in The Netherlands.

Dutch authorities have teamed up with Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency in the UK to launch an appeal to hunt British citizen Ahmed Dervish Omer.

Omer was sentenced to ten years behind bars at Nottingham Crown Court but absconded midway through the trial in November 2015.

Omer, previously of West Holme Gardens, Beechdale, is believed to be hiding in the Netherlands, where 23 British fugitives were found and returned last year.

As a leading member of an organised Nottingham crime group, Omer was behind trafficking class B drugs amphetamine, cannabis and cannabis resin to the UK and supplied other gangs in London and Birmingham.

Police found him with 49 kilos of cannabis, 24 kilos of cannabis resin and four kilos of amphetamine in Nottinghamshire.

He was jailed in his absence after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply amphetamine, cannabis and cannabis resin.

The 47-year-old is described as 175 cm tall, with brown eyes, short black, greying hair and of a Middle Eastern appearance.

Lord Ashcroft, the founder and chairman of Crimestoppers, said: "With the support of the Dutch authorities and the public, we are confident that we can successfully hunt these people down."

Crimestoppers have released images of five dangerous criminals – including Omer – and are now hunting a total of nine fugitives from around the country thought to be hiding out in the Netherlands.

Since 2010, more than 100 fugitives have been returned to the UK from the Netherlands through Operation Return.

There were 23 fugitives captured in 2015, 15 in 2014, 18 in 2013, 20 in 2012 and 25 in 2011.

Dave Allen, head of the International Crime Bureau at the National Crime Agency, said: "Those who believe they can use the Netherlands to evade justice or continue illegal activities soon find out that it is not a safe haven.

"In the last five years, over 100 fugitives linked to Operation Return and other operations have been captured in the Netherlands and brought back to the UK to face justice.

"Be our extra eyes and ears and let us know if you have any information on the whereabouts of our targets."

Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have any information.

A disabled woman told a court yesterday that she was "1,000 percent sure" a neighbour smashed the windscreen of her specially adapted Mercedes car.

Tara Marriott said the noise woke her as she was "just starting to doze off" shortly after midnight in her home and so she went to a window.

She claimed the damage was caused by Helena Newcombe, 30, who, she says, began to shout racist abuse, including the comments: "You are not wanted here. Nobody wants you around here."

Ms Marriott, 34, suffers from fibromyalgia and told the court it caused widespread muscle pain. She said she shouted back at Newcombe: "Everybody has seen you do it."

She admitted to having been prosecuted for having cannabis and blamed Newcombe for alerting the police. She needed the drug for medical reasons, she told the court.

Newcombe of Incher Mews, Carlton denied criminal damage and an alternative charge of racially aggravated criminal damage on July 30.

Graham Heathcote, defending, asked Ms Marriott: "The allegation against Miss Newcombe is revenge for reporting you to the police about this cannabis incident."

Ms Marriott replied: "No, it was not."

Ms Marriott's partner Gul Zaman told Nottingham Magistrates' Court: "I saw Ellie Newcombe with a golf club smashing up the car. Her friend dragged her away."

After a four-hour trial, Newcombe was found guilty of criminal damage and cleared of the racial charge.

She will be sentenced on April 1 after probation officers have compiled a report on her.

She told the court that she had been with her parents that day to mark the anniversary of her brother's death.

A friend, Tracey Kemp, brought her home by car and pointed out the damage to the Mercedes when they arrived.

Mother-of-three Newcombe accepted that she told police about Ms Marriott's cannabis and told the court: "We don't want drug dealers and druggies on the estate. I don't want selling and growing drugs.

When she got back that night, she said Ms Kemp pointed out the damaged car. Newcombe told the court: "I thought it looked looked kind of funny.

"She is not the most popular of people."

Peter Quinn, prosecuting, told Newcombe: "You perform civic duties in reporting the drug use. Did you show any of your civic duties in trying to find who caused the damage?"

She told him: "No, I didn't."

Ms Kemp said she was in bed when neighbour Newcombe phoned and asked for a lift home. She collected her from the family home and pointed out the damaged Mercedes when they arrived back.

A woman charged with the murder of her partner may have her trial put back until the summer.

Ellishia Allen, 28, of Spruce Grove, Hucknall, was due to be tried at Nottingham Crown Court on May 23 for the murder of Karl Bloxham, of Hucknall.

But due to a funding issue over a report, the court heard today there may be a delay and the May 23 date "did not seem feasible".

Judge Gregory Dickinson was going to check this morning to ascertain whether a date in July would be available.

Allen, accused of murdering dad-of-two Mr Bloxham in July last year, was due to appear at court via video link for a plea and case management hearing.

But the judge was told she would not appear, as she was unwell due to a existing problem with her kidneys and had been transferred to hospital.

The sister of Mr Bloxham, 39, was in court for the short hearing.

Also of Spruce Grove, Mr Bloxham died after he was stabbed.

He was found outside his home wounded to his chest and died later in hospital.

Last September, his funeral was held at Bramcote Crematorium.

The Serenity Chapel was packed with mourners saying one last goodbye.

He was described by family as "a special, unique individual who was always smiling".

Nottinghamshire has the third lowest rate of police stop and searches in the country.

Police and Crime commissioner Paddy Tipping said that research carried out in July 2013 led him to encourage a reduction in stop and search of ethnic minorities.

Now, young Asian men are less likely than others of a similar age and background to get stopped and searched.

Recruitment of black and ethnic minority staff at the force has also increased from 4.69 percent in 2013 to 15.62 percent in 2014. There has been a recruitment freeze since.

Currently, eight percent of Special Constables are black or from another ethnic minority, as are 26 percent of police cadets.

Mr Tipping was speaking to members of Nottingham Citizens on Monday.

Its director, Neil Jameson, said: "It is becoming increasingly difficult to include the Muslim community in our work; with the result that this disadvantaged community is distanced from the mainstream further still.

"Inclusion in democratic action is the best alternative to apathy, sectarianism and to violence."

A student was left temporarily blinded after three men threw a "corrosive liquid" into his face and tried to steal his mobile phone.

The student was treated in hospital and has since made a full recovery.

The robbery took place in Clumber Street, Nottingham, at about 1.30am on Saturday, February 6.

Police are asking the public for help in tracking the men in the pictures in connection with the incident.

If you know who the men are or have any information, contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.