A 46-year-old prisoner, who was found "unresponsive in his cell" has died in hospital.

Stephen Williams, who was on remand at HMP Nottingham for theft and failing to surrender to custody, was pronounced dead at around 1.15pm on Tuesday October 14.

He had been rushed to hospital after paramedics attended to him at the category B prison.

A prison spokesman said: "As with all deaths in custody, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation."

 The death is not thought to be suspicious.

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the matter on behalf of Her Majesty's Coroner.

"A file will be passed to the Coroner in due course.

"It is standard protocol that all deaths in HM Prisons are referred to the Police."

ALCOHOL abuse costs the health service in Nottinghamshire more than £55 million a year, it has been revealed.

High numbers of accident and emergency admissions and inpatient appointments are being blamed on booze, with drinking leading to more people having long-term health conditions and turning up at the city's hospitals.

Experts say the problem in Nottingham is down to deprivation, high numbers of students and the city being seen as a party and drinking destination.

The figures - which were measured across the 2012/13 financial year by charity Alcohol Concern - show 20,147 hospital visits during the year were due to alcohol abuse, costing £55.1 million in total.

Nick Tegerdine, executive director of the Alcohol Problems Advisory Service, said the issue in Nottingham is "absolutely massive" and social services cuts were making the problem worse.

"It always has been a problem in Nottingham," he said. "It's associated with a number of things; deprivation, high numbers of young people, particularly students, and traditionally Nottingham has always been a party town. People travel here from a long way away to have a good night out and inevitably alcohol is a part of that."

He added: "The services that used to be there to deal with a social problem aren't there any more thanks to the cuts. People are left with having to go to hospital."

In Nottingham, around 1,600 of the admissions to the emergency department were made by 50 'frequent flyers' who have problems with alcohol and regularly turn up to hospital.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital - has taken action, employing a nurse specialist to deal with the patients and find better ways for them to be helped.

The high volume service user nurse specialist Alan Davis, who has recently had his role extended until next May, said: "The ultimate purpose is to improve the health and wellbeing of patients - it's about improving the medical, psychiatric help and social wellbeing of patients."

Mr Davis, who signposts people to community and charity services more applicable and cheaper, added: " We sit down, discuss why they use the service, what they need to change and what they actually want to do.

"A lot of people don't know there's other services available to them. It's about appropriate use of services. We know from research the best recovery happens in the community."

Police are still searching for a missing Bramcote man.

Baljeev Johal (pictured) was last seen at a family wedding in Warwickshire on Sunday October 5.

His family and police have become increasingly worried about the 24-year-old, saying his disappearance is "completely out of character".

Baljeev had been attending a wedding at the Sports Connexion, in Leamington Road, Ryton on Dunsmore, before he went missing.

He had been wearing a slim white shirt with a black jacket and trousers.

The city's historic Lace Market will feature in a new film adaptation of cult 1960s novel Adrift in Soho.

The iconic city streets were chosen for their uncanny resemblance to 1950s Soho which is the central location of Colin Wilson's semi-autobiographical book.

Burning Films production company will begin filming next month and say that they are eager to use local actors and technicians and have already sought expertise from Nottingham-based Wilson bibliographer, Colin Stanley.

The filmmakers will be using Free Cinema techniques popularised in the 1950s by directors such as Tony Richardson, Lindsay Anderson and Ken Russell.

Free Cinema uses everyday subject matter and normal people within tight budgets through a documentary style.

Director Pablo Behrens said: "I stumbled across the Spanish version of the novel in a bookshop in Montevideo, Uruguay.

"I was mesmerised by the title and the surreal characters in it.

"I knew I needed to do an adaptation then and there.

"The Outsider is Wilson's most famous novel, but I know contemporary Soho, and found Adrift in Soho a fantastic period piece to develop into a film."

The complete manuscripts of Colin Wilson are housed at the University of Nottingham which also influenced the producers decision to film here as a "fitting tribute".

Melissa Gueneau from The Broadway cinema was not surprised the filmmakers chose Nottingham as a filming location.

She said: "It is a very vibrant scene for independent films and filmmakers at the moment.

"The whole county is amazing for filming - you can pretty much find all types of location.

"Whether it is the picturesque Lace Market or the green spaces of Sherwood, there are such diverse types of places in a very close proximity to each other.

"You don't have to travel miles.

A spokesman from Experience Nottinghamshire said: "Film tourism is growing in popularity, and it's great to hear another film is being made using Nottingham as its backdrop.

"When people see locations on screen, they're often inspired to visit them firsthand, and we're looking forward to seeing the Lace Market feature as a set in this new production."

Taxi driver Gurpal Singh has been jailed for seven years for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old and stealing her SIM card.

He touched her intimately and performed a sexual act on himself in his taxi in the early hours of November 1 last year.

The 34-year-old, of Prestwood Drive in Aspley, was jailed for seven years for sexual assault by penetration and given nine months, to run consecutively, for theft.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Singh had also stolen from other customers - taking cards from young people in his taxi.

He admitted those thefts and received nine month concurrent prison sentences on each.

Judge James Sampson told him on Wednesday, October 15, he had sexually assaulted the woman, who cannot be identified, when she was alone at night, away from home and heavily under the influence of alcohol.

"You took advantage of her vulnerability, when it was in fact your job and your duty to take her home," she said.

"She had the right to be safe and secure in your taxi and she had the right to be able to trust you. This was a serious and significant abuse of trust."

The woman's taxi journey should have taken 20 minutes from Nottingham but lasted more than one hour, after Singh sexually assaulted her and pinched her phone.

The judge said he had put the victim at risk of infection and she was particularly vulnerable and entirely defenceless.

But Singh received ten percent credit for pleading guilty on the first day of his trial.

References were also put forward to the judge from his family and friends.

The judge said: "You have no previous convictions. You are a family man.

"You are thought of highly within the community.

"You have shown at least some remorse by entering a guilty plea, albeit very late in the day."

A proceeds of crime hearing was adjourned for mention at court on February 13.

Shoppers in Korea received a shock whilst browsing a The North Face store.

Unsuspecting customers tested their survival instincts when the floor below them suddenly started moving away from underneath them.

Racks of clothing unexpectedly began rising to the ceiling and the floor started to shift, leaving customers to hang onto the rock-climbing walls – or fall into a padded pit.

Some customers were petrified whilst others were confused. You can see the reactions and the full video below…

AFTER 35 years of bringing joy to children at the Ilkeston Charter Fair, Keith Spurdin still gets a thrill visiting the town - come rain or shine.

"We are holding out for some better weather but whatever comes, this still feels like home," said the Super Jets operator on the first night of the annual event.

Keith was joined by stall holders and fairground attractions from across the country to welcome the families of Ilkeston as the streets became filled with the smell of candy floss and the sound of children pleading with mums and dads for a go on all the rides.

His ride - giving young ones a go in a toy plane emblazoned with cartoon characters - sat among bumper cars, fun houses and some twisting and turning attractions definitely for the stronger stomach.

Keith said: "There is something for everyone. They are a great bunch of people in Ilkeston so I am sure they will enjoy it all!

There is also a chance to taste some traditional fair food.

Leela Holland has just turned 18 and for the first time has taken over her mum's doughnut stall on one of the main strips of the fair in South Street.

She said: "We have been coming here for years and I love being part of it as my mum has passed the stall down the generations!"

The family-run business had stiff competition, with candy floss stalls, toffee apple stands and burger bars on every corner.

But Leela was confident her tasty treats would sell.

"We are really optimistic for the week, just smell these doughnuts!

"But regardless, it is great to see the families out and about having such a great time."

The Ilkeston Charter Fair is one of the oldest and largest street fairs in Europe - celebrating its 762nd birthday this week.

At the official opening on Thursday the Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, will ring the bell and read fromt he town's original 1252 Charter in front of Ilkeston Town Hall to celebrate the history, as well as the fun of the fair.

And local businesses benefit too.

Shift manager at The Charter pub, Sam Cotterill, said the venue was packed out by thirsty punters.

"We always have a lot of visitors coming in over the week," he said.

"But we give longer breaks to staff so everyone can go out, have a burger, have a go on a ride and have a great time."

And for five-year-old Izzy Buchanon, it was all about the rides and her chance to be a Disney princess.

"I love the ferris wheel with all the pictures of the princesses on," she said.

"My favourite is Cinderella. I love coming to the fair and getting to ride on it."

The Ilkeston Charter Fair will be open between noon and 11pm Thursday and between 10am and 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

BOTH lanes of the A52 are closed after a serious crash on Wednesday evening.

Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Police were called to the scene at around 8pm on the stretch of the road between its junctions with the A46 at Saxondale and the A1 at Barrowby.

The Highways Agency said multiple vehicles had been involved in the incident and the road was expected to be closed until at least 2am on Thursday morning. 

FIREFIGHTERS from West Bridgford and Newark have put out a building fire in Bingham.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service were called shortly after 8pm on Wednesday to the fire on Carnarvon Place.

The storage area on the ground floor of a three story building was alight.

Breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras were used, along with two hose reels.

Firefighters left the scene at around 8.45pm. 

THE family of a schoolboy killed in a road crash in Greece are preparing to face the man allegedly responsible after the Prime Minister intervened in their campaign for justice.

Lydia and Chris Leek were devastated when nine-year-old Jamie was hit by a motorbike while on holiday in Zante in 2012.

An inquest held in May this year concluded his death was unlawful – but the Greek authorities had not prosecuted anyone in connection with the incident.

Now the motorcyclist alleged to be responsible is to appear in court, after the desperate couple contacted David Cameron to see if he could help.

Lydia, of Thistledown Road in Clifton, said: "After the inquest verdict, we realised something needed to be done. I felt let down that no one had been brought to court for what happened.

"I didn't know whether David Cameron would get involved or not, or whether it was something he could push forward, but we thought it was worth a try."

The couple contacted Mr Cameron through their MP Lillian Greenwood and were "overwhelmed" when they received a letter back last week.

Lydia, 35, added: "I cried when I read his reply. To know that the case is going to go to court is a relief – we're not left in limbo anymore.

"We believe this has all come from him making enquiries – our lawyer seemed to think we probably wouldn't have a court date if it wasn't for the fact the Prime Minister intervened."

Spiridon Koklascorr , charged with involuntary manslaughter, will appear before three judges on May 12 next year. The couple don't know whether he has entered a plea, and probably won't find out until the hearing.

Lydia and Chris say they are planning to attend it.

"It's going to be very difficult," said Lydia.

"We've not been back to Zante since it happened, so if they hold the case on the island it will be hard to go back there. But it's something I need to do."

The family were just two days into their holiday on June 5, 2012, when Jamie died. Tragically it was also his ninth birthday.

The Highbank Primary School pupil was struck by a Suzuki Hayabusa sports bike while crossing the road to go to a supermarket.

Dad Chris, 34, said: "For the past two years this has all been open ended, which has been really hard.

"We were very shocked when we read the reply from David Cameron and we're really glad we wrote to him.

"We feel like this could be the start of seeing justice being done."

In the letter to the Leek family, Mr Cameron, whose son Ivan had cerebral palsy and epilepsy and died aged six in 2009, wrote: "From my own experience I know that the pain of losing a son is something no parent should bear.

"I am very sorry to hear that the slow pace of the judicial system in Greece has made this even harder and I have looked into what can be done to help. Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in Zykanthos have now made enquiries with the courts and, exceptionally, have been informed that a trial date has now been set."

The Leek family's lawyer, Costas Andrea, said: "After the family received the letter I asked my Greek lawyer to look into it and he confirmed that a date had been set and that it appeared it was because of what the Prime Minister had done."

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office said: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have and continue to offer the family consular support as we would in any case."

Galleries of Justice The Galleries of Justice claims to be one of the most haunted locations in the country. Its gruesome past means that many people believe there are still tormented souls lingering around the museum. The Galleries became a court in 1375 and a prison in 1449. It was the only place in Britain where you could be tried, convicted and sentenced and some executions took place at the entrance of the building. The museum is said to be very active and many people over the years have heard screams, knocks and doors slamming.

Wollaton Hall The Elizabethan mansion situated in the heart of Nottingham is said to be haunted by Lady Middleton. She was paralysed by a fall and now apparently roams the rear of the building and Room 19 in particular.

Clifton Hall This 52-room Grade I listed mansion is perched on top of a cliff overlooking the River Trent. It was originally home to the Clifton family in the 13th century and is believed to have been built to aid defence in the area. Businessman Anwar Rashid bought the hall in 2006 but gave it up after eight months of ghostly happenings. Mr Rashid and his wife heard knocks on the wall, and bloodspots were found on his 18-month-old baby's quilt.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn Unable to handle the pressure of running the pub, a former landlord took his own life and is said to now haunt the inn. The caves running underneath the pub are apparently haunted by a four-year-old child. As well as this, the ghost of a highwayman is suspected of popping in every now and then.

Trent Bridge The apparent ghost of a suicide victim can be seen looking over the edge of the bridge, before fading from view. Adding to this, some have reported seeing people leap into the water from the bridge – vanishing before they hit the water. A transparent jogger has also been spotted running across the bridge.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Built in 1189, the inn is said to be the oldest pub in England and is reputedly home to spectral voices and phantom noises. A model galleon thick with dust hangs from the ceiling of the Rock Lounge – no one dares clean it because the last three people who did are said to have died mysteriously afterwards.

Mapperley Hospital The former hospital closed in 1994 and now houses Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust. Since closing, workers have reported hearing their names being called by an unknown voice and seeing the ghost of a woman walking down corridors.

Nottingham CastleRoger Mortimer was held in a cell in the castle before being dragged away to his execution in 1330. He can often be heard pacing around his former cell and his lover, Queen Isabella has been heard screaming. If you visit the castle and manage to spot the Countess of Nottingham, be warned – she reportedly only appears to people who will die within a year.

British Transport Police Station The toilets of the British Transport Police Station are said to be haunted by a man. In 1977, an officer who was working alone at night heard a door slam. When he went to investigate he discovered a set of wet footsteps leading to the toilets. He followed the footsteps but found the room empty. Thirty years later another officer saw a man walk into the toilets. He followed it but once again discovered an empty room.

The City of Caves The caves were used as bomb shelters during the Second World War and a few people have reported hearing the sound of explosions overhead. There is also said to be an upset woman in Victorian clothing darting around the caves.

Do you have any ghostly stories from Nottingham? We'd love to heard them! Let us know in the comments below...

EIGHT students learnt how to drive buses in a varsity-style race between Nottingham's two universities.

Tally, Tom, Ismail and Katie from The University of Nottingham and Yasmin, Josh, Joshua and Chiedza from Nottingham Trent University also won a year's free travel on Nottingham City Transport for their efforts.

They took to Langar air field for a race, where the students drove the buses through slaloms, took speed trials and reverse parked four NCT buses worth £200,000 each.

And the teams will see their faces on the side of some buses after winning a competition to form part of an advertising campaign.

By the end of the day, The University of Nottingham team won by a narrow margin of two points and were awarded Student Bus Driver Training Races Team Champions of the Year.

ACTRESS Samantha Morton is to meet Nottinghamshire Police at the end of the month after claiming she had been abused as a child.

The 37-year-old former West Bridgford School pupil spoke out last month and said two men jointly abused her when she was 13.

Although the Minority Report actress says she reported the incident to both Notts Police and social services, the force says it has no record of sexual abuse.

The Bafta-winning actress spent much of her childhood in care homes run at the time by Nottinghamshire County Council. She said that news of the 1,400 children sexually exploited in Rotherham sparked her decision to come forward.

Nottinghamshire Police is carrying out an investigation – Operation Daybreak – to look into historic claims of sexual and physical abuse at five former children's homes from the late 1960s until 2000.

POLICE are investigating a burglary at a bank in Bingham.

Raiders forced entry through the front door of the Lloyds Bank in Eaton Place at about 3.10am on Thursday morning.

A cash machine was targeted by the thieves and some cash was taken but no further details have yet been released.

Police have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact them on 101 quoting incident 64 of 16 October 2014, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Suspected drug supplier Andrew Dosiuk was executed as someone stood over him and fired a gun as he lay in bed, a jury heard.

The 33-year-old was allegedly shot in a "contract killing" in his Arnold home on November 11 last year.

All three men accused of his murder knew each other and were members of the same Mansfield gym, their trial at Nottingham Crown Court has been told.

Michael Furniss, 50, of no fixed address; Stuart Hall, 23, of Seely Avenue, Calverton; and James Stacey, 30, of Forest Road, Mansfield, all deny the killing.

Mechanic Stacey was allegedly being put under pressure by Mr Dosiuk to repay a substantial drug debt, estimated to be £7,000, when he was shot.

Furniss was recruited as the gunman, say prosecutors.

Hall was effectively the middle man between Furniss and Stacey.

Furniss and Hall had allegedly driven in search of  Mr Dosiuk on November 8 last year but he was at Alton Towers.

Three days later Furniss is said to have left work after his nightshift at 6.30am and driven home to Calverton in his black Rover 75.

He called Hall at 6.49am, which prosecutors said was a "prelude" to Furniss collecting Hall, as both men travelled to Arnold to carry out the murder.

"The prosecution say both men were involved in the killing which took place," said prosecutor David Herbert QC on October 16.

There is no cell site evidence to show where their phones were being used.

Furniss' Rover was seen at 7.14am and 7.23am, when it is alleged Mr Dosiuk was killed.

"One or both of them entered Andrew Dosiuk's home, in Laneham Avenue, and shot him three times in his bedroom," explained Mr Herbert.

"The first two shots were probably fired when Andrew Dosiuk was still in bed.

"One of them acquired a key to the house in which he was shot. They were able to let themselves out and locked the door behind them.

"They returned to Calverton in the Rover. Hall was dropped off at his girlfriend's address and was immediately in contact with James Stacey."

Mr Herbert claimed that particular contact was essentially for Hall to let him know words to the effect "the job had been done".

 The trial continues.