Postnatal Depression: Blood Test Breakthrough

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

British doctors have developed the first blood test for postnatal depression in a breakthrough that could ease the plight of tens of thousands of women who suffer from the condition every year, Sky News has learnt.

Doctors believe a £10 screening test they have developed – which could be administered as part of ordinary NHS antenatal checks – would allow women found to be at risk to receive treatment for the disease before they give birth.

Around 90,000 pregnant women a year - around one in seven - develop some level of depression in the first three months after giving birth.

In severe cases it can result in new mums committing suicide or harming their babies.

Professor Dimitris Grammatopoulos, who led the research at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said the research was "extremely important".

He said: "There is evidence that if you can identify women at risk early you could treat early or introduce measures to prevent or stop the process of the disease."

The early warning should mean that simple support from families and health professionals is enough to prevent symptoms developing.

A study of 200 pregnant women, published in the current edition of the Journal of Psychiatric Research, found two molecular "signatures" in the genes that increased the risk of postnatal depression by up to five times.

Although previous research has found genetic "markers" linked to the condition, this is the first time that genetic variations have been found in the hormonal pathway that triggers it.

The researchers believe that changes in oestrogen levels during pregnancy make women more sensitive to the stress hormone cortisol.

But whereas most women "reset" the hormonal imbalance soon after their baby is born, those with the genetic variations are unable to do so, leading to postnatal depression.

Prof Grammatopoulos said he could test women for the genetic changes for between £30 and £40.

But automating the test so that robots could screen large numbers of samples would bring the cost down to just £10.

And he is looking for further genetic changes, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, to increase the predictive power of the test.

He said blood samples already taken routinely in the early stages of pregnancy could then be screened.

"Usually we focus on the mother, but the negative impact on the child is also immense," Prof Grammatopoulos said.

Between a third and a half of women with postnatal depression develop severe symptoms.

Rachael Dobson, 24, said the new test could prevent other women suffering as she did.

She felt "useless as a mum" when her son Andreas was born three years ago.

As her sense of hopelessness grew, she considered suicide - or even harming her son.

Only when she began to consider killing him did she contact her health visitor.

She said: "I remember him crying loads and I'd tried everything in the book - feeding, winding, changing his nappy - because he would not be quiet.

"I just thought 'What if I smothered him?'. At least he would then be quiet and I could sort myself out.

"But within a split second you are almost scared yourself because how could you think that about a vulnerable baby."

Support from health professionals and her husband slowly improved her symptoms. But it has taken the best part of three years.

Mrs Dobson set up the Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support charity (Pandas), which runs a helpline: 0843 2898401.

Minister for health and maternity Dr Dan Poulter said: "I very much welcome this new research, and we shall look into how it can improve care for women with postnatal depression.

"Women with depression both during and after pregnancy need support, not stigma, and we have set a clear objective for the NHS to reduce postnatal depression through earlier diagnosis and support for women and their partners.

"Care for women with postnatal depression is of course delivered by midwives, health visitors and family nurses who provide the vital, one-to-one care and support, and that is why we have invested in over 1,300 more midwives in our NHS since May 2010, with a record 5,000 in training who will qualify in the next three years. We are also increasing the number of health visitors and family nurses who support women after they have their baby."

:: Professor Grammatopoulos is now carrying out a larger study on 1,500 women to help refine the test. Pregnant women interested in taking part should email info@uhcw.nhs.uk

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Status Quo Debut Fiji-Based Action Movie

Status Quo stars Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi have shown off their big screen debut - an action film set in Fiji.

The band, famous for hits such as Rockin' All Over the World, star in Bula Quo! where they go on the run with their manager after accidentally getting on the wrong side of a shady gangster.

Rossi, 64, said he was surprised that the film had got a cinema release.

"Normally bands just make documentaries but it's a real movie and that's what it had to be for us. And it's in 200 cinemas, we thought it would go straight to DVD," he said.

However, it is thought some cinemas will only play the film for one night.

Parfitt and Rossi, original members of the Quo five-piece, previously tried acting during a cameo on Coronation Street in 2005 when the band performed at Les Battersby's wedding.

"If I'm honest with you, I thought we were appalling," admitted Parfitt.

Rossi in a scene from the Fiji-based adventure

"But the stunt co-ordinator said we'd like to do a movie with you and we were highly surprised and highly delighted. And especially the fact we've now pulled it off."

The band have also recorded nine new songs especially for the film, as well as a "Fiji Style" version of their track Living On An Island.

Status Quo have not forgotten their on-stage roots, and will be embarking on a Bula Quo! arena tour in December.

Bula Quo! takes its name from the Fijian islanders' traditional greeting.

The film, which is on general release on July 5, also stars Lemon La Vida Loca actress Laura Aikman, US comedian John Lovitz and ex-EastEnder Craig Fairbrass.

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Sex Offenders To Face Lie Detector Tests

Compulsory lie detector tests are set be introduced to monitor convicted sex offenders under a change to the law due to be approved later.

MPs will debate the relevant legislation in the House of Commons and are expected to approve routine use of polygraph screening for the most serious offenders across England and Wales from next year.

If convicted rapists or other dangerous sex attackers are found to have lied about crucial matters or breached the terms of their licence after being released from jail they could be sent back to prison.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright issued a statement saying: "Introducing lie detector tests, alongside the sex offenders register and close monitoring in the community, will give us one of the toughest approaches in the world to managing this group.

"We recently announced the creation of a new National Probation Service tasked with protecting the public from the most high-risk offenders.

"They will be able to call on this technology to help stop sex offenders from reoffending and leaving more innocent victims in their wake."

The Government aims to roll out the tests next spring, subject to the parliamentary timetable.

The move follows a successful pilot scheme in the Midlands. Trials in two areas found the tests made sex criminals more open with probation officers.

Polygraph tests measure blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and levels of perspiration.

These vital signs display subtle changes when someone is deliberately evasive and polygraph experts can usually determine if that person is lying.

Studies have shown that polygraphs are accurate around 85% of the time.

The method is widely used in the US, with 19 states using lie detector tests in criminal cases, including during court testimonies.

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Shipley: Man Arrested Over Murder And Stabbing

Police are linking the murder of an 84-year-old woman to the stabbing of a nine-year-old boy and another incident in which a girl of eight was chased into her home.

West Yorkshire Police said a 26-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of pensioner Louisa Denby at her home in Shipley, West Yorkshire, on Monday, and the attempted murder of the boy at a nearby skate park.

Speaking at the skate park, Detective Superintendent Lisa Griffin said the boy was attacked for no reason and with no warning.

The officer said the girl was chased through her garden 10 minutes later but she went inside her home and came to no harm.

Det Supt Griffin said five people were in custody in relation to the three related incidents and officers were not looking for anyone else.

She confirmed that a knife had been recovered and that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder was related to Mrs Denby.

Shipley skate park

"Ten minutes after that attack on a nine-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl was chased through her garden at home.

"Fortunately the girl went inside the house and nothing untoward happened to her."

Det Supt Griffin said inquiries into these two incidents had led officers to a semi-detached house in Prospect Mount where Mrs Denby's body was found.

"It's my belief at this time that the three incidents are linked," she said.

She went on: "The nine-year-old boy was out playing and was returning home for a drink when he was approached by the male suspect.

"With no prior warning and for no reason known to us at this time, he was attacked with a knife - a single stab wound causing him injuries to his chest and his arm."

Prospect Mount

The boy was taken to Leeds General Infirmary after emergency services were called to the skate park at about 4.40pm. He was due to undergo surgery and is said to be in a stable condition.

The girl was playing in the garden of her home in Prospect Grove "when a male approached and tried to draw her attention, chased her through the garden and she went into her home address".

Mrs Denby's body was found just before midnight. She had suffered a number of stab wounds, police have said.

Sky's North of England Correspondent Gerard Tubb, in Shipley, said Mrs Denby, a retired head teacher, was well-liked.

Next-door neighbour Jackie Smith said: "She was such a good neighbour and she was really respected down this road.

"She was my husband's school teacher and then, when she moved in, she'd say 'Hiya, Michael, I remember you'. She was absolutely lovely."

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

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Nightingale: SAS Sniper 'Put Public At Risk'

By David Bowden, Defence Correspondent

SAS sniper Danny Nightingale "put the public at risk" by keeping a working 9mm pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition in the bedroom of his shared house, a trial has been told.

Those dangers "were particularly acute in this case given the quantity of 9mm rounds (172) that were stored in the same bedroom as the gun," said prosecutors.

They claim that Sgt Nightingale also had many rounds of other ammunition, including bullets for a sniper rifle, a smoke grenade and signal flares.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray told the court martial there was "no excuse" for what the defendant did.

Sgt Nightingale: 'Stored bullets, a grenade and a flare in his house'

"No matter how he tries to deny it, the gun and the ammunition were in his bedroom because he put them there and kept them there. These are the plain facts which he will not face up to," said Mr Cray.

The prosecution says that Danny Nightingale told police interviewers that he had brought the gun back from Iraq in 2007 and had intended to have it decommissioned and handed over to his unit as a trophy.

Nightingale has pleaded not guilty to both charges of possessing the gun and ammunition illegally.

Prosecutors say the defence will claim that someone else put the weapon and ammunition into the sniper's room and that he couldn't remember because of a brain injury sustained during a jungle marathon in Brazil in 2009.

The prosecutor told the hearing that "no one is saying that Sgt Nightingale was a bad soldier, in fact his service career is deserving of high praise", but added "even good soldiers can make bad mistakes".

The court has also heard that despite defence claims that Nightingale was mentally impaired after his collapse in the jungle, he was passed fit for deployment to Afghanistan a year later.

The court martial has been told that Sgt Nightingale's housemate, who also worked as a firing range instructor for the SAS and known only as soldier N, has already been convicted of similar charges to Nightingale and is serving a prison sentence.

Concluding his opening statement, the prosecutor posed three questions to the panel:

"Did the defendant put the gun and the ammunition in his bedroom, or did somebody else put it there?

"If the gun and ammunition belonged to somebody else, how did the defendant miss it?

"Is this claim of memory loss in respect of specific and detailed confessions the truth or a lie told to try and avoid the consequences of the truth?"

The trial is expected to last into next week and evidence will be heard from serving Special Forces soldiers, including some who will speak to the court martial via videolink from Afghanistan where they are currently on operations.

The judge has already ruled that none of the SAS witnesses can be identified.

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Lebedev Found Guilty Over TV Chat Show Brawl

Media magnate Alexander Lebedev has been found guilty of battery over a brawl on a TV chat show in his native Russia.

The financial backer of Britain's Independent and Evening Standard newspapers was sentenced by a court in Moscow to 150 hours of community service, avoiding a prison term.

He had claimed the case against him was politically motivated, depicting the trial as President Vladimir Putin's revenge on him for criticising the government.

Last week, the opposition surprisingly dropped the main charge against Lebedev, of "hooliganism motivated by political hatred", which carried the threat of several years in prison.

Instead, they asked for his movements to be restricted for 21 months and for him to be banned from large public gatherings.

Alexander Lebedev has been convicted of assault over the TV punch up

Speaking after sentencing, Lebedev's lawyer, Genry Reznik, said his client was "ashamed" of the verdict, which his team would appeal.

Lebedev, a former London-based KGB agent, punched property tycoon Sergei Polonsky on a Russian political chat show in September 2011, knocking him to the floor.

He claimed he was protecting himself and that the subsequent charge of hooliganism was disproportionate. 

Last week, Mr Polonsky called for Lebedev - who is estimated to be worth more than £700m - to be forgiven.

Lebedev is rare among oligarchs in speaking out against the Kremlin since the imprisonment of oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was arrested in 2003 after falling out with Mr Putin. Khodorkovsky's Yukos oil company was broken up and sold off, mainly into state hands.

Lebedev, who co-owns a campaigning Russian newspaper critical of Putin, also portrayed the case as part of a broader crackdown on the opposition since the former KGB spy returned to the presidency in May 2011 following protests.

Mr Polonsky spent three months in jail in Cambodia this year for allegedly attacking the crew of a boat after a dispute erupted during a New Year's Eve outing.

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Linzi Ashton Murder: Man Arrested By Police

Detectives investigating the murder of mother-of-two Linzi Ashton have arrested a man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Michael Cope, whom they describe as a "dangerous man".

He is wanted for the "sustained and vicious" murder of Miss Ashton, whose body was found at her home in Winton, Salford, on Saturday.

A post-mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of helping Cope, a police spokesman said.

Cope had been in a relationship with Ms Ashton

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: "We are continuing to do all we can to trace Michael Cope and urge him once again to hand himself in to the police.

"We also reiterate our appeal to those who may have information on Cope's whereabouts to speak to us in confidence.

"We are also working with our partner agencies to look at evicting anyone who is using their property to offer this man safety."

Cope is still thought to be in the Salford area.

The murder scene in Winton, Salford

Police say they would like to hear from anyone who saw Miss Ashton and Cope after it was established they were together on Friday night.

Miss Ashton, 25, was last seen alive by a friend in the Eccles area shortly before 2am on Saturday.

She was found dead by a relative at her home in Westbourne Road shortly before 6pm on Saturday. Her two daughters, Daisy, two, and Destiny, seven, were not at the address at the time.

Miss Ashton, a barmaid, and Cope had been involved in a brief, "acrimonious" relationship and she had previously complained to police he had raped and beaten her.

GMP have referred their previous contact with Miss Ashton to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "We know that Michael Cope had been in a relationship with Linzi and through that relationship there have been reports to police in respect of allegations made by her.

"This includes a serious sexual offence and an assault that were reported at the end of April and the middle of May respectively.

"I am not going to go into great detail about these offences or our involvement. Suffice it to say Michael Cope was wanted in connection with these matters and numerous attempts were made to arrest him."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 8531, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Shrien Dewani Hearing: Suspect 'Hopeless'

A man accused of orchestrating the honeymoon murder of his wife was overcome by hopelessness and despair during his time in mental health hospitals, a court has heard.

Shrien Dewani is alleged to have arranged the death of his 28-year-old wife Anni, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.

The 33-year-old is wanted for trial in South Africa, but his extradition has been delayed due to his ongoing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

At an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court, psychiatrist Dr Alan Cumming described Dewani's time being treated at clinics in Bristol where he "cried all day" as he sank into despair.

He also said that in one incident he reacted to a room search by pulling down his trousers and saying: "If you treat me like a dog I'll bark like one."

Dewani pictured with his late wife

But he also pointed to signs that his condition is now improving.

In a report after visiting him in hospital in March this year, Dr Cumming said he had "no qualms about the quality of care".

Dewani tried to take an overdose in 2011 but since then he has not spoken directly about self-harm or suicide, the court heard.

He has been allowed to use his laptop to access the internet, and to walk home - accompanied by a member of staff - every day for visits.

Dewani was also given permission to buy a camper van, which he set up in the grounds of the hospital and would spend large periods of time in.

Xolile Mngeni (L) and Mziwamadoda Qwaba

During a four-hour interview which took place in 2012, Dr Cumming said Dewani became tearful when talking about his late wife and the topic was "emotionally charged".

The court also heard that South African authorities would make "an exception" for Dewani by allowing him mainstream mental health treatment instead of sending him to a forensic unit.

Members of both Dewani and his wife's families were at court again for the second day of a five-day extradition hearing. Dewani himself has been excused from attending.

Newlywed Mrs Dewani was shot when a taxi in which the couple were travelling was hijacked in the Gugulethu township.

Shrien Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed.

She was found dead in the back of the abandoned vehicle with a bullet wound to her neck.

Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani.

Prosecutors claimed he was a hitman hired by Shrien Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Dewani has consistently denied.

Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

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Stop-And-Search Police Powers To Be Reviewed

The Home Secretary has launched a public consultation into controversial police stop-and-search powers.

Theresa May, in a Commons statement, warned the way the powers were being used was harming community relations as well as wasting police time.

MPs heard that people from black or ethnic minority backgrounds were seven times more likely to be stopped by officers than white people.

Mrs May said more than one million stops were recorded every year but on average only around 9% led to an arrest.

This conversion rate and how long each took to process - around 16 minutes - caused a "dreadful waste of police time", she added.

Last year this took up 312,000 hours - equal to 145 full-time officers doing nothing else, Mrs May told the House.

Theresa May speaking to MPs in the Commons

She stressed that the procedure would not be scrapped but announced a six-week public consultation into its fairness.

She said: "Everybody involved in policing has a duty to ensure nobody is ever stopped just on the basis of their skin colour or ethnicity.

"The law is clear that in normal circumstances stop and search should only ever be used where there is a reasonable suspicion of criminality and that is how it should be."

She added: "Firstly, it must be applied fairly and in a way that builds community confidence in the police, rather than undermining it.

"And second, given the scale of recording requirements placed on the police, when stop-and-search is misapplied, it is a waste of police time."

The consultation comes a few weeks after the Government's equality watchdog said police forces were being fairer and more efficient in how the employed the powers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that five forces, including the Metropolitan Police, had reduced their use without compromising crime reduction.

Mrs May has also asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to look at the procedure and their report is due within a few weeks.

Under current laws, police need to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the subject is guilty of some form of criminal behaviour before they can conduct a search.

The Home Secretary said: "At its best stop-and-search is a vital power in the fight against crime. At its worst, it is a waste of police time and undermines public confidence in the police."

She promised a formal Government response would be issued by the end of the year.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights campaigners Liberty, said: "After years of bad and counter-productive practice, it is encouraging that the Home Secretary is waking up to concerns about stop and search.

"Lax powers have failed to increase public safety and only alienated the young. But whether it's snooping or stopping and searching, warm words and guidance are no substitute for tightening up the law."

Mark Hammond, chief executive of the EHRC, added: "Stop and search is a necessary and useful power.

"If it is used proportionally and intelligently the police can protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority groups.

"There is no evidence to suggest that disproportionately targeting black and Asian people reduces crime."

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Ovenden: Review Of Child Sex Sentence

An internationally renowed artist who escaped a prison term despite being convicted of a string of child sex charges has had his sentence referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

Graham Ovenden, who abused children who posed for his paintings in the 70s and 80s, told a jury at his trial that he felt it was his "moral obligation" to capture a child's "state of grace".

When he was arrested the artist, whose youngest victim was just six, told police he had a "major reputation" for having "some of the best portraits of children in the last 200 years".

However, Ovenden, from Cornwall, was convicted of six charges of indecency with a child and one of indecent assault relating to three girls. He received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, has decided to refer the 70-year-old's case to the Court of Appeal where judges will decide whether or not to increase the sentence handed down by Judge Graham Cottle at Plymouth Crown Court in June.

The Attorney General has had 150 complaints about Stuart Hall's sentence

Making the announcement the Attorney General also disclosed he had received around 150 complaints about the 15-month sentence handed to the BBC presenter Stuart Hall for a series of sex attacks against children.

His prison sentence will be considered for a referral to the Court of Appeal for its leniency and a decision is due on July 15.

The work of Ovenden, who studied under the so-called "Godfather of Pop-Art" Sir Peter Blake, was  celebrated in galleries across the world at the height of his commercial popularity.

But the jurors at his trial heard his profession formed part of a ruse for abusing girls at his studio in Cornwall and former home in Hounslow, west London, where he would make them dress in Victorian clothing before removing it and committing indecent acts.

He told the trial: "I have to say the absolute witch-hunt which is going on at the moment - and the idea a child naked is something to be frowned upon - is absolutely abhorrent."

He described one of his subjects as a beautiful child both in front of the camera and as a person and said: "It is important that someone pays homage to that and places her in a state of grace."

He said: "I think holding those things, by photography or painting, is a moral obligation."

Following Ovenden's conviction, the Tate removed more than 30 prints from its online collection.

Last week, the Attorney General revealed that the number of sentences flagged to his office for being too lenient had surged to a record high in 2012.

The number of possibly unduly lenient sentences (ULS) drawn to the Attorney General's attention in 2012 rose to 435, from 377 in 2011 and 342 in 2010.

As a result 62 offenders saw an increase in their sentence.

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