24/01/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Welcome to Friday's Look North. In tonight's headlines...

Jail sentences for the pair who sent abusive Twitter messages to a

high`profile campaigner. Speeding cop. A police officer

drives at up to 140mph with a prisoner onboard and escapes

prosecution. Claims from job centre staff that

people are losing their benefits, to meet government targets.

And celebrity endorsement for the plant which turns waste food into

energy. In sport, an online petition to help

the Winter Olympics hopeful frozen out of the Sochi Games.

And can Sunderland avoid an FA Cup upset against the last non`league

side left in the competition? They sent threats a judge said were

"extreme" and tonight, two people who used Twitter to abuse a woman

they had never met are starting jail terms. Isabella Sorley, from

Newcastle and John Nimmo, from South Tyneside, bombarded a journalist

with tweets that left her fearing for her safety.

Nimmo, who is 25 and 23`year`old Sorley, were also ordered to pay

compensation to their victim Caroline Criado`Perez. Well, they

are only the latest people from our region convicted over online abuse

with thousands of cases reported nationally. Tonight, we hear from

victims of so`called "trolls", amid calls for tougher action to tackle

the problem. They are the bullies you can't see,

behind a screen, targeting victims they've never met. As But for those

on the wrong end of the Twitter trolls, the impact is real enough.

Victims like the County Durham actress Denise Welch. But she fought

back, traced an abuser, who then lost his job. A registered thought,

and Jupiter stopped to use same that to need the least, I am going to

fight back. People say, just block them, but I say, I do not want to

just block them, I want them to know that I will track them down.

Sometimes it's the police who come calling. In 2012, nearly 5,000

online abuse cases were reported, with hundreds charged, some of the

most high profile cases have been in the north.

Today, Isobella Sorley from Newcastle and John Nimmo from South

Shields were the latest, sentenced for sending menacing tweets to a

journalist who wanted a famous woman's image on the back of a ?10

note. Sorley tweeted she should "die", "go kill yourself", while

Nimmo made references to "rape." She also added the menacing, "I will

find you" . The victim Caroline Criado Perez was said to have

suffered life changing psychological effects. People who use social media

in this we need to know it is not virtual, they are addressing real

people. If the cross a line from giving an opinion to the eccentric

they are saying things which could lead to arrest or prosecution, they

have to stop. The question surely though is, why

do they do it. Are they mad ` or just sad? Boredom factor could be a

part of that. They maybe have feelings that make them feel we have

two live shout at people. They may be relieve some sense of boredom.

They just happens we have seen some high`profile cases in our area.

The journalist abused in the latest case expressed relief the judge took

the threats seriously. And tonight, our region's most recent Twitter

trolls are in prison. Isabella Sorley got 12 weeks. John Nimmo,

described in court as a "somewhat sad" individual, was jailed for

eight weeks. And Peter is with me in the studio

now. A lot of people will wonder why Twitter can't do more to stop these

people? They do. It is not as easy as just blocking an account. One of

the prosecuted here had actually numerous accounts. It is very hard

to stop someone sending instant comments. When they do break the

rules, the do take action. Critics say they do not furnish the police

with enough information to take proper action. There is a school of

thought that people should try and ignore it, but there is an irony,

that the rumour that the subject of this case is again receiving abusive

messages and will once again have to go to the police.

A police officer has been disciplined after driving at more

than twice the motorway speed limit while ferrying a prisoner from Leeds

to Darlington.The incident, revealed by the Northern Echo, apparently

happened after the prisoner asked how fast the police car could go.

But the officer has escaped prosecution. The police can break

the speed limit of the art and an emergency, but this was not. This

was an experienced officer taking a prisoner from Leeds to Darlington.

The seems to be a discussion about how powerful the police car was. The

police officer Russell registered at speeding at 140mph. He got here

quicker and more thrillingly than me to have been imagined. When she got

in, he deseeded to talk about it. This left to the involvement of the

professional standards department and he has been given a written

warning and had this police diving license removed. He will also have

to undergo training. What would you do to me if you got me doing 140? I

understand what you are seeing. From the outset, we actively discourage

members of the public and police officers from speeding. On this

occasion, we have to take everything into account. The police officer was

on duty. He was driving for a police purpose and in my opinion, he

misjudged his belief about getting the prisoner from one place to the

other as quickly as possible. He should not have been done at. We do

not condone it and he has been punished. The officer is apparently

very sorry about the incident and the prisoner himself said he did not

want to see the police officer losing his job because of it.

Are people having benefits stopped just to meet government targets?

That's the claim from the union representing job centre staff here.

It says people on Job Seekers' Allowance are having sanctions

applied for minor breaches of the rules in order to meet internal

performance targets. But the Government strongly denies those

targets exist. The Meadow well estate in North Tyneside. Some of

those out of work here say they are jobseeker's allowance has been

unfairly stopped. Everything seemed fine and then, a letter turned up on

December the 20th and I was sanctioned over Christmas. Under new

tougher sanctions introduced in sober, people can lose their

jobseeker's allowance. In the first ten months of the new regime, latest

figures show once 17,500 people in the region have had their 11 stop.

16,000 in Durham Tees Valley. Staff faced with the threat of sanctions

themselves. If you look at the Gaydon 's for influencing the

performance, it clearly states that to measure against targets, we

believe these are politically motivated targets. The Department of

work and pensions says there are no targets and supporters of sanctions

say they are necessary. If people are unemployed and looking for work

at this rate they should get benefit, but there should also be

conditions attached. And MPs will be discussing benefit

sanctions on Sunday Politics on Sunday morning at eleven on BBC One.

Plans to find a permanent gypsy and traveller site in Stockton have met

with strong local opposition. Six areas of land have been identified.

Gypsies and travellers say these sites are much needed, but prompt

anger because of outdated myths, stereotypes and prejudices. Stuart

Whincup sent this report from one of the identified sites. This pleasant

patch of land is for the community to enjoy, not for travelling people.

These views may be extreme, but they are shared by many people. If you

have got the camp here, as we got a scrap yard. There will be burning,

horses, I do not know what you all have. There was huge public

opposition to this site when it opened 40 years ago. Many of the

myths have disappeared. Local people realised it was all about nothing.

There was nothing to be frightened. We have just like them. We are

private people who just want to get on with our lives. 99% of the stuff

is an absolute load of nonsense. Despite the success of the site,

opinions and attitudes have not changed very much. Back in Stockton,

they have one question to ask. Would you want it next to your house? It

is being licked looked at. It is a technical thing white one bit of

land is better than another. As I said, there are six pieces of land

identified. The council has stressed that no site has been chosen. The

council accepts that the decision could be controversial and

unpopular, but doing nothing is not an option.

You're watching Look North. And there's plenty more to come in the

programme tonight. Dawn Thewlis reports on how an Olympics dream has

turned sour for one of the region's hopefuls.

We visit a remote community fighting to keep its own ambulance. And join

me out and about four Prix Robert night forecast.

People in a North Pennines town say they're worried they could be left

vulnerable if their ambulance service is downgraded. Alston's had

its own ambulance for 46 years ` it's crewed by local people who have

some training, but aren't qualified paramedics. They give first aid

while 999 crews travel from Carlisle or Penrith. North West Ambulance

Service provides the vehicle ` they say its future is under review ` and

they're working with local people to find a safe and sustainable

solution. Alston move, a beautiful place with the historic market town

at its heart. Locals were angrily that he pensioner had to wait for

nearly an hour, because the ambulance in the town has now been

taken off the service. The ambulance took 45 minutes and it highlighted

how vulnerable the community is without the back`up of the Alston

ambulance. There is a similar view at the local school, where teachers

want to know that there is a proper ambulance service. They are active

children. We do as much as possible to prevent any accidents, they do

happen. We need to know they could get there errors quickly and

efficiently as possible. Those campaigning for a better ambulance

service either is overwhelming support for some sort of provision

and see hundreds will come out to a public meeting on the issue next

week. One of the organisers says tragedy is inevitable. If we cannot

get an ambulance with in 49 minutes, I believe the national

averages 15 minutes, that is going to be very long if we cannot even

manage 45 minutes, that is not acceptable. In a statement, the

North West ambulance service said: The media personality Janet

Street`Porter has opened the region's first plant to deal with

waste food. Built at Newton Aycliffe in County

Durham, it means tens of thousands of tonnes of food don't have to be

dumped in landfill sites. And its by`product ` gas ` produces enough

energy to heat and light 2,000 homes. You may want to leave any

food you're eating until after his report! A celebrity endorsement for

this new slant. Wiest food is reprocessed. When they told me about

this, I thought this was a very good idea. It takes food waste which we

do not want in landfill sites concert is harmful and turns it into

energy. What is there not to like about it? There is certainly a lot

of waste to be processed. We plan to boot 50,000 tonnes through every

year. We get up to ?200,000 of food waste in our region each year. Much

of that goes to landfill we hope to bring that to our site. One that

uses the facility, heap or playmaker, send tonnes of material

via a week. We have waste material from the production lines. As a

company, we are working really hard to keep both the costs at a minimum

and the waste at the minimum. Perhaps a celebrity thumbs up meat

encourage more openness about the issue and about what food businesses

go to waste and what could go we are. Delicious, wasn't it! No,

disappointing news for an Olympic hopeful?

Her Winter Olympics dream is in tatters. And now Durham ski`cross

athlete Emily Sarsfield is hitting out at British officials who won't

let her compete at Sochi even though the sport's international governing

body has issued an invite. Thousands have already signed an online

petition calling for a change of heart.

She's Britain's number one and the epitome of an Olympian. Dedicated

and self`funded, working three jobs to raise funds to compete. Talented,

too. Emily finished 17th in the last World Championships in this most

modern and dangerous of winter sports where anything can happen.

The top 32 in the world automatically qualify for her event.

She was 34th in the latest rankings `but because four of the original

list are either injured or retired she effectively moves up the table

and the International Ski Federation has invited her to take part. But

the British Olympic Association has refused to accept the invitation,

even though they have the discretion to do so and did just that in the

last Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I am absolutely devastated. It is

something I have worked very hard for. I have achieved all the

performance criteria. My coach cannot believe I am not going to be

on the starting line`up. There is no coach for Britain, there is no

expertise for that event. I think it is down to a lack of knowledge about

my sport. It has ruined my chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games.

It means skiers less qualified than Emily will now get the chance to

take part and Britain will have no one in the event. The BOA's

entrenched position has angered those in the sport and beyond. More

than 2000 people have already signed an online petition to try to get her

on the plane to Sochi. A legal challenge was considered but has

been abandoned due to costs after the BOA said they wont go back on

their policy not to take up unallocated places. Five athletes

from our region will be representing Britain in RUssia though and have

been at kitting out sessions this week. Matthew Parr from North

Shields will compete in the mens team event. I will be one of the

first men to compete in the team event. I am very pleased. I will be

performing nice and Ellie and then we'll be able to enjoy the rest of

the games. Amanda Lightfoot from South Shields becomes only the

second woman ever to represent Team GB in the biathlon. It would be

great to get with in the top 30. That would be be reaching my goal.

It is a great honour to be representing my country and I cannot

wait to get out there. In less than three days, Wembley

finalists Sunderland will have gone from League Cup underdogs to odds`on

favourites in an FA Cup clash against non`league opposition. It'll

be David versus Goliath at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

There won't be too many neutrals on Sunderland's side Tthis time. The

media loves a good cup upset and Conference Premier club

Kidderminster beating a Premier League team to reach the fifth round

would be one of the biggest in recent memory. Four thousand away

fans will make the trip up from the Midlands, and new Harriers boss Andy

Thorn, briefly a Newcastle player after helping Wimbledon win the FA

Cup, is eyeing a shock result. It makes you feel old when you are

looking back that far. But it was fantastic for the players. They are

putting their rights against premiership players. There will be a

fantastic atmosphere as well. Gus Poyet is expected to make nine or

ten changes to Wednesday's starting line`up but says it's crucial not to

let thoughts of next month's League Cup final distract his players. It

is a cup competition and you need to take it seriously, be professional.

You need to play well. If you want to be playing in my first team, you

need to be point good in a game like this. He got a champagne soaking

after congratulating the players after their victory over Manchester

united in midweek. In the Championship, Middlesbrough

are away at leaders Leicester City. On football focus, there will be an

interview with the former Sunderland manager pelota cameo.

Boro have gone six games unbeaten now under new boss Aitor Karanka `

only Nigel Pearson's team have a better record. Daniel Ayala has

signed a three and a half year deal at the Riverside after his loan deal

expired at five o'clock this afternoon. It means the former

Norwich defender will be available for the game. If we can keep this

going, you never know when it takers. There are some very good

players. It is a tough league, everyone knows how tough it is.

Anyone on else. It is a very good standard.

In League Two, a regional derby as Hartlepool take on York City at

Victoria Park ` with the visitors in better form but both sides needing

the win to move further away from the relegation zone. BBC Tees will

provide the commentary for Hartlepool fans on DAB. And BBC

Radio York is the station for York fans. All the build`up from two o

clock. Cricket finally, and there was joy `

at last ` for England, as they ended a nine`match losing streak on their

disastrous Ashes tour of Australia. And once again, their star man was

Durham's Ben Stokes. He cleared the boundary to reach his half`century,

on his way to making his best one`day international score of 71 `

and then took four wickets, as England won by 57 runs. Thank

goodness for that! One of the country's most pioneering

contemporary artists has chosen a historic venue in the North for his

new exhibition. Gavin Turk came to prominence alongside the likes of

Damian Hirst and Tracey Emin. His latest show opens at the Bowes

Museum tomorrow and features all of his Neon artworks for the first

time. They don't being have open as it is the and it is not there. In a

dramatic space carved out of the inside of the Bowes museum, a

gallery with no windows is home to the new Gavin Turk show. It is an

unusual venue for modern art. This is a mid`19th century set piece. I

think it is absolutely amazing and I think visual, what it does is offers

an amazing counter to that other stuff. The exhibition is called

'Seven billion two hundred and one million nine

thousand two hundred and thousand two hundred and

thirty`eight' ` that number represents the world populations the

moment the exhibition opens ` and the relates specifically to this

unique artwork on the front of the building. It was specially

commisioned by the museum and funded by the public. They helped us raise

over ?8,000 to be able to install this into the museum. Without that

fundraising, would this have been possible? No, it would not have

happened. : And now contemporary art lovers in the region can see all

these signature works on display in one place. Gavin Turk's artwork is

known for being controversial ` this was the man who brought us bronze

bin bags SOC: all this exhibition may not be as provocative, it is

sure to attract plenty of attention. My little ones nationally looks like

that. It is Burns night tonight. I most definitely am. I am in a very

tranquil setting. Not so tranquil this evening, with the sound of the

bagpipes. I have taken refuge in doors because the weather outside is

not looking too good at the moment. The headline for the weekend is that

it does not get much better. Some sunny intervals on Saturday, but

some heavy blustery showers. More persistent rain on Sunday. This

evening and overnight, some heavy rain pushing through from the West.

Most places will dry up by the end of tonight. Not quite as cold as

last night. That takes us into tomorrow morning. As I said, a few

bright spells. But some of the showers will turn the heavy. Over

the hills, some sleet and snow mix them with the rain. How temperatures

of eight or nine Celsius. Here is the pleasure sequins. This is the

weight and with windy weather for Sunday coming in. Through Monday and

Tuesday, it will start to dry out, but become increasingly called. So

for next week, the called, easterly winds are noticeably called,

particularly on shoes D. That brings an increasing risk of winter showers

on or levels. It could be the first real test of winter next week. That

is how the weather is looking. I have a date with a bottle of whiskey

and the chieftain of the pudding race! He is enjoying a wee dram, and

why not! We will be back at 10:25pm.