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Live Reporting

Philippa Taylor

All times stated are UK

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  1. Suffolk Live signing off

    Today has seen the closure of one of the longest child sex abuse investigations ever carried out by Suffolk Police.

    Former teacher Gerard Singer, 69, was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of abusing former pupils at St George's School, which was based in Norfolk and then Suffolk between 1978 and 1981.

    He'll be sentenced at a later date.

    You can scroll down to get more on this, and the other stories making the news across the county.

  2. School abuse victim: 'It's important people do come forward'

    Gary, one of the victims of Gerard Singer, said since he was sexually abused he had found it hard to trust people.

    "We can only learn from this. It's important people do come forward," he said. 

  3. 'Dangerous' drugs taken during robbery

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    A yellow sports bag taken from a man who was robbed in Leiston yesterday evening, contained prescription medication that could be dangerous if taken by anyone it's not prescribed for, say police.

    The 36-year-old was walking along an alleyway next to the playing field at the back of St Margaret's Crescent at around 18:40 when the robbery took place.

    As well a quantity of cash, the bag contained more than 200 tablets used to treat a variety of disorders. 

  4. School abuse victim on convictions: 'I feel believed'

    Nic Rigby

    BBC News

    One of the victims of sex abuse in Norfolk and Suffolk has been speaking after his ex-teacher Gerard Singer was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court.

    Gary, now 48, was a pupil at St George's School and said he was abused when he was 11 years old.

    "The main thing is that I feel believed," he said.

    "I can still picture the room and the smells in incredible detail."

  5. Crash victims had 'significant' levels of alcohol in their blood, inquest hears

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    Two young men who died when their car crashed and burst into flames in Frostenden last year, had "significant" levels of alcohol in their blood, an inquest in Bury St Edmunds has heard.    

    Primrose Lane Frostenden

    A police investigation also concluded that their BMW had been travelling at well over the 60mph speed limit when it went out of control and struck several trees in Primrose Lane in the early hours of 12 November.

    Driver Henry Hall, 26, of Clay Cottage Lane, Uggeshall, was twice over the legal drink-drive limit for alcohol in his blood.

    The second man who died was support worker Rowan Draper, 25, of Victoria Road, Oulton Broad.

    The inquest's verdict was that both men died as a result of being involved in a single vehicle accident in which the car caught fire.

  6. Doctor who died in head-on collision 'probably fell asleep' inquest hears

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    A doctor who died in a head-on collision probably fell asleep as he drove to his Ixworth home from a night shift at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, an inquest has heard.    

    Dr Ronak Patel's VW Golf collided head-on with a lorry on the A1088 at Honington shortly before 09:00 on 3 August last year.

    The inquest at Bury St Edmunds heard a police investigation ruled out mechanical defects and road conditions as possible causes.

    Dr Patel, a trainee anaesthetist who'd finished the last of three night shifts, had been talking to his wife using a hands-free mobile phone shortly before the impact, and the couple had been singing to help him stay awake.

  7. Overnight weather: Largely dry with a small risk of showers

    Julie Reinger

    BBC Look East weather

    There'll be sunny spells and showers to end the day, some of these showers heavy and possibly thundery.

    Tonight will be largely dry with a very small risk of showers and the winds easing to a light west to south-westerly. Temperatures are expected to fall to around 13C (55F).

    Overnight weather map

    There'll be sunshine and more showers on Tuesday and these could be slow-moving, torrential and thundery. Top temperature: 20C (68F).

    Get more on the forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.

  8. Ipswich Town: Mings return 'unlikely'

    Brenner Woolley

    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has scotched speculation that Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings could be set for a loan move back to the club.

    Tyrone Mings

    Rumours circulated last week that the 23-year-old might be set for a temporary switch to Portman Road, to help him improve his fitness after ten months out of action with a serious knee injury.

    "Taking one [a left-back] on loan when Jonas Knudsen really was excellent last year would be counter-productive. Also, Myles Kenlock was excellent in the last two games of the season. So it's unlikely that one."

  9. Sudbury Cricket Club, Half way Report

    About My Area

    For the Sudbury players and supporters watching live Talbot action this weekend it will probably go down as one of the most memorable.   

    Batsman walking from pitch
  10. Ipswich Town: A 'fresh start' for Cameron Stewart

    Brenner Woolley

    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Forgotten winger Cameron Stewart could have a chance of finally making his league debut for Ipswich Town two years after joining the club.

    Cameron Stewart

    The 25-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Doncaster, has made just two appearances for Ipswich to date, both in the FA Cup.

    McCarthy said: "He's come back fit, which to be honest is the first time. You can see he's got ability. It's a fresh start for him and if he makes the most of it it'll be great, I'll be delighted."

  11. Speedway: Mildenhall still hoping to stage Cradley home tie

    Brenner Woolley

    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Mildenhall Fen Tigers are working hard to re-arrange last month's home meeting against Cradley which the Suffolk club controversially postponed in a row over a guest rider.

    Mildenhall Speedway

    Club adviser James Easter has been speaking to BBC Suffolk ahead of tonight's meeting between the two teams in the West Midlands.

    "We've had meetings with the Speedway Control Board, the BSPA, various promoters and officials and we're fairly close to a result. Let's hope that's not only of benefit to both clubs but, more importantly, speedway in general."

  12. Speedway: Mildenhall hoping a change of attitude means a change of fortune

    Brenner Woolley

    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Mildenhall Fen Tigers head to Cradley Heathens in the National League tonight, still looking for their first away win of the season.

    Mildenhall Speedway

    Adviser James Easter believes things are improving: "In the next month I think you'll find a totally different attitude in the club. The riders have got to start believing in themselves and they'll start getting results.

    "We've got to make people fearful of us when we go places and not creep out of the dressing room waiting to be slaughtered. 

    "We're going to get some pride back into this club and make sure we get some results." 

  13. Why is the Royal Mint bringing out a new £1 coin?

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    We told you earlier that the introduction of a new £1 coin next year means Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Councils will need to change their pay and display parking machines so that they recognise the new coin.

    But why is the coin being changed? The Royal Mint says:

    • The current £1 coin, first issued in 1983, is one of the oldest British coins in circulation
    • It's become increasingly vulnerable to counterfeiting - roughly one in 30 in circulation is now counterfeit

    What do you think? Do you like the new coin? You can get in touch with us via email, or post a message on our Facebook page.

    New £1 coin
    Reverse of £1 coin
  14. New £1 coin means councils will have to replace pay and display parking machines

    Vikki Irwin

    BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

    Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Councils are going to have to change their pay-and-display parking machines sooner than they'd originally planned - because a new £1 coin which comes into circulation next year isn't recognised by the current machines.

    Pay and display machine

    Both councils had planned to replace them over the next three years, to spread the cost estimated at £500,000, but the Royal Mint has forced them to speed up their plans.

  15. Lowestoft headteacher supports idea of 'Seaside Tsar'

    Cleah Hetherington

    BBC Radio Suffolk

    A call to create a "Seaside Tsar" to improve Britain's coastal towns has been backed by the headteacher of a Lowestoft primary school.

    The call comes from the British Hospitality Association, which says: "Either we are content with the ‘steady as she goes’ approach or we jointly pilot a path for a more ambitious strategy."

    Nadia Paczuska

    Nadia Paczuska, from Meadow Primary Academy, said: "Someone really needs to fly the flag and champion living in places like this. 

    "The easiest way to get teachers here was to advertise how beautiful it is."

  16. History of abuse at St George's School

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    Gerard Singer is the third teacher from St George's School to have been found guilty of the sexual abuse of pupils:

    • Derek Slade (pictured left), jailed for 21 years in 2010
    • Alan Brigden (pictured right), jailed for five years in 2012
    Derek Slade and Alan Bridgen, ex-St George's School staff

    In 2011 another teacher, Alan Williams, killed himself after being arrested on suspicion of sex assaults at St George's, when it was at Great Finborough in the 1980s.    

  17. Victims of Gerard Singer should feel 'proud' they have helped bring him to justice, say police

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    Police say the trial of Gerard Singer brings to a close one of the longest child sex abuse investigations ever carried out by the Suffolk force.

    Det Con Karen Crowther said: "I would personally like to thank all those that gave evidence in this matter for their patience and the trust they put in us."

    Suffolk Police HQ

    She added: "Some of them were spoken to as far back as 2009 and have waited a long time for this matter to come to court.

    "I hope that now these matters have been dealt with it will help them to deal with the awful events that took place at St George’s School.  

    "They should feel very proud that they have helped to bring to justice a man who has been a sexual predator and a risk to young boys for more than three decades.”

  18. How the Gerard Singer investigation began

    Philippa Taylor

    BBC Local Live

    Back now to our main story, the ex-teacher Gerard Singer who's been found guilty of sexually abusing pupils at the former St George's boarding school in Great Finborough.

    In 1982 concerns were raised about the behaviour of staff at the school by reporter Roger Cook in a BBC Radio 4 programme. 

    Suffolk Police began an investigation in 2009 when a number of ex-pupils of the school came forward and made allegations about abuse that had taken place during their time at the school.

    Slade was arrested in 2010 and subsequently convicted at Ipswich Crown Court of a number of a sexual and physical assault offences relating to 12 boys. He was sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment, but died earlier this year.