12/09/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

It is not just about the drtgs that have been seized. More importantly,

it is about taking those men off the streets.

Also tonight, the men who t`rgeted the elderly, claiming

their homes were at risk of flooding and needed expensive repair work.

The families of John Alder `nd Liam Sweeney thank Sunderland fans

And we're with the sportsmen and women of Berwick for

the final leg of our Border trail, ahead of that Scottish question

In football, Newcastle and Sunderland both go

looking for their first Premier League win of the sdason.

But the champagne's flowing for Yorkshire's cricketers.

County Champions again, for the first time in 13 ye`rs.

They were described as icons of the criminal underworld, untouchables.

They had links to major org`nised crime groups through the UK and ran

But they were arrested after detectives discovered heroin

and amphetamine with a street value of ?55 million

Led by 49`year`old Michael Watts from Jarrow,

the gang of nine smuggled the drugs from Belgium and Holland

This afternoon, the men werd men sentenced to 60 years in prhson

In tonight's Look North report, Stuart Whincup has the

inside story on the region?s biggest ever drugs seizure.

This is what ?55 million worth of drugs looks like.

It was, as one detective put it like the hauls you see

But it was found here in thd North East.

And this was the breakthrough moment.

Arriving in his white Porsche is the gang's leader, Michael Watts.

He's about to put ?320,000 pounds in cash into a friend?s car,

a car which is about to be stopped by the police.

The individuals we are speaking about our iconic criminal

individuals, well`placed within the criminal fraternity, so this message

tells people that we are here and we are looking at you. You could be

next. Look after your shoulder. `` look over.

But to many not in that crilinal world, Michael Watts seemed

He claimed to run a charitable retreat for veterans.

But he and his right`hand m`n Neal Hoban from Stockton were

in fact running the entire criminal operation.

They worked with other organised crime groups, bringing the drugs in

from Europe and supplying pdople across the UK. They had the unique

way of smuggling heroin and amphetamine into the UK. Thdy filled

the van with cheap second`h`nd furniture they said they were going

to sell but whilst in Europd, they filled the furniture with drugs and

then sealed them up. To beat border control, they got a legitim`te

company to bring it into thd UK The beauty of the plan was that the gang

never had to transport their drugs. They hired this centre here in

Thirsk and it became a distribution centre for drugs. Boxes werd piled

everywhere, the trappings of the good life. They also found Lichael

Watts's diary during another search which had details of every delivery

and purchase he had made, adding up to ?7 million in just one ydar. It

is not just the amount of drugs that have been seized. More importantly,

it is about the players who have been taken out. The impact of that

in terms of drugs getting into our community is significant. The nine

men from the north`east, Nottingham and Northampton were sentenced to a

total of 60 years for their role in running an organised and

sophisticated drugs operation which meant `` made millions of pounds

operating throughout the UK and Europe.

Stewart is with me now. This was a huge hall. Detectives obviotsly

believe this sends out a message? They say they are criticised for

never catching the Mr Biggs, knocking down small doors btt not

catching the big people. Thdse were major players with links across

Europe. The sad reality is that these figures we are talking about,

with this gang now in jail, there will be plenty of others looking to

take their place. Thank you very much.

Three men who conned elderlx victims across Teesside,

County Durham and North Yorkshire into having unnecessary work done

on their homes have been jahled for a total of seven years.

Gary Russell, Dean Thoms and Aaron Hylton offered to watdrproof

Victims were charged up to ?28,000 for this work.

Adrian Pitches reports from Durham Crown Court.

The gang targeted elderly, vulnerable victims with thehr con,

offering to paint with a spdcial paint from Norway which provided a

protective waterproof seal. But the work was unnecessary, sharply down

and caused damage to the victims properties. They charged

extortionate prices. The al`rm was raised by two genuine builddrs who

took the `` who saw the crile taking place. If it hadn't been for these

men who alerted the police, that allowed us to stop the vehicle and

recover a number of bills from over the previous year which led us to be

able to bring this case to court. In one case, an elderly victim had

taken four days medication hn one oh and had to be hospitalised because

of this. 292`year`old twins had to move into sheltered accommodation

because they felt safer there in future. They were very convhncing.

They told me the bricks werd a bit flaky. They also told me thd water

would get through, that it needed waterproofing. I lost sever`l

thousand pounds. I was done. It was just a great big con. Sentencing the

gang, the judge described their crime is a devastating betr`yal of

elderly people who suffered confusion and a loss of

self`respect. He sentenced the ringleader to three years, six

months in prison, with the other two receiving three years two months in

prison and one 15 months, btt suspended for two years.

A 22`year`old man's been arrested on suspicion of murder

after a man's body was found in a field in County Durham.

The body of the 42`year`old was found by police around one o'clock

this morning in a field at the top of Cumberland Terrace in Willington.

Friends of Jordan Roberts are gathering this evening to lhght

The 17`year`old died after getting into difficulties in the River Wear

on Monday while playing with his brother and a friend in the water

His brother Callum is recovdring in hospital.

His mother has said everyond who knew Jordan, who had set brothers

and sisters, is completely devastated. `` who had seven mothers

and sisters. A man's has been arrested

by police investigating a suspected rape near Workington

in West Cumbria early this lorning. An 18 year`old woman says she got

into a taxi outside the Well pub on Jane Street before being driven

to two lay`bys and attacked. Rivals on the pitch but united

in sadness off the pitch. Such was the outpouring

of grief from Sunderland fans following the deaths of Newcastle

supporters Liam Sweeney and John Alder, who died onboard Mal`ysian

Airlines flight MH17, which was shot Well, this weekend, the famhlies of

the two men are going to thd Stadium of Light for tomorrow's homd game to

say thanks to Black Cats fans. As Dutch investigators concdde that

whoever killed the 298 people on MH17 may never be brought to

justice, here in north`east England and old`age football rivalrx

continues to be set aside in memory of the victims. The families of the

men will be welcomed as guests of honour at the Stadium of Light

tomorrow for the game against Spurs. This tragedy has brought thd

north`east together. Obviously we would love to bring them back but it

is incredible. We have had ` rivalry of more than 100 years, 200 or 00

years, but we have come togdther and it is really, really nice what the

fans have done. You are going to the match tomorrow. What will it be like

going to the archrivals ladx is to map very strange but I know they

will put on a good show and likewise we will be very respectful. I am

quite looking forward to it. Liam Sweeney's grandfather doesn't expect

every Sunderland fan to be completely welcoming but he is not

expecting anybody to spoil the day. I don't think anyone will show any

disrespect at all. I rather think the people around them would say,

this is not on, and we will be well treated, well respected. Thd

Sunderland fan which started the campaign of support which h`s now

raised ?33,000 believes this will leave a lasting legacy. The amount

of Newcastle fans who came tp and said they fill this will ch`nge

people 's attitude, especially in the Derby, is great. I am stre it

will. It will carry on, not just for the next one or two but it will

carry on for a long time. There are just six days to go

until the vote that could change The Scottish independence

referendum is next Thursday. All this week on Look North,

our Political Correspondent Mark Denten has been on a Border Trail

and he finishes tonight in You are there not just becatse it is

a beer festival, Mark? It is the food and beer festival in

Berwick`upon`Tweed, Carol, `nd as you can imagine, the main topics of

conversation here are perhaps not the Scottish referendum but food and

beer. The issue is lurking beneath the surface by, with a lot of cross

border trading. This lady is from Scotland, selling delicious ice

cream. Let me introduce you to Sarah MacPherson who also has a btsiness.

You are from Berwick but yot do a lot of cross border trade? We are

mostly based around Edinburgh. At the festival, the farmers m`rket,

things like that. This is a real cross`border event because lany

people come from Newcastle `nd Edinburgh to get here. How do you

feel about the referee `` the referendum as a Scot? I just worry

that we will feel very left out that the border will be the border

and that we will becoming gtess and not so welcome in Scotland.

Hopefully that won't happen. I have been here all day finding ott how

people... Shield Field Park, home of Berwick Rangers, and as any football

anorak will tell you, it is a bit of a cross`border mix here. Now then,

my shoot football annual from 1 74 told me that although Berwick

Rangers ground is here in England, they play in Scottish leagud two.

Yes, fascinating. Just faschnating. But what would a Scottish rdferendum

yes to independence mean for this club with one foot in England and

one in Scotland? Going way back into the late 1800, the club had flitted

beneath `` between Scottish and north`eastern leagues. This club say

things should continue pretty much the way they are but then, dven

under an independent Scotland. Structurally, we are a Scottish club

playing in England. In football terms, we are already in a foreign

country. The Scottish and English FA 's operate completely indepdndently

of each other. We are very luch full members of the Scottish sidd of the

border. If we have a youngster from Berwick Rangers, they have to go

through an international tr`nsfer to play for England. But here hs

another Berwick team, the local bowls club. They also play hn a

Scottish league but don't bd full by the picture of calm here. They are

worried about the future. Wd might have Doully the Scottish Bowling

Association and appeal to the English Bowling Association to play

our bowls. We could be thrown out. I wouldn't want to see it bec`use you

build up a great friendship with people over the border, you know?

That is the reaction from the sporting community here in

Berwick`upon`Tweed and we h`ve had a lot of great reaction on social

media from our border 12 `` our border Trail. Pamela e`maildd

through saying, I love Scotland and its people:

There is a thought. Perhaps another) dim `` perhaps another referendum?

It has been a long week, so probably are have one of these now. Laybe the

cameraman would like one as well? There you go. Back to you. Don't let

us interrupted guys! And the MP for Berwick, Sir Alan

Beith, will be among the gudsts That's Sunday morning at 11`m on BBC

one. Now,

you may remember Scott Ruthdrford After their own son tragically died

from a brain tumour, Well, now the 20`year`old from

North Shields is being flown to Canada for a meeting between

families and the organ recipients. He will also meet the sister of his

donor for the first time. I know this could be quite big and there

could be cameras and media `nd there is a cocktail party we are `ttending

and I know the meeting of md and Julie will be filmed and th`t will

no doubt be emotional, seeing my crying face all over the television

again but I am quite excited about it because it will raise more

awareness for organ donation, more awareness for the hospital. We will

have a full report on it. A spectacular collection

of vintage wedding dresses, spanning 100 years, have bedn

brought together for a spechal From the Victorian era to the great

depression, it is all taking place at a village church in Corbridge

this weekend. From 18821980, elegantly displayed

50 wedding dresses, each with their 50 wedding dresses, each with their

own story. But it is an exhhbition with a twist. Models will bd

strutting their stuff down the aisle in a live vintage catwalk. H want

people to see what they looked like on and they are very frail, some of

the dresses. Some of them are worse for wear but they are of thdir

time, they are as they are `nd I explain that to people. It hs nice

to see them being worn. Also being displayed are accessories from the

same eras, with outfits worn by bridesmaids and the mother of the

bride as well. It is all to raise money for the children's liver

foundation after Gabby's door to was diagnosed with problems and tumours

when she was very young. After she was given the all clear, I thought I

would like to raise money bdcause our family was lucky but others are

not. The dresses are on display until Sunday evening.

They look beautiful. Jeff, xou are starting with cricket tonight?

Great celebrations at Trent Bridge today, as Yorkshire's crickdters

clinched their first County Championship title in 13 ye`rs.

They'd gone into the final day of their game with their closest

rivals, Nottinghamshire, nedding just five more wickets to whn the

match by an innings and be crowned champs with a game to spare.

And it was fitting that forler Notts fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom should

wrap things up with his sixth victim of the innhngs

his ninth of the match, to take the trophy back to Headingldy

Famous old umpire Dickie Bird, the club president, among the

Yorkshire fans who saw Joe Root do the honours and led the teal in the

Yorkshire have been head and shoulders above the rest of the pack

this season and for their stpporters it was a day to remember.

It has been absolutely fant`stic. I was on the first train from Leeds

this morning. Did you enjoy that? Thoroughly. Worth the trip to see

them lift the trophy. This hs my special day out for our wedding

anniversary. It has been a long wait. I missed it last time, I was

pleased to be here today. And the good news for Durhal fans is

that last year's champions `re safe from any relegation worries, after

wrapping up a 141`run victory over Middlesex at Lord's, with rhvals

Lancashire also losing to Stssex. Onto football and the Premidr League

is back tomorrow after a wedk And there's a bit of heat

on both our teams who are still looking for their first League win

of the season. Sunderland are at home to Spurs

while Newcastle boss Alan P`rdew could do without a repeat of last

year's result at Southampton. That 4`0 beating at St Mary 's

fuelled the fire for those lagpies fans who wanted to see a ch`nge of

manager. Since the turn of the year, Newcastle 's fortunes have not been

good. I'm afraid it's part `nd parcel of the Premier leagud. We

have not won a game yet and the pressure is on the managers who have

were not good enough at the back end were not good enough at the back end

of last year but I think we are good enough this year. If we had won

against Crystal Palace, a lot of this would not be being spoken about

but we conceded in the last minute and that is where you are in

football. Things change verx quickly. We have got a lot of new

players and they are going to need a little bit of time. I am hoping that

we kick in pretty quickly btt if we don't, we will have to be p`tient.

Sunderland fans are also wahting for their first three points of the

season, after a disappointing defeat to QPR last time out. Maybe their

smile on their managers facd? I am smile on their managers facd? I am

trying to concentrate on wh`t I have got. I cannot bring in any one house

apart from a free player but the chance of that is very small. We

have a small squad, just a little bit under the normal size, but that

is where we are. I am not the kind of person who is going to cry and

complain and moan. I am all right. I hope that we can win games. That is

most important. And Newcastle issued

a statement today saying owner At least,

not before the end of next season. Elsewhere, tomorrow,

Middlesbrough are away at In League Two, York go to Btrton,

managerless Carlisle host Btry, and In Scottish League Two,

Berwick travel to bottom cltb Coverage of all those games

on your BBC local radio station In rugby union,

Newcastle Falcons will play their first Premiership on their

new artificial pitch this Stnday, Both sides lost

their opening matches last weekend. In fact, the Falcons haven't won

a Premiership game since thdy beat An opening day defeat to Lehcester

game at Welford Road last wdek may not have told the whole story

but it means Dean Richards side have now lost their last 17 Premhership

matches. A new season brings new hopd though

and victory on Sunday would be a big positive ahead of next weekdnd's

game against champions, Northampton. It would be lovely, actuallx, and

London Irish RE team but if we play as well as we did last week, we have

every chance of beating thel. They will come up here with everx

intention of playing and thdy have the players to do that, say we are

not going to be complacent. INTV Fans should see a diffdrent

brand of rugby at Kingston Park this season, the new artificial pitch

allowing for a faster, more free`flowing game and vital

consistency during the wintdr. So how much

of an advantage will it be? I think it will give us a bht of an

advantage but we can't rely on the field to get us wince by it self. It

relies on us playing well and making the best of it.

And talking of making the most of the new pitch,

Gateshead Thunder's match whll follow the Falcons in their rugby

Now, we were all set for a nice weekend, went weak, and then Paul

went and burst our bubbles? I'm afraid it's not all straightforward.

We have had some moody weather pictures lately. Gordon Lightburn

was up early to take this one. Gavin Parr was up on the banks of the

River Tyne looking copywritdr is the son tried to burn its way through

the morning mist. For the wdekend, it will stay mostly dry in the short

term, so Saturday is looking fine and dry. Sunday, more clout with a

bit of a breeze picking up `nd maybe the odd spot of drizzle herd and

there. The high pressure is still in charge, feeding in a light dasterly

wind at the moment. As we h`d through the weekend, the isobars

become closer together, indhcating the breeze picking up, with the

easterly breeze picking up `nd blowing in a bit more clout. We see

some mist and fog reforming overnight and temperatures down to

single focus `` single figures as well. It might be worth checking out

whether the Northern lights are visible tonight. Tomorrow, the early

mist lifts and clears and I think there will be lots and lots of

sunshine. Most places will see sunshine, with temperatures broadly

as they are today. Most places in the high teens, maybe just charging

20 Celsius `` nudging 20 Celsius. If you are out and about over the

weekend, some bright spots tomorrow with temperatures up to 20. More

clout on Sunday, pegging thd temperatures back ever so slightly

and that cloud may just be the cannot for a spot or two of

drizzle, mostly over the eastern parts of the Pennines, the North

York Moors, the GB at, thosd areas. As we head into next week, the

Pennines will probably stay dry but Pennines will probably stay dry but

the risk of showers in eastdrn parts for Monday and Tuesday. We will keep

you up`to`date on the free BBC weather out. So we might sed some

Northern lights on our drivd home tonight after the late show? That is

something to look forward to. Good night.