19/06/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Janet Brown's body hasn't bden found, but today, her former lover

Virgin Rail promises improvdments for passengers

as it agrees a three`year ddal to run the West Coast franchisd.

The former Newcastle United skipper speaks exclusively

about the shock of discoverhng he had cancer for the second thme.

And a treasure trove goes under the hammer.

A charity auction for the possessions Metro p`ssengers

And we will be live with thd England fans ahead of their crucial class

tonight against Uruguay. `` clash. He murdered his lover and then spent

her money on his lavish lifdstyle. Tonight, killer Don Graham has

finally been brought to justice nine years after the woman he'd

claimed to love vanished. Janet Brown,

from Hexham in Northumberland, had planned a holiday with Graham,

but was never seen again. Yet, one mystery remains,

because the police still have no Our correspondent Peter Harris

reports. It was the murder case without

a body. Janet Brown booked a holidax to

France with her lover and then Today

a jury decided he murdered Janet, hid the body ` the motive...her

money. Don Graham went

on to spend hundreds of thotsands of pounds of Janet's money `nd in

the years that followed, he fleeced They had continued to believe that

their daughter was still alhve They believed that because Graham

took trips across the Channdl and sent them postcards,

purportedly from Janet. It was all a lie. Graham kept

spending, indulging a taste Years later a search

for her body began at Spartx Lea, As the fraud on the Brown's family

bank account came to light, archaeologists and the National

Crime Squad were brought in. This has been a long`running,

complex investigation with lany Not least that Graham has ndver

told us where Janet's body hs. The final piece

of the jigsaw would be for Graham to tell us what happened to Janet so

that her family can finally have the He is extremely devious

and he has managed to control, particularly women,

in order to succeed in his crime. By the time Janet vanished,

he had fallen in love with `nother woman, Elizabeth Todd,

here on the right on the phone. She was accused in taking p`rt

in the fraud and perverting The jury failed to reach

a verdict on her. As for Don Graham,

the police say he is a manipulative bully, especially towards women

and he will be sentenced tolorrow. Peter, a murder conviction,

but no body. Is the case closed,

or are police still looking And, it is difficult becausd Janet

went missing in 2005. It was another four years before this becale

suspicious, not least because Don Graham had called the familx that he

had started this new life in France. The police have no obvious leads as

to where the body of Janet Dllis. Don Graham is the only man who knows

because he counter and that is why the police are appealing to Don

Graham to come clean and give the family of Janet Brown some closure.

Virgin Trains is promising improvements to the West Co`st line,

after being granted an extension to run the service

The company says it'll invest ? 5 million and promises thousands more

seats, free Wi`Fi, and improved parking at Carlisle.

Virgin had previously lost out to FirstGroup in the battle

for the 13`year franchise, but that was cancelled by the

Department for Transport, bdcause of errors in the bidding process.

Errors which it's claimed h`ve cost the taxpayer ?50 million.

Two years ago the franchise process descended

into farce when the Departmdnt for Transport awarded the 13`year

franchise to FirstGroup then found out it had got its figures wrong.

Today's announcement extends Virgin's contract to the Spring

We would very much like to continue running this beyond 2017, wd believe

we have done a good job and we have done this franchise around. We want

to continue running it but ht will depend deterrence that the

government puts up for revidw. `` the Terence. `` the Terence.

Rail unions have said the whole franchise process needs to

be scrapped and the line renationalised.

Lots of money has been wastdd. In terms of what it costs, let us have

a debate instead of listening to the buzzwords.

Over the last year, 85% of its trains were

So what does the public think of the extension to Virgin's contract?

It is probably good, but thdy could do with some improvements. @

friendly service on board and reasonable prices. Generallx very

good and on time. If you do not put a seat it can be overcrowded and you

do not get a safe space. FirstGroup `

the company which originallx won then lost the 13`year contr`ct `

has said that it won't rule out taking part in the franchisd process

when the current extension dnds Until then Virgin has pledgdd to

provide an extra 5,500 standard class seats, while investing

?20million to modernise stations I think some of the things that have

been promised as improvements are things that are essential, things to

do with the seating, increasing the number of seats in standing class is

very good news. The concern that we have is that appears to be `t the

sense of some of the first`class seats, that may sound decaddnt, it

is not. We cater for a lot of businesses and the PE premitm for

those seats. We need them to do so. This is not a franchise, thhs is an

extension of the existing operators who continue to 2016 when it will be

more competition. The Government has dismissed claims

that it's flying in the facd of its competition philosophy

by delaying the franchise, insisting this was a good ddal

for passengers and taxpayers. Adam Powell, for BBC Look North

Carlisle. A man's been convicted of mtrdering

his friend ` in a row over drugs and money ` at a house in Carlisle, last

July. A jury at Carlisle Crown Court found 21`year`old Jamie Armstrong

guilty of stabbing 23`year`old Luke Hollingsworth, in the Stanwhx area

of the city. Armstrong denidd Police are looking at CCTV footage

to try to discover how a five`year`old girl from County

Durham came to drown in a swimming pool at a holiday resort in Cyprus.

It's understood the incident happened on the day she and her

family had arrived for a wedk's holiday in Protaras. A spokdsman for

the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it's providing consular

assistance to the family. Two young women patients `

on an eating disorder ward, threatened with closure `

are taking their health trust They say the decision to close

the unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle is

"unlawful", claiming there's been "inadequate" consultation whth

patients and their families. Only one inpatient eating dhsorder

unit will remain in the North East ` And if the beds there are ftll,

patients can be sent to Yorkshire Eating disorders are mental

illnesses, but they have life`threatening physical

consequences. A ten bed ward at this unit is award`winning and hdr save

lives. It is being closed in favour of the regional unit in Darlington.

Patients are taking action to try to halt the closure. The best outcome

as far as the digital review is concerned is that the court should

declare that the decision to close the war is unlawful over lack of

consultation and public involvement. We should look at the notes and go

back to the drawing board. Despite this legal challenge to the closure,

there is a political challenge, a local NT has won an adjournlent

debate in the House of Lords on Monday and that will have to be

responded to by Health Minister I want the Minister to acknowledge

this is the incorrect outcole for the people of Newcastle and the

north`east and for sufferers of mental health, I want that lessage

to get through to NHS England who has conducted this commissioning

process without enough constltation and should understand what the

impact is. The mental health trust says an intensive outpatient service

will provide an adequate replacement. What we believd is that

what the plans we have will go a long way to reducing the stress

people are currently going through without having the intensivd service

delivered to the Newcastle `rea For serious ill young women who have

brought this action forward of an inflexible NHS, there is only one in

patient their region and th`t is in Darlington. They may ever ydt save

this unit is the legal action is successful and that will be going to

a High Court judge. The jury `

at an inquest in Scarborough, to find out how two young fhshermen

died ` has returned a verdict Mark Arries, who was 26, and

21`year`old Edward Ide, werd found dead in their bunks on board the

fishing vessel "Eshcol" in January A pathologist said

the pair died from carbon monoxide The coroner has recommended that

carbon monoxide alarms should be made mandatory

on all fishing vessels. Police have renewed their appeal

for information about a woman who went misshng

in Northumberland six months ago. 65`year`old Janis Hall was reported

missing from her home in Catton Since then a number of searches

have been carried out, but there've Police say her disappearancd

is out of character. It's a form of cancer more common

in the North East than anywhere And one of the region's most famous

footballers has been telling Look Bob Moncur's career included

captaining Newcastle United's Fairs Cup`winning

team, a feat that earned hil He also skippered

Sunderland to promotion. But for him, beating cancer

probably tops all that. He's now recovering

from an 8`hour operation to remove He spoke exclusively to our

health reporter, Sharon Barbour Bob Moncur has faced a lot of

challenges. As a footballer he captains Newcastle United, Scotland

and Sunderland. He played and managed car they'll and bec`me the

manager of Hartlepool United and wept maybe. `` Whitley Bay. This

year he has had his toughest battle. He spoke to me and said that your

dad will go through a Johnnx and that is a big one `` journex. He

almost ignored me quote did not want to face that. Bobby Moncur's Johnny

began when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007.

Fortunately I had my wife bdside me. He was successfully treated and the

surgeons at Gateshead hospital noticed something else, changes to

the waning of his food pipe, a condition called Barrett's

oesophagus and that could ldad to cancer. He was sent to Newc`stle's

Royal in Tory `` Royal Victoria Infirmary, and then came thd phone

call. I was told that the professor wanted to see me and I knew that was

not good news. Is that especially for me, the red and white the?

Cancer cells had developed `nd Bob would need a massive eight`hour

operation to remove them. Bob was fortunate and Natalie picked this up

just as it developed into a cancer. Because of that, we were able to

consider him for an operation to remove the affected area whhch has

been perfected over quite a large number of centimetres. We took all

of that vote, a huge operathon. After the operation, he told me by

the way, I discovered this `nd this other thing. As classic lind was

another thing I need to tell you, and I thought what else is coming!

He said, you know how they say that you are black and white all the way

through, he said, you are not, you are at and wake, and then hd walked

out of the door. The north`dast of England has one of the highdst

incidence of obesity and thd United Kingdom and around the world. If we

have a high sense of obesitx, we will have higher reflux and that

means we will have a change and the waning of the spot `` oesophagus and

that gives rise to cancer and that is why in the North East of England

we had such high incidence of this type of cancer. Bobby Moncur is now

recovering well and it could be said that he is one of the fortunate ones

to have his cancer detected before it spread. I know I am luckx, I have

had cancer twice but I was `lways treated by the rich people. It was

found early enough. Does it mean to reflect upon how things havd gone in

your life and where you go from here? I am very positive and I think

that I am very lucky. Great to see Bobby Moncur looking so well. The

north`east has the highest rate of this cancer and the world, why is

that the case? We heard that Professor Mike Griffin speaking

their as to what he believes other reasons. Smoking and drinking are

big contributors. You are ehght times more link `` more likdly to

develop that sort of cancer if you drink and eat heavily. What should

the rest of us look out for? The thing that happened with Bob was

that he had a lot of heartbtrn and indigestion and that has

contributed. That can be worrying because what happens is that the

ballots may have hardly changed and the lining which could change that

heartburn. That is an early symptom that can be done to a waiter symptom

that could be difficulty in swallowing and that could bd because

the tumour has developed. Wd spoke to victory last year, you m`y

remember, she developed a ttmour and we got up with her and she hs now

doing very well. We have a technical problem, but I

can tell you that Victoria has had major surgery to remove that tumour

and is doing very well. Thank you very much for that, Sharon.

It was a charity auction with a difference.

The items up for grabs had `ll been left unclaimed by passengers

on the Tyne and Wear Metro system over the last few years.

And you might be surprised by what people leave behind.

In true Generation Game style, here's a sample of some of the lots:

a snooker cue, a set of bunk bed ladders, ` pair

of glasses, a cuddly toy, a guitar, a pair of crutches, and a foot spa.

Stephanie Cleasby reports from Sunderland.

What about the poems, who w`nts to start before ?1? Most of us could be

forgiven for believing an ulbrella on a train but there are far

stranger items left by forgdtful travellers on the Metro. Christmas

decorations, a set of bunk bed ladders and even people go stick,

the keen bargain hunters ard out in force this morning. I thought it

would be a bit of fun to have a look and see what is available. H noticed

the crutches and they were not selling, they will be a bit of fun

for my netball team! It is good for a broken ankle! It was five years

ago that the last auction w`s held, so there is a real treasure trove

that has built up. We have returned 15 sets of crutches to the hospital

already. We had a blind stick from a man in Australia who we are trying

to trace to send it back to him We had one wheelchair, sex babx

buggies. `` six. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to

charity. Some things will ndver sell in this city. I wonder who got the

cuddly Now if you're watching us tonight,

it's a fair bet you just can't do without

your nightly fix of Look North. Because England's crucial World Cup

game against Uruguay kicks off More than 15 million people watched

the team's last game against Italy. Defeat

by Uruguay tonight could sed England following current World Cup holders

Spain out of the competition. And as the tension mounts,

Dawn Thewlis has found a prdtty We are not at the favela in real did

you knew all you may not believe that! All these people are hoping to

be celebrating later tonight. `` Rio de Janeiro. England's play Truguay

tonight. Both sides lost thdir first games but whilst it is not ` must

win game both teams must not lose. I went into Sunderland later today to

find out more. This reverend spent most of last

season praying that the Gus Poyet's Sunderland would stay in thd Premier

League. Tonight he is backing England's but his wife is from

Uruguay and they will be sitting at the opposite ends of the sofa, it

could create a bit of tension! It always creates hassle and the

household when these types of games, long. Hopefully we will be OK. As

long as both teams play well and no one baits anyone, it will all be OK.

That is shocking, that was ` one`off from Luis Suarez. Luis Suardz will

be very important, while he not Absolutely, he is only one of the

team but he is very important. People say that Uruguay lost the

first game because they havd been denied the special spread that they

eat back home. Yes, it is a very delicious bread, the type of thing

you put on your apple pie. H do not think it would influence thd game

that much. You remain in thd minority because both of yotr own

daughters are supporting Urtguay as well. They have got to tastd defeat

at some point and the young lives. I believe England will be victorious

3`1. I think we will astound people tomorrow. Do you have any words of

encouragement for Uruguay? What did you just say? It means, or `n

Uruguay! `` come on Uruguay The man who has organised this partx is

called Charlie, what a fant`stic event. Yes, the sun is shinhng. What

is the idea behind it? We h`ve a large space year and we dechded to

put things on. We can put ctstomers and our warehouse and put the big

screen on. What do you think will happen tonight? I think this goal

will be 2`0 but I do not know who will be victorious. Can England when

this? They have to, otherwise it will be a very long summer. I think

this call will be 2`1 to England, I am feeling very optimistic. I am

going to go with England ond, Uruguay zero. I believe that Steven

Gerrard will get the winner. I think Wayne Rooney will be the hero

tonight. It is a very difficult time of year for our Scottish we`therman,

Scotland have not been at the World Cup finals since 1990, I do going to

break with tradition and support England's, remembered your children

are watching? I will tell you where my loyalties lie after I have

finished the weather. For the match tonight, it whll be

cool and cloudy. Back home, we will see is clear spells overnight. It

will be a cooler night than it has been. And the country said we cutesy

temperatures down to seven or eight Celsius. Enter tomorrow morning it

is a fine and Friday. Like today, there will not be unbroken blue side

`` blue sky and the sunshind but most of us should stay dry `nd the

code should pick up together some decent sunny spells. Temper`ture is

will be around 21 Celsius and land. For the course, it will be ` little

bit cooler, Scarborough arotnd 6 Celsius, for example. A light

onshore breeze there. High pressure stays out to the West of thd UK for

the weekend and dominates the weather for the next few daxs. We

will keep you North`Westerlx breeze around the top of that high

temperatures will never bre`k any records over the next few d`ys.

Those weather fronts should be fairly weak. It is a largelx dry

picture. For the weekend, it is looking dry for Saturday and Sunday.

Briggs and the cloud will produce higher temperatures around 09,

possibly 20 Celsius. There will also be some cloud around but ultimately

it is mostly a dire picture. I would love to see your weather pictures

for June while ABP samba bands, wildlife, whatever, send thdm to the

usual address. Did you think this lot will be as happy at quarter to

10pm tonight? He claims he hs going to support England's, do yot believe

them? You feel like you are missing out on

a really great party, don't you Right, you can turn over

for the football now, or yot can And just a word of warning `

Look North is on at 7:30pm