10/01/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Welcome to Tuesday's Look North. In tonight's headlines. More than a

dozen arrests at police target a multi-million pound heroin ring

across three countys. Jail for four men caught badger baiting. They

laughed as dogs killed the animals. A convicted murderer is cleared of

attacking three Prison Officer, now an investigation is under way into

whether the jury in the trial was interfered with. And power struggle.

The community that has been without mains electricity since Christmas

Eve. In sport the Durham cricketer preparing to make a shock return to

Test Match cricket. We immediate the author of the first biography

of Brian Clough and find out what the current Sunderland manager

The aim is to arrest toez who believe they are untouchable. That

was the promise as a series of dawn raids were carried out on Teesside,

targeting a criminal network which it is claimed is behind a multi-

million pound heroin ring. Cleveland Police led the operation,

arrests were made in Manchester and Bedford. So far, 17 people have

been arrested. Stuart Whincup joined the early morning raids.

Police! Get down. On the floor. This detectives said was about

taking out a criminal network. are under arrest for conspiracy to

supply Class A. The police say today's targets are part of a well

resourced, well-organised gang that bring misery to local communities.

People who think they are untouchable. The members of the

public who say they are driving round in nice cars living beyond

their mean, who appear not to be getting looked at. Today is their

day to answer a lot of difficult questions and for to us say to the

public we listen to the information you pass to us, hopefully this will

be a step in the right direction. 120 officers were involved in the

raids, and the operation which has taken 12 months in the planning was

followed closely at police headquarters. 15 houses throughout

Teesside have been targeted this morning, while at the same time

arrests have been made in Manchester. Detectives believe

criminals there have been smuggling heroin into the country and it has

been brought to the North East where it has been distributed as

part of a multi-million pound operation. This officers said was

about breaking up a criminal gang. That thought they were ufpbtbl,

that thought they would never be A man's admitted sexually abusing

four young girls in attacks stretching back over decades. David

Bryant pleaded guilty to kidnapping two youngsters in the 1980s. He

admitted taking two girls aged four and five from Newcastle in 1995.

All four were indecently assaulted. He was remanded in custody and will

be sentenced in March. A man has died in hospital after suffering a

head injury at a house party in South Tyneside on Saturday night.

He has been named at 29-year-old Gareth Phillips from South Tyneside.

Police are treating the incident which took place at this house as

suspicious. Neighbours claim they heard nothing unusual at the time.

A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in

police custody. A Prison Officer who was seriously injured by a I

violent inmate says he hopes his attacker will be retried. Craig

Wylde and two others were slashed with a broken bottle by convicted

murderer Kevan Thackrar who was acquitted of all charges. The jury

accepted he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but

Durham Police are investigating the possibility that the trial jury was

interfered with. Craig Wylde and two fellow prison officers were

attacked while on duty in Frankland Prison in March 2010. Look North

has seen pictures of the injuries suffered by Craig Wylde, but they

are too horrific to be shown. Controversially Kevan Thackrar was

acquitted after the jury accepted he was suffering from post-

traumatic stress disorder, but Craig and his wife have never come

to terms with the verdict I thought it was a joke. It didn't sink in. I

couldn't see from the CCTV footage, from the pictures, from our

evidence, to Kevan Thackrar admitting, he came out and he

stabbed us, it was just... We were destroyed. Just absolutely

destroyed. Couldn't believe it. Yeah. But in a new development it

has been subjected that the trial jury may have been interfered with.

A man was seen in the public box noting the juror's names and

positions and Durham Police have confirmed they are taking it

seriously and are investigating. will see how we go for a retrial.

If there is a lot of public support and new evidence is brought it is

grounds for a retrial. So, we are trying to keep our fingers crossed

and keep our feet on the ground. This week Craig received a bravery

award for his actions during the attack. He says he is proud to

civet, but it will be locked away until he feels justice has been

done. A former Cleveland Police officer who was wrongfully sent to

prison has been told he will have to wait to learn how much he will

receive in damages. Sultan Alam was imprisoned for 18 months in 1996

for conspiracy. But was later cleared. He was reinstated but

retired in 2009 on health grounds. He could be awarted more than �800

thousand. The judge said he would need some time to determine the

appropriate amount. Four men are beginning prison sentences for

badger baiting. In what has been described as one of the worst cases

of its kind to come to court. A group of six men and a teenage boy

dug out and killed two badgers from a set on farmland outside York. The

District Judge said she was sending out a clear signal to anyone

involved in such activities they would be sent to prison. You may

find some of the pictures in 24 report disturbing. Badger, they are

one of the nation's favourite wild animals and they are a protected

species. Badger baiting has been illegal for well over 100 years but

the law means nothing to some. Seven men arrived at Scarborough

magistrates to face sentencing after being found guilty of taking

part in one of the most brutal attack s on a set of badgers. On

the 13th January last year, these men spent the day in a field near

York, they took 13 dogs with them and five weapons. They were there

for one reason. To track down and kill badgers. Local wildlife artist

Robert Fuller was walking and was shocked by what he came across.

crept through the hedge, and out in front of us here, I could see this

horrific sight, of two large pitbull cross, lur cher type dogs

worrying a badger, they were tearing it to, tearing it and

shaking at it. There was a group of men stood here up against the fence.

One turned round to his mates as if to say you see that, that was great

and smiling and laughing. The men had dug down into a badger sett and

released their dogs on the animals. One of the badgers bled to death.

After a long fight another one shot in the head. Robert kept his

distance but managed to take photographs: To catch somebody in

the act sun usual. Robert was very brave that day. We continue have

had a better man on the field. During sentencing the judge

described the so-called sport of badger baiting as abhorrent and

barbaric. She said it was something that filled the community with

revulsion, she said this case should send out a clear message,

that anybody appearing in front of her, for crimes of this nature

would face a prison sentence. And she kept her word. Today, four men

were sentenced to four months in prison. They were Alan Alexander,

Richard Simpson and Paul Tindall from York, and William Anderson

from Pickering. Christopher Holmes and Malcolm Warner received

suspended prison sentences, a 17- year-old defendant was given a

youth rehabilitation order. It has been described as the worst case of

its kind by the RSPCA. The administrator running Darlington

Football Club has told the BBC tonight he has no reason to be

optimistic about the club's survival chances. Harvey Madden

says there has been interest but potential buyers have fallen away.

It merged that Darlington council discussed demolishing the stadium

and selling the laid for a are tail development could have raised cash

for the club. That has been ruled out as a superstore would break

planning rules, unless a buyer comes in last Saturday's game at

Barrow will have been the club last. Here is a date for your diary.

January 26th when the great and good will it is down at a economic

summit. It will happen in South Africa but Sunderland council wants

to be there too. They want to send a delegation along. Critics say

it's a huge waste of money. Sunderland, firmly on Wearside. But

connected to South Africa. Really? Mbomela is 5 836 miles that way, or

maybe more than wa. The thing is a council delegation from here wants

to go there. The council wants to attend and economic summit in

Mbomela. Cost to the council taxpayer �4500. Two delegates from

the council would attend. brought about �1.5 billion

investment into the city. With the same strategy and the way we are

working, so I would agree it is not to be sniffed at, we believe it is

money well spent. It is disgusting. I am sure they shouldn't spend that

kind of money, when the country and the town is the way it is. They

want to get their own economics right before they start going to

South Africa. You think �4500 could be better spent? Of course it could.

The council spent almost �62,000 on foreign trip last year, it is

winneded with esen in Germany, Washington and a town in China.

Some say South Africa's a trip too far. They are proposing to send two

people to South Africa, to speak at a conference for just one hour, on

something that isn't really of any economic when benefit for

Sunderland. Sunderland council's cabinet will decide whether the

trip to South Africa will happen at a meeting tomorrow. So, as your

granny might say, are you spent up? Last month we told you how the

shopper centres were opted mistib about a good Christmas, today the

first firm set of figures are in and they seem to bear out many of

the confident predictions but is it all good news. Gerry Jackson is at

one of the region's big shopping centres where they are very happy:

Yes. This is Eldon Square right at the heart of Newcastle. High rent,

high status and just the kind of place that British Retail

Consortium says has done well over Christmas and the New Year. Let us

have a look at the national figures. Overall retail sales rose by 2.2%

in December, compared with December 2010. If we are getting poorer how

is that happening? It is generally acknowledged that this winter's

early sales saw very big discounting to drag us in. And we

have to remember that a year ago we were closer to the start of the

downturn the weather was worse and of course, the spending was that

much weaker, but before we rejoice, a warning from the consortium, just

as December spending last year looked better, the rest of this

year might bring us back down-to- earth. Let us see if the shoppers

of Newcastle and elsewhere video been down-to-earth. Have they been

feeling richer or poorer. I have been trying to find out. Personally

I haven't overspent. Are you sure? Certain, yes. I have saved my money

for the sales. Have you spent more or less than last year? Moresome

More? How do you know. I've got my loan through. So you have been

suede by the offers. I bought a lot more than normal. We haven't spent

anything. You haven't spent anything? You must be the most

unusual person today. Why haven't you had spending? I haven't had the

time to come shopping. In is the Eldon Square manager. I said you

would be a map I -- happy man. You look it. How was Christmas this

year. It is very strong. The number of visitors was up on last year,

December was well up, because of the different weather patterns this

year, and we have also had longer trading hours, and a number of new

stores so it has helped. You say that has been your best Christmas

ever. How can that happen if we are getting poorer? I think what we

have done is work very hard to get the additional foot fall in. We

have, as I said increased the number of trading hours that we had

through Christmas by 10%, we have added new retailers in, we have

done a lot of marketing. There may be a price to pay for all

of this, a bit of a hangover later in 2012? When everything comes down

and the new year kicks in and people look at their bank balances,

they may not continue that sort of spending level. That is what we

have to be conscious of. December looked good against the previous

year, but the coming year is going to be very tough.

A final point to leave you with, however rich or poor we might feel

now, the energy bills start arriving in 10 days' time. I

thought you would like to know! Plenty more to come in tonight's

Look North, including On the buses, how a County Durham woman became

the voice which helps London commuters keep moving. And how much

to Sunderland's new boss though his success to one of the all-time

greats? The Christmas decorations are coming down and the

temperatures are still rising. Here on Northumberland Street, I'll be

asking whether spring is on the way. Tune in for the four weather

It has been a bit of a noisy festive season in the usually

peaceful community of Wasdale Head. Homes and businesses in the Lake

District village have been running on generators for more than two

weeks. They have been without mains electricity since Christmas Eve.

The power company says work to rectify a fault has been held up by

bad weather. Alison Freeman reports. It is one of the most tranquil and

remote spots in the Lake District, but something is disturbing the

peace and quiet at Wasdale Head. The mains power supply went off on

Christmas Eve, and the handful of homes and businesses are running on

generators. The noise means that the pub is having problems letting

some rooms. There is no ambience, it is noisy. You can walk down the

valley and still hear it, a constant drone. There are

generators at the other farms. One of the local farmers was in the pub

last night because their generator broke down, probably because no one

had been to service it. It broke down, and we had to look after them

last night because they had a two- year-old child. The power cable for

the village runs underneath nearby Wastwater. Electricity northwest

says that checking for a fault on a cable that runs beneath the lake is

obviously a particularly tough job because water and electricity are

not a safe mix. If the fault is beneath the waterline, it means

building a new cable, either beneath the lake or around the edge.

Both of those options take time and planning. The electricity company

admits that there have been delays because the bad weather has caused

so many problems across the county recently. This far has been going

on for a number of years. We have the same problem last year, I have

been told they were on generators for quite a number of weeks. We are

a small committee. We should not be forgotten about. Electricity North

West says it cannot say how long the repairs will take, so in the

meantime it looks like the residents and visitors are stuck

That cannot be much fun. Now, her voice is known to millions but she

would never be recognised in the street. When Emma Hignett heard

that Transport for London wanted someone to be the official voice of

the famous red buses, she put herself forward. After fighting off

nine other candidates, the County Durham mother got the job and now

the silky tones are so familiar to Londoners that she gets fan mail.

Peter Harris went to meet her for Remember the Kirklees? They are

long gone, but if the human touch is a bit lacking these days on a

London Transport Omnibus, there is still a reassuring voice.

Hampstead Heath. And what most Londoners do not know is that every

message is recorded 250 miles away in a converted bedroom in County

Durham. Alight here for Carnaby Street.

I get a lot of positive feedback, then you get the people who bump

into me and find out that I have done it and go, oh, my God, you

have told me where to go every single day! That is nice, and by

friends from the north-east go down to London and fun may have to say,

listen! I am listening to you on a bus! It is a project I am very,

very proud of. K Bridge Circus...

I certainly do not talk with my northern access when I am doing the

buses recording. I try to keep it as neutral as possible. She even

gets fan mail. A school but a project together where they all

wrote to Emma and described what they thought about her voice, what

they liked about it. Denmark Street. It was the fact that it was very

clear, it always sounded friendly and like somebody they could talk

back to. Of course, most Londoners would have no idea who Emma his,

but she has made 35,000 of these recordings, which has taken a while,

about five years. It is true what they say. You wait ages for a

London bus and then three come along wall at the same time.

Westminster Abbey. When you're coming from work sometimes, you are

sleeping, and you hear the message and you know that it is the right

staff. I find them quite handy, and if I'm reading the paper, it wakes

me up. Quite well-spoken, General London voice. It is very clear, it

is all right. I find it quite entertaining, nice and soothing, it

cheers you up when she calls out. And you know you can get off.

does not have to visit the capital to update the bus routes. It is all

done from home in Staindrop, but when she travels in London, at

least she knows the right stock. Now I go, I'm not quite happy with

that recording, and I will go and re-record one. On the whole, I have

got used to it. I suppose, you know, even I use it to tell me to get off

the bus. I need to get off at which Peter Harris, BBC Look North,

London. What a great story! Time for the

sport. Good news for one of our cricketers.

Especially since he thought his international career was over at

one stage. Graham Onions is in line to make his return to Test match

cricket against Pakistan next week. He has been training with the squad

in Dubai and will replace injured Yorkshire bowler Tim Bresnan, who

is coming home because of an elbow problem. It is two years since he

last played a Test match for England after a serious back injury

saw him miss an entire year. Sunderland defender Myron Knowles

worthy has completed a permanent move to Watford. The former fans'

favourite was player of the season in 2007 when the Black Cats won the

championship. He was in the final year of his contract at the Stadium

of Light and joined the Hornets on a three-month loan in October. The

new deal will keep him at Vicarage Road until 2014.

You might think you had heard everything there is to hear about

Brian Clough, born in Middlesbrough and one of the most charismatic

figures English football has ever seen. But a football rider from

Sunderland has brought out the first biography of the great man,

who of course had black cat was Martin O'Neill under his wing

during his glory days at Nottingham Forest. -- Black Cats boss.

It is a pretty hefty volume, as you would expect, covering the life

story of one of the regions and the country's sporting icons. Its

author, Jonathan Wilson, is from Sunderland, where Brian Clough was

idolised just as much as in his home town of Middlesbrough, but

that does not mean Jonathan overlooks his darker side. We have

an annoying tendency in this country, if somebody is a colourful

figure, we let the Mark There book with things. There were times when

he was utterly unreasonable and acted disgracefully. -- We let them

off the hook. But other times he acted honourably and he was clearly

a genius. He made his name as a goalscorer at the Boro but became a

Wearside legend until his career was cut desperately short by injury.

He then became the best manager Sunderland never had. What might

have been as a player, what might have been as a manager as well. He

took the youth team to the semi- final of the Youth FA Cup, but then

the club decided they wanted rid of him because they wanted the money

to buy a new Centre Court. It left him very bitter, thinking that

football owed him a living. -- centre-forward. The highlights were

many. He won the League title with unfashionable Derby and with

Nottingham Forest, who he led to two European Cup wins. In the team

at the time, the current Sunderland boss. What was he like to work

with? One of the best that has ever been in the game. I would say

certainly the most charismatic manager that has been in British

history. I had five or six years with them, an experience I would

not change for anything. But do not try and copy that man, you know,

because he will fall flat on your face. What could Martin O'Neill do

at Sunderland? What can he achieve? The tragedy is that something like

what Cloughie did at Derby and Nottingham Forest is impossible in

modern football. The fairy story is somebody like Blackpool hanging

around for a little while. It is astonishing to think that last

season's 10th place finish was their third best in 50 years. 10th

would be great, and if they can knock on the door of the Europa

League, brilliant. You can see the interview in a full online from

tomorrow. Right, time of the weather now up

and Hannah is out and about on the streets of Newcastle, probably

doing a bit of shopping! The mildest night of the windows so

far. Temperatures hit 11 or 12 Celsius in places. -- the winter.

Maybe going down to around eight or nine Celsius, and incredibly mild

night for January. Did you catch that glorious full moon last night?

We can show you this beautiful Wolf Moon of January. This was shot as

the moon rose over Tyneside. This was taken by Roger Bell. This one

is a close-up from Sacriston, thank you very much, Dave Armstrong, who

took that close-up from County Durham. Over the next few days, we

should have some more clear nights. By the end of the working week, we

can enjoy the waning Moon. The rest of the week sees the weather

brighter, particularly as high pressure built from Thursday

onwards. This evening and overnight, patchy rain in the West, clear

spells possibly in the east, but generally that patchy rain could

drift anywhere across the region, although once again a very mild

night. Those temperatures really are unseasonably high. A mild start

to a January morning, some bright theirs once again, the best place

to get some sunshine would be the north-east and north Yorkshire

coasts. -- some brightness once again. Over the Pennines, light

rain drifting eastwards at times. Everywhere stays mild, at top

temperature tomorrow just the same as today. That is the low 50s in

Fahrenheit. Through tomorrow evening, the wind could get gusty

for a time, breezy tonight. Tomorrow night those winds could

reach 60 mph in terms of the gusts, but from Thursday onwards the

weather really settles down. Bright blue skies, a glorious day on

Thursday as high pressure dominates, and it stays very mild. A bit of a

shock on Friday morning, getting colder. We wake up to a fast, and

temperatures through the day will be not better than five Celsius.

Frosty first thing on Saturday, although it will stay sunny,