21/02/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

A reminder of our main story. Thousands of protest to remain

Welcome to Friday's Look North. Our top stories tonight.

A charge, more arrests and more vulnerable women victims coming

forward. We've a live update on the Tyneside sex investigation Operation

Sanctuary. Brave Abbie says catch whoever did

this to me, after a glass bottle thrown at her Grandmas's car scars

her for life. A new Bishop but an old fight! The

Right Reverend Paul Butler says Government policies are causing

widespread hardship. There are changes that might be needed, but

there when working is not working. Robot wars breaks out in Durham `

kids have a smashing time but apparently they're learning

something too. In sport, what difference will the return of

strikers made to the season finale is of Sunderland and Newcastle? And

the biggest rugby match. Police investigating the sexual

exploitation of girls and young women on Tyneside have charged a man

with rape and he's been remanded in custody. He's the first person to be

charged in a wide`ranging investigation called Operation

Sanctuary that has resulted in nearly 50 arrests. Our news

correspondent, Adrian Pitches, is at Northumbria Police headquarters now.

Adrian, what are the latest developments? What we have learned

this evening is that indeed one person has been charged under

Operation Sanctuary. He appeared before Newcastle magistrates on

Wednesday, charged with rape of a girl under 16. He is 21`year`old

Abdul Jelilou Ouro Kefia from the East End of Newcastle. He was

remanded in custody. We also learned that a number of people arrested in

connection with Operation Sanctuary, this wide`ranging

operation, the number has risen to 46. 44 men and two women. Two weeks

ago it was just 30. This investigation has led to the arrest

in Newcastle and Gateshead. The police have enlisted people and

businesses across Tyneside to assist with Operation Sanctuary haven't

they? That is right. They are asking people to be vigilant. We saw a

couple weeks ago that they visited businesses, taxi drivers and take

aways, because they are asking people to look out for things that

are wrong. If it looks wrong, it probably is wrong. If you see young

girls look in the whistle where with older men `` looking the worse for

wear. Abdul Jelilou Ouro Kefia will appear before Newcastle Crown Court

on March the 5th. A nine`year`old girl almost blinded

a week ago when a beer bottle was thrown through a car windscreen has

been talking to Look North this afternoon about her ordeal. Abbie

Keers was a front seat passenger in her grandmother's car on the A693 at

Stanley in County Durham when somebody threw the bottle from the

entrance to a pedestrian subway. The police say it's time the culprit

came forward ` or was turned in. Our Chief Reporter Chris Stewart has the

story. This was Abbey a week ago.

This was Abbie a week ago. Scarred physically, but not mentally.

Because this was Abbie this afternoon. We were just driving

along and I was playing. I dozed off. I turned my iPod off. Then the

bottle came through the window. I thought a tyre had popped. It was

more a barren than a glass breaking. We could see there was glass and her

face. We couldn't do anything. We had to watch her bleed. Once that

was sorted, then you think how will this affect her mentally. Will she

get back in a car? Will she get back on her grandmother's car? Well I

have to change my car? She has been super. What did your friends think?

They said it was disgusting. She is a very brave girl. It has been a

traumatic experience. It's thought whoever was responsible was probably

here with others, which means there were witnesses. The police are

working their way through CCTV material, including a number of

tapes which have been taken from local off`licences. It wasn't the

beer bottle itself which could Abbey, it was the glass from the

broken windscreen. Had been the beer say please, then this crime could

have been more serious. Do you want to tell people what you did two days

after? I went to a competition. A gymnastics competition. I've

finished second. What did you get? A silver medal. Had it been a bravery

competition, she would have won gold.

The new Bishop of Durham has hit out at the Coalition Government's

welfare reforms. He says they're causing widespread hardship and

leaving society's most vulnerable people in poverty. The Right

Reverend Paul Butler has spoken out on the eve of his enthronement at

today's traditional Falchion ceremony in Darlington. He says that

like his predecessor Justin Welby, now the Archbishop of Canterbury,

he'll continue to fight for the people of the northeast. Phil

Connell reports. It as a custom which has taken place

here for a thousand years. The first official welcome for the Bishop with

The Right Reverend Paul Butler today approaching his new dieses from the

south side of the River Tees. These days it is the Mayor of Darlington

who makes the official greeting, present the Bishop with the sword.

It was a weapon according to legend used to slay an evil dragon. The

Bishop's welcome may be marked with ancient tradition, but he arrives

here with new and challenging ideas, division which has already put him

at odds with the Prime Minister and the Coalition Government. This week

is one of 27 bishops and he has condemned the Prime Minister's

welfare reforms, accusing the coalition of creating hunger and

hardship. I have met too many parish priests and people who work in the

food banks, not just here but where I was before, you are meeting people

who are struggling to make ends's meter, whose children are not

getting fed or living in cold conditions. David Cameron has

described these conditions as a moral mission. He says it needs

changing. The raw changes. The way they are working at the minute is

not working well. He is the latest in a controversial line`up bishops

appointed in Durham. In the 1980s, David Jenkins caused outrage with

his comments on the resurrection. Justin Welby also spoke out about

poverty, raising concerns about payday loan companies. Now,

Durham's latest Bishop is set on a similar path. Politics and religion.

Are they to things which mix well? Religion has always had an impact on

how people live privately and publicly. They do mix. BNF Royal

Mint takes place at Durham Cathedral tomorrow. `` it takes place

tomorrow. Well, while the Bishop of Durham was

arguing on one side of the welfare debate, a few miles away in

Middlesbrough the mayor, Ray Mallon suggested that too many unemployed

people either didn't bother to apply for jobs in the town or have the

necessary skills. Our correspondent Peter Harris is in our Teesside

newsroom now. Peter, what exactly did the mayor say? This feeds into a

very topical issue of how we tackle what some would call a benefit

culture. The mayor says there often is work, but people won't or can't

get it. We are producing the drops. People aren't applying to them. Out

of an 88,000 working population, over 20,000 people on benefits, some

of them need to be on benefits, some don't. Not a novel people in a

position to get good education to apply for it `` enough people. Here

is Amy, who is a single mother. She is restricted in our shooters. She

says there is no incentive to go to work. Am I going to be able to pay

this? Can I do this job? If you can't I get fired you're not

entitled to any money. I understand why a lot of people don't want to

take themselves out of their safety net into the big bad world, and not

be able to manage and not to be able to pay the bills. You get in more

debt and more stress as a result. It is a bit of a vicious cycle.

Jobcentre plus says there are 20,000 vacancies in a 40 mile radius of

Middlesbrough. The difficulty is that can be get them. That is a key

issue as to how he in centre influence people. So, I'm joined now

by our Political Editor Richard Moss. Who is right in this

situation? In Middlesbrough, the last figures we have available

suggested there were 15 people chasing every vacancy in the

Jobcentre. That can't marry up. There was a significant drop in

claimant in bottles for last year. 19% fall. There was not a rise in

employment. Not all of those people ended up in work. Ray Mallon has a

point on education. 10% of people have no qualification. In

Middlesbrough, that a 17%. While 34% have a degree in England, it is 21%

in Middlesbrough. Longer term solution needed. The Bishop of

Durham is one to sign an open letter talking of a national crisis. The

church seems in a collision with the government. Will that bother the

politicians? The bishops have repeatedly clashed with the

government. The government says they are trying to create jobs and make

it not easy to set their on benefits and just language. They have made it

clear that in terms of people use in food banks, it is mistakes by

officials they are blaming. Bishops say they want a bit more compassion

for people on benefits, rather than condemnation.

The man arrested by police on suspicion of the murder of a

seven`year`old girl in Sunderland in 1992, is 43`year`old Steven

Grieveson. The Sunderland man has now been questioned and bailed.

Nikki Allan was found dead in the then derelict Old Exchange Building,

in October, 1992. It was close to her family home in West Garth.

Northumbria Police recently made a fresh appeal for information on the

BBC's Crimewatch programme. Northumbria Police are investigating

a robbery in Newcastle where a woman was found tied up. It happened at

the Post Office in the Gosforth Shopping Centre, just off the High

Street, at around 8.15am this morning. A man stole a large amount

of cash before making his way towards the nearby park. Officers

were called after the alarm system was triggered. The woman suffered

minor injuries and was left shaken. Extra officers are in the area

tonight. When you hear that happens in the

place you're living at, it is a bit of a shock. As we came through the

centre, a gentleman said the post of us have been robbed and somebody had

been tied up and held hostage. What are your thoughts? Horrified. I

suppose in this day and age these things happen.

A debate has started over the identity of a whale which has been

washed up and has sadly died on the Cumbrian coast. It could be one of

two species, but either way it's one of our biggest whales and normally

swims in the Atlantic. Quite why it's here, and how it became

stranded on a remote beach, no`one knows. We sent Jim Knight to try to

find out more. It makes for a lonely and somehow

forlorn sight. One of the largest animals in the world, just lying

there on the sand at the northern tip of the Ravenglass estuary.

Locals say it came ashore three days ago, and it's slowly embedding

itself in the sand above the shoreline. Though it is lying miles

from any road or track, plenty of people are still making the effort

to hike along the beach just to see it. What are the circumstances

surrounding it? Did it die and get blown this way, or did it just lose

course? We go all over the place, walking, looking at the wildlife. To

see something that that big, you can't really recognise it really. It

is one big mass of blubber. It wasn't very good. You can see it's

teeth sticking out. It smelt really bad. There has still been no formal

identification of the whale, but marine experts say it is most likely

to be a fin or sei well. Both are monsters of the sea and would

usually spend their time in Atlantic feeding on plankton, crustaceans and

small fish. So how did it get here? The most likely scenario is that the

recent heavy storms battered it of course, driving it down into the

Irish Sea and finally along the Cumbrian coast. It really is a

rather strange sensation to be up close to one of these monsters of

the sea. You can't help thinking about how it would be thundering

through the ocean in its prime, and yet here it is just lying on this

desolate beach in West Cumbria. There is something very moving about

it. Still to come on tonight's Look

North ` Mark Tulip is here to preview the weekend's football.

Plus. You spend hours and hours making one and then you smash it up.

Robot Wars comes to Durham. I will be here were full forecast for the

weekend. At any time, any one of us may need

a blood donation to save our life. Yet just 4% of the population are

prepared to donate it ourselves. An NHS event today held at Newcastle

University has found a new way of encouraging people become donors.

Our reporter Bob Cooper was there. It is a novel way to use a cherry

picker. Not picking fruit in this case, but draping this tree with

knitted red blobs, supposed to represent blood. And the message?

Blood doesn't grow on trees and we're encouraging people,

particlarly young people, to come forward and register as blood

donors. People have the perception that blood will always be there, but

it would not be if people didn't come here to donate. Here in the NHS

marquee, blood donation workers are trying to get people to sign up.

This stuff is all good fun, but blood donation can be a very serious

matter indeed. It can be a matter of life and death. Just over two years

ago I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cancer,

which is a blood cancer and needed intensive chemotherapy. I had 28

units of blood and five transfusions. For one student who

passed by today, blood donation means literally everything. I

wouldn't be here if it wasn't for blood transfusion. My mum had an

operation before I was born, so if it wasn't for blood transfusion she

wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be here. He himself has given blood two

or three times. The NHS hopes creative projects like this will

encourage others to do the same. Now, Durham Cathedral is normally a

place of tranquillity, prayer and reflection. But today it was the

venue for a big fight. It's not the scene of a new action film, but an

educational event. Primary school children brought along robots

they've built and put them into battle. We sent Jonathan Swingler to

watch the action. It's not the kind of thing that

usually happens on the Palace Green outside the Cathedral. Each team of

Primary school children spent five weeks building them with a budget of

?500. They received help from staff at Durham University, only to have

their carefully crafted creations confronted by this monster some

adults built. I am very proud of you. When a robot

loses it fails for a specific reason. The kids realise that

failure is a result of something happening. They have to fix that

problem and it won't fail again. It might look like mucking about with

toys. The staff at Durham University say it is educational. A lot has

been learned by the kids and others. There is also artwork involved. Just

look at the designs. Anybody worked together as well. The kids have got

a lot out of it. We wanted to make sure everybody was fully engaged

with it, and as you can see from the children who turned up is an equal

split between and girls. The children didn't seem to get too

upset about their robots coming to an abrupt end. It has lost a wheel

and we have tried to fix it as best as we can. How do you feel about

that A bit devastated because when we start to drive it in the next

round it will fall off. I feel excited. I like when the robot gets

smashed up. The Robots Live event continues this weekend. So if

watching giant bits of metal hurtling towards each other is your

thing, you still have a chance to see it. Looks like fun.

Now if you're a Newcastle united fan who bought a half`season ticket for

the Premier League run`in, you may be feeling pretty cheesed off with

what you've seen so far. Four consecutive home defeats since late

December. Ten goals conceded and none scored in a string of results

that, as you can see, have been getting progressively worse. Surely

Aston Villa can't add to that barren run when they visit St James Park on

Sunday? Well Magpies boss Alan Pardew is optimistic that an upturn

is on the way. Six hours of football at St James

Park without a goal. Or a point. And ten conceded, including the latest.

A 4`0 defeat to Spurs ten days ago. Manager Alan Pardew told his players

a few home truths afterwards, and he believes it's done the trick. I

thought it was important to remind players of the responsibility they

have. No matter how uncomfortable we are in the league, there is a

standard at this football club we expect. We didn't reach that

standard. I made that clear that I won't stand for it. That'll be

reflected in the selection of the team, and hopefully in the result.

Newcastle are bolstered by the return of striker Loic Remy after a

three match ban. Other key players, defender Fabricio Collocini and

midfielder Check Tiote should also be available. If I am a player and I

look around and see those players around me. If you compare that to

Liverpool, it is like having free of their best players away. That is how

important they are. Aston Villa are on a miserable run all their own.

Just two wins in the last 13 league means they're not out of the

relegation trouble. It could be a day when the result is much more

important than the performance. Away from home we have been terrific.

Nobody can bulldoze away from home. Our home phone, reform has been

uneasy. We need to put that right. `` home form.

Third bottom Sunderland will be wary of a Champions League backlash at

Arsenal tomorrow. The Black Cats have gone six league matches without

defeat but that recent record will be sorely tested at the Emirates.

Back in the squad after his latest injury setback is Scotland

international striker Steven Fletcher, who could yet be a vital

figure in the Wearsiders' battle against relegation. I hope during

this period we will rest him and give him the treatment he needs. It

will be better for him to be fresh. I hope it is the right decision. I

think it is perfect. It was planned and at the right time. We had other

players fit and doing well. It is good he is back and we will use as

much as we can. We hope he will score plenty of goals. A 20,000 plus

crowd's expected at the Riverside tomorrow lunchtime for

Middlesbrough's mid`table clash with Leeds United. It's veteran

goalkeeper Shay Given's last game of his loan period. Given has kept nine

clean sheets in 15 games since joining from Aston Villa. But Boro

have failed to score in the last five matches and find themselves 11

points off a play`off place. The confidence now is not good, but we

are working this week. The most important thing is that the players

don't get upset with the situation. Elsewhere in the Football League,

Carlisle will hope to build on their midweek victory by beating fifth

placed Rotherham in League One. Hartlepool travel to the side bottom

of the Football League, Northampton, while York City are at home to

play`off hopefuls Southend. The best coverage on your BBC local radio

station. A couple of big fixtures this evening. Newcastle Eagles

against league leaders Worcester Wolves in basketball's BBL Trophy

quarterfinals. Meanwhile it's just over 12 months since Darlington

Mowden Park hosted its first Rugby Union match inside the town's Arena,

where Darlington Football Club used to play ITS games. Tonight

international rugby arrives at the Arena. The England Counties,

including several North East players, will take on an Ireland

Club Fifteen in front of a crowd in excess of 3000, the biggest yet for

a rugby match in the 25,000`seater stadium.

I hope they get some decent weather for it. There is the risk of showers

before kick`off. It is sunniest on Saturday. There will be sunshine

first thing tomorrow. It'll be showery this evening. They will be

wintry over higher ground. Through the night temperatures fall no lower

than around for Celsius. Most of us are avoiding a frost. Westerly winds

and tomorrow morning will be sunshine for the East, but showers

in the West. Let's take a tour. It is still fine and dry for most of

North Yorkshire. It'll stay that way. We are expecting it to cloud

over, but the range should stay away. It'll be wet in

Northumberland, with temperatures are reasonable eight or nine

Celsius. The edge taken off those temperatures by those brisk wind is

still blowing from the South West as they have done so much this winter.

Eight or nine Celsius in the West and raining heavily and it will

continue to rain across Cumbria through Saturday night and into

Sunday morning. Just after midnight in the early hours of Sunday, there

is a weather warning in place for Cumbria, not for the north`east

Yorkshire, just for the West of our region for heavy and persistent

rain. Let's take a look at the forecast here in detail. We expect

on Sunday to be gloomy in the north`east but nowhere near as wet

as it will be in Cumbria. It should stay dry but just overcast and grey.

On Monday it will be brighter with just a few showers, but it is

Cumbria where the focus is for the heavy rainfall. Warning in place all

day Sunday and into first thing Monday.

A EU`mediated peace deal's been signed in the Ukraine ` opening the

way for an early presidential election this year ` but the

question now is ` is it enough to satisfy protestors?

Now, before we go, a quick reminder of a special series of reports next

week on Look North ` "World War One at Home" brings you stories of our

region's contribution to the war effort. We'll tell you how a County

Durham mother lost four sons in the conflict, but saw the fifth sent

home. All that and more from Monday ` here, online and on your BBC local

radio station. Have a good weekend.