25/02/2014 North West Tonight

sunshine and showers continuing And that is all from the BBC News at

six. It is goodbye Good evening. Welcome to North West

Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson. Our top storx: Abused

and let down by the authorities ` the sisters who were victims of

their paedophile stepfather. Me and my sister, we were crying out

for help. And no one was listening. Wide?

The sisters have waived thehr right to anonymity to speak to us. Also

tonight: The pioneering pathent who's helping to revolutionhse the

treatment of pancreatic cancer. "A victory for common sense." The

six`year`old boy threatened with deportation who can now stax with

his mother. The story of the Preston maxor who

decided who to send to the battlefields of World War I.

And the musical five`year`old and her singing cat. We meet thd young

Internet sensation from Lancashire. Katie and Dellisa Shortman's

stepfather was a known paedophile. The girls were already on the child

protection register. But Patl Ward was left to abuse them at their home

in Trafford for two years. When they spoke to the police, officers

decided not to act. 15 years later, Ward has finally

been convicted after the sisters went back to the police as `dults.

The judge criticised social services, police and the Crown

Prosecution Service for letting them down. They've now waived thdir right

to anonymity to speak out, `s Abbie Jones reports.

Katie and Dellisa were just five and six years old when the abusd

started. It's left them with anxiety and depression ever since. What Paul

Ward subjected them to was horrifying. But they're just as

angry that for years he went unpunished. It made me feel let down

by a lot of professionals, `nd it gave me that feeling where, why

should I listen to you? Why has it took so long?

Ward was known to Trafford social services, the police and Crown

Prosecution Service. He had a conviction for abusing a box of

four. Sentencing him, Judge Maurice Green said there had been a list of

missed opportunities. A polhce surgeon examined Dellisa and found

evidence of abuse. In 1998, Katie told officers her stepfather was

abusing her. The following xear Dellisa spoke to the police. School

reports said the girls showdd symptoms of abuse. But each time, no

action was taken. Me and my sister were crying out for help through our

behaviour, through other people and no one was listening. Why? We were

just trying to seek some help from somewhere where we thought they

would listen. And doors werd shut. Trafford Council said it wotldn t

comment on individual cases, but safeguarding children has always

been a key priority. The Crown Prosecution Service told us the case

wasn't referred to them unthl November 2012 when they worked with

police to prosecute Ward. Greater Manchester Police say the ddcision

not to act in 1999 was conshdered in the best interests of the vhctims.

If such a recommendation was made today, it would be challengdd. It

added the force has changed the way it investigates crimes against

vulnerable people. Katie and Dellisa can't change the

past. But they hope speaking out will help others. If I can help one

girl or boy from this interview come forward and stand their grotnd and

know that they are not alond, I would be so happy.

Abbie Jones, BBC North West Tonight. An inquest has heard that social

workers warned a woman about her boyfriend weeks before he btrned

down her home in Altrincham, killing both of them and her 15`year`old

son. The court was told Davhd Potts had a history of drug and alcohol

abuse and mental illness. Hd'd also had a relationship with an tnderage

girl. Tracy Jones and her son Shaun Van Stratten died in the fire in

2011. From the inquest in Stockport, Stuart Flinders reports.

David Potts, drug abuser, bhnge drinker, self harm. He brokd into

this house and set fire to ht, and the ensuing blaze killed Tr`cy Jones

and Shaun van Stratten, and pots himself.

The inquest heard that David Potts had had a child by an under`ge girl

in Lancashire. He had tried to harm both the child and himself. A month

before the fire, Tracy Jones was visited by social workers who warned

her that David Watts might pose a risk to her children. She ended

their relationship. He was furious. His friends told the court he

threatened to harm her and her children, and to burn down the

probation office. He also asked where he could obtain a hand

grenade. Friends of wave it pots `` David

Potts that he would drink lhtres of cider, and take amphetamines every

day. His mother Christine Potts said he had had a heart attack, `nd

didn't believe he had had long to live. He had never mentioned harming

others, he only ever hurt hhmself, she said. Tracy Jones's daughter

Caitlin survived the fire, `nd will give her version of what happened

that day. A 14`year`old boy has appeared

before Preston Crown Court court charged with raping his mother in

Blackpool at the weekend. The teenager, who can't be named for

legal reasons, was bailed until March.

An investigation has been l`unched after an 83`year`old woman died at a

care home in Bury. Police wdre called to Ainsworth Nursing Home on

Knowsley Road just after seven o'clock last night following reports

of the unexplained death of a resident. A postmortem examhnation

is due to take place this evening. A police officer has been injured

after trying to release two anti`fracking protestors who'd

locked themselves onto a barrel at the Barton Moss site in Salford

Officers say the drum, which was being used to block the camp, had

been filled with cement, gl`ss and barbed wire.

A man from Liverpool has become the first patient in the countrx to be

given a pioneering vaccine that could revolutionise the tre`tment of

pancreatic cancer. It's the fifth most common cancer, and it's nearly

always fatal. Allan Helliar is the first person to be recruited for the

trial at the Royal Liverpool Hospital's Linda McCartney Centre.

Mark Edwardson reports. You feeling today? Not bad.

Allan Helliar and his wife @ngela as he gets ready to visit hosphtal

Allan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last October. The tulour was

removed on Christmas Eve. Chemotherapy followed. Now @llan's a

pioneer. It is really like hn insurance. You have got a proper

cure, which is the chemo, and then they have offered this, which is

like an add`on. So I have two chances here. If the chemo doesn't

work, maybe this world. Meeting his daughter at the Linda

McCartney Centre in Liverpool. Pancreatic cancer is aggressive

Allan's getting a new vaccine it's hoped will strengthen his ilmune

system to help it combat secondary tumours. After the prep, Allan

receives the vaccination. All done. The simple treatment has bedn

developed jointly by the Roxal Liverpool University Hospit`l and

the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral. It is very exciting. It is a

new vaccine that we are hophng will become a standard form of treatment

for patience `` patients Mike Allen. Just 4% of people diagnosed with

pancreatic cancer survive for six years or more, and at the age of 64,

that has given him time. I `m going to make it to 70! He is doing this

trial not just for himself, but for people in the future. If solething

good comes out of it, my dad has made the right choice.

Allan Hilliar will receive doses of the vaccine for six months. So far,

he says, so good. Mark Edwardson, BBC North West Tonight, Livdrpool.

We wish him all the very best. Two women from Liverpool have

appeared in court charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act. It follows the

death of 79`year` old Clifford Clarke, who was fatally att`cked by

a dog while in his garden l`st year. Hayley Sulley and Della Woods, who

are both 29, have been baildd. They'll appear again in May. Two men

are being treated in hospit`l after a car and a taxi collided on Oxford

Road in Manchester. The 24`xear`old car driver is in a serious

condition. The 48`year`old taxi driver also remains in hosphtal

Roads in the area were closdd and police are continuing to

investigate. Staying in Manchester: Nearly half

of lesbian, gay or bisexual people living in Manchester have

experienced homophobic abusd. That's according to research carridd out by

the city's Lesbian and Gay Foundation as part of Hate Crime

Awareness Week. The report `lso says that six in ten of them did not

report the abuse. A few months ago, we told you the

story of seven`year`old Jamhe Long from Merseyside who had been told by

the Home Office that he might have to leave the country, because he is

a Canadian citizen. It seems that Jamie can stay after all. D`ve Guest

has been to meet them. When Jamie and his brother Pueen

arrived to start a new life in England with their mum, Sar`h, Quinn

was told that he was welcomd to come in. He has a German passport. But

because Jamie has a Canadian passport, he was told he wotld have

to go back there. His Canadhan born Malm holds a British passport, and

was horrified. Months of calpaigning and worry followed, until now last,

the news they hoped for. Jalie can stay after all.

Obviously I was very built `` relieved at the idea that mx son

would be taken away from me. What has it been like for you as a

family? It has been very difficult. There has been stress, sleepless

nights, and the constant threat the constant idea of who is going to

come to your door and take xour child. It has been horrible. We

wanted all along why the Hole Office was spending such a lot of time on a

case that has such a common`sense solution. You can get the

formalities right without creating anxiety for the family or a lot of

Europe could see for the Hole Office. What are your plans for the

family? There is a lot of stress taken off, but we do still have

quite a few hoops to jump through to make it official.

The Home Office have sent as a statement this evening saying that

the onus is on the family to regularise the boy's stay, `nd

submit a fresh application. They say all applications are considdred on

the individual merit and in line with EU rules. Still to comd on

North West Tonight: you have probably seen it.

The Lancashire schoolgirl who's become the human star of an internet

hit. And we will be watching the telly in

Liverpool with a thousand TV executives, all here to buy the next

global TV hit. All this week we're marking the

centenary of World War One by looking at the impact of thd war

here at home. Last night we told the story of one of the thousands who

volunteered in 1914. But wh`t happened when conscription was

introduced in 1916? Tonight we tell that story through the eyes of one

man, Harry Cartmell, Preston's wartime mayor.

One year into the war, casu`lties were mounted, and the supplx of

volunteers drying up stop g`ps in the ranks had to be plugged.

Conscription was introduced. The anyway to avoid the caller was a two

appeal to local tribunal. Hdre in Preston, the man in charge of the

tribunal was Harry Cartmell, Mair of the town. `` mayor. In this book he

left us a unique insight into what a terrible responsibility it was to

decide which men should stax and which should go. No one has written

about the tribunal in any ddtail before. There are also chat as an

women's work, the Belgian rdfugees. It is fascinating. The last thing

anyone ought to do who cares about popularity has become a member of

the local tribunal. He has the opportunity of making many dnemies.

The tribunal is could exempt men if they were carrying out essential war

work. He talks of some amusdment with the black pudding makers who

tried this unsuccessfully. But he was appalled at the callousness of

the medical boards, who passed as fit men who he believed shotld not

use foot line. One member of the medical board appeared to h`ve

examined the heart, long, exesight. No one seems to have looked at the

man. And in the case before us, the man was known to some of thd members

as a witless fellow. In the army he would prove a source of gre`ter

danger to his comrades that the Germans. I felt could train ``

constrained to say that hum`n life had become too cheap.

Cartmell was fascinated by the conscientious objectors, and relish

the arguments over moral and religious principle. He was moved by

those with real conviction. Timid souls who might easily be crushed

under the iron heel of military discipline, though not prep`red to

fight the Germans, they had the courage of that kind but in times

past would lead them to the stake for their convictions. He comes

across as a very kind gentldman someone who was a very good listener

and was very good at weighing up people. He did give them a fair

hearing. Whether the other committee members were so sympathetic or so

willing to listen, I don't know Harry Cartmell died in 1923, aged

66. Some say worn out by his war work. But now as we take a new look

at the home front of World War I, fresh insights are being provided by

his legacy, this long forgotten book.

It is hard to imagine having to do that job, having to listen to them

and decide, make those decisions. And in many ways, although not

obviously deliberately, sending people to their deaths. And how nice

to hear it read out there bx someone who looks remarkably like hhm.

Tomorrow we're in Liverpool to tell the story of the women workdrs at

the Cunard Shell Factory. And don't forget that story and other World

War I At Home stories can bd heard every morning at 8.15 on yotr local

BBC radio stations. Football now, and Wayne Rooney

believes Manchester United can win the European Cup this season. A big

match for them in Greece tonight. United face Olympiakos in the last

16 first leg clash this evening ` their last chance of a trophy this

season. You want to win every year, and odyssey that is impossible. But

if we can go to the final, ht will be great for us, and it is `n

opportunity to win the trophy. We have to try and get as far `s we

possibly can, and win it if possible. But the first thing we

have to do is to get through the tie. It will be a difficult game.

A game for Manchester United. And, of course, there's full comlentary

of the game on BBC Radio Manchester this evening. We should havd the

best of the action on tomorrow night's programme.

Now, if you're in one of Liverpool's hotels, restaurants and bars over

the next day or so, it's highly likely you'll bump into a TV type.

Sir David Attenborough was hn last night. Jeremy Clarkson. The Three

Musketeers. They're all in town along with almost a thousand

international TV executives who re here to buy the next big TV hit Its

part of BBC Worldwide's global showcase. It is the second xear that

this showcase has been held in Liverpool. Jayne McCubbin is over at

Albert Dock now. Rubbing shoulders with the bigwigs. Where elsd would

we find you? I have just seen Johnny Depp, but it

was just a man dressed up as Jack Sparrow. This is all going off in

the convention centre over the way there. BBC One wide, the colmercial

arm of the BBC, have taken the place over to sell programmes and formats

around the world. I hope vidwers don't think that this is a bit too

naval gave `` gazing of the BBC It is looking at what travels well

what will sell well, and wh`t a huge coup for it to be in Liverpool. Here

is a taster. What a job! The world's TV dxecs are

here to watch and, they, spdnd. So we have to be very quiet, btt this

is how it works. 600 booths where people can watch for ten hotrs a day

all the they want to buy. I could so love this job! This is

one of the big hits this ye`r ` The Musketeers. Other more suprhsing

programmes are still selling around the world. I understand why Dr Who

is a massive sale, top gear. But there are people still buying

Keeping Up Appearances. Yes, and Darren Sammy. `` Dad's Army.

Brogdan from Romania shows le his hit list. The programmes he has come

to Liverpool to buy. What would be a big hit for you? 2 million viewers.

But now some of them get allost 20 million, and if I could havd 10 of

them in front of the TV, I would be happy. At least for one night!

You might recognise Stockport's Dominic Monaghan from Lord of the

Rings. I am probably more recognisable abroad than in the

country that I come from. Places like But his new show is now watched

in 30 countries around the world. The United States, where I live

nowadays. Some fans might be blown aw`y. Row

B4 is clearly not. But therd's plenty more to see by the thme the

festival leaves Liverpool tomorrow. It is hard to overestimate how

important this event is. Thd global formats for the BBC represented some

?300 million. And all of thdse people, TV executives, spending

money in this city, so it is all good news. Do you want to play a

quiz? Guess which the top fhve best sellers were for the BBC around the

world. Top Dear? Sherlock? Top gear, yes. Call The Midwife

There is a top night here whth a lot of executives, they are leaving town

tomorrow, but I'm going to try to sports and starts tonight.

Thank you very much. Now, stories don't come much cuter

than this one. A little girl from Lancashire has become an internet

sensation after starring in an advert along with a cuddly singing

cat. Five`year`old Jolie Forrest from Padiham is the face of the new

Sing It Kitty ad by mobile phone network Three. And it seems the

viewers just love it. Peter Marshall has been to meet her.

# We built this city, we buhlt this city on rock'n'roll.

Little Jolie and her fairy friend are cycling their way to st`rdom.

The Sing It Kitty advert has now topped 2.5 million hits on XouTube,

and has been seen by millions on TV. Life has changed for Jolie. Well...

I gave one of my friends my autograph. Only one. She sthll has a

cuddly reminder of her co`star, Bronte. She's cute, fluffy, she s

beautiful. Did you want to keep her? Yes.

# We built this city on rock'n'roll...

600 youngsters auditioned for the role. Proud parents Jodie and Adam

still can't quite believe it. Every time it comes on, we are sthll,

quick, quick! We are still happy, and we didn't realise how bhg it was

going to be. It is only been out four days, and it has gone viral. It

is amazing. The advert was filmed over ` week in

Watford. It will give Julie memories to last a lifetime.

# We built this city on rock'n'roll!

She is lovely. And that song is being sung in my house constantly

the last few days. Someone on Twitter says we shouldn't

be doing fluffy pieces like that, but I think that is fantasthc.

Bronte and Jolie, well done. Good evening. It was one of those

weeks where the weather turned up when we thought it would and did

what we thought it would. After lunch, the lines of showers that

worked their way through were absolute belters. This is the latest

picture, and it shows that there are not that many around. This hs how we

look as we speak, not a bad picture. There is always a price to when we

become dry at this time of xear overnight, it means the temperatures

will fall. Over the last cotple of nights, the temperatures have been

six or seven Celsius. Tonight your towns and cities will be three

Celsius, so relieved it could be just that little bit cooler. That

could potentially mean a totch of frost, but it would be an isolated

risk rather than anything else. Not to Crewe for many places, jtst a few

degrees cooler than we have seen recently `` not too cool. Anywhere

to the north of Blackpool could see the showers at any point. Btt there

could be one or two popping up here and there. But even as they move in

across parts of Cumbria and the higher ground, there could be some

sleet and snow, just for a short while. They linger through the

afternoon, so the best of the weather will be to the south of

Blackpool. It will stay dry all the way through with some decent spells

and sunshine. Again, it is fairly breezy, so while the numbers on

paper are not bad at eight or nine Celsius, it doesn't feel th`t great

because of the wind. I do feel for everybody in the lakes

getting wet. Don't worry, it will rain for them tomorrow night. It

will balance it out. That's it. I shall be back with you

at half past ten. Have a good night.