A killer who brutally murdered a new father in a town centre row has been released from prison – but he is banned from stepping foot in Hemel Hempstead.

Daniel Button, now in his 30s, was freed on Friday after serving more than 11 years of a life sentence for the killing of 24-year-old Darren Cooper.

Darren’s parents, who look after their son’s daughter Chloe, now 13, were told the devastating news by the probation service.

Dad Roy, 64, said: “His life sentence has come to an end whereas ours is still carrying on and will carry on until the day we die.

“I expected him to come out, but I was still gutted.

“If this country thinks that is a life sentence for murdering somebody with a young family I am absolutely disgusted with it.”

Button, from Bayford Close, Hemel Hempstead, admitted killing Darren, who was hit with a large tree branch, stamped on and kicked while he lay helpless on the floor after a row erupted over queue jumping outside KFC in Marlowes back in 2001.

Button’s cousin Bradley Galvin pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has since been released after serving around half of his six year sentence.

Roy told the Gazette this week: “They can get on with their lives.

“I just hope that if he is ever lucky enough to have a family that he looks at that family and realises what he took away from us.”

Roy and wife Viv, 62, moved out of Hemel Hempstead in 2003 to set up a new home in Suffolk in a bid to escape the constant reminders of what had happened to their son.

But they still regularly return to the town, placing flowers at the spot where Darren was beaten to death on the anniversary of his killing and visiting Garston Crematorium every Christmas Day.

Many of their family, including Chloe’s mum. still lives in the town.

Roy said: “Chloe is 13 now and is asking questions. She says: ‘He won’t come and get me if I’m with mummy?’”

Roy has been told by the probation service that although Button, who is on a life-long licence, is not allowed in Hemel Hempstead he can drive past on the M1 or A41 or pass through the town on the train.

A mother who has heartbreaking personal experience of the devastation that can be delivered by America’s lax gun laws has spoken of her hopes for change in the wake of the school massacre that has shocked the world.

Glenda Lee’s son David was only 10 when he was left paralysed after being shot by his drug addict step-brother.

She believes that the USA must accept tougher gun laws to protect innocent victims.

American-born Glenda, who fled to England 15 years ago to escape America’s galloping gun culture, says she was devastated when news of the Connecticut elementary school shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults, hit the headlines. She believes it is a wake up call for the country.

“I cried all day. It just threw me back into the day when my son was shot,” said Glenda, who lives in Berkhamsted.

“Connecticut is the last place you think it would happen and that is a tap on the shoulder.

“I think this is a gigantic wake up call to the United States.”

David, now 32, and married with two young boys still lives in America.

He was shot by his heroin addict step-brother in 1991 while visiting his father.

Unbeknown to Glenda, who now works to help drug and alcohol addicts, David’s 16-year-old step-brother was a heroin user and his parents kept a gun in their home.

After that fateful day Glenda threw herself into campaigning for tougher gun laws and young David, who is confined to a wheelchair, became a poster boy for the fight.

They managed to get two bills passed in California in 1993.

Now adopted by many other states, they order that guns should be kept under lock and key, makes adults responsible when children are injured by guns that are within easy reach and requires safety training to be given when guns are purchased.

Glenda, who was raised in Alabama, wants a mandatory gun turn-in and for the country to adopt similar gun rules to those in England.

“The common denominator of every single horrific massacre in the United States is that anyone and their mother can buy an assault rifle, which means you can shoot very fast and you can shoot many bullets at the same time,” she said.

“I would like to see it the way it is in England.”

She moved to the UK in 1997 with her daughter Stephanie, who was then 11, after David had left home to go to university.

Glenda, who is a services manager for Hertfordshire Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services, believes President Barack Obama is the man to see in the radical changes on gun laws.

“First and foremost he is a father. He has a heart. He doesn’t owe allegiance to the National Rifle Association,” said Glenda

“Maybe that is why he was re-elected – I always believe there is a reason for things but I believe you have to pay attention and I believe he will.”

A pedestrian was left fighting for his life after being knocked down in a hit and run in Redbourn.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was struck by a silver BMW at around 5.20pm on Thursday, December 13, as he was walking down the B487.

He was initially taken to Watford General Hospital by the East of England Ambulance service, before being transferred to the specialist St Marys Hospital in London to be treated for serious head injuries and a number of broken bones.

PC Anthony Winter from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit said: “This was a nasty collision which has resulted in a man sustaining life–threatening injuries.”

Anyone with information should contact the police non-emergency number 101.

There are traffic delays on Two Waters Road, Hemel Hempstead, following a two-car crash earlier this afternoon, Wednesday.

The collision happened on the road outside B&Q at around 12.20pm, and a Smart Car has been recovered from the scene.

Police are still in attendance.

> More to follow.

A business lobby group is planning to accentuate the positive with a new joined up ‘go for growth’ strategy in 2013.

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to counter what it sees as national media negativity by encouraging a local feelgood factor.

Yolanda Rugg, who will be taking over as the Chamber’s chief executive in the new year said: “We want to boost confidence by demonstrating excellence and sharing best practice. It will be a cohesive strategy for growth.”

The Chamber wants to encourage copycat companies to do what the best are doing and thereby replace a vicious circle of negativity with a virtuous one. It launched its Inspiring Hertfordshire awards in Ware on Tuesday but plans to highlight other successes too via publications and on sites like Twitter.

The Chamber also plans to up its game across the West Herts area, including Dacorum, with a events including a breakfast meeting with a high profile speaker from the Bank of England.

“We will be raising the bar in the west of the county,” said Ms Rugg. The Chamber will also be promoting the Growth Accelerator scheme where eligible businesses receive in-depth help to turn plans into reality.

> www.hertschamber.com

Whipsnade Zoo’s animals were given Christmas presents early when keepers gave them a host of festive treats to get them in the holiday spirit.

Ring-tailed lemurs, including twins Billy and Taffy, received stockings filled with their favourite snacks and some extra-special presents to unwrap.

The Zoo’s oriental small-clawed otters and Californian sealions were treated to a dinner with a difference, as they were given some festive frozen treats.

Keeper Mark Holden said: “Whipsnade’s animals are really inquisitive by nature and love investigating new things. Not only will our gifts give them the chance to use their natural curiosity, they’ll enjoy them too.”

See the animals enjoying their Christmas treats in Natalee Hazelwood’s video.

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes rang up a Hemel Hempstead company to get a piece of medical kit for his expedition to Antarctica.

Carestream Health, in One Park Lane, a multinational digital imaging firm born out of Kodak, was happy to loan its DRX Technology.

The Coldest Journey Expedition lead by Sir Ranulph will see a team of six attempt to cross Antarctica in winter for the first time.

The transportable system will be able to create images of broken bones. It will be housed in a portable cabin which is being taken on the expedition, helping it survive nearly 4,000 kilometres, mostly in complete darkness and in temperatures as low as -90°C.

A Carestream spokesman said: “Sir Ranulph rang up and spoke to one of our ladies. He said he would like to take the DRX-Transportable System with him.”

Expedition doctor Rob Lambert. said: “For The Coldest Journey it was important that we had a digital X-ray system which is small, light and easy to use should the worst happen.“

The expedition will begin on March 21 and is expected to take six months.

Carestream Health UK MD Charlie McCaffrey said: “We hope that it will not be needed, should it be we are confident that it will help provide a timely diagnosis to enable prompt and appropriate treatment.”

This delicious looking gingerbread house is up for grabs in a raffle that will benefit Macmillan Cancer Support.

The sweet treat has been made by Out of the Box cakes with packaging donated by Town Florist in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, and nearby Poundland is selling the raffle tickets.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning, who has already drawn the winning ticket for the bargain store’s Christmas raffle, is now urging shoppers to dig deep for the gingerbread house prize – but don’t delay, as the raffle will be drawn tomorrow, Friday.

“Macmillan Cancer Support does a tremendous job and this is a great initiative to help raise funds,” he said.

Books that could have been taken away for nothing were included in the haul when intruders broke into a Hemel Hempstead town centre charity base.

Confidential papers, two laptops and £260 in cash were also taken from the Healthy Planet Foundation’s ‘books for free’ shop in Marlowes on Thursday.

The shop had to stay closed on Monday because of concerns about damage to electrical circuits and stolen fire safety equipment, but is now open again.

Volunteer Kerrie Stephenson thanked colleagues Flora Heckle, Viv Hosier, Marlene Lenihan, Logan Braven and Martin Braven for their hard work in the wake of the burglary and has appealed for more donations to help them re-stock

The shop distributes books without charge to save them going to landfill, and also supplied gardening equipment to local schools.

Life of Pi

The end of the year has provided a stellar roster of films that push the cinematic envelope technically, but while the likes of Skyfall and The Master balance the style and substance quotas with ease, The Hobbit and now this ambitious adaptation have found it harder to master.

Yann Martel’s acclaimed and award winning novel quickly found a home in the ‘unfilmable’ category given the structure and central idea, but that hasn’t stopped Ang Lee taking it on.

The story revolves around a family selling their zoo animals to Canada and the disaster that strikes the journey from India. Young Pi spends over 200 days at sea, awaiting rescue, his only companion a fearsome tiger.

When he is finally rescued, no one believes his story so he tells them an alternative.

The limitations of the narrative are clear, with most of the ‘action’ taking place in a small rowing boat, but Lee is a master of frame and composition and alongside the incredible special effects his inventiveness is the most fascinating part of the film.

The one aspect he can’t quite master is the pacing and the literary nature of the material which makes the drama seem too heavy handed at times, he tries to cram too many ideas in and it threatens to sink the small, merry band of adventuring survivors.

It’s worth seeing for the best use of narrative 3D since Hugo alone. Visually stunning, narratively wanting.

Pitch Perfect

The Glee effect finally infects the big screen with this admittedly more bawdy and edgy – well, compared to the anodyne TV series – tale of college girl singing groups.

The film is really helped by the lead role being taken by Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air, Scott Pilgrim) who is a fantastically talented actress and she really elevates the material here.

She plays Beca, a freshman who joins her university girl group to impress a boy and changes things in a really positive way, giving the girls the confidence to take on the dominant male group, which contains the object of Beca’s affection.

The film is fun, with some funny lines and great performances – both comedy and musical – but it’s a messy mélange of romantic, coming of age and teen angst storylines that never really mesh into one coherent tune, which is a shame, because Kendrick deserves better.

Polar bear power is being pressed into action to boost trade at Hemel Hempstead’s faded LeisureWorld complex.,

The Planet Ice skate centre has teamed up with nearby Pizza Hut to mount a promotional push to remind people that they’re still open for business, and mascot Pierre the polar bear has a key role to play.

He’ll be hitting the streets near the Jarman Park site, encouraging motorists to honk their support. Children who spot him can post details of their sighting on the Planet Ice Facebook page, with the prize of a free skating course up for grabs.

Bars and nightclubs on the site stand empty and a blueprint for a revamp is still on the drawing board.

Planet Ice general manager Kerstin Ginn, who has been part of the team since LeisureWorld opened in 1995, said: “It’s not been nice times for us. Seeing others close – it’s been soul destroying

“But we have always maintained a sturdy business here. I’ve always been confident that we will be the last man standing.”

Pizza Hut manager Anna Genovese stressed that while locals know Jarman Park is still open for business, customers further afield believe the whole complex has shut down.

The Aquasplash pool is currently closed for maintenance, but will be open again soon.

The annual Planet Ice Christmas Eve Skate with Santa Fun Day, where children can visit Santa’s grotto and ride his slay on the ice between 12pm and 3pm, aims to raise £500 for CLIC Sargent cancer charity. Visitors can also skate for free on Christmas Day between 10am and noon.

Firefighters who know only too well how people can let down their guard at this time of year have issued a ‘word to the wise’ warning about the potential perils of Christmas.

The distractions of a crowded house and celebrations can often result in accidents but Richard Thake, Herts County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, says: “By being aware of the risks you can ensure that you and your loved ones can celebrate in safety.”

Top tips include:

l Make sure you have a working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home. Test it regularly and never remove the batteries to use in Christmas presents.

l Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas to ensure their safety.

l Never leave cooking unattended – most fires start in the kitchen. Avoid cooking if you’ve been drinking, always turn off appliances when you have finished cooking.

l Never leave candles or tea lights unattended. Make sure they are in appropriate non-flammable holders, keep them out of the reach of children and away from furniture, curtains, decorations, cards and wrapping paper.

l Put your cigarette out properly. Make sure it is fully extinguished and take care when drunk or tired.

l Don’t overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use.

l Unplug fairy lights before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).

l Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment.

l Make sure that everyone in your home, including guests, knows what to do in a fire.

A Maylands company devastated by the Buncefield oil depot disaster in 2006 has continued its remarkable growth story.

Global developer of award-winning digital imaging solutions, FFEI Ltd, has scooped the top accolade for small businesses at manufacturing excellence awards.

The company based in Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, was then a division of Fujifilm which has a disaster recovery plan second to none. The firm was up and running soon after the explosion.

FFEI was created after a management buy-out lead by MD Andy Cook. It has since diversified into equipment that scans slides to detect cancer.

Philippa Oldham, head of manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and one of the Manufacturing Excellence judges, said: “FFEI’s entire plant was destroyed as a result of the Buncefield Oil Depot Disaster, but within days the company was able to fulfil existing and new orders.

“Since this emergence from the disaster, FFEI has continued to grow and the judges were hugely impressed by novel schemes the company runs, such as the offer of extended warranties in exchange for feedback.

“These are in addition to the company’s excellent factory layout and the continued improvement in financial performance.”

Mr Cook, who also chairs the Maylands Partnership of firms on the huge business estate, said: “Building on the success of last year’s Queens Award, this Manufacturing Excellence Award underlines the continued growth across the business, which is epitomised by the teamwork, inclusion and continuous improvement I see every day.

“To be benchmarked with the very best businesses in the UK manufacturing sector is a credit to our people and their efforts.”

A group of 14 people surprised other diners at a busy restaurant by standing up and singing carols between each of their courses.

Before the seasonal singing session began at Carluccio’s in Berkhamsted on Wednesday, their leader asked manager Aymen Fetouak for permission, saying: “This is what we do.”

Nobody knows who they were, but Mr Fetouak said: “Their singing was absolutely amazing and just created a lovely atmosphere.

“It was one of the best shifts I have done during Christmas. I would love for them to come back.”

A woman in her 70s was taken to hospital after a van hit a house on Thursday.

Two fire engines and ambulance crews from Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Tring rushed to her aid after being called to Park Rise, Northchurch, at 2.45pm.

Herts Fire and Rescue Service spokesman David Henning said: “They found one vehicle in collision with a gas metre attached to a house.

“It was ruptured and we isolated the gas supply from the house.”

British Gas then came out to fix the problem.

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman Gary Sanderson said the woman received slight injuries after the 2.45pm smash and was taken to Watford General Hospital for further care.

A mum is warning about the dangers of seemingly harmless cheap laser pens that have the potential to cause blindness, and could be put into children’s Christmas stockings by unknowing parents.

Alison Phillips has spoken out after her 12-year-old son got into trouble at school when he took in the ‘Super Bright LED Laser Pointer’ he bought at a Hemel Hempstead bargain store for just 99p.

Alison, of Boxmoor, said: “I am concerned that dangerous laser pointers which can potentially cause retinal damage and even blindness are being sold to young children, and which could end up in children’s stockings.

“Cheap laser pointers have usually passed inadequate procedures in manufacturing quality assurance.

“I have written to trading standards and await a reply as I would like them to issue a recall on any sold products.”

The laser that her son bought carried a warning sign and is classified on the Health Protection Agency’s website as potentially hazardous and ‘can potentially cause eye injuries’.

After discovering that her son had one of the laser pens, Alison decided to investigate what other town centre shops were selling them and discovered the brightly coloured fun looking torches are not hard to come by.

She said: “Speaking to the shopkeepers, it is evident that there is very little general knowledge or understanding of the potential risks.

“Even in reputable shops not all staff were aware of the risks and there were no warning signs on display.”

Two stores that she visited, including the one where her son purchased a pen laser, have since withdrawn them from their shelves after Alison flagged up the dangers.

“If anyone has got them, please don’t give them to your children,” she said.

Spokesman for Herts Trading Standards Jo Brown said: “We are currently looking into a complaint we received about a store selling laser pens.

“As a general rule, toys with lasers should be labelled as laser class 1 and no higher.

“We would advise any consumers who have doubts or concerns over the safety of a product to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.”

More information on laser pens can be found on the Health Protection Agency’s website by searching the topics section at www.hpa.org.uk

A drugs mule has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after police found 96 rocks of cocaine up his back passage.

Wasim Shah, 21, was arrested in June after police raided a home in Eastwick Row, Adeyfield.

He said he had been sent there to deliver the drugs by a man he met at a bus stop.

PC Steve Mooney, from the tactical team at Hemel Hempstead Police Station, said Shah hid the drugs as police searched the property.

He said: “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and his arrest and detention in custody will mean that highly addictive Class A drugs will be removed from circulation.

“We are relentless in our pursuit in tackling drugs in Hemel Hempstead and we will continue to achieve this.”

He said anyone who thinks someone may be misusing drugs should contact police with any information by phoning the 101 non-emergency number.

Shah, who now lives in Kenley Avenue, Colindale, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the supply of class A drugs.

Bosses are being urged to let their employees work closer to home on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve by signing them up to FREE office space.

Workspace owner Regus, which has space in Milton Keynes, Luton and Hemel Hempstead, is allowing commuters and office workers the opportunity to work closer to home from one of its local centres on those two days.

Regus trialled a similar initiative for Valentine’s Day in February and it proved popular amongst professionals eager to work locally for a change and make more of their evening.

Steve Purdy, Regus’s UK managing director said: “Across our customer base we have noticed that more workers than ever have chosen not to take holiday this Christmas, perhaps reflecting the continuing pressure on jobs and workload.

“But employers can still take steps to encourage staff to enjoy a proper family Christmas and take a well-earned break, for instance by helping them avoid their usual commute and giving more control over working hours. Today’s technology means that there is nothing apart from outdated attitudes amongst some employers stopping most professionals from working where and when it suits them.”

The free workspace is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Pre-booking is recommended by phoning 0800 7562495 or visit regus.co.uk/Christmas and downloading a free pass.

Elderly people are being warned to stay vigilant following a string of distraction burglaries across Hertfordshire.

One of the 11 burglaries took place on Saturday, December 8 in Bracknall Place, Hemel Hempstead.

In most cases a man knocks at the door of an elderly person, claiming to be carrying out building work in a neighbouring property.

He says that he has burst a pipe and needs to check the victim’s water supply, distracting them while a second man enters the property and carries out the burglary.

The crooks are described as white, with Irish accents, aged between 30 and 50. One man is very slim and the second is said to be larger.

Det sgt Alex Tyrrell from the specialist team Operation Manhunt, said: “We believe all of these crimes are linked due to the descriptions of the offenders and the method they are using.

“These offenders are specifically targeting the elderly, because they are often more trusting of callers.

“I’d reassure people that we have a team of specialist officers investigating these burglaries.

“However, in the meantime I would urge people to be extra vigilant and to remind their older friends and relatives not to open the door to anyone they are not expecting.

“I’d also like to hear from anyone who may have had a similar call at their door, or if you believe you have witnessed any of these incidents.”

Anybody with information should call the police on 0845 33 00 222.

Churchgoers as young as 12 took part in a sponsored sleep out on Friday to raise funds for a team of volunteers to build homes for the poor.

Youngsters aged up to 14 were allowed to get their heads down inside St Peter and St Paul Church in Tring while church leaders and adult members of the congregation braved the cold of the lobby.

Rev Joanne Wetherall said: “We have raised between £500 and £600, which will go towards our contribution to a charity called Habit for Humanity, which our volunteer team will be working with building and repairing homes in Kyrgyzstan in July next year.

“As a parish we are working on homelessness through supporting Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter, the Children’s Society and Habitat for Humanity.”