17/01/2014 North West Tonight

Mikaeel Kular's community. That's all

Good evening. Welcome to Northwest Tonight. With Roger Johnson. And

Annabel Tiffin. Jail for the two conmen who swindled

over 100 pensioners out of their life savings. They befriended many

victims before stealing their money. Also tonight: This apprentices who

haven't been paid and the trainer who says it's not her fault. The

Government agency in charge announces its own investigation.

Government agency in charge announces its own investigation.

Liverpool City Council is cracking down on parents who take their

children out of school to go on holt day. We'll be asking parents if they

think they are right. And join me for the biggest pigeon

pageant on the planet. I'll be in Blackpool where fanciers have got

their eyes on the prize. For ten year, Molly Prince's

companies have helped the unemployed find work. She's no strange tore the

press in. 2012, she hit the headlines for the wrong reasons

after jobseekers sent out to help at the Queen's Jubilee ended up

sleeping rough under Tower Bridge. Tonight, we investigate why around

60 of her current apprentices haven't been paid for three months,

why lucrative training contracts have been halted and why there are

calls for a police investigation. Tower Bridge, 2012. Jobseekers

sleeping rough hours before a work placement on the Queen's Jubilee.

Exploitation screamed the press. Molly Prince said it was a cockup.

In the last week, we've spoken to more of Molly's apprentice Is who

say they feel exploited. 18th October was the last time I was

paid. E`mails flying back`and`forth saying we'd be paid, then we

wouldn't be paid on that date, then it would be another date. Then we

just never had no money. I've had to claim Housing Benefit in order to

afford to live where I live. The company, LDC, was paid to train

students at the Oasis Academy in Salford and here in Lindley. Not

what you would call a modern education establishment. Training

money was paid by the Government skill s Skills Funding Agency to

stock stone who subcontracted LDC to provide training in the north`west.

In October, funding was stopped when the college started to investigate

complaints. And that led to a cash flow crisis

for Molly Prince who couldn't pay apprentices. She says she's the

victim of a malicious complaint. victim of a malicious complaint.

Do you think you do a good job here? Absolutely. But the complaints

haven't just come from students. haven't just come from students

I've spoken to staff anonymously. When the company started, it was

very good but it's about chasing money now. I was asked to do

reviewers for learners, I can't remember seeing them attended for

some time. I raised concerns with Molly. She said if I take them off

now, we could lose numbers. This letter ends the contract with LDC.

We have learnt the college is investigating a discrepancy between

the number of students they thought were on the books and the number on

the register. Is this just a case then of bad business nous or is it a

case of potentially criminal activity? I think I've mismanaged

the situation with Stockton. There's no criminal activity. Absolutely

not. I've also spoken to this company, Charnwood Training who

terminated a contract with LDC saying it had concerns. Hundreds of

thousands were paid back to the skills funding atcy, money the

solicitors are trying to get back from LDC.

Hopefully the qualification is the main thing that I want from it now,

it seems I've been told I've not got a cat in hell's chance of getting

the money. Molly agrees and told me she's probably days away from

insolvency. Within the last hour, the Skills

Funding Agency has confirmed it's Funding Agency has confirmed it's

investigating. The MP for West Lancashire, Rosie Cooper, has now

called for a police investigation and she's raised the issue in

Parliament. Earlier, I spoke to her and asked

her how these apprenticeships schemes could be best delivered.

I don't care who delivers it as long as it's delivered properly, the

children, young people are trained properly, they are paid and it is

supervised properly. This is public money and it's not supervised

properly, so I want proper training, young children to be paid for their

work. The way this is going, it's outrageous, it seems easy money How

do we protect the rights of these apprentices and young people then in

your view? You run proper schemes, properly accredited schemes. They

are trying to do that? In this case, how can that be? Trying is not good

enough. Trying won't do it. These young people are owed probably, the

young people I know about, are owed ?1,000 each. They are probably never

going to get paid. The schemes are operated under the auspices with

grants from the Government. Why should they walk away? Whose moral

responsibility is it to say to young people, go to work, five days a

week, for ?330 a month and at the end of it what lessons will you

learn? Thank you. Next, two men from Merseyside and

Lancashire have been jailed today for swindling more than 100

pensioners out of ?5 many. Malcolm Barber and Terry Warrington carried

on taking investors' money even when they knew their companies were in

trouble. In some cases those they ripped off regarded the pair as

close friends. The judge at Preston Crown Court said the effect it had

on the victims was heart breaking. Eileen and Sue live within a few

minutes of each other in Wallasey and both lost over ?30,000 to the

Malcolm Barber Terry Warrington fraud. They are dreadful. Two awful

men. Thieves. Liars. It's affected my nerves a lot. I think the problem

was, it wasn't money that was put aside for holidays or anything like

that, it was an income we lived on and they literally took ?2,000 a

year away from us. Malcolm Barber was convicted of

fraud after a trial. He was jailed for four years. Terry Warrington on

the right admitted fraud and was jailed for four`and`a`half years.

The court heard that their companies promised high returns in safe

investments, but things began to unravel when they faced a big tax

bill in the 90s. Instead of admitting they were in trouble, they

carried on taking in investors' money. 128 pensioners lost ?5

million. They started off with a business

plan that obviously went horribly wrong when they received a

substantial bill from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, that impacted

on their ability to pay creditors back. They compounded it by robbing

Peter to pay Paul and eventually got problems and got worse and worse and

investors lost their money. The judge said many of the victims now

felt guilty that they couldn't financially help their children and

grandchildren. But he said they should not feel that because they'd

done no more than place their trust in men whom they should have been

able to trust but who in reality betrayed them.

The victims say the jail sentences are some kind of justice.

This is justice at last. We haven't got our money back. But it's a

start. A farmer from Cheshire has been

jailed for 12 months after abandoning his cattle in a rented

farm to fly off an skiing holiday. James Stratton left the animals with

little food or water and they were found in an emaciated condition,

some already dead. The judge at World Health

Organisation tonne Crown Court said his farm was a concentration camp

for animals. This report contains distressing

ummages. Animal welfare officers recorded

shocking scenes as they examined cold harbour farm in Bruera last

February. Sheep remains... Most images are too

drills tressing to show. The remains of 33 dead cattle were found

decomposing. 37 more were in such poor health that they had to be

destroyed. James Stratton pleaded guilty to 20

counts relating to animal cruelty. He left his cattle on the farm which

he rented with just one days' worth of food while he went on a skiing

trip. It was then that a former farm hand raised the alarm. Certainly one

of the worst cases of animal cruelty I've come across. The officers said

to me in the case that as far as they are concerned, it's one of the

worst cases they have seen. The 49`year`old ran an award`winning B

and yet just a mile away, his animals lived in squalor. The judge

summed the case up brilliantly when he said the scene that was met by

the officers when they arrived at the farm was for akin to a scene

from a World War II concentration camp and he described it as a

concentration camp for animals. The judge said James Stratton had been a

disgrace to the farming community and that cold harbour farm was an

apt name because, he said, that s apt name because, he said, that s

exactly how it had been for the animals. James Stratton's lawyer

claimed he had been struggle in his personal life and was unable to

cope, but the judge said that didn't excuse his behaviour. He was jailed

for a year and banned from keeping animals for ten years. The current

owners of the farm have nothing to do with the case.

Controversial plans for a huge underground gas storage facility in

Lancashire have moved forward after a High Court ruling made earlier

today. The energy group wants to excavate 19 rock salt caverns for

the storage of up to 600 million cubic metres of gas near fleetwood.

Proposals had been blocked by the Government but a judge said today

that decision was irrational. Detectives in Greater Manchester are

appealing for information after a gunman threatened a shop asssistant

in Trafford. The asssistant refused to give him a ?1 discount on a

bottle of beer but when he was told police her called, he put the gun

away, paid for the goods and put some change in the charity box.

Police described the attempted robbery as bizarre.

A short film produced by a Lancashire`based infrastructurion

company has been nominated for an Oscar. The Voorman Problem, starring

Martin Freeman, has been produced by Honlodge Productions. It's filmed by

Phil Wood, a Northern Film School graduate. The team will head to

Hollywood for the awards in March. Good luck.

The woman who has accused Coronation Street star Bill Roache of raping

her today told the court it was riddic will yous to suggest she

wasn't telling the truth. This afternoon, another of the accusers

told the jury how he indecently assaulted her at the Granada

studios. He denies Al accusations. Dave Guest has more. This report

contains flash photography. Bill Roache arrived for O'Dea four of his

trail at Preston to hear the woman who accused her of raping her being

cross`examined by his barrister. The cross`examined by his barrister The

woman claims he raped her at a bungalow he owned in Haslingden in

Lancashire. The property is owned by someone else now. She also says that

the actor raped her at another property he had in the area on a

separate occasion. Louise Blackwell for the actor questioned variations

in the accounts that the woman had given to the police, in particular

her age at the time of the alleged offences. Edinburgh Airport Miss

Blackwell said the woman claimed to be 14 or possibly 13 or 15. She

accused the woman of getting things badly wrong because she wasn't

telling the truth. The woman said that was ridiculous.

This afternoon, a fourth complainant gave her evidence to the court. She

said that she and her sister used to hang around outside the Granada

building in the 1960s hoping to get autographs. She said Bill Roache

asked them inside and whilst there he'd taken her off to a room where

he indecently assaulted her. In all, there are five complainants in the

case. Mr Roache denies two charges of rape and five of indecent

assault. If you have children, you may be

tempted to take them out of school to take advantage of cheaper holiday

prices during term time, but if you do, that cheap holiday could end up

costing you an awful lot more. There's been a huge increase in the

number of parents being fined for their child's unauthorised absence

with a quadrupling in some areas, it's all down to a change in the

rules that kicked in in September. A travel agents' window with

bargains galore, unless you want to take your family away during school

holidays. Small wonder parents try to avoid big bills then. Councils

are coming down on them. A culture has developed within some

communities of taking holidays in term time. That has had a very

significant impact on performance over the years. Some families can

take not just one but up to three holidays in term time.

Liverpool City Council's crackdown's seen parent penalties rise from 97

to 250 in a year. It's up in Cheshire West and Chester.

Lancashire penalised 972 parents in 2013, compared to 240 the previous

year. Tracey and her family from Salford enjoying a break in Florida

last September. When they got back flair trip, an

education authority penalty. I have done this many a time in school when

they've been in school. And now they are fining us ?60. My view is that

the council just want to get money out of everybody.

The praise of a holiday can increase by as much as a third during school

holiday time, costing families perhaps thousands of pounds extra.

Some people here in Liverpool can understand why parents are tempted

to take their children out of school during term time, others don't.

Not everybody has the same rules. It's not fair to say they can't take

them out. They shouldn't have any time out of school playing catch`up.

I don't want it to her. Repeated unauthorised absences could land

parents in court and councils say they'll use all of their power to

protect children's education. A dilemma for many.

It's going to cost a lot more now so perhaps the dilemma's gone away.

Up to 20,000 pigeon fanciers are flocking to Blackpool this weekend

for the world's most prestigious pigeon pageant.

A bit of a coup! As my esteemed colleague observed on

Twitter earlier. Very witty. I stole it from the radio! Competitors will

fly from in from as far away as China. Let's talk to Elaine who is

surrounded by the feathered ones in the winter gardens.

Yes, normally it's about the foxtrot in here, but tonight it's all about

the birds. There are 2,000 pigeons in here under the watchful eye of

security and the judges. This is a major event in any pigeon fanciers

diary. To get this far, the pigeons need brains, as well as beauty.

Prim and pampered. Inside the cages, the top pedigree of the pigeon

world. I like this one. Had her since I was

eight. I like this one, got a good chance and I've got loads more down

here. They have got a good chance to win. I've had the pigeons since I

was two and I really like them. I love waking up on race day or when I

go to a show and not knowing if you're going to win or not and you

just like to see if it's my favourite pigeon coming. Some of the

birds cost up to ?10,000. To their owners, they are priceless.

I've loved them all my life since I was a boy. My dad had pigeons and I

wouldn't be without them. I live for them. We have nine medals here,

awarded to pigeons in the second word war for the great acts of

bravery. At this year's event, they are paying homage to the homing

pigeon. The fearless flyer paid a pave tall role in World War I and

II. Pigeons in the war were extremely important. They carried

messages from the frontline troops and also from Al lied aircrews that

had been shot down. It took days to fly home, but one pigeon came home

with a bullet through its breast and a broken leg. In in the judging

hall, all eyes are on the lookout for the most coveted bird.

He's got to be clean. All the flights have to be in excellent

condition. Just like their feathered friends,

these fanciers always return to one of Blackpool's most prestigious

events. Well, this really is a major event

for the Blackpool economy in January. As for the judges, they

have got a very long night ahead deciding on which pigeon should get

the Rosette and which owner picks up the ?35 prize money. This weekend,

forget about the hens, forget about the stags, it's all about the pigeon

party. Makes a change from Strictly being

in the ballroom. Now Richard, a busy day for

Manchester United's manager David Moyes today?

Yes, he's been fined for comments he emade after United's defeat against

Swansea recently. He did say that United started laughing at referees,

he did though admit the FA's misconduct charge and was fined

?8,000. As for the squad, one of his midfield players is on the way out.

Anderson, who started just a few matches under David Moyes, is close

to completing a transfer. Fiorentina bought him for ?20 million from

Porto in 2007. Now to an issue that's been debated

in football since the invention of the Premier League over two decades

ago. How much money should trickle down from the top division to the

sports grass roots? More than 20,000 people have signed a petition

launched by a north`west MP urging the Premier League to share more.

The latest TV deal was worth ?5 billion.

Manchester United, champions... Clubs are wealthier than ever, but

should the Premier League be doing more to help the rest of football?

Here at Horwich, they are reliant on the likes of volunteers Tom and

Lesley, money is in short supply. At the moment, we are on council

pitches, we don't have any clubhouse or changing rooms. We have got

nothing. Whilst international footballers arerning millions and

millions a year, our children don't have good enough facilities and it's

really about time that they did. really about time that they did

`` footballers are earning. David's petition calls for 7. 5 of

David's petition calls for 7. 5% of the ?5 billion to go to grass roots

football. The Premier League is promising ?168

million, half of that amount. But while one club, this one,

continues to spend more on wages in a single year than the Premier

League as a whole gives to grass roots football in three years,

demands for the game to spread its wealth will surely only grow. Dave

Whelan spread his wealth contributing millions towards biggen

Wigan Youth Zone. The Premier League chipped in ?350,000 for the pitches

and the Wigan Athletic owner says they do more than enough. The

Premier League get criticised for not helping other nations or the

football communities, but they actually do an awful lot of more.

If they contribute more, we should be thankful, but we should be

thankful already. There has been ?170 million spent already.

While the Chancellor might be pleased by the Premier League's

success, here they'd just like some of that money to trickle down to

them. On this week's Sunday Politics,

we'll be asking local MPs Derek Twigg and Ben Wallace whether

politicians have the power to influence sport?

Some important Rugby League news. After meetings today, Super League

will be cut from 14 to 12 teams from 2015. Clubs voted for the return of

promotion and relegation. The other code now, Rugby Union,

promotion and relegation. The other code now, Rugby Union win

The other code now, Rugby Union, win or draw for Sale Sharks at Biarritz

will see them through to the quarter`finals. Quay toe and Brady

have signed now deals. Quaytoe, the all`time lead leading try scorer

considered retiring but will play on until 2015. Tom Brady signed a new

two`year deal. A young skier from the north`west is

being tipped for Olympic glory in freestyle skiing. Rowan Archbishop,

from Alsager near Crewe recently won gold. She's the first British woman

to do it and says it gives her great confidence ahead of the Olympics in

Sochi. It's great practise and I'm on the road to doing that. I'm so

happy. How brave is she! She's been doing

it since she was about 12. Talked me through all the bumps and bruises.

You have to be brave. The only way we do that is when we

are out of control! If you go to the Horseshoe inn in Clitheroe, you will

find a Christmas card on the bar. This is a bit special because it

comes from... Roy. Roy is a sheep who should have been sent to the

slaughterhouse last autumn but pub regulars took a shine to him and

raised money to buy his freedom Stuart Flinders has been to meet

him. This is one crazy mixed up sheep.

He's ditched the field, moved into the farmhouse and started acting

like a dog. Oh, and he calls himself Roy.

He's very much his own character. He doesn't always do as he's told. Does

he answer to his name. Yes. Especially if he's hungry. Is he

just like a dog? He doesn't do all the things dogs do. Does he fetch a

paper in the morning? Unfortunately not.

Last autumn, Roy should have been sent to slaughter but a landlady of

this pub decided to have a whip round so that Roy wouldn't get the

chop. Or should that be chops... ? On the

bar, a Christmas card. Roy sent me the Christmas card. From Roy

himself? Yes. You must be getting some stick from your customers? Yes,

we've had lots of jokes about the mint sauce and the lamb chops and

when are we going to have him for Christmas dinner and so on, but

Roy's not for eating, he's for playing with, he's a friend. Now Roy

is part of the family at the farm near Bolton`by`Bowland, he is

starting to throw his weight around. We have had a win`win situation as

well really. What is that? He goes under`the`table. What is he doing?

Scratching his back. You don't great with a dog, do you?

No, you don't get that with a dog. The trouble with Roy is, he's

spoilt. He wants to be a dog when it suits him, but when it's time for

walkies, it's a case of, you go I'm staying here.

Poor old Roy. Too cold to walk! As the Queen of

puns just said. Go on? Good job the pub wasn't called the Rovers.

No more tonight. Now the weather. Good evening. If you plan to be

outdoors this weekend, Sunday will be the better day to be out because

we are expecting some rain on Saturday and hopefully should be

drier and a touch brighter on Sunday.

For tonight, should be mostly dry. One or two showers lingering across

parts of Lancashire and Cumbria They'll ease tonight and we will see

some clear skies, bits and pieces of clear skies across parts of Cheshire

and here we could see some frost patches, some fog patches as well

and temperatures down to maybe three or four. For tomorrow, it will be a

cloudy start. The rain begins to edge in from the south. Just patchy

light rain initially. Going to be heavy for a time.

Returns as heavy showers through the afternoon. It will be a breezy day

as well. Plenty of cloud around. Occasional bright spells, obviously,

as usual in`between the showers. Occasional bright spells, obviously,

as usual in`between the showers Temperatures tomorrow, a bit

disappointing underneath the rain, just seven or eight. The showers

continue to pile in tomorrow night, as you can see.

Temperatures won't drop by much tomorrow because of the rain. The

rain then eases away. We are going to see the temperatures fall away as

the rain eases away. Temperatures will fall very close to freezing in

Cheshire. The rain is falling as snow on high ground.

In the south, we are likely to see some fog patches again. As we head

into Sunday, things will improve. The rain eases away. It's not going

to be particularly warm. Hopefully some sunshine. For Monday, we are

likely to see some more showers and then the return of rain on Tuesday.

Enjoy Sunday! I could have swank you said the word

sunshine then. I know. Very changeable.

A patch of blue sky this afternoon! Twlafs? We are all going to stand

under it. Show us, quick? ! We are going to

the horseshoe to see Roy. He's lovely.

He or she? He I think. Bye. Good night.