:00:30. > :00:39.They targeted the sick, elddrly and vulnerable. Then conned thel out of
:00:40. > :00:45.their life savings. And plans for this whiskey distillery. Thd family
:00:46. > :00:53.lost five sons in the First World War. In sport, the magpies Dawn
:00:54. > :01:00.putting on the red and whitd shirt of Sunderland in memory of his
:01:01. > :01:15.father. And red tape means these guys will not make it true what
:01:16. > :01:19.their team at Wembley. They targeted the sect, elderly and vulnerable.
:01:20. > :01:25.They conned them out of thehr life savings. A gang of four men from
:01:26. > :01:28.North Yorkshire, three from the same family, went door to door, telling
:01:29. > :01:30.their victims their homes ndeded urgent repairs. One man with
:01:31. > :01:33.Parkinson's disease lost ?240,0 0. Other victims had dementia `nd
:01:34. > :01:37.mental health problems. Tod`y, as the gang was sentenced to a total of
:01:38. > :01:39.8.5years in jail, the victils' families described them as
:01:40. > :01:48.''disgusting and evil.'' Sttart Whincup has this report. Sat on the
:01:49. > :01:52.roof, smoking and killing thme. Look at them, they're not doing `nything.
:01:53. > :01:55.But their victims have handdd over their life savings for this work.
:01:56. > :02:03.They were scared and believdd their homes needed urgent repairs. And
:02:04. > :02:06.this is the fake holiday cottage they tricked people into investing
:02:07. > :02:15.in. But once it was built, they moved in themselves. They are
:02:16. > :02:19.picking on the most vulnerable people in society, they are evil.
:02:20. > :02:22.David's brother lost everything He's suffering from Parkinson
:02:23. > :02:29.Disease and thought the gang were his friends. But they took his life
:02:30. > :02:35.savings.They took ?250,000. No words can say how bad it feels. It really
:02:36. > :02:40.clears your heart out. A peck on the weakest, the elderly, dementia
:02:41. > :02:45.sufferers, people like that. They are coward. And this is the man who
:02:46. > :02:49.befriended and then betrayed the ill pensioner. 46`year`old Montx David
:02:50. > :02:53.Croke. For eight years he pretended to care for him. He would t`ke him
:02:54. > :02:57.out for regular drinks and leals. Then at the end of the night, Croke
:02:58. > :03:05.would stand over him and watch as the pensioner transferred money on
:03:06. > :03:10.line to his account. This c`se is probably the worst we have dver
:03:11. > :03:15.seen, primarily because the main victim was groomed and befrhended by
:03:16. > :03:19.the offenders over eight ye`rs so there was a long period of offending
:03:20. > :03:23.where they went back and back and back and took more money from him.
:03:24. > :03:27.Eventually the gang were catght and they were charged by the police But
:03:28. > :03:30.even that didn't stop them. They carried on targeting and exploiting
:03:31. > :03:34.more elderly victims. One woman in her late 80s, who was suffering from
:03:35. > :03:51.dementia, lost nearly ?20,000. Her family said they were horrified to
:03:52. > :03:54.learn what had happened. It is disgraceful that such vulnerable
:03:55. > :03:58.people are being targeted in this way. The head of the family, Monty
:03:59. > :04:05.David Croke, was sentenced to five years in prison. His sons, Lonty
:04:06. > :04:10.Croke Jnr and Billy Croke, were sentenced to a total of 3.5 years.
:04:11. > :04:16.And the fourth member of thd gang, James Coverdale, was given `
:04:17. > :04:21.15`month suspended prison sdntence. Together they made over ?330,00 .
:04:22. > :04:27.One of their victims, who lost his life savings, is now being forced to
:04:28. > :04:31.sell his home. Stuart joins us from the BBC Tees newsroom in
:04:32. > :04:40.Middlesbrough now. Stuart, do we know how many people were t`rgeted
:04:41. > :04:45.by this family? Trading standards says it knows of 17 people who lost
:04:46. > :04:54.money to this gang. Despite the warnings of agreeing to work on the
:04:55. > :05:01.doorstep this has happened. These people went to great lengths to
:05:02. > :05:07.build up friendships and le`sh and ships with their victims. One victim
:05:08. > :05:10.was taken out for meals for eight years. That has really been the
:05:11. > :05:17.difficult thing for families to face. Not only have they lost life
:05:18. > :05:26.savings but they have been betrayed by people be considered fridnds A
:05:27. > :05:29.Keswick man's been found guhlty of starting 16 fires in his hole town,
:05:30. > :05:32.some his own street. John Brown who's 48 and from Windebrowd Avenue,
:05:33. > :05:37.had denied starting the firds during his trial at Carlisle Crown Court.
:05:38. > :05:40.He was convicted of six counts of arson, being reckless as to whether
:05:41. > :05:46.life was endangered, and a further ten of arson. He was remanddd in
:05:47. > :05:49.custody and will be sentencdd next month. Family and friends are
:05:50. > :05:52.remembering the missing York woman Claudia Lawrence on what wotld have
:05:53. > :05:58.been her 40th birthday. It's almost five years since Claudia was
:05:59. > :06:00.reported missing. Despite a high`profile police investigation
:06:01. > :06:05.involving up to 100 officers, no trace of her has been found. York
:06:06. > :06:08.City Council has revealed the results of its controversial
:06:09. > :06:10.six`month trial closure of Lendal Bridge, which officially ended last
:06:11. > :06:15.night, although car and lorry drivers still face fines if they
:06:16. > :06:18.cross during the day. More than 40,000 penalty charge noticds were
:06:19. > :06:28.issued, netting around ?500,000 in revenue for the council. Thd idea
:06:29. > :06:31.was to cut congestion. The local bus operator said customer numbdrs have
:06:32. > :06:34.grown and services have been more punctual. The penalties rem`in in
:06:35. > :06:39.place and a decision on the future will be taken in the spring. The
:06:40. > :06:42.former Newcastle United footballer Nile Ranger has begun his ddfence
:06:43. > :06:46.against an allegation of rape and has told a jury the accusathon
:06:47. > :06:49.against him played a part in his career at St James' Park coling to
:06:50. > :06:54.an end. Ranger, who's 22, is accused of raping the woman at a hotel in
:06:55. > :06:59.the Jesmond area of the citx. Our Chief Reporter Chris Stewart has the
:07:00. > :07:05.story. Nile Ranger, the man in the middle, leaving court this dvening.
:07:06. > :07:08.He's accused of raping a wolan in a hotel, she says she couldn't
:07:09. > :07:11.remember anything until the next morning, when she says she woke up
:07:12. > :07:14.to be told by the footballer that she should take the morning`after
:07:15. > :07:17.pill. Today the court has hdard about his arrest, how the police
:07:18. > :07:21.were given a hand`written statement in which he said he and the woman
:07:22. > :07:28.got drunk before going to the Carlton Hotel. His barrister, Toby
:07:29. > :07:32.Hedworth QC, then told the jury about Nile Ranger's previous
:07:33. > :07:35.criminal convictions. These included burglary, handling stolen goods and
:07:36. > :07:40.robbery ` offences committed when he was a teenager in London. After he
:07:41. > :07:42.signed for Newcastle, he was sentenced for drink`driving, being
:07:43. > :07:46.drunk and disorderly, scuffling with two police officers, and an offence
:07:47. > :07:50.of battery when he pulled hhs then girlfriend's hair. Mr Hedworth then
:07:51. > :08:03.asked him, "Have you ever h`d sexual activity with a female against her
:08:04. > :08:06.wishes?" He replied, "Never." He also said the allegation was a
:08:07. > :08:09.factor in his contract with Newcastle United coming to `n end.
:08:10. > :08:12."I was getting in bother, l`teness and stuff", he said. "It was like a
:08:13. > :08:18.ticking time`bomb with the whole rape allegation. Parents who
:08:19. > :08:21.campaigned to save their local play park are celebrating after Carlisle
:08:22. > :08:34.City Council agreed not to remove the equipment. The swings and slide
:08:35. > :08:37.at Belah Park were due to bd taken down, along with the kit from 2
:08:38. > :08:41.other playgrounds in the city as part of the council's plans to shave
:08:42. > :08:44.a quarter off its annual budget But now the playground will not only
:08:45. > :08:48.remain open, it'll also be hmproved. Alison Freeman has this report. A
:08:49. > :08:57.day for laughter and smiles. After a month`long campaign by parents this
:08:58. > :09:02.play park has been saved. It was a wonderful day and everybody in the
:09:03. > :09:06.community is absolutely delhghted. We have to fund raise and ilprove
:09:07. > :09:13.the local equipment so everxbody on the estate is absolutely a static.
:09:14. > :09:20.They are saying how well thd community have done coming together.
:09:21. > :09:24.The pieces of equipment werd due to be removed from Belah Park `s part
:09:25. > :09:31.of the council's plan to save a third of its annual budget. But
:09:32. > :09:35.parents collected more than 1,0 0 signatures on a petition opposing
:09:36. > :09:42.the move. Yesterday both sides came up with a plan of action to allow
:09:43. > :09:46.the park to remain at minim`l cost to the taxpayer. The communhty will
:09:47. > :09:50.be responsible for fundraishng so they can update these rather tired
:09:51. > :09:58.pieces of equipment and buy some new ones. At the council meeting I said
:09:59. > :10:03.our door was open to anybodx who wanted to come and talk to others.
:10:04. > :10:09.It is a joint effort. I think this is the way forward for the future.
:10:10. > :10:13.With cutbacks councils cannot now just do things on their own. I think
:10:14. > :10:21.this community effort is thd way forward. Swings and slides `re still
:10:22. > :10:27.being removed from 20 other parts in the city which the council says it
:10:28. > :10:31.cannot afford to renovate. Now the parents here are looking for ways to
:10:32. > :10:42.find a bigger and better pl`y area for their children. Your watching
:10:43. > :10:48.Look North. Still to come: Sports news plus the latest film sdries
:10:49. > :10:51.commemorating the start of World War I and the ?5 million whiskex
:10:52. > :11:01.distillery being created th`t this Lake District farm. Join me later
:11:02. > :11:05.for the full regional forec`st. Now, do you have views about the BBC its
:11:06. > :11:08.programmes and services? If you do, the BBC Trust's Audience Cotncil
:11:09. > :11:11.England, is looking for people to join its regional audience panel.
:11:12. > :11:16.It's keen to hear from people of all ages and backgrounds. The p`nel
:11:17. > :11:22.meets three times a year. It isn't paid but you do get expenses and the
:11:23. > :11:26.opportunity to say what you think. To find out more, and to get an
:11:27. > :11:34.application pack, go to the website: bbc.co.uk/ace. If you don't have
:11:35. > :11:38.internet access, call 0800 092 030. The closing date is Friday, seventh
:11:39. > :11:45.March. Calls are free from landlines but there will be a charge hf you
:11:46. > :11:52.call from a mobile number. Work is underway to transform a derdlict
:11:53. > :11:58.Lake District farm into a ndw ? million distillery and tourhst
:11:59. > :12:02.attraction. It will make thd area's first commercially produced
:12:03. > :12:08.whiskey, creating 30 jobs. Our reporter has more. Drinking can make
:12:09. > :12:14.many people creamy but the lan who has been dreaming of a Lake District
:12:15. > :12:18.whiskey has a clear vision for this former daily farm. Paul Currie
:12:19. > :12:32.already runs a Scottish distillery but has spent three years on plans
:12:33. > :12:37.for a company in addition. Now he has the bill that is here preparing
:12:38. > :12:45.for a grand summer opening. There was the a lot of whiskey produced
:12:46. > :12:55.illicitly in the 19th century. There is a great heritage festively. Here
:12:56. > :13:02.we are using the slightly pdaty water from the River Derwent. This
:13:03. > :13:07.was built as a modern Victorian farm but daily farming is no longer
:13:08. > :13:12.profitable. Turning it into a distillery means these historic
:13:13. > :13:24.buildings will be kept intact with a modern industry giving it a future.
:13:25. > :13:30.We are selling one product `nd seven markets so you will see this in
:13:31. > :13:37.Japan and the United States in the future. Up to 30 jobs will be
:13:38. > :13:45.treated at the distillery which the backers say is something to cheer in
:13:46. > :13:52.straitened times. Time now for our latest series World War I at home.
:13:53. > :13:57.100 years ago a whole gener`tion of young men left our region for war.
:13:58. > :14:08.One family was affected mord than most, they lost five sons in
:14:09. > :14:12.conflict. During the First World War thousands of men left the north`east
:14:13. > :14:19.ever to return. This is the story of one remarkable family. Six sons went
:14:20. > :14:26.off to war. At the time the mother said if she had more sons she would
:14:27. > :14:30.have gladly send them to. At the outset it would have been a big
:14:31. > :14:37.adventure, a chance to escape from this monotonous lifestyle wd were
:14:38. > :14:43.living here. What happened next four the mother and her husband lust have
:14:44. > :14:55.been unreadable. News came through that the 32`year`old son had been
:14:56. > :15:05.killed, in the second son and another to but less than fotr months
:15:06. > :15:15.before the end of the war the last to die was recorded. Plans to bring
:15:16. > :15:21.her sixth son home were madd. This would be the original article from
:15:22. > :15:38.1918. It is under local and other notes.
:15:39. > :15:45.Peace deal is probably the lost close`knit community I have ever
:15:46. > :15:50.worked in. People rallied round There have been countless
:15:51. > :16:03.opportunities for people to do that today. `` Teesdale. The letter was
:16:04. > :16:24.forwarded to the War office and he was sent home. I like to relember
:16:25. > :16:30.dad. He took us to the picttres If my grandad had not been pardoned,
:16:31. > :16:33.wiki have been next? If it was not for the people of the town `nd the
:16:34. > :16:41.local vicar we would certainly not be here telling the story. We have
:16:42. > :16:48.been unable to find any othdr letters written by the Queen. The
:16:49. > :17:00.Royal family say she would not have wanted such letters in black and
:17:01. > :17:06.white. It is almost impossible to imagine, isn't it? There is a World
:17:07. > :17:14.War I report on look North dvery evening this week. Tomorrow morning
:17:15. > :17:18.you can hear another story `bout the impact the war had on the area in
:17:19. > :17:25.which you live. There is more online. In the last week or so we
:17:26. > :17:31.have caught up with a number of former Sunderland players who tried
:17:32. > :17:37.to bring silverware back to Wearside but you have to go back to 0973 to
:17:38. > :17:43.find men who did manage to `chieve that. Last night we met Dennis
:17:44. > :17:47.Tueart. Tonight Mark Tulip's joined by another of those heroes from 41
:17:48. > :17:54.years ago. Where are you Mark? I'm in the Tonic bar in the centre of
:17:55. > :17:57.Sunderland. And in a short while a party will be getting underway to
:17:58. > :18:05.mark the launch of a special League Cup Final magazine. Well, Mhcky
:18:06. > :18:08.Horswill won the FA Cup in 73 and knows what it's like to turn Wembley
:18:09. > :18:11.red and white. He later joined Sunday's opponents Manchestdr City.
:18:12. > :18:15.At 20 you were the youngest player on the pitch and I think yot will
:18:16. > :18:22.get the honour at 90 to go out again? I cannot remember much of
:18:23. > :18:27.that game to be honest with you but we have been invited down to Wembley
:18:28. > :18:35.to delete the supporters from the pitch. I am really looking forward
:18:36. > :18:46.to it, excited and honoured to be doing that. What advice would you
:18:47. > :18:51.give to the team? What we dhd, we were not nervous at all. We went out
:18:52. > :18:55.there to get a good account of ourselves and enjoy yourselves, that
:18:56. > :19:08.is all you can do. Anything can happen on the day, one against one.
:19:09. > :19:18.Prediction? 2`1 to Sunderland. And you are the fanzine editor, this
:19:19. > :19:28.time round a labour of love? Yes. It has been a massive bonus for us this
:19:29. > :19:39.year. And an exclusive interview with the new Manchester Citx player?
:19:40. > :19:45.Yes. Do you think they can lift the cup and survive in the Premher
:19:46. > :19:57.League? Why not, it is the lot of games so can happen. We can go for
:19:58. > :20:09.the treble! For the moment ht is back to the studio. His dad was a
:20:10. > :20:14.lifelong Sunderland fan, he preferred the black and white of
:20:15. > :20:19.Newcastle United. At this Stnday, magpies supporter Rob and R`ymond
:20:20. > :20:26.will pay respects to his late father at Wembley. Robin will we are the
:20:27. > :20:37.red and white shirt and chedr them on for him. It is the lonelx place
:20:38. > :20:41.for a magpie. Robin is the lagpies fan of to Wembley to support
:20:42. > :20:49.Sunderland. There he will don the red and white in tribute to his
:20:50. > :20:54.dad. He was a very special lan, a very clever man. He brought me here
:20:55. > :20:59.on many occasions to see Sunderland. It will be an honour to Wear the
:21:00. > :21:05.Sunderland shirt on Sunday with the message I have got on the b`ck of
:21:06. > :21:11.it. His dad was never able to persuade him to switch allegiances.
:21:12. > :21:20.He had been there in 1973 when the FA Cup was one. His son was born on
:21:21. > :21:29.a special weekend and he cotld not get to that match. He would be very
:21:30. > :21:34.proud to be going down to Wdmbley this weekend to see them in the cup
:21:35. > :21:38.final. Do you think you will be welcomed back at St James is when
:21:39. > :21:49.all this is over? I'm sure H will be. Robin says the red and white
:21:50. > :21:56.shirt will be a one`off but it is a gesture that would make his dad
:21:57. > :22:00.proud. Now among the Sunderland fans at Wembley was supposed to be a
:22:01. > :22:09.group of Kenyon 's who have taken the team name for their teal at
:22:10. > :22:15.home. The one Kenyan who was allowed to travel was a special guest at the
:22:16. > :22:23.Stadium of light this afternoon 4000 miles from porn, this hs David
:22:24. > :22:28.from Sunderland AFC in Keny`. The name was chosen because of the large
:22:29. > :22:33.number of Africans who have played for Sunderland. Some Sunderland fans
:22:34. > :22:41.travel to their village last year to offer practical help. This was paid
:22:42. > :22:46.for by Wearside sponsors. D`vid arrived in Sunderland for the return
:22:47. > :22:55.trip alone. He was the only one who could get out of Africa. Thdy were
:22:56. > :22:59.disappointed. It is incredibly frustrating, have you had the chance
:23:00. > :23:11.to speak to them since you `rrived? Yes, they are very disappointed The
:23:12. > :23:15.British Embassy, the way thdy have handled the processing of these bees
:23:16. > :23:21.as has been absolutely disgtsting. Because of their inability to
:23:22. > :23:29.process them on time they h`ve spoiled the hopes and dreams of the
:23:30. > :23:37.whole community. Kevin Ball was going to be doing a coaching session
:23:38. > :23:41.on his behalf. He is missing out on a fantastic opportunity. I `m sure
:23:42. > :23:49.further down the line B will probably have that offer opdn to
:23:50. > :23:53.them again. What a shame. If this was a leap year Saturday wotld be
:23:54. > :24:01.the 10th anniversary of the last time one of our big clubs won a
:24:02. > :24:07.major cup final. Tomorrow nhght there is a special programmd
:24:08. > :24:15.featuring former players and are laws might then manager, Stdve
:24:16. > :24:20.McClaren. Finally getting to relax a little bit and join in the
:24:21. > :24:27.celebrations, to get covered in Champagne, he deserved that. You
:24:28. > :24:33.have to join in and celebrate. We have got fans who have been through
:24:34. > :24:40.it all before and still now come to me and say that was the gre`test day
:24:41. > :24:50.of my life. That is a great sense of achievement. Now what will be
:24:51. > :24:56.happening in the weather? Some lovely sunny spells today whth some
:24:57. > :25:01.dried bright weather on the costs. The winter has not been extreme but
:25:02. > :25:04.you have kept that is supplhed with some great weather pictures.
:25:05. > :25:10.Tomorrow we will put the little gallery on our Facebook age. Clear
:25:11. > :25:17.skies overnight, the lot of dry weather around throughout the night.
:25:18. > :25:24.Mist and fog patches forming, cold enough for ice and frost on
:25:25. > :25:29.pavements. It looks like th`t low pressure that could have brought the
:25:30. > :25:35.threat of snow over the weekend will now pass to the south. It should not
:25:36. > :25:39.bother us too much. A few sharp showers this evening but thdse will
:25:40. > :25:48.become less frequent overnight and most places will dry up. Thd
:25:49. > :25:56.temperature as low as `1 so there could be some icy patches. @ cold
:25:57. > :26:02.start tomorrow morning. Mist and fog in places. Most places will brighten
:26:03. > :26:07.up through the day and the dry. You south of the region into thd veil of
:26:08. > :26:11.your will see be mist and frost lifting into low cloud which could
:26:12. > :26:18.linger through the day. Highs of around seven Celsius and thd winds
:26:19. > :26:22.will be fairly light as well. As we head through the next few d`ys there
:26:23. > :26:28.will be dry and bright weather for Cumbria. Maybe some wintry showers
:26:29. > :26:35.on Saturday night but by thd AV and mind of dry weather, staying cool
:26:36. > :26:40.with the risk of overnight frosts. Mostly dry through the day on
:26:41. > :26:46.Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the north`east. Temperatures seven or
:26:47. > :26:52.eight Celsius at the very bdst. The wind lighter than recently. Keep
:26:53. > :26:58.your February wedding pictures coming and remember to check out our
:26:59. > :27:06.gallery on the Facebook pagd which we will put online tomorrow. That is
:27:07. > :27:15.the way the weather is lookhng tonight. Not too bad at all. Now for
:27:16. > :27:19.a last look at the headlines: The number of people coming to live in
:27:20. > :27:23.the UK has risen significantly in the past year, driven by a dramatic
:27:24. > :27:29.increase in the number of pdople coming from other EU countrhes. A
:27:30. > :27:33.gang of men from North Yorkshire has been jailed after corning elderly
:27:34. > :27:37.and vulnerable victims out of their life savings. That is it from me.
:27:38. > :27:46.For now, goodbye.