Pizza Delivery Driver Murder: Two Charged

Two people have been charged with the murder of pizza delivery driver Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, South Yorkshire Police have said.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are both due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court later.

Mr Peiris had been delivering his last ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of the city.

The 25-year-old was on his final shift before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

He was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying his family to the UK in the coming days.

More follows...

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Pair Charged With Murder Over Bodies In Garden

The daughter and son-in-law of an elderly couple who went missing from Mansfield have been charged with murder.

Nottingham Police said Susan Patricia Edwards, 55, and Christopher John Edwards, 57, have each been charged with two counts of murder.

The pair, of no fixed address, but who are believed to have been living outside the UK, will remain in police custody until their appearance before Nottingham magistrates.

The remains of a man and woman were found buried in the back garden of a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town, on October 9 this year.

Police have not yet formally identified the pair, but believe they are William and Patricia Wycherley, who lived at the house in the 1990s.

A spokesman said: "A Home Office pathologist has determined that both people died as a result of being shot."

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and, according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis had shed further light on the remains.

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Water Bills: Crackdown On Costs Expected

Water bills may be "rolled back" after the Government vowed to get tough on the rising cost of living.

David Cameron's spokesman indicated that an announcement on water bills would be made next week.

The spokesman said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would be making the announcement.

He said: "There will be some action next week from Defra with the intention of looking at water bills.

David Cameron says he wants to see household costs cut

"The Prime Minister takes household bills across the piece seriously and wants energy prices to be rolled back and wants various things done, whether it's council tax being frozen, the flex on rail fares being brought down, MoT costs being frozen, these sorts of measures to protect household bills."

He added: "The Prime Minister wants to see household costs across the piece being reduced as low as possible. The intention is to try to reduce the burdens on hard-pressed families."

Mr Cameron "wants regulators to look at the industry they regulate and make sure that they are robust and delivering what they need to deliver for consumers", the spokesman added.

Concerns have been raised that consumers are being ripped off

The move comes after Labour leader Ed Miliband said the market needed to be scrutinised to ensure it was working for consumers.

The soaring cost of living has rocketed up the political agenda since Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy prices if his party wins the 2015 General Election.

Mr Cameron, seeking to win back the political initiative on energy policy from Labour, said last week he wanted to "roll back" environmental taxes that bump up energy bills, promising more details in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement on December 4.

At an event for regional newspaper journalists, Mr Miliband said: "I think we should be looking at all markets to make sure they are working properly - and that includes the water industry."

The Western Morning News quoted the Labour leader as saying: "Some people will say this is an anti-business agenda. I think it is a pro-business agenda that you have got to reform markets that are not working properly.

"I think the water industry is something that should be scrutinised to make sure it is working properly, and make sure it is working properly for the benefit of consumers, because I know concerns have been raised.

"I'm proud Labour is championing this agenda and I think it is consistent with believing what a market economy can do, and water is part of that."

MPs are set to consider the reform and infrastructure of the water industry on Tuesday next week after Tory Robert Buckland secured a backbench debate.

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Bonfire Night Warning As Firefighters Strike

Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike this evening after negotiations on pay and pensions broke down, despite the likelihood of it being one of the busiest days of the year for the fire service.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out from 6.30pm to 11pm, and again for two hours from 6am next Monday - the day before Bonfire Night.

The union went on strike last month but called off another stoppage when a deal appeared to be in sight.

But officials said the Government and fire employers failed to offer guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.

FBU general secretary, Matt Wrack, said firefighters were keen for the issue to be resolved through discussion but the Government was ignoring its own evidence which highlights the schemes as unworkable and unaffordable.

Emergency response services will be 'severely reduced' due to the strike

He told Sky News: "We have been trying to negotiate pensions for nearly three years now and it is very frustrating fro our members and firefighters across the country.

"We want a pension scheme that works, that takes account of the job that firefighters actually do, and the Government is completely ignoring the evidence and is expecting firefighters to be working on the frontline, going into burning buildings at 60 or beyond in order to get their pension and that's simply unrealistic and dangerous."

He said they would be "expected to perform the full range of roles that an 18 or 20-year-old would do, and meet the same fitness standards".

"We have tried to avoid strike action for as long as possible. No firefighter wants to go on strike. We have deliberately chosen not to call action on the busiest nights ... so we have tried to do what we can to keep people as safe as possible. The general advice for people around Bonfire Night is to attend organised events.

"Firefighters want a pension scheme that takes account of the hazardous nature of the job, is affordable and workable for them and for the taxpayer.

"We hope this brief strike will mean the Government returns to negotiations so we can agree a sensible way forward."

The union added it was led to believe the Government was willing to offer a guarantee that firefighters whose fitness levels declined with age would not face the sack.

Firefighters from Tynemouth Community Fire Station on strike in September

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said its emergency response service would be "severely reduced" because of the strike.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney said: "Don't hold your bonfire or fireworks display tonight.

"We're satisfied with the contingency arrangements we are putting in place, but our 999 service will still be severely depleted so we need the public to help keep our fire engines available for real emergencies."

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "This strike action by the FBU is completely unnecessary and does nothing but damage the good reputation firefighters have with the public.

"We offered firefighters similar fitness principles to those the FBU accepted in Scotland. The FBU should reconsider their decision to strike - announced just four days into discussions - and work for a resolution to this dispute.

"The public will be baffled by the FBU's course of action when they hear that the deal being offered to firefighters gives them one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector.

"A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

"An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."

The union has said the figures were a "myth".

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Sugary Drinks Tax 'Could Raise Treasury £275m'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

A tax on sugary drinks would reduce the number of obese adults in the UK by 180,000 and raise over £275m for the Treasury, according to doctors.

Researchers from Reading and Oxford universities say a standard 500ml bottle of some drinks contains as many as 14 teaspoons of sugar, or 210 calories; and they warn the drinks increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and tooth decay.

Professor Richard Tiffin, Reading University: 'Taxing food is a big step'

In the most detailed study of its kind, the researchers calculated that a 20% tax on sugary drinks - adding roughly 12p to a can of fizzy pop - would reduce purchases by around 15%.

That would reduce the average calorie consumption by 28 calories a week, enough to reduce obesity by between 110,000 and 250,000, according to results published in the British Medical Journal.

Dr Adam Briggs of the British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group at Oxford University, and one of the researchers, said: "Sugar sweetened drinks are known to be bad for health and our research indicates that a 20% tax could result in a meaningful reduction in the number of obese adults in the UK.

"Such a tax is not going to solve obesity by itself, but we have shown it could be an effective public health measure and should be considered alongside other measures to tackle obesity in the UK."

The researchers say the impact of the tax would be greatest on young people. On average people aged 16-29 drink around 300ml of sugary beverages a day.

But one of the researchers, economist Professor Richard Tiffin of the University of Reading, warned that the tax would not reduce obesity by enough to justify the hardship it could cause.

Researchers at Reading found some drinks contained 14 teaspoons of sugar

"Taxing food is a big step, especially when spiralling bills are already making households poorer, and will make very little difference if people are unable or unwilling to make healthier choices elsewhere in their lives," he said.

Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly from the Medical Research Council's Metabolic Diseases Unit in Cambridge agreed that sugary drinks are "part of the problem"' but he added that taxation was "politically undeliverable" in most democracies.

He said: "A workable alternative might be to encourage the major companies to switch to the aggressive promotion and marketing of less harmful versions of their products.

Soft drinks firms said there was evidence a tax would not curb obesity

"This could be achieved by balancing a 20% tax on sugared products with a 20% subsidy on artificially sweetened versions of the same beverages."

Gavin Partington of the British Soft Drinks Association said there was "ample" evidence that taxing soft drinks will not curb obesity.

"Trying to blame one set of products is misguided, particularly when they comprise a mere 2% of calories in the average diet."

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Baby P's Mum Tracey Connelly 'Freed From Jail'

Baby P's mother, who was jailed in 2009 over her son's death, has been released from prison, according to reports.

Tracey Connelly was reportedly freed after the Parole Board recommended her release following a second review of her case.

The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases and would not confirm or deny the reports.

Connelly was jailed indefinitely with a minimum of five years following her son Peter's death.

The Parole Board confirmed recently that a three-member panel had directed her release.

It said then: "Tracey Connelly first became eligible for parole in August 2012, and at that time a Parole Board panel made no recommendation to release.

"This is the second parole review for Tracey Connelly. The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent - arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the Secretary of State."

Steven Barker (L) and Jason Owen

Baby P died on August 3, 2007, with more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.

Connelly admitted the offence soon after being charged and served several hundred days on remand.

She was given a so-called imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence, which carries a minimum term.

Connelly will remain on licence for the rest of her life and if she breaches any of the conditions, she will probably be recalled to custody.

Her son died at his home in Tottenham, north London, a day after police told Connelly she would not be prosecuted over abuse of the 17-month-old.

Connelly was jailed with her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, who were convicted at trial of the same offence.

Barker was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years for raping a two-year-old girl and given a 12-year term to run concurrently for his "major role" in Peter's death.

Owen was jailed indefinitely with a minimum three-year term but later won an appeal to lower it to a fixed six-year term.

He was freed in August 2011 but was then recalled to prison again in April this year.

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Pressure On A&E Causes Increase In Admissions

More patients are being admitted in hospitals because of increased pressure on A&E departments, a new report has found.

The National Audit Office (NAO) study found many emergency admissions through A&E are avoidable and many patients stay in hospital "longer than is necessary".

Factors putting pressure on A&E include patients finding the range of NHS services "confusing", poor access to out-of-hours GP care in some areas and the four-hour A&E waiting time target, which means patients cannot be kept in A&E for observation.

The introduction of the 111 non-emergency telephone number for the NHS also had a negative impact on A&E.

The report said: "The number of emergency admissions to hospitals - admissions that are not planned and happen at short notice because of perceived clinical need - continues to rise at a time when NHS budgets are under significant pressure.

More patients attending major A&E departments are now being admitted than in the past, it said.

In 2012/13, more than a quarter of all patients attending major A&E departments were admitted to hospital, up from 19% in 2003/04.

Only a quarter of this rise was due to an increase in the number of people attending A&E, with the rest due to a higher admission rate.

The report said: "Over the last 15 years, short-stay (less than two days) admissions have increased by 124%, whereas long-stay (two days or longer) admissions have only increased by 14%."

The study pointed to problems with people getting help in the community, from GP practices and other services.

It estimated at least one-fifth of admissions could be managed effectively in the community and criticised a "lack of alignment between hospital services and other health services", with poor seven-day care on offer outside of hospitals.

Other factors include an increasingly frail elderly population, who are far more likely to need emergency care.

Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: "Growth in emergency admissions is a sign that the rest of the health system may not be working properly."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We know demand for A&E services is increasing as the population ages, with more people needing more healthcare.

"That's why we are tackling both the short and long-term problems: transforming out of hospital care by reversing the disastrous changes to the 2004 GP contract, joining up the health and social care system, and backing A&Es with £250m to prepare for this winter."

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Fans Jailed Over Stephen Lawrence Abuse Chants

Six football fans who chanted songs that "glorify and idolise" the murderer of Stephen Lawrence have been jailed.

The Charlton Athletic supporters, who had been at an FA Cup match against Fulham on January 7 last year, were jailed for their abusive behaviour on a train from Putney to Waterloo.

The men, aged between 22 and 31, were convicted of causing racially aggravated fear of violence after witnesses complained of sexual and racially motivated abuse.

Baljit Ubhey, CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "These men were singing and chanting racist abuse in praise of the convicted murderers of Stephen Lawrence. To glorify and idolise these men was disturbing and upsetting.

"Their racially and sexually abusive language left members of the public shocked and disgusted.

"Witnesses said they felt intimidated and feared there was a real and significant risk of violence."

Jake Embery was handed a six month suspended sentence

British Transport Police said the group chanted in support of Gary Dobson, three days after he was convicted of murdering Stephen Lawrence

Mick Everett, Charlton FC's Head of Operations, said: "Their actions are totally condemned by everyone at the club and indeed, I am sure, by Charlton supporters everywhere.

"Although this isolated incident does not reflect on the overwhelming majority of our fans, these arrests are a kick in the teeth to everyone associated with the club, who have put so much effort into our campaign over the years.

"The club will now look to impose additional appropriate sanctions on those involved."

David Bone, 23, of Tivoli Gardens, London, and Daniel Clay, 31, of Baring Road, London, received 18 months in prison and an eight year football banning order.

The same eight year match ban was imposed on Ben Boylett, 26, of Lamberton Street, London, and Jason Butler, 31, of Mottisfont Road, south east London, who were also given one year in prison.

Sean Fowle, of Smithies Road, Abbey Wood, and Aaron Phinbow, of Abbey Wood Road, Abbey Wood, London, who are both 25-years-old, also received an eight year ban and eight months behind bars.

Jake Embery, 22, of Mickleham Road, Orpington, London, was given a six month suspended sentence, a four year match ban and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

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House Prices Rise 1% But Are 7% Below Peak

House price growth accelerated in October amid continuing fears of a price bubble but the average cost of a home is still 7% below the record level measured in 2007.

The latest Nationwide House Price Index charted a 1% increase over the month following a 0.9% increase in September - with London and the South East continuing to drive the growth which has now lasted for six consecutive months on a UK-wide basis.

Nationwide said it meant that national annual price growth rose to 5.8% from 5% the previous month - the strongest increase seen since July 2010 - raised the cost of the average property to £173,678.

Commenting on the figures, the lender's chief economist Robert Gardner said: "The UK housing market appears to be following the more resilient upward trend evident in the wider economy in recent quarters.

"The ability and willingness of potential buyers to transact has been steadily increasing.

There are concerns of unsustainable price increases because of low supply

"The ability to buy has been supported by continued gains in employment and policy measures such as the Help to Buy and Funding for Lending schemes, which have improved the availability and lowered the cost of credit.

"Mortgage rates are close to all time lows. The willingness of potential buyers to step into the market has also been increasing."

But he warned: "House price growth has accelerated as buyer demand has picked up more quickly than the supply of new homes.

"The risk is that if demand continues to strengthen while the supply of property remains constrained affordability could become stretched."

The launch of a new phase of the Government's flagship Help to Buy scheme offering state-backed mortgages to people with deposits as low as 5% was brought forward to this month, following expectations that the initiative would not start until January 2014.

Critics argue that rather than launching initiatives to unleash more aspiring buyers into the market, which will contribute to the upward pressure on house prices, the Government should instead be concentrating efforts on trying to address the lack of housing supply.

Ministers have consistently dismissed talk of price bubbles, suggesting the market recovery is only just beginning outside of London and the South East.

The property website Rightmove recently measured a 10% jump in house prices in the capital during October alone - prompting further debate on whether a boom and bust cycle loomed.

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Pensions: 'Rip-Off' Charges Targeted By Govt

Plans to stop "rip-off" pension charges could see people getting an extra £100,000 in their retirement savings pot.

The Government is to unveil plans that could include a ban on all charges above 0.75% a year as it rolls out landmark reforms to automatically place people into workplace pensions.

The industry has been working to improve transparency and the average charge on new pension schemes set up in 2012 is around 0.51%.

But the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) estimates there are more than 186,000 pension pots with £2.65bn worth of assets which are subject to an annual charge of above 1%.

Small variations in charges can make huge differences over time to the eventual size of the pension pot that someone ends up with.

The Government said that someone who saves £100 a month over a typical working lifetime of 46 years could lose almost £170,000 from their pension pot with a 1% charge and over £230,000 with a 1.5% charge.

A pension saver with a 0.75% annual charge on their pension pot could eventually end up £100,000 better off than if they had been charged a rate of 1.5%, the Government said.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb said: "The Government believes that enough is enough on charges.

"People need to know they are getting value for money when they save into a pension and not being ripped off by excessive charges."

Other options for caps being considered by the Government include a higher charge cap of 1% and a "two-tier" cap.

The two-tier cap would involve a standard cap of 0.75% and as well as a higher cap of 1% if employers explain to the Pensions Regulator why their scheme charges more than 0.75%.

Any final cap could lie somewhere between the two levels suggested, depending on the evidence received.

The Government wants to hear from the industry and the public on how it can best design a charging cap that can protect people's savings before putting its plans in place next year.

Otto Thoresen, director general of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: "The industry is committed to making pension reform a success and of course will engage fully with this consultation."

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