28/03/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

A disabled couple terrified by a night-time intruder..

Now a court makes special arrangements for them

This woman pocketed nearly ?50,000 in a holiday scam - her victims say

they've been badly let down by the justice system.

How music therapy's helping elderly people with dementia.

We try out the 12 sided ?1 coin which went into circulation today.

Brought back to life 20 years ago - how England's last working

slate mine became one of the Lake District's big

In sport - new plans for English cricket,

but will the North East be a part of it?

And the Powerchair footballers, hoping to bring the World Cup

It was a terrifying experience for disabled couple

One night last November, a drunken man broke into their home

in Chester-le-Street while they slept.

When they woke, they found Michael Lee Gray asleep

Gray later pleaded guilty to criminal damage but the couple's

disabilities meant they couldn't travel to court

But thanks to new technology - the court came to them.

Here's our News Correspondent Mark Denten.

Marie's nearly blind, Tom has cancer.

In anyone's book they are a vulnerable couple -

but this man Michael Lee Gray broke into their home in Chester Le Street

He was drunk - and then eventually fell asleep

When they woke up they found him there...but in the front room

there was something else waiting for them.

He was sick here and he had wet himself there. You must've felt your

home had been desecrated. Yes. We have had a lovely life here. We

don't want to change it. The couple's disability meant it was

impossible for them to travel to Durham Crown Court. So, the court

came to them. A temporary video link was installed

in the couple s home, so they could watch Gray

being sentenced in court, I didn't believe they could do that

sort of thing. It was great. The fact we could share it. And the

judge was speaking to us and asking things.

In a statement His Honour Judge Christopher Prince told Look North

"Following a conviction or a guilty plea it is common for victims

to provide a statement telling the court of the physical

and psychological effect an offence has had on them."

"Victims are entitled and often do attend sentence hearings to read

"In this case Mr and Mrs Dawson were unable to come to court -

It was really traumatic. It was good for them to see that justice was

done, to get closure. Mark Denten, BBC Look North,

Chester-le-Street. A jury has retired to consider

its verdict in the case of a North Yorkshire care home

accused of failing to protect Red Lodge - a retirement

home in York - is owned by the Joseph Rowntree Housing

Trust. The case follows the death

of an elderly resident in 2011 - who committed suicide by jumping

from an upstairs window. A Northumberland middle school,

threatened with closure, Last month we reported how

parents were fighting to save Belford Middle School,

after Church of England governors said falling pupil numbers

would make it "unsustainable" after September this year.Now

the governors have written a letter telling parents they'll investigate

other options - but still warn that recruiting staff will be

"particularly difficult". Northumbria Police has criticised

plans for 3,000 people to float down the River Tyne

on inflatables while drinking beer. The event's been publicised

on social media and is planned for July 1st -

ending at the Quayside. Organisers claim it's

based on a Finnish event. The police say the Tyne

has a strong current, they're concerned about safety

and they will speak Victims of a holiday scam run

by a South Shields woman say they've been let down by the justice system

after she escaped with a two year suspended prison sentence

because she had a baby. Ashleigh Turbitt pocketed nearly

?50,000 from families with the promise of cheap

holidays to Disneyland. Sharuna Sagar has been to meet

one angry grandmother It's been a difficult few

years for Hilda Clayton. She's nursed both her ill

parents till their deaths and then she nearly lost one

of her grandchildren. Me grandson was in

Freeman's hospital. He had a heart operation. We decided

to book a holiday. He couldn't get on a flight for his whole condition.

People were trying to celebrate and before they knew it, there were 17

going. And so a dream trip to Disney Land

in Paris was booked. And everything was perfect right up

until the night before The children were packed and ready

to go and had their money in their purses. We had an early morning, so

we had an early night. And then we just found out it wasn't happening,

they would absolutely devastated. It turned out that nothing had been

booked and the whole The woman behind it was

Ashleigh Turbitt from South Shields. She looked like a genuine person to

me, she was with her husband and children on day trips that they had

booked and she seemed like a lovely person to me. I had no inkling

whatsoever. And Turbitt admitted pocketing

?46,000 of their money but she was spared jail

because the judge didn't It's not about the money, I have

forgotten about that now. I feel more angry that she is getting away

with it. People have been sent to jail for less than what she has

done. Was the judge thinking about our children? I don't think so. She

is getting away with this scot-free. What she has done is wrong.

The Governor of Durham Prison has rejected criticism

of the way the jail treats mentally ill prisoners.

The Prison Independent Monitoring Board's annual inspection said

the issue of mentally ill patients waiting for treatment had been

"brushed under the carpet" but the Governor says he's managing

It's about the delays in transfers from the prison, from the prison

We have always had to manage that process but the care that the men

receive from the mental health team in the prison is of

York Minster has confirmed that the bells WILL ring

The original team of thirty volunteers were sacked last October

Since then the bells have only been rung a handful

of times by volunteers from across Yorkshire.

Staying safe when sleeping rough is a challenge people

After being attacked when sleeping in a park one night,

a former homeless man from Wearside has spoken of the very unusual

He told us about his experience as part of a series of films this

week about young people in Sunderland - online

This is a film made by Paul Brown for our Facebook page.

I have slept in random places but this is the most random one...

As part of this project, tomorrow we'll be live on Facebook

from Sunderland with a group of young people to discuss their

You can watch by heading to our Facebook page straight

after our lunch time bulletin at 1.45pm.

Wildlife experts are on board the DFDS ferry King Seaways

on the lookout for whales, porpoises and dolphins.

Survey teams from the charity Orca will be joining passengers

travelling from North Shields to the Netherlands as part

of their annual survey to keep track of marine mammals.

The campaign's being backed by TV wildlife presenter

They have regular sightings of harbour porpoises,

of white-beaked dolphins, of minke whales.

I mean, obviously it's not guaranteed, but if you're lucky

you're going to see some of those creatures.

I think people do think of whales in particular as an exotic animal

and yet you regularly see them around our coastline.

Elderly residents living with dementia are being given music

therapy by a care worker with a difference.

Samantha Holden is Activities Co-ordinator at Reuben Manor

in Stockton, but she also happens to be a successful singer,

specialising in retro and wartime songs.

The benefits of her sessions are proving so successful,

the company behind the care home is hiring dedicated

Music Therapists. Phil Chapman has more.

# But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.

Just a few lines of a nostalgic song can transport residents back in time

which can in turn have a huge positive impact on their lives now.

You see them light up and it is like a mini miracle.

One day somebody can't remember who they are or where

they are and you play a song that they remember, and they

It is such a wonderful experience to see and why

Brings back memories of when I was a schoolgirl during the war.

I was at the Middlesbrough high school and these

It is marvellous and a wonderful thing to be doing and I'm sure

Now this power of music to spark feelings and

Now this power of music to spark feelings and memories will be

The hope is to spread this out right across the homes and we will be

getting it throughout North Yorkshire and the homes

will be taking this on and we are all going to have our own music

therapists we can have on hand which is wonderful news.

You're watching Tuesday's Look North.

Still to come, tonight's sport news with Jeff Brown.

Also, we visit the Honister slate mine in Cumbria -

20 years after it was brought back to life.

And some good old-fashioned Cumbrian rain. It won't stay dry east of the

Pennines either. More later. So have you got your hands

on the new ?1 coin yet? It went into circulation this

morning when it was available in two places in our region -

a bank in Newcastle Jonathan Swingler's taken

the new 12-sided coin onto the streets to see what people

make of it and to try it out They've only been open for less

than an hour and they have given out 1000 coins so far and we are limited

to five each. I've come into town to get a pound

coin for my little boy. Today's his birthday,

so I thought it would be a nice keepsake for him to have,

when it's obviously just Work has been going on to

ensuring they are accepted We have spent four or five

months developing the new coin slot and then

going round of the 224 ticket machines across the Metro system

to ensure everyone We then tried a council

parking meter in Newcastle. So, this is our first test, is it

going to work? They actually look pretty all right.

They're all right? I don't think, just nice

and shiny, what can I say? They're like the threepenny bits

except they've got the You'll have to get rid

of your other ones I know, I've got

quite a few as well. Yeah, well, the old ones,

there's that many dud ones Fake ones?

Yeah. Right, snack time,

is it going to work? I want a chocolate

bar, shove that in... Right, second attempt,

let's keep going. Sometimes happens, doesn't it?

No. I'll try a different

one, I've got a few. I'm not panicking, I'm hungry but

I'm not panicking. So, I wanted a chocolate bar and

it's definitely not working. The Royal Mint says it's the most

secure coin in the world because it will be very

difficult to forge. The new pound coin that helps you on

a diet as well! England's last working slate mine -

in the heart of the Lake District - is celebrating 20 years

of production since it was Honister Slate Mine is now

a big tourist attraction, and is famed for its Via Ferrata -

a reinforced path that runs up the side of the fell

and allows climbers access Now the owners say they're working

on plans to bring new jobs and even They have been digging slate from

this mind since Roman times. Huge caverns have been carved out by

hand. Getting on site can be a challenge. This is really hard work.

It is very low because they would never stand up straight, always

pushing a bogey. I bet there are millions been a long here pushing

the boat keys out. Absolutely fantastic. Inside, it is silent and

also to behold. We're right under Fleetwood Pike at the moment. This

goes on for seven or eight miles. All talk out by hand. Amazing. I

know the work in drilling and suchlike. Mechanisation, but to do

it by hand, I can't even imagine. It can play mind games with you if you

in there too long. Now you can stand up straight. Joe's family took over

the mind when it was little more than a tin shed and today it

produces 100 tonnes of roofing slate. It is a five-year

apprenticeship. From start to finish, really. Today, Hollister is

about tourism and some remember what it was like 20 years ago. She used

to be able to park free if you bought a coaster. This is totally

different. It is modernised, more facilities. We were here on year

one. It was all quite rudimentary bend. When you came up to the mind,

you could help yourself to the and Coffey, you didn't have to pay for

it. You may Girona! Joe's brother Mark was tragically killed in a

helicopter crash at the time when he was planning consent for a zip wire.

The consent was refused but he is going to try again. I will try

again. I'm very excited. I don't normally get excited. June might be

keeping his powder dry for the moment but it won't be too long

before we hear what plans he has in mind.

That gives me an idea for an Easter activity with the kids! Yes.

Not great news for the region's cricket fans - at least,

The English Cricket Board has announced plans

for a new competition, with eight CITY-based

teams, in addition to the traditional COUNTIES.

No names or venues have been revealed -

but given Durham's recent financial problems, it's unlikely there'll be

36 games are planned over a 38-day period in mid-summer.

It won't clash with the counties' own T20 Blast competition -

but the new teams WILL be able to pick those players

who might otherwise have been appearing for their counties.

It'll be a 50-over tournament, hoping to attract the sort of TV

audiences who follow the Indian Premier League.

No-one from Durham was available for comment today -

By doing things differently, by building the teams, we can be

relevant to a whole new audience and bring this very diverse,

multicultural Britain into our stadium in the future in a way that

perhaps we haven't been successful at doing.

So cricket will never be the same again -

but Yorkshire looks to have secured its future

The club announced today it's finally reached a funding agreement

with Leeds City Council over the redevelopment of Headingley.

The council has brokered an investment of ?35 million

towards work on the stand the cricket club shares

On to football, and Middlesbrough have appointed former

skipper Jonathan Woodgate as their new first team coach.

The 37-year-old centre-back retired from the game last summer,

shortly after Boro won promotion to the Premier League.

Born on Teesside, Woodgate is - according to head coach Steve Agnew:

"a fantastic character, who knows the club inside and out."

The Powerchair Football World Cup takes place in the USA this summer

and two players from our region are hoping to help England bring

Sam Smith from Wylam and Edward Common from Hexham

in Northumberland have long been key players for Percy Hedley

Foundation's successful Northern Thunder team.

But now they're out to win the sport's top prize -

Sam and Edward both have muscular dystrophy but their shared love

of football has seen them win numerous domestic cups and league

We last caught up with them in 2013 but now England beckons.

For Sam, it's the chance to represent his country

for the first time and fulfil an ambition at the age of just 17.

I remember just sitting in the classroom and we

were discussing, like, things we want to do

when we are older and people were saying, like, be an astronaut,

And I said, I want to play powerchair football for England.

So, I mean, I've been playing for around five years now and two

years at the highest level, so I feel like it's time

for the next step and to play and represent my country.

At 22, Edward is a World Cup veteran, having taken part in two

previous tournaments in Japan and France, where England

So, this time we want to go one better.

Hopefully, we will finish top of the group, to avoid America

and Japan from the other groups and hopefully get to the final

and then we'll probably be against America.

Representing England is a huge achievement for the players,

of course, and for the families, it makes the years of

commitment worthwhile, not to mention emotional.

Couldn't believe it, we knew it was that weekend,

that we'd find out one way or the other, and I was really

anxious all morning but when he rang, it just made me cry.

My dad was in the room with me because we had to have a little

one-to-one meeting and afterwards, he started crying.

But, yeah, it was, I think he was very proud.

I couldn't really have done it without them taking me

to a national weekends every, six times a year,

So, I can't really thank them enough.

And just before we leave sport, I'm sad to say North East football

The lovely Kath Cassidy - Newcastle United's

wonderful tea lady - has died at the age of 90.

For more than 50 years Kath kept the media -

and the managers - fed and watered in the press

She came into the studio here a couple of years

Always smiling - whatever the score -

A real backbone. Time for the weather. You have a slimy character

coming up? Definitely something fishy going on... It is just getting

otter and otter and otter... Some cracking springtime shops

there. I hope that didn't put you off your tea-time fish fingers! A

lot of cloud around tonight. Maybe some heavy bursts early on this

evening. It never quite dries up completely. A lot of cloud and a

light southerly breeze. Tomorrow, a fairly cloudy picture through the

day. Some rain around in the West. That spreads through the day. Some

will be east of the Pennines. More intermittent further east. Cumbria

will bear the brunt of persistent and heavy rain. Reasonably mild.

Afternoon temperatures in the region of 14 Celsius, 57 Fahrenheit. Still

a messy weather chart heading through the middle of the week.

These weather fronts produce all that cloud and rain. As we head

towards the weekend, that front will clear the way eastwards and allow

something a bit fresher and brighter but maybe a bit cooler, as we head

through into Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, cloud to content with

tomorrow and again on Thursday. The rain on Thursday will be more

widespread in the West. Heavier bursts there. Temperatures creeping

up. Towards the end of the week, some patchy rain around. It will

brighten up and Saturday looks like a day of sunny spells and scattered

showers. Some showers could be heavy. It will turn fresher, so

temperatures dipping into the weekend. Typically around 13 degrees

on Saturday. The weather is slowly settling down. We'll keep you

up-to-date with the latest forecast on your local radio station and

online. The result was the old-fashioned BBC weather website.

Websites are old-fashioned now? Dear me. That is all from us this

evening. Don't forget the late news. Goodbye.