NOTTS companies have been warned they could be fined thousands of pounds if they employ illegal workers.

A Post investigation has revealed that companies in the area have been fined more than £250,000 in the past three years for employing foreign workers who didn't have the right to work in this country.

The UK Border Agency has doled out the punishments to 29 companies in Notts and eastern Derbyshire.

Many of the firms on the list were independent restaurants and hand car washes, but in one case international firm Domino's Pizza was caught out.

The figures, supplied to the Post under the Freedom of Information Act, show that firms in Notts were fined £217,500 in 2010-12 for using illegal migrant workers. A further £45,000 in fines were handed out to companies in Long Eaton, Heanor and Alfreton.

The company that received the largest amount in fines was the Chutney restaurant in Maid Marian Way, which was ordered to pay £25,000.

The Domino's outlet caught out by a UK Border Agency check was in Commercial Road, Bulwell. It was fined £5,000 following the incident in 2011.

A Domino's spokesman said: "Our Bulwell store is run by an experienced and competent franchisee, who carried out all the required checks on the worker concerned. We are satisfied that he took all reasonable steps and adhered to the correct procedure.

"It just goes to show that even the most experienced operator can fall victim to those who are determined to breach the system."

Nejla Celik of the New Carlton Road Fish Bar, in Carlton, which was fined £5,000, said: "The fine was for my Turkish fiance. He wasn't working here, but the authorities thought he was and fined us anyway."

A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "Every year we impose penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper checks on staff.

"If you do not carry out these checks and are found employing an illegal worker, we will take tough action against you. You will be fined up to £10,000 for each illegal worker, or face up to two years in prison."

A MAN has admitted destroying windows and doors at a flat after a seven-hour stand-off with police last December.

Police and firefighters were called to Ribblesdale Court, Chilwell, at around 11am on Saturday, December 29, because of concerns about the behaviour and safety of a man in a second-floor flat.

They asked all the other people in the block to leave their homes while detectives spoke to him. He was eventually arrested at around 5.45pm.

Today, Matthew Wilkinson, 36, previously of Ribblesdale Court, admitted criminal damage to windows and doors belonging to Broxtowe Council and threatening to a police officer he would destroy or damage property at Ribblesdale Court.

The full background of what exactly what happened when be outlined in detail when he is sentenced on April 23.

Nottingham Crown Court did hear that he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and the incident was a "cry for help".

Matthew Smith, in mitigation, said: "He hasn't offended for a long period of time."

He added: "I understand he has lost the tenancy where this occurred."

Wilkinson, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, was bailed to live at his sister's address in Murdon Way, Beeston.

He must attend an appointment with the Probation Service and his GP before he is sentenced.

Judge John Milmo QC said he was not in a position to sentence him today.
 
However, he indicated to a probation officer in court that he was minded to make a community order when he deals with Wilkinson.

At the time of the incident,  people living in nearby flats spoke to the Post.

Andy James, 37, had said: "I was just sat having my breakfast when I heard all the sirens arriving in the area.

"I looked out of my window to see what was going off and there were police everywhere.

"I couldn't see too much as it was dark. But I could see they had all surrounded the next block to where I live. No one seemed to know what was going off."

Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, had also seen police arrive.

He said: "It just happened so quick. I was just about to go out when lots of police suddenly arrived.

"We hear quite a few sirens at times but this was like nothing I've seen before."

Police cordoned off the block while they investigated the incident. It remained cordoned off on the Saturday evening following the arrest.

Two officers stood guard on a footpath leading up to the block of flats.

Several police cars were in a car park outside.

Police were still at the scene the following day, with the second floor, where the incident happened, cordoned off.

Officers, including forensics, could be seen in the flat.

Glass in a window on the second floor had been smashed, while a curtain was hanging out.

People living in the block had been taken to a nearby community centre while the situation was resolved.

They were allowed back in on the Saturday night.

A MAN suffered a fractured skull when he was assaulted outside a family pub.

The 36-year-old was attacked by five people in the car park of the Goose at Gamston, at about 5.20pm on Saturday.

The victim was with his wife. They were leaving the pub when the attack happened.

Police said a group of three men and two women, who had also been in the pub, in Ambleside , walked past and jeered at the couple.

When the victim confronted them, he was punched, pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked. He suffered serious injuries, including a fractured skull.

John Sanders, 65, of Tollerton, a regular visitor to the pub, which serves meals and welcomes families, said: "It's a nice pub and attracts a lot of families, not a rough sort of crowd at all. It's awful to think someone has come here and then been injured for no apparent reason – I'm shocked."

Father-of-one Andrew Young, 46, of Gamston, was also shocked that someone had been injured. "It's not nice to think about something like that happening here," he said, "especially with it happening so early in the evening. Gamston is normally such a quiet area that something like this would probably worry quite a lot of people."

One man in the group who attacked the man has a mixed-race appearance and is 6ft, in his early 20s and of a medium build. He was wearing a baseball cap with an emblem on the front and a dark jacket with red and orange flashes under the arms.

The other two men are both white with short hair. One is of medium build and wore a dark jacket and a grey top.

The other is stocky build and about 6ft. He was wearing a black hooded gilet with a lighter top underneath.

The two women are both white with blonde hair. One was wearing a multi-coloured bobble hat and a black jacket.

The other, whose hair was tied back, was wearing a fur-lined jacket.

They are believed to have fled in a dark-coloured hatchback.

A spokesman for the pub, owned by Greene King, said: "Providing a safe environment for our customers is of paramount importance to us and the pub has enjoyed a trouble-free past. We are extremely upset about what happened outside of the pub and are doing everything we can to help the police investigate the incident."

Anyone who has information about the attack or thinks they may know the identity of the group should contact Notts Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

MORE people in Nottingham are being admitted to hospital due to depression than anywhere else in the East Midlands, according to new figures.

A total of 45.1 per 100,000 residents in the city were admitted to hospital for depression between 2009-10 and 2011-12.

The rate was the highest in the East Midlands, and higher than the regional average of 31.8 and the national average of 32.1. But Notts as a whole was below both averages, with 29.8 per 100,000 residents.

The new figures from the Community Mental Health Profiles 2013, released by Public Health England, also show that the city had the highest number of people being admitted to hospital for schizophrenia and other delusional disorders in the East Midlands – with 116 per 100,000 residents. This is more than double that of Notts (45) and nationally (57).

Beth Murphy, information manager for mental health charity Mind, said: "These new figures from the Department of Health suggest hospital admission rates for mental health problems such as depression and schizophrenia are higher in Nottingham than elsewhere in the East Midlands, and higher than the national average for England.

"Although these statistics may suggest that the prevalence of mental health problems is higher in this area, it is important to be aware that there could be other explanations, such as more people asking for help, or more hospital beds available.

"In the last few years, the Mind Infoline has received an increasing number of calls from people all across England and Wales whose mental health had been affected by worries about money, unemployment and particularly about cuts to welfare support such as benefits; and these could well be as a result of the current economic climate. With the fall-out of the recession still with us, we'd urge anyone struggling with their mental health to seek support and medical advice."

Community Mental Health Profiles 2013 detail mental health information for local authorities across England.

The figures for Nottingham also show 178 per 100,000 residents were admitted to hospital for Alzheimer's and other related dementia – second to Derbyshire, but above the East Midlands' average of 129, and more than double the national average of 80.

Nottingham also had a suicide rate of 66 per 100,000 – the second lowest in the East Midlands, behind Rutland (33), and around two-thirds that of Derby (92) and a third of Leicester (173). The national average was 100, with the area of Notts outside the city having an average of 96 per 100,000 people.

A spokeswoman for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in the city and county, said: "Anyone can suffer from poor mental health and one in four of us will be affected by a mental illness at some point in our lifetime."

MORE than a quarter of 19-year-olds in Nottingham last year did not have at least five GCSEs.

This marks a huge improvement from five years previously – when barely half of people of the same age had those grades – but the city is still rooted at the bottom of that particular table.

Figures from the Department for Education reveal that at the end of the 2011-12 academic year, 2,064 19-year-olds in Nottingham – 74 per cent of those of that age – had the minimum of qualifications.

In Notts, 79 per cent had reached that level. The national average was 84 per cent.

Nottingham's figures have been cause for concern in the past, particularly because many big companies look at the figures when deciding which cities to invest in. But George Cowcher, chief executive of Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce, insisted things were looking better.

He said: "Attainment levels are up on where they were five years ago, which is very encouraging and is testament to the good work that the city council and its partners have done in this regard.

"Tackling the skills issue is a major priority, as workforce capability is one of the main things that employers look at when planning to invest, expand and create jobs, so it's crucial to build on the progress made so far."

Councillor David Mellen, city council portfolio holder for children's services, said it was vital young people were encouraged to take re-sits if they failed their GCSEs.

He said: "It's encouraging that the figures are getting better. We have some great colleges where young people can have another go at getting their five GCSEs if possible. It is important that young people who don't get their five first time around are given another chance.

"However we know there are other qualification routes they can also take."

The council says its figures tend to be lower because it has a number of deprived areas, while more affluent places like West Bridgford are just outside its border. But in the county, where there are more affluent parts, the figures still pale in comparison to the national average. Last year, there were 7,320 19-year-olds who had the five GCSEs, 79 per cent of those of that age. Councillor Philip Owen, chairman of the children and young people's committee at Notts County Council, said he was keen for this to improve. He said: "We have to improve. We need to see more people of this age reaching this level. We are targeting being able to do this over five years."

The council is equally keen to work with colleges and schools to encourage young people to re-take their exams if they fail them first time around. But some people have questioned whether the qualifications are necessary.

Former Eastwood Comprehensive pupil Rachel Meakin, of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, went on to do a hairdressing apprenticeship after picking up mostly Ds in her GCSEs.

She said: "I believe that it is possible to be successful without getting five GCSEs between A* and C. I have always found the vocational pathway is more suited to me, which is why I chose to do that. And I don't regret it."

A MAN was hit over the head with an iron bar during a burglary.

Detectives in Rainworth are appealing for witnesses to the attack in South Avenue.

Two men broke into the house at about 9.40pm on Thursday

The home owner, a 56-year-old man, was upstairs with his wife and three-year-old granddaughter.

When he went downstairs to confront the intruders, they hit him over the head with a metal object, believed to be an iron bar.

The men, both white, are thought to be in their early 20s and wore dark clothing.

They fled after the attack .

The victim was taken to King's Mill Hospital for treatment.

PC John Wilson, of Newark CID, said: "Although this appears to be an isolated incident, we would advise residents to remain vigilant."

Anyone with any information about this attack should contact PC Wilson on 101 extension 809 7736.

A NOTTS firm which helps stop classrooms getting messy is set for a tidy future after a buyout deal.

Monarch Education Furniture, at Tollerton, makes and sells a range of trays, trolleys and cupboards used by schools and colleges.

It has also developed a specialist storage product for laptop computers, known as the LapCabby, which it exports all over the world

The firm was set up 25 years ago by husband and wife team Andy and Sandra Harrhy.

It's now being passed on to the next generation, with Mr and Mrs Harrhy selling the business to their daughter Emma Neath and co-director Stuart Hopkin.

Monarch employs 80 people, but planned expansion means staff numbers look set to rise to 100 by the summer.

Last year, the company's turnover reached £8.2 million, but joint managing directors Stuart and Emma believe it could top £9.5 million this year.

Their optimism is driven by a series of major contract wins with UK local authorities and further international growth for the LapCabby, which is already sold in Australia, Italy, France, Germany and Sweden. It has taken on a specialist international business development manager to drive sales in the US, the Middle East and Asia of a product that lets schools store and charge laptops safely.

The buyout deal will see Stuart and Emma hold an equal 40 per cent stake while Andy Harrhy retains 20 per cent of the business.

It has been made possible by a finance deal organised by HSBC which supported the buyout and the firm's working capital and business banking facilities.

Stuart Hopkin said: "Andy and Sandra had been looking for an exit from the business and Emma and I were confident that we could take it on but we didn't want to go down the private equity route, which would have significantly altered the culture of the company.

"HSBC were able to structure a package that was attractive to all parties and provides us with the finance to complete the acquisition and to support the business going forward."

Stuart has been with Monarch for 10 years, originally working on the accountancy side of the business but more recently also within operations, while Emma started in the sales office and is focused on sales and marketing. Stuart added: "This business is very much growing organically and we are not in a position where we have to chase growth. Demand for our products is at an all-time high and we are forecasting a very busy summer period.

"Combined with the continued internationalisation of the LapCabby product, the business is in a very robust position."

Monarch's directors worked with HSBC senior international commercial manager Paul Lynam, senior invoice finance business development manager Rob Horton and senior international business manager Jenny Parkes on the deal.

Nick Holloway, HSBC's Nottinghamshire area commercial director, said: "This management team know the business inside out and has clear plans of where they want to take Monarch. These attributes always contribute to the success of an MBO, so we were pleased to be able to support the transaction and welcome Monarch as a new customer to HSBC."

BURGLARS made off with jewellery and electrical goods from a home in Sandiacre.

Thieves broke into the house in Orchard Way through a rear door and escaped with items including a 42-inch Sony Bravia TV, a 32-inch Samsung TV, a satellite television receiver box, a DVD player, a games console and a leather bag with a silver Radley charm.

They also took a 9ct gold bangle, a 9ct solid gold patterned bangle, a pearl necklace, a gold "L" pendant for a necklace and a 9ct gold engagement ring with three diamonds in a horseshoe shape, as well as a 9ct gold ring with four claw-set blue sapphires with four diamonds, and a silver cigarette case with the initials "J W M" engraved on it.

Detective Constable Rob Nicholls , said: "Many of the items are of huge sentimental value to the owner and cannot be replaced.

"Some of them are distinctive, especially the 'L' pendant and the cigarette case, so I'd urge people to be on the lookout for anyone trying to sell items of this description."

The burglary happened between 9.30am on Sunday, March 24, and 12.45pm on Monday, March 25. If you can help, ring 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

A FORMER Mansfield man has been found guilty of manslaughter after six of his children died in a house fire.

Mick and Mairead Philpott were convicted by jurors at Nottingham Crown Court of the unlawful killing of the six siblings in the blaze at the family home in Victory Road, Derby, on May 11 last year.

Family friend Paul Mosley was also found guilty of the same offence at Nottingham Crown Court.

The blaze was part of a "plan" Mick Philpott had to frame his former mistress Lisa Willis, 29, who had left the family home three months earlier.

Mr Philpott lived in Mansfield in the 1990s and his links to Notts were made apparent throughout the trial.

Before Mr Philpott moved to Derby, he was in a relationship with a Nottingham woman who described him in court as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character.

During the trial, the mother-of-two, Heather Kehoe, said Philpott beat her when their second child, Aiden, was born a boy and not a girl.

She told how she met him while she was still a 14-year-old schoolgirl and he was 37, at a fishing lake near her home in Rainworth.

She told the court that within a year, they had started a sexual relationship and at one time they were caught in the bedroom of the Mansfield home he shared with his then wife, Pamela Lomax.

Following this, Philpott left their home and took Miss Kehoe with him to Derby. By now she was 16 and had gone with Philpott against the wishes of her parents.

She said: "It was March 16, 1996. I remember the date because it is two weeks and two days after my 16th birthday."

By September of that year, Miss Kehoe had fallen pregnant with their first child, Mikey.

She said: "I felt very homesick. I told him [Philpott] I wanted to go home and he just flipped. He told me it wasn't happening. He put the fear of God into me. I felt I did not have any options but to stay."

Following the house fire, Mikey Philpott, half-brother of the six children killed in the blaze, who was living with his godfather in Clipstone, started fundraising to support the family and help pay for the funerals of the six children.

When the appeal was launched, he said: "I want justice for the kids."

As the jury delivered its verdicts yesterday, Philpott stood in the dock, staring straight ahead with his hands clasped in front of him.

As the court heard guilty verdicts in respect of his wife, he shook his head and she looked down at the floor and fought back tears, while clutching a tissue in both her hands.

Mosley showed no emotion as he heard the verdicts.

As the judge rose for a short break after emotional outbursts in the packed public gallery, Philpott, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and pink tie, crossed himself and was heard to say: "It's not over yet."

People in the public gallery erupted in tears and shouts as the verdicts came in.

In a statement read on the steps of Nottingham Crown Court by Detective Constable Maria Needs, Mick Philpott's sister Dawn Bestwick, said: "My family and I have attended court each and every day and listened objectively to all the evidence in this trial to understand what happened to our six beautiful children on May 11, 2012.

"Our presence in court was to find out the truth. Following this verdict, we, the family of Michael Philpott, believe justice has been served."

Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died on the morning of the fire on May 11, 2012.

Mrs Philpott's son from a previous relationship, 13-year-old Duwayne, died later in hospital.

Mick and Mairead Philpott and Mosley will be sentenced later today.