01/12/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hallow welcome to Look North. Caught by cold case science. The

rapist who attacked his own grandmother. Fears for the future

of hundreds of jobs after cuts to green energy grounds. The Health

Minister responds to claims that one of Cumbria's Health Trust is

close to breakdown. And as December dawns, a seasonal warning from our

police forces that everyone should remember. We are live at the

Stadium of Light with more reaction to the sacking of Steve Bruce and

the very latest on the hunt for the next Sunderland manager. In the

last hour, a man who raped his own grandmother has been sent to jail

for life after scientists finally prove his guilt. John Renner Dillon,

who was 16 at the time of the offence in 1982, was originally

cleared. But in new laws were used to overturn his acquittal after a

DNA match from samples kept by the police showed he had committed the

offence. A reporter has more on the science used to trap offenders like

Dillon, who thought they had gotten away with it. I am arresting you on

suspicion of rape. Pardon? suspicion of a rate that took place

on June 1219 90. It is the moment a rapist's prime catches up with them.

He told his victim that he would never be caught, but he made

technology eventually brought him to justice. William Stanley Bates,

a rapist who was jailed for nine years. Then there is this man, who

was jailed for 14 years and Kevin like man, a serial rapist who was

jailed for life. Just three of the hundreds of cases cracked by DNA

technology. As of today, there is another. John Renner Dillon, who

raped his own grandmother. It happened at a home in the Walker

area of Newcastle in 1982. When it came to court, he was acquitted by

a jury. We got the day in a -- DNA match in 2007 and we discovered

that he was at that time wanted in connection with another rape and he

had skipped bail and we did not know where he was. We then had to

try and find him and he was eventually located in southern

Ireland... By Ben Dillon's grandmother had died. She had gone

to her grave thinking a story would never be believed and that spurred

on detectives investigating the crime. It really did. I think of

victims in these types of cases it is a huge issue when offenders are

by their are never taken to court or they are acquitted. It is a big

issue for them. It is important and I think this case demonstrates the

commitment of Northumbria Police and a our partners to make sure

that justice is done for the serious crimes. Dillon was brought

here to be sentenced this evening in a prison van, because he is

already serving a nine-year sentence for the rape of a 16 year-

old girl. This new life sentence comes after the work of scientists

from the FSS, the forensic Science Service, 80 miles away. Every major

world advances in forensic DNA technology has been developed by

the FSS. Case buyers can remain here for years, waiting for the

technology to advance still further, allowing yet another crime are to

be cracked. Here we are in the archive, the fact we have been

allowed in here is quite remarkable and in order to do so, but I am

become women had to provide the DNA swabs. If we take a look, there are

thousands and thousands of box files here, each relating to a

crime. We were asked for the small to prevent any possible cross-

contamination with what is stored here. Among those who have been in

on this technology from the start he is signed as Cathy Turner.

almost scientific perspective it is not just about getting the name, it

is about how fantastic the science has become. Back in 1982, we did

not have anything like profiling and the fact we can use some of the

metallic materials we have maintained, to be able to do this

is a eureka moment in itself. The icing on the cake is to be able to

help the criminal justice system with providing an aim to

investigate. For the FSA -- the FSS is to close. It is a government-

owned company and it is losing money. It will be transferred to

private enterprise. A parliamentary committee has questioned whether

that would hamper the work of detectives. The government says not.

The police say what won't be affected is their determination to

put criminals like John Renner Dillon or in jail. 1000 North East

workers have been told that the jobs are in jeopardy after the

government cut a green energy payment in have. Carillion has

started a 90 day consultation with staff who installed rooftop solar

panels. The tariff paid to householders for electricity

generated by the panels will be cut in 10 days' time. They are

appearing on rooftops all over the North. And no wonder, the spare a

it has degenerated they thought will fall takes over pans can be

sold to the National Grid for 43 pence per unit. But the gold rush

has been halted. The government has cut the so-called Feed-In Tariff to

just 21 pence per unit so pain for the panels will take twice as long

and a man will probably plummet. That is why Carillion has put its

renewable energy staff on notice. Carillion only bought the former

home insulation agency EAGA in April for �300 million. 1000 former

EAGA staff here in the North East transferred to Carillion. They are

among a total of 4500 staff were now the subject of the 90 day

consultation on the jobs. Their plight sparked a fierce exchange in

the Commons today. Because of this government's were us changes to the

Feed-In Tariff that goes too far too fast, thousands of jobs are at

risk. Last night 4500 staff at Carillion were warned that the jobs

could go. We are doing a best to contain the trouble caused by the

ineffective scheme that her government set up. We will put the

industry back and sustainable footing and will do the right thing

by consumers who she has the -- can be easily forgotten about. Career

and's Newcastle headquarters is the former Northern Rock headquarters.

The building seems to be ill fated. Carillion staff will learn their

fate on 1st March. A woman has appeared in court charged with the

attempted murder of a pensioner in North Yorkshire. 84 year-old was

hit with a hammer in public toilet in Leyburn on Monday. Ellen Pounder,

who is 47 and from the Carperby area of Leyburn, was remanded in

custody. The health secretary Andrew Lansley says it is not his

job to intervene over planes at hospitals in north Cumbria were on

the verge of the care crisis. Earlier this week, senior doctors

in Carlisle and why take until the BBC's Inside Out programme that

staff shortages and the threat of further cuts have left the North

Cumbria NHS Trust at breaking point. But today, Mr Lansley said there

was a system in place to tackle concerns over patient care. Andrew

Lansley was in our lives today to officially open a new counselling

Centre at the Eden Valley Hospice. His visit was overshadowed by

questions regarding claims of the looming care crisis at hospitals in

Carlisle and Whitehaven. Earlier this week, senior doctors made

shocking claims to the BBC's Inside Out grow programme. In it seems

that that system is close to breakdown. A I cannot deny that.

Consultants say it could be as bad as a scandal which engulfed a

hospital in Mid Staffordshire were many patients died, although trust

managers say that is not the case. Mr Lansley also denied that.

would not make comparisons, I have been to a hospital and I know

exactly what happened and it was a culture that people try to suppress,

rather than expose it. However, when he did not deny that there

were problems, he said that there was a system in place to tackle

them. They have a responsibility to the Premier Care Trust to ensure

that there patients were referred receive high quality services and

if they are not, to flight that up, take action themselves, or if they

are concerned about quality to raise concerns. Bell Secretary also

back the North Cumbria University NHS Trust's position that services

would remain intact, but said a takeover of the trust would sell

its finances and stabilise its future. �3 million. That is how

much the criminal investigation into corruption at Cleveland Police

is expected to cost. What is worse is the bill for that investigation

will have to be picked up by local taxpayers. The revelation about the

expected cost him after one of the region's MPs raised concerns with

the government. This investigation was never going to be cheap. But

few imagined it was ever going to be this expensive. With no end in

sight, Cleveland Police the authority believes Operation

Sacristy could end up costing local taxpayers �3 million. I am very

worried. We have up to �3 million now and it is the first time we

know how much it will cost that the council tax payers of Cleveland

will have to pay. 22 officers are involved in this investigation,

that is a costly enterprise and unless the Home Office wishes to

come in behind the police authority, at the rate payers Bill, the

council tax payers bill will keep going up. Plays! The controversy

has not affected his day-job of fighting crime and the police have

RTE says it has already asked the Home Office to help pay for the

inquiry. But Middlesbrough's Mayor says he is angry that he has been

kept in the dark about the potential cost of the investigation.

It is very sad that you are telling me what the cost will be an that

suggest to me that the police authority and a crystal ball and

can see into the future. What would have been nice is that be told the

public officials what the cost will be. Ray Mallon says he will now be

writing to the Cleveland Police that a -- plane and police

authority to demand answers. Meanwhile Warwickshire Police, the

force investigating the corruption claims says it is conducting its

inquiries as quickly as possible. It stresses that these are serious

allegations into serious crimes. Coming up soon, we will be joining

Jeff Brown live from the Stadium of Light for the latest on the Steve

Bruce sacking and we will make the race horse who is competing for it

top award, with a little help from his best friend. Coming up in your

weather, news of thing that been night ahead. -- net been night. It

comes round as regularly as Christmas, as our police forces

launched their annual drink-drive campaigns. In Middlesbrough,

officers were using an ingenious method to show people just how much

a few drinks can affect their judgment, even the following day.

One in four people arrested for drink-driving in the Cleveland

force area last Christmas was stop the morning after. Keep going, keep

going keep going. The first be in Middlesbrough town centre. Played

them police officers are spreading the word that you can still be over

the limit at the day after an evening drinking. They will go up

the night before, have a drink, they might have a limited amount of

sleep and they have to get up early to go to work, take the children to

school perhaps, and they do not realise that the alcohol stays in

the body for a considerable period of time. It takes about an hour for

every unit to get out of your system. Of officers but also

brandishing these, glasses but suggest how you doesn't it changes

after a few glasses of wine. Clearly it would be better if that

if I did not have my heels on! That is really interesting. I thought I

had really follow the line, it just goes to show. It was the glass is

almost. You are a good fit a way. We wa or! I thought I was walking

on the line. This morning, nobody tested was over the limit, but

leave them police will be stepping Time for sport now and the hunt for

a new manager for Sunderland Football Club after yesterday's

sacking of Steve Bruce. Jeff Brown is live for us at the Stadium of

Light. Spotted anyone? It has actually been very busy here

today, but nothing to do with football. Sunderland University is

holding its winter graduation ceremonies here at the stadium,

this week. Sadly, Steve Bruce failed to stay

the course with the football club. He was sacked last night after just

under two and a half years in charge. For the past 24 hours, it

has been the talk of Wearside. The Sunderland Echo runs off the

presses this morning - the first time the local paper has had the

chance to reflect on Steve Bruce's sacking.

It was the home defeat to bottom club Wigan and the fans' reaction

that finally led the owner-chairman Ellis Short to remove Bruce. But a

record of only 29 wins in almost 100 games ultimately cost him his

job after two and a half years. After the Wigan game, it was a

matter of when and not if he would go off. The last couple of months,

people have been very down and not wanting to go to games. Some fans

have even been coming in saying they hoped the team would lose so

that it would mean the manager got the sack.

Some Sunderland fans had always been suspicious of the boyhood

Newcastle supporter from when he was appointed. And two losses and

one draw in the last three meetings with the old enemy did not help

matters. The unexpected 5-1 humiliation at

St. James's Park last season was followed this term by defeat at the

Stadium of Light in the opening game. I thought at first when we

were doing well that they would give him a chance. I think the game

against Wigan was the last straw for a lot of fans. He has had

plenty of time and spend plenty of money. The WHO would you like to

see him in his place? A I would like to see Martin O'Neill. I do

not think he had enough time. And I am not keen on Martin O'Neill.

The debate over Bruce's successor has already started.

Well, with me is Graeme Anderson, who has followed the ups and the

downs of Sunderland Football Club for many years.

Most people could see this coming, but not Steve Bruce? The we are

quite awful that in the next 24 hours a new manager will be

appointed. Should it be Martin O'Neill? I am not sure. Martin

O'Neill is certain what the guy they wanted. Mark Hughes is also

been mentioned. It he is the next manager, what sort of job will he

do? I think he will be great. He also has the club at heart. Martin

O'Neill was a Sunderland fan as a boy. Where are you surprised by the

sacking? I was at that. He is a good man, a decent man. But they

had a couple of winnable games coming up against Wales and

Blackburn. If he had stayed on their mood, who knows? -- will for

Hampton and Blackburn. From football to horseracing. There

will be a North versus South battle at a top London hotel tonight, as

owners and trainers compete for honours at a prestigious awards

ceremony. Mark Tulip's been to North Yorkshire to find out how one

of the nominees is shaping up. Meet Almaty Express, who has been

nominated for an award in the Outstanding All-Weather Horse

category and, to an outsider at least, his unusual stablemate - a

goat called - wait for it - Billy! They got keeps him company. He does

a lot of walking around in his box. Almaty Express has not shown too

many nerves at Wolverhampton, where the nine-year-old has chalked up

more wins than any other horse since all-weather racing started

there in 1993. On the picturesque gallops above

the Ashgill Stables near Middleham, the horse, second from the front,

prepares for his next race. His success on the track means John,

whose dad and grandad were both trainers, and partner Kirsty will

attend the Racehorse Owners' Association Awards at London's Park

Lane Hilton. The family tradition began with

Ernie Weymes's dad Jack. After the second world war, he got a

trainer's licence and, unfortunately, he died when I was

24 years old. A that would have made to the youngest trainer in the

country? Yes, I was. We have got a belt up here and every time we the

horse wins, we ring the bell. A lot of the stables used to have it, to

let everyone who work there know that the stable had had a winner,

but I think this is one of the only ones left.

And visitors to the stables can always hear when things are going

well. He does have a way with animals!

Staying in North Yorkshire racing, but with four wheels, a group of

enthusiasts have decided to recreate the good old days by

inventing an RAC Rally of their own, named after one of Britain's

successful drivers. Tomorrow, the eighth Roger Albert Clark Rally

starts in Duncombe Park, near Helmsley, before winding its way

through our region, with a special ceremonial finish in Carlisle on

The Lombard RAC Rallies were petrolhead heaven.

Recreating those iconic races of the 1960s, 70s and 80s is no mean

feat. For one thing, most of the vehicles have to be from that era -

cars like the Mark I and Mark II Ford Escort, the Porsche 911 and my

personal favourite, the Lancia Fulvia.

It is an expensive and time- consuming habit, attracting high

profile drivers from all over the country and abroad - and even those

who are more at home on the track, like Le Mans driver Guy Smith.

is just a way different to what I am normally used to. Whenever you

go through a forest that 100 miles per hour, it is very exciting. My

brother is taking part as well, so there will be a bit of sibling

rivalry. He is pretty quick, but I'm going to try and beat him.

all dreamt about doing things like this, so it is just really reliving

their youth. And for others, it is

With special stages in North Yorkshire, Northumberland and

Cumbria, as well as a track stage at Croft, there is a chance for

spectators across our region to watch the spectacle as it happens

and relive a little part of the dream.

Now Jeff, with that late breaking news last night about Steve Bruce

being sacked, we did not have room for our second Unsung Hero feature.

I hope you are going to put that right tonight?

We certainly are. Better late than never - and well worth waiting for.

We sent along Commonwealth Champion swimmer Chris Cook to meet the

latest contender - a woman who spends every spare minute dedicated

to the triathlon. Sandra is a born organiser. She is the Secretary of

Cleveland triathlon Club. She has been committed to the sport for 22

years. She is always the first person you meet when you come to

the club. She is so welcoming. She is the heart of the club. I was new

to the sport and trying to start with one Sport instead of even

three, she was so encouraging. She has helped me so much. She gives a

and 30 a was a week to help the club. She is there all year round.

She also does fundraising activities. It is not just as here,

but people in the local communities. The amount of events she makes

happen in the region, not just for us, but for schools and community

groups, is amazing. She also runs her own event, which is all down to

her hard work. Does she find time for anything else? Well,

occasionally. I used to do all they had none at myself and do training

and mile and Shell was. Really, you never stop. I do not think anyone

in this club would have done it without Sandra. She plays such a

pivotal role. And we will see our final Unsung

Hero tomorrow night. The winner will be announced at the BBC North

East Sports Awards next Wednesday. Who knows, Sunderland might even

have found themselves a new manager by then! They are hoping to confirm

Martin O'Neill as their manager by then.

Thanks Jeff. Now, get ready for the Aah Factor.

This kitten survived a four-mile journey, stuck inside a car wheel.

Ian Squires and his wife were driving from Beckermet in Cumbria

to Egremont. They thought they heard meowing and even stopped to

search the engine compartment, but it was not until they stopped at a

garage that the kitten was found hiding in a wheel arch. Poor little

thing, I do not know how many leaves it used up there. It

deserves a nicely done a one basket tonight.

Now let us see what the weather has It is looking a bit more wintry as

we head into December. We have got a north-westerly breeze pushing and

which will bring a few showers as well. We have had a few showers

this afternoon, mainly in Cumbria, but they are pushing out now. In

the North East, we have it clear skies and will see temperatures

there for dropping down to-one or minus two degrees. In the rural

areas, it will drop by a few degrees below that. The blue on the

chart, is the heavy frost. Some icy patches where we had these showers,

so look out for them first thing in the morning. It is a bat dry and

bright start in the morning. But for Cumbria, through the morning,

the cloud will push him. It will bring an increasingly heavier

outbreaks of rain. In the North East, you will hold on to the

brightness through the afternoon, but temperatures not reflecting

that - five to seven degrees Celsius. Into Friday night and that

rain continues to keep south and east. It will gradually clear

through Saturday, but in the wake of that cold front, we can expect

cold winds to continue over the weekend. It will have that crisp

and wintry feel to it. Here is the summary and tomorrow, the best of

the brightness. The best light ways on Sunday. Sandwich between our

showers on Saturday. For Cumbria, always in the firing line for the