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

Colin Gregg was in a position of trust, which he used

We hope today's outcome gives the victims some

Also tonight: "unstructured, disorganised" and "not

The police watchdog's verdict on Cumbria police's investigation

After lying empty and rusting for years, the north east's

once-famous floating nightclub is to be scrapped.

And the pub that's gone from closure to winning a top national award.

In sport, rallying cries from Moyes and Karanka as the Premier League

And after toppling Brighton, can Championship leaders Newcastle

beat a second big promotion rival in four days?

He was a respected businessman, a headteacher

And to many, Colin Gregg from Newcastle was a pillar

of the community - the son of the founder

But tonight he faces jail, his reputation in tatters: convicted

by a jury of a string of sex attacks on boys, over almost thirty years.

Our correspondent Peter Harris is outside Leeds Crown Court.

Colin Gregg claimed he was the victim of some kind of police

witchhunt, that the boys were liars, motivated by a desire for

compensation. The jury hears sore straits without, which means there

is justice at last. -- saw straight through it, which means there is

justice at last for those victims. Do you think you owe the boys

and apology, Mr Gregg? Why did you never admit

what you done to them? The judge told him jail

will be inevitable. Colin Gregg leaves

Newcastle Crown Court. I have one statement

to from Mr Gregg. I refer you to my statement

of the 5th of July, Mr Gregg is a fervent

believer in the fairness of the British justice system,

and is confident that it will find him innocent

of these unfounded charge. The 14-year-old alleged victim

wasn't believed by the jury. The verdicts back then,

perhaps unsurprising. He'd helped raise millions

through the yellow Brick Road fund, He'd helped raise millions

through the Yellow Brick Road fund, Back in the 60s, he'd helped build

the family's bakery chain. He'd been a teacher,

a headteacher and a social worker. But the suggestion of

a dark side persisted. Soon after that first trial,

in 1997, two more men came forward to allege they too had been abused

by Colin Gregg in the 1960s. A judge back then decided those

cases couldn't go any further. Former headmaster of a school

in Tynemouth has been arrested on suspicion

of a historic sexual offence. Police raided his home

in Newcastle on Saturday. He was taken in for questioning,

and has now been released on bail. We can now report that in 2016,

Gregg went on trial accused of 26 counts of indecent assault on nine

boys at Newcastle Crown Court. He was found not guilty

on 11 of those charges, but the jury couldn't

decide on others. And so, this year,

a retrial was held in Leeds. This time, he was charged with nine

counts of indecent assault on four boys over a period

of almost 30 years. Gregg had denied abusing one boy

in a swimming pool in the 60s, and others in the gym of his home

after going four runs He'd said he was performing

stretching exercises on them. One, then aged 11 or 12,

described what happened to. I had a huge amount of respect

and admiration for him. To think he might be up

to wrong was inconceivable. I was absolutely mortified,

and hugely embarrassed. The guilty verdicts

bring justice at last. Colin Gregg was in a position

of trust, which he used We hope today's outcome

gives the victims some The case demonstrates its never too

late to report abuse. Colin Gregg's reputation

is now ruined. As the prosecution had always

claimed, beneath the veneer of respectability lies

an abuser of children. Let us hear Colin Gregg now in his

own words. When interviewed by the police, he claimed these were

copycat claims cobbled together from media coverage. This is what he told

the police. Do you accept that there

are distinct similarities between the previous people we've

spoken about over the last few days, Effectively, in relation to all

these people we have spoken to, is that your suggestion,

that they have manufactured this based on what they have seen

in the news, or read Colin Gregg has been released on

bail tonight, but we'll be back in court at Newcastle Crown Court on

the 30th of March for sentence and the judge has told he'll be going to

prison. Peter Harris in Leeds, thank you.

She had a short and tragic life of just 13 months.

Three years later, we still don't know why Poppi Worthington died.

But we do know a family court found she'd probably been sexually

abused by her father - and he's never faced any charges.

Now a catalogue of failures by Cumbria police, over the course

of the investigation has been laid bare in a report

by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The blunders that marred the investigation into Poppi's death

began the night officers were called to her home in December 2012.

For instance, the child's last nappy was thrown out,

The investigator found evidence that there had been an unstructured

investigation, essentially not fit for purpose. We found concerns in

relation to the scene where Poppi had been was managed.

home just before six on the morning of December 12th, 2012.

At 7.07 that morning she was declared dead

at the Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

The investigation then effectively went into cold storage for seven

months while officers waited for pathology reports.

On August 28 2013, Poppi's parents were arrested.

Neither were charged with any offence Cumbria's Chief Constable

admits it has been a shameful episode.

There are basic things, I can only apologise to the family of Poppi for

the basic mistakes made. I'm not running away, we are not running

away from our inadequacies in this investigation. We're not trying to

cover everything up. We're not trying to pretend it's better than

it was. It was in a Dutch Redwood was an inadequate investigation, and

I accept that. -- it was an inadequate investigation.

family court hearing, a judge said Poppi was probably

abused by her father, Paul Worthington.

The IPCC report says there was enough evidence

to arrest him on the day of Poppi's death, but delays meant he was later

The police insist they have learned lessons.

We have put in checks and balances to make sure no one can sit on a

case of seven months. I'm confident it won't happen again in the same

way, it will be challenged and picked up much quicker.

And Mark's in our Carlisle studio now.

So what's happened to the police officers involved in

Two offices in particular are mentioned in this IP CC report, and

neither ask that any producers. Duport says they were both

responsible -- they are not spared any criticism. While the report says

that Detective Superintendent Forrester should have faced a

hearing for gross misconduct, he has retired and has faced no formal

sanction for what went wrong during their investigation. Detective

Inspector Amanda Sadler was given a hearing of gross incompetence, but

not sacked. She has now left the force as well. There will also be a

fresh inquest into Poppi's death held in May. There will be no fresh

evidence, so it is possible we will never know what happened to Poppi in

that night of December 2000 12. Mark, thank you. -- 2012.

A man's been charged with murder after a body

Craig Eade, who was 23, was found in a back lane

Local man Paul Watkins, who's 36, has been charged

with murder and is due before magistrates tomorrow.

Many of us will remember its famous revolving dance floor.

But the floating nightclub, the Tuxedo Royale, has

The ship has been tied up at the dock - owned

by Teesside company Able UK - since 2009 after its owner went

Now, Middlesbrough council has agreed to share the costs with Able

to have the ship scrapped, as Ian Reeve reports.

The Tuxedo Royale partially sunk, listing, resting on the riverbed

It's been here since 2009 after its owner went

into administration, leaving it with no legal owner.

But now Middlesbrough Council has a plan to remove the ship.

We've decided to work Able, with the owner of the land and water

that it's on to raise the ship and dismantle it.

The Crown have denied all responsibility for it,

the owners went bankrupt and left it on the land, so it's something that

belongs to nobody that's been an eyesore for a long

The ship gained some fame as a nightclub when it was berthed

Its sister ship the Tuxedo Princess was also berthed there.

The ship was originally named the TSS Dover and launched

from Swan Hunter's Tyneside shipyard in 1965.

It was one of the last steam turbine ships to be built -

something that enthusiasts thought made it worth saving.

However, the costs of doing so are too expensive.

Two of the people who sadly haven't raised funds for it,

one was looking at ?40 million, one was looking at ?14 million.

The ship is also detracting from the development

of the surrounding Middlehaven site, including a proposed

I'm sure that has stirred a lot of memories for a lot of you.

Now, imagine being told - for once - that one of your many bills

Well that's the lucky situation some North East firms find themselves in.

The government says a re-valuation of business rates -

due to come into effect next month - will mean a drop in the amount

But not everyone will be a winner and there are calls for fundamental

The owner of this restaurant and cafe in Whitley Bay,

on Tyneside, is about to receive a welcome boost.

We were paying well over ?1000 a month for our business rates

which was actually working out more than our rent, it was a huge outlay,

It's now coming in at around ?350 a month.

Another winner is this softplay and cafe -

What I pay now is ?350 a month and what I should be paying

when the new rates come in is zero, nothing, mine should

Firms like these aren't likely to be the only ones

business rates will go down across the North East by 11%

Some firms will now pay nothing at all.

But with having no notification, and it's due to come into effect

on the first of April, we don't know where we are,

where we stand, how much extra we're going to have to pay.

And even if many firms here do well from revaluation,

there are calls to change the business rates system.

Government determines in advance how much money it wants to make out

of this tax and then divides up which businesses are going

There's no other tax that works in that same way,

and it doesn't bear any relationship to businesses' ability to pay.

Under pressure from firms losing out, the Chancellor may say more

about business rates in his budget next week.

But those who'll see bills go down are hoping the whole process

And there's more on this story on Sunday Politics -

that's on BBC One, this Sunday morning, at 11 o'clock.

Dawn's here with all the weekend sport, plus: Does it sound

We're hands on, at Teesside's first self-service bar, which opened

A fair amount of rain this weekend, cloudy and sunny spells. I'll have

the details later in the programme. A north Yorkshire pub

which was saved from closure by locals has been crowned

the best in Britain. People in Hudsdale in Richmondshire

raised ?250,000 to save the George As Danni Hewson reports,

as well as serving pints the pub also doubles as a library

and village shop. Nobody expected awards. In fact,

nine years ago just getting enough cash together to reopen the George

and Dragon was a big enough hurdle. But we open it did, becoming the

country's first community pub. Those involved admit, it's not always been

easy. You will never keep everybody happy. We've had two landlords in

that time. And the people, some people didn't like one think I don't

like another. You'll never keep everyone happy, but that's the same

with any pub. As long as we keep content, it's all right! It could so

easily have been a different story, but the community came together to

save this pub, and many of them have come here today to celebrate the

power's success. On the half of Campaign for Real Ale, I would like

to present the 2016 pub of the year award. -- on behalf. APPLAUSE

With done a tremendous job to go from something that was closed in

2008, reopened in 2010 and wins Pub Of The Year in 2016. Burdett,

couldn't be better. Over 200 people from places as far away for as

Australia own a piece of this pub. It doubles as a library and shop.

The latter is staffed by volunteers and it's fun. It's fun. One or two

of the customers, are a bit dour. He is well known and loved. As a

landlord, he has plans to keep everyone happy. We have found a

little farm in the village, actually a milking parlour for the cows. We

are hopeful that this time next year, we will have a microbrewery as

well. You could see our own beer on the bar. Phoenix from the ashes, not

a bad name for the first cake. Does look pretty good, doesn't it?

Staying with the drinking theme and for some it'll sound

like an offer that's too good to be true.

A pub that allows you to pull your own pints.

Well a new bar has opened tonight, claiming to have

It's in Stockton, it's called Thirsty Souls and it'll see

He took some persuading - but we sent Stuart Whincup along

When you're walking, it's like any new bar. It has a trendy interior,

music playing, sofas and seats. Here is how it's different: when come to

the bar, no need to queue. There is my ?5, last of the big spenders. I

got my plastic card filled up. I put it in the little hole. I was once a

very poor Barman, so here goes! Like a professional. I'm sure you move it

about. I don't think I'd get a job. One man who came up with the idea

joins me. How did this idea come about? It something other than

looking out for a couple of years. We have four venues three venues

across the road. People often experience something a bit

different, so we have come up with a self-service beer war support people

were surprised about this, they thought the outcome, no star. Tell

me about it. We have staff at the counter to take payment, staff

manning the wall, glass collectors, all drinks are monitored. Once you

had four drinks, we will monitor your drinks and reactivate your

card. It will stop people overindulging. We wish you the best

of luck. My head I don't think is very good. John? Thank you very

much, I will take yours. I will hand back to you, we will stay here for a

bit. See you later. I'm sure he will! We have it on good authority

that he used to work behind the bar at George and Dragon on Teesside...

In his slippers! Yeah, he has that look about, hasn't he? He has, say

no more. Well we normally kick off

on a Friday with our But this week we thought we'd

begin with a huge game After beating leaders Brighton

on Tuesday to regain top spot, Newcastle United travel to third

placed Huddersfield, knowing that victory would put some

clear daylight between the automatic promotion places

and the chasing pack. Until Newcastle's late comeback from

1-0 down to winning 2-1 and then leaders biting on Tuesday night, to

my's game was looking even more daunting. The way they play, a very

good team. They press aggressively, good movements of the ball when they

have it, so it's going to be a tough game. They are where they are for a

reason. A fantastic run. At the same time, so are we. We had good results

of late, and we need to make sure we go there with confidence we've

picked up from the game the other night and hopefully as I say, good

performance and three point. Much change Huddersfield may have lost

heavily a magister city despite going ahead. But they have shown

plenty of bite and consistency. -- Manchester City. The return of

Dwight Gayle after month out. If you have a couple of chances, you can

take one or two. It is important to the others, because you know that

even sometimes about playing at the best level, he can make the

difference. In the Premier League Middlesbrough

are away at Mid table Stoke City tomorrow and boss Aitor Karanka

says his side must approach every game from now until the end

of the season as if it's Boro's lack of goals is alarming

although their steadfast defence keeps them outside the relegation

zone on goal difference. Last weekend's defeat

to Crystal Palace made it nine league games without a win

and Karanka says his side must continue to believe they can get

themselves out of trouble - I think for me as a coach,

if I am the first one who goes I think they're going

to feel the same. We said were going to be

fighting to the last day. We need the three points,

and when one team is At least we have to show them

we're playing something. Middlesbrough and Sunderland

are the only clubs in the current bottom six who've kept faith

with their manager. Black Cats boss David Moyes

says his players are giving everything in the fight

against relegation ahead of Sunday's televised home game

against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's men brushed aside

Huddersfield in their midweek cup replay to set up a quarterfinal

against Boro next weekend. However Moyes is refusing to be

daunted by City's reputation. I think the players

in some of the big games, Liverpool played well,

Tottenham played well. We've got to make sure

we do that again. It's a tough call,

but we know that we can go I think we'll probably have

to win one or two of these games in the run in,

and why not this one? In League Two it's second

versus third as Plymouth host a Carlisle side in danger

of losing their automatic And Hartlepool can move further

clear of the relegation zone with victory over sixth placed

Exeter. Commentary on Radio Cumbria

and BBC Tees respectively. Congratulations to Teessider Jordan

Nobbs who won the Women's Player The Arsenal and England midfielder

is hoping to be on the winning side tomorrow when England take

on the USA in the She Believes Cup. Despite Nobbs opening

goal against France in the first game England lost

to an injury time winner. Now, the new rugby league season

proper gets underway for our teams this weekend,

although it will be the second weekend in succession

that Newcastle Thunder and Workington Town

have faced each other. And in rugby union's

Premiership Newcastle Falcons could move into the top six,

but they'll have to beat reigning English and European

champions Saracens first. The Falcons fell short

away at their bogey team Exeter last weekend,

but if they put in the kind of performance against Saracens

that's seen them beat the likes of Northampton, Bath and Harlequins

at Kingston Park this season, they could push the champions

all the way. Newcastle wont relish the return

of Billy Vunipola to action although it's good news for England

- and it certainly They'll have some out,

which will be great if people The rest of the boys,

and all the others will be The "ruck gate" controversy

in England's six nations clash with Italy last weekend has given

the rugby world food for though - We've talked about it,

and we're got something up our sleeve in case Saracens

decide to do that and we'll In rugby league, the Falcons' sister

club Newcastle Thunder travel to Workington in their first game

of the new league season. And although Thunder narrowly

beat Town in the third round of the Challenge Cup

at Kingston Park last weekend, they know Workington will be

a different prospect away from home. We know going across to their place,

it will be a lot tougher. I mean, we played there are few

times and its hostile. Tough place to go, but I suppose

if we keep talking about making the play-offs and getting promoted

and fighting for all these nice things, we've got to go places

like that and do the tough We had a shot at a first

have the other day, and came back and pulled

away second half and one by two points,

and I imagine it's going to be We're all raring to go and really

looking forward to it. Should be a good one. Time for a

good Dutch overtime for the weather. I don't like the look of that rain!

It's not as bad as it blocks. We will see some rain at times this

weekend. It's ready with most of the north-east and Cumbria. It will be

fairly cloudy. Some outbreaks of rain, but there should be some

sunshine as well. Do this evening and overnight, unquestionably we

have the rain with us. It will be heavy at times, quite a breeze

coming in from the east, but as we progress through the night, the rain

breaks up. There will be mist and mud patches, further rain into

Cumbria by the time we get to dawn, -- murky patches. It will be a slow

start tomorrow morning, quite wept at the start of the day. Gradually

that rain will push away and by Saturday afternoon, we look a lot

better. More dry and bright with spells of sunshine. Across Cumbria

on Saturday afternoon, it will be fairly cloudy. Temperatures around

eight Celsius. For the north-east, we are more likely to see some

spells of sunshine. Temperatures around eight or 9 degrees. Not

actually feeling too bad in that sunshine. The cloud will tend to

come and go throughout the day. Through Saturday night, its great to

start with but we will see some further showers pushing into

Cumbria, eventually spreading across to the north-east as we go through

the night. It will be fairly mild, the temperature falling back to

around five Celsius. Sunday looks like another fairly mixed day. We

have showers to start with, but there will be some brighter spells

as well. The best of the brightness across the north-east, but will

become cloudy by the afternoon. We all see some showers at some point

on Sunday. Temperatures fairly on the mild side, around eight Celsius,

46 Fahrenheit. The breeze is coming from the south. That is Sunday, what

about Monday and Tuesday? Monday looks like another fairly unsubtle

day. We will see some spells of rain at times, mostly in the form of

showers. -- unsettled day. Temperatures around single figures,

it all 7 degrees. Lots of cloud and Tuesday. For Cumbria, will start on

a wet note tomorrow, but things will start to brighten up, temperatures

into double figures by the afternoon. For Sunday, some spells

of rain but we should see some sunny spells in between. Similar for the

north-east, not too bad. A wet start to the weekend, some showers on

Sunday but in between, plenty of dry and bright weather. Thank you very

much! A couple of weeks ago saying it's spring already! That's the one

for you, isn't it? Comes and goes. Have a great weekend. I will see you

on Monday. Goodbye.