Gordon Fraser: Suspended Police Officer Dead

A suspended senior police officer has been found dead on a railway track after being hit by a train.

The body of Leicestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Fraser was discovered on a train line on Friday in Aston Magna, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

The circumstances of his death are being investigated by British Transport Police but are currently not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Fraser had been suspended by the force since December 2010 over allegations of gross misconduct and fraud, pending an investigation by Merseyside Police.

He also faced a separate allegation of perverting the course of justice, being investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary, and was due to appear before St Albans magistrates alongside his wife Teresa, a serving officer with West Midlands Police, on Monday.

It is alleged Mrs Fraser, who has been suspended from her force pending the outcome of the probe, accepted responsibility for a speeding offence committed by her husband in Strathclyde last September.

Leicestershire Police Authority and Leicestershire Police said they were "deeply shocked and saddened" by the death of Mr Fraser.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends," they said in a joint statement.

Mr Fraser had been offered welfare support during his suspension.

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Missing Vet: Man Remanded On Murder Charge

The family of a missing vet vowed to "bring her home" after a man appeared in court charged with her murder.

Clive Sharp, 46, from Bethesda, Gwynedd, was remanded in custody at the hearing at Mold Magistrates' Court.

He is charged with murdering Catherine Gowing, 37, between October 11 and 17.

The vet, who is originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly, in Ireland, failed to arrive at work at the Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold, North Wales, on Monday.

She was captured on CCTV at an Asda store in Queensferry, Flintshire, at 8:06pm on Friday October 12.

Ms Gowing was captured on CCTV at an Asda store

After the court hearing, Detective Inspector Iestyn Davies said on behalf of Ms Gowing's family: "Our primary concern and objective is that we find Catherine.

"The support we have received from the police, the public and all Catherine's friends and family has kept us going and will continue to do so.

"We will bring Catherine home."

On Friday, police confirmed a burnt-out Renault Clio found at a disused quarry in Pinfold Lane, Alltami, near Mold, was Ms Gowing's.

Detectives say they have devoted "extensive" resources to the search, including dog teams and underwater search specialists.

Sharp is due to appear before Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday.

:: Anyone with information should call North Wales police on 101.

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Cardiff Hit-And-Runs: Police Hunt Mystery Car

Detectives investigating a hit-and-run rampage in which a mother of a disabled child was killed are appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

Karina Menzies, 32, was killed yesterday and 13 people were injured when a driver brought terror to roads in Cardiff.

As it emerged today that Ms Menzies' child is on a "dream holiday" in Florida and does not know of the tragedy, police revealed new details of the investigation.

Police are continuing to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of her murder as well as investigating reports that he deliberately knocked people down in the Welsh capital with a white Iveco van.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley confirmed reports that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a weapon.

Flowers outside the fire station in Ely where Karina Menzies was killed

The officer said: "We are aware the suspect assaulted people outside his vehicle," and he added police were "looking to identify and recover" the weapon.

He said no firearm was involved and there was no suggestion anyone had been stabbed.

Mr Hurley urged witnesses to get in touch and asked for information about a black Renault Clio seen driving on the wrong side of the road of Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West, where one crash happened.

The horrific events began when police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm.

This was soon followed by other reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

The white van pictured after being stopped by police

There was no full registration details for the Clio but officers said it carried an 05 plate.

Fourteen people were injured in the crashes, nine remain in hospital. Five are children and two adults remain in a critical condition.

Seventy officers are working on the investigation.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene where Ms Menzies was killed.

Among those paying their respects was local Labour MP Kevin Brennan.

Police were called to five locations in Cardiff

He said: "Karina was a well-liked mother who had three children. One of her children is disabled and is currently on a dream holiday in Florida."

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, had just served two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.

He said: "All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming. I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

Lynda Paterson, who lives in Cowbridge Road West, described the scene outside her house as chaotic.

"I was going to pick my children up from school and I could see there were police and someone was lying on the floor, on the pavement."

Police examine the scene of one of the crashes

Other eyewitnesses said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a white van.

The crime scenes included Ely fire station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff, where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park - next to the Cardiff City Stadium.

It is believed the suspect used a crook lock to assault witnesses.

There were also unconfirmed reports that officers were investigating whether the attacker was involved in a domestic incident before the rampage.

A key part of the inquiry is focused on establishing who owns the white van.

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Two Held After Children Killed In House Fire

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder by police investigating a house fire in which a woman and two children died.

A 20-year-old woman, a boy aged four and a two-year-old girl were pronounced dead by firefighters after the blaze broke out at a property in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn, on Friday night, a North Wales Police spokeswoman said.

Her 23-year-old partner and her 15-month-old son were taken to hospital by ambulance, she added.

Police confirmed the two people in custody are a 45-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, who live in a ground floor flat underneath the victims.

Neighbour Adele Gordon described the chaotic moments as the fire took hold: "There were people everywhere. This man came running up the street shouting 'my kids are in there, my kids are in there'.

Fire crews recovered five people from inside the property

"People started smashing the windows but the smoke was mad, I've never seen smoke like it. It was thick black smoke bellowing out of the house."

Another neighbour, Mike Foster said: "I can't believe it. I'm just in shock. I didn't even know them but I'm just so upset."

A joint investigation is being carried out by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.

A Welsh Ambulance Services spokeswoman said the man and baby were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

The man was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, while the baby was moved to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Both were said to be in a serious condition.

Detective Superintendent John Chapman said: "We would appeal for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Maes y Groes area of Prestatyn yesterday evening to get in contact as soon as possible by calling us on 101.

"We are deploying Family Liaison Officers to work closely with the next of kin at this difficult time.

"There is a team of dedicated officers working on specific lines of enquiry in relation to this incident."

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Goalkeeper Attacked: Suspect Identified

A man believed to have attacked Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland during a match against Leeds has been identified by police.

The suspect, who has not yet been arrested, is thought to have run on to the field from the away end in the 77th minute, seconds after Leeds had equalised in the Yorkshire derby and knocked Kirkland to the ground.

He then returned to the stand while trouble continued around him, with a number of other travelling supporters invading the pitch.

The Football Association is also investigating crowd trouble at the match and is awaiting the referee's report.

Bottles and seats were believed to have been thrown, South Yorkshire Police said.

Chief Superintendent Jason Harwin added: "Such incidents are not acceptable and won't be tolerated. We will be working with both clubs to identify and quickly bring to justice the persons responsible.

"Thankfully, such incidents are a rarity and we see a minority spoil it for the majority of genuine supporters."

Kirkland needed treatment after the assault

Detective Inspector Mark Monteiro, said: "With the public's assistance we have clearly identified the offender who ran on to the pitch during last night's game between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Leeds United FC and who is suspected of assaulting the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper.

"We are dealing with the complaint made by the player and we are currently taking statements, collating evidence and making inquiries to locate and arrest the offender.

"We are also using CCTV footage from around the ground to identify suspects who may have been responsible for other offences before, during or after the match."

Former England international Kirkland required treatment after the attack, but was able to continue. The game ended 1-1.

In a post-match interview, Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones described Leeds fans as "vile animals", adding: "You talk about racism, the chanting, that's a form of racism.

"Then (for the Leeds players) to go and wave at them ... not in my book. You don't wave at them after that."

Riot police were present at the game and tried to diffuse ugly scenes in the away end.

Describing the scenes as an "absolute disgrace", Leeds manager Neil Warnock called for Kirkland's assailant to be given a jail sentence.

He said: "They should get the guy and prosecute him and put him in prison. He (Kirkland) went down like a ton of bricks but that doesn't make a difference. Nobody should be on the pitch doing that.

"I am not proud of being Leeds manager when I see that. I don't mind the rivalry between us - there was a great atmosphere.

"To see things like that on the field of play there is no place for it - I am absolutely embarrassed."

The visiting club issued a statement after the game, saying: "Leeds United Football Club would like to publicly apologise and condemn the action of the fan who came on the pitch and attacked Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

"The club will fully co-operate with the police and the football authorities in identifying the individual concerned."

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Jimmy Savile Inquiry Now Criminal Investigaton

Judge To Lead BBC's Savile Inquiry

Updated: 6:46am UK, Wednesday 17 October 2012

Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith will lead the BBC's internal inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile, it has been announced.

The corporation also revealed former head of Sky News Nick Pollard will head a review into Newsnight and its decision to axe an investigative report about the late presenter.

A statement issued by the BBC said the Pollard Review would "seek to establish whether there were any failings in the BBC's management of the Newsnight investigation" into claims against Savile - and in the broadcast of tribute programmes after his death.

Meanwhile, Dame Janet will head up a review into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time there and look into whether the broadcaster's child protection and whistleblowing arrangements are "fit for purpose".

The Smith Review will begin only once police have indicated they are happy for it to proceed. Sky News understands Mr Pollard's investigation could start in the next few days.

Downing Street had previously indicated David Cameron could order a public inquiry into the scandal once the BBC and police investigations are concluded.

Number 10 insisted it was still an option after Labour led calls for the Government to set up an independent inquiry into the sex abuse allegations.

A spokesman said: "Nothing has been ruled out, but our view is it would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the two BBC inquiries and the police investigation."

The comments came after Culture Secretary Maria Miller appeared to rule out an independent inquiry as she expressed confidence that BBC chiefs were taking the claims "very seriously".

Labour leader Ed Miliband is insisting that the BBC's internal investigations are not enough and the victims deserve more.

He told Sky News on Tuesday: "I think we owe it to the victims to say 'look we are not going to have the institutions where the activities took place investigating themselves, we are going to have a separate inquiry across all those institutions'.

"I think they deserve truth and justice - and I think that is the best way of getting to it."

He had earlier told ITV1's The Agenda: "These are horrific allegations. In order to do right by the victims I don't think the BBC can lead their own inquiry.

"We need a broad look at all the public institutions involved - the BBC, parts of the NHS and Broadmoor. This has got to be independent."

Labour wants an independent inquiry that has the power to call for documents and summon witnesses and would look at Savile's activities at the BBC, Stoke Mandeville hospital and Broadmoor.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman also told Sky News on Tuesday that Savile's alleged victims would not be satisfied with the BBC investigating itself and insisted wider action was required.

"There was obviously a culture of silence which fermented a situation where more and more victims were able to be abused by Jimmy Savile," she said.

"Instead of just looking at the BBC, we need to look at those other organisations as well. Instead of a number of different inquiries, we need one inquiry to look at all these horrific allegations."

She added: "Until we have really got to the truth, then we can't ever be complacent that these sorts of things won't happen again."

Before Labour's demand, Ms Miller had rejected calls for an outside inquiry to restore the public's faith, warning it could hamper police investigations.

"In terms of a wider inquiry, we have a police investigation on-going at the moment," she said.

"Everybody would agree that it is really important that those individuals who have been victims know that that investigation can go on unfettered and that that should be our priority at this stage."

She cited the three separate internal investigations already launched by the BBC into the affair.

Police believe the DJ and television presenter's alleged catalogue of child sex abuse could have spanned six decades and included around 60 victims and are also investigating.

But former Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair has questioned the validity of a police investigation, given that Savile is no longer alive.

Appearing on Sky News, he said: "I don't quite know what this police inquiry is going to be into. They need to be taken seriously by the responsible authorities and when a man is dead, the police are not that person.

"It just seems to me that the police might be the right clearing house but this really is a matter for other authorities. Jimmy Savile is standing before a different tribunal now."

BBC director-general George Entwistle is due to appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee next week where he will face further questions about the affair.

Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said his constituents, who turned out in their thousands to pay tribute to the broadcaster when he died, felt "betrayed and angry".

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Fergie: 'Utd Fully Behind Anti-Racism Campaign'

By Enda Brady, Sky Correspondent

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed all his players will wear anti-racism T-shirts this weekend before their game against Stoke City in the Premier League.

It had been reported United defender Rio Ferdinand and his brother, QPR's Anton Ferdinand, would join Reading striker Jason Roberts in boycotting the campaign by the charity Kick It Out.

The Football Association ruled recently Chelsea captain John Terry had abused Anton Ferdinand during a game between QPR and his side at Loftus Road last October.

Terry will now serve a four-match ban and pay a fine of £220,000. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by Westminster Magistrates Court during the summer.

Roberts said on Thursday he would boycott the week-long campaign in protest at what he perceives as the group's lack of progress on tackling racism in the game.

However, Sir Alex said: "I have to disagree with Jason Roberts. I think he is making the wrong point. Everyone should be united, with all the players in the country wearing the Kick it Out warm-up tops.

"When you do something, and everyone believes in it, you should all do it together. There shouldn't be sheep wandering off.

"I think he (Roberts) is making the wrong message. All the players are wearing it."

Jason Roberts is boycotting the campaign

Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle has told Sky News Online he believes a boycott is "not the course of action" for black footballers to be taking.

"What Jason has said might lead to a couple of others following him in not wearing the t-shirt, but I hope not," said the York City defender.

"That's not the course of action we want to see, it's not the most progressive course of action. He has issues with how Kick It Out is run. Now, more than ever, we need to support the statements coming out from them. It's about education and awareness."

Lord Ouseley, chairman of the charity, has said he has sympathy for Roberts' stance but described it as "an issue for him and his club".

Meanwhile, a man from Tyne and Wear has been arrested after a racist comment was posted on Facebook about a Premier League footballer.

The 43-year-old, from Washington, was held overnight on suspicion of racial harassment and has been bailed until November 28.

It is believed the remark was made about Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi. Northumbria Police said the post has now been removed.

The incident comes ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland on Sunday.

It is the second time this year Ameobi has suffered alleged racist abuse on the social networking site after police were contacted in February.

His younger brother, Sammy, was also the victim of racism last year when he was abused on Twitter by two teenagers who eventually received warnings from the police.

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Taxi Driver Pleads Guilty To Clubber Murder

A taxi driver admitted has admitted that he murdered nightclubber Sian O'Callaghan.

Father-of-three Christopher Halliwell, 48, of Ashbury Avenue, Swindon, pleaded guilty to the charge during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

Miss O'Callaghan, 22, disappeared after leaving Swindon's Suju nightclub in the early hours of March 19 last year after a night out with friends.

Hundreds of volunteers turned out at Savernake Forest to help in the search for her but police found her body in Uffington, Oxfordshire, on March 24.

Miss O'Callaghan left the nightclub at 2.53am for the short walk to the home she shared with boyfriend Kevin Reape.

Shortly after she walked past the Goddard Arms on the High Street in the Old Town area, she fell into Halliwell's clutches by getting into his taxi.

Halliwell had signed off from work on the night the office worker disappeared but, instead of going home, he cruised the streets of Swindon in his green Toyota Avensis taxi looking for a victim.

The court heard that he took Miss O'Callaghan to Savernake Forest where he murdered her.

Police discovered that, in the 24 hours after Miss O'Callaghan was abducted, Halliwell made four visits to the area where her body had been hidden.

Prosecutor Ian Lawrie QC told the court: "He had carried out a reconnaissance for a possible deposition site for Sian O'Callaghan."

By the early hours of March 21, Halliwell had moved Miss O'Callaghan's body from Savernake Forest to the spot where it was later found.

He then attempted to cover his tracks by cleaning his car and burning his seat covers.

Within three days Halliwell was the prime suspect for Miss O'Callaghan's kidnap.

He was at an Asda Walmart car park in Swindon and experienced detectives carried out an "urgent interview" with Halliwell.

Mr Lawrie told the court: "He said he didn't know the whereabouts of Sian and requested to speak to a solicitor."

Miss O'Callaghan's body was found laying face down and naked from her waist to her ankles.

DNA found on her body was found to have possibly been contributed by Halliwell.

A post-mortem examination found Miss O'Callaghan had died from the combined effects of two stab wounds to the head and neck, as well as compression to the neck.

There was further evidence of blunt trauma to the back of the head and areas of external deep bruising to her face.

Forensic examinations found Miss O'Callaghan's blood in the rear of Halliwell's car and police also used CCTV to put him in the Old Town area when she vanished.

The court heard extracts of statements made by the loves ones of Miss O'Callaghan.

Mr Reape said: "My heart was ripped out, my life has been destroyed. Sian was a beautiful, happy-go-lucky person who could cheer up the most miserable of people."

Her mother, Elaine O'Callaghan, said: "There is never total closure, just accepting my life has changed forever."

Mick O'Callaghan, the victim's father, said: "My eldest daughter was the most lovely and fantastic daughter."

More to follow...

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Former Lib Dem Candidate Guilty Of Fraud

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

A former Liberal Democrat candidate for Parliament has been found guilty of 25 counts of fraud at Coventry Crown Court following a Sky News investigation.

Dr Vincent McKee, 56, used his national tutorial agency, ICUT, to get clients' credit and debit card details, then systematically raided their accounts.

Some of the fraud against students took place when he was running for election to become MP for Coventry North West in 2010, while campaigning against tuition fees.

In 2010, Sky News interviewed numerous defrauded parents and students who claimed McKee overcharged them after they had arranged private lessons through his network of tutors.

In December 2010, a Sky journalist posed as a client and arranged a £60 lesson with one of McKee's tutors in London. Three days later, it emerged McKee had withdrawn £328.50 from Sky's account.

The next day he attempted to take a further £225, but Sky had blocked the card. 

This first investigation, broadcast in January 2011, in which McKee denied the allegations, led to him losing his membership of the Liberal Democrat party.

Shortly afterwards, he began trading under a new company name, University and Academy Tutors (UAT). He also started using a pseudonym, Patrick Murray.

Jonathan Miller claimed almost £2,000 was taken from his account

A second Sky investigation two months later found he was still taking money from students' bank accounts without authorisation.

Sky passed the evidence to Coventry Trading Standards and, in September 2011, McKee was charged with 34 counts of fraud totalling nearly £30,000.

During a six-week trial, witnesses travelled from across the UK to give evidence. The jury heard McKee tried to intimidate customers who asked for their money back.

The Coventry Telegraph reported that Nigerian Student Afolabi Oyedeji recorded a conversation in which McKee told him to: "F*** off back to where you came from," adding: "You may do that in Nigeria, we don't do that in Britain."

Ben Mills, prosecuting, asked Mr Oyedeji in the witness box: "You were asking for a refund. Did you think that was a satisfactory response?"

McKee blamed misunderstandings, bad record-keeping and other staff for taking money by mistake while he was ill. He described the Sky investigation as a "horrible onslaught", according to the paper.

Two Sky journalists also gave evidence in the trial and Sky's recorded calls were played in court. In one call McKee suggested someone must have broken into his office, when explaining how money had been taken from our account and put into his.

Two weeks into the trial, McKee pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of Breach of Professional Diligence.

In the witness box, he admitted responsibility for the "mess" and failures at his company, but he denied dishonesty.

He had also pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice - allegedly providing falsified copies of written agreements with students to investigators at Trading Standards.

McKee insisted he had been entrapped by Sky News. In a statement, he said: "Mr Farrell's actions smacked of an attempt at devious entrapment that never quite came off in the way he intended."

Coventry Trading Standards has revealed they had their first complaints against McKee in May 2008.

But despite repeated warnings, McKee's practice of overcharging continued in 2009 and escalated through 2010, when he unsuccessfully ran for Parliament to become a Liberal Democrat MP.

Two television investigations and subsequent criminal charges in 2011 failed to stop him defrauding students.

In August 2012, just one month before the trial began, Sky was contacted by another customer who claimed he had been overcharged.

Many students have been unable to get their money back.

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University Boat Race Swimmer Sent To Jail

The man who disrupted this year's Boat Race by swimming into the path of crews on the Thames has been jailed for six months.

Trenton Oldfield, of Myrdle Street, east London, was watched by millions of television viewers as he halted the annual race between Oxford and Cambridge universities on April 7.

He was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court last month of causing a public nuisance.

Oldfield, supported in court by a throng of well-wishers, smirked as Judge Anne Molyneux passed sentence.

But he looked surprised as the jail term was handed down.

The judge said Oldfield had acted dangerously and disproportionately and had not shown what he was actually protesting against.

In addition he had displayed prejudice in sabotaging the event, which he regarded as elitist.

Judge Molyneux said Oldfield ruined the race for everyone.

Oldfield acted dangerously and showed prejudice, the judge said

"You caused delay and disruption to it and to the members of the public who had gone to watch it and to enjoy the spectacle of top athletes competing," she said.

"The rowers had trained for many months. You had no regard for the sacrifices they had made or for their rigoroustraining when you swam into their paths."

Adding that Oldfield's actions had endangered his life and those of others, the judge said: "You decided that you had the right to stop members of the public enjoying a sporting competition which they had chosen to go and watch.

"You did not have that right.

"You did nothing to address inequality by giving yourself the right to spoil the enjoyment of others.

"In doing so, you acted without regard for equality and contrary to the meaning of it.

"You made your decision to sabotage the race based on the membership or perceived membership of its participants of a group to which you took exception.

"That is prejudice. Every individual and group of society is entitled to respect."

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Energy Prices: Urgent Question In Commons

Labour has accused the Government of making up "policy on the hoof" amid confusion over David Cameron's vow to slash energy prices.

Mr Cameron promised during PMQs on Wednesday that new laws would be brought in to force energy firms to give customers the cheapest tariff available.

The announcement appeared to take the Department of Energy and Climate Change by surprise and prompted immediate questions about how it could be delivered.

Labour tabled an urgent question on Thursday morning to demand answers, where shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint accused Mr Cameron of creating "chaos".

She said: "We all mis-speak from time to time and the Prime Minister was under a lot of pressure yesterday but for the Government to spend a day pretending to have a policy they have no intention of implementing is no way to run the country.

"It is like something out of The Thick of It... Millions of families and pensioners worried about how they will heat their homes deserve better than policy made on the hoof and this House needs answers."

Ms Flint asked Energy Minister John Hayes if his department had known of the change in advance, how it would work and when it would be implemented.

"Of course we understand what the Prime Minister was considering because we have been debating and discussing the provisions of the Energy Bill for months," he said.

But the minister notably did not confirm Mr Cameron's pledge, instead saying the Government would legislate to "help" customers get the best deal.

"We want to use the Bill to get people the lowest tariffs," he said.

"There are a number of options that are being considered, for example a voluntary agreement with energy suppliers announced in April secured a number of measures which will be evaluated to see if we should make legislation binding.

"This is a complicated area and we will discuss with the industry, consumer groups and the regulator in order to work through the detail."

Mr Hayes said he was "profoundly concerned and disappointed" by recent price hikes and said he would be discussing the rises with the companies "as a matter of urgency".

And he vowed that the Energy Bill would be a "landmark piece of legislation" delivering lower energy prices for businesses and households.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey was giving a speech on energy market reform in the City at the time of the Commons question where he appeared to distance himself from the PM's pledge.

He sidestepped questions about the statement and pointed instead to voluntary agreements secured earlier this year under which firms are forced to tell customers the best deal available.

"We are looking at how that can be built on, and how we can drive switching arrangements. We will be legislating for those arrangements in the forthcoming Energy Bill," he said.

Consumer group Which? urged Mr Cameron not to backtrack.

Executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Just giving people information on the lowest tariff is not enough when trust is at an all-time low in the industry and switching levels are falling."

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UK Car Makers Hit By Fall In Demand

A fall in European demand for British-made cars hits the manufacturing of vehicles across the UK, according to automotive industry figures.

Car manufacturing fell 5.8% in September, with 128,192 cars made in the Britain, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Commercial vehicle production dropped by even more - 20.2% - and the total number of all vehicles made fell by 7%.

It follows recent figures that showed Europe's car market shrunk at its fastest pace for 12 months last month.

Only the UK had managed to buck the trend - but the SMMT said the effects of the eurozone debt crisis had now hit home.

"Declining demand for cars and vans across the major European markets impacted UK vehicle and engine production in September," SMMT's chief executive Paul Everitt said.

"The strong demand for UK products outside Europe and the investment committed by major vehicle manufacturers will secure future growth, although the coming months will be challenging for companies at all levels in the supply chain."

He said European governments had to focus on securing financial stability and economic growth, "or they risk long-term damage to key industries."

Despite the September fall, vehicle production is still up in the year so far, which SMMT said "reaffirms the strength of global demand of UK-built products".

The managing director of Vauxhall Motors, Duncan Aldred, told Jeff Randall Live it was a difficult time for car makers.

"All manufacturers are having to take production breaks in order not to build up excess inventory," he said.

"There is too much capacity at the moment on a european level for the number of buyers there are out there - so clearly, there will be winners and losers."

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Conjoined Twins: Babies Successfully Separated

By Thomas Moore, Health And Science Correspondent

Surgeons have successfully separated conjoined twins just a day after they were born.

The British girls were joined at the abdomen and shared part of their intestines.

In a four-hour operation a team of 20 doctors and nurses at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London were able to separate the twins without complications.

Rosie and Ruby Formosa are now doing well and are smiling "bubbly babies", according to their mum Angela.

Mrs Formosa, from Bexleyheath, Kent, said: "Between 16 and 20 weeks we found out that they were joined. I didn't know what to think. I was shocked and I felt sad.

"We didn't know what to expect until they were born. The doctors could not tell where they were connected."

The Formosas holding twins Rosie and Ruby, and doctors involved in the op

The girls were born in July,  six weeks prematurely.

Surgeons would normally wait until twins are several months old before attempting to separate them. But the structural abnormality had caused a blockage in their intestine, which required emergency surgery.

Professor Agostino Pierro, who led the team, told Sky News: "The twins were very small because they were so young. But they are doing very well."

He added: "The babies will need further treatment in the future but we expect that they will both be able to lead happy and normal lives."

Mrs Formosa said she was relieved to have the girls back home.

"They are really well. They are putting on weight," she said. "They are normal bubbly babies who are starting to smile and cry when they want something."

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world's most experienced centres for separating conjoined twins.

Mrs Formosa said: "When I was pregnant they were saying that the survival chances were quite low.

"For them to have been operated on and doing so well, it is amazing."

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Manchester Robbery: CCTV Shows Violent Attack

Police have released footage of the moment a gang of robbers burst into a supermarket armed with a crowbar, an axe and a hammer.

Two shop staff were lucky to survive the attack, which happened at a store in Greater Manchester as they were locking up.

The pictures show the four men - all wearing hoods or balaclavas - grapple with the workers as they gain entry to the building, where they stole a large sum of money.

One of the robbers, wearing a grey hooded tracksuit top, can be seen raining down blow after blow with a hammer - his target just out of shot.

The raid happened at the KP Supermarket in Tavistock Square, Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, at 8.15pm on Saturday.

One of the staff managed to call the police while the gang was still in the store, but they drove away from the scene moments later in a waiting car.

The two workers, men aged 50 and 37, suffered head and back injuries and were left shocked by the attack - but their injuries are not life-threatening.

All four robbers are white, thought to be aged between 25 and 28 and were wearing balaclavas or hoods and dark clothing.

Detective Constable Tina McAndrew of North Manchester CID said: "The robbers used shocking levels of violence during this raid.

"The staff were effectively rushed by the robbers, so they had little option but to struggle with them. They clearly came off much worse as these offenders were determined to use whatever violent means necessary to escape with the cash."

:: Anyone with information is asked to call North Manchester CID on 0161 8563240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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John Terry Punished By Chelsea For Race Abuse

Chelsea say they have taken "further disciplinary action" against John Terry after he decided not to appeal against his four-match ban for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

The club will not reveal what discipline it is taking against its captain, saying the internal sanctions issued "will remain confidential".

"Chelsea Football Club believes John Terry has made the correct decision by not appealing against the FA judgment relating to language he used at the QPR match last October.

"Chelsea also appreciates, and supports, John's full apology for the language he used. The club firmly believes such language is not acceptable and fell below the standards expected of John as a Chelsea player.

"The board has conducted its own investigation into the matter, and considered the various issues involved. The board has taken further disciplinary action in addition to the four-match suspension and £220,000 fine imposed by the FA. In accordance with our long-standing policy, that disciplinary action will remain confidential."

Earlier, Terry apologised for the language he used, announcing he will not challenge the ban and fine of £220,000 issued by an independent Football Association regulatory commission two weeks ago.

Terry's next match will be on November 11

The 31-year-old defender was found guilty by the FA commission of racially abusing Ferdinand during a Premier League match between Chelsea and QPR on October 23 last year.

The three-man panel had ruled there was "no credible basis" for Terry's claim he had only been repeating words he thought QPR defender Ferdinand had accused him of saying, and labelled his defence "improbable, implausible and contrived".

Meanwhile, another Chelsea player Ashley Cole has been fined £90,000 after he admitted an FA charge in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, the FA has announced.

The commission also questioned why Terry's team-mate Cole had changed his statement to give more support to Terry's story, sparking a furious response from the Chelsea and England defender who described the FA as a "bunch of t***s" in a tweet sent on October 5.

Cole issued a full apology later that day and has since admitted a misconduct charge.

Cole was fined £90,000 by the FA

Earlier, Terry released a statement via his representatives Elite Management earlier, Terry said: "After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment.

"I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.

"Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life."

Terry's statement continued: "As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position.

"My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.

"Looking forward, I will continue to do my part in assisting the club to remove all types of discriminatory behaviour from football.

"I am extremely grateful for the consistent support of Chelsea FC, the fans and my family."

Terry has not apologised directly to Ferdinand.

The four-match ban imposed by the FA means Terry can return to action against Liverpool on November 11.

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Flooding Fear As More Heavy Rain Forecast

Heavy rain has fallen in parts of Britain for the second night, bringing with it the risk of flooding to some areas.

By Friday afternoon, a band of rain that hit the South West had swept across Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England.

Up to 35mm of rain fell in some areas of the South, leading the Environment Agency to issue more than 30 flood alerts for the South West.

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "Last night's (Friday) heavy rain has cleared the South now with the cloud breaking to bring a fine day for most places.

"Flooding concerns are likely to increase again late on Sunday and into Monday as a frontal system sweeps in across southwest Britain, bringing heavy rain.

"As a result, the Environment Agency has now issued seven flood warnings across the southwest region.

"Fortunately, the weather forecast is a positive one for most of this weekend with sunny spells for many, but expect cold mornings with some patchy frost and fog".

The Environment Agency has said Sunday's expected deluges could result in significant disruption.

In a statement, the agency said: "We're warning communities across South West England and southern Wales to be vigilant and alert for flooding as heavy rain is set to return on Sunday afternoon and into Monday."

A man was also killed when a falling tree hit his car near Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, hitting two cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Mini, at about 2.45pm on Friday.

The driver of the Mondeo, a 64-year-old man from Sheffield, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A front seat passenger in the car, a woman, was also taken to hospital for treatment. Her injuries are not believed to be serious. A woman from the mini has been taken to Frimley Park Hospital for treatment after being freed from the vehicle by the fire service.

Her condition is not believed to be life threatening. In total, more than 500 homes and businesses were flooded across England and Wales.

Parts of the UK were left devastated by heavy floods last week. Yorkshire was the area worst hit as more than the average rainfall for September fell in just a few days in many areas.

A couple drowned in a swollen river in Wales and a block of townhouses in Newburn, Newcastle, were condemned to be knocked down after floodwater gouged out the earth under their foundations.

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Michael Gove Plans A-Level Shake-Up

Education Secretary Michael Gove is planning a major shake-up of A-levels as the latest stage of his radical exam reforms, it has been revealed.

Officials are developing an Advanced Baccalaureate (A-Baccs) which would include a mix of subjects, a 5,000-word essay and voluntary work, according to The Times.

Modular courses are also expected to be scrapped with pupils in England studying over two years instead and taking exams at the end.

AS-levels would be kept but as a separate qualification from the new A-Baccs.

The move comes after proposals to scrap GCSEs in core subjects and replace them with tougher exams called an English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBacc) were announced.

It means that the entire secondary school exam system is set to be overhauled in the next three years.

Under the new A-Bacc, pupils could be obliged to select "contrasting" subjects, to counter criticism that there is currently too much specialisation at the age of 16.

This would mean that a candidate studying maths, further maths and physics would have to pick a humanities subject like history.

One option apparently being considered is to limit the A-Bacc to teenagers who choose at least two "traditional" A-levels from a list generated by top universities.

Under the current system, pupils study four subjects at AS for a year and receive grades at that point before continuing with three subjects for a final year, turning each into a full A-level.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "A-levels will not be replaced under any circumstances. There are public consultations about reforming A and AS levels.

"There are also numerous suggestions about new A-Bacc league table measures but no decisions have been made."

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said: "We support the concept of an A-Bacc, however Labour would ensure it includes a broad range of subjects and sits alongside our proposed Tech Bacc for vocational courses.

"If these changes include community work, an extended project and a wider range of courses, then that is welcome.

"Unfortunately, Michael Gove seems to be ignoring important subjects like computing and engineering which are critical for the modern economy.

"The Government must address the big challenges to ensure a One Nation education system - ensuring a gold standard route for vocational education and every pupil studying English and Maths until the age of 18."

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Gatwick Airport Planning Second Runway

Gatwick Airport bosses have started to draw up detailed options for a new runway which could help resolve the UK's air capacity crisis.

But Gatwick said it would honour a 1979 legal agreement that states no runway can be built at the West Sussex airport before 2019.

The options, to be submitted to a Government-appointed aviation commission, will assess the environmental and economic impacts of a new runway.

The chief executive of Gatwick, which serves 197 destinations and handles around 34 million passengers a year, said a new runway would benefit passengers.

"I believe a new runway at Gatwick could be affordable, practical and give passengers a greater choice of routes to key markets," Stewart Wingate said.

"We have the space, capability and access to financial resources."

London's busiest airport, Heathrow, is operating close to full capacity after the Government blocked a third runway because of the resulting increase in planes flying over the city.

Mr Wingate said a new runway at Gatwick had "clear practical advantages" over expansion at Heathrow.

"When compared with a third runway at Heathrow, we would have a significantly lower environmental impact whilst adding significantly more capacity," he said.

He added that it would also be preferable to other London alternatives.

"Stansted is half empty today, we already have much better surface transport links and feel our business case will be much stronger," he said.

"As for the Estuary airport concepts, there are major questions on affordability, environmental issues and whether they are deliverable."

But the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign has always been opposed to a second runway at the airport on environmental grounds.

"We have had massive support from across Surrey, Sussex and west Kent," Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign's chairman, Brendon Sewill, said following the announcement.

"We have been supported by all the local MPs and all the county, district and parish councils in a wide area.

"If necessary, we will resume the battle."

Gatwick has safeguarded the land that would be required for a new runway since it was bought by Global Infrastructure Partners in 2009.

It estimates that for the rest of this decade, London's airports will be relying on their existing physical capacity.

As such, its submission to the commission will evaluate how the capacity of its existing runway can be maximised.

It will also argue that a second runway would help ensure that London's airports provide the South East and the rest of UK with the connectivity needed in the future.

The commission, led by the former head of the Financial Services Authority Sir Howard Davies, will make its full report into the South East's airport capacity in 2015.

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Blind Man Tasered: Police Mistake Stick For Sword

A "terrified" blind man was hit with a 50,000 volt Taser gun after police mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.

Stroke victim Colin Farmer, 61, collapsed to the ground in shock after he was hit in the back with the gun while walking down the street in Chorley, Lancashire.

Police had received reports of a man walking through the town armed with the deadly martial arts weapon and raced to the scene to hunt down the offender.

Meanwhile Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace", was on his way to the pub to meet friends for a drink and was unaware of the reports.

He had no idea a police officer had mistaken his thin white stick for a machete and ordered him to stop before pulling the trigger on the Taser gun.

Mr Farmer cried out, "I'm blind! I'm blind!" while collapsed on the floor but was still handcuffed by the officer from Lancashire Police.

"The whole thing was like being trapped in a nightmare," he told the Chorley Guardian.

Mr Farmer said he heard shouting on the street but did not know what it was about and thought he was about to be "attacked by some hooligans".

He was then struck by the Taser and fell to the ground, dropping his white stick on the floor before a policeman handcuffed him.

He was taken to Chorley Hospital for treatment and was later released following the incident at about 5.45pm last Friday.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Williams, from Lancashire Police, said: "We received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley armed with a samurai sword and patrols were sent to look for the man.

"One of the officers believed he had located the offender. Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser.

"It then became apparent this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away.

"He was taken Chorley Hospital by officers who stayed while he was checked over by medics. They then took him to meet his friends in Chorley at his request.

"Lancashire Constabulary deeply regrets what has happened. We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry.

"We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned and the matter has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

Mr Farmer is reportedly considering legal action against the force.

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Missing Woman And Four Children Found

A mother and her four children have been found safe after a judge ordered a nationwide search for them.

The hunt for Jennifer Jones and her children Jessica, 14, Tomas, 12, Eva, nine, and David Palacin Jones, eight, was sparked after she failed to obey a court order for the youngsters to be returned to their father in Spain.

All five were found at around 11am today in Gwent - more than 50 miles away from her home in Llanelli, Wales.

After losing a legal battle in the High Court against her divorced Spanish husband Tomas Palacin Cambra, Ms Jones left London and is thought to have travelled home.

She and her children were not at the property when police and social services called, prompting a judge to release their details and launch an appeal for information.

Dyfed Powys Police said the family had been found and Mr Palacin Cambra was "overjoyed" with the news.

A Gwent police spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the four children missing from the Llanelli area were found in the Gwent area just after 11am this morning.

"Police and local authority are now working together with family members to ensure the ongoing safety of the children."

Judge Mr Justice Roderic Wood, who asked on Tuesday for the public's help finding Miss Jones and the children, is due to analyse developments at a High Court hearing in London later.

Lawyers representing Mr Palacin Cambra updated the judge at a private hearing earlier before Ms Jones was found.

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Hillsborough Tragedy Set For New Inquest

The Attorney General has paved the way for a new inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough tragedy by applying for the verdicts of the original hearing to be quashed.

The move comes after a report into the 1989 disaster revealed a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

Dominic Grieve told the House of Commons: "I believe that these deaths, arising as they do from a common chain of events, should all be considered afresh.

"However, before reaching any final view on the scope of the application, I want to give the families affected the opportunity to make any representations in respect of the family member or members they lost.

"I will therefore be in contact with each family seeking views."

Mr Grieve said that any criminal proceedings emerging from the fallout of the Hillsborough Panel Report, which said many of the victims could have survived and scores of police statement were altered to prevent criticism of officers, could affect when the new inquest could take place.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said a "large number" of current and former officers will be investigated over their actions on the day of the tragedy and during the subsequent alleged cover-up.

Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said the move "marks one of the biggest steps forward in the fight for justice for the families in 23 years".

"The undeniable fact is that the original inquest was unsound and this application, if successful, will mean that evidence will be able to be heard after the 3.15pm cut off imposed by the original Coroner in the 1989 inquests," he said.

"For the first time in over two decades, all the evidence can now be reviewed into the disaster and potentially a new verdict recorded on the death certificates of the deceased."

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Teachers 'Buying Breakfast' For Hungry Pupils

Rising numbers of children are going to school on an empty stomach, according to a new report.

Four in five teachers (79%) claim their pupils are turning up for lessons hungry, with more than half (55%) saying the numbers have increased in the past year.

Two-thirds of 500 teachers surveyed (68%) said the main reason was parents not caring if their children have a decent breakfast.

Some 57% of teachers suggested a lack of money was to blame for pupils not being fed at home.

Many teachers end up buying food for youngsters out of their own pocket in a bid to help, the report found.

Nearly one in three (31%) of those questioned said they take food into school to give to hungry pupils.

The report, by Opinion Matters for cereal maker Kellogg's, says 13% of primary school teachers apparently spend up to £24.99 a month feeding youngsters.

It warns that arriving for school hungry can impair a child's concentration, cause behavioural problems and affect learning.

The report suggests breakfast clubs are a cost-effective way to ensure children eat before lessons.

But it adds many clubs in schools across England have closed in the past year due to a shortage of funds.

Karin Woodley, chief executive of education charity ContinYou, said: "Many families are really struggling financially and, in extreme cases, this means that there simply isn't enough food to go round.

"Breakfast clubs can provide a lifeline for these families, so we're extremely concerned to hear that many are being forced to close."

Earlier this year, a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers found young children in England are being served "very small" school dinners and given a limited choice despite paying more for their meals.

It revealed almost a third of teachers do not believe school meals are value for money, with some warning that pupils are often being given chips, pasta and rice rather than vegetables and salad.

It also found there had been an increase in free school meals - a measure of poverty - as more families were hit by economic problems.

The report comes as separate figures suggest number of the UK's poor and destitute receiving emergency food aid has almost doubled in the past six months.

The Trussell Trust, the country's largest organiser of food banks, said that from April to September nearly 110,000 adults and children were referred for emergency help by professionals such as the police, social workers and job centre advisers and GPs.

:: The Opinion Matters survey for Kellogg's questioned 500 teachers between August 7-21.

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House Fire: Father Escaped With Child In Arms

A doctor who lost his wife and all but one of his five children in a suspected arson attack escaped their blazing home with a child in his arms.

Dr Abdul Shakoor, who suffered minor injuries as he desperately tried to rescue his family from their Essex home, is being treated at Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford.

He was moved there last night to be closer to his critically ill daughter - three-year-old Maheen, who is fighting for her life at a burns unit.

Dr Shakoor's wife Sabah Usmani, sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira, died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday.

A Ford Focus was found blazing yards away from the house

A third son, Muneeb, nine, later died at the Princess Alexandra hospital, where Dr Shakoor worked and was also being treated until late last night. Police have not said which of the children he was able to bring outside.

According to neighbours, Dr Shakoor had to be physically restrained from going back inside the property and police have said he "fought hard" to save his family.

Police, who have started a painstaking forensic examination of the house, are now investigating whether the family were not the intended targets of the attackers.

But they stressed it was an isolated incident and there was no evidence that a serial arsonist was involved. There had been no previous problems with racism in the area.

Dr Shakoor with his wife, Sabah

Dr Shakoor, who reportedly left from a first-floor window as flames engulfed the house, is said to be in "severe shock".

Witness reports suggest between one and four people were in the area at the time of the fire. Such sightings will form key lines of inquiry, police said.

A Ford Focus was found burning a short distance from the house when fire crews arrived at the address.

The vehicle was not connected to the family but that fire is also being treated as arson.

Flower tributes have been left close to the house. One message read: "RIP little angels and your special mummy xxx."

Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, who is leading the investigation, said the local community and Islamic groups could hold the answer to who was behind the attack.

He said: "Nobody expects such a catastrophic incident in their own neighbourhood."

Flowers have been left close to the scene

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, the couple had lived in Saudi Arabia, where the children were born, for more than a decade before moving to the UK.

Parvez Hamid, 43, and Safia Anwar, 38, said they had known the couple since they moved to Harlow and some of their children attended the nearby Abbotsweld Primary School together.

Mrs Anwar said: "They were a wonderful family. Their children were best friends with our own."

Mr Hamid said: "Their children were so well behaved and I was always envious that mine weren't the same."

Neighbours raised the alarm after being woken in the early hours. It is thought some form of fuel may have been used to start the fire.

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Legal Highs: Drugs Charity Warns Of Dangers

The dangers of so-called legal highs and club drugs are being highlighted in a new campaign.

The Angelus Foundation said its research suggests a third of 16 to 24 year olds are now likely to try them - but the risks are almost completely unknown and many can be potentially fatal.

The substances may contain a dangerous combination of toxic chemicals which produce side effects such as psychosis, depression, panic attacks, heart problems, seizures, coma, loss of use of the bladder and even death.

Maryon Stewart set the charity up after her 21-year-old daughter Hester died taking the drug GBL in 2009. 

The medical student was given half a dose which, combined with the alcohol she had consumed during an awards dinner, sent her into a coma.

Amy Winehouse's father Mitch has backed the awareness campaign.

Recently, GBL, mephedrone and ketamine have been made illegal but many unregulated legal highs such as Benzo Fury and MDAI are still widely available over the internet and without health hazard warnings.

Mrs Stewart says the Find Out campaign will help give young people the facts about the dangers.

"There has been an unprecedented influx of new legal highs in the country," she said.

"Currently there is a huge knowledge gap in their effects and the dangers they present. Legal does not mean safe.

"Angelus is devoted to raising awareness of the dangers of legal highs and club drugs and providing information and impartial advice to both young people and parents alike."

The campaign is backed by the Amy Winehouse Foundation, named after the singer who died of alcohol poisoning in July 2011. 

Her father Mitch Winehouse said: "A whole generation of young people is at risk from legal highs simply because they don't know what serious harm they can come to by taking them.

"We're delighted to be working collaboratively with the Angelus Foundation to help set the record straight about the dangers of legal highs and club drugs, and to prevent any more senseless deaths."

The charity said 28 new legal highs have become available in the UK in the first five months of this year alone - and the figure is set to rise in 2013.

A number of other deaths have been attributed to legal highs including Joseph Bennett, 17, who died last week after inhaling nitrous oxide.

Police in Scotland confirmed three people had been taken to hospital at the same time earlier this month after taking a legal high called Annihilation.

In February, Northumbria Police issued a warning over the use of legal highs after the death of 18-year-old Andrew Lourie.

In March 2011, 21-year-old Louise Cattell took a dose of ketamine and drowned in her bath while watching a DVD.

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Gary McKinnon: May Blocks Extradition To US

Long Wait Over Extradition Ruling

Updated: 12:47pm UK, Tuesday 16 October 2012

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. Here is a summary of the key events in his case:

:: 2001-2002 Between February 1 2001 and March 19 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London.

He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America.

US prosecutors also allege he deleted files which shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours.

Mr McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs.

:: 2002 Between March 19 and August 8, Mr McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government.

On October 31, the District Court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, says on November 12: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

:: 2004 The US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on August 12 and, on October 7, the US government files a request for his extradition.

:: 2005 On March 31, a warrant for Mr McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street Magistrates' Court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on June 7.

:: 2006 Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on July 4 for McKinnon to be extradited to the US.

:: 2007 Mr McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the High Court on April 3.

:: 2008 The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on July 30 and McKinnon - who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on August 25 - also loses his bid to get the European Court of Human Rights to stay the extradition on August 28.

Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from Mr McKinnon's legal team on September 13 to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis.

:: 2009 In January, Mr McKinnon wins permission in the High Court to seek judicial review of Ms Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces that it will not bring charges against him in Britain.

Mr McKinnon makes a bid at the High Court in July to force the Government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two High Court judges refuse to block his removal.

Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial".

The following month, Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the September 11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens.

In November, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which Mr McKinnon could be sent for trial while Mr Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion."

:: 2010 Mr McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May.

Later that month, the new Home Secretary Theresa May gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered.

Now Prime Minister, Mr Cameron discusses Mr McKinnon's case with US President Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found.

It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain.

:: 2011 The Government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) says in June.

But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the Government to change the Extradition Act anyway.

:: 2012 The High Court expresses concern in January over the length of time Mr McKinnon's case in taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July.

In March, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House.

On October 16, the Home Secretary announces she is blocking Mr McKinnon's extradition on health grounds.

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