![Jilted boyfriend threatned to kill his ex and showed her photo of him with gun, Leicester court told]()
This is Leicestershire --
A jilted boyfriend reinforced a chilling threat to kill his ex-girlfriend, by showing her this photograph of him holding a gun.
Ram Odedra (29) could not accept the breakdown of their four-month relationship.
Obsessed, he bombarded the frightened victim with nearly 200 missed calls and text messages, Leicester Crown Court was told.
When she took one of his calls, he told her he had an air rifle.
He said: "I swear on my mum's life I'll kill you with it.
"I'm going to shoot you."
After seeing him sentenced to 20 months imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court, the victim said: "It should have been longer.
"I was really scared and thought I was going to be killed."
The 29-year-old single mum, who lives in Leicester, said after the case: "I was constantly checking my doors and windows.
"As soon as I saw the picture of him holding the gun, I went straight to the police.
"He was charming when I first met him in a restaurant in Belgrave, but he became so jealous.
"He didn't even like me talking to my friends."
Odedra, of no fixed address, admitted making a threat to kill on November 15 last year.
He also pleaded guilty to harassment, between October and November.
A two-year restraining order now forbids any contact, or going to the street where she lives.
The court heard that on November 13, the victim dropped the defendant's belongings at his mother and sister's house. He then rang, saying: "You shouldn't have gone there.
"That's the biggest mistake you've made in your life."
Texts and a barrage of missed calls followed, said Victoria Rose, prosecuting.
On November 14 the victim had 51 missed calls. In two hours, on November 15, she had 70 missed calls.
Between November 16 and 17, she received 73 missed calls and 27 text messages.
They were generally pestering in tone, but not overtly threatening, apart from one when he said it was "the biggest mistake of her life".
When he called threatening to shoot her, she became terrified on seeing his new profile photos on Blackberry Messenger showing him holding a black air rifle.
Miss Rose said: "She was scared for her life and believed he would carry out the threat.
"Her sister was with her and recorded some of what he said, and was also extremely scared."
The defendant was arrested and an air rifle recovered.
Sentencing, Judge Philip Head, told Odedra: "You were, and are, a jealous, obsessive and controlling person.
"On October 25, you received a harassment warning, which should have been a shot across your bow.
"She was understandably scared for her life.
"You were under the influence of drink and drugs when you made the chilling threats.
"You thought she would believe you and you achieved your intention.
"It was a deliberate culmination of a campaign of harassment."
Linda Hinds, mitigating, said: "He had suffered the failure of a business and his marriage before this relationship.
"He recognises what he has done is wrong, the relationship is over and he should have accepted it. He's extremely sorry for what he's done and realises how much he must have frightened the complainant."
Odedra was clean of drugs and intended to remain drink and drug-free in future, she said.
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This is Leicestershire -- Vandals scrawled graffiti 'tags' on a crucifix in the grounds of a city church. The figure outside the Church of St Andrews, in Jarrom Street, near Leicester Royal Infirmary, was targeted this week. Two designs – TW3 and, possibly, LGC3 – were written on the figure in what appeared to be black marker pen. The incident is believed to have happened between Monday and Wednesday. Canon Barry Naylor, who discovered the damage, said: "It has caused a great deal of upset. "There is a 4ft fence with spiked railings they would have to get over and then the crucifix itself is quite all. So they have gone to some effort to do this. "I am hoping that someone will be able to tell the police who did this. "I have told the police that, if possible, I would like to speak to this person or people and explain to them how much they have upset people. "Another reason people here are so upset is that when I first came to the church the figure on the cross was old and damaged and people in the church raised money to buy a new one. "It has become quite a focal point and people will sometimes stop in the street and make the sign of the cross in front of it." Pc Tahir Mahmood, who is investigating, said: "This is obviously a distressing crime for the church, who are saddened that someone would do this to their property. "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area between Monday and Wednesday and saw either anyone acting suspiciously or loitering in the area to get in touch. "I would also like to speak to anyone who has heard anything about the incident, whether it be from, friends or heard rumours. "Even the smallest piece of information may help." Contact Pc Mahmood on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
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This is Leicestershire -- Treat yourself and help people living in some of the world's poorest countries at the same time. Gemma Peplow recommends a visit to the city's Fairtrade Shop
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This is Leicestershire -- by Laura Elvin The number of mobile phone thefts in Leicester has reduced after police targeted gangs stealing from customers in bars and clubs. City patrols were stepped up after professional thieves stole 18 phones from people at licensed premises in the final weekend of January, and 16, 24 and 13 phones in the first three weekends of February. Officers said they would normally expect five such thefts at city centre venues in the course of a weekend. This weekend, the number fell to four thefts after extra officers went into venues to speak to revellers about how to protect their phones, monitored CCTV and carried out plain-clothed patrols. Pc TJ Mavani, of the city's licensing unit, off Belgrave Gate, said: "The significant reduction this weekend is a great success, but we want to continue to drive those figures down. "We have worked in partnership with City Watch and local security staff, who have been great in helping us to identify suspects and potential thieves, and we have carried out extensive work with local bars and clubs to raise awareness of the potential for phone thefts. "However we still want members of the public to help us and would urge people to think about the security of their belongings. "It may only seem like a petty crime to some people, but phones aren't cheap and many of them hold personal and sentimental information and images, so it really is upsetting for the victims when they are taken." He urged people to keep their phone in a zipped bag or pocket, and keep it on them at all times. The officer also suggested switching on phones' built-in GPS tracking system to help officers locate it if it is stolen. The Leicester Mercury reported on Friday that criminal gangs travelling to Leicester from other parts of the country were being blamed for the spike in mobile phone thefts from clubs and bars. "We'll continue to do all we can to bring those responsible to justice and I hope that all the action we have taken so far will reassure members of the public," Pc Mavani added. "Not only that but I hope it sends a clear message to anyone thinking about stealing a phone, that we are out there and you will be caught." So far six people - most from the West Midlands and Northampton areas - have been arrested in connection with incidents of theft. All have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Graham Collins, from Citywatch, a Neighbourhood Watch-type group for businesses, said venues and the police had been working together to bring about a reduction in thefts. He added: "The phone owners must do their bit to prevent any thefts and not leave the phones on show."
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This is Leicestershire -- A 31-year-old man has denied murdering his wife. Yacoub Rezai, of Hand Avenue, Braunstone, Leicester, pleaded not guilty at Leicester Crown Court to the murder of 23-year-old mother-of-two Raihana Rezayi on November 13. Her body was discovered at 2.20pm on that day in a house in Hand Avenue. The brief hearing today was translated into Farsi by an interpreter, who stood in the dock next to Rezai. Judge Michael Pert QC remanded Rezai back into custody until for his trial which is due to start in May.
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This is Leicestershire -- Leicester is to launch an ambitious bid to become the UK's next City of Culture. The city is hoping its multi-cultural history, track record of staging events such as Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, Diwali celebrations and the Caribbean Carnival will help it secure the title in 2017. Its bid will also draw on the recent high-profile discovery of Richard III's bones under a council car park. Bid organisers hope the role could lead to an influx of tourists generating millions of pounds of wealth for the city. They say Leicester's time as the UK City of Culture would feature a large programme of festivals and participatory events. Leicester is bidding for the title for 2017 as this is when the 2013 UK City of Culture and inaugural holder – Derry in Northern Ireland – will hand over the honour. So far rivals include Plymouth and Aberdeen, who have already announced their bids. It is rumoured that Nottingham may also enter the competition. Leicester City Council is pledging £50,000 to cover the initial stage of the bid. In May or June cities will be short listed and, should Leicester progress, a similar amount would be needed to complete the bid. Businesses and sponsors are being sought to provide financial backing. Chief executive of Curve theatre Fiona Allan, who is a member of the consortium planning the city's bid, said: "There would be so many benefits if we won. Firstly, I hope people would feel pride in this city. "To win would show we are confident in our cultural offer. There would be a significant media and tourism knock on. "We have all the ingredients already. "Leicester is one of the UK's most culturally diverse and interesting cities. "From our Roman history, medieval growth, industrial prosperity to today welcoming people from all over the world to our diverse and vibrant communities, Leicester has rich stories to tell. The king in the car park is just one of many. "While cultural organisations here like Curve already enjoy a global reputation, with significant investment having been made in Leicester's cultural infrastructure and the development of our creative industries, the time is ripe for Leicester to show its creativity to the world. "It would be like the cultural equivalent of the Rugby World Cup." Ms Allan said a program of proposed events would be drawn up. She said: "Leicester is known as a city of festivals and there would be a large programme of festivals. We would want some real showcase events. In recent years, new events – including Indian Summer, Leicester Fringe, Tales of the Riverside and the Green Light Festival – have appeared on the city's calendar alongside established favourites such as the Caribbean Carnival, Diwali, the Spark Children's Arts Festival and the comedy festival. "I think people outside Leicester will be surprised by what we can offer," said Ms Allan. "We need to change the narrative of the city which has been a bit negative in the past. We really underplay ourselves.""There would also be participatory activities to get as many people as possible involved. "We don't want to announce too many of our good ideas to rival cities. I am sure we will see more bids coming out of the cupboard in the next few weeks." Cities vying for the title have until April 30 to submit a bid for consideration by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Leicester's bid will focus on its lively arts scene and highlight the breadth of cultural activity taking place, with workshops in museums and galleries, stand-up comedy in city centre pubs, international stars taking to the stage at Curve, and a Bollywood blockbuster – Mad, Madder, Maddest 2 – set to have its world premiere in the city in June. Chief executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Martin Traynor, is also a consortium member. He was part of a Leicester delegation to Derry last year when the bid was being touted. He said: "We are convinced this is something Leicester could do very well. We already have a rich multi-cultural offering. "We have suffered from a low international and national profile but that can change. "Richard III is already changing that and becoming UK City of Culture would be another springboard with massive potential impacts. "Leisure and tourism is worth £1.4 billion per annum to the city and county. If we could increase that by just one per cent that would be £1.4 million and could create hundreds of jobs." City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who is leading the consortium, added: "Becoming UK City of Culture would bring huge benefits to Leicester, giving us an opportunity to highlight the city's history and reinforce its identity, while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy." A city council spokeswoman said: "In 2008, Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture – a title that business leaders estimate was worth an extra £200 million to the city's economy. "Although the UK City of Culture competition is on a much smaller scale, it's clear that the opportunities for the winner are there to be seized." The winner will be announced by the Government in November.
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This is Leicestershire -- Concern is growing for 18-year-old Monira Mubaarak, of Leicester, who has been reported missing by her family. Monira, of Harewood Road, hasn't been seen by family and friends since Tuesday, February 19, and was reported missing to police after she failed to return home from college. She was last seen by friends in the Downing Drive area of Leicester. Monira is of medium build and about 5ft 6in tall. She was wearing a black hijab, a long black dress, a red knee length coat and a dark coloured shoulder bag when she was last seen. Pc Suzanne Lenton, of the City Missing from Home Team, said: "This is really out of character for Monira, she hasn't gone missing before and both police and her family are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare "Through our enquiries so far we believe that Morina was in the Evington Road area at about 12.15pm and then was near to Leicester Train Station at about 12.30pm on the day she went missing, Tuesday, February 19. "We are urging witnesses to come forward and hope that anyone with information, or Monira herself, will call to let us know she is okay." Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the Missing from Home Team on 101 and quote incident number LEP-250213-0337. Alternatively, contact the Missing Peoples Charity on 116000. Calls to 101 cost 15p for the entire call from both mobile phones and land lines.
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