Episode 13 Crimewatch Roadshow

And welcome to the programme that stops criminals in their tracks.

Terror in the night, for the sleeping family

Paul woke me up, and said, Anna, the car's on fire.

And I was just in shock, like trying to wake up.

And why dealing with planes, trams and cars is all in a day's

Hello and welcome to Crimewatch Roadshow -

as always, we need your help to solve the crimes

Beaten and bound by a gang of masked men -

the terrifying night-time raid on a North Wales pensioner.

He started punching me and knocked two teeth out,

I was absolutely out of it by this point.

And the gentle giants helping police officers suffering

I think I'm so used to being tense it's a hard habit to break.

Today we're at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue

Michelle - what's going on down there?

Rav, this is a state-of-the-art centre, but it isn't just officer

training that happens behind these shutters.

This incredibly realistic street scene is used to educate school

groups from across the area about the dangers of fire,

how to protect themselves and what to do in an emergency.

I'll also be seeing how fire crews deal with a crash scene like this -

and finding out first hand how they free someone's who's

Thanks Michelle, time for our first appeal of the day and it involves

a serious fire outside a family home.

Appallingly, the blaze was started deliberately.

The Ponting family have lived in Ormskirk, Lancashire for 20 years.

The kids were born and brought up in this area, and they would never want

us to move. Daniel is 16 and Lydia is nearly 14, and they are both

doing great at school, and happy kids. On March the 8th, the family

were at home. It was a normal night, I had picked Lydia up from football

training, parked the car on the drive. We generally sit around the

table 30, and most nights we will sit in the back lounge and watch a

bit of TV. The children went to bed, just a really normal night. By

midnight, everyone was asleep except Paul. I have decided to have a read

of an audio book, so I sat in the front room, at some point I nodded

off. The dogs woke me up. They had

obviously heard something, and they generally are quiet at night, so

just the fact that the dogs barked, I had opened my eyes and noticed

that the whole room was illuminated. I thought it was actually emergency

workers outside, because it was bright orange and flashing.

Confused, Paul went to the window. When I looked out the window, the

car was on fire, and it was quite a big fire. It was total shock.

Adrenaline kicked in, as Paul rushed to protect his family. The first

thing was to make sure that the kids and that were safe just to get them

out of the house. Paul Wood me up saying the car was on fire, I was

just in shock, trying to wake up. He rang the Fire Brigade and the family

rushed downstairs but soon realised there was no way past the wall of

flames. The smell was discussed in, it was plastics burning. Trapped and

fearing for their safety, the family had one last option. We had opened

the back door so the kids could go out in the garden. I told them to

stay in the back area of the garden to try and keep away in case the

Kaus -- the house caught fire. My daughter was crying, saying he would

do that to us? It was just shock. Meanwhile, the fire was getting

closer. The Fire Brigade only took six minutes to come. If it reached

the petrol tank, the car could have blown up. My daughter's room was

just above it. They just doesn't bear thinking about what could have

happened. CCTV from the night of the arson has led detectives to believe

this was a targeted attack. An offender who can be seen running to

the dress, he Pawel Wszolek celebrants to the front of the cars

cause is. The family were very shaken up by you are keen to trace

the people sponsor will. Seeing the fire marks outside you don't really

get to forget about it. It is kind of always on your mind. And the

thought that summary could do that knowing there are children in the

house, I just can't understand it. It is frightening, very frightening.

It has affected the kids, I think. Libya has asked some questions that

makes you think it is on her mind. -- Olivia. They came into the room

and told me to wake up because the car was on fire, I was so confused,

who would do that? The main thing I was frightened about was if the fuel

in the car got caught, because it was that close to the house that I

was thinking if that goes up, the house could. I try and act normally

for the kids, because I don't want them to think I'm frightened. Just

not knowing who has done that. And the kids are saying, oh, is it going

to happen again? I am like no, no, and we haven't got a clue who did it

in the first place, so it could happen again.

I'm joined now by DS Stephen Monk from Lancashire Constabulary.

We heard how terrified the family are that this

could happen again - just how dangerous could

Yes, the car was parked in the driveway of the family home directly

underneath the daughter's bedroom. The flames quickly spread to the

surrounding bushes and could easily have spread to the house too. The

CCTV indicates it might have been a targeted attack. That is right. The

offender arrived in a vehicle, made directly to the driveway before

setting fire to their core. You will see in the CCTV footage that the

suspect has an unusual running style, and it may sound strange but

I would urge any viewers who know of anyone who has a run like that to

contact us. What else might people have noticed

if they knew the offender. Well as you can see from this later

piece of footage when the fire was lit it ignited extremely quickly

and that means the offender most So if people recall any friends

or family who had unexplained burn injuries particularly to their hands

or faces at around that time, The family are offering a reward for

any information. Yes, of up to ?5,000 for information that leads to

the arrest and conviction of the suspect. We saw in the film, I

mentioned earlier, this has really affected them and they just want

some answers. Yes, very distressing and upsetting for the family and we

urge viewers to help us catch the suspect involved.

Take another look at this despicable arsonist.

Now on to more incidents caught on camera in today's CCTV round-up.

And just so you know - one of these is pretty nasty.

It's a sunny day outside, but these two blokes decide to come in and

pick up a few bits and bobs. I wonder what they are after? This

book looks like he knows exactly what he wants, grabbing a box,

before heading to the back of the aisle, he stealthily removes the

security tag and sticks it back on the shelf. Then the product goes

down his trousers. His mate comes to join him, and they teed tag nearly

?400 worth of weight loss tablets. Police believe these two had been to

another shop that same day and already stolen over ?1000 worth of

slimming pills and other beauty products. Police want to know if you

can help weigh in on who these thieves are.

There has been a disagreement between two punters inside this club

in new, East London. They decide to take it outside and continue to

argue in the doorway until one guy lamps the other bloke to the floor.

Once he has kicked him in the head, he runs off with a limp, as the

victim staggers to his feet. Thankfully, he wasn't seriously

injured and has since made a full recovery. It is not the best image,

but if you know this guy, tell us who he is. --

it is after hours in an antique centre in Shropshire but for someone

it is about to turn into Aladdin's cave. Watch this hooded bloke with a

little search and an empty a draw of cash but it is not enough, so he

takes a good look around, eyeing up other valuables. Once he has picked

out what he wants, he smashes the cabinet open before loading up his

loot. But there is too much to ignore, so he goes for another glass

case, and clears out even more shelves of trinkets. Police say this

treasure hunter made off with around ?10,000 worth of antiques and over

?8,000 in cash. -- ?800 in cash. If you recognises face, you know what

to do. If you recognise anyone,

now is the time to get in touch. Numbers are on the screen

and it's free to call. Text CW, space and

then your message. Texts will be charged

at your standard message rate. Earlier, we saw a case of a terrible

arson outside a family home. Luckily, the Fire Service got

there before anyone was hurt. But their job doesn't end

when the fire is out. The next stage is the fire

investigation to try to determine how the fire started. The fire

investigators have a number of tools they can use, one is the fire

investigation dog. You have Eric, the search .com he has these very

fetching little shoes on. These are his personal protection equipment to

basically protect his feet. We wouldn't ask a human firefighter to

go on with no protection in the future we don't ask the docks to

either. And you have the harness as well. This is basically like a

trigger, it just lets the dog now it is time to start working. As soon as

it fits this on, he is into a work mode. So you will set him off

looking for traces of Excel. Yes, we'll search for an area that the

fire investigator has directed me to. Let's see him in action. And he

is using his powerful sense of smell. Find, Goodlad. Mick, they can

detect really small amounts of Excel rent, can't they? It is undetectable

to the human nose. And there are various different types of

accelerant. There are about 20 different types. And you are giving

him commands. Yes, just where I want him to search. And it looks like he

has detected, he is stationary. He is freezing, so that is where we

will take out the accelerant detector. And it is a reward basis,

isn't it? It is. Thank you Mick and Eric.

I'll be back later with the team, learning how to free someone who's

trapped in a vehicle after a road accident.

But first, I've been mucking in, or perhaps I should say mucking out,

Greater Manchester Police's mounted unit has been operating for over 100

years, and, to this day, is still one of the UK's busiest. Everyone

has an integral part to play in keeping the mounted unit running,

from the grooms to the trainers to the police forces themselves, who

work operationally. That the most important members of the unit are

the horses. I have come to meet them at their modern-day base in Chawton,

South Manchester. There is a tradition in Greater Manchester

Police after naming the forces after the works of Charles Dickens. We

have the artful dodger, Bullseye, Pickwick. I am discovering that

these characters take a lot of looking after. Time to get my hands

dirty! This is going to be the best looking horse in the stables. But it

is not just about looking good. When the horses first arrive at the unit,

they undergo a strict training programme. It is really important

when we are training horses to maintain their confidence, and also

to maintain the response to the rider.

Each the officers readily put them through exercises which recreates

some of the challenging environments the police are likely to work in.

And just like the horses, the police officers undergo regular training at

the unit. And now it is my turn. And sit. A very light tap with your

heel. That's it. And now relax. This train is showing me the ropes. Just

kind of mastering the turning manoeuvres. Being uptight has

advantages. You can see a long way in front of you and behind you. They

are amazing creatures. Tonight, four of the finest horses are policing a

football match in East Manchester. It is Manchester City against West

Brom in their pen ultimate match of the season. And for the unit is a

good chance to test out two horses. This is my first football match with

this horse and so we want to keep her nice and calm and reassure her

that everything is fine. The policeman is looking out for a man

who is wanted for common assault. If he is at the game, you will be

arrested. Minutes into their patrol they encounter a boisterous band who

is shouting obscenities in the street. -- boisterous support a full

stop do me a favour. Enough. There are small children around here. You

are spoiling it for everyone. It is just a matter of advising them,

really. They are and chewing aground and they need to be quite calm and

not so drunk -- they are entering a ground. Otherwise they might not get

in. Thank you. I haven't seen this offender yet, have you? With the

crowd safely inside the officers spotted the suspect they have been

looking for. The team quickly arrest him. Why do I need to go to a police

station? After a quick search it was a night in the lock-up for this

suspect. He's been arrested for common assault and there has also

been another arrest for a public order offence, after spitting at a

member of the public inside the ground. It is 1-0, to us, really. It

is also a victory for Manchester City and the fans now make their way

home. When the fans are happy, we are happy. It is a job well done for

this unit, time to go back to the stables for a well earned rest.

STUDIO: Still to come on today's

programme: A terrifying ordeal for a disabled pensioner,

robbed in her home. The other one had

come into the lounge, and said, "I'll kill the dog,

I'm going to kill the dog", And Michelle will be back

with the Mounted Unit finding out how horses are being used to provide

therapy to traumatised officers. I don't know how she's feeling

but certainly watching it's incredibly calming,

and there is some kind For those of you who can,

cast your mind back to 1975. It was the height of summer

when eight year old Helen Bailey went out to play one afternoon,

but she never returned. After a frantic search,

her body was discovered the following morning in dense

woodland near the M6 motorway in the Perry Barr

area of Birmingham. It's been 42 years, and Helen's

killer has yet to be caught. I'm joined in the studio

by Detective Superintendent Caroline Marsh who is

investigating this case. Caroline, talk us through

the day Helen disappeared. It was a Sunday, 10th August,

in the summer holidays, and it was really hot that day,

Helen and her brother had been helping wash the car

at the back of the house. She came back in at around 230 -

3pm in a dirty state so her mum gave her a bath

and some fresh clothes. Helen then went back out to play

and went to a nearby park Many other children were playing

with her. After then she did not come home? That is right. Her

parents went to look for her and then they could not find and so they

contacted the police. Search began, and then her body was found, very

sadly, the following morning. And her throat had been cut. We can see

some of the footage. Just the scale of it. Tragically her body was found

the next morning. I know after all this time,

her family are still suffering. She was very bubbly and chatty and

she wanted to chat to everyone. She was always climbing up trees.

Everybody loved her. She would have been 50 in May this year and we

would have had a big party for her. I just wonder how she would have

been, she would've had her 18th birthday and she have been engaged

and had a family. We have been robbed of all that. It is still with

me all the time. I just want closure. I would like to think I can

finish my life and know that justice has been done. For Helan. -- Helen.

We're asking people to cast their minds back to that day -

the 10th of August, 1975, and need anyone who has any

This is a direct appeal to the offender. We strongly believe the

person responsible for her murder has confided in someone and spoken

about what happened and we really need to hear from him. It is a long

time to keep a secret. So if you know anything that

could help solve this case, Now, if you work in the emergency

services, whether it's fire, ambulance or police,

it's almost inevitable that at some point you're going to encounter

traumatic situations. But in GMP's Mounted Unit,

they've come up with I've been spending time with Greater

Manchester Police's mounted unit, getting hands-on experience with the

amazing police horses. Meeting the terrific team who work with them.

And even seeing them in action. The horses are invaluable, they form a

variety of functions that could not be performed by traditional policing

methods. They go through various policing operations. Most people

think they are used in protests and riots and football matches but we

want them to be used in a wide variety of policing functions. In a

ground-breaking venture, these gentle giants are now being used to

help please officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. --

police officers. Policing is stressful, and you can't un-see

certain things and so they are therapeutic and they help police

officers who are suffering. Today, a crime scene investigator from

Merseyside Police has come to Manchester to discover the benefits

of equine therapy for herself. In 2001 she was diagnosed with PTSD

following a psychotic episode caused by an unexpected viral infection. I

woke up one morning and I didn't know who my husband was and I opened

my eyes thinking that this person was going to kill me. Because of my

job. I was terrified. The episode tapped into the traumatic scene she

had experienced in her years working as a crime scene investigator. It

was almost as if everything I had witnessed at work over a number of

years played out that day. Since then she has had to learn to manage

her PTSD alongside her already challenging job. We see the worst of

human nature, really, on a daily basis. And although we are highly

trained officers, you can't bury your feelings sometimes. Equine

therapy has already helped several officers dealing with similar mental

health issues. It's her first time with the GMP horses and it seems to

be working. How are you feeling? Calm. Yes. I think it's diverted my

attention to the horse. The peaceful nature of the horse is having a

profound effect. I think I'm so used to being tense, it is a hard habit

to break. Enjoying interacting with him. I don't know how she is

feeling, but watching it, it is very calming and there is some kind of

unspoken connection. In her time she has been able to open up. What is he

trying to show you today? That I need to be in touch with my emotions

are little bit more. And that it's OK to do that. Yes. How did you find

that? It was really emotional. I didn't expect it to be. It was

really quite calming. Like he really sort of wanted to know what was

wrong. He was trying to tell me it was OK, in a strange way. The

results of the trial have been so positive, the force is now hoping to

roll out the scheme or -- more widely. I don't inveigh would have

expected to be using the horses in such away but you have got to evolve

and that is what we have done here -- I don't expect they would have

imagined the horses would be used in such away. It is no -- it is another

way which shows just what animals are capable of.

And I'm joined now by Dan Farnworth and Richard Morton who are both

paramedics and co-founders of Our Blue Light, an organisation

based in the North-West, which raises mental health awareness

Dan, police horses being used to offer therapy to officers -

Really interesting. It struck a chord with Cassie and we are

interested to see what happened, it is humbling to see they have

invested so much time into trying to improve support for their colleagues

and we will be following it closely. What kind of things they shall

organisation do? -- does your. We bring all of the emergency services

together, to improve their mental health. We can see this in action,

what is going on? We have a very exciting trial going on around the

North of England, this is a relay. The baton is being handed over? It

is going from one location to another, from one emergency service

to another to get those conversations started around mental

health. It is about spreading the word. You know how important it is

to spread the message. Yes, we have known there is a lot of stigma

around mental health in the emergency services. In fact in all

walks of life. We are at increased risk of suffering mental health

problems and I have also suffered PTSD and it was a very difficult

time a few years ago and we noticed there was a need for improved

support. We are getting there and we are going to keep pushing for it.

Absolutely. With recent events in Manchester and London, it has never

been a more important time to let anyone in the emergency services

know there is support out there. Those events have been awful and

they do take a toll, and it is a fresh in that we have seen these

senior figures saying that we need the support and to break down the

stigma. You started in the north-west but you are going down to

London, as well. Yes, we are going to keep talking to everybody, take

it round the whole country and not let the message drop. That is a

great thing you are doing. Thanks for joining us.

Next up: can you help catch the violent sex attacker

who targeted a woman from Trafford as she made her way home from work.

Walking anywhere I'm constantly looking at every man in the area.

Wondering if it is you. And I don't want to live like that. On Monday

evening in February and I was making her way home after a busy day at

work -- Hannah. She decided to take a short cut through a alleyway which

runs near Trafford hospital. I was about to start walking down the way

and I saw two figures. I moved to the side and waited for them. Once

they passed I looked and checked no one else was coming and started to

walk. Hannah thought she was alone but she was being followed. All I

remember was a hard knock on the back of my head. The next thing, I

woke up on the floor, on my back, Hannah was pinned to the floor and

her attacker started going through her belongings. He was rummaging

through my bag because it sounded like my keys. And then things

escalated. The next thing, I felt my code being ripped. And I felt a

knife on my neck. -- my coat. It was then that she was sexually

assaulted. Only when someone shouted from a nearby car park did her

attacker appeared to take fright. It must have spoke to him and he just

stopped. -- spooked him. He stood up and then he ran. I watched him run

and then I got up and I ran in the opposite direction, into the

hospital. I knew there was blood on my face, my eye felt swollen. She

was left with minor injuries, and the attack has changed her life for

ever. I was brought up not to show my emotion, be tough, but inside I

just wanted to scream and kick somebody. Walking anywhere, I'm

constantly looking at every male in the area, wondering if it's you, and

I don't want to live like that. I want to be about to walk to the shop

around the corner not feel scared. I just want him caught. I just don't

want him doing this to somebody else.

I'm joined now by DS Stephen Warriner from

Detective, a brazen attack in a busy area.

Yes, the attack happened close to Trafford Hospital in an alleyway,

or ginnel, as they call it locally, which runs between the hospital

Vieri was busy, people coming to and from work. -- the area was busy.

There were two dog walkers who exited the footpath at the time. We

want people to think back to that time, people who frequent that area

in a regular basis in case they remember anything that I care that

evening and contact the police. Iyer what about the description of the

suspect? He's described as a white male,

tall with a heavy, but not fat He was wearing a dark grey hooded

top and grey tracksuit bottoms. The victim said he also had a scar

on his lip and very fair, And he had a small scar the top of

his lip. During the attack he was wearing

a pair of purple surgical gloves. And it's worth knowing that

victims of any crime can Next to North Wales,

where police are hunting a gang of violent masked robbers who broke

into an elderly woman's home. 72-year-old Lis call Shaw has lived

in the close-knit town of Griffin for more than a quarter of a

century. It is a wonderful town, it really

is, people are wonderful and I love it here. I have got a lot of

friends. We all look out for one another. And Lis's popularity is

second only to that of her faithful bulldog, George. I have had George

from the age of 11 weeks. He is just gorgeous. He is three and a half

now. I hope to have many more happy years with him. On the evening of

the 2nd of December, Lis got ready for bed as usual at around 10:30pm.

Come on, George. George has a bed of his own on the floor, but he doesn't

seem to like that, he likes creature comforts. He usually nestles down on

my bed halfway through the night. That night, Lis was woken, but not

by George. I heard this crash against the front door.

Next thing, this fellow was in my room with a knife in his hand, and

he said where is your safe? I said, I haven't got a safe. And he said we

think you have, so there will obviously two of them in the house.

Lis frantically try to get to the phone but the intruders had cut the

line. The other one had come into the lounge here, and said I am going

to kill the dog. I was absolutely terrified. The attackers tied Lis's

hands together while they searched the house. She managed to struggle

free but then the attack escalated. Then they got a pair of pliers out.

Having put this pair of pliers around this little finger, and they

said I am going to cut your little finger. They applied pressure to the

thing and I thought I am going to lose my finger. Then he started

punching me and knocked two teeth out. Really battered my body. I was

absolutely out of it by this point. I was always conscious. I couldn't

move at all. The men left, taking more than ?1000 in cash, and Lis's

prescription painkillers. As soon as they have gone, I struggle to get to

my feet, and went outside, screaming for help. I don't know where George

was at that stage, I was so frightened, I must have just left

George in the house. But while George had escaped unscathed, Lis

wasn't so lucky. I was very badly wounded, two teeth missing, I was

bleeding. I am having counselling at the moment over the incident. The

level of violence and thuggery they used against an old lady. I am

partially disabled. I thought it was truthful, absolutely dreadful.

Lis received severe bruising to her arms and even lost a couple

of teeth in that attack and is now receiving counselling.

North Wales Police say more than ?1,000 was stolen.

Cash Lis had taken out in order to buy Christmas gifts.

If you have any information about this awful crime,

do give us a call - or you can speak to

They're on 0800 555 111 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

Time now for a look at today's Wanted Faces.

Although he also calls himself Mikey or Cuzzy.

Detectives investigating drug dealing in the Bracknell area

of Berkshire believe he may have important information

He has a tattoo of a flower on his left wrist and another

He's known to stay in Bracknell, Hove and Reading, as well as

This is Daniel Sasa, although he also calls

The 23-year-old was arrested in connection with possession

with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

He was released on police bail but hasn't returned to officers

Sasa has links to Bournemouth and Edmonton in London.

He has a tattoo of Arabic writing on his left hand.

Next is Saeed Tehrani although he also calls himself Salek.

Detectives would like to question him after drugs and more

than ?13,000 of cash were found at a house in Cardiff.

Tehrani is 27 and has a Middle Eastern accent.

He has numerous tattoos, including the words "respect" on his right

Finally today, this is Dean Pritchard or you may

He was arrested by detectives investigating the supply of class

A drugs in Shrewsbury and released on police bail, but has failed

Pritchard is 24 and has a Liverpudlian accent.

He has links to the Speke area of the city and also to Shreswbury,

If you know where any of these faces are, make sure you get in touch

Every day emergency services deal with serious accidents

And today I'm getting involved in the rescue.

Damian O'Rourke is going to talk me through it.

We have a training exercise that has been going on, a road traffic

collision between two vehicles, we have one casual to. We are making as

much space as we can to get them out safely and swiftly as we can. Even

taking that roof off, first and foremost, is no mean feat, and you

have to do it with time pressure. Yes, so Rick is in charge today and

he two decided, based on medical evidence, how quickly he needs to

get the casualty out safely and get them to hospital. I am going to get

involved. What would you like me to do? At this phase of extrication it

is all about the condition of the casualty. We have a trauma type

issue with the eight die in the white hat. He is in charge of the

casualties. What do I need to do to reassure them? Reassure and check

the condition of the casualties. How are you feeling, any pains anywhere?

So you are aware, alert, and lazing with the trauma technician. They

will give us information and feedback towards the condition. What

happens next? We lower the back of the seat down, so you have to come

out in a neutral horizontal plane. Move up the board and we will have a

receiving area for her where she will go. Said the casualties very

slowly being lowered down. Is a trauma tech is maintaining a stable

head because of spinal injuries. This is vital at this point.

Casualty care, this is the reason we do this. On to the rigid long board,

is what we call it. It amazes me how many people are involved to make

sure this happens. Exactly, and it is constant monitoring of the

casualty because we need to know if any of the conditions change the

starts going downhill. Of course that could happen at any point.

Exactly, that is why the trauma tech will assess everything and take

charge. That is a specialist area. And you can see and hear that the

team are constantly communicating between each other. It is all about

teamwork, they all have to do what they do. The guy in the back will be

in charge, you can hear Clive, he is the centre commander, telling all

the guys what he requires. Working with Rodri on the medical side of

it. Lifting the casualties. It highlights how important it is to

have the roof off, because you need that space to make sure you can

properly get in. Also if the casualties deteriorates you have all

that space to get them out in a rapid extrication, as we call it. So

we carry on with that. As soon as the casualty is on the board safely,

they are taken off to hospital. It is really good to see. Thank you

very much, Rick and Damian. Thank you. A really successful training

exercise and it is vital that the crews know how to do it properly.

Time now for a look at what's been coming

You gave detectives vital information on this case, and as a

result a man has been arrested and charged with the robbery and

possession of an offensive weapon. Detectives tell us they have

arrested another of the wanted faces as a direct result, he is currently

on the mind for a very serious offence.

Michelle, where will you be tomorrow?

Rav, I'll be visiting the Museum of Transport in Manchester,

where we'll be looking at crime on the move: from taxis to trams.

Plus, we'll be out and about with the police as they take to two

wheels themselves to catch the drivers putting

For more details about the crimes on today's programme,

Before we go, here's another look at this morning's wanted faces.

If any of them look familiar, get in touch and tell us where they are.

We'll be back tomorrow morning after Breakfast.