09/05/2014 North West Tonight

of the sunshine across south-west That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's goodbye from Good evening. Welcome to North West

Tonight with Annabel Tiffin... And Roger Johnson. Our top story:

The cash machine conman is sentenced to seven years in jail for stealing

millions from the banks. Trouble is Maxwell Parsons wasn't

there, he's on the run. Also tonight:

Fracking is blamed for an increase in earthquakes in the US. But the

industry says it couldn't happen here.

Targeted for their gold, the court, however, the real figure

could be nearer 7.5 million. This fraud went to the heart of the

banking system and the payment system. It risked the banks putting

a halt to all of the payment system. If the banks cannot be sure of a

genuine transaction, a genuine sale and refund, then of course they

cannot be sure of anything. It really risked bringing the whole

banking system to its knees. This is a man who likes to keep below the

radar. Inquiries have been made here and overseas and we will continue

those. We will never go up. So Parsons wasn't in court when he

was convicted by a jury last month. `` never give up. He's been on the

run since last June. And he wasn't in court today when he was sentenced

to seven years in jail. Of course, the police will have to find him

before he starts serving that sentence. Oh, and the banks have

since changed their systems so a similar fraud is no longer possible.

Greater Manchester Fire Service says a 999 call handler helped to save

the lives of five people trapped in a burning flat.

The operator stayed on the line and gave safety advice until fire crews

were able to rescue them from the first floor flat in Oldham. The fire

is being treated as arson. A wheelie bin and a mattress had been pushed

against the door and set alight. NO AUDIO

Representatives of the fracking industry in the UK say people

shouldn't be alarmed by reports of earthquakes in the United States.

Scientists say the disposal of waste fracking water is responsible for an

increase in earth tremors in Oklahoma.

But the industry here says its practises are very different. Our

environment correspondent Judy Hobson reports.

Fracking is big business in the United States but in one state the

industry is under particular scrutiny. Oklahoma has had a surge

in the number of earthquakes measuring more than 3.0 on the

Richter scale. In the past seven months there have been 183. Breaking

news, we are talking about the earthquakes. 3.0 or greater

earthquakes have occurred... Some scientists blame fracking.

Scientists in the US say a likely contributing factor is fracking. If

those scientists are correct, how good so many earthquakes happen?

Fracking involves firing water into rock to release gas. That flowback

water then needs disposing of. In the States it's injected into deep

wells, which increases underground pressure. Here in the North West,

the safety of fracking has been the biggest concern for protestors `

especially after it caused two minor earthquakes on the Fylde coast. But

the industry says it's highly regulated and so the Oklahoma

experience cannot happen here. I'm at the IGas site in Barton Moss.

Companies here in the UK say that couldn't happen here because they

dispose of water in a different way. Ucoog says... Injecting waste water

into underground wells is prohibited. Today, IGas has agreed

to buy rival company Dart Energy, which has licenses to explore for

gas in Cheshire. IGas is now the biggest onshore oil and gas company

in terms of area in the UK. Meanwhile, rival company Cuadrilla

could be the next to begin fracking in the region. And that could as

early as next year. The percentage of the Co`op bank

owned by Manchester's Co`operative group is set to fall. The bank needs

to raise ?400 million and the group says it won't be putting in any new

money. It means the organisation's stake could fall to around 20% `

potentially affecting the way the bank is run.

Police have confirmed that a body found in woodland in Burnley is that

of Declan Edwards. The 16`year`old was discovered in Rowley Park

yesterday. He'd been missing since Sunday. Officers say his death is

not being treated as suspicious and are thanking the local community for

helping with the search. Plans have been announced for a film

about the Manchester music legend Morrissey. It would focus on his

early life, before he formed the Smiths. The film, which has a

working title of Steven, is being made by Manchester film`makers Mark

Gill and Baldwin Li, who produced the Oscar`nominated Voorman Problem.

Work on it is expected to start this year.

A woman has told a court she felt physically sick giving evidence

against Stuart Hall, who she accuses of raping her when she was 12.

Earlier this week, the former broadcaster pleaded guilty to a

charge of indecent assault but denies 20 charges of rape and

indecent assault against two girls. Elaine Dunkley has been at Preston

Crown Court today. Today, Stuart Hall, the 84`year`old

former broadcaster, appeared at Preston Crown Court to face

allegations of rape and sexual assault. He is currently serving a

30 month sentence for indecently assaulting 13 girls. Today, the jury

heard evidence from a woman in her 40s recalling events that took place

in the '70s and '80s, when Stuart Hall was a presenter on programmes

like It's A Knockout and Look North West. The woman claims that she was

repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by Stuart Hall for a

period of 3`4 years, from the age of 12. At times, the alleged victim

broke down whilst giving evidence. She said for all these years she had

kept what happened a secret because he was a friend of the family. She

spent all her life trying to conceal it because she felt dirty, ashamed

and responsible. Stuart Hall's defence went on to ask if it was her

intention to claim compensation. She said she felt insulted to be asked

that question. She said it had taken her a long time to choose to do

this. Stuart Hall denies 20 charges against him of rape and sexual

assault. The trial continues next week.

Asian families in the North West are being warned about the growing

threat of thieves targeting their homes to steal collections of gold

jewellery. Thousands of pounds of high value jewellery has been taken

from homes in Lancashire in the last few weeks.

Many of the items taken are irreplaceable, having been passed

down from generation to generation. Peter Marshall has this report.

It is intricate, it is expensive. Asian Heritage jewellery is part of

a tradition. It is also increasingly a target for thieves. This mother

knows that to her cost. She wants to remain anonymous. I was devastated,

in tears. My daughter was crying her eyes out. It was terrible. She lost

over ?10,000 worth of gold jewellery when these targeted her home in

Blackburn. Many items are passed down form generation to generation.

They have taken something very special from us. It is expensive to

buy but when it is passed on from your mother or mother`in`law, there

is that bonded labourers. It is different. This duo's shop has been

targeted for times. Security is now extremely tight. He is well aware

why thieves find the jewellery such an attraction. It is the quality.

Asian jewellery is either 22 or pure gold, 24 carat. England's jewellery

is mostly nine carat or 14 carat. It is very easy to sell Asian jewellery

because everybody likes pure gold. We have individuals, organised crime

groups that travel from neighbouring forces, from Manchester and West

Yorkshire. We have teams of those that come in and specifically target

the Asian community but we also have some individual that lives within

this community that to have knowledge of who has called, etc,

that are committing those offences. Police say they are working with

local communities to tackle the problem.

Still to come on North West Tonight: I am at Wigan athletic where the

nearest are starting to fray as they try to get back into the Premier

League through the play`offs. I know it is G10! Anne Haug

horsepower on a tiny scale helped one disabled women when illness

stopped her riding habit. People, and say that the diet I have made

their day and it is lovely to see. `` that I have made their day.

The local and European elections are less than a fortnight away. And

tonight we conclude our series of interviews with the leaders of the

main parties, having already had David Cameron, Nigel Farage and Nick

Clegg here in the studio. Tonight, it's the turn of the Labour leader

Ed Miliband. No surprise for that. His party is stronger than the

others here in the North West. So, does that mean it has the most to

lose? We are fighting for every vote and I think we are fighting on the

issue that matters to most people, across this region, which is the

cost of living crisis facing families. Showing how a Labour

government with Labour councils, and working in Europe, would make a

difference on energy prices, with our energy price freeze that we

would implement as a government, on childcare, a massive issue for so

many mothers and fathers, and also on a very important issue that we

have raised in this campaign, which is housing. People who are renting a

house privately find that they are getting a very raw deal in the

private sector. When it comes to spending, correct me if I am wrong,

but you have said post`general election you will stick to the

Government's spending plans. We have said in the first year of a Labour

Government we will not be borrowing more for day`to`day spending and by

the end of the parliament will be making sure that we balance the

books. I think that is the right thing to do. Given what happened to

Labour's management of the economy before, how can anyone believe you?

We showed very clearly that we have learned lessons. On banking... Take

the issue that caused the financial crisis, banking regulation. Labour

is leading the way in saying that we have to reform the banks so that

they work for small businesses in the north`west and we have an

economy that works for everybody, and not just a few at the top. So we

are learning lessons from the past. We will be tough on spending in the

future. We know there will not be money around but we know also that

we can change the country, we can change things, unlike this

government which is changing things for the worst. You mentioned energy

prices. You are in favour of fracking. Our position is that we

have said that we should not set ourselves completely against it but

we do need to answer people's legitimate environmental and safety

concerns. There are real concerns that have got to be answered. Have

we got time to do that? Many people are saying let's get on with it. We

have got time. The Government is saying that somehow fracking is the

answer to all of our energy problems. It is not. Maybe it can

play a role but it has got to be done in the right way. How worried

are you about UKIP? It is really important to see what UKIP stand

for. Nigel Farage said he wants to complete the work of Mrs Thatcher.

He wants to keep the flame of Thatcherism alive. That is a direct

quote. He wants a flat tax, cutting taxes for the richest. He wants to

charge people to see their GP. I don't think that represents the

values of the working people of the North West. Maybe when working

people are worried about their jobs, UKIP are giving them a place

to go that maybe Labour, who let lots of people into the country

during the years of Labour government... Maybe you were a bit

too lax and maybe now UKIP have moved into that territory, saying

they will protect them. Well, I have changed our position on immigration.

I think we want longer transitional controls when new countries come in

to the European Union. Let's crack down on those employers who do not

pay the minimum wage because that undercuts workers already here. It

exploits people coming in and undercuts workers already here. But

cutting ourselves off from the rest of Europe is not good for jobs.

There are so many multinational companies across this region. They

all say it is a disaster to get out of the single market. Also let's

look at the values. People vote on the basis of values and what people

stand for. I do not believe that Nigel Farage and UKIP stands for the

working people of this region. Part of the problem is that, maybe not so

much at local elections, but the elephant in the room is the general

election 12 months ahead, is that people vote on personality. Do you

like David Cameron? I have nothing against him personally! I always

think it is quite important in politics not to get into a situation

where you say you hate someone but I hate what he's doing to the country.

It seems very personal at times, for people watching and from the

outside. I know there is a bit of theatre about Prime Minister's

Questions, for example, but people are actually turned off by that.

Many people. Well, I try and do that in as reasonable a way as possible.

My wife always says to me "You've got to ask questions the country

wants asking." Whether that is about the private rented sector, people

renting their homes. Or it is about what happened to the Royal Mail,

something I have been asking about in the last few weeks. All the other

subjects ` the cost of living crisis. I try and ask about those

questions. It is not about David Cameron personally. It is about his

policies, what he stands for and what he's doing to the country,

which so many people across this region... Basically people think the

Tories just do not understand their lives. They do not get this region.

They do not get what the country needs. They do not stand for

everybody, they stand for a few. That is my problem with David

Cameron and this government. But things are improving. Well, of

course we welcome the growth in our country. Therefore why change?

Here's the thing, you have got a government that thinks the problems

are fixed. I take a different view. I think there are deep issues about

the way this country is run. They go beyond one government. Do we run our

country for a few wealthy people in our society or do we run it for most

people? Or do we encourage everybody to aspire...? Well, let's encourage

everybody. But we do not encourage everybody by cutting taxes for the

richest and making everybody else pay more. We do not encourage people

to aspire by charging them the bedroom tax. We do not do that by

failing to stand up to the energy companies. Let's change the way this

country is run. There is deep discontent in this country about the

way it has been run and we want to change it and that is what a Labour

government offers. Ed Miliband, thank you. Thank you.

If you want to know all of the candidates standing in the European

elections, you can see them on our website. There are other people

standing. We have spoken to four of them, the main candidates. What do

you think their main challengers are? The thing about the European

elections is that people often see it as an opportunity to go and vote

for another party which in the past has been the UK Independence Party,

most recently. This time you get really represent an actual threat to

the parties. Roger was talking to Ed Miliband. Labour needs to win these

elections are great. The Tories won lasting. They should not be getting

knocked into third place. The Lib Dems are fighting for NEC.

Interesting that Roger asked if it late David Cameron. I can tell you

that you get, PNP and Lib Dems are only Sunday Politics this week and

they do not like each other. I imagine it was a feisty one!

He was very delighted when I asked him that. `` diplomatic.

Sport now. It's the final nerve`shredding weekend of the

Premier League season as the title race goes down to the wire. Will it

be Manchester City or Liverpool who are crowned Champions? It's also the

first leg of the play`offs as Preston, Fleetwood and Wigan chase

promotion. Richard Askam is at the DW Stadium as Latics face QPR

tonight. Wiggin did it all underway against

Queens Park Rangers? Yes. I think there is a particular

tension that surrounds the play`offs. It means so much to both

of these teams. They are both trying to bounce back into the Premier

League at the first attempt. It is worth an awful lot of money. More

than ?100 million for getting back into the top flight. Preston, North

end and Fleetwood also did it to block. All of them will need a

little slice of luck. The play`offs, not all about luck at

the college football's lottery for good reason. Matches to cross your

fingers and hope your team can handle the pressure. What we are

having is pressure being put on. You have the pressure, I have the

pressure. Starting tonight then we at Loftus Road on Monday. It all

goes to plan, the final at Wembley on Saturday the 24th. For us, we

have the ambition to go back to the Premier League and there is also the

need to get back to the Premier League. Preston North End's layup

play`off numbers stacked very badly. Ed previous attempts have failed to

add up to promotion but this time they have and his card. Their

manager has done it three times with three different clubs. It is a great

opportunity for supporters to know what everybody is capable of doing.

North end start tomorrow night, travel to Rotherham on Thursday the

15th and then a League One final on Sunday the 25th.

Fleetwood's rapid rise and the football league has had little to do

with love. They have spent Italy and wisely `` spent heavily and wisely.

They have quality in numbers in their squad. We know that promotion

is on our hands. It is down to ourselves and if we do the job right

then we can still gain promotion and get what we set out to do. We know

it is a challenge. The pressure begins at York tomorrow, at Hyder on

Friday the 16th and Wembley date on Monday the 26th. A bank holiday

weekend when all the other side will be hoping their numbers,.

`` all three sides. Let us have a quick chat with the chief executive

of Wigan Athletic. How are you nervous? A little nervous, excited,

but these are the guys in football. It is going to be a great night and

great occasion and the atmosphere will be electric. We're looking

forward to it. So you should be. We were talking about what this means

financially to a team that is proposed to stop how important is

that for the future of the club that he go on? It is not essential. We

run the football club in a certain way. We do not gamble on promotion.

It would be fantastic to get promotion. It is worth over ?100

million and that is worth a lot of money. We will be doing everything

we can to take the first step tonight along that road. Jonathan,

all the best of luck. Let's hope they can do it tonight. If you think

it will be ten years now, what about the race for the Premier League

title. A few city fans I know think that the Blues might still do it.

They need one point on Sunday. Let your from both managers. I expect to

win. We need one point four. We are just thinking when the match and the

best way to do it is to try to play the way we know. They are not

without being disrespectful, I think the expectation is that Manchester

City will win. It certainly will not be easy for them. To go into that

last game, no matter what the result is that you need, certainly, as I

said, they will want to win the game. West Ham Co`operative Energy

on a high note of. They know they have the players to cause problems.

`` West Ham will also want to end only note. To do's deadline for a

deal between city and UEFA looks like it will pass without any

amendment. It is reported that the Blues are facing a fine of almost

?50 million and restrictions to their champions league squad. No

agreement could lead to harsher penalties. In Super League, their

earthly matters. Wiggin, the Warriors, they could go third.

I should mention that there will be full commentary on this match

tonight on BBC Radio Manchester Jimmy. To Lancashire club tomorrow.

Both full commentary on BBC Radio Manchester.

Thank you very much indeed. We could keep going down the leagues, all the

leagues, we will go down as down as far as Altrincham who are in the

play`offs for the Conference North tomorrow. Good luck to them.

Good luck to all of them. When Elizabeth developed

osteoarthritis she feared it would end her lifelong love of working

with horses. So that she can no longer write, she

has found another way to still be with them but on a smaller scale.

Wythenshawe is known for its characters and here are two of its

finest. Do not worry about it, two years already. You have a cat

waiting for you. Lives grew up working in stables and when she

developed osteoarthritis, instead of giving up horses, she thought she

would find a pair of that letter. I used to cycle and ride, I used to

swim. It was devastating. I thought everything I had lost was taken

away. How much of a difference has is made? A huge amount. It has made

me get up in the morning. If I did not have them, I do not think I

would get up. What is the reaction? People, and asked to stroke and, say

that I have made their day. You do not see horses on the road,

especially little ones. Tinkerbell has had her moments, like when she

debuted as the donkey in the Nativity. If she wants to put the

toilet, starts reversing. She did that on stage and I thought, please,

not next to baby Jesus. But she did! Merry Christmas, one and all.

Everybody just laughed. These two have a very busy schedule, dropping

into care homes and starring at charity events. It is an early

night. You have got your dinner ready. Apple, carrots, fresh water.

What have I got? Probably deans Saunders!

Fantastic. That is brilliant. It seems the battery, doesn't it? It

is a bit like a Roman chariot. Chorlton Heston!

That was our last report tonight. Also that was our last report from

Nina, who is leading us after three years. We will be sorry to see you

go. She is leading on to new talent

Dominic challenges but has been great additions to the team.

House looking for the weekend? I have no great news. Good evening.

We had a decent end to today after some very heavy showers. We're

expecting a huge band of rain, which you can see Miliband tonight into

the first part of the weekend. It will leave behind on Saturday and

all that and a lot of blustery showers. `` which you can see moving

into night. We are also expecting a breezy affair on Saturday and

Sunday. But in between the sunshine, we should see some

showers. will be quite heavy through the

afternoon, possibly longer. In between them, plenty of bright

spell. A stiff breeze through the