05/09/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Welcome to Monday's Look North. In tonight's headlines. An inquest

jury hears how police found notes threatening suicide and a noose at

the home of the gunman Raoul Moat. The policeman shot by Moat

announces he's leaving his family home to help his rehabilitation.

Also tonight - revamp row, a public meeting over the Duke's grand plan

for a Northumberland town. I think it's a load of rubbish. Why? What's

wrong with Prudhoe? What's wrong with it?

And in at the deep end. We join the sailing crews at a Tyneside college,

training for the trip of a lifetime. In sport, we look back at a big

weekend of cricket - the good, the bad and the washout!

And living the dream - the Northumberland referee off to

It is the one part of the story we don't yet know - exactly what

happened between the police and Raoul Moat when the gunman was

cornered after his shooting spree. Today, an inquest opened into

Moat's death. Over the next four weeks, it should fill in those gaps.

Moat shot and injured his former girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, and

shot dead her new boyfriend, Christopher Brown. He also shot and

blinded PC David Rathband. Our Chief Reporter, Chris Stewart, has

been at the inquest for us. Chris, what have we heard today?

This inquest of concentrate on the six hours of the stand-off between

Raoul Moat and the police. Today has all been about background, what

led to that stand-off. If we thought we know everything

there is to know about Raoul Moat, we were wrong. This afternoon, we

learned a little more. And we learned it from the man on the

right here. Detective Superintendent Jim Napier, who led

the investigation into Moat's crimes. He told the jury about a

noose which the police found on the loft hatch at his home in Newcastle.

And that six notes in which Moat threatens suicide were also found.

He also told the inquest that Moat had five children to four different

mothers. That he had been arrested by Northumbria Police on 12

occasions, but that only one of those, for an assault, led to the

conviction for which Moat was imprisoned. Four days after his

release, Moat shot and injured his old girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart,

and her new boyfriend, Christopher Brown. Then he called 999. What you

are about to hear has never been played outside a courtroom before.

I have got two hostages. Where are you? I'll not tell you where I am.

Can I confirm who you are? What is your date of birth? 17th June 1973.

I am very sorry that what has happened to Sam. But this other

idiot in the paper, I heard rumours in Jail about him and Sam. He said

he heard the same rumours in jail but he did not believe it is true.

After the shooting of PC David Rathband came this call, again,

never broadcast before. Are you taking us seriously now? Are you

taking me serious now? I have just downed your officer at the

roundabout. I am going to destroy a few lives like you destroyed mine.

Everything I had, everything, you have taken away, you have taken it.

I have got no life. There is nothing left. This is what happens

when you push, push and push. Are you proud of yourselves? Does this

make you happy now, people are getting hurt now?

Much of what has been said today was to provide context for what

happened here at Rothbury after Moat was cornered by the police. A

key issue is the police use of Tasers in this operation. The

coroner has told the members of the jury they will know an awful lot

about Tasers before the hearing is over.

We've previously been told that Moat had a grudge against the

police. Was anything said about that at today's inquest.

He claimed that he had been stopped at the wheel of his car by police

185 times. It is worth noting the fact that he was besotted with

Samantha Stobbart and said that her decision to push in out of her life

meant that she effectively pulled the trigger.

Thanks for that. Meanwhile, the police officer

blinded by Raoul Moat has said he's moving out of his family home. PC

David Rathband was arrested on suspicion of assault at his

Cramlington home last month. He says his decision was nothing to do

with his recent arrest but to help his continuing rehabilitation. Our

Correspondent Mark Denten reports. A highly public figure since he was

shot and blinded. And right by his side, his wife Kath. Now PC

Rathband says, although he's still married, he'll live seperately from

his family as he starts his rehabilitation. Neil knows just

what that means. Five years ago, he was a computor games artist. Then

diabetes blinded him. Then his marriage broke up. Now he's on a

training programme. But it has been a long, hard road. Half the week, I

go home and shut the door and I want to scream. But if you keep

screaming, eventually, it starts to hurt. If you have that much anger,

you bottle it up inside, then it will burst at some point. It has to.

When it bursts, it is likely to affect the relationships around you.

Neil's now learning how to use specially adapted equipment. But

it's not all about tech. Here they say family support's crucial.

essential. We do come across people who are isolated and that alone.

But any support at the people can have from their families, and it is

difficult, it is so valuable. David Rathband has issued a

statement saying that his decision is to help his continuing

rehabilitation and has nothing to Library staff in a North Yorkshire

seaside resort have been praised for their quick thinking after

helping police arrest a man wanted in connection with a murder in

Hexham. 47-year-old Graeme Jarman, from Consett in County Durham, was

recognised while browsing round Filey Library at the weekend.

Northumbria Police have been given more time to question Mr Jarman in

connection with their inquiries into the killing of pensioner

Judith Richardson. Peter Lugg reports.

On Saturday, a member of staff for the library recognised Graeme

Jarman and called the police. He is still being questioned about the

murder in Hexham of pensioner Judith Richardson. We understand

that staff here recognised him from a photograph said to libraries all

over the country. They made a Law approach but called the police and

kept him under observation. The town's mayor said that there

library staff should be complimented for their quick

reactions. I think they handled it in a very professional manner and

that they should be commended. The pictures of the man kept changing.

I think they did a really good job to recognise him. This is a quiet

Edwardian seaside resort and an unlikely place for a nationwide

manhunt to end. The arrest has made big news among the local people.

is very frightening. It is a lovely place. I think he came here because

he thought nobody would recognise them. What better place to take

refuge, in a quiet town? Northumbria Police have thanked the

public and the media for their A son accused of murdering his own

father has made his first appearance at Newcastle Crown Court.

85-year-old Francis Willis went missing from his home in Gateshead

last month. His remains were found buried in his garden in Leam Lane.

A post mortem examination revealed he'd died as a result of blunt

force trauma to the head. 62-year- old Francis Willis junior from Carr

Lane in Gateshead was remanded in custody.

People opposed to an underground nuclear waste store in west Cumbria

have presented a petition to the county council. It calls for the

authority and the district councils to withdraw from the discussion.

The Leader of Copeland Council, Elaine Woodburn, says the petition

will be considered, but the majority view will be the most

important. After two months of closure, the

maternity unit at Bishop Auckland hospital is resuming service. It

means expectant mums will no longer be forced to travel to other

hospitals like Durham University or North Tees. The unit was

temporarily closed in the summer because a lack of midwives meant it

was unsafe to keep the ward open. Rescuers spent more than two hours

searching for a man who accidentally sent a Mayday message

from his boat on a Cumbrian Lake. Liverpool Coastguard sent out two

search boats and members of the Patterdale Mountain rescue team

looked for the Lancashire man from the shore. He's said to have

apologised profusely when he was found, safe and well, at Howtown.

He told rescuers he'd just been showing a friend how to use the

radio system. Each of the bought had it two people on it. So I

believe that 10 man-hours were used of research which was unfortunate,

but better than that having somebody a loss. It exercises the

systems to make sure that their work. But it is obviously something

we can do without. But these things do occasionally happen.

The developers say it'll transform a Northumberland town. Objectors

say it's too big and will ruin it. The town in question is Prudhoe.

And the controversial plans have been put forward by the Duke of

Northumberland's company Northumberland Estates. Their �20

million development includes a supermarket, 150 properties and a

new town square. Well, tonight the people of Prudhoe are having their

say at a public meeting that started a few minutes ago. Keith

Akehurst reports. Much of the development is on fields behind

Front Street. The British Legion will be flattened. A block of five

shops will be pulled down and a second block refurbished. I have

got five members of staff here, they have all got livelihoods. How

do we plan for our business? We try to plan at least 12 months ahead

and how can you do that? We do not law we will Bobby in five years --

we do not know where we will be in five years.

Northumberland Estates put forward plans five years ago. Passed by the

old Tynedale Council, they were overturned by a judicial review.

Amended proposals before Northumberland Council have

attracted 5,000 objections. affects the trade, which is my

first concern. And your talking about a large scale development. We

believe it is overbearing and out of scale with the town. We are

going to lose their view. Apart from that, we will have a road

carrying over 2000 vehicles a day. Shoppers, though, seem divided.

would do a lot of good for the town. I prefer that the way it is. At the

get will be a brilliant idea. of the ideas are good, but it is a

shame about the businesses that will suffer. It will not seem like

the same place to be. I think it is a bad idea. We need a supermarket,

but that is it. Northumberland Estates says, "New

investment, employment, growth, an improved town centre and a better

choice of shops - this is a very real opportunity for the town at a

time of worldwide economic depression". Keith Akehurst, BBC

Look North, Prudhoe. You can now buy your own Legoman.

It was part of a controversial sculpture in Newcastle city centre

taken down in 2008. Now, the city council has put it up for sale on

Ebay. So far there have been 18 bids for the Legoman, with the

current bid standing at �206. The auction will run for another nine

days. You're watching Look North. Still

to come tonight. A Tyne landmark gets a makeover. Ocean's 11 - the

sailing crews training on Tyneside to meet the demands of a round the

world race. When the Gateshead Millennium

Bridge opened 10 years ago, it became an instant icon for the

region. Just about everybody loved it. But there was one thing a lot

of people didn't like. The piles, set into the water below, to guide

shipping down the River Tyne. Well, in the blink of an eye, or at least,

over the next few weeks, those piles will disappear. And no-one

will be happier than the architect who designed the bridge. Damian

O'Neil reports. 10 years on the Millennium Bridge

is now as much a part of the quayside as is bigger more

established crossing further upstream. Even let it if it is that

your favourite, most people do like it. But not many people like the

lumps of metal rising out of the water. They were installed on the

order of their port of politic. They are not complimentary. --

They are being removed, how do you feel about that? I have to see it

is a real delight. I will be sending my photographer back. I

think it is good. We always felt that they would be removed at some

point. Our engineers thought they were a bit of overkill. The piles

have never been popular. Although it is not official that they will

be removed, and announcement is expected next week. Hopefully, the

Millennium Bridge will finally be seem as it was meant to be.

The Bridge, of course, keeps you out of the water. So why would you,

willingly, plunge into freezing temperatures and face waves up to

five feet high? That's what sailing crews from around the world are

doing at a training centre in South Tyneside. The indoor course at the

college in South Shields is preparing sailors for the world

famous Volvo Ocean race, formerly the Whitbread Around The World race.

Here's Adele Robinson. Thousands of miles ahead of them,

sailing over the world's most treacherous seas. For these crew

members, this training could prove prove the difference between life

There have been incidents where people have gone overboard. People

have lost their lives and boats have had to be abandoned. What they

learn here is very important. We try to make this as realistic as

possible. And this has been what they are preparing for. The Volvo

Ocean race, three people have died taking part. It is renowned for its

physical endurance and unpredictable conditions. Skipper

Nick is well-versed. The board I was on was sinking. We had to do a

transfer at sea on to another board. The one thing you cannot assimilate

is the stress involved. We go through the mechanics and it is

left up to the people to be level- headed and put in what we have

learned. The teams simulate reactions and true-to-life

conditions. All to prepare them for some of the world's most

inhospitable seas. The pull can generate waves, wind,

rain, dark this. It does not get as rough as the Southern Ocean, but it

does give them a feel for it. This is one of the best facilities

available. The cruiser will experience hunger and sleep

deprivation, but this training may Not my idea of fun.

It looks horrendous. Plenty of people got better over

the weekend! What a disappointment.

Let's start with cricket and a mixed bag of results and non-

results for Durham, Yorkshire and England over the weekend. While

Yorkshire look almost certain to be relegated after bad light forced a

draw at Edgbaston, Durham's win at Hove keeps alive their hopes of

Hove keeps alive their hopes of winning the Division One county

title. Both their rivals play their game in hand this week. Sadly,

Durham's hopes of another Lord's Cup final, though, have been dashed.

Here's Mark Tulip. Durham fans were hoping to book

their tickets for a first Lord's their tickets for a first Lord's

one day cup final since 2007. Until his runout Dale Benkenstein had

held the innings together after the visitors had lost four early

wickets. You always had the feeling, though, that 219 wouldn't be enough.

And Somerset at times seemed to be cruising towards their target. When

the rain came, it was too late to save Durham with the match

eventually awarded to Somerset by 39 runs, using the Duckworth-Lewis

calculation. Back home at Chester- le-Street, on Saturday, the

brollies didn't go up until 3 o clock. And most of the capacity

crowd stayed for an hour or two longer in the vain hope of seeing a

result of some kind. It was a still proud day on his home ground for

Ben Stokes despite this spilled catch, and Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan

put the brakes on India at the end to keep the score well below 300.

But despite the rain and the queues for the loos more useful experience

for a venue which will host an Ashes Test in 2013. Mark Tulip, BBC

Look North, Chester-le-Street. Football now, and in League One

Hartlepool leapfrogged Carlisle in the table after a win at Victoria

Park which takes them up to sixth. Exeter's fans had made the long

trek from Devon. Their hosts gave a debut to number 12, ex-Sunderland

defender Stephen Wright. The early opening goal was a case of if at

first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. Gary Liddle finally

forcing the ball in. Pools left it late to make the game safe, Nathan

Luscombe preserving their unbeaten record in the league. Meanwhile the

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott felt his side made it too easy for

leaders MK Dons, who already led 2- 0 when Lee Miller got the Cumbrians

back into it. Full back Dean Lewington made it 3-1 for the

visitors. Carlisle will now look to bounce back as they begin the

defence of their Football League Trophy at Accrington tomorrow night.

Meanwhile two goals from Gateshead's Kris Gate at home to

Alfeton keep them joint top of the Conference Premier.

It was a disappointing start to rugby union's Premiership season

for Newcastle Falcons. A break from Sam Vesty put Matt Cararro through

for Bath's try, the only one of the match, and while the Golden Boot of

Jimmy Gopperth kept the Falcons in the game at the break, Bath's

defence kept the home side out in the second half while Vesty's

kicking ensured Newcastle didn't even come away with a bonus point.

Now, the Rugby World Cup starts on Friday, and one man who's going to

be at the centre of the action is Ashington referee Dave Pearson. We

caught up with him at Gosforth Rugby Club before he flew off to

He's sin-binned the now England manager and he's one of the

country's top referees officiating in the premiership and at

international level. In the last World Cup, he was video ref and ran

the line. But this time, Dave Pearson, sporting his new Maori-

inspired black England kit, is in the middle. He'll referee four pool

games to begin with - Romania v Scotland, Japan v Tonga, Russia v

USA and Georgia v Romania. So which is he looking forward to most?

first one. We put a hard worker him -- we have put it the hard work in

it and I cannot wait to get started. Like the players, if he performs

well, he could find himself in the knock-out stages and, although he's

45, Dave has to make sure he's as fit as the players as well.

Training the Northumberland referees has helped get him into

shape. We have to be very fit. We know where GP s systems on the

pitch to track our movements. We can run up to eight kilometres on

While rugby referees don't have to put up with the same amount of

abuse and back chat as their football counterparts, it's not an

easy ride, so what is the upside of being the man in the middle? I have

the best seat in the House and I get him for nothing. It is superbly.

They alter met would be to referee the final? It would be. But I am an

Englishman and hopefully England will be in the final.

In boxing, a points victory in his tenth professional fight for ex-

Olympic medallist Tony Jeffries in Doncaster. But the Sunderland

super-middleweight, who had a cut eye for nearly half the bout,

failed to impress and was branded too predictable by his own promoter.

Meanwhile, after a bright start, Darlington roofer Stuey Hall, here

on the right, lost his bantamweight title fight on points to Jamie

McDonnell at the same venue. That was a big disappointment. But

he has got a Lonsdale Belt. He has defended his title three times.

defended his title three times. It is turning up wet overnight and

The weather will ruffle a few feathers tomorrow. It is going to

get very windy this week. It will term wet tonight as well, from the

West. By their early hours, most places will be very wet indeed. We

could have up to and enjoy even more. -- 01 inch of rain. We could

have winds of 20 miles an our in places. The gusts could be up to 25

mph. A very wet start to the day tomorrow. A really miserable start.

The wind will come from the West, South West. They could easily cause

problems for high-sided vehicles. By teatime, the rain will have

cleared well. These are the sustained wind speeds, but there

gust so will be even stronger. Very unsettled over the next few days.

This is the big picture. Isobars packed tightly together. It was

stay windy through Wednesday, but thirsty will be a, a day. --

Thursday. On Friday, another weather system it sweeps in from

the north. Thunder showers for the West are possible on Thursday.

Thank you very much. Now a final look at tonight's headlines. The

first batch of free schools are opening. The Government denies

they're for the privileged few. Paid for by the state, they're run

by organisations like charities, faith groups and parents. The