By Martin Delgado and Richard Creasy
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Misconduct: Martin Greathurst was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing after a woman complained about him sending her crude photos
A British Airways pilot has been sacked after he allegedly sent a sexually explicit photograph of himself to a woman.
Martin Greathurst is understood to have met the woman on a flight operated by another airline. The pair were both passengers.
The pilot is alleged to have later sent her a mobile phone picture message of a sexual nature.
BA managers became aware of the incident after the woman – who is not a BA employee – complained to the police, according to airline sources.
Mr Greathurst, a pilot for more than 20 years, was dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing.
He has since appealed against the decision.
The 51-year-old, who earned about 100,000 a year, began his career with Dan Air, which was Britain’s biggest independent charter airline before it ran into financial problems in the Eighties.
The Gatwick-based carrier was eventually sold to BA for a nominal 1 in 1992.
Mr Greathurst then transferred to BA, where he flew Boeing 777 jets on long-haul flights to Asia and North America.
He lives in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in the village of West Chiltington, West Sussex. The property is up for sale for 327,500.
The area is popular with air crew because of its proximity to Gatwick Airport.
Store: His partner's shop Laid Bare Lingerie
A woman called Helen Greathurst lives at the same address, according to the electoral roll. She lists her job as ‘BA cabin crew’ on the LinkedIn business networking site.
In a message on social networking site Twitter, she referred to the pilot as her husband.
Writing about the opening of her underwear shop called Laid Bare Lingerie, she said: ‘With much love and support coming her way in all directions from husband (Martin) for mucho moolah!’
It is common for off-duty pilots and cabin crew from one airline to travel with other carriers, provided there are seats available.
The allegations against Mr Greathurst are now the subject of a high-level internal investigation following his decision to appeal against his sacking.
BA said in a statement: ‘A pilot has been dismissed for gross misconduct. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the internal process continues.’
For sale: The pilot's semi-detached house in West Sussex which has gone up for sale for 327,500
A BA source added: ‘If a member of staff is dismissed, they have certain rights to ask for that decision to be reviewed.’
In 1999, Mr Greathurst was one of a group of former Dan Air employees who made a High Court damages claim against the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA).
The action was over an alleged breach of contract in relation to a proposed merger between a Dan Air pilots’ group and BALPA.
Mr Greathurst is not a BALPA member and the union is not involved in the current case.
Last night Mr Greathurst denied he was the pilot involved in the picture message case.
He said: ‘That is absolutely not correct. Where did you hear that from? That is simply not the case.’
He then disappeared inside the house and declined to answer any more questions.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Motherwell 1 Everton 1: Law's belter deprives Toffees of spoils in Hammell's testimonial - Daily Mail
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Nicky Law's thunderous second-half strike gave Motherwell a share of the spoils against Everton in Stevie Hammell's testimonial at Fir Park.
In front of the 4,512 fans, including 1,049 from Merseyside, who turned out to pay tribute to the Steelmen's left-back, Shane Duffy gave the visitors the lead in the 34th minute with a header which went in off the post.
However, midfielder Law levelled in the 54th minute with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box which gave Toffees keeper Tim Howard no chance.
Warm-up: Shane Duffy (right) bagged a goal for Everton against Motherwell
A cameo substitute appearance by free agent James McFadden, who had played for both clubs, most recently being freed by the Goodison club at the end of last season, also entertained the crowd who watched a decent game played in the right spirit.
Hammell was given a guard of honour by both sets of players before the game.
The visitors had former Rangers duo Nikica Jelavic and Steven Naismith on the bench, the latter having yet to make his debut for the Merseysiders.
Motherwell struggled to get a kick in the early stages as Everton knocked the ball around for fun.
The visitors squandered a great chance in the 10th minute when Tim Cahill's cross from the left found Leon Osman, who bulleted a header from four yards high over the bar.
Moments later, Goodison striker Victor Anichebe ended a spell of pressure by flashing a drive from the edge of the box over the bar.
The home side, with trialist Simon Ramsden and youngster Adam Cummins in at centre-back due to injuries, responded.
Cancelled out: Nicky Law (centre) equalised for the hosts at Fir Park
Winger Chris Humphrey somehow got past Sylvain Distin to set up striker Michael Higdon, who also cleared the bar with a drive, before Law tested Howard who punched clear.
There was a moment of panic in the Everton defence when Motherwell wideman Jamie Murphy's driven cross from the left-hand side of the box was blocked by Howard but the Merseysiders reasserted themselves.
On the half-hour mark Darren Randolph dived low to his left to palm a Cahill drive past the post before the Australian headed Osman's corner over the bar.
Three minutes later, though, Everton were ahead when Duffy rose at the back post to head an Anichebe cross back across goal and in off the post.
Well started the second half better than they had the first, and Law had the Well fans on their feet when he lashed the ball high past Howard after the Everton defence had failed to clear a Tom Hateley cross.
Match sharp? Tim Cahill (left) navigates his way past Stevie Hammell (right)
Moments later, Higdon hit the outside of Howard's left-hand post with a drive after latching on to another Hateley cross.
Cummins came to Motherwell's rescue on the hour mark when he cleared a shot from Everton substitute Jack Rodwell, one of four changes made by David Moyes at the interval, off the line when it looked a certain goal.
McFadden got a huge cheer when he came on in the 62nd minute along with Fraser Kerr and Omar Daley, with Higdon, Murphy and Cummins making way.
In the 68th minute Naismith, to the jeers of the Well fans, came on to make his debut. John Heitinga was also introduced, with Distin and Marouane Fellaini going off.
Six minutes later McFadden combined with Henrik Ojamaa to set up Law but his drive went inches past the far post with Howard beaten.
Naismith was denied a debut goal in the 76th minute when Well substitute keeper Lee Hollis, on for Randolph at the break, blocked his close-range drive and Seamus Coleman failed to get the rebound on target.
Hateley stung the hands of Howard with a free-kick with four minutes remaining but there were to be no more goals before Hammell came on after the final whistle to take the acclaim of the fans.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Changes coming to Mass. law on HIV testing - NBCNews.com
BOSTON (AP) -- A new state law is about to take hold that supporters hope will lead to more testing for HIV in Massachusetts.
Starting on Thursday, doctors need only to get verbal consent from patients to test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Massachusetts was previously one of two states that required written consent, a policy critics said often posed a barrier to routine screening.
Early detection of HIV can result in life-saving drug treatments and help prevent those with the disease from unknowingly spreading it to others.
AIDS Action Committee president Rebecca Haig says the AIDS epidemic won't end unless people infected with HIV are aware of their status.
The new law still requires physicians to get written permission from patients before sharing HIV test results with other health care providers.
Source: www.msnbc.msn.com
£6million fund for transport in West Sussex - wscountytimes.co.uk
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) was awarded £6m to invest in Horsham and Chichester after it made three successful bids to the Department of Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund to improve cycleways and public transport facilities and initiatives.
£2.46m was given for the three-year ‘West Sussex Sustainable Travel Towns’ project to make it easier for people to use buses instead of their cars and encourage people to change the way they travel.
Last month WSCC reduced subsidies during the final phase of its three-year programme to cut non-commercial routes by £2 million.
These cuts came as part of the council’s drive to save £79 million following significant grant reductions from central government.
WSCC has confirmed that the recently-awarded funds have been supplied by central government to put towards specific purposes.
A spokesperson for WSCC said: “The county council has been successful in securing investment over the next three years in a range of sustainable transport infrastructure improvements and initiatives in Chichester and Horsham.
“The project aims to support economic growth and carbon reduction by increasing the use of sustainable modes of transport for journeys to places of work and education.
“Investment is expected in public transport interchange facilities, cycle routes and pedestrian facilities.
“The application is in no way related to County Council bus subsidies.”
County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, Pieter Montyn, said: “We believe this funding will help promote economic growth in both towns while reducing carbon emissions.
“The Department of Transport has decided that allocating money for Chichester and Horsham will benefit these areas, so this is a fabulous opportunity to make improvements.”
The money will be invested over the next three years to create cycle and walking routes to stations and to upgrade bus and rail facilities and provide information to help visitors get around.
The county council has also secured additional investment for Walk to School initiatives, which encourage greater numbers of West Sussex school pupils to walk to and from school.
Visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/buses.
Source: www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Russia: Controversial NGO bill becomes law - BBC News
President Putin has signed into law a controversial bill forcing foreign-funded non-governmental groups (NGOs) involved in political activity to register as "foreign agents" in Russia.
The Kremlin has said the law is needed to protect Russia from outside attempts to influence internal politics.
But critics think the authorities will use the law to try to crush dissent.
They say it aims to prevent such NGOs denouncing vote-rigging and other abuses.
The law requires the phrase "foreign agents" - with its negative Soviet-era connotation - to be included in all materials produced by all affected NGOs.
Such NGOs would also have to undergo financial audits and issue twice-yearly reports on their activities.
Failure to comply will be punishable by heavy fines or even a two-year prison sentence.
Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, which advocated the change, has claimed that foreign governments are using NGOs in Russia as cover to bring about political change.
Critics have said the legislation appears to pose a serious threat to the work of independent election monitor Golos, human rights group Amnesty International and the anti-corruption group Transparency International.
The US State Department earlier expressed "deep concern" about the new law - but was swiftly reproached by Moscow for "gross interference".
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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