A DRIVER died in a police chase when he crashed into a tree at more than 60mph, an inquest heard.

The Vauxhall Corsa that Dale Wilson, of Aspley, was driving careered off the road in Moor Lane, in Calverton, on November 14 last year.

The 26-year-old died on the way to hospital.

In the moments leading up to his death, he was being pursued by three police cars, because the stolen car he was driving was of a similar description to one that had been involved in a burglary that same night.

Police initially followed Mr Wilson without switching on their blue lights, but when he rapidly accelerated – breaking the speed limit along Main Street, Calverton – police began to chase with lights flashing.

An inquest yesterday into the death of the father-of-two heard that the car hit the tree while travelling faster than 60mph. It was then struck by one of the police vehicles.

The court heard that independent investigations concluded that this second collision happened at a speed of between five and 10mph.

One of the officers following Mr Wilson was PC Ian Stirk.

Giving evidence, he said he had followed the Corsa down Oxton Street and then into Main Street, Calverton, where Mr Wilson suddenly accelerated. He said: "If you can imagine going along at 50, the best way I can describe it is the driver rammed his foot down on the accelerator – at which point I shouted 'we've got a failure to stop' and illuminated my lights and siren."

After the crash, officers had to drag Mr Wilson from the car because the engine had caught fire. A postmortem examination concluded that he died of multiple injuries.

Notts Coroner Mairin Casey recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She said: "It was an accident, clearly, and because of the manner he was driving in he put himself at risk.

"I hope the family can take some solace from the fact that Dale did not suffer; he would have been knocked unconscious from his injuries very quickly."

Toxicology tests on Mr Wilson's blood found that he had not been drinking or taking drugs in the build-up to the crash.

After the inquest, members of his family said they were not convinced by some of the evidence they had heard.

His father, Dale Wilson, 55, said: "If you look at the damage that was caused to the side of the car, there is no way that collision happened at between five and ten miles per hour. I just don't believe it."

Mr Wilson had two children with his partner of nine years, Kelly Lloyd, 25, Paris, aged eight, and five-year-old Rhys.

Ms Lloyd said: "He was a good dad. I don't believe some of the things I have heard today and we are still going to fight for answers.

"But he was a great person who will never be forgotten."

ELEVEN men have been sentenced for their parts in a professional plot to steal and sell cars burgled from homes across Notts.

Police say the gang, a mix of burglars and stolen car handlers, were responsible for the biggest car key burglary operation ever uncovered in the country.

As revealed in the Post yesterday, thieves would target high-value vehicles, mostly 4x4s, by breaking into the owners' houses and stealing the keys to avoid having to bypass security systems.

The thefts of about 60 cars with a value of over £1m were attributed to the operation.

In some cases, the criminals would be in and out of a house and driving away the vehicle inside 30 seconds.

Many break-ins took place at night while the owners were in bed upstairs.

Cars including Audi Q7s, and Range Rover and BMW 4x4 models were among the vehicles targeted.

Some of the stolen cars were then used to commit other crimes, while some ended up being shipped abroad to Africa where their values tripled.

At Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, 11 men sat in the dock together as they were sentenced for roles at various levels from stealing the cars to acting as channels between thieves and exporters, to making false number plates.

In sentencing the group, Judge Jonathan Teare said they operated as a "professional criminal enterprise".

Three other men had already been sentenced for their roles at earlier hearings.

Judge Teare said: "It must be emphasised that these were serious crimes.

"Those who have their houses burgled feel that their privacy has been invaded and their property soiled.

"Often they feel insecure, afraid that the same people may return and repeat their crime. Children are frightened to go to bed."

After the case, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit – Serious Organised Crime described how they unpicked the operation.

Detective Sergeant Harry Rai said: "It's the first case nationally in terms of this scale. A number of forces got together to tackle the problem."

After identifying patterns, detectives set up Operation Pacer to target the criminals.

They ran surveillance operations, monitored social networks and other internet traffic, used forensics and data from the vehicles' own tracking devices to gather evidence.

They found some of the vehicles were being shipped to South Africa, with some traced to Tanzania, and arrested the group last November.

A dozen cars were returned to their owners.

In Notts, the burglaries happened in Awsworth, Beeston, Bestwood, Bramcote, Calverton, Eastwood, Gotham, Hucknall, Kimberley, Mansfield, Nuthall, Ravenshead, Ruddington, Toton, West Bridgford and Wollaton.

Senior investigating officer Superintendent Lecky Grewal, said: "These sentences are just reward for a meticulous investigation by officers from three different forces, working together to bring this criminal gang to justice."

A CONVICTED rapist is back in jail after he admitted using a mobile phone to take films up women's skirts.

Trevor Jeffcoate admitted outraging public decency after police found the videos when he was arrested for a bag theft in the city.

Jeffcoate, 49, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court last month and was back in court for sentencing yesterday.

Judge Michael Stokes, QC, told him: "It seems to me that this case shows the only way to slow down your offending and stop it is to send you to prison."

The court heard police spotted Jeffcoate's phone fall to the ground as they arrested him for stealing a bag in the Old Market Square in July.

Five film clips were later found on the phone but police were unable to identify the victims.

Gareth Gimson, prosecuting, said: "It would seem he followed women in various locations and would film video clips up the ladies' skirts."

None of the victims would even have been aware of Jeffcoate's filming, the court heard.

Jeffcoate, of Sneinton Boulevard, has previous convictions for rape, an attempted sex offence and another separate one of outraging public decency – after, he again took pictures up women's skirts as they shopped at Asda, in Hyson Green, in 2008.

A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made against him in September 2008, banning him having a camera in public or engaging in employment without informing Notts Police's Dangerous Persons Management Unit. In 1986, Jeffcoate received nine years for the rape, as well as burglary and attempted burglary, the court was told.

He was sentenced for outraging public decency in Asda in February 2008.

Judge Stokes sentenced him to 40 months in jail yesterday.

He handed Jeffcoate 12 months for outraging public decency; nine months consecutively for theft; six months consecutively for another theft; three months consecutively for a common assault on a security guard who tackled him at the time; and a further nine months concurrently for a third theft.

He had admitted all the charges.

A suspended sentence of ten months given to him last year for breaching the Sexual Offences Prevention Order – by signing with an employment agency and not declaring his convictions on paperwork – was also activated and added on to the total.

Judge Stokes told him the latest outraging public decency charge showed Jeffcoate's sexual problems were "deeply entrenched".

He added: "I gave you a real chance last year when I didn't send you to prison for breaching your court order and making false representation to obtain employment."

Jeffcoate is due to remain on the Sexual Offences Prevention Order for life.

In mitigation, Adrian Langdale told the court Jeffcoate had had a difficult childhood and suffered abuse as a young man.

He said there had been no sharing or distribution of the films and Jeffcoate had been trying hard to find work to keep himself occupied.

A GROUP which tackles youth unemployment is celebrating after receiving a prestigious national award which could see up to 50 more apprenticeships created in Notts.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Futures, based in Sherwood Rise, has become one of only a handful of organisations across the region to achieve Apprentice Agency Status.

The accreditation is from the National Apprenticeships Service and recognises high standards provided to businesses and to young people.

It also means employers working with the Futures Apprenticeship Agency – the section of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Futures which deals with apprenticeships – can now get funding from the Government for taking on apprentices. Stephen Radford, 18, is one of the success stories of Futures.

He started his apprenticeship with IT company Layer 3 at the Nottingham Science Park, in University Boulevard, in July.

Stephen, of Sherwood, said: "I am enjoying my apprenticeship so much – I much prefer learning in a working environment, rather than in a classroom.

"I spoke to a careers adviser from Futures about my options and they helped me to make the right career decision for me. They helped me to find out what my options were and with all the research before I made any decisions.

"I have no regrets about becoming an apprentice, you gain hands-on experience and it's the best way to learn.

"Also, I will come out with good qualifications and there are no expensive debts like with a university course."

The Futures Apprenticeship Agency was set up last year to give young people the chance to develop practical skills, achieve nationally recognised qualifications and earn while they learn.

Matt Smart, apprenticeships manager at Futures, said getting the new status could have a wider impact on the local economy.

He said: "We're delighted to receive the award, which is recognition of all the hard work we have put in to providing young people with more opportunities and local companies with apprentices to boost their businesses.

"However, the award could also have wider implications for the local economy too.

"The fact that employers and training providers who work with us can receive Government money can only be positive for firms in the current difficult financial climate.

Apprenticeships are principally aimed at 16-19-year-olds, but there are opportunities available for 19-24-year-olds and over-24-year-olds.

Businesses or young people who would like more information about the agency can visit www.futuresnn.co.uk, e-mail: askfuturesnn.co.uk or call 0115 910 1597.

LEE Hughes was just THREE minutes away from leaving Notts County.

The striker's loan move to Port Vale fell through because the League Two club did not complete the paperwork until 5:03pm so the Football League rejected it, even though it was just past the 5pm deadline.

The Magpies were ready to let him leave Meadow Lane on loan until January – and have even signed Scotland international Chris Iwelumo on loan from Watford until the new year to replace him.

But Notts boss Keith Curle found out Hughes was on his way back to the club while he was taking training yesterday morning ahead of their League One home game against Swindon Town today.

While Hughes starts a three-game ban, Iwelumo, 34, will make his debut against the Robins and is ready to make a big impact at the club.

"Hopefully I will bring a bit of experience and a few goals," he said.

"We're sitting eighth in the table, we're not so far off it, and hopefully we can kick on and really challenge."

After playing 38 games for Watford in the Championship last season, Iwelumo has been frozen out at Vicarage Road since Gianfranco Zola took charge this season and has played just seven league games.

He admits he would be open to a permanent move to Meadow Lane if his loan switch proves successful.

"I'm here until January 1 and hopefully it can be a positive spell for me and the team and that's something we can talk about closer to the time," he added.

"This is like a breath of fresh air really because the last couple of months have been hard.

"I was out of the frame (at Watford) and I'm like any footballer – I want to be playing.

"I live 30 minutes from here as well so it's fantastic.

"I was travelling to Watford every day from Newcastle-under-Lyme so it was four-and-a-half to five hours in the car every day and I wasn't playing, which I don't think was worth it."

How the day unfolded: Page 39

A 93-YEAR-OLD man has been ordered to stop feeding pigeons after complaints from neighbours.

Edwin Johnson-Flint got into trouble after feeding the birds at his flat in Winchester Court, Sherwood.

Neighbours complained about pigeon droppings on their balconies. One balcony was so contaminated that specialist cleaners had to be brought in.

Nottingham City Homes wrote to Mr Johnson-Flint ten times about the problem, saying he was endangering public health.

He has now been presented with a voluntary acceptable behaviour contract, which he has refused to sign, and ordered to stop feeding the birds.

If he is seen leaving food within a certain area, he risks being given an antisocial behaviour order.

Mr Johnson-Flint says he has agreed to stop feeding the pigeons but still feels victimised.

"They say that if I feed the pigeons again, I am breaking all their rules and regulations," he said. "I have fed them in the past, but not through the window like they say I did.

"It's not just my window that the pigeons land on and yet City Homes are only going after me. I feel victimised."

At a meeting held on Tuesday with Nottingham City Homes and Community Protection – which involves the police and city council – Mr Johnson-Flint promised not to feed the pigeons within the grounds of the high-rise flats, which are on the edge of Woodthorpe Park.

Nottingham City Homes will now send out a copy of the verbal agreement and a map with the boundaries of where Mr Johnson-Flint should not feed the pigeons.

"To me, all animals are God's creatures and I don't understand why they are pursuing this like they are," said Mr Johnson-Flint.

"I've stopped feeding the pigeons off my balcony but I still go to the park and I don't know what harm that is doing.

"It's just a little thing but it's something I enjoy and I feel like I can't do it any more because they will take whatever action against me they want."

Nottingham City Homes, which manages all council houses in the city, is now considering putting up netting.

A spokesman said: "We've repeatedly asked Mr Flint to stop feeding the pigeons but he has continued.

"The problem has become so severe that we are having to consider putting netting up on the outside of Winchester Court to stop the pigeons from landing on the tenants' balconies. That will cost a lot of money and spoil everyone else's enjoyment of the great views and outdoors.

"This man is in his 90s and we have no desire to prosecute him – we just want him to understand that what he is doing is causing a lot of distress to his neighbours and is putting their health at risk. After meeting with him, we hope he understands how serious this is – and we'll be making sure he sticks to his commitment to not feed the birds."

A community protection officer has told Mr Johnson-Flint that if he is caught feeing pigeons elsewhere, such as in the park, he could still face prosecution for littering.

What do you think? Is Nottingham City Homes right? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

HENRI Lansbury may have to be patient and bide his time before being given the chance to pin down a regular starting berth at Nottingham Forest.

Injury problems have meant Lansbury has been limited to just one start and five substitute appearances since his £1million move from Arsenal over the summer.

A troublesome ankle injury when he first arrived at the club hampered his pre-season build-up, while a hamstring pull picked up on duty with England U21s in October further frustrated the former West Ham and Watford loanee.

But his hard work in training in recent weeks has helped Lansbury to get close to full match fitness and he made a positive impact when coming off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday in the 1-0 win on Saturday.

But manager Sean O'Driscoll says that, with competition for places high at the club, Lansbury's opportunity may not come immediately.

"He's somebody that we've been wanting to get into the team, but the players have been creating competition for places and you've got to be fair to them," said O'Driscoll.

"The players who have got the shirts deserve to keep the shirts if they perform; you can't suddenly chop and change."

O'Driscoll, however, has been full of praise at the way the talented 22-year-old midfielder has applied himself as he looks to force his way into the starting XI.

"He's been terrific," added the Reds boss. "He's been training really well for a couple of weeks and he's been back into the squad and getting into games.

"He almost played half a game (against Sheffield Wednesday) due to the injury to Andy Reid and that was a good introduction for him.

"He's done himself no harm coming on, apart from missing the best chance of the game, although he did create it for himself.

"But his attitude has been first class for somebody who could well feature at Wolves today.

"He's been monitored and wearing GPS and heart-rate monitors.

"We have to make sure we get him up to speed and don't push him too early.

"He's a talented boy and at 22 he's going to be a good Forest player for many years to come."

WORD did not filter through to him about a loan deal until shortly after noon on Thursday.

But for Alan Hutton, a chance to get back to roughing up opposition wingers was too good to turn down when Nottingham Forest came asking about his availability.

Five hours later, he had penned a short loan deal into the new year that will see him available for nine matches.

After not tasting a minute of domestic action this season – his five appearances have all been for Scotland – he is relishing his chance against Wolves at Molineux this afternoon.

The 27-year-old is likely to come in at right-back in place of Brendan Moloney and will add even more experience to the back four.

And there are a couple of familiar faces to help him settle into the Reds dressing room straight away.

Andy Reid is a man he played alongside during a loan spell with Sunderland in 2010 and he is close to Jermaine Jenas, after years together with Spurs at White Hart Lane and then at Aston Villa.

Being on the sidelines is not something that sits well with Hutton, who made the move from Rangers to Tottenham for £9million back in 2008.

Since then he has gone north to Aston Villa but in May, Hutton faced injury problems, having to go under the knife after suffering ruptured ankle ligaments.

His boss at Villa Park, Paul Lambert, made it clear as long back ago as September the full-back was free to go out on loan and was not in his plans.

It took until the day of the loan deadline but although it has meant dropping into the Championship for the first time in his career to get first-team action, the Scot is undeterred.

In fact, he is itching for the clock to strike 3pm today in order to help Forest build on last weekend's 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday – and in doing so put himself back on the radar.

A trip to Ipswich follows for Forest on Tuesday night and then they are back in home action against Hull next Saturday.

The more games, the better for Hutton as he looks to show Lambert that he was wrong to overlook his robust talent.

And, by the time his loan expires at the start of January, Hutton hopes to leave the City Ground with the club in the promotion shake-up.

After all, he is a player noted for his defensive steel but also a talent to get forward and attack the right flank.

Forest fans will hope those qualities will be on show in the West Midlands today.

And Hutton said: "I heard about this deal at about 12 (on Thursday) and I was happy about it and decided to go for it.

"It is lovely here and my first impressions of the set-up are very good.

"I am sure over the next few days or so I will speak more with the manager but I cannot wait to get going.

"I know Jermaine Jenas well from Tottenham and then Villa and I had a conversation with him and I was really happy with what he said and that helped with me coming here."

It is just two years ago since Hutton was starring for Spurs in the Champions League under Harry Redknapp, against the likes of Italian giants Inter Milan and Germany's Werder Bremen.

Hutton insists he is still the same player as back then; it is just other factors that have seen him out of the picture after a move to Villa.

"I think I am the same player (as two years ago) but through different circumstances I have not been playing at Villa.

"It is one of those things when a new manager comes in. He wants to change things around so this is a good opportunity for me to come and play games.

"The way they play (the system at Forest) helps me to get forward and their style of play suits my game so I was really pleased to come."

As for extending his deal beyond January 2, Hutton is careful in his answer. But he is adamant this is a deal that should suit both parties.

"Football is a funny game and I want to come here to what I see as a big club that is looking to push forward and do well. Hopefully we can both help each other."

ADLENE Guedioura's spectacular strike heaped misery on his former club as Nottingham Forest claimed an encouraging 2-1 win over struggling Wolves.

The Algerian international was sold by Wolves in the summer, without manager Stale Solbakken even meeting the midfielder following his appointment, before agreeing to sell him to the Reds.

But Guedioura returned to haunt them in emphatic fashion, as his superb second-half strike secured three points for Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll, who had supported Wolves as a boy.

The home side had taken the lead early on through Bjorn Sigardarson, before Billy Sharp conjured up a well taken 16th minute equaliser.

Simon Cox struck a powerful shot that deflected off his own team mate, Sharp, as Forest made a lively start. But it was Lee Camp who had to make the first save of the game as Bakary Sako bent a low free kick around the defensive wall in the second minute.

Kevin Doyle then forced a straightforward save from the Forest keeper with a bouncing volley. While, at the other end, Henri Lansbury looked as though he would get a shooting chance following good work from Cox, but was charged down at the vital moment.

It took only six minutes for Wolves to take the lead, as Forest's defence was caught flat footed, with Sigurdarson given the space in the box to drive home a simple shot into the bottom corner. Jermaine Pennant, the Nottingham born winger, threaded the pass through for Sigardarson, who showed good composure in his finish.

Adlene Guedioura was clearly hungry for a goal against his former club and he connected well with a driven shot from 20-yards, only for it to deflect off Sharp, taking it wide of the target.

And, in the 16th minute, Forest did draw themselves level, following an incisive move of their own. Lansbury struck a delightful first-time pass 30 yards down the centre to send Sharp sprinting clear. The striker drew keeper Carl Ikeme off the line before slotting a low shot beyond him and inside the post.

 Cox almost put Forest ahead within two minutes after cutting in dangerously from the left and bending a shot narrowly the wrong side of the post from just inside the box.

It was developing into an open, end-to-end affair, with Wolves then missing a fine opportunity to restore their advantage as they outnumbered the Forest defence on the break, with Sako firing high and wide when he had options.

Sharp might have done better for Forest after Cox had skipped into the box down the right, before cutting the ball back for his strike-partner, who lifted his shot high over the bar from 12 yards.

Sharp then returned the favour, but the end result was the same, as Cox flashed a shot just wide of the post after Sharp had delivered for him from the right side.

Kevin Doyle was booked when he slid in late and powerfully on Dan Harding, after the Forest man had cleared the ball down the line.

Collins had to produce a goal saving challenge after David Edwards had been picked out by Sako in the centre, with the Forest skipper sliding in to block when it seemed certain the Wolves midfielder would score.

While Camp also had to save smartly as Sigardarson sent another crisp shot towards goal amid a spell of Wolves pressure.

Lansbury joined Doyle in the book after a late, lunging tackle on Sako, which left the Wolves player in an agonised heap. The Forest man then almost scored, ghosting into space in the box following a bustling run from Sharp and seeing a powerful shot deflected around the post.

 The second half began in similar fashion, with Sharp running powerfully at the Wolves defence and eventually feeding Cox, whose shot was well held by the keeper.

But it was Guedioura who was to send a message to his former club by smashing home a spectacular goal to put Forest ahead for the first time in the 57th minute.

Wolves had looked vulnerable at the back, but they should still have been aware of the Algerian international's capability to hit shots from long range. Yet they backed off dangerously as he strode towards goal, giving him the space to hammer the ball beyond Ikeme and into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Guedioura did not  celebrate his goal.

Forest then suffered a significant blow when Cox was badly injured in a challenge with Kevin Foley. The tackle did not seem malicious, but the Forest bench were furious that a foul was not given – and then had to look on as the striker was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Dexter Blackstock.

That came on 65 minutes and, within a few seconds, Forest almost extended their advantage, with Ikeme saving strongly after Sharp had hit a crisp shot.

Doyle was incredibly lucky to stay on the pitch when he kicked the ball away when a foul was awarded against him for a challenge on Ward. But, rather than showing him a second yellow card, referee East merely let him off with a lecture.

After showing plenty of attacking threat in the first half, Wolves looked impotent after the break, as they failed to carve out more than a handful of opportunities. But Forest were sitting deep and defending solidly.

Wolves did force a flurry of late corners, amid six minutes of injury time, but Forest held on for a deserved win.

Wolves: Ikeme, Edwards, Sako, Ward, Johnson, Sigurdarson, Berra, Pennant (Ebanks-Blake 75), Doumbia (Davis 75), Doyle, Foley (Forde 89). Subs: Stearman, Nouble, Batth, De Vries.

Forest: Camp, Hutton, Ward, Collins, Harding, Gillett, Cohen, Guedioura, Lansbury (Moussi 88), Cox (Blackstock 65), Sharp (Moloney 94). Subs: Darlow, McGugan, Coppinger, Ayala.

Referee: Roger East.

NOTTS County ended their long wait for a home league win today.

The Magpies beat Swindon Town 1-0 at Meadow Lane in League One, after going two months without a home victory.

Alan Judge scored the winner in the first half – and it was a super long-range strike from the Irish midfielder, who has now scored four goals this season.

New-signing Chris Iwelumo made his debut for the Magpies, less than 48 hours after moving to Meadow Lane on loan from Watford, and right-back Julian Kelly also started for the first time in eight weeks, following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

They were the only two changes made by Notts from their midweek goal-less draw at Preston North End.

Kelly replaced Carl Regan and joined Dean Leacock, Gary Liddle and Alan Sheehan, a former Swindon player, in defence, in front of goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Iwelumo replaced Yoann Arquin in attack and Judge, Jeff Hughes, captain Neal Bishop, Francois Zoko and Andre Boucaud also all started against the Robins.

Matt Ritchie, who was on loan with the Magpies during their League Two title-winning season, notably started for Swindon.

Notts began well and Iwelumo quickly looked a threat, using his power to hold off a defender on two minutes so a long ball forward by Leacock fell to Judge.

The Irish midfielder swept into the penalty area, cut inside defender Joe Devera and hit a low shot at goal that Swindon goalkeeper Wes Foderingham saved.

Iwelumo then sent Zoko racing into the box with a good flick-on on seven minutes, he cut the ball back from the byline and Bishop smashed it at goal from 12 yards, but it hit Hughes.

The Magpies threatened again on 13 minutes, Sheehan curling a free-kick at goal from the edge of the penalty area that Foderingham parried over the crossbar, and just two minutes later Hughes seized onto a cross from Judge, but Foderingham saved his shot.

Notts continued to put the visitors under pressure as the first half wore on and Devera hacked away a close-range effort from Bishop on 18 minutes and Hughes glanced a header just wide from the subsequent corner.

Having gone so close to scoring, the Magpies then survived two big scares.

A mix-up between Hughes and Kelly gifted Robins' striker Andy Williams a chance on 21 minutes and he drove a low shot at goal that Bialkowski parried wide and just a minute later the Notts No.1 pushed a close-range shot from James Collins onto his right-hand post.

The Magpies quickly hit back and scored to take a 1-0 lead on 27 minutes.

Sheehan hit a long ball forward to Iwelumo, he flicked it to Judge and he thundered a shot inside Foderingham's right-hand post from 25 yards.

Swindon thought they had equalised just minutes later when Collins beat Bialkowski with a close-range header, but he was flagged offside.

Ritchie then dragged a long-range shot wide on 36 minutes and tested Bialkowski with a far better strike from 30 yards on 41 minutes.

Notts came under pressure in the opening minutes of the second half, but they still went close to doubling their lead on 51 minutes as Judge whipped in a cross from the right and Iwelumo directed a header at goal from close range, but Foderingham made a great save to deny him.

Ritchie was looking the Robins' biggest threat and he forced Bialkowski into a good save on 57 minutes, after spinning past Sheehan inside the box and firing a low shot at goal.

Swindon threatened again on 63 minutes as defender Darren Ward headed at goal from point-blank range from a corner, but Bialkowski was there again, and made a great block to stop them equalising.

The visitors created three more chances to level before the end.

Ritchie smashed a shot at goal from 20 yards from a short free-kick routine on 88 minutes that Bialkowski, the Magpies' man of the match, held.

Ritchie tested Bialkowski again from 20 yards on 92 minutes and the Notts goalkeeper then tipped Jay McEveley's looping ball into the box over the bar on 94 minutes.

Bialkowski was not going to be beaten and Notts were not going to be denied victory.

NOTTS: Bialkowski, Kelly (Regan, 82), Leacock, Liddle, Sheehan, Bishop, Boucaud (Arquin, 90+2), J Hughes, Zoko (Labadie, 78), Judge, Iwelumo. Subs: Mitchell, Bencherif, Mahon, Showunmi.

SWINDON: Foderingham, McCormack, Devera, Ward, McEveley, Ritchie, Ferry, Bostock (Hollands, 46), De Vita (Roberts, 69), Williams, Collins (Martin, 54). Subs: Bedwell, Archibald-Henville, Flint, Storey.

ATTENDANCE: 6,383 (815 away).

Notts County secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over promotion rivals Swindon thanks to a terrific solo effort from Alan Judge at a damp Meadow Lane.

The home side started strongly and were inches from opening the scoring in the 19th minute when a curling Alan Sheehan corner was glanced just wide of the far post by Jeff Hughes.

However, Swindon soon started to pile on the pressure and their best chance fell to James Collins after 22 minutes but his effort from Raffaele De Vita's cross was turned on to the post by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

County took the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute when Judge collected the ball and planted a right-foot shot past a static Wes Foderingham in the Swindon goal.

The Magpies could have extended their lead after 54 minutes when new loan signing from Watford Chris Iwelumo rose highest to meet a Judge cross six yards out but Foderingham made a brilliant point-blank save.

However, one goal proved enough for Keith Curle's side to earn their first home win in seven attempts since September 22.

IN 1927, the Wolverhampton-built Sunbeam HP1000 became the first motor car to break the 200mph mark. In the same year, the city was also the first in Britain to install automated traffic lights.

Otherwise, Wolverhampton is not known for much, asides from being voted the fifth worst city in the world in 2009 and for being known as 'the black country', because the region was largely covered in soot following the industrialisation of the area in the 19th century.

The jewel in Wolverhampton's crown has largely always been their football club, whose recent failure to live up to a long proud history in recent years will resonate with a sense of familiarity on this side of the Midlands.

But, for Nottingham Forest fans, there are some notable dates connected with the City, carved indelibly into their memories – and largely because of the domination the West Midlands side has enjoyed over them.

However, the newest of those dates will be November 24, 2012, as they became the latest team to stall Wolves' progress under Stale Solbakken. Because, for the Reds, it was indeed a landmark moment, as they notched a first league win at Molineux in almost 32 years.

Until last weekend, the most notable entry on the calendar was Boxing Day 1980, which was the last time the Reds managed a league victory at Molineux.

More recently, amid seven consecutive league defeats in the West Midlands, the stand out moment had been a 5-1 defeat in August 2008 that provided a humbling, painful warning a fight against the drop was on the horizon for Forest.

This time around, it seems the roles could be in danger of being switched, as Sean O'Driscoll's side emerged from an afternoon of high drama with their own credentials enhanced, while Stolbakken found himself under fire.

It appears the key to success for Forest in Wolverhampton was simply the leadership of a man who was born there.

In truth, this was never as one sided as the hammering Wolves handed out as they powered back into the top flight, beating a Doncaster side managed by O'Driscoll on the final day of the season, in May 2009, in the process.

But it was still a deserved, well-earned success for Forest at a venue where they had previously largely only tasted misery.

More colour was added to the occasion too, by the twists in the plot that came amid an entertaining, absorbing clash.

It was fitting that the decisive moment was provided by the frequently wayward, but occasionally spectacular shooting boots of Adlene Guedioura; a player equally adept at finding the corner of the stand as the corner of the net.

There are few more genuine, friendly characters in the game than the perpetually smiling Algerian. But it said much of the man that the grin actually left his face after netting the spectacular goal that earned Forest three points and heaped more misery on his former employers.

Some players might have been bitter about the manner of their departure, with Guedioura sold by Solbakken before the newly appointed manager had even met the midfielder, early last summer.

But Guedioura could find the silver lining even in the black, saturating rain clouds that hung over Molineux all afternoon, providing a slick sheen to the pitch that played a part in a cracking first half that could have seen the sides go in at the interval with the score at 3-3.

Instead the score was 1-1 after Bjorn Sigurdarson had provided an emphatic finish after a Jermaine Pennant pass had taken a rather fortunate deflection off both Simon Gillett and Guedioura to steer it through the centre of the Forest defence.

There was no questioning the quality of an angled, precise first-time ball from midfielder Henri Lansbury, which proved to be the initial catalyst for Forest's equaliser, splitting the home defence and sending Billy Sharp racing into space.

The quality of the striker's touch was equally impressive, as he firstly controlled, then steadied himself, then dispatched an accurate finish inside the post, beyond the advancing Carl Ikeme.

Sharp and Simon Cox both laid on chances for each other – and both missed the target, albeit by narrow margins. While Cox bent another effort narrowly wide of the post.

At the other end, Danny Collins had to block brilliantly to deny David Edwards, while Lee Camp saved well from Sigardarson, as the remarkable end-to-end action continued.

It felt like it was Forest who always had the greater degree of control, however, and while the decision to drop Cox into a deeper role, on the right, might have seemed negative, it only enhanced their dominance, with the hosts left looking toothless after the break.

Forest's chances were also fewer in number but, when Guedioura let fly with his 25-yard strike, it secured a win that the visitors had more than merited against a side that looked nervous and short of confidence from the moment they had gone behind.

Wolves have now failed to win in their last eight outings. In contrast, it feels as though Forest are finding their feet for the first time, having won five of their last nine games, while drawing three and losing only one, against a Millwall side who have since proved themselves to be one of the division's form teams.

The Lions, in sixth-place, are now only keeping Forest out of the play-off places on goal difference, following their impressive success at Blackburn.

Tomorrow, Forest face an Ipswich side who have lost nine of their last 14 matches and who were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Peterborough at home on Saturday.

Following a weekend where O'Driscoll may have made himself slightly unpopular with large sections of his family who still support Wolves, there are more intriguing twists to the tale in store tomorrow at Portman Road, as Forest not only come up against their former captain, Luke Chambers, but also the man who turned down the chance to manage the club in the summer.

Having seen the backing given to O'Driscoll by the Al Hasawi family, Mick McCarthy may now be regretting the decision to reject their advances back in the summer.

Forest, in contrast, will be increasingly happy with the job being done by O'Driscoll, who could yet prove to be one of Wolverhampton's most significant exports.

CHARITIES, hair salons, a solicitors' firm, a taxi company and a union are among organisations backing the Nottingham Post's domestic violence campaign this month.

The Man Enough campaign was launched after seven domestic violence deaths in Notts over the past two years.

It aims to raise awareness of the help that is out there – and we have set the ambitious target of getting 10,000 people in the county to sign the international White Ribbon pledge, promising not to commit, condone or stand by violence against women and girls.

Today, we are launching the Man Enough workplace challenge – asking businesses across the county to get as many sign-ups as possible between now and Christmas, in a bid to get the message to a wide audience.

So far, 13 charities have accepted the challenge at the Voluntary Action Centre in Mansfield Road, led by the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS), and so have the GMB union, CloudCars eco-taxi firm and solicitors Bhatia Best, as well as independent hair salons Blade Barbers, in Westdale Lane, Mapperley, and Gooseberry Salon, in Woodborough Road, Mapperley.

All have been given information packs with support and advice for customers to read as well as a sheet for people to sign to make their white ribbon pledge.

David Butler, co-owner of the Gooseberry salon, said he would be encouraging customers to sign the pledge against domestic violence.

He said: "Things like this get missed. It's an important thing and it's a big one around this time of year because families spend a lot of time with each other.

"It should be a happy time at Christmas but some people are dreading it."

Geoff Savory, who runs Blade Barbers, in Mapperley, said that in his role as a barber, he spent time talking to a lot of customers who he was sure would get on board.

"I listen to and talk with different types of men from all backgrounds – small children all the way to men who are in their 90s on a daily basis who've got different views of the world," he said.

With a picture of local legend Carl Froch – who is also backing the campaign – on his wall, Geoff is confident he will get people talking about the campaign and understanding more about domestic violence.

Lisa Kaydoo, at Cloud Cars, based at Clarendon Chambers in the city, said drivers would talk to customers about the campaign on taxi journeys.

A victim of domestic violence herself, she said: "It's a passion for me and we're the type of company that's setting a precedent for taxi safety in the city.

"All our drivers are enhanced CRB checked – if there's violence of any kind, whether it's against a man, woman or child, the driver is not considered.

"I feel for these women and men so much. They go through it daily and it's a horrific thing to go through. It needs to be stopped."

Jo Dean, external services director of Nottingham CVS, said: "We are is keen to support the Man Enough Notts campaign and we will be asking our staff, volunteers, tenants and visitors to sign the pledge. Domestic violence is never acceptable. We stand in solidarity with the people whose lives are affected by violence, and we will never ignore or condone it. We will also be encouraging all of Nottingham's charities to join us in supporting the campaign."

Man Enough is being run with Women's Aid, Notts Domestic Violence Forum, Notts Police and is supported by every council in the county.

Sign the pledge at www.man- enough.org or text Man Enough to 81400. Women who need help can call Nottingham's Women's Aid on 0808 800 0340 or visit www.wais.org.uk

Have you been affected by domestic violence and would like to tell your story? Do you want to get involved in the workplace challenge? Call Delia on 0115 905 1959.

WORK has started to combat flooding problems at a brook in East Leake.

British Gypsum volunteers and county council staff are looking to protect the bank sides of the Sheepwash brook, which floods regularly.

East Leake Parish Council chairman Councillor Ron Hetherington said that the work was very necessary as the situation with the brook had become critical.

Several cottages in Brookside in the village have sand banks outside their front doors most of the time to prevent overflowing water from the brook getting in, though this has yet to happen. The brook flooded this week after heavy rain and again at the weekend, when it spilled on to the road.

Mr Hetherington, of Bateman Road, said: "The critical part of the brook, in Brookside, to the south of the Three Horse Shoes pub, was in urgent need of attention. The parish council had been saving money to do something about the situation for at least two years, because whenever there is heavy rainfall it overflows and disrupts the traffic as well as making the public path way very dangerous."

Mr Hetherington said that residents were pleased that British Gypsum had volunteered to clear the brook.

He added: "We are very grateful to British Gypsum because the fear of flooding is unsettling and not something we want residents to constantly be worried about."

The parish council received £30,000 from the county council's local improvement scheme to look at erosion and to de-silt the brook.

Councillor Richard Butler, environment and sustainability committee chairman and head of the local improvement scheme funding panel, said: "Sheepwash Brook is a prominent feature in the village and in recent years the flow of the water had become hindered which led to flooding. The work, which will take three weeks to complete, includes shoring up the bank sides with the same bricks that support other areas of the brook and de-silting it, which will help reduce erosion and allow the brook to flow more easily."

Volunteers are clearing weeds and the top layer of silt and aim to have completed the task by Wednesday. British Gypsum's environment manager, Kirsty Greggs, said the Sheepwash Brook project was one of a number of local community projects involving volunteers from the company.

"This project formed part of our Business Community Engagement Strategy and has involved members of staff working over a number of months clearing the brook of vegetation and silt. Projects like this helped us win the recent Rushcliffe Community Award for larger businesses."

A GROUP has been set up to revive the fortunes of the dilapidated Bingham Manor House.

The Friends of Bingham Manor House aims to come up with restoration plans, which could include a 250-seat community centre.

The group has begun to hold regular meetings to discuss the future of the historic building.

The move follows calls from residents for something to be done to save the 300-year-old building from falling into further disrepair.

The group's eight-strong committee has set up several small steering groups of more than 25 people to look into the restoration project and devise uses for the house, in the Market Place.

Group chairman Geoff Ashton, of Church Street, said: "We are currently an unregistered charity, as the group has only just been set up.

"But the aim is to become a registered charity, for which we need to raise £5,000, and to become a popular membership organisation.

"This is one of our aims at the moment, as well as getting as many volunteers on board as possible. We have formed several working groups to examine the possible uses for the Manor House in detail and we are already looking at potential opportunities for funding.

"We are fortunate to have a wide range of professional skills available to us through volunteers."

The committee has agreed a draft constitution and other administrative matters and considered the current state of the building, which is in need of extensive repairs before it can be opened.

It once housed an antiques shop but has been standing empty for many years.

Mr Ashton added: "A range of ideas have been put forward already, such as the house being used as a tourist centre, a place for children from local schools to practise music and drama, and for a 250-seat community hall to be built on to the back of the house. We have also discussed the idea of a heritage room to keep the heritage of the building alive."

Alan Harvey, vice-chairman of the group, added: "We have come a long way in a very short time and although all of the decisions in relation to the Manor House may not be directly within our control at present, we have already started to build positive relationships with the owner, the business community and those able to offer professional services.

"I am impressed with the community spirit which this project has engendered.

"There is a lot of work to do but the committee is taking a very positive approach to moving matters forward."

The group also plans to make a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £1.5m to restore the building, and will be looking to gain new members at their stalls which will be held at local events such as the Bingham Christmas market on Friday, December 7.

It has also now launched a website – www.binghammanorhouse.org.

The site includes features on the house as well as photographs and details of the managing group.

A VANDAL who broke a window by throwing a tin of beans at it in Watnall are being hunted by police.

Officers said someone went into the back garden of a home in Chilton Drive during the day on Friday and emptied the contents of a rubbish bin.

The bean tin was then thrown at a window, breaking the outer pane of a double-glazed pane.

Anyone who saw the culprit or thinks they know who was responsible is asked to call Notts Police on 101, quoting incident 000699-23112012, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.

MANSFIELD District Council is hoping to extend its garden waste collection service into neighbouring parts of Newark and Sherwood.

Leaflets are being sent to homes in Blidworth, Rainworth, Clipstone, Edwinstowe, Ollerton, Boughton, Bilsthorpe, Southwell and Farnsfield, as part of a consultation to find out how many households would be interested in joining a scheme.

The council aims to recoup its cost by charging people £30 a year for the service, which would run all year – every two weeks from March to November and monthly during December to February.

EMERGENCY crews were called out to nine cars and a van which were allegedly set on fire in Hucknall.

All of the fires happened in roads around Polperro Way in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The fire service received three calls – to Common Lane at 1am, Tennyson Court at 1.30am and Bolingey Way at 1.40am – and the other six incidents were dealt with while emergency services were at the scene.

One victim in Common Lane, who asked not to be named, said his car had been set alight near the rear number plate.

He said: "The first I knew of it was the policeman outside putting the fire out with a fire extinguisher.

"I reckon it's caused about £500 to £600 of damage. Until the car is fixed, it will have to be off the road. I'm shocked."

Another resident of Common Lane said yesterday: "There's still a smell of burning plastic lingering in the air. It's not very pleasant."

Benjamin Brooks, 19, of Tudor Court, Hucknall, has been charged with ten counts of arson in connection with the incidents. He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court today.

DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are set to interview a Nottingham couple who may have more information about the case, according to reports.

Alan and Cindy Thompson are due to be asked about ex-soldier Raymond Hewlitt, who is thought to have been staying 30 miles away from Praia da Luz, Portugal, when Madeleine disappeared in May 2007.

According to a national newspaper, Scotland Yard detectives want to speak to the couple, who Mr Hewlitt befriended during a holiday and who allegedly claimed that gypsies had approached him, asking to buy his children.

Mr Hewlitt, who died of throat cancer in 2010, told the couple that he refused to sell one of his six children to "gypsy tourists".

The Nottingham couple only discovered Hewlitt's criminal background – he was imprisoned three times for attacks on young girls – when they returned from holiday.

Officers from Scotland Yard are said to be investigating the movements of Mr Hewlitt in Portugal in May 2007, when Madeleine was on holiday with her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire.

Scotland Yard declined to comment.