07/02/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

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

Operation Sanctuary ` police investigating sexual exploitation on

Tyneside say they now need to speak to 80 women and girls.

Calls for a college to apologise after mistakes were made which led

to a three`year`old girl dying at its nursery.

Jobs shock ` the impact of six hundred posts disappearing from one

market town in just a few months. And helped bring out the bonding for

a cycling event. Things will be a better different

over the weekend because of the high pressure.

In sport, a big weekend for both our Premier League clubs. From Derby day

defeat to impossible dream. And can Newcastle be the first to

beat Mourinho at Stamford Bridge? And can the in`form Black Cats beat

their old boss Brucey on his return to the Stadium of Light?

Police investigating the sexual exploitation of girls and young

women on Tyneside say they now need to speak to 80 women. At least 15 of

them, they say, are the victims of sexual assault. Detectives working

on Operation Sanctuary have arrested 30 people on suspicion of conspiracy

to rape, that's 28 men and two women, at addresses in Newcastle,

Gateshead and South Tyneside. women, at addresses in Newcastle,

Gateshead and South They describe the victims as vulnerable young

women, often under the influence of drink or drugs, who have been

groomed by older men over a period of time before being taken to

private houses where, it's suspected, they're subjected to

sexual assault or rape. women, often under the influence of

Our news correspondent Adrian Pitches joins me now. Adrian, we

first reported on this operation nearly two weeks ago, so what are

the latest developments? What we have learned today is that initially

they were talking about 30 bit for witnesses. Today we are told 80.

Almost three times as many. They are saying 15 victims have been

identified but they want to talk to another 65 young women and girls to

investigate these crimes. I spoke to the deputy Chief Constable this

morning. What is consistent so far in this investigation is that there

is a common factor that binds those victims together. That is their

vulnerability. Vulnerability about her chew of their age, in some

cases, but in many cases because of their susceptibility to grooming,

there are addiction to alcohol or indeed other substances. So in many

cases, these are teenagers and women who live in a part of any community

across Newcastle, Gateshead and the whole area. Northumbria Police have

said throughout this investigation that no single group is responsible

for these crimes. Is that still the case?

Any much so. What links these 30 arrests is basically despicable

behaviour. There from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, right

across the area. It is very difficult to pinpoint one factor

which bounds altogether other than to say it is the appalling conduct

towards vulnerable women and girls that absolutely binds them

together. That is criminal and that is what this is about.

And to help with the investigation, the police are enlisting taxi

drivers and owners of business premises? That is right. They have

been out handing out leaflets this evening. They have been at hotels,

taxi drivers, take away that have actually been saying to these people

that they are their eyes and ears. "If you see the sort of behaviour,

reported to us." Beyond that, there are saying that there is a

collective responsibility of all others. If you see inappropriate

behaviour, something that looks wrong and feels wrong, it probably

is wrong and people should phone 101 and say they want to talk about

Operation Sanctuary. There are calls tonight for York

College to say sorry for the mistakes which led to the death of

Lydia Bishop, the little girl who died on her first day at its

nursery. Yesterday, nursery assistant Sophee Redhead was cleared

of all blame for the death of the three`year`old. But the jury found

the college had failed to ensure the safety of children in its care. Now,

a mother whose children went to the same nursery says the college should

apologise. John Cundy reports. Claire's children wear at the York

College Nursery the day Lydia tragically died. Strangled by a rope

wrongly left on a slide. Clear says shocked parents like ourselves were

kicked in the dark about what had happened. Then the College Nursery

shop, that support just stopped. We had a message to say that we had to

come and collect our belongings from reception and I turn up and there

was a carrier bag for each of my children and that was that. The

nursery shut immediately after the Lydia Bishop tragedy. It will now

every open. Now, the college faces fines or possibly tens of thousands

of pounds after a jury found the nursery had failed to ensure the

safety of children in their daily care. There is no apology to the

girl's family. There is no apology to the staff, to the parents and the

children. I am really angry with the college for that. Nursery assistant

Sophie redhead was cleared yesterday by a jury of any blame in connection

with Lydia's death. I do not think Sophie should have been held

accountable for what happened that day. Somebody else did not do their

job properly. You know, and a little girl lost her life as a result.

A man accused of his wife's murder has told a jury he developed tunnel

vision and snapped, stabbing his wife after she told him she was

having an affair and wanted to leave him. Heather Arthur was stabbed in

the study of the couple's home in Gosforth in Newcastle, last April.

Her husband, Mark Arthur, 50, said his blood pressure rose and he heard

his own heart racing after she launched a tirade about his

character. He said his whole world collapsed in a second. He admits

manslaughter but denies murder. The trial continues.

A careworker has pleaded guilty to abusing elderly residents at a

Cumbrian nursing home. Claire Strong, 20, from Penrith, admitted

three charges of ill treatment and wilful neglect when she appeared at

Carlisle Magistrates' Court. Mark McAlindon reports.

Claire Strong, seen here leaving court, pleaded guilty to three

charges of ill treatment or neglect of residents at the Beacon Edge

Nursing Home in Penrith. They happened on three separate

occasions, between January and June last year. It was revealed in court

that Strong had taken pictures of residents in humiliating

circumstances. Speaking on her behalf, Strong's solicitor said she

was highly immature and that her mother, also a care worker, was

appalled by her behaviour. It comes after an investigation was carried

out into behaviour at the nursing home last year. Two other people are

also facing a total of 18 charges between them. Chevonne Benson, 22

and also from Penrith, faces seven counts of ill treatment or neglect

of residents at Beacon Edge. And William Bowman, 21 and also from

Penrith, faces ten charges of ill treatment or neglect of residents at

Beacon Edge. He's also charged with carrying out a sexual offence

against a woman in the Penrith area. Claire Strong will next appear at

Carlisle crown court in March, while Chevonne Benson and William Bowman

face a plea and management hearing at the crown court in May. Mark

McAlindon, BBC Look North, Carlisle Magistrates' Court.

It's North Yorkshire's county town but it's reeling from 600 job

losses, all announced in just a few months. Today, Northallerton's Rural

Payments Agency, which employed 350 people, closed its doors for the

final time. The local prison has also shut down. So where does the

town go from here? Our political correspondent Mark Denten is in

Northallerton now. This is a town but it is a time

right in the heart of the North Yorkshire countryside. 12,000 people

live here. The headquarters of the County Council is here and some very

famous teashops are just on the high street as well. But if you thought

that a big job losses only happen in the big cities, think again. They

are happening here and the heart. It is a bustling market town still

bustling this afternoon but battered also by a succession of job losses.

Just that bustling high street, a nearly empty car park tells the

story. 350 workers used to process the farmers' grants at the rural

payments agency offices. 250 of them will do that in Europe from Monday,

the rest took voluntary redundancy. The office shot. It leaves a great

big economic hole. 350 jobs in Middlesbrough wouldn't make the

difference it does in this time. We are so small. It will have an effect

on the retail side of the town. They could have looked right across the

entire agency for voluntary volunteers for voluntary redundancy

and saved cost that way, rather than crudely closer than others. While

the workers are moving out today, the thing is that this market town

has been hit by a succession of public sector job losses. You have

only got to walk over the road to find someone else which has also

been hit by job losses and the closure. The prison closed last

month. It is another empty site, with all told 600 public sector job

losses for a small market town. When a market town like this is relying

on jobs that nature and there is nothing to replace them, is there?

Isn't hard finding work? It is hard for full`time work. A lot of it is

either part`time or just a few hours. So the challenge for the

planning people, what do you do with a big empty office and an empty

prison? These two sites are significant sized sites in the town

centre and they do offer a once in a generation opportunity to look at

redevelopment and free use of the sites. The Rural Payments Agency say

closing the building will save the taxpayer many millions of pounds

over the next decade. The MP around here is the Foreign

Secretary William Hague. He actually has his constituency office in the

town. We asked for his comments on those job losses but he was not

available. I guess the dilemma for Mr Hague and indeed other local

politicians is this, too big empty buildings right in the centre of

this market town, where hundreds of jobs used to be.

Mark, thank you for that. Some better jobs news now. The company

which took apart the so`called ghost ships has one a contract to

dismantle four North Sea oil and gas rigs. 200 jobs will be created at

Able UK's yard near Hartlepool over the six year life of the job. The

structures, owned by Shell, will be transported from the Brent field,

100 miles north east of Scotland. Our business correspondent, Ian

Reeve, reports. This is the yard best known for

dismantling the so`called ghost ships. Four former US Navy ships

were taken apart here, amidst much sound and fury and claims of

toxicity and mounds of asbestos. But a new contract win here will be far

less contentious ` four oil rigs to take apart. It will be a six`year

contract. In addition to that, we have over ?20 million worth of

preparation work on the site right now. That'll be about 18 months and

instructors will be brought in in about a year in the summer. `` the

structures. Coming into the yard near Hartlepool, the rigs will be

quite a sight, loaded in the North Sea on to the world's biggest

lifting vessel. It will also be something of a homecoming. In the

1970s, some of the biggest oil and gas rigs to make their way to the

North Sea fields were built here. 2000 people worked in the yard at a

time of prosperity in Hartlepool. Johnny and Derrick worked in the

yard and cashed in. Islet the other job. I have been there many years

and I got my three weeks' wages. I got ?2500 redundancy when it

finished. I was a rich man! The workforce got very, very good money.

They certainly were not shy about paying good money to get the right

people in. It was a time where people were happy going to work.

They knew it the end of the shift they would take a lot of money home.

Today's contract win will create 200 jobs. Not quite the number the yard

hit in its heyday but with hundreds of North Sea rigs needing recycling,

it could be a start. Its critics dub it the bedroom tax

and claim it's hurting the most vulnerable in society. But the

Government says by removing what it calls the spare room subsidy it's

saving the taxpayer millions. Either way, the introduction of housing

benefit reform last April proved highly controversial in this region,

with around 40,000 families facing a cut. But the reform has affected

tenants in different ways. Some have lost out. Others have got a better

home as a result, as our political reporter, Luke Walton, has been

finding out. For Jean Lowes, this two bedroom

flat in Stockton has been home for more than 20 years. But under the

new rules, it's seen as too big for her needs. So despite being out of

work, she's taken an ?11 a week cut in her housing benefit. I have found

myself not being in a position to put food on my table as easily as I

could. By accessing a local food bank occasionally, where I have been

given a bag with some tea bags in it, bread, sugar, coffee etc and the

basics, that enables me just to be able to breathe a bit more easily.

Jean says she tried but failed to find a one bedroom flat. But

Sunderland mum Stacey Lough has been on the move. She's upsized to a

house with a garden as part of a home swap in which other tenants

with spare rooms went somewhere smaller. And like the Government,

she believes reform was justified. I can understand the frustration from

people that are having to move. Obviously there are having to leave

houses that they have lived in for a number of years due to this but

people like myself and growing families need that extra space and

would have had to wait a much longer period of time to benefit and get a

bigger house. But some housing associations in the

region complain they don't have the smaller properties for tenants to

move to, with one bedroom homes in short supply. Ministers may insist

the benefit bill had to be tackled. But ten months on from its

introduction, this attempt to cut it still divides opinion.

And there's more on this story on Sunday Politics at 11am on Sunday,

here on BBC One. With the eagerly`awaited Tour de

France coming to North Yorkshire in July, people have been encouraged to

take up...no, not cycling ` knitting. The local authority in

Harrogate has called on the public to make thousands of mini jerseys

which can be used as bunting along the route. Our reporter Jonathan

Swingler has been to one shop which, they're pleased to report, has been

selling an awful lot of wool. People here have been busy. As an

activity. It might not be as tiring as doing the Tour de France. But the

2,000 of these made so far will brighten up the route. We have just

been totally overwhelmed by the response we have had and it is

fantastic that everybody wants to be part of this exciting thing coming

to Yorkshire. What is really nice is that we can put our own Yorkshire

spin on it. This is the county where we live in will heritage. That is

what this county is all about. So it is fantastic that we can put a

Yorkshire spin on the Tour de France.

Mind you, once they have the predicted 7,000 jumpers fluttering

in the wind, isn't our weather going to trash them? We are actually doing

tests at the moment and checking for how much the cord actually sags and

to make sure that we have got the fastenings correct. We have been

inundated with these ones, not too difficult to make, apparently. These

ones however our little bit more difficult. Not many have tried to

make the King of the Mountains jumper. This customer is going to

have a go at knitting a few though. I will struggle on! They would like

to see some more male volunteers. Graeme is definitely in a minority.

I think there is probably about four male knitters in the whole

Harrowgate saw the rest of them are women. Why is that? I think in

England it is predominantly a lady' craft. I know that in Europe a lot

of men met very well. `` mitt. They've had people sending jumpers

in from as far away as Switzerland and Canada. If you fancy making a

few yourself, you've got until March ten to get the needles and wool out.

Jonathan Swingler, BBC Look North, Harrogate.

One of those might fit me! Newcastle United have been fined

?20,000 for that part `` their part in the problem at the end of the

game at Norwich. It is not going to get much better.

Reserve team manager Willie Donachie followed director of football Joe

Kinnear out of St James Park last night. He resigned amid allegations

that he hit one of his young players, Remie Street, after the

under`21s were beaten by Sunderland. Not ideal preparation for a club

facing the near`impossible task of trying to bounce back from another

derby defeat against a Chelsea side who've never lost in the league at

Stamford Bridge under Jose! Newcastle have beaten Chelsea this

season, back in November at St James' Park when they put two goals

past Jose Mourinho's side. But that was when the Magpies had Yohan

Cabaye, whose brilliant free kick was converted by Yoan Gouffran. The

second from Loic Remy a minute from time rounded off a famous victory.

Tomorrow Alan Pardew will be without all three of those key players `

Cabaye sold, Gouffran injured and Remy suspended. Add to that

Chelsea's unbeaten home record under the special one and Alan Pardew

knows they'll be up against it. They expect to win. They have the

confidence that they expect to win. If you do not concentrate for 90

minutes, they will win. If you can concentrate and do your job and for

a goal for it, that is the big problem going to Chelsea. It is not

about parking the bus, it is certainly about offering a threat.

But you do need to defend well. That's made all the more difficult

with the absence of injured captain Fabricio Coloccini and it's

difficult to see where Newcastle's goal threat will come from for a

side still reeling from the derby defeat. But they havent given up

yet. We have managed to do things this season that people did not

expect. So we will be going there Ousely a little bruised and battered

after the result but ultimately, you know, if you look at the bigger

picture, you know, there is three points to have and a fresh 90

minutes to play. We Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has been named

Player of the Month today and Gus Poyet hopes his good form will

continue against Hull City tomorrow. They're just one place above the

Black Cats and that's on goal difference. It's a huge game for

both sides in the battle to avoid relegation and as Andrew Hartley

reports, it means a return to the Stadium of Light for Steve Bruce for

the first time since getting the sack two years ago.

If Sunderland's three goal trouncing of Newcastle United at St James'

Park last Saturday was the high`water mark of Gus Poyet's time

at Sunderland. Then last November's 1`0 defeat at Hull City was probably

his lowest point. It was the ugliest of beatings, one that seemed to

confirm to all but the most optimistic of Sunderland fans that

their side were already doomed, even though the clocks had only just gone

back. An own goal and two red cards, as the Black Cats suffered their

eighth loss in the first ten games of the season. But just one defeat

in the last nine league matches has propelled Sunderland out of the

relegation zone. And Poyet believes the seeds of his side's climb up the

Premier League were sown during that defeat at Hull. We played more than

35 minutes and we did not consider, OK. And on top of that, we had a

good chance with Johnson. Then you take a point and you become probably

one of the most famous games in your life. And that showed me that there

were things that we were able to do in that game.

Back to the Stadium of Light since his sacking is former Sunderland

boss Steve Bruce, who brings a Hull City side to Wearside every bit as

desperate for the points as his former charges. You have to be fair

to glass, he has done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances. They

have had a hell of a run. They are probably the best team in the bottom

of the division so we know what to expect, a big game and big occasion

for both sides. Geordie Steve Bruce isn't the only one who can expect a

warm Makem welcome at the Stadium of Light tomorrow. Former Newcastle

keeper Steve Harper will be between the sticks for Hull. I made get a

bit of stick, a manager coming back! They're all coming back to

Sunderland as well. Inform Sunderland. We need a result as

well. A win tomorrow could put Sunderland into the top half of the

table, a fact that tells you as much about the tight nature of the

relegation battle as it does about Poyet's side's remarkable turnaround

since that dark day in November. Middlesbrough have a tough game

against fellow play`off hopefuls Blackburn. Boss Aitor Karanka is

hoping former Boro player Danny Graham, who's returned to the club

on loan, can start to reproduce some of the form that once made him one

of the Championship's most feared strikers on his Riverside return.

Meanwhile, struggling Carlisle take on Gillingham at Brunton Park in

need of a victory. Graham Kavanagh's side are just three points above the

relegation zone. I am sure they will cause one or two problems but, you

know, we played them down there. We did not play anywhere near to our

maximum. It was a game and somebody was sent off and we got done on the

penalties are we feel we owe them one and with any luck, we can come

in and probably not lose. It is a different approach maybe we have to

take but one you're very much looking forward to.

In League Two, York City have a real six pointer against Cheltenham.

They're two of three sides on 35 points, along with Hartlepool who

have a tough away tie at Dagenham, and Redbridge, who are pushing for

the playoffs. Match commentary on your local BBC Radio Stations.

Newcastle Falcons are back in Premiership action this weekend with

a tough trip to third`placed Bath. The Falcons haven't beaten Bath

since 2009 and lost to them on the opening day of the season.

Argentinian international centre Gonzalo Tiesi makes his long`awaited

Premiership debut for the Falcons after recovering from the injury he

picked up in the Autumn internationals. You know, they are a

top three side and they're going to finish up there and it will be

really competitive this year. Our point of view, we have studied and

met on occasions but I think we are getting a style that we really want

to take. It has taken a while to get there but we are going to be all

right. It is interesting that the weather conditions will be almost

exactly the same as the first game of the season. It is going to be

really wet and windy down there. It will be a hard game but we're

looking forward to it. It is a real challenge.

I think the weather will play a big part in that game.

It will. It has been a bit wet and wild this week for us but not as bad

as that? It has turned a bit unsettled here

but nothing like some other parts of the country are having to put up

with. It was a decent day for most others. A calm looking day here.

Thank you for this picture. It is a bit of a different story for the

weekend. No pressure comes in and it will bring us some showers, longer

spells of rain and gusty winds, especially on Saturday. Those winds

will make it feel cold. Tonight, we sort of dry. That first band of rain

is spreading from the West through the evening. It spread right across

the region and might bring some Hillsborough. Through the early

hours of the morning, the more rain clears away and we get some drier

interludes. `` might bring some hill snow. We will stay frost`free

because that wind eggs up strong. A strong, southerly wind picking up

throughout the night. Tomorrow morning, it is a mostly dry start.

If you broke spells in the east with one or two showers and as we head

into the afternoon, they start to merge together. Some will be real

downpours would heal and thunder and again, all for the tops of the

hills, there will be some snow. By the end of the afternoon, the

showers will become a bit more scattered. We will start to see a

few drier interludes. Most others will see some heavy rain at times.

Temperatures like today. Unlike today, there are strong, very gusty

southerly winds and they will make it feel colder if you are out and

about. It is this weather front that is bringing of that band of rain

overnight tonight. It is driven by this Atlantic low pressure system.

The weather front extends back to give of that second batch of rain

tomorrow afternoon. That low pressure stays in charge of the

weather to the weekend also but you can see the lines beginning to open

on the charts. Less windy and the showers will maybe not be as

widespread on Sunday. If you are out and about, I think most places will

see some heavy bursts of rain at times. There will be one or two

brighter interludes, especially in the east and especially through the

morning. Similar figures for Sunday. By that time, the showers should be

coming less widespread and Les Hedley and the winds of it later. We

will keep you updated throughout the weekend on how the weather is

shaking up on the radio. If you are out and about on the move, maybe

moving further afield, you can get the latest information on the free

BBC weather app. Now we are willing to separate, of course keep February

weather pictures coming send them to the usual address or check out the

website to see exactly what we are after.

IQ very much. That is that from us. A bit of doom and gloom! Sorry about

that. Some good news just in, it is Friday night! Unless you are on the

late news, the weekend starts here. Have a good weekend. Goodbye.

It's your job to keep law and order, isn't it?

It must be exciting being a policewoman. It has its moments.