12/03/2012 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening and welcome to Monday's Look North.

On the programme tonight - a community in shock. A man is

questioned about the murder of two teenage girls in Wakefield. I am

life and the scene of this double murder as police continue to

investigate the unusual circumstances.

Also on the programme tonight: 33 years in prison for a killer whose

brutal act caused two nights of trouble on the streets of

Chapeltown in Leeds. The Party big-hitters come to town

as campaigning in the Bradford West by election hots-up.

I am travelling back in time to meet the men and women here are

keeping these vehicles on the road. Much of Yorkshire had unbroken

sunshine today. Will we be as lucky West Yorkshire Police have revealed

an unusual set of circumstances which led to the discovery of the

bodies of two teenage girls in Wakefield. 17-year-old Kimberley

Frank and 18-year-old Samantha Sykes were found after a tip-off to

police in Dover, more than 200 miles away. Friends have spoken

about how one of the girls spent her childhood in foster care, but

moving to the flat was supposed to be a new start. Our reporter

Charlotte Leeming has spent the day at the scene and joins us now.

After spending the day here, the community here is trying to come to

terms with how to young girls came to be stabbed to death in this

first floor flat. Neighbours say these girls were not very well-

known, they had only been in the area for a few months, and what

they get themselves to themselves, this property had become well known

in this area because of some of the late night parties. Forensic

officers at the scene. But as in this first-floor flat with the

bodies of the 18-year-old Samantha Sykes, on the left, and 17 year old

Kimberley Frank were found early on Saturday morning. They died from

stab wounds. Police were first alerted to this incident on

Saturday morning. Officers in Kent were called to a house in Dover

after a call from a 19-year-old woman. That tip-off is believed to

have come from Kimberley Frank's alders sister who said she was

worried about two women in Wakefield. Police went straight to

their flats. They found the bodies. The victims were last seen on

Thursday night. Witnesses had said there had been a disturbance in the

flat. The trouble then spilled over into Kimberly's flat. Neighbours

said the flat was notorious for loud music and parties and that at

all ours of the day you could see young men coming and going from the

property. Having said that, nothing could have prepared this community

for what happened here at the weekend. This woman went to school

with Kimberly and a least there, she said they were extremely close

and spent much of that childhood and foster care. They were together

all their time. They did not interfere with anybody else.

must have been stunned when you find out it was one of them who had

died. When people were saying their names and asking me if I knew them,

I said they didn't, but I normally no faces, and when I saw their

faces I realised the went to school with them. Cards had been attached

to the handrails and bunches of flowers had been left, as police

tried to work out how they died, they continue to question and 19-

year-old man in connection with the double murder.

This is a complicated case with a lot of unanswered questions. This

investigation will now be focusing on this connection between here in

Wakefield and Dover in Kent, were three people were initially

questioned, one remaining in custody. The focus will be whether

this disturbance on Thursday night somehow lead to the savage killing

of these two young girls. Stay with us for the rest of the

day's news. Plus, a round up-of the weekends sporting action, including

reaction from Neil Warnock as he celebrates his first victory as

A family row led to murder and two nights of trouble on the streets of

Chapeltown last summer. Leeds Crown court heard how Afzal Arif stalked

and lay in wait for Gavin Clarke after the two men fell out. The

shooting of Mr Clarke sparked disturbances between the Asian and

Afro-Caribbean communities in Chapeltown and Harehills. Today,

Afzal was sentenced to serve at least 33 years. Our crime

correspondent, John Cundy, reports. Bath vehicles shooting and the

troubles which followed. Angry reaction in Chapeltown to be

attacked by an Asian man, Afsal Arif, on 34-year-old father of two

Gavin Clarke, from the Afro- Caribbean community. Gavin Clarke

worked out every day in Saville Park. It was on his way from there

on the night of the it of August that Afsal Arif shot him down in an

apparent rout over the victim's niece. It was the case by the

prosecution that Afsal Arif had been stalking Gavin Clarke. She

shot him to do drivers' open window of his car. Gavin Clarke was hit by

85 pellets from a shotgun. He died four days later. Afsal Arif

admitted manslaughter, claiming he had only wanted to scare him off.

The jury decided otherwise. The community disturbances quickly

flared. Police say things could have got much worse in Leeds.

would have been much worse had it not been for the intervention of

community leaders, the family of the victim, and it was brought

under control. This afternoon extra police had to be called in to keep

the calm after Afsal Arif had to be sentenced.

Some news just in now and police are appealing for help to track

down a woman who snatched a baby girl in Kirklees this morning. 23-

year-old Jodie Little disappeared with the 11-month-old baby during a

pre-arranged social services visit in Huddersfield at 10.00am this

morning. Police want to find her urgently.

Azhar Ahmed, a teenager from Ravensthorpe, has been charged with

a racially aggravated public order offence after posting Facebook

comments about the deaths of six soldiers in Afghanistan last week.

He will appear in court next week. The six men, five of whom were from

Yorkshire, died after a bomb blast in Helmand. Their bodies are due to

be repatriated on Thursday. Police are appealing for witnesses

after a teenager was run over in his tent near Selby. The 16-year-

old suffered serious injuries in the early hours of yesterday

morning. He had been camping with a group in a field at Barlby when

it's alleged a man drove over the tent following a disagreement. A

24-year-old man is being questioned by police.

Archaeologists have unearthed human remains during work to install a

lift shaft in York Minster. The remains could be older than the

Minster itself, which dates from the 12th century. It's the first

time in 40 years that digging work has been allowed within the Minster

building. The next stage is that we will record these, lift them, take

them back to the laboratory where they will be cleaned and brought

back for reburial. Tickets go on sale this evening for

this year's Leeds festival. Thousands attended last year's

event at Bramham Park. The line-up for this year's festival will be

announced later this evening, when tickets go on sale.

People with mental health problems are being failed by the benefits

system. That is the message from one Scarborough man who has

suffered from depression, addiction and schizophrenia for 15 years.

Andrew Carr spent four years in hospital due to his problems. He

was finally discharged last year, but ended up back in hospital with

a breakdown after it took eight months to get his Disability Living

Allowance paid. Carla Fowler reports.

Andrew Carr has schizophrenia, depression and addictions. In 2011,

after four years in hospital, he was well enough to be discharged.

The disability living allowance he was entitled to was not paid to him.

Despite sending off the forms and phoning up the office for eight

months, he was up without financial support. He had to borrow money

from family and just weeks ago had another breakdown. My sister came

up with the money. It has been a running battle and it made me

stressed-out, basically. It really put the pressure on. I wasn't

getting that help but I needed. seems his application simply fell

through the net. The benefits system has grown more complex and

harder to navigate, especially for people with mental health issues.

They they are not working fast enough to help people, not

concentrating on those who need the money, as if it is not important.

It is important but people with disabilities of all sorts are

helped. In desperation, Marie went to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Their legal specialist finally got his claim accepted and his benefits

backdated. There is no question that he qualifies for its, but you

still have to go through this long application process. Somebody with

schizophrenia, there came needs to be prioritised. If people don't get

the support they need, they will end up back in residential care at

a cost far greater than their basic benefits. I wouldn't have stood a

chance. I would either be dead or on the streets. Without citizens'

advice, I would not be where I am today.

The bureaucracy of benefits is something he could not have sorted

out on his own, so now she is speaking out for those in the same

position. Well, we asked the Department of

Work and Pensions to talk about the delays that had such a devastating

effect on Andrew. Their response was that the Disability Living

Allowance is being replaced and the new benefit will recognise the

needs of people with severe mental health conditions. I'm joined now

by David Smith, the chief executive of the mental health charity MIND.

He is based in York. I think it is very brave of Andrew to put himself

out there and admit he has these problems on behalf of other people.

Absolutely. We support four or 500 people just in York. This is a

common problem that the cure regularly. We have already taken a

call from another person with mental health issues who has

experienced something similar to Andrew. Is this a widespread

problem? It is. It is not just the disability living allowance. It has

been running for a long time and the government are looking to

replace it. There are long delays in getting decisions made with that.

It is with other benefits as well, people are often waiting over a

year. New people are suffering from depression, and must add extra

stress. It does. It is not just the stress of making the claim and

finding all the information they need to, it is waiting for the

decision to be maids. We often hear about people who have had a

decision and maybe have been found unfit for work. These are people,

like Andrew, who are living with serious mental health conditions.

He was helped in hospital. Is it because of living in the community,

but that is the new way of coping with such problems? Partly it is.

We need to make sure that this support is there for them so they

can access their benefits, get good advice and get the support they

need to get their claims sorted. They can always contact you, can

The election triggered by the resignation of the sitting MP

because of ill-is in less than three weeks. There were 6,000 votes

behind Labour in 2010 but as the Conservatives opened their campaign

for the by-election today, they believe the economic track-record

will pull in extra votes to take the seat this time. Especially the

plans for young people back to work. There are 100,000 apprenticeships

in Bradford West and I hope they will take them up and I will visit

employers. A I am a local person. On the doorstep, Imran has saying

is the deputy leader of the city council. He was brought up in the

constituency and is targeting the Government's policies but believes

they have been damaging to Bradford. Youth unemployment is a massive

issue in Bradford West, it has trebled in the last year and those

are the issues that face the communities of Bradford West. The

health service, education, overcrowding in housing. Affordable

housing, I will provide a strong voice for the people of Bradford

West. The Lib Dems who have chosen another local councillor as

candidates are expected to launch their campaign later. Labour are

defending a majority of 6,000. And you can find all of the details of

the candidates online. Before seven o'clock: All aboard for a bus trip

down memory lane - the vintage vehicles restored to their former

glory. They look modern to us!

The I was at Burghley and Crystal Palace, it was a mediocre game but

they serve to me at half-time Riby there. -- Robina. The natural

health drink of our time. It was cold! Warm Robina, fabulous. Let's

start with football and we had more winners than losers this weekend as

Ian Bucknell reports. Leeds United had not won or scorned

-- scored since Neil Warnock took control. That changed yesterday.

Leaves are four points out side the plebs. There were some great

performances and Unsung Hero is. The header against that post was as

close as they came to scoring. Sheffield United got back to

winning ways at Brentford. Ched Evans scored. The Blades 1. They

hold on to second place in League One. Wednesday are behind them.

After Bournemouth own goal, it was 3-0 inside 10 minutes. It was less

comfortable for Huddersfield Town. Danny Ward scored. Rochdale pulled

It finished 2-2. Bradford City For the bonus much, York City are

closer to Wembley final. Luton gave away a penalty for handball and

Jamie Reid kept his nerve from the spot. York are up in the semi-final

with the second leg at Luton on Saturday. Rotherham United have

been named the football league's community club of the year at their

annual awards ceremony. Not surprisingly Huddersfield Town's

prolific goalscorer, Jordan Rhodes, was named the league one player of

the year. In Super League, after a weekend of comebacks, Huddersfield

sit top of the table. They took advantage of Warrington losing to

Leeds and Wigan's surprise defeat to Widnes, to go top of the pile

with a 32-14 win at Wakefield. The Giants coach, Nathan Brown, did say

after, that his side won't go table watching. And you can see all the

weekends tries on the Super League Show tonight at 11.35 on BBC1. And

it'll be available on the iPlayer from tomorrow morning.

York's Richard Buck got silver in the four by four hundred metres

relay at the world indoor championships in Istanbul. He took

the baton in second place but couldn't outrun America's Gil

Roberts on the final leg. Britain were briefly bumped up to gold when

the American team were disqualified, but they were reinstated on appeal.

Children from across our region have been taking part in the first

ever South Yorkshire School Games. Held at the English Institute of

Sport in Sheffield, 1600 children are taking part in the two-day

event. It's designed to inspire young people to take part in more

competitive school sports. The winners have a chance to reach the

national finals held in London's Olympic facilities.

We should point out other drinks are available. I am surprised you

are shocked. He doesn't live a wildlife. Tigers, leopards and

panthers were spotted on the streets of Dewsbury over the

weekend, and stopped people in their tracks. In fact many had a

double take when they saw them. But I'm not talking about wildcats -

these were vintage Leyland buses! All lovingly restored to their

former glory, bringing back some wonderful memories. Ian White

Some are over 60 years old and still on the road. Just a few of

the many vintage buses restored by volunteers at the bus museum in

Dewsbury. People of all ages turned out to a special open day at the

weekend. This is my nephew Oliver. He is absolutely obsessed with

buses. Yes, you laugh. You don't have to be a child to be obsessed.

Big boys' toys. Leyland leopard. 1962. Its 50th -- 50th birthday is

in September. I drive this bus in the 1960s in Halifax. -- I drove

this bus. Keeping them on the road is not cheap, insurance and tax can

be crippling. Now, there's a petition to get vehicles over the

age of 25 a tax exemption. For the sake of a few hundred pounds it can

tip it over the balance. A vehicle like this could be on the scrapyard.

Especially when you get a bill to repair it will get a tax disc.

was a familiar face on the buses starting her career in 1951. It did

not seem like a job because you outside, meeting different people,

there was nobody hanging over you So, living history is back on the

roads. Tickets, please! Did you always go upstairs?

Yes, at the back. I bet you did.

I was a wild man in those days. There have been a couple of unusual

visitors to Selby today. Several people have reported sightings of

two baby dolphins in the River Ouse under the toll bridge. We've been

told the mammals are more likely harbour porpoise though such

sightings are fairly rare and the porpoise usually find their own way

home. If you have any pictures, lettuce

know because we haven't! That was not a random at River

picture. No joke, every other region, lots

of droughts. You promised me it would never happen in Yorkshire

because we have all of the reservoirs and pipes. Western parts

of our region had quite a bit of rain this winter and the reservoirs

are full. The problems are east Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. East

Yorkshire has had hardly any rainfall but Yorkshire Water spent

�300 million on its underground pipes and they can pump water

across. Lincolnshire is the area where there are problems, a

hosepipe ban. Severn Trent Water, they have customers in Sheffield,

Chesterfield and the North Midlands and they do not envisage any

restrictions this summer. Let me show you why. I have a picture of a

reservoir. It is still overflowing. There's plenty of water there. This

is the first time the system Yorkshire Water set up is being

tested. It is interesting. Up the moment, no plans for restrictions

on any of the Look North view is. So, you were completely right.

but I don't like to say that! Another lovely picture of a

reservoir. This picture is beautiful. Mist rolling off the

cliff tops in Scarborough. A very unusual picture. Keep those

Tomorrow, variable cloud. The highest March temperature since

records began in 1984. High pressure and dry weather this week.

It will be a problem working out who gets cloud and who gets the

sun? They should be decent sunny breaks to arrive. Tonight, a could

-- they could be a frost. It will turn misty, areas of clout and

temperatures well over the place. Five degrees in Halifax whether

cloud rolls in. Those are the high water times. A mixed bag first

thing, quite cloudy in places. They will be good gaps from the word go

in the Vale of York. The cloud would drift around but sunny breaks

in it quite a few areas. The breeze will be light and variable. An

onshore breeze. The best temperatures across the central

slice of of region, through Leeds and South Yorkshire. The Pennines