25/04/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Look North. Tonight, the unanswered question in the Raoul Moat affair.

Why was he released from jail and allowed to kill after making a

series of threats? An exclusive report coming up.

Three die, including a baby, in a horrific head-on crash involving a

car and a lorry. Also tonight, "it's murder", say

police investigating the death of an 81-year-old man.

A �30,000 insult - why the family of a woman killed in a terrorist

attack believe their compensation payout isn't enough.

And help around the house for heroes from the British Legion when

you can no longer do it yourself. In sport, a couple of our local

heroes tell us what they think about the top-class Olympic

football that's heading north. But a row over access to a planned

new stadium means we won't be playing host to the Rugby League

We start tonight with a Look North exclusive. The one question about

the Raoul Moat affair that's never been answered, until now. While he

was in Durham Prison, Moat made a series of threats against his

former girlfriend and her new boyfriend. So why was Moat then

released and allowed to go on to kill in Gateshead that night in

July 2010? Our investigation into this story's final missing link has

That a warning passed on by a prison officer bounced around

various in-trays after Moat was released and had already begun

And that when an urgent email was finally sent, it went unread

because it arrived at 4.15pm on a Friday afternoon, when the police

officers it was sent to had already Our chief reporter, Chris Stewart,

joins us. Month and month and we have always known that when prison

officers did speak to police officers around the time of Moat's

release, but until tonight, we have not been able to tell you what was

said and when. And what exactly happened from the moment the

authorities knew that Moat posed a possible danger.

Durham prison, where Raoul Moat was serving a sentence for assault and

where he sat plotting his murderous revenge after being told his

girlfriend had dumped him for a new man. He shed those plans with a

fellow prisoner. Moat made a specific threat that he would shoot

the woman who had dumped him, Samantha Stobbart, and also the man

she had dumped him for, Christopher Brown. He also said he had access

to firearms. In made past the admission on to a prison officer

but watered down the nature of the threat, so when the prison officer

completed bodies called a Security Information Report, he wrote that

Moat intended to serious it has sold his partner, but he also wrote

the inmate had said whatever the outcome, he would not be returning

to prison. That day was Thursday, 1st July. Moat had been released

earlier that day. We have now established that over the next 24

hours, that Security Information Report bounced around the prison

from in-tray to in-tray. It was seen and signed by at least three

officers. Moat, remember, was now on his way to collect the gun and

ammunition he needed to carry out his threat. It was not until mid-

afternoon on July 2nd, more than a day after Moat had been released,

that the report was seen by a fourth person, a probation officer,

has realised something had to be done straight away. So she

immediately contacted Northumbria Police Public Protection Unit. She

told them about the security of report and the threat it contained.

But the police say it was not presented to them as high risk and

they did not have Samantha Stobbart on their files as Moat's partner.

The probation officer then cocked - - contacted a prison intelligence

officer, who sent an email to the police, and the report was now

marked as urgent. The man arrived with the Northumbria Police Force

Information Bureau at 4:15pm. Moat, by now, was busy on the streets of

Tyneside finalising his plan. But guess what? Email arrived when

staff at the Police Information Bureau had gone home for the

weekend. They have knocked off just a quarter of an hour earlier. 10

hours later, Christopher Brown lay dead. Moat had shot him at close

range with a shotgun, just as he had said he would. Samantha

Stobbart suffered such -- horrendous injuries when she, too,

was shot. Police officer David Rathband was blinded by a shotgun

blast and would later take his own life. The IPCC was called in

immediately after the shootings. Its report is yet to be published

and it is closely guarded by we have managed to obtain a copy. In

it, the police are criticised but the report says their failings were

a performance issue rather than a disciplinary matter for the

officers involved. Christopher Brown was later arrested -- laid to

rest in his hometown of Slough. Nobody can know whether you would

have lived had things not gone wrong. The report does not

speculate on that. But it concludes by stating Northumbria Police have

recognised the need for improvement and have already identified how

this can be achieved. So, Chris, presumably the police

and the Prison Service are aware of these apparent failings? Yes. It is

fair to say the authorities aren't exactly happy we now have this

information and there have been attempts to stop us telling this

story. However, the senior police officer did speak to me this

afternoon and many will recognise him from the original hunt for Moat

with his accomplices. He has been telling me that the intelligence

from the Prison Service simply was not specific enough for the police

to raise the alarm. I asked him if he was disappointed about that.

It's not for me to comment on what Durham prison did with intelligence.

We can only deal with what was sent to us and what was actually

presented to us. The issue around what Durham prison did with the

intelligence, how they have a debt, the time they took to deal with it,

-- how they handled it, the information and prioritising and

how what was passed on, is a matter for them. But it does seem clear to

me from your answer there that you think you, as an organisation, are

less culpable than the Prison Service? Again, I don't want to get

into blaming any organisation. I can only speak for the actions of

our officers within the police and the organisation itself. I repeat

again, based on the circumstances, what was known at the time and,

more importantly, what was not known, when it was passed on to us,

our officers do with it anyway that they deal with information on a

regular basis. But what I want to make clear is, the investigation

and the prosecution's of the culprits clearly showed how focused

and absolutely fixated Raoul Moat was on causing this devastation and

destruction, and to try to suggest we could have prevented that is a

step too far. If so that is Detective Superinendent Neil

Adamson from the police. Him intelligence was passed to

police but the spokesman said to comment further would be

inappropriate. It has not the impetus -- yet been decided whether

there is to be an inquest into the death of Christopher Brown. If that

happens, it will happen in public, and we could see officers,

including prison officers, having to answer questions which they

Three people have been killed this afternoon in a head-on crash

involving a car and a lorry in County Durham. For the latest on

that story, let's join Stephanie Lloyd on our news camera. What more

do we know? We know the crash happened on the eve be 104 -- B

1044. The collision of Dame Renault Megane and a Volvo truck. All of

those who died were travelling in the car and in the last half-hour,

we have learned they were all from the same family. A one-year-old

baby girl was on the back seat, one of the victims. The other victims

were a 75-year-old man, an 80-year- old woman, who was the rear

passenger, and another woman, a front seat passenger, is being

treated for serious injuries. The force of the crash resulted in the

lorry going through a fence and into hedges and coming up an

embankment before coming to a rest on a golf course. The 42-year-old

lorry-driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by

dangerous driving. We will have more on this in the late news.

A murder investigation has been launched after a pensioner was

found dead at his home in Middlesbrough. The 81-year-old man,

who's been named locally as Colin Dunford, died from serious head

injuries. He was discovered inside his house in the Gresham area of

town on Monday night. Today neighbours have been paying tribute

to someone they described as kind, gentle and without an enemy in the

world, as Stuart Whincup reports. As forensic officers continue to

search the property, neighbours speak of their shock and sadness.

The 81-year-old man, named locally as Colin Dunford, was well-known

and well-liked. One described him as a real gentleman without an

enemy in the world. He was a regular in the local working-men's

club, and would go everyday at the same time. When he didn't turn up,

his friends called the police. was just a lovely fellow. He would

come down and liked to crack jokes with us, having a laugh with us.

Basically, that is it. That is the type of guy peoples. No harm to

anybody. A lot of people here are feeling the same way. People here

say they've been shocked to see their ordinary street turned into a

crime scene. Patrols in the area have been steeped up in an attempt

to reassure residents. All ask the same question - why would anyone

attack a popular and gentle old man? He was a very quiet fellow. A

very nice man, yes. It is a big shock, I must say. You read so many

things... When it is four, five doors away from you, that is

another thing. It is just scary. It is bad and sad. Very sad. When you

get to that age and you're on your own. You don't know what is

happening nowadays, do you? This evening, the police are appealing

for anyone with information to come forward but so far there has been

no arrest. Stuart joins us live now from our

Teesside newsroom. Stuart, what are the police saying this evening?

Initially, this was treated as a suspicious death but detectives say

that changed when they saw the results of the postmortem, which

showed Colin Dunford had suffered serious head injuries after a

brutal attack. We saw the forensics search and house-to-house inquiries

and we have also been told officers are trawling through CCTV footage.

There are a number of cameras in the area and we are told the

pensioner had a set routine, going to his club every day. Hopefully

the footed will show us what he was doing in the hours before his death.

-- the footage. A County Durham family caught up in

a terrorist attack in Turkey have spoken of their shock at the

reduced compensation they're being offered. Helyn Bennett, from

Spennymoor, was killed in a bomb explosion in 2005. Five of her

relatives were injured and still suffer to this day. They were

initially awarded �1.1 million, but that's now been reduced to less

than �30,000 after the Turkish government rejected their claim, as

Damian O'Neil reports. The minibus bomb that killed Helyn

Bennett during her summer holiday in Turkey also took the lives of

four other people and injured five members of Helyn's family. Their

lives have never been the same. remember all of it when I woke up.

I had to shout at somebody to get me up because I thought they might

incur was dead. I was hanging on the side. I now can't hear properly

and I have got 10 it has all the time. They damaged my eyes. I have

got nerve damage to my left leg, which will be continuous for the

rest of my life. I have just got to manage it. The man who planted the

bomb was given six life sentences, and a Turkish judge initially

awarded the family �1.1 million in compensation. But the Turkish

government appealed against the award, and now the family are being

offered less than 30,000 between them. Helyn's uncle, who was badly

injured in the blast, says there are double standards at play.

are saying it had nothing to do with Turkey because we were blown

up in their country, so they are giving us the least amount possible.

It seems a shame because the London bombings, there were Turkish

nationals involved and they receive compensation directly from our

government. No arguments or nothing. The family is now hoping the

British Government will step in and offer compensation, but that's

still some way off. The money we eventually get from Turkey will be

taken off the compensation they get from our government and then it is

all of the forms they have got to sign but the doctors' report. And

still no guarantee they will get anything. If compensation is

eventually paid out, it will undoubtedly help. Michael has been

unable to work since the attack, but as the family members all say,

all the money in the world won't bring Helyn back.

Still to come, Dawn's here with Wednesday's sports desk.

Plus, Poppy Calls - the mobile service from the Royal British

Legion which helps veterans across the North with their jobs around

Well, today's news that the UK economy has returned to recession

will be of no comfort if you're looking for a job. But it seems

determination can still pay off for those unfortunate enough to be out

of work. 23-year-old James Collingwood, from Wheatley Hill in

County Durham, was jobless for nearly three years. He trained as a

bricklayer and sent around 200 CVs to local companies. But his luck

changed last month when he agreed to appear on Look North's economy

debate programme, as Andy Smythe reports.

He was a bricklayer without a job for three years. He is the chief

executive of a national car sales company. Their paths wouldn't

normally cross, but last month fate brought them together. Both were

invited on Our Economy, the Look North Debate programme, to tell

To have you ever had an interview? No. I was in an interview room and

I was sat next to a gentleman called Robert Forrester. We just

generally talked about how we were finding it hard to get employment

in the area. It struck me as quite surprising that the individual sat

next to me, who was well-spoken and well-presented, could be in a

situation where he was unemployed for three years. James is very

personable and finds it easy to talk to people. I think he has got

the skills that can sell cars. There is only one problem.

driver's licence! They said they would fund my driving lessons, so

that is amazing how they are going to do that for us. It is probable

James' prolific CD-sending would never have landed him a job. If it

had landed on my desk, it would have gone into a dealership.

Whether they would have taken a risk on a long-term unemployed

person and given them an interview, I think it is questionable. I catch

myself the willy, ready lucky how Lycett net -- sat next to Robert

and got talking to him. So, fate, luck or just determination?

Whatever, life is looking a lot less bleak for James now.

Well done, James! Great news! Imagine you have spent your career

in the forces. What can you do afterwards that gives you the same

sense of public service while maintaining links with the

military? Of Royal British Legion runs a mobile scheme which helps

veterans with simple jobs around the house. And who better to carry

out the work than a slightly younger ex-servicemen?

He spent 22 years serving his country. Now he sends people who

did the same many years before him. Just giving a bit back, really.

More than anything. I enjoyed my time in the RAF and it is just nice

to be able to help people out in this sort of way when they have

served. The Poppy Calls service is open to all of us service veterans

or their spouses or stop its aim - to keep them in independent lives.

Today, Kevin is doing some work for Alf. He was a Fleet Air veteran.

Kevin prides himself on being able to turn his hand to almost anything

but in his job, he has to be more than just a handyman. It is

certainly a bigger role than I thought it was going to be. We have

trained case workers are we have to look for the signs, frailty or

whatever, and there we have to report back. Then they can do

something about it. Kevin and his colleagues, the whole region. Most

of the work is free and it is a service there Legion is keen to

publicise. For Kevin, no two days are ever the same and there is a

lot of job satisfaction. I went over to a lady last week just to

change a lightbulb. I was reading and she started crying. I said,

whatever is the matter? She said, will I be able to sleep in my own

bed? I can't sleep in the dock. I said, where have you been sleeping?

She said, in my armchair. And you can find out what others

are saying about that story on our Facebook page.

Now time for the sport and some not so great sports news from West

Cumbria. An ongoing row about access to a

new sports stadium has cost Whitehaven the chance to host

matches in next year's Rugby League World Cup. The town was to host

games featuring Scotland, Tonga and Italy. Supporters say they are

bitterly disappointed the new ground will not now be ready.

The news last November that Whitehaven would host matches in

the 2013 World Cup was greeted with much celebration. But last night,

those backing the plans pulled the plug, claimed a deal over access

land could not be done. Now they say the priority is a new stadium

for the town itself. The World Cup was fantastic news for the area and

we were all fully behind it. But it is greater the Rugby League and the

World Cup. It is about a community stadium for the future with a wide

range of different activities to take place there for the wider

community, not just Rugby League. There is no doubt many supporters

will be disappointed about this news. It would give supporters the

chance to see international matches on their doorstep. But the owners

of the land say it is emphatically not to blame. We hear another

council have informed us they no longer want to negotiate with us

regarding the access to the stadium. Do you think it is unfair for

people to point the finger at you? Certainly. We have done everything

in line, everything we should have done at the time. The international

spotlight of the World Cup may now no longer be possible. But the hope

is a new stadium can still be built. As we know, some of the best

football teams and the world are coming to Newcastle for the

Olympics. Brazil, Spain and Mexico will play at St James' Park and

looking forward to the competition, two of the city's biggest sporting

stars, who were at the ground this morning. It is it once-in-a-

lifetime opportunity, not only for players coming to play here but

also for fans to come and watch. came here to try to become an

Olympic athlete and my first event was at St James' Park. Said to be

here today and celebrating the likes of Brazil and Spain coming

over his amazing. If I am a little jealous of these guys in the

tournament. Stuart Pearce has some great young talent to pick from.

Some over-rich players also! It is a shame I am one of age because I

cannot make it. But how will be taking a keen interest, absolutely.

And on a sad note, our condolences go to the Carlisle player of the

year, Lee Miller, who scored 14 goals this season. The mother of

their two boys and his wife has died. The cause of death has not

yet been released but the player said it is the saddest day of his

life. Sad news indeed. Now for the

More cloudy weather right through this week and over the weekend as

well. More rain coming out of it and the wind is picking up as well,

so you don't have to be paddling at the seaside to get pretty wet! You

will lead your umbrella is out and about. Here is confirmation for

tomorrow, looking very wet and windy for tomorrow. This is the

corporate bringing the weather our way - this low pressure. It brings

in a heavy rain. -- the culprit. More in the way of rain and then

hefty showers as well. The original weather front it snakes back around

on Friday and continues the deluge right through to the end of the

week. It is looking very, very softly through the next few days.

Soggy out there already this evening. This is the original band

of rain, pushing up through the evening and overnight. It will

become entrenched through the region and through the early hours

of tomorrow morning, it will still be in place right along this line,

anywhere north of Durham and Kirby, still with that rain by dawn. But

to the south, you could see it beginning to break up a bit towards

the end of the night. With cloud everywhere, temperatures will be

staying well up at five to 8 degrees Celsius. A bit of a

surprise to see we have a warning out for heavy rain on and off right

the way through Thursday. It will get going straight away. We left it

in the North and there it will stay through the morning. Heavy showers

but getting going and they are quite volatile. Some very hefty

downpours with thunder and hail. Really quite turbulent. for the