11/12/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

News at Six, so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the

Hello. Welcome to Look North. Tonight: The coroner in the

Christopher Brown shooting inquest raises concerns about why a security

report on his killer was not acted upon. Also tonight, the power of

thought, the North East soldier who has become the first person in the

UK fitted with a mind controlled bionic arm.

The man who says he owes his life to an air ambulance after a barbecue

went wrong. And the lottery millionaires who decided to throw a

Christmas party. In sport, two more of the region's

stars took their place in the winter Olympics.

And find out how the man on the left was spreading a bit of festive cheer

among the region's football fans. The coroner at the Christopher Brown

inquest has raised concerns about the way a security report on his

killer was passed around by prison staff for more than 24 hours.

Terence Carney's comments came after the inquest confirmed what we first

revealed on Look North ` that the report on Raoul Moat, released from

Durham Jail that very day, went from in`tray to in`tray without being

acted upon. Mr Brown had formed a relationship with Moat's ex,

Samantha Stobbart. He'd be shot dead at Birtley in Gateshead, she'd be

shot and seriously wounded, and Moat would shoot and blind a policeman

before shooting himself when he was cornered at Rothbury in

Northumberland. Our chief reporter, Chris Stewart, who broke the story

of the report, joins us now from the law courts. Chris, will this inquest

help Mr Brown's family at all? Well, they say life without Christopher

remains Hell. There were kind words for them from the coroner. He

apologised for the way intricacies of the legal system have

strung them along for more than three years.

Sally Brown left the inquest knowing her son is no longer a forgotten the

end, and that what led to his death had finally been given the public

examination it deserved. Her solicitor spoke for her. I have

listened to the evidence and Mr Carney's findings carefully and I

will take time to consider his written findings. What ended here in

Rothbury, the inquest heard, started with Moat being released from Durham

prison, where he had served time for assault. Just 25 minutes later, a

prison officer fills out a report stating that a trusted inmate had

warned that Moat planned to seriously assault his partner. That

is known as a security information report. Last year, when we first

revealed the existence of this report, we had established that it

passed through four pairs of hands over 24 hours. What the inquest was

told us is that in fact, it went through seven pairs of hands before

it was spotted by an alert probation officer. She told the police but

even then, the police records did not allow them to identify some at

first part as Raoul Moat assessment partner. `` Samantha Studdard as

Raoul Moat's partner. Recording a verdict that Mr Brown was unlawfully

killed, the coroner named an addendum, that the precise risk

posed by Moat was not known. He pointed out it was his first written

sentence. It was not for a more serious offence. The possible use of

a gun was never conveyed to the police. Mr Carney said, prehistory,

facts and events got tantalisingly close of a point of information

being actually known, as opposed to speculatively available. However,

the failure to act on the basis of the information which was known to

not directly cause Christopher's death, nor was there any failure

which directly contributed to it. The prison now has a computerised

reporting system. Mr Carney said that could only be as good as the

information put into it and the ability of staff to use it.

The police did not escape the coroner's attention. Their methods

backbone of linking information did not seem quite linked up? `` accent.

They say they are keen to learn lessons and make improvements where

ever and where ever they can. They say where they did get the

information from the prison there was never any suggestion of a threat

to life or of a firearm, and they say with the information they did

have, they do not believe Raoul Moat could have been stopped.

Colleagues of a man who died in an industrial steam oven have told an

inquest they'd seen him step inside the machine in the past. The body of

48`year`old George Falder was found in an autoclave at the Pirelli

factory in Carlisle in September last year. Pirelli employee Stephen

Stedman told the inquest he'd seen him go into the machine four or five

times over a two`year period. He said Mr Falder would try to fix

equipment himself. The inquest continues.

Tests are being carried out in Russia to determine if human remains

found in the 1970s are of crew members from a British trawler. The

Gaul, which was based in Hull, went down in a storm in 1974, with the

loss of 36 lives. Six members of the crew were from Tyneside. It's been

claimed the Gaul was sunk by the Russians because they thought it was

a Cold War spy ship, or had caught its nets on a submarine.

His story made national headlines. Corporal Andrew Garthwaite became

the first person in the UK fitted with a mind controlled bionic arm.

The South Tyneside soldier lost his own arm in Afghanistan. Since then

we have followed his journey, including travelling to Vienna where

he underwent a sick is our `` a six hour operation.

It is a simple act, making a cup of tea, but for Corporal Andrew

Garthwaite, it is a feat of remarkable bionic engineering. He

soldier from South Tyneside has one of the most advanced ionic arms in

the world and he is controlling it with his mind. I have not had a firm

or finger for the last three years and all of a certain to start

feeling stuff is totally weird. You have to train your brain to move

this hand. It does not look prophetic until it starts making

motored noises. Three years ago, Corporal Garthwaite was struck by a

rocket propelled grenade while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

On the right`hand side I heard a bang and in a split second I was on

the floor, my arm was on fire. I stood up and said, my arm has gone.

It was a shock so I fell to the ground again. I was taken in a

helicopter to camp asking. I owe my life to these guys. The blast killed

his friend and that sort Corporal Garthwaite determined to make the

most of being alive. Losing a lot of friends, I am lucky to be here. I

will make the most of it. You realise that could have been you.

His life saved, he would go on to make medical history, in becoming

the first person from the UK to have this bionic technology. So how does

it work? His arm was blown off at the shoulder. Surgeons rewired the

nerve endings that would have run down to his hand into his chest.

Then an electronic connection would link his chest muscles with his

bionic prosthesis. But first he needed a major operation in Vienna.

It means we take all the nerves that originally went to his arm and move

them into the muscles of his chest so that when he thinks of moving his

hand, his arm, his fingers, the different muscles in his chest wall

will start to fire. Part of the muscle they have put it in, my hand

feels like it is on my chest. When I tap it here it feels like my son.

When I think about doing it on this side, it opens the hand. I can move

it around 360 degrees if I want to. Always good at parties! Today

Corporal Garthwaite met the defence minister and showed off his

intelligent arm to the world's press. But now it is time to get

back to his life. I am still very lucky to be here. With this new life

I have got, I hope I can be successful in it.

I think he's a brilliant guy. It is an extraordinary story. Was a

milestone in his life. Absolutely, and he is the first

British soldier to have this bionic technology. It is all being paid for

by the Ministry of Defence. They have not told us how much it has

cost but today the defence minister got to meet him for the first time

and see the results and she was very impressed. She said it was an

immense privilege to witness the revolution early `` revolutionary

mind control prosthetic. We have followed this story on Look North

but it has had a much bigger audience. It went around the world.

The BBC broadcasted it across the world. I have been asked all day to

send scripts to be translated into other languages. The army said on

Twitter that it was great news. I'm sure this is not the last we will

hear of Corporal Garthwaite all this technology.

Darlington has the best performing primary schools in the country

according to new figures from Ofsted. It ranks local authorities

by the percentage of pupils attending good or outstanding

schools. Darlington tops the national table with 97%. North

Yorkshire is our worst performer, at 74%. In the secondary schools league

table, York is our best performing authority at 19th place with 91%.

Hartlepool has the worst results, 35%.

These days we are all having to think carefully about the energy we

use, with fuel bills writing. Here is a way to save on your payments.

Allendale Council in Cumbria is urging people to sign up for a

collective switching scheme. The more people signed, the better

savings they can make. And you do not lead to live in West Cumbria to

benefit. `` you do not need. Ian lives in West Maryport and he

has to think hard about the gas and electric he is using. I am

struggling. Who can forecast what the weather is going to do? If the

weather gets colder I will need heat. Now his local council is one

of the growing authorities to launch what is known as a collective

switching scheme. The more people sign up, the better energy deal they

can get. If we can go to the energy companies in the form of an auction

where we have 2000 or 3000 people, the energy providers bid for that

business, which brings the price down. Around here they do know a

thing or two about sources of power. There is a long history. In this

part of West Cumbria, many people will tell you they have more of

these turbines than anywhere else in the country. And down the road is

Sellafield, synonymous with nuclear power. But none of this translates

to local energy prices. Fuel bills are very high and everyone is

concerned. Anyway we can find of lessening them for the people we

represent, so be it. If people subscribe to this scheme, it could

cut down the prices of their energy bills. When you are in a wheelchair

you have to keep warm. You have to use power. People buy in bulk and

you save money. If it works in this area, it will work in the rest of

the country. It may not amount to cheap energy but it seems that by

acting together you will get a better deal.

Coming up, a cautionary tale for all that you fans. And setting sail with

the latest youngster in our series of Sports Kids. And what does the

weather holds? I will be here with a full forecast

towards the end of the programme. He lives in one of North

Yorkshire's most isolated places and he says he owes his life to the

Yorkshire air ambulance. Steve Davies who lives near Leyburn

received horrific burns this year while lighting the family barbecue.

He will appear tomorrow on BBC Helicopter He rose. This report

contains images of his injuries. The memories you have is weird. The

memory I have is what probably my wife saw. Did you feel like you got

any in your mouth? You see something terrible like this on the television

and you say, I would rather drown than burn to death. That is what I

thought was going to happen to me. On a sunny day in June, Steve

Davies, who lives in a promote heart of Wensleydale, suffered serious

urns to his arm and head. `` a promote part of Wensleydale. He had

used lighter fuel to like his barbecue. I could hear the air

ambulance coming. It is not like an ambulance waited can hear a siring a

long way away. You do not hear it until it is fairly close. Steve was

airlifted to Newcastle's Royal Victoria infirmary, where these

pictures show the extent of his injuries. Several days later, there

are signs of recovery, but Steve says it could have been a very

different story. I could not have gone for an hour and a half in an

ambulance into hospital. The dramatic rescue was filmed by the

BBC's Helicopter Heroes. His story will feature in tomorrow's

programme. Anything I can do for these guys. It is very hard to

describe when you are so far out like we are, 400 feet up a hillside.

We sort of rank on the fact that it is going to come. Steve says he owes

his life to the ambulance crew, and he is now planning to skydive next

year to raise funds to help keep it flying.

Remarkable. You can see the story tomorrow.

North East lottery winners have been using some of their good fortune to

spend a bit of... Or to spread a bit of Christmas cheer, rather. They

have thrown a party for Age UK. It was to set thank you `` say thank

you to volunteers. There is nothing like a good

Christmas party to get everyone in the mood for the festive season, but

this is no ordinary party, with no ordinary hosts. Not be winners from

the North East have donated their time and some of their winnings to

put on this event at age UK in Middlesbrough. We do want to give

things back to the community. As soon as they asked for volunteers,

we came forward. This party is not just about mince pies and Christmas

trees. It is a vital opportunity for all the members of our community to

get together and socialise and make new friends, as well to see `` as

well as to see the start of the party season. The volunteers range

from 50 to 90 years old. This was in part a thank you to volunteers who

give up their time to support elderly members of the community. We

try to say thank you but with very limited resources. They are the

lifeblood of our organisation. It seems that with the crackers, the

daft hats, some glitter and the Christmas quiz, this was one party

that certainly had a swing in its step. It has been a good party. Nice

to put something on for the old people and I think they have enjoyed

it. The Buffy has been fantastic. It looks like we have had some

wonderful entertainment, too. Are you looking forward to the Christmas

quiz? Yes. They looked to be having a good

time. It is our Christmas party tonight.

Yes, and I am on the late shift so I only get an hour there. Never mind.

Sport now. The British Olympic Association

today announced that six figure skaters have been officially

selected for Team GB for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Two of

them are from our patch. Nine`times British champions Cumbrian David

King, from Carlisle, along with partner Stacey Kemp, became the the

first Team GB pair to qualify and go to a Winter Olympics for 16 years,

back in 2010. Matthew Parr, from North Shields, who'll take part in

the team event, will be making his Olympic debut in Russia. Good luck

to them. Christmas came early for shoppers at

the Metrocentre in Gateshead this morning ` at least, for the ones who

support Newcastle United. The club's record goal`scorer and former

skipper, Alan Shearer, was promoting a cut` price ticket scheme on behalf

of Barclays, the Premier League sponsors ` and, of course, he's

enjoying the Magpies' current run of form.

For some it was as good as meeting Santa himself. For others, maybe

just the chance to make someone else's Christmas. United's one`time

number nine is still a major attraction, but the Barclays scheme

is about trying to make sure more fans can afford to watch top`flight

football. The Premier League Trophy was there as well, which Alan

Shearer once helped his team win. Sadly not with Newcastle, but great

with backbone, a great year for us in 1994`1995. `` with lack burn. I

was fortunate enough to be at Old Trafford last Saturday when they got

that win. It was great to be there. Not so great ` with the city's three

local newspapers still banned St James's Park, a report suggesting

the club has come up with a scheme to sell off exclusive interviews

with players to the highest bidder, under the guise of a media

partnership. It's hardly in keeping with the Christmas spirit. That is

the world we are living in now. There is demand for footballers to

be interviewed. It is right across the world. Argue off to do your

Christmas shopping now? Someone is going to do that for me, I hope!

County Durham boxer Martin Ward is weighing up his options after being

crowned Commonwealth bantamweight champion. Ward, who's 25 and from

West Rainton, comfortably beat his Ghanaian opponent, Gabriel Odoi

Laryea, on points at Newcastle's Centre for Sport to lift the vacant

title. Time to meet another of our Sports

Kids now ` and this week it's a youngster from Cumbria who's setting

sail towards the Olympics. Stephanie Cleasby's been to meet her at

Derwentwater Marina near Keswick. My name is Lisa. I am 11 and from

Keswick, and I love sailing. From the moment she first experienced

sailing, Lucy fell in love with the water. What do you love about

sailing? Everything. Having the freedom to go everywhere. And the

wind. When there is loads of wind you go

nice. When she's not at school she is on Derwentwater, hoping one day

to be like her hero. She was inspired to take up the sport after

watching Sir Ben Ainslie on television at the 2012 Olympics. He

looked like he was going really fast. I like going fast. She joined

her local sailing club and has not looked back since. The wind is very

light tonight and so BBC is not able to go as fast as she likes. Amazing

she has only been sailing for a year, and she has already been in

five races. She makes it look so easy. She had come on so much and

she is still progressing. It is great to see her so easy asked Dick

every time she comes. I do not think she has missed a Tuesday night this

year at all. It is so different racing at different lakes and seas.

And finding the different wind conditions and how it changes. I

find the rules hard to remember. Have you ever fallen in the water?

Yes, quite a bit. Capsizing and stuff on really windy nights. How

does it make you feel? Free and relaxed. And you do not think about

anything but sailing on the lake. So you do not think about school or if

you have got something to do. You just relax.

Sadly very calm therefore our day of filming, but stunning sunshine on

the hills. This was sunrise at 8:09am today.

Thank you very much indeed. For the next few days, breezy, possibly good

weather for sailing, possibly quite a swell with some rain as well.

Tonight, dry and clear at first. Possibly frost early on. Later on

fog will roll in. A mild day to come tomorrow, with outbreaks of rain

spreading army increasingly risk wind. `` an increasingly brisk wind.

Misty on the hills and fails. Despite the lack of sunshine,

temperatures still mild, below 50s in Fahrenheit. Moving westwards, a

mild day here. Not feeling much like December. Misty and foggy over the

fells with much rain by tea`time. Tomorrow evening, more rain

continues. A squeeze on the isobars not just tomorrow but through Friday

as well. More areas of low pressure crossing the UK, bringing further

outbreaks of rain. On Saturday, high Treasurer rings settled weather at

first but as we pause the map here on Saturday tea`time, a very intense

area of low pressure over Scotland could bring really strong wind, gale

force quite possible, for Cumberland and North Northumberland for

Saturday evening. The Met Office has already issued a yellow weather

warning for this. Friday across the North East and Cumbria, quite gloomy

with an increasing risk of showers for the West and North. Saturday

bright at first that it does not last, particularly in the West, and

it will get very windy indeed Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Now a final look at tonight's headlines: Lloyds Banking Group has

been fined a record ?28 million for a sales incentive scheme in which

staff had to hit targets or risk being demoted.

And the coroner at the Christopher Brown inquest has raised concerns

about the way a security report on his killer, Raoul Moat, was passed

around by prison staff for more than 24 hours.

That is it from us tonight. Back at 10:25pm.