A man who returned from America has won a ruling that his brother pressured their father to sign over the family home before his death.

Paul Tociapski, 52, sued his brother, Boris, over the transfer of Hillcrest Cottage, in Weedon which was signed over to Boris by their father, Igor, in February 2010.

Paul’s barrister, Araba Taylor, told London’s High Court the transfer of the £350,000 home was “procured by undue influence” by Boris.

Judge Stuart Isaacs QC accepted that the property transfer “calls for an explanation” and told the court: “There is no sufficient evidence before me to satisfy me that the deceased executed the transfer with full, free and informed thought. For reasons of undue influence I consider that the transfer should be set aside.”

Paul Tociapski, who lives in Florida, also challenged the validity of a May 2009 will, claiming his father lacked full understanding. The will left Boris the rest of the estate - worth around £250,000.

Judge Isaacs said he was “not satisfied” Igor Tociapski understood what was in the 2009 will or its effect.

The ruling means the 2009 will is invalid, and a 2007 will - splitting the estate equally - will now take effect.

Boris, 47, was not in court. Miss Taylor said his whereabouts are unknown.

Igor Tociapski ran an antique clock business, initially based in Notting Hill before relocating to Northamptonshire.

There will be plenty of films shown at village halls across the district. On Saturday April 6 Welford Village Hall will show Skyfall at 7.30pm.

On Thursday April 18 Nether Heyford Village hall will show Grow Your Own at 7.45pm. On Friday April 19 at Aston Le Walls Village Hall Moonrise Kingdom will be showing at 7.30pm and on Saturday April 27 Skyfall will show at Braunston Village Hall. Call Phyllis (Welford) on 01858 575284, Bob (Nether Heyford) on01327 340803, Celeste (Aston Le Walls) on 07909 676718 and Abigail (Braunston) on 07989 421836.

Thousands of Northampton commuters will be using London Midland until at least 2017 after the embattled company’s rail franchise was extended by the Government to June 2017.

News of the extension comes after nearly 1,000 trains were cancelled or delayed between October and the end of December as a result of driver shortages caused by a shortfall in the number of drivers being fully trained up.

Patrick Verwer, managing director of London Midland, said: “We welcome the announcement of the Government’s extension of our franchise to June 2017. This gives us the stability for the next four years to continue to improve our service, and focus on providing the reliable, consistent service our passengers expect and deserve. “

“We have seen a continuous period of improvement in our performance since December, and we will continue with our ongoing programme of driver recruitment and training.

“We will also continue to invest in our stations, and in new innovative technology such as our new 110 mph trains to London.”

The announcement follows an earlier decision by the Government last December to extend London Midland’s franchise up until September 2015.

The Department of Transport said the extension was needed to create a “robust and deliverable franchise schedule” but the Government would carrying on monitoring London Midland’s performance “very closely”.

Firefighters last night rescued a dog which fell 20ft down a well in Northampton.

Crews from The Mounts, Mereway and Wellingborough were called to Main Road, Duston, at 7.15pm.

They used specialist animal rescue equipment to reach the dog.

A spokesman for Northamptonshrie Fire and Rescue Service said: “The dog was approximately 20ft down and they rescued him with rope rescue equipment, a ladder and a quad pod.”

Was it your dog that was rescued? Please get in touch with the Chronicle & Echo by calling Northampton 467036 or by emailing editor@northantsnews.co.uk

The newly refurbished Ryefields Park in Woodford Halse will open to the public on Sunday (March 31).

An Easter egg hunt, face painting and balloon modelling will mark the reopening of the park, off Willow Close after four village mums raised £22,000 to improve it. The park now has a fort, assault course, nest swing, climbing wall and slides for young children. The fun event will run from 12 until 2pm and will go ahead regardless of the weather. The day will be supported by Daventry district council who gave funding for the re-opening celebrations.

JORDAN Mistry, 15, was diagnosed with cancer in March after suffering with problems in his legs.

His mother, Trish, said: “Jordan had a problem last year with his leg, which wasn’t related. But since then he wasn’t the same active person.

“He used to play football and be very active, but it all dropped off. From January he developed pain and other problems.

“We went to the GP who sent us to the general for an emergency MRI on March 8. He then had biopsies on a tumour on his tailbone and we got the result that it was cancer – Ewing’s sarcoma.

“Jordan has been amazing and really brave, he’s taken it better than us I think! It knocked me and Amit hard. We’re getting used to the idea now and that Jordan’s going to be having treatment which will include chemo and radiotherapy, and possibly surgery. It’s likely to go on for 12 months.

“At the moment I’m up with Jordan in Nottingham, and Amit and Jordan’s sister Alina have come up at the weekend.

“I’m amazed at the support Jordan’s had from friends and others, and the efforts people have gone to in order to arrange fundraising events. It’s touched us all really.”

A RUN is being organised to help raise funds for the Mistry family.

Dawn Calvey and Claire Brown, whose sons are friends with Jordan have organised the run, raffle and evening of entertainment to raise cash to help with the Mistry family’s extra costs.

The run takes place at Daventry Country Park on April 7 setting off from 1pm. From 11am there will also be face painting and a bouncy castle from Crazy Horses, and afterwards at the nearby Queen of Hearts pub there will be a raffle drawn and music from local band So’77.

Sponsor forms are available from C2 Barbers in Sheaf Street or by messaging the organisers on Facebook.

THE youngsters at Weedon Bec Primary School have been taking part in an Easter-themed competition.

All of the pupils took hard boiled eggs into school and decorated them to create characters from popular culture. The entries included The Eggman inspired by The Wizard of Oz, Mr Pot-egg-to Head from Toy Story and even decorations based on Harry Potter, The Avengers and Angry Birds.

ONE time Cobblers’ suitor, the self-styled lawyer Giovanni di Stefano, was today starting a 14-year sentence for a series of frauds on “desperate and vulnerable victims” whom he tricked into thinking he was a bona fide legal professional.

Di Stefano, aged 57, grew up in Wollaston, but later became known as the Devil’s Advocate for taking on “unwinnable” cases, was convicted on 25 charges including deception, fraud and money laundering between 2001 and 2011 at London’s Southwark Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to another two counts of fraud and a further three counts were ordered to lie on file.

Judge Alistair McCreath, the Recorder of Westminster, noted there were many offences over significant periods of time.

The fact the victims, which included a disabled man seeking damages for the loss of an arm, were all “desperate and vulnerable” and faced losses which were not just financial but also included the “raising and dashing of false hope” were aggravating factors, the judge said.

He conned clients out of millions of pounds by setting himself up as a lawyer when he had no legal qualifications and was not registered to work as a lawyer in Italy or the UK.

He used the Italian word “avvocato” on business cards, letterheads and identification documents to give clients - and the judiciary - the impression he was an advocate.

In a loud voice di Stefano told the judge “I am obliged, my Lord” as he stepped out of the dock.

The judge told di Stefano: “I recognise that you did not actively seek out those whom you defrauded. They came to you. You did not approach them but there is more than one kind of predator.

“Some predators hunt down their victims, others lie in wait for them.

“Your victims in this case were all desperate people and people who, because of their desperation, were vulnerable.”

The judge also noted that, while this case is about money, “it is also about something different and great - it is about the real distress you caused to so many people”.

“You had no regard for them nor for their anguish,” he said. “Your only concern was to line your own pockets.”

During the trial di Stefano told of his links to Robert Mugabe, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and his “friendship” with the daughter of Slobodan Milosevic.

The court was shown a 2004 BBC documentary in which he described Saddam as a “nice guy” and boasted of being asked to defend killers such as Jeremy Bamber, Harold Shipman, Kenneth Noye and Linda Calvey.

In 2002 he embarked on a protracted, but ultimately dismally failed bid to buy Northampton Town FC.

The future of the wardens has been secured albeit on a short-term basis.

Following the folding of Daventry Business Partnership after the non-renewal of the (DBP) Business Improvement District last month, the police approached Daventry Town Council with a view to funding the wardens.

It was discussed at its meeting on Monday where a plan was drawn up to employ the wardens for three months rather than the year recommended in a report presented to the council. It was left to chairman Cllr Ron Fox to have the casting vote.

Colin Poole, who is against the plan, said: “This warden scheme was not voted for or wanted by the businesses. And now the town council is asking the residents of this town to pay for something. I am disgusted.”

The wardens will be deployed throughout the town and the estates and be supported by the police. At the same meeting, Daventry Town Coucil also agreed to manage the pub watch and radio retail scheme. This has also come about since the cloure of DBP. It will cost £250 a year but be recouped by the council.

Evidence is being gathered on speeding and traffic along Daventry’s Ashby Road.

Last month the Daventry Express reported that Northamptonshire County Council were going to take steps to try and solve the problems on the road, following an approach by Cllr Chris Long.

Signs banning HGVs from the road have already gone up and sensors have been installed to look at the speed of traffic.

Cllr Long said: “The erection of the ‘local traffic only’ signs, while far from being a solution, do, I believe indicate a genuine desire to address the problems of this road once and for all.”

A new crossing has also been approved for Northern Way for people walking between Ashby Road and Drayton Park and Middlemore.

The crossing will now be reviewed by the road safety and safer route to schools team before funding is sought.

A BY-ELECTION for a further seat on Daventry District Council (DDC) is set to be held in May following the resignation of Cllr Kay Driver.

It also comes following the departure of Nick Bunting, who held one of the three seats the council has on the Brixworth ward.

The resignation of Cllr Driver, who was also the council’s strategic planning portfolio holder, was announced on Monday.

DDC has already posted the notice of vacancy and received the required number of elector requests to hold an election.

The notice of electionwas issued on Tuesday and potential candidates looking to be elected to the role have until Friday, April 5 to submit their nomination papers.

Anyone interested in putting themselves forward for either the Welford or Brixworth seats are asked to contact DDC for a nomination paper.

These can be acquired by calling 01327 871100 or alternatively by emailing electoralservices@daventrydc.gov.uk.

Cllr Bunting’s resignation was announced on Tuesday last week.

If the by-election is contested by more than one candidate then it would be held on Thursday, May 2.

This is the same day the Northamptonshire County Council elections will be taking place across the Daventry district.

The Bishop of Peterborough Donald Allister has given his Easter message for 2013.

Writing in the Chronicle & Echo, he said: “Polls suggest that fewer and fewer people know the Easter Story. Most people know something of the meaning of Christmas, at least that December 25 marks the birth of Jesus. But increasing numbers don’t know what Good Friday or Easter Day are about. Good Friday (called Holy Friday in some parts of the world) is the day Jesus was crucified – a horribly cruel form of execution in the Roman Empire. The exact date varies as the crucifixion took place on the eve of the Jewish Passover which is dated by the lunar calendar, but it’s always between the 21st of March and the 23rd of April. It’s called Good Friday because although what happened was dreadful – the cruel execution of an innocent man – we Christians believe that Jesus’ death brings about the possibility of God’s forgiveness and blessing to our wayward human race.

“Easter Day, the Sunday after Good Friday, marks the most remarkable event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus from death. Not a waking up from unconsciousness – Roman executioners knew how to kill a man and be sure he was dead. Jesus Christ who had been certified dead on the Friday was fully and gloriously alive on the Sunday. Christians don’t just mark the resurrection once a year. Soon after the resurrection they moved their weekly day of worship from Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath) to Sunday: Resurrection Day. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection every Sunday, every week of the year – it’s that important.

“The resurrection tells us that death is not the end: that God is more powerful even than death. It tells us that Jesus Christ is Lord over all things and the source of real life. It tells us that forgiveness and a new start are always possible with God. It tells us that eternal life is God’s free gift to all who follow Christ.”

A tree, thought to be more than 200 years old, has fallen down in a Northampton park.

The cedar tree fell over earlier today in Thornton Park, off Market Harborough Road, in Kingsthorpe.

Northamptonshire Fire Service, Northamptonshire Police Force and a tree surgeon from Northampton Borough Council are currently at the scene and the area around the tree has been cordened off.

Councillor Sally Beardsworth, leader of the Liberal Democrats, (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe), said: “The tree is massive and it’s centuries old. It’s very sad to have lost it. It’s such a shame. I think it was it’s weight that caused it to fall over.”

A solo exhibition from a Daventry artist is being shown at the Castle Gallery in Wellingborough.

The exhibition entitled ‘The Other World’ looks at fairies, elves and fantasy in a mixture of painting, sculptures and rag rugs. Artist Linda McDonald will exhibit until tomorrow (April 2). For information visit www.thecastle.org.uk.linda-mcdonald.

THE future of entertainment store Blockbuster in Daventry seems more certain following a buyout.

The shop in Bowen Square is one of 264 stores across the country that has been bought by restructuring specialists Gordon Brothers Europe.

It raises the possibility that the stores, along with 2,000 jobs, are likely to be saved.

Joint administrator Lee Manning, said: “Having identified a profitable core portfolio of stores we are pleased to have achieved this sale for creditors.

“Together with the previously announced store sales more than half of the original estate has been secured for ongoing use.

“This transaction provides Blockbuster with a future in the UK. Thank you to everyone for their help.”

Plans for the proposed expansion of Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) are to be considered by the Planning Inspectorate.

The announcement was made after the plans were resubmitted in February this year. A final decision is expected in 2014.

The regeneration and redevelopment of the former Radio Station site – land to the east of the A5 between Lilbourne and Crick – would see a new large-scale rail-served logistics development and provide up to 9,000 jobs.

Plans require a new rail line to be built from the new Tesco unit at the Half Way House roundabout across the A5.

Land to the west of the A5, has been earmarked for a new urban extension with thousands of homes and new employment areas built on land up to the edge of DIRFT and the A5.

Weather experts have confirmed last month was the coldest March since records began in Northampton and warned more snow may even be on its way.

Meteorologists at the Pitsford Hall Weather Station this morning confirmed March was the coldest in decades, with snow falling in the days leading up to the start of British Summertime.

A spokesman for the weather station said there was still “no immediate indication” that spring weather was waiting to arrive, warning there was even the prospect of more snow drifting in from the east coast.

He said: “Having ended the coldest March on record in Northampton, there is no immediate indication that spring is about to begin across the county.”

County firms have reported an increase in exports but a fall in UK sales, new figures released this week have revealed.

The latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) results released by Northamptonshire Chamber show a continuing trend for exporting, with a rise for the fourth consecutive quarter.

The survey covers 122 businesses employing 7,734 people across the county.

Just under 80 per cent of manufacturing firms who responded reported export sales had remained the same or increased during the first quarter of 2013.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Northamptonshire Chamber, said: “It is positive to see the growing number of businesses in the county turning to exporting.

“There is no denying that times are still tough out there and businesses need support. Hopefully some of the business-friendly measures announced in the budget will go some way to helping them grow and invest.”

Across the UK, 56 per cent of manufacturing firms said sales had increased, down from 65 per cent in the last quarter.

In the service sector, 84 per cent of businesses reported sales had increased or stayed the same, but 18 per cent reported a decrease in advance orders.

Companies were more positive regarding their workforce. More than 80 per cent of manufacturing firms expect their workforce to increase or stay the same, while the figure was an encouraging 96 per cent in the services sector.

Looking further ahead, 76 per cent of manufacturers expect turnover to improve or stay the same over the next 12 months and 67 per cent expect profitability to improve. In the services sector, 79 per cent expect turnover to improve and 74 per cent expect profitability to improve.

Public confidence in the probability of the £33.1 billion HS2 high speed rail line being completed on time and to budget is low, according to new findings from independent market research firm Consumer Intelligence.

Its research reveals that only eight per cent of people believe HS2 will be complete within its proposed budget, and 11 per cent believe it will be finished on schedule.

If built, the planned line would cut through south Northamptonshire, between Brackley and Upper Boddington. The scheme has faced strong opposition, including from South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom.

Despite the lack of confidence in how the project will be managed, the findings reveal an overall approval of 52 per cent, compared to 18 per cent against it and 30 per cent who are uncertain.

But when asked whether the £33.1 billion is a worthwhile use of public money there was less support, with 42 per cent saying no and 40 per cent saying yes.

Of the 1,599 adults surveyed, 53 per cent think the project will ultimately benefit the economy. And 67 per cent said the cost of tickets would influence whether they used the service, compared with 24 per cent who said they would use it based on its speed.

David Black, of Consumer Intelligence, said: “While the HS2 project enjoys support from 52 per cent of the public surveyed there is very little confidence that it will be finished either on time or on budget.

“Given that the main reason for the project is to enable faster journeys it is alarming that far more of those that are intending to use it will primarily decide to do so based on the ticket price rather than the speed of the journey.

“There is also some work to do in convincing the public that this is the best use of government spending, with 91 per cent believing the budget would boost the economy more if it was spent on alternative transport or communication projects.”

The Dynasty Chinese restaurant in Long Buckby will host the next fundraising night in aid of the village’s recreation ground.

On Tuesday April 23 from 7.30pm the restaurant will serve a three-course set meal for £20 per person which includes raffle entry.

An £8 deposit must be paid in advance and tickets can be purchased from Long Buckby recreation ground committee member Sophie Green on 07766 303010 or from Buckby Newsagents.

A 32-inch HD ready digital television will be raffled on the night.