17/01/2017 Look North (Yorkshire)

You're watching Tuesday's Look North.

Tributes to the teenager found dead near Rotherham,

as police question a man on suspicion on murder.

The offenders who chose prison over freedom -

now a new scheme is helping to keep former inmates out of jail.

I'd be looked after by the staff in there.

there was nothing for me to come out and...

At least while you're in prison,

you know what I mean, I had a purpose.

A significant day in Elland as the footpath

on the bridge destroyed by the floods last year is reopened.

But what a lot of local people are saying they desperately need

is this bridge to reopen to traffic sooner rather than later.

And special care for people with dementia -

West Yorkshire Playhouse puts on extra staffing

And it's been a fairly cloudy, dreary day. I'm afraid a lot of

clout in the forecast for the next couple of days as well. I'll be back

later with the detail. First tonight, the latest

on the investigation into the murder of a teenage girl

in South Yorkshire. thought to be 16-year-old

Leonne Weeks - was found by people walking along

a pathway off Lordens Hill An 18-year-old local man

was arrested last night Tom Ingall joins us now from

South Yorkshire Police headquarters. There has been precious few

developments in this story today. In fact, the most pressing one is the

rest of this 18-year-old man, also from the town of Dinnington, late

last night. He is being questioned for approaching 24 hours, give or

take a couple of hours. Police themselves have appealed for calm

and patience as they investigate what they believe to be the murder

of this teenage girl that has certainly resulted in a lot of

activity today. Early this morning,

South Yorkshire Police flew a drone It passed over streets and houses,

hovering above the alleyway where the teenager's body

was found yesterday. They have still not formally

released her name, but the floral tributes

steadily laid during the day in a nearby street

give her name as Leonne Weeks, As you can see,

we are working very, very hard to gather

as much evidence as we can. Unfortunately,

and it is difficult for the family, It's really, really important

that we do it methodically, We have got specialist people,

as you can see, that are working

and helping us do that. Last night, police arrested

an 18-year-old local man They have continued

going door-to-door today in Dinnington, not only to help

in their investigation, but also to reassure residents

of this small community. Many have remembered

Leonne on Facebook. Their thoughts

summed up in these posts. Police are still appealing for

witnesses in the town to help them if they have any information at all

about White might have happened -- about what might have happened. As

to the 18-year-old man, there are a few hours left before police either

have two charge or apply to hold him longer or release him. If they're

any further updates, we will have them on the late edition.

Thank you. A pioneering scheme set up in Leeds

to reduce the number of offenders returning to prison has been hailed

as a huge success. New Wortley Offender Support Team

was launched last summer and has dealt with 97 prisoners

released from Armley. So far only three

have returned to jail. Here's our home affairs

correspondent, Spencer Stokes. A fresh start for

former prisoner Ian. he was released

from Armley last August. There was nothing for me

to come out and... I mean, I know it sounds stupid,

but I did, I had a purpose. I had a job in there,

I got paid for it. Even a couple of days

before my release date, I was begging the governor

to stay in there. In the past, Ian committed crime

so he could go back to prison. A revolving door of release,

reoffend, return to jail. has ended, thanks to

New Wortley Offender Support Team, who have found him voluntary work

in the local community centre. but spearheaded

by another former prisoner, this scheme is having

to keep people out of jail. We've got me, myself,

as an ex-offender, we've got other ex-offenders

that work on the project and we can see whether

people are coming from. Since it launched last summer,

the support team have helped 97 former prisoners

released from Armley. That compares with

an overall 34% reoffend rate for prisoners

released in West Yorkshire. Nationally, there is

an underlying trend of an increasing

prison population. The latest figures show Armley

here in Leeds is 72% over the number of prisoners

it was designed to hold. That means cells for two people

are currently housing three. So reducing reoffending

not only cuts crime but takes the pressure

off prison places. The next stage is to

find ex-offenders work. Colin is one of the first

to gain employment, I can go buy something

from a shop now, when I've grafted,

worked, earned the money. With funding

from Leeds City Council, the future of this

scheme appears secure. It's hoped more newly released

prisoners can be offered support Mark Day is from

the Prison Reform Trust. How important does he think

schemes like this are? Schemes such as the one you have

profiled do a really important job of getting people the skills and

training they need so that when they are released from prison, they are

more likely to be able to lead a law-abiding life and less likely to

re-offend. We know that having a job and going into a job reduces the

risk of reoffending. It is important that services work together so that

people released from prison are able to get those opportunities. At the

end of the peace there, we saw one man who was excited by the fact he

had got a job that he could go into the shop and buy something, resume

and be in the past it would have used some other method to get his

goods. That clearly is what you have to try and do, get more businesses

to offer ex-prisoners jobs, is it? Absolutely. There are a number of

companies that offer jobs and training opportunities to people

released from prison. But more need to be offering that opportunity.

There's also more the Government can do, particularly looking at the

legislation around criminal records disclosure, and reducing the time in

which people have do declare those convictions, which we know is a

barrier to people getting a job. If there is one thing you can do

overnight to help this situation, what would it be? It would be to

have a look about use of prison. We know that too many people are going

to prison for a short time when they going to lose their homes, they lose

their jobs, and they are released, more likely to reoffend. As well as

connecting people to work when they are released, we have to look at how

we use prison, to use it less and more effectively. Thank you.

We'll have a sneak preview as the famous Jorvik Centre

prepares to re-open following last year's Christmas floods.

The police investigation into the case

of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence is being scaled down.

The former university chef disappeared on her way to work

Police believe she was murdered but they've found no trace of her

and no charges have ever been brought.

Their review of the case has cost ?1 million.

What became of Claudia Lawrence has baffled detectives

Despite numerous appeals for information, it seems police

are no closer to solving the mystery of what happened to her.

Three years ago, North Yorkshire Police

began a review of their investigation,

bringing in a new senior detective to oversee it.

Detectives have long believed the answer

to Claudia's disappearance lies here in the community

During the review, officers focused on a number of people

who came to their attention for different reasons.

Nine people were arrested or interviewed under caution,

but the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient

evidence to bring any charges against those people.

North Yorkshire Police said today the challenging case remained open.

We will always respond and react to any further information

We will always be at the ready to do so.

But what we do need is that individual to come forward,

that group of people to come forward that provide that vital information

which will enable us to have a breakthrough.

Until that person or those people come forward,

we will not be able to move forward through the investigation.

The last contact anyone had with Claudia Lawrence

was when she spoke to her mother on the telephone

She failed to turn up for work and was later reported missing.

I'm very concerned about my daughter.

And what's your daughter's name?

For her family, it's been a distress but they've never given up hope,

Today's news has come as another blow.

because a huge amount of work has gone in.

The family, of course, are inevitably very saddened

and it feels as though nothing is further forward.

Police say they are frustrated they have not been able

to give the family answers to what happened to Claudia,

and say that anything new that comes to light

will be investigated by a new team of cold case detectives

working jointly for the Cleveland and North Yorkshire forces.

A man who killed three members of the same Sheffield family

in the 1980s has lost a human rights challenge

Arthur Hutchinson was jailed in 1984.

He broke into the home of Basil and Avril Laitner

and murdered them and their son, Richard.

The European Court of Human Rights dismissed Hutchinson's claim

that the punishment amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment.

An inquest has ruled that a woman who was found stabbed to death

in her burning home in Garforth was unlawfully killed.

alongside her husband, Martin, in 2014.

Wakefield Coroners Court heard that days earlier he'd had been released

from a mental health unit because they "needed beds".

The coroner recorded an open verdict on his death.

A specialist consultant is to be appointed to oversee

A former heart surgeon at the Leeds General Infirmary

who operated on children and adults has been found guilty of misconduct

In a case brought by the General Medical Council,

Nihal Weerasena was shown to have committed various failings

Our health correspondent, Jamie Coulson, reports.

For more than a decade, Nihal Weerasena,

seen here on the left, operated and children and adults

In March 2013, he agreed to stop operating while the trust

began investigating concerns about his work.

A referral to the General Medical Council followed.

For the last week, a tribunal in Manchester has been

hearing allegations that, between 2008 and 2012,

there were various failings in the care Mr Weerasena gave

to six children and one adult here the Leeds General Infirmary.

Today, the Medical Practitioners' Tribunal Service found

that eight out of 14 allegations of misconduct

relating to six of the patients were proved.

In one case, an expert witness said the surgeon was guilty

of substandard practice for failing to decompress part of the heart

In another, Mr Weerasena's typed operation notes made no reference

to a major bleed and significant period of low blood pressure.

The tribunal will now decide if Mr Weerasena's

But the surgeon has faced accusations

In 2015, Leeds Teaching hospitals apologised

to the family of 11-year-old Bradley Brough,

who died after undergoing three operations in two days.

The trust later admitted errors were made

His mother has previously spoken of her anguish.

I get that people feel sorry for me and things like that.

He couldn't wait for this operation to make him better,

to make him be able to get on with his life.

Mr Weerasena stop operating in Leeds just four days before

the children's heart unit hit the headlines.

First, campaigners won a High Court battle to keep the unit open

but, within 24 hours, it had to stop operating in a row over death rates,

in which the unit was eventually declared safe.

Mr Weerasena has not been at the hearing,

but sent a letter stating he was being made a scapegoat

The Leeds Trust did not want to comment on his case,

but said it had absolute faith in the staff

Now it's been a bit of a saga to rebuild the Grade II listed

Elland Bridge, which had to be pulled down

after being badly damaged in the 2015 Boxing Day floods.

There have been some delays to its reopening

because of bad weather and the complexity of the project.

But today there was a significant step forward

as the footpath was opened to pedestrians and cyclists.

Tiny toddler steps over Elland Bridge, just a short journey

on foot, but it's taken many months of hard work to get to this point.

This community was torn in two by the Boxing Day floods of 2015.

The Grade II listed bridge had to be completely dismantled

when the sheer force of floodwater washed out its foundations.

It caused massive structural damage, and a huge crack in the road.

There's no doubt that this footpath opening

But what a a lot of local people have been saying,

particularly those who run their own businesses,

is that that they desperately need Elland Bridge to open to traffic.

Joanne Wood runs the Water's Edge Day Nursery,

Her business survived the weather damage,

has caused months of inconvenience for staff and parents.

We've had a lot of support from our parents, in the fact

that they continue to use our services when some of them have had

20 to 40 minutes a day, twice a day, three or four times a week,

added onto their journey, just to drop their children off

at nursery before they then set off for work.

That struggle is something Clive Braithwaite can relate to.

and the past year has been a real battle to just keep going.

Obviously, it's very quiet down here.

No passing traffic any more, so there's no passing trade.

Obviously, with the work that's been going on on the bridge,

sometimes it's been hard for customers to get in and out

But that limited access should not be for much longer.

Today, cyclists and pedestrians were the first to enjoy

getting from one side to another on the footpath.

The plan now is for traffic to follow at the end of the month.

And, for local businesses, that can't come soon enough.

also submerged York's famous Viking attraction.

Now, after months of renovation work, a date has been set

for the re-opening of Jorvik Viking Centre.

The new exhibition promises more exciting sights,

sounds and smells to bring the historic experience to life.

Our reporter, Michelle Lyons, has been given a sneak preview

These were the devastating scenes at Jorvik Viking Centre after they

floods just over a year ago. One of York's best-known attractions, knee

deep in water. Thankfully, all of it's important artefacts were saved,

but the models and mechanics were deluged, causing the centre to

closed. They are now looking forward to it reopening. One of the main

things is the fact that Jorvik was a multicultural, diverse place 1000

years ago. They spoke different languages, so you will hear those as

well. We have illustrated that through the usual techniques you

expect here, sights, sounds and smells. These are the new sense that

we will be using. Seve you can guess what they are. It is not pleasant,

not sure now mother five. -- Chanel number five.

Many of the artefacts were on display in Jorvik. Since the

attraction has been closed, they were moved to other venues around

the city, including the undercroft at York Minster. These items were --

will soon be returned to the Jorvik centre.

Including some new exhibits. They asked us if we could produce a

stained-glass window based on an illuminated manuscript. I think it

will be the first thing they see when they go into the basement.

All going well, Jorvik will open on the 8th of April, new sights and

smells and, most importantly, improved flood defences.

Obviously, the flood defences are the most important, but I'm looking

forward to the new smells! Remember that he used to stamp your

coins? Football now, and League One

strugglers Chesterfield have appointed Gary Caldwell

as their new manager. The 34-year-old replaces

Danny Wilson and has signed

a one-year rolling contract. The Spireites are in the relegation

zone on goal difference and will be hoping the Scot can

bring about a change in fortune. Could this be the man to inspire

Chesterfield to leak on survival? Fans were invited down, along with

the media, to meet Gary Caldwell, and he's counting on their support.

They need to come out in their numbers to help the players. There's

nothing better than a home crowd behind you to help you through the

tough times, and we need them as much now as we ever have. He needs

the fans because the team are struggling. No better example than

last month and the 5-0 hammering by Wycombe Wanderers, who are in the

league below. In his only other managerial drop, he led Wigan to the

league one title and an incredible 20 match unbeaten run. Chesterfield

believe they have got the right man. He is going to come from the outside

just over halfway through the season, and he is going to come in

with some enthusiasm and passion and some new life to breathe into the

players. The fans who turned up today seem to be impressed with the

boardroom's choice. I think he will help motivate the players and

motivate the fans, because we all need a bit of a left at the moment.

Things have not been going well. He seems a positive, and we're all

excited about it. I have confidence in the team and I think they just

need that little left and hopefully the new manager can do that. So

thumbs up on day one. There will be many more wanting a photo if Gary

Caldwell can keep the team up. Former New Zealand Rugby League

chairman Andrew Chalmers and ex-Wigan coach Graham Lowe have

been confirmed as the new owners of the Bradford club to replace

the liquidated Bulls. One of their first tasks will be

to find a new coach. Rohan Smith tweeted his thanks

to fans this afternoon and shortly afterwards the new owners said that,

at a meeting, the two parties had disagreed on various points

and would not move on together. If you know someone

with dementia, you'll know that

life can be very hard. Simple processes can suddenly become

difficult or even impossible and it can be a struggle

just to get out of the house. dementia-friendly

meetings every Tuesday, and also stages special performances

adapted for people with dementia. and everyone is made to feel

at home, as Cathy Killick reports. It's shepherd's pie for tea,

so Nancy and Peter Jervis But he and Nancy try to live

as normal a life as possible. Today, they are off

to the West Yorkshire Playhouse I'm starting to enjoy what we see

down there and the way that we are I think that's the main thing,

you know, trying to keep up with the Trying to lead as normal a life

as possible, I'm guessing? I can't do everything like I used

to do, the garden and woodwork. I just go upstairs

now and you're stood there, It gets us out,

it's entertaining, We've got some lovely friends

who all go, They come to the theatre

every week for various activities, whether there

is a show on or not. Before today's performance

of Strictly Ballroom, The singing helps

familiarise Peter and his friends Cast members are there,

too, to join in. People with dementia have every

right to access the theatre, they have a great need for uplifting,

joyful experiences in their lives, when life is presenting

huge challenges. So we want to provide this

because we know people have a fantastic time,

they benefit from it. Taking their seats,

Peter and Nancy prepared to escape for an hour

or two, to the glitz and

glamour of the ballroom. The costumes, the acting,

everything is lovely. I really did. It's the second time

we've seen it, but they get better every time. Wonderful. As more

people are diagnosed with dementia, there is a growing realisation that

a bridge, enjoyable life is possible, it just takes a bit of

help, and that can make all the difference.

Great initiative, that. And everyone can enjoy the theatre. You have been

a busy lady, haven't you? You are filming up and down the country.

Nice to see you. He wants to tell you that I'm going on a sua tomorrow

that glamorous job! -- a see -- sewer tomorrow.

I thought this picture might brighten some things up a bit. Some

lovely little smoke drops there. Keep your pictures coming in. A lot

of them will involve cloud this week. It does look like quite an

uneventful week weather-wise, but compared with last week, we are

going to relish that for at least the next few days. Very samey until

this time next week. Mostly cloudy tomorrow, but there will be a lot of

dry weather about throughout the day. That is because we are stuck

under this area of high pressure. Settled weather, but a rather cloudy

high. This week were the front is stuck underneath it, and that has

been and will be producing a little bit of light rain and drizzle in one

or two spots. The cooler air is across the continent and the

south-east of England, but we are under the cloud, with much Bader

conditions in the West. Some mist and hill fog to night, and a little

bit of light rain or drizzle on and off in places overnight. That

blanket of cloud stocks temperatures from dropping too low, getting down

to around four or five Celsius degrees in the countryside. The sun

will rise in the morning at 8:13am. Setting again at 4:21pm. We will

start the day tomorrow quite grey, particularly across the Pennines. A

lot of cloud around tomorrow. Some pockets of light rain and Rizal are

possible, and the best chance of getting any brightness will be

across parts of North Yorkshire, we are starting to get some breaks in

the cloud across northern parts tomorrow. For most of us, there will

be a good deal of cloud around. Temperatures getting up a little

above average. Nine or 10 degrees. The best of the temperatures in the

north-west. There was Thursday and into the weekend, a lot of cloud, a

lot of dry weather and it will get cooler again.

She will be joining us again at 10pm before she goes down that sewer

tomorrow! Midnight. -- good night. That I will faithfully execute

the Office... And will to the best

of my ability...