26/02/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

One, it's time for the news where you are.

Good evening. Internationally renowned concert

pianist John Briggs is beginning an eight`year jail term tonight for

indecent assaults on young boys. In Bradford a judge said Briggs, who's

65, had remorselessly abused two boys at private piano lessons at his

home and three sea cadets from Keighley. Today one of his victim's

spoke exclusively to our crime correspondent John Cundy.

John Briggs described as a gifted, successful pianist, and man of

considerable standing in the community. Awarded the MBE by the

Queen 11 years ago for his support of sea cadets. His abuse of young

boys was hidden for years. As well as a renowned concert pianist he was

a colourful figure. His publicity stunts involved playing on the edge

of the Grand Canyon, or on top of the submarine and the Humber. All

the time he was keeping his systematic sex offences hidden. His

five victims were between ten and 15. One agreed to be identified and

interviewed by look North outside court this afternoon.

I am just glad it is all over, 22 years. I am completely and utterly

ecstatic at the sentence he got. During his trial he had admitted to

the court he had gay tendencies, but he denied the charges claiming they

were a vicious campaign against him. It took the jury here at Bradford

Crown Court less than five hours to conflict Jon Briggs of nine indecent

assaults on the five boys, fungal boys who were said to have respected

and almost worshipped him. `` vulnerable boys. He was beginning an

eight`year jail sentence for his 25 years of grooming and abuse of boys

who trusted him. The group considering plans that

could see Calderdale Royal Hospital lose its accident and emergency unit

has been defending the proposals. Services have been under review for

the last few months and now it's emerged the preferred option is to

close the A in Halifax with patients going to Huddersfield

instead. We'll have more on the political row this has caused in a

moment, first here's Phil Bodmer. Two hospitals, to accident and

emergency units, in two towns apart. But now one of those casualty

departments faces the possibility of closure. Michael Marsden from

Sowerby Bridge was rushed to accident and emergency at Royal

Calderdale hospital after experiencing a series of heart

attacks. The main problem would be if Alice acts was opposed and I had

to go to Huddersfield, the chances are I would be dead before I got

there `` if Halifax was closed. Please leave them alone. At present

Calderdale loyal hospital serves a population of just over 200,000.

Meanwhile Huddersfield Royal covers 420,000 people. Tonight the group

carrying out the review defended the proposals.

There is good evidence that towns that start drawing together a key

services in one place delivers better outcomes for patients. What

this also is about, and really importantly, is this is about

enhancing, improving, locality delivered services.

People we spoke to Halifax and Huddersfield were unsure about

changes. My daughter is having a baby, if anything happens you have

got to have those facilities. People are coming from Todmorden side, it

is very far to go. It is not just shutting, it is visiting. Health

bosses say the review is about changing needs and delivering better

value for patients, but at what cost to local communities?

James Vincent has been following the political reaction after these plans

were announced. There is no consensus here.

Is there ever, especially when it comes to the NHS and saving money? A

few miles up and over the M62 do is Huddersfield Royal infirmary. It

might not belong in a car but try telling the people in Halifax that

to have heard their accident and emergency I'd be closing. This part

of West Yorkshire has seen a restructure in its maternity

services, it looks like accident and emergency will be next. MPs have

been having their say. We are barely a year away from the general

election and they will be wanting to show their constituents know exactly

where they stand on this issue. It is about saving money, not about

saving lives. It is all about finances and we need to fight that,

we need to keep accident and emergency in Calderdale Royal

Hospital. If Linda had done as I had done and

gone in, a shift in accident and emergency, she would realise what

happens currently is unsustainable. The NHS said this decision will not

be made for a little while, but it is clear up one of these centres

make lies. MIB Halifax, Huddersfield, both of them may be

down graded and patients may have to rely on another centre, potentially

in Leeds. The NHS will be asking opinion in the summer, expect strong

views. A man from Rotherham's been found

guilty of murdering a father of three who disturbed him during a

burglary in Hoyland. 49`year`old Dean Armitage woke after hearing

noises outside his home last summer. He was hit over the head, punched

and kicked by David Sindall. Sindall will be sentenced tomorrow at

Sheffield Crown Court. Three more of Yorkshire's councils

have set their budgets. Wakefield Council voted to cut 1,400

jobs and increase council tax by nearly 2% to save ?61 million. Leeds

councillors have also approved a similar rise in council tax and

savings that put 200 jobs at risk. People in Rotherham also face a rate

rise of 1.9% with the council saying only essential services can be

protected. More than 5,000 fans turned out to

watch Doncaster reserves tonight. The reason? One Direction's Louis

Tomlinson was in the squad. He came off the bench against Rotherham

reserves, the final score was 0`0. They would turn out in thousands to

see you play. Sunny intervals, the rain courtesy

of this included front. This feature is interesting on Friday, a good

bring rain and hail snow. By now it is clear, rain spreading from the

West after midnight. So very wet weather especially in the West. The

rain first then quickly clearing. A bright day, sunny spells. A few

scattered showers. Fine weather once the rain has cleared. A lot of

uncertainty for Friday, there is a risk of some rain and hail snow,

back to sunshine and showers on Saturday. That is it from us. Here

is a summary for tomorrow. the weekend. And now we have the

national forecast. Good evening. We know it has been a

wet winter but it has also been mild and across England and Wales,

lacking in snow. The last day of the season which we measure on Friday,

might provide a bit of it. Friday's weather is coming from the small

area of low pressure. These tiny low-pressure systems are difficult

to track and a subtle change in position could have a big impact.

Tonight we have more straightforward, a weather front

spreading out rakes of rain across most areas. Turning windy as well.

The rain will be heavy but will move through quickly because of the

strength of the wind and it will be a mild night for most. The rain is

lingering across Scotland and eastern England for the morning It

will continue to be pushed into