:00:00. > :00:35.It is not just about the drtgs that have been seized. More importantly,
:00:36. > :00:36.it is about taking those men off the streets.
:00:37. > :00:38.Also tonight, the men who t`rgeted the elderly, claiming
:00:39. > :00:41.their homes were at risk of flooding and needed expensive repair work.
:00:42. > :00:45.The families of John Alder `nd Liam Sweeney thank Sunderland fans
:00:46. > :00:48.And we're with the sportsmen and women of Berwick for
:00:49. > :00:51.the final leg of our Border trail, ahead of that Scottish question
:00:52. > :00:53.In football, Newcastle and Sunderland both go
:00:54. > :00:56.looking for their first Premier League win of the sdason.
:00:57. > :00:58.But the champagne's flowing for Yorkshire's cricketers.
:00:59. > :01:16.County Champions again, for the first time in 13 ye`rs.
:01:17. > :01:20.They were described as icons of the criminal underworld, untouchables.
:01:21. > :01:25.They had links to major org`nised crime groups through the UK and ran
:01:26. > :01:30.But they were arrested after detectives discovered heroin
:01:31. > :01:34.and amphetamine with a street value of ?55 million
:01:35. > :01:40.Led by 49`year`old Michael Watts from Jarrow,
:01:41. > :01:43.the gang of nine smuggled the drugs from Belgium and Holland
:01:44. > :01:52.This afternoon, the men werd men sentenced to 60 years in prhson
:01:53. > :01:55.In tonight's Look North report, Stuart Whincup has the
:01:56. > :01:59.inside story on the region?s biggest ever drugs seizure.
:02:00. > :02:03.This is what ?55 million worth of drugs looks like.
:02:04. > :02:06.It was, as one detective put it like the hauls you see
:02:07. > :02:11.But it was found here in thd North East.
:02:12. > :02:14.And this was the breakthrough moment.
:02:15. > :02:17.Arriving in his white Porsche is the gang's leader, Michael Watts.
:02:18. > :02:21.He's about to put ?320,000 pounds in cash into a friend?s car,
:02:22. > :02:30.a car which is about to be stopped by the police.
:02:31. > :02:36.The individuals we are speaking about our iconic criminal
:02:37. > :02:42.individuals, well`placed within the criminal fraternity, so this message
:02:43. > :02:46.tells people that we are here and we are looking at you. You could be
:02:47. > :02:48.next. Look after your shoulder. `` look over.
:02:49. > :02:51.But to many not in that crilinal world, Michael Watts seemed
:02:52. > :02:54.He claimed to run a charitable retreat for veterans.
:02:55. > :02:57.But he and his right`hand m`n Neal Hoban from Stockton were
:02:58. > :03:03.in fact running the entire criminal operation.
:03:04. > :03:11.They worked with other organised crime groups, bringing the drugs in
:03:12. > :03:15.from Europe and supplying pdople across the UK. They had the unique
:03:16. > :03:21.way of smuggling heroin and amphetamine into the UK. Thdy filled
:03:22. > :03:29.the van with cheap second`h`nd furniture they said they were going
:03:30. > :03:33.to sell but whilst in Europd, they filled the furniture with drugs and
:03:34. > :03:40.then sealed them up. To beat border control, they got a legitim`te
:03:41. > :03:45.company to bring it into thd UK The beauty of the plan was that the gang
:03:46. > :03:52.never had to transport their drugs. They hired this centre here in
:03:53. > :03:59.Thirsk and it became a distribution centre for drugs. Boxes werd piled
:04:00. > :04:08.everywhere, the trappings of the good life. They also found Lichael
:04:09. > :04:16.Watts's diary during another search which had details of every delivery
:04:17. > :04:22.and purchase he had made, adding up to ?7 million in just one ydar. It
:04:23. > :04:29.is not just the amount of drugs that have been seized. More importantly,
:04:30. > :04:35.it is about the players who have been taken out. The impact of that
:04:36. > :04:38.in terms of drugs getting into our community is significant. The nine
:04:39. > :04:44.men from the north`east, Nottingham and Northampton were sentenced to a
:04:45. > :04:47.total of 60 years for their role in running an organised and
:04:48. > :04:51.sophisticated drugs operation which meant `` made millions of pounds
:04:52. > :04:56.operating throughout the UK and Europe.
:04:57. > :05:03.Stewart is with me now. This was a huge hall. Detectives obviotsly
:05:04. > :05:08.believe this sends out a message? They say they are criticised for
:05:09. > :05:15.never catching the Mr Biggs, knocking down small doors btt not
:05:16. > :05:21.catching the big people. Thdse were major players with links across
:05:22. > :05:26.Europe. The sad reality is that these figures we are talking about,
:05:27. > :05:31.with this gang now in jail, there will be plenty of others looking to
:05:32. > :05:34.take their place. Thank you very much.
:05:35. > :05:36.Three men who conned elderlx victims across Teesside,
:05:37. > :05:39.County Durham and North Yorkshire into having unnecessary work done
:05:40. > :05:43.on their homes have been jahled for a total of seven years.
:05:44. > :05:45.Gary Russell, Dean Thoms and Aaron Hylton offered to watdrproof
:05:46. > :05:53.Victims were charged up to ?28,000 for this work.
:05:54. > :06:00.Adrian Pitches reports from Durham Crown Court.
:06:01. > :06:10.The gang targeted elderly, vulnerable victims with thehr con,
:06:11. > :06:17.offering to paint with a spdcial paint from Norway which provided a
:06:18. > :06:22.protective waterproof seal. But the work was unnecessary, sharply down
:06:23. > :06:27.and caused damage to the victims properties. They charged
:06:28. > :06:32.extortionate prices. The al`rm was raised by two genuine builddrs who
:06:33. > :06:38.took the `` who saw the crile taking place. If it hadn't been for these
:06:39. > :06:49.men who alerted the police, that allowed us to stop the vehicle and
:06:50. > :06:58.recover a number of bills from over the previous year which led us to be
:06:59. > :07:03.able to bring this case to court. In one case, an elderly victim had
:07:04. > :07:08.taken four days medication hn one oh and had to be hospitalised because
:07:09. > :07:11.of this. 292`year`old twins had to move into sheltered accommodation
:07:12. > :07:18.because they felt safer there in future. They were very convhncing.
:07:19. > :07:23.They told me the bricks werd a bit flaky. They also told me thd water
:07:24. > :07:30.would get through, that it needed waterproofing. I lost sever`l
:07:31. > :07:36.thousand pounds. I was done. It was just a great big con. Sentencing the
:07:37. > :07:40.gang, the judge described their crime is a devastating betr`yal of
:07:41. > :07:43.elderly people who suffered confusion and a loss of
:07:44. > :07:49.self`respect. He sentenced the ringleader to three years, six
:07:50. > :07:58.months in prison, with the other two receiving three years two months in
:07:59. > :08:01.prison and one 15 months, btt suspended for two years.
:08:02. > :08:03.A 22`year`old man's been arrested on suspicion of murder
:08:04. > :08:06.after a man's body was found in a field in County Durham.
:08:07. > :08:09.The body of the 42`year`old was found by police around one o'clock
:08:10. > :08:12.this morning in a field at the top of Cumberland Terrace in Willington.
:08:13. > :08:14.Friends of Jordan Roberts are gathering this evening to lhght
:08:15. > :08:19.The 17`year`old died after getting into difficulties in the River Wear
:08:20. > :08:22.on Monday while playing with his brother and a friend in the water
:08:23. > :08:31.His brother Callum is recovdring in hospital.
:08:32. > :08:37.His mother has said everyond who knew Jordan, who had set brothers
:08:38. > :08:41.and sisters, is completely devastated. `` who had seven mothers
:08:42. > :08:44.and sisters. A man's has been arrested
:08:45. > :08:46.by police investigating a suspected rape near Workington
:08:47. > :08:48.in West Cumbria early this lorning. An 18 year`old woman says she got
:08:49. > :08:52.into a taxi outside the Well pub on Jane Street before being driven
:08:53. > :08:57.to two lay`bys and attacked. Rivals on the pitch but united
:08:58. > :09:00.in sadness off the pitch. Such was the outpouring
:09:01. > :09:02.of grief from Sunderland fans following the deaths of Newcastle
:09:03. > :09:05.supporters Liam Sweeney and John Alder, who died onboard Mal`ysian
:09:06. > :09:08.Airlines flight MH17, which was shot Well, this weekend, the famhlies of
:09:09. > :09:14.the two men are going to thd Stadium of Light for tomorrow's homd game to
:09:15. > :09:32.say thanks to Black Cats fans. As Dutch investigators concdde that
:09:33. > :09:35.whoever killed the 298 people on MH17 may never be brought to
:09:36. > :09:41.justice, here in north`east England and old`age football rivalrx
:09:42. > :09:45.continues to be set aside in memory of the victims. The families of the
:09:46. > :09:51.men will be welcomed as guests of honour at the Stadium of Light
:09:52. > :09:54.tomorrow for the game against Spurs. This tragedy has brought thd
:09:55. > :10:01.north`east together. Obviously we would love to bring them back but it
:10:02. > :10:06.is incredible. We have had ` rivalry of more than 100 years, 200 or 00
:10:07. > :10:11.years, but we have come togdther and it is really, really nice what the
:10:12. > :10:15.fans have done. You are going to the match tomorrow. What will it be like
:10:16. > :10:24.going to the archrivals ladx is to map very strange but I know they
:10:25. > :10:35.will put on a good show and likewise we will be very respectful. I am
:10:36. > :10:38.quite looking forward to it. Liam Sweeney's grandfather doesn't expect
:10:39. > :10:43.every Sunderland fan to be completely welcoming but he is not
:10:44. > :10:47.expecting anybody to spoil the day. I don't think anyone will show any
:10:48. > :10:54.disrespect at all. I rather think the people around them would say,
:10:55. > :10:58.this is not on, and we will be well treated, well respected. Thd
:10:59. > :11:03.Sunderland fan which started the campaign of support which h`s now
:11:04. > :11:10.raised ?33,000 believes this will leave a lasting legacy. The amount
:11:11. > :11:13.of Newcastle fans who came tp and said they fill this will ch`nge
:11:14. > :11:22.people 's attitude, especially in the Derby, is great. I am stre it
:11:23. > :11:23.will. It will carry on, not just for the next one or two but it will
:11:24. > :11:30.carry on for a long time. There are just six days to go
:11:31. > :11:33.until the vote that could change The Scottish independence
:11:34. > :11:36.referendum is next Thursday. All this week on Look North,
:11:37. > :11:38.our Political Correspondent Mark Denten has been on a Border Trail
:11:39. > :11:54.and he finishes tonight in You are there not just becatse it is
:11:55. > :11:57.a beer festival, Mark? It is the food and beer festival in
:11:58. > :12:02.Berwick`upon`Tweed, Carol, `nd as you can imagine, the main topics of
:12:03. > :12:05.conversation here are perhaps not the Scottish referendum but food and
:12:06. > :12:12.beer. The issue is lurking beneath the surface by, with a lot of cross
:12:13. > :12:17.border trading. This lady is from Scotland, selling delicious ice
:12:18. > :12:21.cream. Let me introduce you to Sarah MacPherson who also has a btsiness.
:12:22. > :12:28.You are from Berwick but yot do a lot of cross border trade? We are
:12:29. > :12:32.mostly based around Edinburgh. At the festival, the farmers m`rket,
:12:33. > :12:36.things like that. This is a real cross`border event because lany
:12:37. > :12:41.people come from Newcastle `nd Edinburgh to get here. How do you
:12:42. > :12:48.feel about the referee `` the referendum as a Scot? I just worry
:12:49. > :12:52.that we will feel very left out that the border will be the border
:12:53. > :12:58.and that we will becoming gtess and not so welcome in Scotland.
:12:59. > :13:20.Hopefully that won't happen. I have been here all day finding ott how
:13:21. > :13:24.people... Shield Field Park, home of Berwick Rangers, and as any football
:13:25. > :13:32.anorak will tell you, it is a bit of a cross`border mix here. Now then,
:13:33. > :13:36.my shoot football annual from 1 74 told me that although Berwick
:13:37. > :13:43.Rangers ground is here in England, they play in Scottish leagud two.
:13:44. > :13:47.Yes, fascinating. Just faschnating. But what would a Scottish rdferendum
:13:48. > :13:54.yes to independence mean for this club with one foot in England and
:13:55. > :14:01.one in Scotland? Going way back into the late 1800, the club had flitted
:14:02. > :14:06.beneath `` between Scottish and north`eastern leagues. This club say
:14:07. > :14:14.things should continue pretty much the way they are but then, dven
:14:15. > :14:18.under an independent Scotland. Structurally, we are a Scottish club
:14:19. > :14:24.playing in England. In football terms, we are already in a foreign
:14:25. > :14:27.country. The Scottish and English FA 's operate completely indepdndently
:14:28. > :14:33.of each other. We are very luch full members of the Scottish sidd of the
:14:34. > :14:39.border. If we have a youngster from Berwick Rangers, they have to go
:14:40. > :14:45.through an international tr`nsfer to play for England. But here hs
:14:46. > :14:51.another Berwick team, the local bowls club. They also play hn a
:14:52. > :14:58.Scottish league but don't bd full by the picture of calm here. They are
:14:59. > :15:05.worried about the future. Wd might have Doully the Scottish Bowling
:15:06. > :15:09.Association and appeal to the English Bowling Association to play
:15:10. > :15:15.our bowls. We could be thrown out. I wouldn't want to see it bec`use you
:15:16. > :15:23.build up a great friendship with people over the border, you know?
:15:24. > :15:25.That is the reaction from the sporting community here in
:15:26. > :15:32.Berwick`upon`Tweed and we h`ve had a lot of great reaction on social
:15:33. > :15:38.media from our border 12 `` our border Trail. Pamela e`maildd
:15:39. > :16:14.through saying, I love Scotland and its people:
:16:15. > :16:23.There is a thought. Perhaps another) dim `` perhaps another referendum?
:16:24. > :16:28.It has been a long week, so probably are have one of these now. Laybe the
:16:29. > :16:33.cameraman would like one as well? There you go. Back to you. Don't let
:16:34. > :16:37.us interrupted guys! And the MP for Berwick, Sir Alan
:16:38. > :16:40.Beith, will be among the gudsts That's Sunday morning at 11`m on BBC
:16:41. > :16:45.one. Now,
:16:46. > :16:46.you may remember Scott Ruthdrford After their own son tragically died
:16:47. > :16:51.from a brain tumour, Well, now the 20`year`old from
:16:52. > :16:55.North Shields is being flown to Canada for a meeting between
:16:56. > :17:11.families and the organ recipients. He will also meet the sister of his
:17:12. > :17:15.donor for the first time. I know this could be quite big and there
:17:16. > :17:19.could be cameras and media `nd there is a cocktail party we are `ttending
:17:20. > :17:24.and I know the meeting of md and Julie will be filmed and th`t will
:17:25. > :17:29.no doubt be emotional, seeing my crying face all over the television
:17:30. > :17:32.again but I am quite excited about it because it will raise more
:17:33. > :17:36.awareness for organ donation, more awareness for the hospital. We will
:17:37. > :17:38.have a full report on it. A spectacular collection
:17:39. > :17:40.of vintage wedding dresses, spanning 100 years, have bedn
:17:41. > :17:51.brought together for a spechal From the Victorian era to the great
:17:52. > :17:53.depression, it is all taking place at a village church in Corbridge
:17:54. > :18:09.this weekend. From 18821980, elegantly displayed
:18:10. > :18:14.50 wedding dresses, each with their 50 wedding dresses, each with their
:18:15. > :18:18.own story. But it is an exhhbition with a twist. Models will bd
:18:19. > :18:24.strutting their stuff down the aisle in a live vintage catwalk. H want
:18:25. > :18:29.people to see what they looked like on and they are very frail, some of
:18:30. > :18:33.the dresses. Some of them are worse for wear but they are of thdir
:18:34. > :18:39.time, they are as they are `nd I explain that to people. It hs nice
:18:40. > :18:45.to see them being worn. Also being displayed are accessories from the
:18:46. > :18:48.same eras, with outfits worn by bridesmaids and the mother of the
:18:49. > :18:54.bride as well. It is all to raise money for the children's liver
:18:55. > :19:00.foundation after Gabby's door to was diagnosed with problems and tumours
:19:01. > :19:04.when she was very young. After she was given the all clear, I thought I
:19:05. > :19:09.would like to raise money bdcause our family was lucky but others are
:19:10. > :19:16.not. The dresses are on display until Sunday evening.
:19:17. > :19:20.They look beautiful. Jeff, xou are starting with cricket tonight?
:19:21. > :19:22.Great celebrations at Trent Bridge today, as Yorkshire's crickdters
:19:23. > :19:25.clinched their first County Championship title in 13 ye`rs.
:19:26. > :19:27.They'd gone into the final day of their game with their closest
:19:28. > :19:30.rivals, Nottinghamshire, nedding just five more wickets to whn the
:19:31. > :19:33.match by an innings and be crowned champs with a game to spare.
:19:34. > :19:36.And it was fitting that forler Notts fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom should
:19:37. > :19:38.wrap things up with his sixth victim of the innhngs
:19:39. > :19:41.his ninth of the match, to take the trophy back to Headingldy
:19:42. > :19:45.Famous old umpire Dickie Bird, the club president, among the
:19:46. > :19:48.Yorkshire fans who saw Joe Root do the honours and led the teal in the
:19:49. > :19:54.Yorkshire have been head and shoulders above the rest of the pack
:19:55. > :19:57.this season and for their stpporters it was a day to remember.
:19:58. > :20:10.It has been absolutely fant`stic. I was on the first train from Leeds
:20:11. > :20:18.this morning. Did you enjoy that? Thoroughly. Worth the trip to see
:20:19. > :20:23.them lift the trophy. This hs my special day out for our wedding
:20:24. > :20:26.anniversary. It has been a long wait. I missed it last time, I was
:20:27. > :20:27.pleased to be here today. And the good news for Durhal fans is
:20:28. > :20:31.that last year's champions `re safe from any relegation worries, after
:20:32. > :20:34.wrapping up a 141`run victory over Middlesex at Lord's, with rhvals
:20:35. > :20:37.Lancashire also losing to Stssex. Onto football and the Premidr League
:20:38. > :20:40.is back tomorrow after a wedk And there's a bit of heat
:20:41. > :20:44.on both our teams who are still looking for their first League win
:20:45. > :20:46.of the season. Sunderland are at home to Spurs
:20:47. > :20:49.while Newcastle boss Alan P`rdew could do without a repeat of last
:20:50. > :21:02.year's result at Southampton. That 4`0 beating at St Mary 's
:21:03. > :21:08.fuelled the fire for those lagpies fans who wanted to see a ch`nge of
:21:09. > :21:12.manager. Since the turn of the year, Newcastle 's fortunes have not been
:21:13. > :21:18.good. I'm afraid it's part `nd parcel of the Premier leagud. We
:21:19. > :21:22.have not won a game yet and the pressure is on the managers who have
:21:23. > :21:26.were not good enough at the back end were not good enough at the back end
:21:27. > :21:30.of last year but I think we are good enough this year. If we had won
:21:31. > :21:33.against Crystal Palace, a lot of this would not be being spoken about
:21:34. > :21:37.but we conceded in the last minute and that is where you are in
:21:38. > :21:41.football. Things change verx quickly. We have got a lot of new
:21:42. > :21:47.players and they are going to need a little bit of time. I am hoping that
:21:48. > :21:52.we kick in pretty quickly btt if we don't, we will have to be p`tient.
:21:53. > :21:58.Sunderland fans are also wahting for their first three points of the
:21:59. > :22:04.season, after a disappointing defeat to QPR last time out. Maybe their
:22:05. > :22:10.smile on their managers facd? I am smile on their managers facd? I am
:22:11. > :22:16.trying to concentrate on wh`t I have got. I cannot bring in any one house
:22:17. > :22:24.apart from a free player but the chance of that is very small. We
:22:25. > :22:29.have a small squad, just a little bit under the normal size, but that
:22:30. > :22:39.is where we are. I am not the kind of person who is going to cry and
:22:40. > :22:41.complain and moan. I am all right. I hope that we can win games. That is
:22:42. > :22:43.most important. And Newcastle issued
:22:44. > :22:45.a statement today saying owner At least,
:22:46. > :22:48.not before the end of next season. Elsewhere, tomorrow,
:22:49. > :22:50.Middlesbrough are away at In League Two, York go to Btrton,
:22:51. > :22:55.managerless Carlisle host Btry, and In Scottish League Two,
:22:56. > :23:00.Berwick travel to bottom cltb Coverage of all those games
:23:01. > :23:06.on your BBC local radio station In rugby union,
:23:07. > :23:08.Newcastle Falcons will play their first Premiership on their
:23:09. > :23:10.new artificial pitch this Stnday, Both sides lost
:23:11. > :23:16.their opening matches last weekend. In fact, the Falcons haven't won
:23:17. > :23:19.a Premiership game since thdy beat An opening day defeat to Lehcester
:23:20. > :23:25.game at Welford Road last wdek may not have told the whole story
:23:26. > :23:28.but it means Dean Richards side have now lost their last 17 Premhership
:23:29. > :23:30.matches. A new season brings new hopd though
:23:31. > :23:33.and victory on Sunday would be a big positive ahead of next weekdnd's
:23:34. > :23:46.game against champions, Northampton. It would be lovely, actuallx, and
:23:47. > :23:49.London Irish RE team but if we play as well as we did last week, we have
:23:50. > :23:53.every chance of beating thel. They will come up here with everx
:23:54. > :23:56.intention of playing and thdy have the players to do that, say we are
:23:57. > :23:58.not going to be complacent. INTV Fans should see a diffdrent
:23:59. > :24:01.brand of rugby at Kingston Park this season, the new artificial pitch
:24:02. > :24:04.allowing for a faster, more free`flowing game and vital
:24:05. > :24:09.consistency during the wintdr. So how much
:24:10. > :24:19.of an advantage will it be? I think it will give us a bht of an
:24:20. > :24:24.advantage but we can't rely on the field to get us wince by it self. It
:24:25. > :24:28.relies on us playing well and making the best of it.
:24:29. > :24:30.And talking of making the most of the new pitch,
:24:31. > :24:32.Gateshead Thunder's match whll follow the Falcons in their rugby
:24:33. > :24:49.Now, we were all set for a nice weekend, went weak, and then Paul
:24:50. > :24:52.went and burst our bubbles? I'm afraid it's not all straightforward.
:24:53. > :25:01.We have had some moody weather pictures lately. Gordon Lightburn
:25:02. > :25:05.was up early to take this one. Gavin Parr was up on the banks of the
:25:06. > :25:09.River Tyne looking copywritdr is the son tried to burn its way through
:25:10. > :25:15.the morning mist. For the wdekend, it will stay mostly dry in the short
:25:16. > :25:18.term, so Saturday is looking fine and dry. Sunday, more clout with a
:25:19. > :25:25.bit of a breeze picking up `nd maybe the odd spot of drizzle herd and
:25:26. > :25:30.there. The high pressure is still in charge, feeding in a light dasterly
:25:31. > :25:33.wind at the moment. As we h`d through the weekend, the isobars
:25:34. > :25:41.become closer together, indhcating the breeze picking up, with the
:25:42. > :25:47.easterly breeze picking up `nd blowing in a bit more clout. We see
:25:48. > :25:50.some mist and fog reforming overnight and temperatures down to
:25:51. > :25:57.single focus `` single figures as well. It might be worth checking out
:25:58. > :26:05.whether the Northern lights are visible tonight. Tomorrow, the early
:26:06. > :26:10.mist lifts and clears and I think there will be lots and lots of
:26:11. > :26:15.sunshine. Most places will see sunshine, with temperatures broadly
:26:16. > :26:22.as they are today. Most places in the high teens, maybe just charging
:26:23. > :26:26.20 Celsius `` nudging 20 Celsius. If you are out and about over the
:26:27. > :26:31.weekend, some bright spots tomorrow with temperatures up to 20. More
:26:32. > :26:34.clout on Sunday, pegging thd temperatures back ever so slightly
:26:35. > :26:39.and that cloud may just be the cannot for a spot or two of
:26:40. > :26:46.drizzle, mostly over the eastern parts of the Pennines, the North
:26:47. > :26:51.York Moors, the GB at, thosd areas. As we head into next week, the
:26:52. > :26:56.Pennines will probably stay dry but Pennines will probably stay dry but
:26:57. > :27:00.the risk of showers in eastdrn parts for Monday and Tuesday. We will keep
:27:01. > :27:05.you up`to`date on the free BBC weather out. So we might sed some
:27:06. > :27:10.Northern lights on our drivd home tonight after the late show? That is
:27:11. > :27:13.something to look forward to. Good night.