Real World News

Poppy Widdison death: Mother and partner guilty of cruelty 16 December 2016 From the section Humberside Image copyright Humberside Police Image caption Poppy Widdison died at Sheffield Children's Hospital in June 2013 A mother and her partner have been found guilty of child cruelty after her four-year-old daughter died after collapsing at home in Grimsby. Poppy Widdison later died in hospital from a cardiac arrest in June 2013. …

Scope of independent inquiry into child sexual abuse 'a virtue' 16 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA Image caption Prof Alexis Jay said the inquiry will retain all of its investigations The chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has rejected calls for it to be scrapped or scaled back, saying its scope is "a virtue". Prof Alexis Jay said the broad nature of the inquiry would allow it to recommen…

Scope of independent inquiry into child sexual abuse 'a virtue' 16 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA The chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has rejected calls for it to be scrapped or scaled back, saying its scope is "a virtue". Prof Alexis Jay said the broad nature of the inquiry would allow it to recommend "fundamental changes". She said none of its 13 investigations into allegations of child abuse would be dropped, following a review of the inquiry's work…

Killer-obsessed schoolgirl detained for attempted friend murder 16 December 2016 From the section Hampshire & Isle of Wight Image copyright Hampshire Constabulary Image caption The girl brought a knife to school and used it to stab her friend A teenager who was obsessed with serial killers and school shootings has been detained for at least 10 years for the attempted murder of her friend. The girl, who cannot be named for leg…

Former soldiers to be prosecuted for IRA man's murder 16 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland Image copyright McCann family Image caption The original police investigation was conducted in the early 1970s and no-one was prosecuted. Two former soldiers are to be prosecuted for murder in relation to the fatal shooting of an Official IRA man in Belfast in 1972. The defendants, known as Soldier A and Soldier C, are the sur…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Justice catches up with 101-year-old paedophile 16 December 2016 Last updated at 12:37 GMT A 101-year-old man - thought to be the oldest defendant convicted in England and Wales - has been found guilty of a string of historical child sex offences. Ralph Clarke, of Erdington, Birmingham, had already admitted nine counts of sexual and indecent assaults. A jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty of a further 21 counts against three children in the 1970s and 80s. Det Con, Emma Fennon, of West Midlands Police, said: "He was a hard man who had no feelings. He's never onc…

'Disturbance' reported at HMP Birmingham 16 December 2016 From the section Birmingham & Black Country Image caption The BBC understands an officer was "rushed" by inmates Prison staff have withdrawn from two wings at HMP Birmingham after prison keys were stolen when an officer was "rushed" by inmates. It is understood that extra officers are on their way to reinforce prison staff and a specialist "Tornado" team of prison riot officers will be sent in. G4S, which runs the…

101-year-old guilty of sex offences 16 December 2016 From the section England A 101-year-old man - thought to be oldest person convicted in England and Wales - has been found guilty of historical sex offences against girls. Jurors found Ralph Clarke from Erdington, Birmingham, guilty of 21 counts of abusing the girls in the 1970s and 80s. He admitted nine charges relating to a young boy part-way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The retired lorry driver is due to be sentenced on Monday. Clarke, of Holly Lane, who was born in Ma…

'Space pie' survives trip to final frontier and lands in North Yorkshire village 16 December 2016 From the section Manchester Image copyright SentIntoSpace Image caption Nobody has yet been brave enough to sample the "space pie" A pie has "returned safely from space", organisers have said. SentIntoSpace said it landed in Low Bentham, North Yorkshire about 50 miles from where it was launched, at about 13:30 GMT on Thursday. "It wa…

Buckhurst Hill restaurant boss 'abused' over toddler ban 16 December 2016 From the section Essex Image copyright The Organic Kitchen Image caption The owners of the Organic Kitchen said they were surprised by the "vitriol" expressed at their move to ban under-fives A restaurateur who banned under-fives says she has been stopped in the street and labelled a "disgrace to motherhood". Hilary Penning only opened the Organic Kitchen in…

Homeless Christmas faced by 117,000 children By Hannah Richardson BBC News education and social affairs reporter 16 December 2016 From the section Education & Family Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Living in temporary accommodation can disrupt a child's education At least 117,000 children are set to face Christmas homeless and in temporary accommodation in England this year, new data show…

Marine A hopes to be home for Christmas, says wife 16 December 2016 From the section UK Image caption Claire Blackman told the Victoria Derbyshire show that it was a "big day" for the family The wife of a former Royal Marine jailed for the murder of a Taliban fighter has told the BBC she hopes he will be home for Christmas. Sergeant Alexander Blackman, known as Marine A, is serving a life sentence for murdering a wounded Afghan in 2011. Blackman will find out later if he wi…

Terry Waite opens clinic 30 years late after hostage ordeal 16 December 2016 From the section London Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Terry Waite was due to open the Ravensbourne block at the hospital in January 1987. Terry Waite is opening a hospital's new care centre almost 30 years after plans for him to open a unit were disrupted when he was taken hostage in Lebanon. The former envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury w…