25/02/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

sunshine and showers continuing And that is all from the BBC News at

six. It is Hello and welcome to Tuesday's Look

North. Tonight. Not guilty. Two men charged with

attacking Casualty actor Clive Mantle are cleared of all charges.

Also, why it'll cost one of the North's police forces ?300,000 to

move this radio mast. How our schoolchildren and teachers

are claiming thousands in compensation for stress.

And the people of a North Yorkshire town get the chance to star in a new

American film. In sport, the former Olympic boxer

hoping to stay on track for a world title fight. Nearly 30 years at the

last cup final, the ex`Sunderland footballer still haunted by his

Wembley mistake. Two men accused of an attack on

ex`Casualty actor Clive Mantle, during which part of his ear was

bitten off, have been cleared of all charges. Philip McGilvray, admitted

biting the 56`year`old's ear during a row over late`night noise in a

Newcastle Travelodge, but claimed he was acting in self defence. His

friend Alan French, like Mr McGilvray, was cleared of Grievous

Bodily Harm with Intent and the lesser charge of Grievous Bodily

Harm, after a jury deliberated for almost five hours. Jonathan Swingler

joins us live from Newcastle Crown Court. Both defendants have been

found not guilty. Clive Mantle had been appearing at the Theatre Royale

last year. The 56`year`old is best known for his role in Casualty. He

had been staying at the Travelodge. He had been staying at the

Travelodge. He had woken up at in the corridor. He said he politely

told Philip McGilvray and Alan French to be quiet. The pair had

been drinking heavily. What happened next was all that in them being on

the ground and having part of his ear written off. The pair argued

they were acting in self defence, didn't they? `` bitten off. He said

it was like two hyenas attacking him. Philip McGilvray admitted

biting that year. He said he was acting in self defence. He said it

was like being hit by the car. Clive Mantle was on top of me. He said he

bore the actor was trying to kill him. He told the court he was

disgusted and had been for few years ago, in which a bouncer had bitten

off his ear. Alan French denied attacking him. He said he said he

was trying to help his friend. He denied punching the actor. Clive

Mantle argued he had been punched six times. What sort of reaction did

the verdict get from Clive Mantle and the defendants? Both face

charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and grievous bodily harm. The

judge said he would accept a majority verdict, and a jury cleared

both pair of both charges. They didn't want to be interviewed. They

are heading back to Scotland. Alan French told me he wanted to be home

with his children. Clive Mantle wasn't in court today.

It's a 150 foot radio mast that's going to cost one of our police

forces ?300,000 to move. The mast was built in the 1960s and designed

by Sir Ove Arup ` the man also responsible for buildings like the

Sydney Opera House. But now Durham Police will have to dismantle the

mast and re`build it, after deciding to move to new headquarters. As our

Chief Reporter Chris Stewart explains, leaving the mast where it

is, could have cost the police ?1 million.

Built in the middle of the space race, the rocket radio mast. But

when the police decided to replace their shabby old headquarters, it

was time to knock it down. Except that would have been against the

law, because this is a listed structure. So, then they thought

about leaving it where it is, except that would mean the land it is on,

which they want to sell for housing, would be worth an awful lot less.

What we have got here is a space rocket which can't fly. A space

rocket which can't be demolished, and a space rocket which is in

danger of costing the cops ?1 million. Money the police need for

policing, to serve communities like Kimblesworth, Sacriston,

Nettlesworth. The conclusion was inescapable. Houston we have a

problem. But now, there is a solution, ?300,000 will be spent on

dismantling the rocket and rebuilding it here at the new

headquarters, so the police are spending to save. There will always

be people who say the money could have been better spent elsewhere,

but we have to observe all the rules and revelations given to us by the

people who look after the structures. We are going to do what

they say, get it shifted, but we will do it properly, and I think it

will look good in its new location. A bust of Sir Ove Arup stares out of

another of his works in Durham, the Kingsgate Footbridge, but the

commission for the mast was possibly his most unusual. It was just a

challenge for a radio mast, and here he was. He had done The Penguin Pool

in the Regent's Park Zoo, he did the Pompidou. This was yet another

challenge, as is this bridge we are standing on. Take off is scheduled

for the summer. Disappointingly it'll be on the back of a low

loader. A jury has heard details of text

messages between the former Newcastle united footballer and the

woman he's alleged to have raped. In one text, Nile Ranger is described

as a "crazy sex pest". He denies rape at a hotel last year. Our News

Correspondent Peter Harris reports. Nile Ranger. Today described in

court as a predator, in a lengthy series of text messages between

himself and the women he allegedly went on to rape. Rebuffing texts

inviting her to his flat, at one point she replied that he was like

"a crazy sex pest animal let out of its cage." Earlier he'd written:

"you are moving like I'm Jack Da Ripper. " She says: "Nile I'm defo

not coming over, will meet for drinks but not coming to your

house." He later writes:"I will not take you against your will." Under

cross examination he alleged victim told the court she separately

received texts from "random footballers" including someone

purporting to be former Newcastle player Andy Carroll. Before and

after a knee he said, to which she replied he can come out wearing a

wig. No one will ever think it is you, she said.

She was unsure where they got her number. It's alleged Nile Ranger,

who now plays for Swindon, raped the woman in a Newcastle hotel last

January. He says it was consensual, and his barrister suggested the

hundreds of texts between them showed she was interested in

developing a relationship. She said that was not true. The case

continues. ?500,000 has been paid out to

stressed and injured teachers ` and children ` in Cumbria in the last

five years ` according to figures released by the County Council.

Union leaders say the payments reflect the increasing workloads

faced by teachers. Mark McAlindon is in our Carlisle newsroom now. Mark,

what exactly are these payments for? The precise figure over the five

years up to March last year Carol was ?520`000, and that was revealed

after a freedom of information request was made to Cumbria County

Council. That money was used to pay compensation claims and legal costs

on the part of teachers, schools staff and pupils. Broadly speaking,

we're talking about claims made for victims of stress, and for injuries

suffered while at school. In particular, more than ?111,000 was

paid out to teachers suffering stress linked to bullying or

harassment. ?121,000 was paid out to pupils for a range of injuries, the

most common being those linked to a lack of supervision. ?90,000 was

spent compensating teachers who'd suffered trips or falls. And ?60,000

was for injuries linked to what's called 'defective premises.' There

were other, smaller amounts that make up this half`million figure,

Carol. And Mark, what have people in the profession had to say about

this? I've spoken to teachers' leaders today, those who represent

members of the profession. Alan Rutter is Secretary of the Cumbria

branch of the National Union of Teachers. He said to me that in his

view this is the tip of the iceberg. He says the payments being made to

teachers in particular reflect rising levels of stress, and he says

people are being driven out of the profession by stress and

unreasonable expectations. He says that if everyone who had to leave

teaching was given compensation then the bill would run into millions of

pounds, not thousands. As for injuries for example, he says he's

come across incidents in the past where, for example, chairs have been

thrown at teachers leaving them injured and unable to return to

work. He says these are not payments made for frivolous claims.

A Teesside Labour MP has defended a decision to take on an apprentice in

his office at ?3.37`an`hour. The political blogger Guido Fawkes says

Alex Cunningham is a hypocrite who has campaigned for rises in the

minimum wage. The legal minimum for an apprentice is just ?2.68`an`hour.

But in the past the Stockton MP has called for all young people to get a

minimum of ?6.31. Mr Cunningham says he's just trying to offer someone an

opportunity. I have campaigned for equal pay for

equal work. The role I have in mind is for an apprentice, who will work

in the office and work towards a qualification. The rate is above the

minimum rate for the job, of course. It is not really enough. I would

like to be able to pay more, but what I want to do is give the young

person an opportunity to get properly qualification and go on to

get a proper job. All this week on Look North we're

commemorating the "World War One at Home" a BBC project in partnership

with Imperial War Museums. In tonight's look at how our region

contributed to the war effort, Gerry Jackson reports on the women

munition workers who trounced their opponents on the football pitch `

not least due to one tough Northumberland lass. Wait until you

hear her goal`scoring record! She was a miner's daughter: tall,

strong and only 17. And a goal`scoring phenomenon. Organised

women's football had begun in the 1890s, but it wasn't until the Great

War that their game became generally accepted. Times were changing fast.

Women were taking on jobs vacated by men and they were the vast majority

of the munition workers supplying the front lines overseas. It was

often hard, physical work. Those with energy to spare began

organising themselves into football teams. The best of them were Blyth

Spartans Ladies and their star centre forward, Bella Reay. Nearly a

hundred years on, her grandaughter is walking in her footsteps In one

season, Bella's team were unbeaten in all their 30 games and she scored

133 times. There are crowds of 10,000 people. That was a lot of

people in those days. On average, it is at least three goals a game. I

don't think there was a game she played when she did not score. What

with the atmosphere have been like? When you consider that people were

working long hours, seven days a week, with very little time off,

there was nothing else in the way of release for them from hard work. To

be able to come what is a beautiful ground and see a proper match

contested between two teams of women, it was very unique. The games

drew ever bigger crowds, all raising funds for the war effort for some

people there was the novelty of seeing women in shorts. For others

that was a minor scandal. But these women were a long way from your

archetyple genteel, delicate Edwardian ladies. Some of the

language here adhere was a bit industrial? It was not just the

language. They could be violent. Kicking and hacking the opponent was

quite common. Bella said she sometimes came up against some big,

hard ladies and gave as good as she got. This helps explain why she was

successful. In 1918, Blyth beat Allcomers to win the northeast

Munitionettes Cup, Bella, naturally scored a hattrick in the final. She

said she was good but she knew it. It is really nice to think she was

that good. We have her gold medal to prove she played, all of the better

pieces we have. It is nice to think that a little bit of history behind

your family isn't there. They were pioneers and their exploits could

have been a springboard for women's football. Unfortunately in 1921, the

FA bandits. That ban wasn't lifted until the 1970s. By that work into

her 60s for the local farmer. I sometimes wonder when she was

working in the fields, she cast her I in the direction of the football

stadium and heard faint echoes from the past. She remembered being 17

years old. You would not have found her in a

nightclub. And there'll be a World War One at Home report on Look North

each evening this week. Tomorrow morning on your local radio station,

you can hear another story about the impact World War One had on where

you live. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/ww1 and follow the links to find more

World War One At Home stories in our region.

People in a North Yorkshire town have been given a chance to be the

stars of a new American film. The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond

is being used as a film set by a US film company, shooting a film about

the life of Handel, the renowned German`born composer. Producers have

had no shortage of local extras willing to take part, as Phil

Chapman's been finding out. Given the chance to wear a powdered

wig for a day and help a visiting American film create recreate a

piece of 18th`century musical history, there was no shortage of

extras flocking to Richmond. The Georgian Theatre Royal was a star in

itself with the director, and he was pleased to get extras who could mime

to violin as well. Our criteria was to have people who could play and,

even though it is played back, they need to look the part. When it is

finished it will sound terrific. You guys have locations here we can't

duplicate in the States. It is a privilege to be here. Here in

Richmond, some extras were even found among the staff at the

theatre, and others were literally pulled off the street. I was taking

my son to nursery. I got stopped by a drunken man, who wanted to have a

little chat. The casting director came out and asked if I would like

to take part. I declined at first, and then I dropped my son off at

nursery. I came back and he had his eye out ` the casting director. He

asked me again and I accepted. It has been a whirlwind since then. I

came into the office expecting a day counting money and preparing

figures. I heard a production company were short of some extras,

so I was dragged across to wardrobe and make`up. It has been fantastic.

Now, Penny and Ruth and the rest of the cast are hoping they survive the

cutting room floor for when the TV drama airs in the US later this

year. Sporting stars have been honoured at

the North East Disability Sports Awards in Durham today. Among the

winners was Josef Craig who was named Male Personality of the Year.

The awards recognise disabled athletes who've contributed most

over the last year. Stephanie Cleasby reports.

Another great year for paralympic gold medallist Josef Craig. The

17`year`old swimmer adds another trophy to his growing collection.

But it was left to mum to pick up the Male Personality of the Year

award because the man himself was at school. It means a great deal,

especially being a disability personality. That is what he says he

is disabled son I am proud of it. And it was another South Tyneside

swimming star, Nicole Lough, who won the equivalent award for the ladies

` topping off an exciting year. I won bronze in November. I met Prince

William. Karate champion Ryan Spencer, who suffers from a rare

bone condition, won the Young Male Achiever Award. Any award makes me

feel better about myself, and hopefully I can set an example to

other people, and they can achieve anything they want. And the Peterlee

athlete Megan Atkinson won the women's trophy for her success in

swimming. I have been chosen out of so many people. Was it a shock? Yes.

I was up against so many excellent athletes. There was also recognition

for Northern Thunder Powerchair Football Club which won Club of the

Year for their competition success in Europe. The Coach of the Year

Award went to Ron Young who's been involved with cricket for more than

20 years. And there was an award for the couragous gymnast Kieran

Maxwell, who's fighting cancer for the second time. 2013 was a high

achieving year for disability sport in the north`east. The awards have

the most nominations ever. No doubt a positive legacy of the 20 of 12 ``

2012 Olympic Games. Hot on the heels of a much`needed

victory over Aston Villa, some good news for Newcastle united off the

pitch. The club's announced profits of just under ?10 million for the

year to June 2013. That's up from ?1.4 million ` a 700% increase!

Almost ?29 million was spent on new players, with ?11 million re`couped

on sales. The wage bill fell by ?2.4 million to just under ?62 million

pounds. The wages to turnover ratio was 64%` well under the 70% Premier

League average. But the club still owes owner Mike Ashley ?129 million,

although that debt is interest free. Former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce

has already got one over his old club in two league games this

season. And last night his Hull City side booked an FA Cup quarterfinal

against the Black Cats. It'll be played a week on Sunday ` exactly

seven days after the League Cup Final.

For most footballers, playing at Wembley would be the high point of

your career ` especially if you're just 18, and you're turning out for

your hometown club. But it doesn't always work out like that. Every

Sunderland fan who was around in 1985 will remember the part David

Corner played in the Milk Cup final with Norwich City. And ` as Jeff

Brown found out ` that's the problem.

Popping into a pub on the seafront at Roker, not far from where

Sunderland's old ground once stood. These days it is something David

Corner doesn't think twice about doing, but it is not something he

has taken for granted over the past 29 years. Not after what happened at

Wembley. I chased the ball down with a player in hot pursuit. I tried to

shepherd the ball out basically. He nipped in and managed to get across

in and we were 1`0 down. I have never been able to forget it ever

since. As a professional you have got to

put it out of your mind. You will make mistakes. You have to get on

with it. That is what I tried to do. Obviously, later on in the game we

got a penalty, which Clive Walker missed. Although, I do get the blame

for that these days. When you went back in the dressing room, did

anyone point the finger, or were they saying it was one of those

things? Not at all. The lads were great. The manager was superb. He

came in and said overall I had a decent game. But the fans weren't

always so understanding. A broken jaw, fractured eye socket and

stitches in his lip. Just some of the scars left over from the ones

who blame David for the Cup Final defeat. Yes, I think I've been

reminded more or less every day since that by someone who recognises

me, and they shout the famous words, why didn't you kick it out. On the

whole, the fans are OK with it now. There was some dodgy moments early

days, because some of the fans were a little bit upset at what had

happened. Sunderland don't often get to Wembley. Now, of course, they are

back there and, if you can get a ticket, David will be there as well.

Obviously, we will go as underdogs as we usually do, but we beat

Manchester City once this season. We have to think all of our players

have to play at the top, their top performance on the day, and

Manchester City players have to have some average performances. You never

know, with a bit of luck we could well pull something off. If they do

pull it off, maybe David will be able to remember Wembley for all the

right reasons. Former County Durham Olympic boxer

Bradley Saunders may only be on the undercard of Stuart Hall's world

title defence at the end of March, but he has global ambitions of his

own. Saunders, from Sedgefield, jetted in to Tyneside from his

Marbella training base to talk about the latest step on his professional

journey. Mark Tulip reports. Even France's Warren admits

28`year`old Bradley Saunders is in a hurry to get to the top. That means

facing some tough title opponents. Bradley has gone at a rapid rate

than we are used to break guide. It'll prove a difficult test. Paul

has mixed it with the best. Bradley, it is a big ask. Hopefully he is in

colour on the top of his game. Saunders, one of British boxing's

outstanding emerging talents, features on the undercard of Stuart

Hall's IBF World Bantamweight title defence against Martin Ward at the

Metro Radio Arena on Saturday 29th March. The all`action 28`year`old `

a Team GB Olympian at Beijing in 2008 and a Bronze medal winner at

the 2007 World Amateur Championships ` has raced to an unbeaten eight

fights since turning pro in February 2012 and will take a big step up in

his ninth pro fight. I am immensely strong person. They would have the

chop my hands after stop me boxing. I've had the worst hand injuries

going. They are better now. It won't stop me doing something I love. The

key to his success is living in more player. I am fully focused on my

boxing. I go to the gym. I go to pick my kid up. I am living the

life. That is a good idea. We would benefit from training in Spain. We

had the sunshine today but also those showers. There are still some

showers this evening. Most of them should now disappear. Many of us

will have a dry night. It will stay breezy for us. Temperatures will

drop below four Celsius. You might well see temperatures cold enough

for just a touch of ground frost. A chilly start tomorrow. It will be

dry so make the most of it. The next band of rain comes in from the West.

It'll be heavy at times when some snow in the hills. Before those

showers become widespread you will start to see something a bit drier

and brighter developed. Tempered as will peak at eight Celsius. We have

a brisk and gusty south westerly wind to contend with. As we head to

tomorrow night, the next frontal system comes in, bringing wet and

windy weather. As that clears away on Thursday, it leaves sunny spells

and a few showers. That'll be the case on Friday as well. If you are

out and about in Cumbria over the next two days, there will be some

rain for a good spell tomorrow. The showers are more scattered on

Thursday. It turns a bit colder on Friday, when the risk of overnight

frost. It is a similar picture in the north`east. The winds come from

the south`west or West. They tend to get the Friday, with temperatures of

six or seven Celsius. We will keep you updated on your local radio

station. Please do keep your weather pictures coming in. Thank you very

much. That is it from me. We are back later on at 10:25pm.