TRIAL OF MAN ACCUSED OF CONTROLLING PROSTITUTE ADJOURNED WISBECH: A man accused of controlling a prostitute and trafficking for sexual exploitation has been bailed after the jury in the court case was discharged. A spokesman for Cambridge Crown Cou

TRIAL OF MAN ACCUSED OF CONTROLLING PROSTITUTE ADJOURNED

WISBECH: A man accused of controlling a prostitute and trafficking for sexual exploitation has been bailed after the jury in the court case was discharged.

A spokesman for Cambridge Crown Court confirmed that the trial of Latvian Peteris

Kalva was halted after three-and-a-half days.

Kalva, of Cherry Road, allegedly moved the woman around in his car, took over her bank account, arranged clients for her, and offered her to a man as a birthday present.

The alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

Judge Jonathan Haworth was forced to call a halt to case on Friday on grounds which cannot legally be disclosed.

It is expected that a new trial date will be announced for later in the year with a new jury sworn in to hear the case.

Kalva, 38, who is married with a pregnant wife, was later granted court bail following a private hearing.

He denies three charges, alleged to have been committed between July 24 and August 26 last year. They are:

• Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation.

• Causing or inciting prostitution for gain.

• Controlling prostitution for gain.

POLICE SEIZE £1MILLION OF ASSETS FROM CRIMINALS

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: More than £1 million worth of assets have been seized from criminals in Cambridgeshire in the last financial year.

The seizure is a result of 65 successful confiscation orders by the force, which saw assets valued at £1,342,875.44 seized from criminals.

Officers were able to seize the assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act which stops criminals profiting from their crime.

Under the Act the more assets taken from criminals, the bigger the share police receive from the national pot which will be put back into tackling crime.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Vanterpool, who leads the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "This financial year has been extremely successful in terms of confiscation orders with the force over achieving in all the targets set by the government.

"This money has come from tackling serious crimes such as drugs, people trafficking and sexual exploitation.

"To target serious and organised criminals we need to make it difficult for them to profit from their crimes and that's exactly what this act does."

PARENTS FACE CHILDCARE PROBLEMS IS STRIKE ACTION GOES AHEAD

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Parents in Fenland and the rest of Cambridgeshire are facing childcare problems if strike action causes schools to close later this month.

The National Union of Teachers has called a one-day walk out over pay for Thursday, April 24 - the first national strike in 22 years.

Up to 2,500 teachers across Cambridgeshire are set to stay away from work, which may force primary and secondary schools with high NUT memberships to close.

BOWLING ALLEY COULD BE STRUCK OFF LEISURE COMPLEX

WISBECH: A new leisure stadium being built on the outskirts of town may go ahead without its promised bowling alley.

Developers told last night's annual meeting of the town's chamber of commerce that a decision to include a bowling alley on the Cromwell Road site was on hold.

However chamber members were assured the six screen cinema was still on target, and that firms such as Wickes, Next and Pets at Home were all committed to the project.

Three restaurants - including Frankie and Bennies- are also in place, the meeting was told.

RECYCLING COMPANY TO HOLD OPEN DAY TO RAISE RECYCLING AWARENESS

WIMBLINGTON: A plastics recycling company hoping to move to a bigger site says it will hold an open day to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and to show what is involved in the process.

Plasgran Ltd is hoping to move to the former Baker Young nursery site in Manea, Road, Wimblington, where it already has storage facilities.

The Manea Road site was bought in 2006 by managing director Carl Waters and Fenland District Council gave approval for change of use of the existing nursery building to storage for recycling materials and a forklift.

Plasgran is currently located on a site in Hook Lane, Wimblington. There are offices, warehousing and a large yard but the company needs bigger premises to expand and have improved facilities.

VILLAGE WITHOUT LOCAL SHOP AFTER ONLY STORE CLOSED

TYDD ST GILES: Residents are experiencing their first week without a local shop as their only convenience store closed at the weekend.

Village Stores in Tydd St Giles served its last customers on Saturday and finished trading for good.

Sheila Long, chairman of Tydd St Giles Parish Council, said: "Everyone is already missing the service greatly.

"It was a huge disappointment and a shock to find out the shop was closing. The village wants a shop but unfortunately not everybody uses its services, and it suffered as a result.

MYTHS ABOUT GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS TACKLED IN NEW FILM

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Myths and misconceptions about Gypsies and travellers are set to be tackled by a new film.

The film has been commissioned by the East of England Assembly and comes as consultation continues about new sites in the East.

The film will be posted on the assembly website and will highlight some of the problems facing the communities.

Last month Communities minister Iain Wright announced grants of £6.9m to establish new pitches in the region.

Three new sites will be set up in Norfolk and one in Cambridgeshire.

Refurbishments and extensions will be carried out at several existing sites in Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk.