Of abuse in the 1990s. I never spent a day in court we will bring you the full interview in the next 30 minutes. Conservative mps casting their ballot to choose their next leader will talk to us in the next hour about who they voted for borisjohnson may Boris Johnson may be borisjohnson may be the frontrunner but who will be second, who will be the main challenger or is this turning into a canter in the park for thejohnson turning into a canter in the park for the johnson bandwagon . And a new Study Suggests two thirds of students think universities should be able to tell their parents if they have a Mental Health crisis. Are you a student or are your kids at uni . Do get in touch. Hello and welcome to the programme. Were live until 11 this morning. On the subject of whether universities should be able to tell pa rents universities should be able to tell parents if their children are having serious Mental Health problems. Alis on twitter says given that support for students with Mental Health issues at uni is pathetic, parents should be told. My son suffered for several years at uni and the support was virtually non existent. Laura, also on twitter says not without the students consent uni students are adults, not children, and are entitled to privacy around their health if they so wish. Agreed the students should be encouraged to share with their family but the decision should rest with the student. More on that to come in the next hour. If you are at university right now would you want your mum and dad to know if you are having serious Mental Health problems, would you wa nt Mental Health problems, would you want the university to tell on your behalf, let me know. Send me an e mail. Heres Annita Mcveigh with the news. Good morning. The first round of voting in the conservative leadership contest has just started at least one of the ten candidates will be eliminated this lunchtime. Tory mps will hold a private ballot, with contenders needing a minimum of seventeen votes to stay in the contest. The knock out rounds will continue next week until two names remain. They will then face a ballot of party members. Police have apologised to six victims of football coach bob higgins, who has beenjailed for indecently assaulting young boys, for the way the case was handled in the 1990s. Their lawyer is now calling for a change in the law, so child sex abusers can be retried if new evidence emerges. Higgins was given a 2k year sentence for indecently assaulting 2a boys. But six other victims were told their allegations could not be tried in court because the claims were part of a 1991 case. The us navys fifth fleet says it is giving assistance after receiving separate distress calls from two oil tankers in the gulf of oman. Explosions and fires have been reported on both vessels, the front altair and the kokuka courageous after a suspected attack. Members of crew have been safely evacuated from both the tankers. Nearly three quarters of nhs services in england failed to treat new Cancer Patients within 62 days of an urgent referral last year according to research by the bbc. Cancer charities have expressed their concern about the figures but nhs england say its due to increasing demand on services. Plans to add folic acid to flour in a bid to cut birth defects, such as spina bifida, have come a step closer, as the government launches a 12 week consultation. Folic acid is a type of vitamin b, and is crucial during the first weeks of pregnancy. Women are encouraged to take it as a supplement to cut the risk of their babies failing to develop properly. An overwhelming majority of students say they support universities being able to warn parents if they have a Mental Health crisis. A study by the Higher Education policy institute says more universities should consider asking students permission to alert their families in extreme circumstances. The uk is one of the worst places in europe for paid parental leave and affordable quality childcare, the uns Childrens Charity has said. Researchers for unicef ranked 31 countries on their length of maternity and paternity leave and the proportions of Pre School Children in childcare. The uk came fourth from the bottom of the list. The four time Tour De France winner, chris froome, is in intensive care in hospital after suffering serious injuries in a crash. He fractured his femur and broke his hip, elbow and ribs in the accident during a practice run in central france. Froome hit a wall during a practice ride. Hell no longer compete in this years Tour De France. Thats a summary of the main news this morning. Back to victoria. Thank you. Police have apologised to six victims of football coach bob higgins for the way the case was handled in the 1990s. A former southampton footballer who says he was sexually abused as a boy by his coach is calling on the front runner in the tory leadership race, borisjohnson, to apologise for his disgusting comments about the money spent on investigating child sexual abuse allegations. Borisjohnson said it was like spaffing it up a wall. Dean radford tells us exclusively theres no explanation why someone would use that sort of language which is derogatory to all survivors. Well hearfrom him in a moment. It comes as police have apologised to six victims of football coach bob higgins for the way the case was handled in the 1990s. Their lawyer is now calling for double jeopardy laws to be changed so child sex abusers can be retried if new evidence emerges. Yesterday, higgins was handed 2a years in jail for indecently assaulting 2a boys. But six other victims were told their allegations could not be tried in court because they were part of an earlier 1991 court case against the coach. One told the bbc he was completely unaware of that first case, and his complaint as part of the latest trial was only dropped after police found his name on paperwork in higgins loft in 2017. Hampshire police said they were genuinely sorry victims did not get the justice they deserved. Our reporterjim reed spoke to one of those victims. In 15 hours of police interviews, he didnt say a word. Bob higgins spent a long Career Coaching at southampton and peterborough. His trial heard he used that position to abuse dozens of boys over three decades. He was sentenced yesterday and will now start a 24 yearjail term for those crimes. Football was our lives, football was our dreams, football was all that mattered to us. Bob higgins used our desire and our determination as a tool to exploit our vulnerability. These victims waived their right to anonymity to speak outside court. But while there was finally justice for some, others will miss out. This ex premiership footballer was abused as a teenager in the 1980s. I was an innocent young child. In 1989, he went to the police to report bob higgins. Five other Young Players made similar claims around that time. I was only there about an hour. He left the Police Station and buried that abuse for the next 25 years. Were going to talk now to billy seymour. Hes a former southampton youth player. Then, in 2016, this programme broadcast an interview with another bob higgins victims. Cos i was tired cos i obviously had to be back for school, so just sort of lay your head in my lap. I watched that and had a bit of a quiet spell in my house, in 2016, the player went to the police for a second time and was interviewed for seven hours. He was later told he would be treated as a victim in a new case against the coach. Im just scanning. Then, as part of the investigation, police searched bob higgins home. In his attic, they found paperwork with the players name on it. Back in 1991, bob higgins was arrested and went to court on child abuse charges. Back then, he was acquitted of one offence. The prosecution entered no evidence on the other five. The legal principle of double jeopardy stops anyone going on trial twice for the same crime. The player says he was never told he was involved in a court case, but because his name was on old court documents, police said he had to be dropped from the latest trial. The assistant chief constable of Hampshire Police told this programme he was genuinely sorry that some victims did not get the justice they deserved in this case. He said, unfortunately, complaints made by some victims in the 1990s werent treated in the same way as they would be today. In 2003, the government did relax the double jeopardy rule, allowing a retrial in cases where strong new evidence emerges. But the change only applies to 30 of the most serious crimes, like attempted murder and rape. Because bob higgins was charged with indecent assault, double jeopardy still applies. Having boys staying at the home. 30 years after some of his crimes then, the coach will now start a long prison sentence. But some believe the full impact of his actions may never be recognised or properly accounted for. Jim reed with that exclusive report. Ive been talking to dean radford a former footballer who gave evidence in this latest criminal trial of higgins as a character witness he was one of six complainants against higgins back in 1992 like the man you just saw injims film and also his lawyer dino nocivelli. First of all, your reaction to the sentence higgins received yesterday. The first feeling is relief, for the survivors, waiting so long to get this conviction, to send him to prison where he belongs and thats what most of them fail. There is no iy what most of them fail. There is no joy from this, its a relief, this man is finally behind bars for what he did to them. You represent three of the six complainants from the original 1992 trial. Six werent involved in this criminal case. Because of the double jeopardy rules. Do you want a change . demand it changed. Its unfair that these forgotten men have suffered with the impact of this for so long and theyve been prevented from obtaining justice because of a legal technicality. That cannot be right 01 technicality. That cannot be right or proper in 2019. Why do you say its a legal technicality, its cold doublejeopardy, explain its a legal technicality, its cold double jeopardy, explain what that means. It gives the accused finality so means. It gives the accused finality so if they have been dry for an offence and found not guilty you cannot retry them for the same offence. For the same offence unless there is compelling new evidence and u nless there is compelling new evidence and unless it comes in under one of the exceptions and thats what we want to change. In our view, any form of child abuse should be severe and classed as serious, the ministry of justice disagree with us on that. Youve written to the justice secretary, have you had a response . Not yet, we are still waiting, we have previously tried to do that backin have previously tried to do that back in 2017, their response was that its only for the most serious offences, they have no intention to reconsider. Let me bring in dean if i may. Former footballer reconsider. Let me bring in dean if i may. Formerfootballer who gave evidence in the latest trial of bob higgins isa evidence in the latest trial of bob higgins is a character witness but you were one of the six complainants against bob higgins back in 92 and you are waving your right to anonymity this morning. Your reaction to the 2a years that bob higgins was jailed for yesterday. Its relief all around. A lot of sadness there as well. But its relief that the judge, you know, it was a heavy sentence for him, but rightly so. I hope they throw away the key, as most of the others would have done but 24 years and three months, you know, hes going to grow old in prison now. Hopefully he will never come out. You say you were abused by bob higgins when you were abused by bob higgins when you were a young teenager, 14, a member of the Youth Training squad in southampton and that case, your case, went to trial in the early 90s. Bob higgins was acquitted. Can you remember how you felt about that back then . Just disbelief. So many circumstances that went on about that original case. Theres a lot of questions to be answered. Quite the case was split up into six individual trials. Which i wasnt told about until two or three years ago. Apparently the judge made the ruling as well, it wasnt the jury that decided he was not guilty, it was a judge that made the decision. Another question, why. From everybody else on the outside, might say that he was acquitted, but you know, i think theres a lot of answers to be answered and a lot of questions to be answered and i think you know, whether that will ever happen, i dont know, i dont know. What would be the main question from back then, for you, that needs answering . Look at the whole circumstances, the cps at the time put the case together. It wasnt just on a whim, it took a lot of time, iwas just on a whim, it took a lot of time, i was a professional footballer at the time. And all of a sudden, you know, the lead prosecutor, the qc was changed a couple of days before the trial. The judge split up into separate trials, i was always told there were six of us i was always told there were six of us going into court, i was basically the lamp to the slaughter, i went in and it was my word against his. And the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence, howl the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence, how i could have proved what he did, it was impossible. Thats why it becomes releva nt impossible. Thats why it becomes relevant again after this latest case. Because, as your lawyer has just explained, because higgins was acquitted back then under double jeopardy laws, he cannot be retried for the same offence against you. Despite all these new cases, despite the wealth of evidence that has been brought in this latest criminal trial. What do you think about that . Things went on back then in the 905 that shouldnt thing5 went on back then in the 905 that shouldnt have, there5 que5tion5 that shouldnt have, there5 questions to be answered. The fact i5| questions to be answered. The fact is i knew i was telling the truth at the time. Ajury never got to decide that back then. It was the judge. For whatever reason. Im glad the truth is out there now. Im glad the other lad5 have gotju5tice. But, all i would say to these people, politician5, whoever made these rule5, politician5, whoever made these rules, you know, try and think of thi5 rules, you know, try and think of this as if this was one of your own family, dont treat it like its a page ina family, dont treat it like its a page in a book where a rule or a law ha5 page in a book where a rule or a law has to stay. You know, u5e page in a book where a rule or a law has to stay. You know, use your common sense. Look has to stay. You know, use your common sense. Look at this, look at the facts, the evidence, look at what5 the facts, the evidence, look at whats happened. And treat this like it would be with one of your own family, whether its your son, your knees, your nephew, ju5t family, whether its your son, your knees, your nephew, just use your common sense. You knees, your nephew, just use your common sense. You said, include sexual abuse against children is one of these major crimes where someone can be retried even though theyve previously been acquitted. Exactly. How can they say this is in serious enough . Child abuse. How is that not 5eriou5 enough . Child abuse. How is that not serious enough . Who actually would ever say that . That it5 serious enough . Who actually would ever say that . That its not serious enough . You said you were glad for the men who gotjustice on seeing higgins jailed yesterday for 24 yea rs. Higgins jailed yesterday for 24 years. You were a character witness against him in this latest trial, do you feel in any way like you personally have got anyjustice . dont, ive got a sense of pride. I feel as though ive helped a lot of people and their families. Notju5t the victims and 5urvivor5. It5 people and their families. Notju5t the victims and 5urvivor5. Its the families as well. And i get a bit of 5ati5faction out of that but not ju5tice, there is noju5tice there for me. And the other five that were originally back in the 905. Yes, it5 originally back in the 905. Yes, its a bitter pill to swallow. But ye5, its a bitter pill to swallow. But yes, i its a bitter pill to swallow. But ye5, itake its a bitter pill to swallow. But yes, i take a bit of satisfaction out of the fact that ive helped other5. Out of the fact that ive helped others. Finally, the voting begins in the tory leadership contest today. As you know, borisjohnson is the frontrunner to be the next tory leader and our next Prime Minister. I want to ask you about his comments on investigations into historic child sexual abuse. He talked about £60 million being staffed up a wall on historic child abuse. What do you think of that language . Its di5gu5ting. It5 despicable. He5 not apologised, you know, hes been called out a few times. And as i 5aid, called out a few times. And as i said, earlier called out a few times. And as i 5aid, earlieron, he5 called out a few times. And as i said, earlier on, hes got to think of this as if it was one of the members of his own family, hi5 of this as if it was one of the members of his own family, his son, hi5 members of his own family, his son, his nephew. And i would welcome ten minutes of his preciou5 his nephew. And i would welcome ten minutes of his precious time rather than talking about brexit. Ju5t minutes of his precious time rather than talking about brexit. Just to explain why he said what he said and where he is actually coming from. There is no explanation for what he 5aid. There is no explanation for what he said. Hes there is no explanation for what he 5aid. He5ju5t insulted a lot of people. And as i said, its 5aid. He5ju5t insulted a lot of people. And as i said, it5ju5t di5gu5ting. Ten minutes. Bori5, if you want to sit down with me and explain your comments. I would love to understand them, i know i never will but i would love to hear your 5ide will but i would love to hear your side of it. For anyone who doesnt know, spaffing means ejaculating. Im amazed. He5 know, spaffing means ejaculating. Im amazed. Hes been called out on it. There is no explanation. No explanation why somebody would use that sort of language. It5 derogatory toward5 everybody, all the survivors out there. All the people who have been trying to get ju5tice people who have been trying to get justice and lots of people that havent yet got ju5tice. How is that going to encourage others to come forward , going to encourage others to come forward, 5peak forward, going to encourage others to come forward, 5p