01/03/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

plans for children as young as four to be taught about healthy

relationships Hello and welcome to

Wednesday's Look North. The violent paedophile who made

a "hidey hole" in his home to conceal a girl he was abusing

is locked up for 27 years. I think he deserved more than what

he got. I think the judge was very lenient and they have been very kind

to him, considering he has got to with what he was doing for the best

part of 40 years. -- he has got away with.

Nearly 400 jobs are on the line at a County Durham crisp factory.

Jailed for four months and banned from keeping animals for life -

the two men who buried a dog alive after hammering

There is something seriously wrong with these two. That little dog must

have suffered hell. He's running 100

marathons in 100 days. We catch up with him halfway

through his gruelling challenge. In sport, relief for

Hartlepool, as victory And joy for the Magpies

as they send their nearest promotion rivals crashing

after a dramatic late comeback. A violent paedophile who made

a "hidey hole" in his home to conceal a girl he was

abusing has been jailed for 27 years for a string

of serious sex offences. Michael Dunn, who's 57

and from Redcar, knocked through the wall behind his fridge

to create a cavity to hide Teesside Crown Court heard how Dunn

preyed on four victims, raping one aged just 10 or 11,

over a period of decades. The NSPCC said the abuse

his victims suffered The judge described Michael Dunn

as a devious, manipulative and controlling man with a strong

urge to dominate. He persistently raped

and was violent to two women Today, he was jailed for 27

years for those crimes. And for the rape and sexual assault

of two other children. I think he deserved

more than what he got. I think the judge was very lenient,

they have been very kind to him, considering he got away

with what he was doing They will serve the rest

of their lives with it. One of the victims was just 14

when Dunn began to groom her at his home in Manchester

in the early 1990s. He offered her an escape

from a sexually abusive home life but then he,

too, began to rape and control her. When the police came looking

for her, she would hide in this hole It was covered by plasterboard

and guarded by his two The court heard she moved

with Dunn and the other woman around the north-east,

eventually settling in a house in Redcar, where he would lock them

in the bedrooms and monitor them The abuse lasted until 2015,

when Dunn's crimes were reported. I would applaud the victims

and witnesses due to the strength and courage

that they have displayed. Equally, I would just

like to add that, eventually, their voices were heard and more

importantly, they were At his trial in January, Dunn,

now 58, was also found guilty of the rape of a ten or 11-year-old

girl in the late 1970s in Manchester and the sexual abuse of another

14-year-old girl in 1993. That sexual abuse was reported

to Greater Manchester Police but they failed to take any further

action and they are now being investigated by

the Independent Police Complaints Passing sentence, the judge

said that done posed Passing sentence, the judge

said that Dunn posed A jury in the case of a Newcastle

businessman accused of indecent assaults on boys over almost 30

years has retired to from Gosforth, denies nine counts

of indecent assault at his trial It's alleged one boy was abused

in a swimming pool in the 1960s and three others at Mr Gregg's home

between 1988 and 1991. 380 jobs are under threat

in County Durham following the announcement that the Walkers

crisp factory in Peterlee has been The plant's likely to shut before

the end of the year. Our business correspondent

Ian Reeve is live for us Well, the workers learnt of the

likely closure of their plant had a meeting this morning. The lines were

stopped and all staff sent home to contemplate the probable closure of

a factory that has been here since 1960.

It is one of the most popular of our brands,

helped in part by adverts starring former footballer, Gary Lineker.

But today, the maker of Walkers crisps had some unpopular news.

The Peterlee factory is slated for closure.

We can make crisps now in three factories rather than four.

So that takes us to look at, around the UK, which factory do

And when you look at where we deliver our products,

then 80% of everything we make out of Peterlee is shipped south.

After five and a half years here, her future is just as unclear

Nobody wants to hear this news, but they took it really well.

I think they understand it, but it is still very shocking.

So, the way people took the news, I could not have asked for better.

And I am not surprised because they are a fabulous group of people.

The town council's worry, though, is that an employment staging post

It is a stepping stone for a lot of people in education,

from college and school who are leaving, school leavers.

It is a step in the door into employment.

If this goes, it is going to be high unemployment.

The Peterlee factory has been here since 1960 and once made

Can I take a few bags of Tudor out my wages?

Nothing but the best for you, right, lad?

And now the factory could be by the end of the year.

Well, a 45 day consultation period now kicks in and the company has

promised to consult all 380 employees. Sadly, after 57 years, it

seems like this factory has had its day.

Meanwhile, nearly 60 job losses have been announced at a Teesside

engineering group which is being put into administration,

with uncertainty facing a further 170 employees.

50 redundancies had already been announced

at the Stockton-based Cordell Group, which has been in business

The company says it's suffered from a decline in the oil and gas

sector over recent years, and made a loss on two contracts

It says interest has been shown by potential buyers or investors.

They've been jailed for four months and banned from keeping animals

for life for what a magistrate described as "a barbaric act

59-year-old Michael Heathcock and Richard Finch, who's 60,

buried a dog alive after hammering a nail through its head.

The men said they killed the animal because it was ill and they couldn't

You may find some of the images in Stuart Whincup's report upsetting.

They've received threats, had their properties damaged

They arrived two hours before their sentencing was due

to avoid confrontations and before the crowd of protestors gathered.

I just can't believe it, and I've had nightmares

You have got to actually hold that dog and drive that nail through,

And to an animal that you love and you have had as part

I just don't know what sort of mentality these people have

There's something seriously wrong with these two.

That little dog must have suffered hell.

Michael Heathcock - here on the left -

said his dog was ill and he couldn't afford to have him

So he and Richard Finch hammered a nail through his head and buried

The vet who tried to save the terrier described it

as the worst case of animal cruelty he'd ever seen.

It is very emotive about a horrific act that has happened to an animal

and then subsequently has not died as a result of its injuries

The dog was found in the woods by two walkers who heard grunting

and snoring and were distressed by what they discovered.

As both men were jailed for four months, there were cheers and shouts

of "justice" inside the court room and outside as a big crowd gathered.

No, it was harrowing to sit through that.

It really was. At least it is some form of justice.

The chairman of the bench, Frances Linsley, said,

this was a barbaric act which had caused untold suffering

A charity which looks after victims of domestic violence

in Sunderland says women will die because of council budget cuts

Sunderland councillors have voted through over

While council tax is going up by nearly 5%,

groups representing vulnerable women and the homeless will lose

The council says tight budgets have left it with very difficult choices.

Here's our news correspondent, Mark Denten.

A reception committee today for Sunderland's councillors.

Wearside Women's Aid campaigners here because in one foul swoop,

their current ?586,000 grant was axed this afternoon -

part of a total of ?3 million of grants to charities for women

and homeless people which will be removed from this summer.

I can't imagine anything worse than waking up one morning

in the future and hearing on the radio that a woman's

It was a one-off input of cash for three years and the contract

It does surprise me that the partner organisations who work

with the council to deliver those services, who were fully aware

of this, are complaining as bitterly about that as they are,

given that my officers have been talking to them since 2015

about the transition to what we have to do.

The council's adament today's decisions won't put people at risk

because other organisations will step in.

We just can't believe they have come to this decision.

The impact that this is likely to have, at its worst,

People are saying that they are exaggerating and we're like, no.

Two women a week are murdered in the UK.

Currently, we have 500-plus women in our outreach of us have been

designated as extremely high risk of murder or serious injury.

It should move to dealing more with the perpetrators.

If we don't deal with the cohort of men, primarily,

because it is mostly men on women, domestic violence, if we don't

deal with them better and cut their numbers,

domestic violence will never go away.

Sunderland Council's current grants for Wearside women

Obviously, those protests captured attention today,

but Wearside is facing wider cuts, isn't it?

It is indeed. ?45 million of cuts overall. Also, council tax going not

by 4.99%. Just under the threshold where it would have to be a local

referendum. Cuts across-the-board, really. A cut in the library budget,

a charitable trust to run Sunderland was not passed by 2019. Cuts in taxi

marshalling and social behaviour support. At the same time, you don't

have to look far to see big investment. The new we're crossing

in the skyline as you head to Sunderland. Plans for a big

manufacturing park as well. All important, says the council, in

boosting local economy. Budget rules mean the council can just take money

from those projects embedded into day-to-day expenditure, supporting

some of the charities we have about. Council rules ban that from

happening. The dilemma for the Council is something I1 its

consultations. People tend to view all services as very important, with

very few saying they were not important. In other words, we're at

the stage where whatever the council does, it will get notices. -- it

will get criticism. As of today, drivers caught

using their mobile phone or any handheld device while behind

the wheel will face a ?200 fine and six penalty

points on their licence. During a one week

campaign in January, Durham Police caught 72 drivers

using their phone while driving. Meanwhile, during 2016, around 600

people were caught in Cumbria, North-east lawyer Michael Robinson

described what the increased One of the things is that if you are

new driver, so you have been driving for less than two years, you'll find

that automatically your license will be revoked and you will have to go

through the driving process again. Also, if you happen to be the

responsible driver with a learner driver and that learner driver is

using a mobile phone, Q is the responsible driver can also get the

finance points. If it is in your hand, that is you committing the

offence. Cumbria's newest MP officially

began her job today. Conservative Trudy

Harrison was sworn in after Prime Minister's Questions

finished in the House of Commons. She won her seat last week from

Labour in the Copeland by-election. She's the first Conservative

to represent the area She succeeds Jamie Reed,

who resigned earlier this year. You're watching

Wednesday's Look North. Dawn Thewlis has tonight's

sports news shortly. Why this West Cumbrian

man has set himself And plenty of dry weather coming up

in an exudate but it'll be breezy and cold as well. I will have little

forecast later in the programme. -- coming up in the next few days.

Now, what do you do if you're left with a mountain of cuddly toys

once your children get too old for them?

Well, an 11-year-old schoolgirl from Harrogate in North Yorkshire

has come up with the perfect solution to the problem.

Anna Crossley has been to meet Scarlett

What started off as a teddy stall at a local church soon became

And within a few days, this house in Harrowgate

It was just an idea that popped into my head.

Like, because I wanted to have my own business for a while,

so my dad built me a website and then it built up from there.

Initially, Scarlett just wanted to get rid of her old teddies

But she was soon inundated with everyone else's cuddly toys.

So, she decided to set up an adoption website,

where unwanted bears and bunnies could be re-homed for a small

She has really embraced the challenge and really enjoyed it.

And she has learned a lot along the way.

It has been a busy half term for her, and in the process,

raised some money for an incredibly worthy cause.

We have had bags and bags of donations.

Once the stuffed animals arrive, they are washed and preened,

ready to be photographed and put up for adoption.

The only problem is that there are so many of them.

What has been the most difficult thing about all these teddies?

And especially having to photo them all.

Well, you didn't think I would leave without one, did you?

What a great young girl. That is amazing, isn't it?

Now, in the past he's run from Land's End to John O'Groats.

And he's also run all the way to the capital from his west

Cumbrian home to take part in the London marathon.

But now Cleator Moor man Gary McKee is going further,

much further in his efforts to raise money for charity.

He's been telling Mark Mcalindon about his latest little jog.

I am running 100 marathons in 100 days for MacMillan Cancer Support.

My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 1997,

And he would have been 80 years old this year,

In 100 days, Gary McKee will run more than 2620 miles.

It is like running to North Africa and back from his home,

When I am running, if I haven't got anybody with me,

I think about what I am doing, who I am doing it for.

The people who've been affected by cancer.

Although I was touched by my dad's story, it extended into everybody.

In his years of fundraising, Gary has raised more than ?150,000.

Priceless support for many, been families.

We give grants to people who are in financial difficulties

So if you think back, with the money we use for grants,

how many local people has Gary helped over the years?

It is just phenomenal. He is number one, for me.

Gary's final run will be the London Marathon in April.

My joints, in the morning, a little bit stiff when I get out of bed.

But after five minutes, I am fine and ready to go again.

Despite the gruelling nature of this challenge,

Gary has not ruled out further adventures in the future.

His joints are little bit stiff in the morning? I would be like the tin

man! I could not manage one marathon in 100 days.

It is very impressive. Something else impressive as well last

night... Newcastle United are back at the top

of the Championship after beating They came from behind to snatch

a dramatic late victory on the south coast in a result which could prove

crucial in the race Both managers are revered

on Tyneside and Rafa Benitez is trying to repeat

what Chris Hughton did seven years ago and take Newcastle back

to the Premier league. While the Magpies have the best away

record in the Championship, the Seagulls have the best home

record. Tonight when Newcastle. I think we

will win. -- 2-1 Newcastle. For much of the first half,

it was the former rather than the current Newcastle manager

who was happiest as Brighton made And Rafa's discomfort was amplified

when the Magpies conceded a controversial penalty -

confidently dispatched Although Newcastle began

to dominate, not for the first time this season,

poor finishing let them down. But Benitez has masterminded some

important comebacks in his career Just as Chris Hughton might have

started to dream of opening up a four point gap at the top,

some penalty box pinball resulted in a truly bizarre equalizer -

the ball eventually ricocheting off And it was late substitute

Ayoze Perez who sealed the win. Matt Ritchie's superb 60-yard pass

expertly crossed into the box for the striker to fire in -

much to the delight It could be a priceless victory

ahead of away trips to third placed Huddersfield and fifth place Reading

in the next seven days. There were contrasting fortunes

for our League Two clubs last night. A late winner for Cheltenham dealt

a huge blow to Carlisle's hopes of automatic promotion,

but relief at last for Dave Jones's Hartlepool

as they moved six points clear of the relegation places

after thrashing Crewe. With the visitors dominating much

of the first half at the Vic, few would have predicted the final

results but Pools took a surprise lead on the stroke of half time

as Rhys Oates' cross found its way to Lewis Alessandra, whose deflected

effort opened the scoring. Crewe spurned chances to level

before some neat skill from Padraig Amond doubled the lead

- his 12th goal of the season. Late strike from Alessandra -

at the third time of asking - and then a fourth goal in stoppage

time from Nathan Thomas put the icing on the cake for

Hartlepool, who remain third bottom. Despite third top Carlisle hitting

the cross bar in the first half, lowly Cheltenham were on the front

foot for most of the game The only goal of the match came late

on, courtesy of Danny Wright. A third straight win

for the home side. The Blues' second defeat in a row

loosening their grip Middlesbrough fans will find out

tonight whether they'll be hosting Manchester City or Huddersfield Town

in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Ex-Huddersfield

midfielder Adam Clayton, meanwhile, is targeting

Premier League survival and FA Cup glory after signing a contract

extension at the The BBC understands that

Carlton Fairweather has left his role as head coach

of Sunderland Ladies, weeks after it was announced

they were reverting to part-time status ahead of the new

Super League campaign. Fairweather had been in charge

for the past two seasons, after previously working as a coach

with Sunderland's men's academy. In rugby union, the England World

Cup winning captain Katy McLean will miss the rest of the current

Women's Six Nations campaign after being suspended for three

weeks McLean, from South Shields,

was sent off for a high tackle during England's 29-15 win over

Italy at Twickenham Time for the weather now. Let's join

Jennifer. How are we looking? Not too bad in an exudate. Sunny spells

by rain in the forecast as well. I have some pictures from the Weather

Watchers to show you. This was from Cumbria last night. Venus reflected

in the Solway Firth. Another from Cumbria this morning. It was a

lovely sunrise, pink and yellow skies. Moving to North Shields,

there were a few showers this afternoon. A rainbow just popping

through. In the next few days, we will see dry weather at times. Some

rain as well in the forecast. Quite breezy in an exudate and overnight

frosts and fog as well. Here is the map tonight. There will be some

showers for a time. Heavy rain pushing into some parts of Cumbria

and North Yorkshire. Some snow over the tops of the Pennines for a time.

That will gradually sink southwards through the night and most parts

will have a dry night with clear spells. Temperatures dropping to

around freezing or just above. A cold start to your Friday morning.

We should seize a decent spells of sunshine, especially the further

east than you are. Some showers speckled around here and there but

nothing too heavy or significant. Let's take a look at things closely

at 3pm tomorrow afternoon. The western part of Cumbria 's quake

lady by this point but there will be some breaks in the clay to let

sunshine through. A few showers across parts of Northumberland, not

too heavy, and the lion's share the sunshine will be in the north-east

as yet through the afternoon. Still feeling quite cold with temperatures

of seven or eight Celsius and a brisk westerly breeze. As we go

through the night first into Friday, there will be rain into Cumbria for

a time but generally another dry night with clear spells once again.

Temperatures falling down to around three Celsius. We will see a touch

of frost in places. Friday looks like this. Outbreaks of showery rain

across Northumberland in the morning, otherwise, a dry start the

day with sunny spells. We're keeping an eye on this area of rain pushing

in from the south. Some uncertainty at this point as to how far north of

rain will get the deluxe light by the afternoon, some parts of Cumbria

and the north-east will see that we move through. Temperatures on Friday

getting up to seven nine Celsius. This area of low pressure the rain

through hangs around for Saturday. It looks like on Saturday we will

see a breaks of rain. A gradually pushes away as we get into Sunday.

Saturday will be wet for many others. Outbreaks of rain that heavy

at times. Sunday, many parts try. Let's review that Cumbria. Decent

day tomorrow with sunny spells. Rain overnight taking us into Friday.

Friday is much cloudier before the weekend gets a little bit wetter.

Very similar picture for the north-east. These and spells of

sunshine tomorrow, clouding over as the head into Friday.

Hole-mac, dear. Thank you very much for that.

That is all from us for now. We will be back at 10:30pm with

Sharon. For now, goodbye. I think my political beliefs are

really quite straightforward. I believe that our country needs to

work for everyone. Not just for the rich,

not just for the privileged, not just for those who know

the right people or who've got the loudest voices, but a country

that really works for everyone, has the opportunity to be

who they want to be.